villager70

We have booked both these cabins for August (2014). Is cabin 9260 under the hot tubs? If so, does that mean it will have a 'yellowish' glass wall on the balcony, instead of clear/blue?

 

Does anyone have pictures of them? Thanks....

 

Hi fellow cruiser... Don't worry about your cabin. I have sailed on Freedom in 9562, and on Liberty in that room, and have 9562 on Freedom for Dec. 7, 14. The two rooms 9562,9262, and 9560,and 9260 are the center of the small hump, that extends for decks, 10,9, and 8. Your balcony is twice the size of the others on that deck, and deck 9 glass is not yellow, nice bluish clear tint, and no obstructions. You picked a winner. I had a pictures showing the area from the side, but can't remember where it was located on the boards. I booked a mini suite for 4-20 on the freedom , down the hall, since I needed double points and the same on Indy on 1-3-14. If I hadn't gone with the suites I would have grabbed 9560-62 or same on port side

 

Bob & Nancy The Villages Floridas

Ho boy. You let yourself in for a detailed technical description of the pools and hot tubs, so here goes.

 

The USPH regulates all aspects of sanitation (and other things) on cruise ships calling at US ports, one of which is pool sanitation. Most of the USPH inspectors that I know are ex-health inspectors from major cities like NYC. They will tell you that the sanitation measures taken aboard cruise ships is far better than nearly all shore pools. Chlorination levels are generally higher than shore pools, and this causes many complaints of fading swimwear.

 

That being said, a lot of the pools are sea water, and to save time and money on chemicals, the cruise lines are allowed to place these pools in "flow through" mode when more than 12 miles from shore. In flow through mode, sea water is constantly taken from the sea, pumped into the pool, and the overflow is drained right overboard again. In this mode, no chemicals are required to be used. However, all pools, whether sea or fresh water, within 12 miles of land must be recirculated and chemicals added.

 

Now we come to the hot tubs. Remember, these are public hot tubs, not the one in your backyard, so anywhere up to several hundred people may use them in a day. The chlorination of the hot tubs is kept even higher than the pools (8-10ppm), and this causes many to complain of the smell, and worse than fading swimwear, it will tend to boil out the threads of inexpensive swimwear. The hot tubs are generally kept at 140*, which coincidentally is the prime breeding temperature for the legionnaire's bacteria. So, if this is introduced into the tub, and we then aerosolize it with the air jets, we have a prime candidate for inhalation of legionnaire's disease. To minimize this, the hot tubs are drained nightly, super-chlorinated, and scrubbed.

 

I think many people are just skeeved out about sharing a hot tub with a hundred or so total strangers (I'm one of them), and many don't realize that the sea water pools are chlorinated when close to land or in port. You also have a more closely knit community onboard than you do at your home pool, so infectious diseases tend to get started, and spread more quickly in places like cruise ships, nursing homes, college dorms, etc.

 

Apologize for giving you way more than you probably wanted, but I use these threads to get out facts about ship sanitation to the cruising public.

 

Thanks for the info. Better recheck the 140* degrees. Most tubs I has seen even some usually hotter on princess, range from 100-105. You could not stand 140 degrees as would have some big time skin burning.

Hi cruiser...... I have been out of the Marine Corp since 1967 and have copies of my DD-214 & Discharge. I copy my DD-214 and on the back side a copy of my honorable discharge. All you need and most never ever ask for it. Just some info if you ever need a copy you can go on line to Veteran's affairs and complete form and they will mail you one free.. Bob The Villages Florida

[quote name='musicfam']We cruised Freedom last week and they had lifted the towel check-out program.We were pleased until we realized that with no "investment" in their towel, the chair-hogs were worse! (My daughter got up at 7 a.m. to get a chair by the pool. They all already had towels. She found ONE in the smoking area.)Folks left towels on chairs and went to lunch, shopping and Bingo. Worse, they just walked away from their towels on chairs when they were through and you never knew if the chair was really reserved. And forget the deck patrol. They are worthless.

