CruisingViper

The TABC's and NYSLA's law excludes bottomless brunches and the like because they are considered "events".

oh, yes of course. those are totally different. Oh well, no one said govt laws were supposed to make sense.

I greatly prefer the MDR. Beyond the ease of sitting down, relaxing and having a waiter bring you your food, there's also the social aspect if you like your tablemates. It's a great time to catch up on what everyone did that day. Then there's the quality. The buffet has most of the same stuff, but it's been sitting out for who knows how long and will be dry or overcooked from the heat lamps. The MDR also has some specialty menu items that aren't on the buffet that I also enjoy trying.

But I also get people wanting to do the buffet. It can be a chore to get the family together and dressed and looking nice for the sit down dinner. Sometimes you just want to lay out by the pool all day and then mosey on over the buffet when you're hungry and not worry about all that.

I wonder how recent the Texas law is. I remember lots of brunch places in Houston and Austin had "Bottomless Mimosas" back in the aughts.

The distributor thing is such a stupid law. It's a relic of a long ago need that was questionable at best then and outright parasitic now, surviving only on inertia and campaign donations.

I'm a little curious too. I will be on deck 6 right above the Red Frog Pub on my cruise in 2 weeks. I'll let you know how quiet/loud it is when I get back.

just give me the reuben and the buffalo chicken and I'm good. Though I agree with coevan, other than turkey and mustard being gross.

what were your favorite spots on the ship? did you try the deli? How packed was Guy's during embarkation?

Thanks for the information. Quick question: If your cruise starts on June 30th, do they use the list from June or July for their play list?

Not that it matters, but I wonder how that works on a 5 day cruise? I'll be on the Paradise starting 7/2/18. If they do one a night, that's a small portion of the list... Even a double feature wouldn't complete it.... Anyway, it doesn't matter: I don't cruise to watch movies. They could show anything and it would be fun to watch in a pool!

Wondering about both of these. I'm on the Valor June 30th. I've seen most of what's on the June list but there's a few in July I haven't seen.

I've sailed the opening week of football season the past two years where they have the monday night double header and then thursday night football. The only game they've put on the big lido screen was the Saints game because we were sailing out of New Orleans. Last year they weren't even able to pickup the Thursday night game in the sports bar.

ah, I was sailing out of Galveston and it was the Cowboys games they had on the big lido screen. So you're right it may only be for "hometown" team games they put up there.

In my past cruises they played football (american) games in the sports bar/red frog pub with primetime games on the big screen on the lido deck. I'd think they'd do the same for WC games.

Where did you book the "Behind the Fun Tour"? I don't think I've done this one before. I'll be doing a 5 day cruise on the Valor in 2.5 weeks.

Yes, I sailed on the refurbished Paradise.

 

Guy's and Blue Iguana were open for business when we got on. Also the deli -- I love the turkey sandwich!

I haven't sailed on the Paradise, but I've loved the deli on the Breeze and Freedom. My favorites were the reuben and the buffalo chicken.

I did this every morning with no problems. I might have had to wait 5 if they both had alcohol.

has anyone booked their next cruise from the boat of their current cruise? It seems like they give good discounts there if you know which one you want to go on next.

We had Cheers and every time we passed a bar we grabbed a bottled water. We had a nice stock of bottled water in our fridge.

Good point. No need to buy it if you're already getting Cheers.

Unless you are sailing out of Galveston or New York, the package does indeed work on the first day of the cruise, and it is good until you leave the boat at disembarkation. You may incur some state taxes (less than $0.50/drink) but that is dependent on the state you are leaving. The tax is figured on the retail price of the drink. You have to pay the tax, but you don't pay for the drink. TX and NY have stricter laws, apparently.

Thanks. I sail out of Galveston so I didn't know it was different in other ports.

Fleetwide, here is the list of Dive In movies playing in June

 

A Wrinkle in Time

Jumanji - Welcome to the Jungle

Star Wars Last Jedi

Black Panther

Daddy's Home 2

Pitch Perfect 3

Wonder

The Greatest Showman

Justice League

Peter Rabbit

Coco

Only the Brave

The 15:17 to Paris

Red Sparrow

Are we talking the movies that play on the huge screen atop the Lido deck? Red Sparrow?:o:o:confused:I didn't know they played R rated movies with nudity like that.

We've seen most of these so we usually skip them. If you're not sure which to see, I'd definitely recommend Jumanji, Black Panther, Peter Rabbit (this was surprisingly good), and Coco. And while it didn't get the greatest reviews, I really liked A Wrinkle in Time. I thought it was really well done. I also liked Last Jedi, but I'm sure everyone's already seen it and has their own opinion on it.

I'll just agree with everyone else that it is an all or nothing deal. You can't pick your days. I had it on my 7 day cruise last year. One thing to note, the package doesn't cover the first day and last day of the cruise so any drinks on embarkation day you'll have to pay for.

I like the package, as you can try high end liquor you might not usually get to try, and it include the specialty coffees, milkshakes, bottled water and all sodas/fountain drinks. You can also get the themed specialty cocktail they have at dinner. Also remember, if you get it, every adult in your cabin also has to get it. I've seen some couples traveling in groups where the husbands wanted it but the wives didn't so they reshuffled the rooms assignments to have the men sharing a room and the women in their own separate room.

There's also free water dispensers throughout the ship if you want to bring your own containers and refill them as you need.