Shipbound

Correct me if I'm wrong but the Spirit and Legend were the only two ships that were fast enough to go to the Deep Southern Caribbean ports of call and back to Miami, FL. But now the Spirit is in Australia and the Legend sails out of Tampa which is too far from the So. Caribbean. CCL has to get different port of calls to keep things interesting ,do you agree ?

Gary

It is great that CCL will build new ships but the fact of the matter is CCL has to get creative in picking new ports of call specially in the southern Caribbean that sails from Miami or Fort Lauderdale. Europe is out of the question for me because of the cost of the flight to the embarkation port. When the Spirit first sailed it went to Barbados, Martinique, and St. Martin that was great. I can not tell you how many times I've been to St. Thomas and Cozumel.

Gary

When we arrived for our cruise on the Breeze last year, we flew into FLL. When we were walking down the escalators, there were Carnival personnel setting up kiosks/podiums near the baggage claim areas. We asked the lady if we could checking there for MIA, and she told us no, that it was for FLL only. Everyone on our flight, or that we recognized from our flight was going to MIA, so I didn't see anybody received a S&S card, or be checked in at the kiosks/podium, everyone was just asking the same question I did and received the same response.

That is a good question. I always to FLL then sail from Miami so it would be nice if guests that fly to FLL and sail out of Miami could check in at FLL but if you think about it there would be hundreds of guests checking in at the FLL kiosks because I bet most people fly to FLL than MIA. It would be a nightmare.

Gary

This past April I was on the Liberty, deck 7 mid ship. It was great. This October I will be on the Conquest, deck 6 mid ship. I will always try to stay on deck 7 or 6 mid ship from now on

Gary.

When the Spirit first came out it went to Barbados, Martinique, and St. Martin.

Gary

This past April I was on the Liberty deck Seven mid ship it was perfect, two decks up the lido deck and two decks down the promenade deck where the action is. No problems with noise.

Gary

You may want to switch cruise lines. Hard not to travel with tons of kids on a budget minded, family oriented cruise line like Carnival.

 

Even when we've taken off-season Carnival cruises, there are still hundreds of kids onboard (definitely less than on cruises when kids are on vacation but still noticeable). We've heard the same joke several times from the CD scolding parents for taking kids out of school to go on a cruise. :o

 

 

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You are right I will be on the Conquest 10/26/14 and I expect kids on the ship because you'll be amazed the number of parents that pull their kids out of school for a cruise. I don't think there will be hundreds of kids on the cruise but there will be some.

Gary

I've had port hole cabins several times and they are the best deal on the ship that is why they go fast, like the above post said they a little bigger. You'll have a great time!!!!

Gary

Yes, Fosters is covered under the Cheers program. Dollar for dollar, Fosters is the best deal onboard for beer drinkers. Now if we could figure out a way to keep that large can cold?!?!?!

You are right Fosters is a deal but if it gets warm it is really,really bad just drink really fast!!!

Thanks all. We usually cruise April-October. Next year DH found cruise on the Breeze that he wanted in March instead of April. Said we can get out of the cold here in South Dakota. We rarely have problems with kids but sometimes it is an issue. Hopefully with the size of the Breeze it will not be a problem.

 

Since it is March 14th I bet we will have a lot of kids. But we have been on cruises with over 600 kids and never noticed problems. Love to cruise so will just go and have fun.

The Breeze maybe too expensive for the spring breakers especially if it is an eight day cruise. But if mommy and daddy are paying for it, then who knows. But you will have a great time !!!!

Gary

I went on the Liberty 4/5/14 and there were many teens on the ship. I've cruised during March many times and there were more college kids than teens. So I guess depending which kids you can tolerate more that is the month you go.

Gary

I am from Ct, the flights to the other ports(Galveston and NO) are very expensive so I am stuck with sailing out of Florida. It seems to me that when the ship has the 2.0 up grade the cruise fare goes up( I cruise solo). Has anybody else noticed the price jump?

Gary.

I agree with all the above posts SAS transportation is the best I've used them many times and I'll be using them again on 10/26/14.

Gary

We bought Carnival air during Spring Break for a cruise out of Miami one year. They flew us into FLL the day before and paid for a hotel room for one night (we live in Iowa) and shuttled us to Miami the next morning. No problems.

Really, I have never herd of Carnival paying for a hotel and shuttle pre cruise even if you book the flight with them. If they did that is great!!!!!.

I've been on 32 cruises with CCL and I used Carnival for the air once that was enough!!!!!

