cathyz

We sailed the Paradise a few years ago when she was ported in Long Beach. We didn't understand the eggs either. :) Subscribed and looking forward to the rest of your review.

 

~ Sheryl

The eggs are supposed to be 'Faberge eggs', or so I was told.

If you do book the Hotel Maya, use the corporate code 0560018220 for the Carnival parking package/room.

Thanks - I just could not recall his name!

Great review, thanks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The rest of the day consisted of just relaxing poolside and such and of course the second elegant night. Before dinner we stopped by the atrium bar to grab a drink where we were serenaded by the guitar player/singer who recalled our 30th Wedding Anniversary (M&M) T-Shirts from sail away day as well as our “names” Bud & Doll that we call one another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He played Eric Clapton’s “You Look Wonderful Tonight” as we took to the dance floor and suddenly, and oddly realizing that we were the only couple dancing and those around us began to applaud giving us a truly romantic and somewhat embarrassing moment; one that we shall never forget!

 

 

 

 

What a coincidence, I see the singer in the background, Doug Trask, we got to know him on a couple of our Spirit cruises and still keep in touch. He was on the Spirit in the casino bar for many years (almost 10), before it moved to Australia.

Thanks for the photos, I'm scratching my head how in the world will a 3rd person fit? I don't see the couch being able be be opened up! I have an L shape and we are a party of 3.

Most of the sofas on Carnival are 'single beds' by night. The steward will remove the back and make the bottom part into a single bed, it's not a pull-out like you'd have at home.

Add 2 more Cathyz and Wolfie48 from California.

We just got off the Miracle on the 29th from the Hawaii cruise and were in #5235....right next door. Was Sunny your cabin steward ? She is indeed absolutely fabulous....such a sweetheart too ! Liliana in the casino was another that I loved talking with....hated to have to leave the ship as I knew that we would miss both of these lovely people !

We are in 5235 on the Miracle in November and were in 5235 on the Spirit, I think it's a great cabin for the price.

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I'm still a little mystified on the ships they have chosen to introduce this on. The Victory is port intensive, The Splendor has a hard time filling cabins because people think Mexico is evil, The Breeze is in Europe and the Spirit is going to Australia, starting with a leg to Hawaii beginning Sept 18.

 

We're on the Splendor in a week and it has already disappeared from the reservation page because it's full, so I think you might want to update your thinking on the Splendor.

So, bottled water is included? For some reason I thought I remembered earlier posts saying it wasn't.

Cruise Critic Reviews and News has been notoriously wrong, so I wouldn't believe their report of this.

I've cruised on several lines, including Carnival. I was on C for a 4 day, a 7 day, and a 14 day cruise. In all instances I saw many more people having MUCH too good a time (drunk, obnoxious, loud, boisterous, in-your-face) on Carnival than on any of the other lines I have been on. And then all the silly contests, "hairy chests" among them.

 

Carnival caters to the younger set -- more likely to be a bit out of control, perhaps.

 

There were also many more children on C, and parents who just seemed to think it was ok to let their kids roam the ship unattended. I don't care how good the kids are at home...you put a pack of kids together without adult supervision, and things can quickly get out of hand.

 

I also really dislike C's decor -- loud, brassy, garish to my tastes. It seems to me that when the atmosphere is "loud", the people tend to be less in control. The glitter, flashing lights, naked statues, seem to bring out the worst in them.

 

The C crew were outstanding, the food good, the service exemplary...but I wouldn't cruise on C again unless it had an itinerary that was unique and totally unavailable on any other line (and they change their decorator...which I have learned they have, since my last C cruise in the early 2000's...)

So you're basing your slanted view on cruises from 10+ years ago? I've also heard your favorite, HAL, is quite a boring cruise for the scooter set, but would I try one if it was the right cruise, of course!

*raises hand in shame* :(

 

I'm guilty of this.

 

We sailed every cruise line but Carnival because we heard they were mostly all big party boats. :confused:

 

HOWEVER, our friends want to "try out" cruising, and the only one that fit our budget with a beautiful itinerary was the Carnival 5-day'er. Hubby and I are giving it a shot because we're trying to be fair, would like to try a new line, and the price couldn't be beat. While we are the youngest ones on the boat with Princess and one of few non-kid famlies on RCCL and Disney, we think Carnival may be right up our alley as far as entertainment (though we aren't really the get wasted/gamble all day type). So dare I say I'm actually excited to try Carnival now. We chose January in hopes that kids and college folks will be back in school and the rowdy crowd won't be too extreme. :)

And with that great attitude I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time!

Glad to hear that. Some of the things I've been reading seem to indicate that it's a hard ship to maneuver since some of the decks don't go all the way around the ship. It sounds like you have to go up & down steps to continue from forward to aft. We're staying on deck 2 hoping that we will be able to board elevators before they get filled on the way up to the pool deck.

Yes, it is a hard ship to move around, the flow is pretty bad and there are points on the Lido trying to make your way thru the buffet areas that have drink machines that cause complete stopping points, it's a crazy layout. We much prefer the Spirit class and Fantasy class ships, so much easier to get around and both seem much less crowded than the Splendor. But having said that we've been on the Splendor twice and will be again in 2 weeks since she's leaving the west coast. But we're looking forward to the Miracle.

I am planning on bringing a small french press on board the Elation this October. Has any one ever used on for making fresh coffee? I'm not sure if the hot water from the coffee makers will be hot enough to brew in a press, but might try it.

