Shipbound

Like one of the posts said August is very hot especially in the ports of call. NOAA predicted that the hurricane season will be way below normal because of the wind shear in the Caribbean which causes unfavorable conditions for cyclone development, there should be no problem. Since August is still summer break for kids expect many children of all ages on the ships. Have a good time!!!!!!

Gary

Since I am from CT , the Fort Lauderdale and the POM ports are the easiest to get to and the fares are the cheapest so I've been on the same ships many times. I usually leave from the POM.

Gary

FYI , If you read the fun times brochure each day all the information you'll need is there. The tenders usually start when the ship is cleared by local customs. The CD should make an announcement.

Gary

I am single and cruise solo all the time. Having a cabin to my self is great. I am not shy at all, so meeting people is not a problem and have never had a bad cruise.

Gary

Does any one know what bands are on the ship this October.

Gary

What do you think you be the most inexpensive way to get to South Beach.

Gary

Since I'm Diamond I go to my cabin drop by bag off and go Eat!!!!!

Gary

Just remember, even on nonstops there can be delays/cancels for mechanical issues. Just sayin'.

 

I agree with what you said about getting travel insurance, and good idea flying in a day or 2 before the cruise during the winter months. When I lived in Denver, I remember years ago when the airport was closed for 2 days due to a blizzard in late Nov. This can happen in other places than in Denver.

You are correct even non-stop flights can have delays that is why I get the earliest flight out.

Gary

I fly out of BDL(Bradley) in Connecticut while it is small airport,if I fly direct and it is not during the winter I will fly the same day of a cruise. But if I have a connection or it is during the winter months I will fly in one or two days before a cruise. Regardless of when I fly I get travel insurance.

Gary

I do not if this is true or not but because of the design of the splendor there will be no guy's or the Rum and iguana bar on the lido deck .

Gary

I still view Carnival as the entry level Cruise. When people learn more about cruising, they move on. The argument about price has zero value because other lines can be booked at or cheaper than Carnival. It must be a comfort thing because nothing is gained in Carnival loyalty.

The biggest reason I cruise with CCL is the price since I cruise solo all the time other cruise lines can not beat Carnivals solo prices. I would love to cruise other lines if they could beat Carnivals prices.

Gary

We live in FL as well. However if something horrific happened and we had to get emergency care and evacuation it is extremely expensive. That is why we get the insurance through insuremytrip.com

That is a very good Idea, I always get trip insurance with insuremytrip. com also.

Gary

We live in Orlando and drive to most ports so, no we don't purchase insurance under those circumstances. However, if we fly somewhere like Alaska or Hawaii, we buy insurance for peace of mind. Knock on wood- never had to use it.

I understand your comment but what if something happens that does include flying like a medical emergency on the ship or if a person in your party has to be evacuated to a hospital in the U.S. or from an Island that you are visiting ?. Unfortunately things do happen. Emergency evacuation from anywhere to the United States can be very expensive, hopefully it does not have to be used.

Gary

I was referring to the vast majority of the employees (hotel staff, restaurant staff, maintenance crews, etc). In their "off" time (the little there is while on the ship), they can't just go sit in the bar for 2 hours, or attend trivia events, or tie up the internet cafe, etc. etc. to pass the time like the customers can.

 

The ones who's job it is to interact with and entertain customers (cruise director, activity staff) are a little different in terms of mingling with customers. And of course the captain, managers, etc are entirely different.

I stand corrected you are right.

The statement was based on their assistant getting a portion of the $3.90.

 

$2.50 per person based on two per cabin.

Times 24 cabins. Sometimes more cabins sometimes less.

Times 30 days.

$3600.00 per month.

Since all of CCL ships are under foreign flags I believe that 3600.00 month is tax free under U.S laws and if an employee works more than 40 hours per week they do not get time and a half. I would think because cruise ships under foreign flags do not have to obey U.S. labor laws. Most of the cruise lines employee's work 6-9 month contracts. One of the posts said cruise ships employee's do not mingle with the guests which not entirely true because the Officers and the entertainment employee's do mingle with the guests but on limited bases. If they are caught in a guest's cabin they're in big trouble.

