BookDragon

Ok, a silly story has turned into such an ordeal.

 

Just an FYI, I barely even go anywhere near Lido ever since I am a redhead and burn easily, so I stay in the shade (mostly on my balcony). (or the casino...and no I will not give up my slot machine on the smoking side for a smoker there either...do you request I do that too ??? )

 

Again, there were plenty of seats for this person--she pointed to the smoking area--it was full of empty chairs. I am justifying nothing.

What does the lido deck/redhead/sunburning have to do with a nonsmoker sitting in the smoking section? SMH...ALL of your posts are justifications for your erroneous decision. It has got to frustrate smokers doing the right thing to read your post and see nonsmokers sitting in smoking areas irritated by cigarette smoke. Makes zero sense.

So as a non smoker--you have to move when ever a smoker shows up to claim where you are sitting? I doubt it, but you do you and I will be ok. Just because a side of the ship is ok to smoke, does not give them priority to show up whenever and claim your seat.

 

And again, there were tons of open areas to sit for smoking, I don't think smokers have seating preference when the walk up and want to smoke.

According to deck plans there are not “tons” of areas to walk up and smoke. There are designated areas which SanMarcosMan already posted. And yes, I do believe that smokers should have seating preference over a nonsmoker in the smoking section.

So, if you are sitting in a clam shell up in serenity by yourself, you are going to let any stranger come sit there with you?

 

I enjoy meeting new people myself, but when I want to relax (just like others do), I want to relax.

 

And again, she had TONS of areas to choose from to sit and smoke--that whole area was empty, for some reason, she wanted to sit on this loveseat with me. If you are comfortable with that, its your choice, its also my choice to be alone and relax. And there is no occupancy minimums on the loveseats.

You were in the middle of the smoking section. Granted, it sounds like you had no idea you were in the smoking section. But, why didn’t you give the smoker the benefit of the doubt? Why are you justifying your error? Learn from it & move on.

Wow..you people are funny. So if you sit in a loveseat by your self, you are going to move over and let a stranger sit there cuddled up to you ???

 

And unless there was a sign over the loveseats saying "smokers only" why wouldn't anyone sit there. Does a non smoker have to give up a seat in the smoking area? Like I said, she told me the whole side was smoking, so she could take her smoking self to any chair (and there were plenty of them) and smoke. You cant demand someone share a loveseat.

 

She certainly could have stood there and lit up if she was right it was the smoking side of the ship--she can stand wherever she wants. I am not sharing a loveseat with any stranger--smoker or not

You, a nonsmoker, chose the smoking section to stretch out on a seat that is designed for two. And when told that the area was for smokers, chose to ignore this and stretch out anyways. I am also a nonsmoker and would not sit in a smoking section. If I did by mistake, I would admit my error and move. In general, if someone politely asked if they could sit, I would move my legs and allow them to sit. What you did was not nice all the way around.

My chair hogging story is a bit different.

 

A few years ago on the breeze, a port day that I did not get off the ship. I went up to the floor above lido to get on of those love seat things to watch the movie that was on the big screen.

 

I was laying on the love seat and a lady comes up and asks if I could sit up so she can sit on the loveseat too. I said "no, I am relaxing, this is a love seat and I don't even know you". She said "well this is the side people can smoke on and I need to sit down so I can smoke". '

 

I was flabbergasted---I told her to go smoke somewhere else in a chair she can find (I am not a smoker and certainly didn't want to share a loveseat with a stranger AND a smoker at that).

 

She continued to argue with me for a bit, I straight up told her to move along because I was not sharing the loveseat. She finally walked away in a huff.

Were you actually in the smoking section? It seems that there are few areas where people can smoke. It doesn’t seem fair that a nonsmoker would be in the smoking section then hog the loveseat...maybe I am not understanding your story...

Rather than commenting on my post and hijacking the thread, why don't you answer one of the OPs multipe questions? No, you have not.

Why do you find a reason to comment every time I post. Stop stalking me.

This thread is also a perfect example for why my husband and I would prefer our own table. Some people are just rude...online and in person.

Someone posted a few weeks ago and said it is still the old menu...which I’m hoping remains that way for my July cruise! My husband loves cheesecake and the new menu doesn’t offer it!

they always say to pack and then remove half of what you are packing. I find I run out of underwear. Think about your activities. We would eat breakfast, have an excursion, come back to the pool and then dinner and evening activities. That was a lot of clothes changing (and I changed underwear with every outfit.) So I've done my own laundry or paid for it. I'm attaching a few things I've saved about packing to help you.