Gary

I guess guitarists are an improvement! Thank you DKLI. I'm booked on Freedom, so I was glad to hear that Freedom has at least some live music on Lido. I agree with you. The DJ/music isn't very enjoyable.

I was on the Liberty 4/5/14 the music the DJ played was pretty good. It was better than what the guitarists played IMO. There is Varity of music DJ's on any cruise ship can play that is really good but the DJ has to be willing play it.

Gary

We are booked in 2217...any problems sleeping on that sofa? We are 2 gals on a girls getaway and like the OP just could not pass up the price for a porthole versus the interior with twin beds..was $400 more!!!

 

 

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You right the port hole cabins are the best deal on the ship, you pay an inside rate but see light. I've stayed in port hole cabins many times, no problems. The only down side you are far from everything.

Gary

We took the speed boat ride to Belize from the ship and they flew. The ocean was calm so the boat did not jump around to much. Since I'm not a good swimmer If the water had bigger waves I would have been concerned.

Gary

Love ours too. We let the points build up. Last year we cashed in 100,000 points for $1500.00 credit on our statement. That only took us 21 months because we put everything possible on the card & pay it in full every month. Back up to over 70,000 points right now again.

Wow, 21 months to get 100,000 points that is an average of 4792 points per month. Even if I put everything on the card it is only about 600 points . It would take me years and years to get that many point built up. You must have huge bills. Don't get me wrong I think that is great.

Gary.

I was on the Liberty 4/5/14 and had a great time . The band that was playing near the casino was the best I've heard in a long time. If people complain at home it is sure bet they will complain on a cruise.

Gary

Have not heard they are making changes to playlist. Saw two shows in Feb and walked out on both. Can only hope they realize they are a disaster and make appropriate changes.

I've heard negative responses concerning the playlist but I have not seen them. The playlist was just another way for CCL to save money in the ling run IMO.

Gary

You should be fine. I am flying to FLL the same day of the cruise 10/26/14. It is a direct flight from CT. I get to FLL at 10:35 am, than taking SAS transportation to POM. A direct flight is ok during the non winter months IMO but during the winter I would fly to Florida a day or two before the cruise no matter where your from. Have Fun!!!!!

Gary

So how is Butch as CD? He looks like he will be our CD on the BREEZE in Feb 2014

Butch was the CD on my ship, He was the best CD I've had in 32 cruises.

Gary

I hate to say this, but my adolescent son is fairly porky. His doctor and I finally have him on a diet, and he is doing quite well, but it will be a long process.

 

Wouldn't you know, just when we're really getting started with the diet, a cruise is coming up.

 

Does anybody have any tips for keeping weight off on a cruise? And remember this is a 12 year old boy who likes food that we're talking about. And he's not especially athletic, so I don't think he's going to be playing pick up basketball.

 

The only things I can really think of are having him take a lot of steps instead of the elevator and then walking him (and me) to death both on the boat and ashore. Any food recommendations? It will be hard for him to resist Guy's Burgers, so if he sees that, I fear the diet is history.

 

And does the Steakhouse have anything that is not a calorie-laced cholesterol buster? Similar question with the MDR?

 

For the first time, a cruise is coming at just the wrong time. I should add that I'd rather not torture the boy.

 

Thanks in advance folks. I really do need some words of wisdom.

It is great that your son is trying to control his weight. Losing weight is a simple formula , if he burns more calories than he takes in=weight off, same calories in as out=maintain weight, more calories in than out=gain weight. When I cruise I stay away from sweets(most of the time), fried foods, any type of bread. Than I hit the gym almost every day and do cardiovascular exercises at least 40-50 minutes this is a must for weight control. Remember this is a life style change not a diet. Have fun on your cruise!!!!!

Gary

Carnival only started offering these no single supplement fares a few months ago. I guess it remains to be seen if they will continue to offer them. I hope they continue to offer them too. If I had to guess, I would say that going into the fall that they would continue since that is typically a slower period for bookings. I've been kind of surprised that they have continued them into the peak spring/summer months. They seem to come out as last minutes fares, typically 2 to 3 months in advance at the very most. So for those that like to cruise solo, waiting until closer to sail date seems to be the best booking strategy for now.

There was a time when the cruise fare was 50% over the cruise rate for a category 3 or less which was pretty good for me since I go solo most of the time. Since those days prices have increased on the ships especially the beer and mixed drinks which Carnival gets most of their revue. So I think dropping the 200% supplement does not hurt them. When you get on the ship that is where they make the $$$$$. So I bet they will continue to drop the surcharge in the fall and maybe early winter.

Gary