Gary

I let them choose my room and they assigned it a few hours after I booked, however my cruise is 20 days out. Great location too

That is really interesting because when CCL picked my room the location sucked so maybe they are doing better in the room assignments.

Gary

Sounds like another terrible idea to me, I think their liquor sales will suffer.

Now that I agree with that who is going to go through all that hassle to repack your booze that was bought on the ship the day of debarkation just to save a few dollars. Ever since the TSA put restrictions on the amount of liquids that can carried on a plane I have not brought any alcohol on the Islands or a cruise ship too much of a hassle. I hope liquor sales drop like a rock.

Gary

I have used Carnival transfers and yes they wait until the bus is filled. But I use SAS transportation from FLL to POM they are fast and cost about half the price as Carnival.

Gary

I did not read all the questions, so is the Breeze as crowded has everybody says? That is the only complaint that I know of from reading CC.

Gary

We will be on the Liberty April 26. I did take spring break into consideration when I decided to cruise for my Birthday:)

I will be on the Glory April 25,15, spring break should be over for the all of the kids both College and high school so your April date will be perfect. Have fun!!!!!

Gary

We spent 2 New Years on the Breeze & even though the ship was packed to capacity both times, we LOVED it. We never once had to wait on lines for food at the buffet. We had a lido balcony both times & would never get a room anywhere else.

 

Are there chair hogs?? Yes of course, they are on EVERY ship & Carnival doesn't follow through with their policy so that's a Carnival issue not a Breeze issue.

 

After just getting off the Sunshine a few days ago, the Breeze is heaven & until the Vista comes out, no ship will compare to the Breeze. At least for us!

That is good to know about the crowds because I've heard that the Breeze is really crowded and there a long lines every where . I plan to go on the Breeze in April of 2016.

Gary

April 25 on the Glory.

Gary

I wonder if any of the people posting here that they don't care about entertainment (gee, same 2 or 3 people that show up in every thread with anything negative Carnival, claiming a cut is an upgrade) EVER cruised more than 10 years ago, or even 20+ years ago and can remember the PHENOMENAL high energy, well done, rehearsed, choreographed entertainment Carnival was WELL KNOWN for.

 

Maybe they don't go to shows because, well, they are mostly crap now? Maybe if the entertainment was as lavish and exciting as it used to be they'd think differently? Or maybe they are just paid off by Carnival to post on this forum and downplay and negative opinions people have about cutbacks and reductions.

 

Hey, if you REALLY don't care about entertainment, go find another thread to post in. Carnival has lost tens of thousands of dollars of my bookings in recent years because I don't pay to watch a game show with guests as the main entertainment. I remember the colorful sets, big bands, great flashy dancers, etc. It's not the type of entertainment I go to at home, but it is part of the cruising experience. If you want to sit in a deck chair and hum to yourself, have at it, but getting a little sick of the same few people jumping into every conversation to defend cutbacks and telling others it doesn't matter.

I started cruising with Carnival back in the early nineties during those years all Carnival ships were rocking and rolling but around 2005 changes started in the entertainment section. I will still cruise with carnival because they do provide the best bang for your buck.

Gary

That image of Cuba sounds very appealing to me, as a traveler and not a tourist. I much prefer seeing real-life in other countries, even when it isn't pretty or pleasant by U.S. standards. However, I don't know if cruisers would see the real Cuba and hear what life is really like.

 

I don't think I could stomach traveling to a place where the people are prevented from leaving or from speaking the truth or accessing the internet, much less earning money for their work. It is important not to romanticize the enforced isolation from the world. It may be beautiful and interesting, but it is a prison for the people born there. I don't expect that tourist dollars would go to the average Cuban, and certainly not those who speak their minds. My husband and I are not very good at keeping our mouths shut and would probably get ourselves or the Cubans we talked to in serious trouble. I understand that our government is hypocritical in their relations with China, but I also will not visit China for the same reasons.

Everything you said is correct too ban our President does not think the same way how he thinks this will be good for the Cuban people when the Castro government controls everything is beyond me.

Gary

I hope Carnival has the sense to keep all the bands the guests seem to enjoy but when it comes to common sense who knows what will happen but now that Jerry Cahill is gone and a new CEO will be taking over, that could be a good thing we'll just have to see what he/she does concerning the entertainment.

Gary