KmomChicago

7 hours ago, chfenton said:

I also had no issues twice writing the executive office and asking for our 19 or 20 year old nannies to have their own stateroom no where near our room when travelling with us when our boys were young. It seems that RCL will make exceptions if there is a reasonable reason to do so.

Thank you! My two 18 year olds will be right next door so should be okay I guess.

52 minutes ago, mkcurran said:

 

With the arrival of the Firenze the parking situation is beyond messed up. Carnival had months to fess up to the fact that the passengers on the Panorama would have to park else where. Instead I got an email two days before, telling us we'd have to park offsite. But we'd have to drive to the port first to find out where. 

There were three different offsite garages they were using in one area. None of them ADA compliant. Not a problem going. But loading our friends coming back was going to be interesting. Bigger problem for other guests.

When we disembarked there was confusion as to which bus was going to the garage. The bus driver got lost. Ended up dropping us on a curb between the three garages. It was crowded, nobody could formal a line and let the people who had their suitcases through so everyone else could get theirs. 

One lady ended up going off on my husband, mistakenly, but none the less she was so terrible I had to literally pull my husband away from her. She approached to apologize later. But as she came up I was having none of the crazy lady around my family. I told her to move on. Could she? No. Her family pulled her away.

Do I blame her? Only partially. The messed up parking had everyone on edge.

 

At the end of the day was this cruise good enough that I'd put up with any of that again. Absolutely not.

My group wasn't a fan of the new menus. I found that they were substituting salt for flavor. Food on the buffet was consistently cold. The crew, which is usually the best, seemed a lot over worked. There were a few in there that still went above and beyond. 

I think I am just Carnival'd out at the moment and want something nicer. If I do Carnival again it will be Havana or a Ship with a good spa area.

Understood! Sounds like the port of departure was a primary “never again” issue this time around and secondary disappointment with the overall cruise itself. I do get it and I am sorry. A cruise is actually a lot of work, logistics and expense invested to end up with a mediocre outcome. 
 

Overall we have enjoyed Carnival but Oasis of the Seas was actually our very best cruise because of the ship. Trying RCI Quantum class in a couple weeks. 
 

If I cruise again after that (becoming iffy due to changes in family situation including only child has grown up now) I will almost certainly first look at other lines besides Carnival. 
 

Price and value are always considerations but that also means, I am willing to shell out a bit more for what I want, and the lowest price isn’t necessarily worth it if it’s not.

With that in mind, if/when the time comes to shop for another cruise I will likely be first checking options for (in no particular order):

NCL Breakaway or Prima class

Virgin Voyages (any ship)

Celebrity Edge Class

RCI Oasis class again or Icon class

If nothing in those groups worked out, possibly but not as compelling at first glance:

Larger / newer vessels from MSC, Princess, Holland America or (biggest stretch) Cunard.

I’m in no way disappointed with Carnival. Rather I am satisfied that I have fully experienced it. For the right situation I would still use them but no longer the no brainer either.

6 hours ago, mkcurran said:

It was mostly good. I didn't have to cook or clean. I am definitely done with Long Beach and possibly done with Carnival. 

Gotta wait until fall to find out if Ireland is going to happen. If the company ever sells, I will be getting a nice bonus, so may be able to squeeze in a fall cruise. 

Likely Princess. Maybe Celebrity. 

Oh no! Were there specific issues or is this a same ol’ same ol’ kinda story?
 

I would never achieve a high loyalty club level with a cruise line because I will get tired of the same schtick eventually and there are so many other choices to keep things fresh. 
 

After I sailed Mardi Gras a few years back, Carnival Legend just 4 months later felt like a slight letdown even though nothing was actually in the category of things that bother me.
 

Everything was fine. Food and crew were great. Old ship had some nice features. It was just a bit meh somehow. Soon after, Carnival Vista and Radiance made it 4 Carnivals for me in less than a year and I realized that’s too many. Too much of the same-ish thing led to diminishing returns. 
 

2 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You are fine, and yes.

Do I need to notify my online TA and/or RCI what’s going on or just have him no show?

3 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

PSA for those that may not pay attention to dates of posts. 

I know it’s an old thread but I can’t find one mor recent. The website, today, says connecting rooms. If so I have a problem I need solved in less than 2 weeks.

1 minute ago, Biker19 said:

I resemble this remark.

On 2/14/2022 at 3:38 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

The website is outdated.

 

I book kids in a separate room all the time for clients.  It does not even have to be beside, it can be directly across the hall

I have a situation coming up. I booked RCI for May, 2024. Two adjacent rooms. They are even in a secret hallway together with their own extra locking hallway door to just those two rooms. 
 

Booked husband in one room with one 18 year old and me next door with the other. Husband will not be going due to an unforeseen issue. 
 

@Ourusualbeach you’re saying I am okay? You’re a TA?

I just realized I have another problem if my friend doesn’t come along. I’m traveling with two 18 year olds and you need a 21 year old in each room.

11 minutes ago, AmyJA said:

Columbia River Gorge? That's my backyard. It's beautiful. 

 

Yes pictures I have seen are stunning!

10 minutes ago, PrincessPatti said:

Note to self:  never ever, ever sail on Norwegian Pearl after February 14, 2025.  Not that there is anything wrong with that lifestyle, I just couldn’t get the image out of my head of sitting where someone’s naked body parts may have been.  

Just when we thought Covid was the worst contamination one could encounter on a cruise ship.

