havanadaydreaming

headed to the Magic next month, will be the first Carnival ship i have sailed on multiple times. i like to hit the buffet on sailaway night as i usually have a few dranks on lido and in the casino. if i get on a roll in the casino imma be DOU happy, which usually requires a casual dress dinner at buffet.

We first saw this almostvexacy show on msc whenever it was we sailed. 5 years? Was kinda cool. Sure beat doing nothing.

Just came off a 12 nighter and had mixed success on DOU casino. Drink service a challenge due to jam packed casino. Headed on a 6 nt next month with two cabins of adult kiddos and bff's. Cheers gonna run me $840 cabin (x2) since we didnt purchase at booking. We have the DOU again but only casino. And while the casino can giveth it usually taketh away. I debated getting Cheers for us also so we can congregate together at sailaway bar and Alchemy. In the end gonna roll the proverbial dice. I might stick to beer first night. Im not sure i can compensate for wife's smaller consumption rate for six consecutive days. Sailaway and first sea day? Sure. But the three port days prolly not so much. And last sea day (day before debark) is a slower drink day for me. I like feeling 100% on flight home.

A year ago we completed muster AND had drink ordering ability paused at sailaway. Had to re-do muster to activate dranks. Surely an error but why fight city hall?

Odd fact, it took me several days to learn CD name was MarQ not Mark Hu. Ive only seen a couple Fun Squad ive sailed with make it to CD (to my knowledge) but i think Juan Diego might be a future name to watch. Another "odd fact" was seeing Fun Squader Ice Ice Baby several times first couple days then not again rest of 12 nt sailing. But trivia was sooooooo swamped at every contest i quit going.

Only time ive seen specialty restaurants book up pre cruise are from a competitor that offers free at sea dining packages to most cruisers. Steakhouse and hibachi can book up. Havent had same problem on ccl at all.

You will have fun Mad. My rideshare to EWR was $150ish including tip. I think bus was $41pp. But oh man that sailaway background was worth it!

Mz nailed it.

Fantastic! Sounds like a great time.

Been on my share of cruises the past decade+ but i thought id share my Venezia debarkation experience. As you likely know the ship holds 4k-ish passengers. And the port is on the Hudson river midtown manhattan. I expected a semi hectic experience when leaving pier 88 building. I didnt expect to be funneled into one crosswalk with hundreds of my closest strangers....most lugging 2+ suitcases on wheels. Chaos. And a little bit of survival of the fittest. Pro tip: take the carnival bus to airports. Cheaper. Much easier. Block one was a mass of humanity looking for cabs or rideshares. I decided to go a couple blocks east and a couple blocks north to order rideshare. Had to fend off a few fake drivers using the uber or lyft app to offer a cash fee to airport. Nah baby nah. Just say no fellow sailors. Scam artists. To recap, expect a bit of a hassle. Make it as easy on yourself as you can. Book a shuttle bus. Peace be the journey!

Now that im off the V im going to start reading this thread.

8 beats 7. But Cayman beats maya.

Why? Bathrooms. Loved not having a shower curtain. A+ upgrade. Clean rooms. Great cabin steward. Coffee shop. Just a pleasure to go there almost daily. Italian Guyburgers. Yum. Not the best of the menu but still fun to try. Teppanyaki. Best at sea for me. Spotless furniture and carpeting. MDR. Loooooooved the lasagna. Trying the surf and turf upgrade tonight. Casino. I dont care if its smokey but im an ex bartender. I wanna win! After an extended dry spell i won many hundred dollars last night. I woulda had a little more but i was chasing 1k level. Pro tip: if you have DOU ask for Col EH Taylor bourbon. Good times. Great fun squad. Try to find Pedro from Columbia! Amari bar definitely upheld the Alchemy tradition. Not a fan of the bitter digestif selections myself but nice to see new things. NYC sailaway was a thrill. Im a big fan of the Miami sailaway vibe and this was neck and neck (point reduction for drink packages not valid first couple hours). Great skyscrapers. Great live musicians. Really liked the CD.

Room carpet

Gondala Lounge

3rd floor lobby bar. San Marco? Something like that.

Definitely not on Venezia.

The Mrs came back yeaterday complaining about funnel soot in sunbathing area. It stained clothing and Yeti. Couldnt hand wash it clean. Bark. Bark. Bark.

Buffet - poor photography here. Was on a rush, didnt want to be seen snapping photo of buffet carpet. Ha!

Bonsai Sushi

Main theater

Who knew that what we needed was a detailed expose of the carpets of Carnival? Venezia style, this thread.

Cincy and Bills was game before afc championsip last year. They have shown 1pm and 4pm games sundays on dive in screen.

Welp.....just saw a Sixtysomething woman stand up at her table during the mdr staff dance performance and shake her finger at multiple performers. She wanted a four top for her party of two and she wanted it NOW! Ok, that might qualify as an ugly american tourist.