The first tip on “The tips for new cruisers” made me chuckle. Specifically the part where he says, “Don’t stress about wardrobe—No one cares what you wear”. Ummm...I care what I wear and if I don’t feel good about my wardrobe and feel like I have a lack of choices, I will feel stress. Just the idea of wearing something multiple times or switching tops to wear with the same black slacks/skirt, or bringing the same pair of shoes to wear with multiple monochrome outfits...all causes me stress! LOL! There are some good tips on the doc, but some of it is just personal preference.

Never understood why passengers bring food or bottled water, when they are abundantly available on the ship for free. Then there was the guy on one of our cruises who brought his own bottle of Tabasco sauce & carried it around in a pouch on his belt. Yes, they have condiments, too.

My husband and I eat Quest protein bars daily and have been for the past three years. We also snack on trail mix, cashews and prefer Splenda. So for health reasons and because I am 99% sure these items are either not on the ship or cost a ridiculous amount, we will carry these items on. We choose to continue our lifestyle even on vacation.

What is the best way to put these onto your sign and sail account? Do you have to wait until your on board and then add them at guest services?

I purchased cruise cash with the discounted gcs so that my S&S account is already updated before I step on the ship. I’ve read posts where others have had issues applying their gift cards while on the ship (i.e. having to wait hours-days for gc verification and/or the gcs themselves being an issue). I don’t want to take any chances.

When you completed the check in process online, did you choose to open your S&S account with cash or with your debit card? If you chose debit, then yes a hold will be placed on your card at embarkation. From Carnival’s website:

• The guest's credit card or debit card will be swiped at embarkation with an initial hold placed on file as a deposit; if the card is activated online, the initial hold will be placed on file on the day of embarkation:
  
  • 2 - 6 day cruise: $100 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card
    
  • 7 days or longer: $200 USD for each stateroom charged using the same credit card or debit card
    

My understanding from reading these boards, is that OBC is used first, then Cruise Cash, then cash, CC/Debit IF one is supplied. When we setup our S&S account via check in, we chose Cash only as we also already have $500 in cruise cash. We also have another $500 in regular cash for xtra tips & in case we need extra and a CC for emergencies only. I would not use a debit card because of possible holds on our checking acct and/or security issues.

I live 3 hours from the port so am not limited on how much I can bring. Which is a good thing because I always pack 4 outfits per day while on vacation (Exercise outfit/Pool outfit/Afternoon lounging outfit/Dinner outfit). Sounds like alot, but I do exercise daily even on vacay, and if the weather is hot/humid, I feel uncomfortable wearing the same clothes for more than a few hours. And I do wear everything that I bring! I know...I have issues!

The reason you held it does not make sense. If you didn't need it you wasted your money, regardless of what others paid for it.

:o I obviously bought it initially for a reason. And we will see to its worth. Rather than commenting on my post and hijacking the thread, why not answer the OPs question? How do you feel about FTTF?

I purchased FTTF back in November, before the multiple price raising. I actually had planned to get rid of it and use the money for something else on the cruise. But then the price kept going up so I held onto it...simply because others were willing to pay so much...making mine that much more valuable. This will be our first cruise, so I can’t personally say it is worth it. However I can say that I would not purchase it at its current price point.

Thank you for the heads up! Just picked up the last few for our cruise next month!

Masala Dosa?!?!? If they have it on the Valor, I will be in heaven! Indian is my favorite and I planned on ordering it for dinner every night in the MDR if its available. But Masala Dosa is absolutely wonderful and not something I would have expected to be available! That is fabulous!

In case you're not keeping score.....17-4, make that 18-4 with my 7 day interior vote. And besides, you have never cruised before, so it is kinda tough to give an honest opinion of the comparison of a 5 day balcony versus a 7 day interior. Hopefully you'll enjoy those 5 days with your DH so that you'll book a longer one next time.

No competition, just a recap as to how many posters responded to either side of the question brought forth by the OP. No reason to be defensive, it's just impossible for someone that has never cruised to give their opinion as to whether a 7 day interior is better than a 5 day balcony. It would be like asking a virgin about sexual position preference.

OP, who is also a new cruiser, asked, “What would you do?” I assumed because I am also a new cruiser that it would be appropriate to respond why I chose a 5 day over a 7 day. For some reason, You chose to focus on my response (and not the others who also chose a 5 day btw) and claimed that my response is somehow dishonest and implied that my opinion is invalid because I have never cruised before. Then you proceed to tell me there is no reason to be offended? LOL. Ok...if you say so.

