SERK

5 hours ago, nwo4life said:

Reduced hours for deli? Is it non longer 11 am to 11 pm?

Deli is still open late.  It was on our last month cruise and our Oct. '21 cruise.

I believe Lee Mason will be your cruise director on Celebration.  We had him on our pre covid journey cruise and he was a lot of fun.  In general, CCL cruise directors are more energetic and humorous.  As far as the type of people on the ship depends on location and length of cruise.  Celebration on a 7 day cruise should have a lot of good people on board.  4-5 day cruise out of New Orleans for example, expect to see more rowdy drunks.  They don't call it a booze cruise for nothing. 

That is strange.  If they were sold out it would say so in the shore excursions.

You should be able to reserve a Cabana through the shore excursions right now.  We reserved one of the villa's about a year earlier.

You will show platinum and get to check in early on the cruise you are gonna go over the 75 day mark.  I know I did.

I think we had 4 elegant nights on our 14 day cruise couple years ago just before Covid.

They were good on the Dream for week of Thanksgiving last month.  Buns, patties, fries...all good.

2 hours ago, hillbillycruisers said:

Sailed on the Dream in 2019, and much preferred it to our cruise last month on the Vista. The Vista was my least favorite cruise ever. The only thing I didn't like about the Dream was the art gallery. They put the art gallery in the space where the Red Frog Pub is on the Vista, and it was unfortunate. Who actually goes on a cruise for the art gallery??? We enjoy the Red Frog Pub on other ships, but not the Dream. I haven't been on the Dream in three years, maybe they came to their senses and moved the art gallery put of there...but I doubt it. The piano bar on the Dream was also a blast...on the Vista, it resembled a morgue.

I do agree here though that the Dream is still missing the Red Frog Pub.  It's a nice hangout but I still get most of my cocktails from the Alchemy Bar.

I've been on the Dream 4 times and going on her again for the 5th time for a Journey's Cruise in a couple weeks.  Obviously I like the Dream.  I've spent 3 of the cruises on her for Thanksgiving including last month.  We really enjoyed the Eastern Carribean schedule especially Half Moon Cay beach break. I've been reading mediocre food reviews from various Carnival ships lately but we didn't experience that on the Dream last month.  The food was well seasoned and service was great. 

Being from Louisiana, I'm personally looking forward to it if we get more cajun/creole style foods in the MDR.  The more spicy the better!  

2 hours ago, Eli_6 said:

I am seriously considering  transitioning to MSC Yacht Club or Celebrity for any cruise where I have to get on a plane after this summer.   Unfortunately, right now it is pretty much Carnival or Royal if I am cruising from home (i.e. Galveston). My husband won't step foot on NCL after he got noro on an NCL cruise and Disney comes in only a few times a year...so I think you could charter a yacht for the price of the handful of Galveston sailings they have. In my experience, Disney prices are more than any other cruise major cruise line.

I believe MSC and Princess are coming to Galveston.  We sail out of Galveston or New Orleans most of the time as they are driving distance.  

16 minutes ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

Balcony for adults, kids across hall in an inside.  Did many cruises with the kids during their teen years and they had no problem with the inside cabins.  As others have said, they will never be in their room.  

This exactly!  I've cruised with my niece and nephew and now with my daughter and they only spent time in room for sleeping and bathing.  They run around the ship doing their own thing most of the time.  I wouldn't waste an extra grand for a kids balcony room.  I'd put that extra money in the Cheers package. 

I've been to the ports from both those cruises.  I would go with Sunrise because I love relaxing on the beach at Half Moon Cay.  We rented out one of the villa's and it was probably the best beach day I've had in a long time.  Plus, the Sunrise has been completely refurbished since it was the Triumph.  I haven't been on her since she changed names but would love to see the differences. 

On 12/24/2022 at 9:08 AM, RobertoF said:

You definitely have a point.  Maybe we'll give Carnival another try with Celebration or Horizon at some point.  Those are the two newer ships close to us.  With Princess and Celebrity we have been on old and new ships and the experience has been similar.  There are things we like better about the old ships (wrap-around promenade decks; traditional large dining rooms; real balconies) so it does not feel like a significant downgrade to be on the older ships on these other lines.

You should try a Carnival Journey's Cruise.  They tend to have a more mature crowd of people as they are longer and more expensive.  I think you'll have a better experience with what Carnival offers.  The shorter 4-5 day cruises tend to be cheap and bring the cheap on board with it.  

Our last 5 day cruise in 2021 was an exception though.  Maybe because the Covid restrictions were still in place but we had a nice group of people on that one. 

10 minutes ago, Jasonsterling said:

I didn't feel like searching Carnival. com lol so here's a screenshot of the email from Carnival to me regarding my cruise on Saturday. 

Priority check in not available for Journey's Cruise.  Bummer.  

On 12/22/2022 at 7:04 PM, roguebandit1441 said:

We were on the Dream in September and I was very disappointed that all the table games have increased from $5 to $10 minimum. Good news is the craps table is less crowded, bad you need twice the bank roll.  If your lucky slots can support your craps habit.  LOL.

That's strange.  I was on Dream for Thanksgiving and the BJ and Roulette tables were $5.  I'm curious as to why they raise and lower them.

I've only sailed Carnival but I have noticed a big difference in just the type of cruise. The 5-8 day cruises vs the 14 day Journey's Cruise.  The shorter ones tend to have younger groups, blue cards and a little more rowdy.  The Journey's Cruises have had older vacationers and a lot more platinum and diamond cruisers.

I viewed the chefs table like an on ship excursion.  You are there for about 2-3 hours with wine included and a tour of the galley.  On the Dream, you will be eating in the galley instead of a private dining room.

We used to sail out of New Orleans but we switched to Galveston.  It's only an hour further drive for us and much better port with more ship and cruise options.  We stay at a very nice bed and breakfast that also offers free parking while we cruise. 

6 hours ago, serene56 said:

the Mongolian Grill was only opened for lunch   12:00- 2:30   

I know.  I was only talking about the food in general on our cruise regardless if it was breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Both MDR and Mongolian Grill were good.  The Blue Iguana breakfast burrito with mexican eggs was the bomb! 

I cannot justify spending $160 for a fifth of Jack Daniels after tax and gratuities. 

I'll never go during Hurricane season which thankfully includes summer when kids are out of school.  I've been on several Thanksgiving cruises and believe it or not, it wasn't that bad with kids.  January and February seem to be the sweet spot though.

We were on the Dream for Thanksgiving and the service and food was very good in the MDR.  The Mongolian Wok was great too.

We have two booked before end of year and we are gonna make Carnival cancel us or we luck out and go cruising.  Let them cancel and give you the deals.

Unfortunately it depends on the Mayor of the port city.  We are scheduled for Oct. cruise out of NOLA and I doubt the Mayor there will open the port back up for cruising.  At least not until after Nov. 3.