1st4our25th

Not going on the Jubilee, but on Mardi Gras in November and have that same cabin. I sure hope they still allow a lounger. One of the reasons I wanted an extended balcony, besides the downward view.

48 minutes ago, Knights on the Beach said:

 

6 minutes is even better. 😊

That would be a dream 💕. I just couldn't stand to be that far from my kids and grandbabies. 

7 hours ago, GothOnAShip said:

Post Steakhouse, here’s my comparison:

 

The filet in both is amazing and you can’t go wrong either way. The filet at the steakhouse is a traditional grilled filet, while at teppanyaki it’s cooked on the grill top, with tons of garlic butter (delicious, but your cholesterol will go up by like five points just looking at it, lol). I don’t like seafood either, but having it all cooked on the same grill wasn’t an issue. I couldn’t taste seafood at all. I’m not even sure it touched the same part of the grill. 
 

At the steakhouse, you pick your appetizer. At Teppanyaki, they give you some of everything. Most of it is seafood, so I didn’t eat any of the appetizers, which I felt awkward about, but the staff didn’t blink an eye at it so that’s good. 
 

At teppanyaki, you get a show. Which is a lot of fun. At the Steakhouse, we were lucky enough to get a show of sorts. There was a guy seated next to us who was on a first date with a woman he clearly met on the cruise and she was becoming progressively less into it as the dinner went on. I was entertained, but that really is a luck of the draw sort of thing. I could also see that being off putting for someone who isn’t me, so there’s that. 
 

At teppanyaki, you’re seated with other parties, which I thought was really fun. We did it the first night and we had a cruise friend for the rest of the week. At the steakhouse you’re seated with just your party…sort of. One would think that the tables would be a little more spread out like in a restaurant on land, but on the Mardi Gras they’re not. We were inches from two other tables, one of them being the first date. It didn’t bother me. I like making friends, but I did prefer the fun party atmosphere of teppanyaki if I’m going to be mixing and mingling with strangers. 
 

I liked the option to take dessert to go in the steakhouse. The desserts at Teppanyaki wouldn’t really work for that. Not a deal breaker for either, but it’s an option I like. 
 

Overall, both are great options. I think my preference is Teppanyaki, but I will be doing both again on my next cruise! 

Thanks so much for the comparison. I may just have to do both. 😆

1 hour ago, mz-s said:

Carnival hikes the price every few months so if your cruise is a while yet, I'd go ahead and book what you know you'll be interested in otherwise you will pay more if you wait.

Isn't that the truth. I have waited on bottled water for my November cruise because it says it's non-refundable and now it's almost $15. Wish I would have just ordered it last month. I didn't think they'd go up again so soon on that. I'm  still trying to decide between the Steakhouse and Teppanyaki, or both. I need to do it quick before they increase that again. 🥺

1 hour ago, Knights on the Beach said:

 

We rode by there again yesterday and the lot is bigger than I first thought. I sent them an email and will let you know when I hear back. Their website just says parking is $15 per day for overnight guests only and I didn't see any park/cruise rates. But hope to get that clarified for you. 🙂

That's great! Thank you so much!

3 minutes ago, GothOnAShip said:

We had reservations at Bonsi Teppanyaki for dinner.

 

I also booked a Steakhouse reservation because I want to try all the specialty dining on board if I can, just based on how amazing that dinner was…

Post a comparison if you can. I loved the Steakhouse on Sunshine, didn't try it on Vista, but really want it this go round. But....I also want to try Teppanyaki. Problem is I'm not a fan of any fish/seafood (I'm a filet girl) and the desserts don't sound like anything I'm used to, so I don't know if it would be my cup of tea. But I want to try it for the experience. If I could only do one, I'm not sure which I'd pick. If they are good enough I would possibly do them both.

Following along. We were on Vista for the first time last November. Love that ship! Hoping to talk dh into letting me book her for next year. He wants to try a different ship, but here's hoping I get my way! Have a great cruise!

Following along. We will be on Mardi Gras for the first time this November and I can't wait! Have a great cruise!

12 minutes ago, Knights on the Beach said:

Their parking lot is fairly small, do they allow cruise parking there? We live in the area so we haven't stayed there but drive past it several times a week. Terminal 3 doesn't usually have the traffic mess that happens at Terminal 6. We did notice a long line of cars waiting to get into the garage at T-3 last Saturday, but it's not usually that bad.