5 minutes ago, chengkp75 said:

Don't know if it's the first, but I see American Cruise Line's American Independence using the temporary channels to reach Baltimore, so cruises have returned to Baltimore.

Thanks, good news though she is a just a cute tiny little baby cruise ship.

27 minutes ago, atanac said:

Speaking of a 'themed cruise' how'd ya like to find yourself on the NCL Pearl Feb 03 -Feb 14, 2025 for the Big Nude Boat. Yep, a nude cruise! It was on the news last night and the news readers were aghast...as was I.

It’s a big nude SHIP, not a boat. 
 

Will these idiots ever learn?

5 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

 

No stairwell dwellers this morning.

I’ll have a parfait then smoked salmon benedict. Coffee with full fat cream. Be right there. 

4 minutes ago, blarko said:

Geez this cruise flew by

Some things never change.

8 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

I get it.  But once you do it you will be hooked.  

I was in a grand suite on Carnival Legend and Cloud9 on Radiance. I wouldn’t pay more than a 20% premium for the first or 10 for the second. 
 

I believe I actually paid more for my half of the grand suite than a solo balcony room would have cost. 

15 minutes ago, LatinaInTexas said:

I'm booked on the Vista on Deck 6 in one of those cabins next year. Did your cabin have a sofa? Was it quiet? I was concerned being close to kids stuff. Usually pick as far aft as I can get for quiet, never stayed up front.

My room didn’t have a sofa or even an easy chair though there was more than ample floor space. Greg has a nice chair now but no idea if they smartened up and added to the Vista rooms. The sea boom sound was mostly at night on the first and last nights when cap’n was running full bore over open water to leave US soil behind and get us towards Central America and later the same in reverse.

Otherwise the room was extremely silent. I am a bit claustrophobic and loved the airy open floor plan and I liked the view from the window out over the deck during daylight. You have to close your curtains at night. Never saw any kids that way. Those rooms are all doubles I think so mostly adult couples.

1 minute ago, jimbo5544 said:

Makes it a whole different type of cruise.  Highly recommend it. 

I don’t know. I’m pretty happy in steerage.

6 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

I forgot to mention that may 1st the imax

movies changed from Civil War and Challengers to Fall Guy and Challengers. 

I only watch about 5 movies a year but Fall Guy looks just about dumb enough for me to enjoy.

Saw Barbenheimer last year. Both were great but you can guess which met my mandatory dumb threshold. 

21 minutes ago, jimbo5544 said:

That will do it.   We had someone cruising with us going thru a tropical storm and he said he ended up on the floor in the middle of the night.  That would make it memorable.  

I have occasionally wondered if cruise lines should offer a few pirate themed rooms with ship hammocks rather than beds. Different kind of swingers.

2 hours ago, #55worktoplay said:

Go with Plan B, you may need it. 
 

Take Care

If the flight credit is unused by my friend to join us in Alaska in 2 weeks, I may take just the one teen who is my own and fly to Portland later this summer. Should about cover 2 coach tickets. If they don’t want to come (might be working a summer job) I may still go alone and get the big seat again.
 

I have long had a minor bucket lister to see the Columbia River Gorge, End of the Oregon Trail, Crater Lake, and Redwoods State/Nat’l Park (northern Cali). I had sorta written it off but maybe the stars shall align!!

1 hour ago, Jamman54 said:

That's the bow cutting through the waves, the one drawback with the those up front cabins.😎

Yes we heard it a lot on Vista. Agree it was the only issue with the room. It was quite loud and frequent at certain times. Foam earplugs!

Thanks again Tribe for your positive comments. I hope Star Wars day finds everyone strong and happy. 
 

I would like y’all to know that while yes, I am dealing with some heavy stuff, I am doing really well!

I am in contact with my husband (gets his phone 90 minutes a day.) He seems to understand this is the make or break moment.

I am relieved to have gotten to this point. Miles better than the prior ten months of nervous enabling through failed attempts at self-management. Not knowing what to do or how to help but realizing everything you tried wasn’t working. 
 

I am taking care of myself, starting to spend a minute here and there anticipating the Alaska cruise (13 days). I have offered the spot to my friend who runs the cat rescue where I have been volunteering for 4 years. She wants to but it’s a longshot. DH knows and likes her and agrees with this plan.

If she can’t make it I will get my first solo cabin and should be able to claim a few hundred $$ back with cancel for any reason insurance or a little more depending what kind of paperwork the doctor will provide. I assume I will also get his grats and port charges back, maybe as OBC? Opinions?

I have 2 separate reservations through an online TA and the other room is in his name with one of the 18 year olds so I don’t know whether he needs to talk to someone himself to switch out to our friend’s name. Maybe someone here has experienced this and has advice??
 

Alaska Airlines gave me a full credit for his cancelled first class flight ($730). I have to book something by September but the flight can be later.  If my friend can go I will use it to book her. Otherwise I am brewing a possible plan B to use it.

Have a great day all. 

I am behind as you know I am sorta dealing with heavy personal issues but I have been meaning to mention that when I sailed Vista two years ago, we were also in an end forward cabin on a secret deck and our “high wind” sign never came down for 5 minutes the entire week, even when we were docked in Mexico with warm sunny days and no wind whatsoever. It was room 6206.

Therefore we commenced civil disobedience signwise roughly at the midpoint of the cruise and helped ourselves to the bench  whenever we felt like it. We weren’t the only ones as occasionally (rarely) we could hear someone head out there. 
 

Liz won’t win Survivor but she’ll score a sweet deal as “celebrity” spokesperson.