KaiBlue

DH and I just booked this cruise a few days ago on a whim! Looking forward to the different decor on this ship - seems to be quite elegant. Half Moon Cay is the only port that we haven't been to on this itinerary but my daughter has been there and loved it. We love a good beach day. We also use discounted gift cards but through Allstate Rewards. The cards are not available at all times (they seem to come and go) but joining the program is free and it's easy to accumulate points.

It had the various Guy's BBQ sauces, but yes, the other branding wasn't there. They had choices of pork, chicken or beef, mac n cheese, potato salad, cole slaw and a roll (no collard greens that the buffet bbq on Mardi Gras had). Also seems like MG had sausage but I may not be remembering correctly.

Just the outlet that was in the cabin (not the bathroom). Really strange! Now you have me worried:) I'd be a mess without my iron. For me, the iron helps control my curls a bit in front. But I've heard of people saying they went to guest services who have one they could borrow -if I was desperate enough I'd definitely try that.

We just got off the Conquest on Monday and yes the BBQ is still there on the upper floor of the buffet (so deck 10 actually). We had the bbq and while it tasted good, it was not hot unfortunately. Not sure if we just timed it wrong or what. But we did take our buffet plates on other visits up there to sit just because it was never busy and it was a nice break from the noise below. Seems like the Splendor had a similar set up and it was the only place our group of 7 could find a spot to all sit together.

I had read many people saying their 'better' irons didn't work, so I purchased a cheap one and brought it and my better one on our first Mardi Gras trip (the cheap one worked despite it saying it was ceramic and my better one did not). The cheap one is shown below. It has now worked on the Mardi Gras (twice), the Sunrise and the Conquest. My better one is a HotTools one that cost about $100 (sorry I don't recall the model on that one).

Just got a call from their 'upgrade department' last week for our sailing at the end of next week (so about 9 days out). $100 for an update from a deck 7 interior to a deck 8 balcony on a 3 day cruise. Normally I might have taken it but we haven't cruised in an interior for almost 30 years and really wanted to try it out. They did want me to decide on the spot. This was only the 2nd upgrade offer I've ever received and the first one was for a ridiculous price so turned that one down as well. We have always booked with a PVP. This cruise was sold out a few weeks ago so obviously rooms are opening up and they are trying to maximize revenue.

Thank you for taking the time to do this! We sail her this August in Europe (first time on the Pride!) and have balcony room 6216 so will be curious to see how you liked that room location.

Thank you!

Thanks for the great review so far! I was behind but just caught up. We sail the Celebration next May for a 6 night. I don't think I saw you mention this but did they have two elegant nights on that part of your B2B?

@Post CaptainThank you! Yes, that is helpful. I'm thinking of doing a pre-arranged car service from LHR to our hotel just so we don't have to figure out the Tube while being on possibly no sleep:) Then a pre-arranged tour the day after our arrival as I'm generally not good at handling jet lag. Thanks for the advice on the luggage - I'll have to look at Stasher if our chosen hotel won't hold it (I hadn't even thought of that and assumed we would have to book the hotel for the night before so we'd have access the morning of) . Going the day-of transfer via International Friends route would be the easiest and I went back to look again at their website. They say that they do adjust according to the current drive situation so to keep watching emails. That does give me some comfort. Thanks for the advice!

Hello all! I keep going back and forth between two scenarios for our trip next year on the Carnival Pride going out of Dover (which leaves on a Sunday). Dealing with luggage, the availability/cost of taxis and traffic getting to Dover are my main concerns. As an aside, my husband and I have no physical limitations so are fine with wielding the luggage. While we are traveling fairly light (plan for 1 medium sized check and 2 carryons for us), wondering about the following scenarios and which you all think might be better. After spending 2 nights in London.... Option 1: Taking a tour of London on Saturday, then catching the train from Pancras Station (hotel not booked yet so probably need transportation to the station) to Dover later in the day and taxi to a Dover hotel. Take a taxi to Dover Castle the next morning and then back to hotel to pick up luggage and yet another taxi to the cruise port. This requires 2 hotels which obviously isn't as convenient as just staying put. Questions: 1) Will taxi's be this plentiful/readily available without costing an arm and a leg (sub-question: do they tend to hang out at these locations or is this something we will need to call for?) and 2) will most UK hotels hold your luggage for you? Option 2: Spend Saturday night in London, then use International Friends transfer on Sunday from our hotel to Dover cruise port (with a 2 hour stop over at Dover Castle). I have read that 2 hours really isn't enough time to fully see the castle but the ease of this route might make it worth it. They say we would be at the cruise port by 2pm and we sail at 5pm, so I'd assume our all aboard will be 3 or so. My biggest concern with this option is the traffic getting to Dover the day of the cruise. I guess if we were running late, we could skip the castle but obviously not something we'd like to do. Would greatly appreciate any advice from people who have experience.

We also just got off the MG - I think it depended upon hitting things at just the right time as we never had much of a wait at any restaurant (at least not to get in - meals were certainly slow processes and that seemed to be across all venues). This was our second time on the MG and I think it would be our last unless we got a great deal. Overall, we have enjoyed it, however, just like some variety. Agree completely with others than have commented on the venues not having the best layout - some seats are just not good at all depending upon what the show is (the Vegas show as an example as aerialists and some seats there would be no way you could have seen much of that). I hate the seats in the main theater too - they lean too far back for me and the rows are very close together - and no way they could even consider having any bar service in this venue - wait staff wouldn't be able to deliver! We tried ChiBang again despite not being overly impressed the first cruise, and while lunch was fine (albeit slow), dinner was by far the worst meal we had on the entire trip. I ordered the pork tacos which honestly they shouldn't have let that plate leave the kitchen as it was clearly all fat, then the main entree was super-small and not consistent - couple to the left of me had the same dish and all 3 of our meals looked completely different. Ordered drinks at the beginning as we were sitting down and got them after we were done with dessert. Would have just walked out without but saw that they had already charged our account for them. Not due to the wait staff not working hard - they were practically running - but we commented how Carnival would never be able to charge for this venue. And we wouldn't go back if we ever sailed on MG again. Ate at Cucina twice and got an inside-the-restaurant table both times (around 6:00pm I'd estimate). Didn't understand why they think people would want to eat out in the hallway and put tables out there - wouldn't be something I would enjoy. Didn't have any issues at any bars, except for P&A where the bar itself was almost empty and had 4 bartenders behind it ignoring me and I had to get down and walk down to the other side of the bar to get any attention. The plus side of this ship for us is the pools (love the aft pool on deck 8), the multiple locations to eat, the ability to find a seat on deck even at max capacity and the variety of the entertainment (strings, small bands, guitarists, etc).

Just got off the Mardi Gras and it was a sold out cruise - People were posting on FB asking if anyone would be cancelling as they were looking for rooms. Found out it was fall break for many of the southern states and it was also an elite casino cruise. While the ship was full (and sometimes it did feel like it), the wait for most things wasn't too bad - even walked by the popular bars many times and there would either be a seat or enough space to walk up to order. I imagine this is also due to ship layout as I've been on some other ships at less than full capacity and they felt much more crowded.

I'd take that offer in a heartbeat! Enjoy!