I do not know 100% that they allow cruise parking for guests. I'm going off vlogs I have watched that said you can, but none of them actually did it. That's why I was looking for someone that has left their car. Good to know T-3 parking isn't the mess that Terminal 6 was in November.

Thank you for your help. That makes me feel better about parking at the terminal. It was so stressful last time.

13 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Once I bought FTTF and cancelled it. Our boarding pass and luggage tags didn't show priority, but our S&S cards had FTTF stickers on them.

Last November we had two cabins with FTTF,  all luggage tags and boarding passes were marked, but S&S cards for 2nd cabin didn't have stickers.

On 4/2/2024 at 12:49 PM, Elaine5715 said:

It will not show until check in.  Otherwise, people would buy FTTF, print out luggage tage tags and then cancel FTTF

Our cruise is not until November and our luggage tags have the FTTF logo on them already. I just printed them this morning. I had that same thought as you, what is to stop someone from purchasing FTTF then canceling after printing boarding passes and luggage tags. They would still get priority boarding, just not the other "perks". I hate paying the extra $$ for it, but I do it for convenience mostly. We carry on/off all our luggage and I like to be able to drop off our bags while waiting on our stateroom to be ready. I also like being able to board asap and we like to debark as early as possible ahead of the long drive home when sailing out of FL. If sailing out of SC or VA we prefer to debark as late as possible since the drive is shorter. 

Have any of you stayed at the new Holiday Inn Express in Port Canaveral and left your car there? We will be staying there in November for our first Mardi Gras cruise and I'm trying to decide if it would be easier to leave our car at the hotel. When we cruised on the Vista last November the port was kind of a mess getting in. I know it was a different terminal, so 3 may not be as bad. Just looking for past experiences. Thank you!

Excited to follow along. We will be on Mardi Gras for the first time in November to celebrate our 30th anniversary. Can't wait! Hope your family has a wonderful trip!

Does anyone have a hotel recommendation for the Savannah area or a little farther south? We drove straight through from NC to Port Canaveral on our cruise last month, but are looking to stop maybe halfway or so and spend the night this time around. We will be leaving 2 days before our cruise on Mardi Gras and will spend the second night near the port.

1 minute ago, Mic101680 said:

A week to go before we board Vista for the first time. She'll be one of the larger ships I've been on, so it will be interesting to see how I feel about it vs all the smaller ships I love so much. I booked this trip probably a year or more ago, so it's been a loooooong wait! LOL

We'll be on that sailing as well. It's also our first time on Vista. It will be the largest ship we've been on until Mardi Gras next year. Can't wait!

Have fun! We get on when you get off. So excited! Our first cruise back since covid and our first time on Vista.

I noticed this too. I was wondering if it may have something to do with the price increase. I know the prices were showing higher for some of the restaurants, but when you went to book they were still the normal price. Now they are gone completely. 

3 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Thanks.  This was announced by Brand Ambassador John Heald on his FB page.  I find it important to reveal the source of any information, especially on the Internet.

Yes, it was.

10 minutes ago, KINGBOBOFTHENORTH said:

Unless there are some toll roads I'm not familiar with in NC, there are no toll roads on that route you've posted. I-95 is completely toll free as is SR 528 from I-95 to the port. (SR 528 from I-95 towards Orlando does have tolls but you're not going that way.)

Thank you. I was confused because it says tolls, but couldn't find one on that route when I put it in a toll calculator. 

I've never driven on toll roads and I'm confused trying to find the cost. Not sure if I should pay for a pass. Anybody want to help me out? Thank you!

13 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

The Allstate wheel got rid of the second X (not that it helps me) and added a $50 and $100 gift card. They're teasing us.

I was so hoping for that $100. Got a $5 BP giftcard instead, I'll take it! Better than what I've gotten or should I say, not gotten, for all the points I've cashed in. Back in April I got a $20 CVS giftcard from the wheel. I guess the wheel has been kinder to me than the sweepstakes ever have. 

8 hours ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Good to know. Thank you.

You're welcome. 

On 9/29/2023 at 6:55 PM, Organized Chaos said:

 

Yeah, it's a goofy little trinket, but I thought maybe someone would be interested in a free item. You get what you pay for. I don't want it either, but I'm curious if they charge shipping for points items like that. I imagine so.

I've previously gotten a couple points only items and was never charged a shipping fee.

3 hours ago, scottca075 said:

 

Rusty's and Grills both have chicken, steak and burgers. Grills is the more extensive, non-fish menu.

 

If I wanted Italian, Mangia & Bevi Pizzeria Napoletana is my favorite for their pizza.

Thank you!