I know they have free coffee, but I find it repulsive. And I refuse to buy the flavored coffees they sell, reminds me of over priced stuff Starbucks sells. I roast my on coffee and have become spoiled to the taste of fresh roasted.

If any one has any experience with a french press on board please let me know if it is possible to brew using the water they provide. We plan on bringing the press up to the Lido in the morning and enjoying our coffee on deck.

We got to know Doug the guitar player/singer in the casino bar on the Spirit and ran into him several mornings as he was making his coffee in his french press with Lido hot water. He does it every day, so I guess it works fine.

I am glad it is coming to NYC. Is it true Splendor's spa balconies are non-smoking too, like on Dream?

Yes, it's true.

What are Carnival's libraries like? Is there a trading bin for people to trade their finished books (that are not currently the library's books)?

There aren't that many books in the libraries I've been in, maybe 100, and they are only open 2 hours a day, 1 hour in the a.m. and 1 hour in the p.m. where there's someone there to unlock the cabinets and you have to go during those hours to sign out a book and/or return a book.

Burges, hot dogs, fries, pizza (where you get my favorite, the Caesar salad) and room service. Deli is not open late.

I think the Deli is open until 11:00 p.m.

Are they still serving Escargot?

No, they're temporarily out of escargot, some kind of supplier issue. There's more info in John Heald's FB about it.

 

I loved the Spirit also and so glad when the SPLENDOR leaves we are getting the MIRACLE (the last of the Spirit Class) Just love this layout. However, I understand it will be used in a limited capacity out of Long Beach ?

 

Yep, that's right, the Miracle will sail to the MR only in the winter, and sail Alaska in the summer, with a few Hawaii trips in between. So no 7-day or longer cruises to MR from Long Beach anymore in the summer (not that we go then anyway, but it will put more pressure on Spring / Fall.)

Been in 7258 on the Legend 3 times. Never had any food/grease odors.

We had 7258 on the Spirit once, also without an odor problem.

OK - So I know in the wake of the Concordia accident, everyone wants to see a crack down on cruise ship safety but I'm just off the Destiny today and all I can say is that our muster station drill was a total joke.

 

They no longer make you wear your life vest to the muster drill, which on one hand is really nice because I was already standing there trying to hold a 26 month old baby, and keeping him tolerable while in a life vest would have just been down right ugly, but literally, they stood us behind lines, and people were on the phone, on their iPods, texting, etc and no one said a thing. No one is wearing their life vests so there is supposed to be a demonstration of how to put one on. Unfortunately the girl in our section didn't have a life vest. She said, "It's okay. You can watch the TV if you don't know how to put it on. This is all on the TV." :confused: Then she proceeded to check out and let everyone else go back to their texting/talking/ etc.

 

I think they also announced life boat numbers - not sure, I couldn't see or hear a thing, and they did pass out a wrist band to my son and tell us not to use the elevators, but most of the message was lost on me, and most everyone else in our section because 1) no one was paying attention. 2)no one seemed to care that no one was paying attention 3) the staff was disengaged 4) we were crammed 8 deep so even if the staff had kept the attention of the first four rows, there is no way anyone in the back rows could see a thing.

 

Hey, I'm a safety girl and I did go back and turn on the safety briefing on the TV because I couldn't hear/see a thing at the muster drill, but I do resent a huge waste of time, and the drill, as it was run, was definitely a waste of time.

That's too bad there were rude people. I guess you haven't cruised in a while, they haven't required you to take your life vest for a few years now, unrelated to any recent changes. On our last cruise last month, the captain came on the loudspeaker and spoke for a couple minutes, everyone was very quiet listening to him and then the CD came on the loudspeaker for about 15 mins, we could hear every word. I guess it depends on who is running the safety drill and if they force the rules. We saw several drinks taken away from folks and everyone was very quiet.

Yesterday, I booked the SPLENDOR again for the 3rd time on the April 29th voyage. Can't let her get away without enjoying her one more time.:D

 

Usually book 3-5 days before the cruise, so this 4 week wait is going to be a killer for me.:eek:

 

We're doing the same, but not until September, just one last time before she leaves us. We just sailed the Spirit twice within 5 months for the same reason!

We just booked the Splendor for this upcoming September. I'm kind of nervous about Hurricanes during this time...but I know Mexico doesn't experience that many hurricanes...so we took the chance and booked it b/c the price was low. Has anyone else sailed to Mexico in September and had any problems?

We ran into Hurricane Rick a while back on the Splendor (late October) and had a change in itinerary, but otherwise the captain did a good job of avoiding the hurricane. Just one day was pretty rough and the pools were sloshing out so they eventually closed them for a while. The next day was just fine.

I would like to know this also. Is there smoking in the AFT Lido? Thank you

I know some of the smoking rules have changed, but last time we were on the Splendor the entire aft area was non-smoking (maybe because food is served back there), but there was a close smoking area just above on deck 10 overlooking the aft pool. It seemed to be crowded most of the time. The Serenity was non-smoking as well and probably still is.

Do they always do the Indian Chief Ice Sculptures? If you have pictures of other Ice pieces please post..Thanks

I don't have a picture, but on our last cruise, they did a cruise ship!

Somebody needs to give up on tacky Carnival ...and start cruising Crystal ;)

 

 

It's so much better -and for about the same price! :D

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Hmmm, hardly the same price and I like to relax on our cruises, not dress is stuffy clothes and ballroom dance - YIKES!