Another welcome change were Diamond and above drink vouchers on your Seapass card. That was great. When they tell the bartenders they are offering this, it will really be nice!

Overall, it was a fantastic cruise![/QUOTE]



Hi Lisa .. post from cruiser on Freedom last week. Im not sure if I can save the thread but if you go to Search.....post 2016577 by Musicfam

Bob

9562 is in the center of the mini hump under the jaccucisi. I had it on the Liberty, 12-13 on the Freedom and booked it for the Freedom on 12-7-14. Balcony Double size. Bob & Nancy

Thanks all for your time and responses. Bob & Nancy

Please advise what terminal the Indy is using for the 8 day cruises. We are driving and if you can advise if parking is in the mid point garage or a surface lot, and whether you have to use a parking shuttle. Thanks ion advance for you time. Bob & Nancy the Villages , Florida

I tried to do some research on the balconies of the Junior Suites, I personally like not having a covered balcony so I was wondering if the Liberty JS balconies were completely covered. We are staying in room 9568 on the Liberty and was wondering if I could get any insight on this.

 

Hi DonJuan... I know what you mean by covered balconies and looking down on them. Yours is completely covered not like the tiered outside balconies on many Princess ships that I see from your post that's you are referring to. Bob

Thanks all for your time and info. This is another example how cruisers helping cruisers makes this site such a success. Smooth seas and pleasant memories to all. Bob & Nancy The Villages , Florida

Hi fellow cruisers. Booked standard port side Jr. suite on Independence. Can anyone advise the deck furniture on balcony. Does it have lounges along with standard table and chairs. Thanks in advance. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

Thanks for your info. Bob

Anyone advise on distance from cruise dock from Independence of the seas to fort and whether walkable. Thanks in advance. Been a good while since we have visited

Hi fellow cruisers. Does anyone have link or photos for Jr. Suite on Freedom class ships. Thanks in advance. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

We are Platinum and just sailed the Dream on Jan 25th. We checked in at 1030 at the priority lounge, which was so packed they were seating others, and us outside in general boarding. In about 10 minutes they called our name went into priority lounge and assistance took us into another room and checked us in. Then walked to holding area with plats & diamond ,about 150, and FTTF were seated in roped off area next to us . We boarded about 10 minutes later

We had a balcony 9251 and arrived there about 1120am.The room was about 3/4th finished, but we were able to put items in safe , and leave carryon. be checked back around 1200 and all our luggage had arrived. Bob & Nancy The Villages , Florida

Hi fellow cruiser. Haven't been on Explorer in a few years but considering the nine day out of Canaveral in Jan. Have the cabins had any upgrades , like flat screen tv,etc or are they still in original format. Don't see any yard visits on their site to 2015. Appreciate any recent comments you can give on condition. Thanks in Advance Bob. Going on Freedom in Dec but will need nine more nights to get Diamond so thought this might be a good idea.

Just off Dream and got two Beach/cooler combination bags. Bob

Just to advise we had dinner at the Steakhouse. I had the 17oz ribeye ands wife had the filet ands lobster. Of all the specialty restaurants we have eaten on board, Royal, Princess ,Norweigan ,Celebrity, the service, presentation and quality of food surpassed them all. Bob

Good morning fellow cruisers . Just returned from the Dream eastern route

 

and thought I would add a few comments . We have been at the Platinum

 

level since 1999 when they didn't have any benefits other than the card. This

 

was our 39th cruise, 18th on Carnival . We decided to take the Dream as we

 

live in central Florida and with the transfer to New Orleans , wanted to try this class.

We did not have any problem with the layout, toned down glitz , and overall

 

as usual had a nice relaxing week. The ship was very clean and all areas we

 

noticed were kept up well. The embarkation was very quick and all employees

 

were very friendly. We had a balcony on deck 9 (9251) which was in a great

 

location and one of the quietest rooms we have ever had. We did have a room

 

steward who couldn't put the phone down and would clean the cabin in 3 or4

 

visits over and hour or so until he would have it complete. Several days

 

forgot to change glasses or empty cans. Mentioned it to him a couple times

 

a little better but not up to usual. Needless to say did not get and extra

 

envelope at the end. We didn't let this little problem dampen our cruise.