You’re welcome and I’m sure you will! It would take an awful lot for me to have a bad cruise. Honestly I would be happy in a room stewards closet as long as I’m on the ship. Be prepared to get addicted! [emoji3]

LOL! I’ve already created a monster. Since I surprised my introverted, highly conservative in everything, military husband...amazon packages have been arriving often. He’s purchased shirts with cute anchors & sailboats on them, a Cuban sun hat, a “sea day” shirt, a new water camera, etc. We haven’t even cruised yet but he’s already coming out of his shell! Totally worth it!!!!

A 5 day is good to make sure you like cruising but I have a feeling you will love it! You may also find that as you do it more, the cabin becomes less important. At least it was that way for me. I always had to have a balcony and no one could convince me otherwise until Glory came to Norfolk and the prices were sky high so we got an OV. Loved it. Then we got 2 cabins on Conquest - an OV and inside across the hall for the kids. Thought there’s no way I could stay in an inside being claustrophobic and all. Convinced myself to give it a try for about 30 min and I felt fine. Haven’t looked back since. If I can get a really good deal on an OV I’ll take it, but won’t even consider a balcony on Carnival anymore with all the balcony door slammers. Drives me mad. I actually turned down a free upgrade to a balcony because I preferred my OV.

 

Have a great first cruise and I think you’ll come to see why so many of us long time cruisers would pick more days with better ports over a cabin any day. But you’ll have to determine what works for you on your own. Nothing wrong in sharing your thoughts and feelings.

Thank you FiremanBobsWife! We are really excited and plan to have a fabulous time come heck or high water!

In case you're not keeping score.....17-4, make that 18-4 with my 7 day interior vote. And besides, you have never cruised before, so it is kinda tough to give an honest opinion of the comparison of a 5 day balcony versus a 7 day interior. Hopefully you'll enjoy those 5 days with your DH so that you'll book a longer one next time.

Did not realize this was a competition. I had the same dilemma as the OP...5 day or 7 day. Where’s the dishonesty in sharing that A) I’m a new cruiser and B) What I chose and C) Why I chose it. Unless, of course, you are one of those old time CCers with thousands of posts, who feel that us “newbies” have nothing to offer here...

The Valor currently has the old menu as of June 10, 2018. They told me that they are scheduled to change Aug. 1 but have already made the small kitchen changes and it could be sooner.

 

As usual the food was incredible. Service was just ok. They will do some changes such as using shrimp instead of snails in the escargot. So the shrimp are cooked in the brioche with the garlic sauce. Talk about terrific.

Thank you for reporting back! We head out on the Valor next month and are eating in the steakhouse on the first night. So happy it will still be the old menu!!!

I’ll be the odd man out :). I chose a 5 day with balcony because I wanted my husband and I to have the experiences of wine & stargazing on the balcony whenever we felt like it. Also, this is our first cruise and first time away from our kids. I kind of felt a 5 day with a day in a hotel the night before (6 days total) would be a nice intro to cruising without being away from the kids for too long. If we like it, I’m sure we will do a 7 day next.

discriminate? Are you really going there?

 

"because of their gender are less able to handle "raunchy?"

 

 

No, I could not handle it. Have you been to some of these shows? The graphic language and vivid description of body parts is sometimes overboard and I am not a prude. If you can't see the difference, sorry. I would take my son to strip club, but not a daughter, discrimination? seriously? It's called embarrassment

I declare, Your daughter might get the vapors! LOL! And your son might get more hairs on his chest!?! Just ridiculous!!!!

I’ve been to comedy & strip clubs and wouldn’t take any of my kids regardless of whether they are female or male. Neither are appropriate for my kids, particularly with a parent which implies sanctioning of the event, consent and/or agreement...not sure why gender matters in either of these scenarios. That’s just me though.

Wow. I’m just surprised Carnival applied actual consequences to rule breaking. What I usually read is the lack of enforcement. Anyhoo, If this occurred on my campus, which it has multiple times this year, the police write a citation, students& their parents go to hearing, and are fined and expelled to the alternative school. I am not judging you, as only you know your kid, but if it were my teens, they would sit out of cruising for a few years due to the serious nature of their actions. Then I would leave it up to the now young adult to choose whether to write to the cruise line. Sorry, there is nothing worse than when our kids let us down...btdt.