 

We had late seating, in scarlet dinning room in center with a table for ten .

 

Our waiter and assistance were two of the best we have had. The maître D ,

 

came by and introduced himself but never saw a head waiter around the area the entire week.

One major complaint we have is that we took late seating so didn't have to

 

dress until 815 seating. Carnival has now put all the shows for late seating at

 

700 pm time slot making you dress super early and often missing sailout

 

etc. All that we talk with agreed it all about money. Now when you finish

 

diner instead of the show, you either go to the casino or the bar/lounge area.

 

The past cruiser party was one of the worst we have attended. It was held on

 

deck 3 on the main lounge and was packed with many not having seats.

 

Drink service to center areas was impossible with tight single seating areas

 

having little legroom. Car5ival might consider breaking this up into two

 

groups, gold ,with the largest number & Platinum & diamond .

 

We ate mostly in the dining room and tried the buffet upstairs once and

 

could really tell the food variety, service( dishes siting on many tables) a

 

the lack of staff and officers has gone down.

 

We always found something in the dinning room and had no complaints

 

there other than the new brunch which goes from 830 to 100pm. 90 %

 

breakfast food. Just a way to avoid serving lunch. Gave drink coupons to

 

cruisers but only good at brunch and had to order them as soon as you arrived.

Wife didn't feel real wineish at 900am so threw them away.

 

I might add this is the first cruise where we never heard the must have

 

over and over and even didn't hand out extra envelopes at the end.

 

We had and excellent debarkation and were on our way 10 minutes after

 

we arrived at priority debarkation

 

As always we weigh the good and bad and the good always comes out on top,

 

and we have always been loyal Carnival cruisers but with the cutbacks,

 

changes taking place, it will be a while before we cruise with them again. We

 

are booked on Royal Freedom and looking at Carnival Liberty out of

 

Canaveral, but will have to monitor boards and see what new changes they

 

have in store. Excuse the spelling and hope I didn't sound too negative but

 

have always relied on these boards for quality info and felt I should share

 

our views. Smooth sailing and calm seas to all. Bob & Nancy The Villages ,

 

Florida

Hi Cruiser: Don't feel guilty. We cruise Royal often also and really like their line and discounts offered to past cruisers but we cruise other lines also.Got off the Oasis 4 weeks ago and leaving on another line next sat. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

Hi fellow cruisers: Does anyone have any pictures of the Ocean suite on Liberty or any of the other five conquest/ glory class ships. I have a picture in the new current Carnival agent brochure but look like one of the new classes. Thanks in advance Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

Thanks to all for your response. Had a news clip today on local TV on new port construction at Canaveral on pier 1. Completion date is November. Will be on the right when you sail out . Will be able to accommodate Oasis class vessels and will have a shopping mall area also. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

Hi fellow cruisers. This will be our first Carnival cruise out of new terminal. Is the parking in a garage or lot? Do they have a assigned area for priority , FTTF

and do you go through security line first ? The luggage area when returning is it the airport conveyer type or all luggage on floor area. Thanks in advance for your time and responses. We have been on a few cruises recently and if we can answer any questions give us a line. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

Thanks to all for your comments.. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

Hi fellow cruiser : Going on Dream in a couple weeks and going to steakhouse . Have been to others on several other lines but first on Carnival. We are beef lovers and wondering which entrée of beef most prefer, and ones not liked. Appreciate any info you can share. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida

Add us to the group. We have been Platinum since 2000 when there wasn't any. When they first started we got platinum cards but no benefits for the first 4 months of the program. Doubt that we will ever reach next level as sail other lines. This will be our 38th cruise when when sail Dream this month. Bob & Nancy The Villages Florida