TooManyWakeUpsTilWeSail

True story-on my 1st cruise ever (1997), I discovered the ship I was on served 3 breakfasts: 6am continental, 7am buffet and 8:30am sit down (MDR).  Even though I ate normal portions and food types at other meals, I could not turn down a good breakfast and managed to gain 5 lbs in 3 days.  Lesson learned to pace myself.

2 minutes ago, snowballs mom said:

We usually carry on the permitted amount of wine and buy a bottle of something for the cabin. A cocktail on the balcony and a glass of wine with dinner is usually enough for us. 

We basically do the same-enjoy what is provided on the ship and bring wine & buy a 12-pack of bottled water.  I don’t consider what we do as being cheap (typically bring $200-$300/day for onshore purchases), but most things that cost on the ship can be experienced for less $$ on another form of vacation.

It seems the bayside hotels have jacked up their rates over the past few months.  I was considering Intercontinental (bay view) for September at appx $250.  It is now $320 + $25 fee.  Marriott is $269 if you prepay.  
 

I’m seriously considering giving up the bay view & selecting closer to downtown at this point.  Would prefer CVS/Walgreens walkable and Uber cheap to PoM.

8 minutes ago, cruise.freak said:

We would

like to change to just a different t ship/ports same time

frame

Just realize that many 2021 sailings won’t be to the original ports scheduled.  All 3 of mine are changed but we are happy at this point to just cruise anywhere.

4 minutes ago, scendro said:

Zip lining is $20 unlimited.

Going next month on the same route you did.  The above zip line looks great for beginners.  The gondola off the mountain looks kinda boring.  Did you do any Carnival sponsored excursions?

8 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Chair hogs must be unvaxed😂

 

 

Please post a pic of the dive-in movie setting if you get a chance.  That would probably be the only time I chance going near the lido pool if it’s manageable.

I took a screenshot of the crossed-out View Vaccination Status when I answered the 1 q on 7/20.

I have no intention of going back/forth with Carnival on a daily basis.  Come 9/12 if they deny me boarding….I am the captain now.

1 Bolt ride vs JiJis or Cucina for dinner?  Easy choice for this adult.

1 minute ago, jimbo5544 said:

There are a ton of free both lunch and dinner

Yes, on newer class ships.  I was only comparing the increased pay options vs having few options on the older ships.  I’d pay to not eat at the dinner buffet.

16 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I used to hear carnival poster comment especially about ncl nickle and dining them, but now seem to have embraced pay restaurants and love the idea

I’m fine with expanded pay restaurants as long as lunch remains free at most of those dinner pay options and basic options (Guys, Deli) never go away.  Having previously sailed only on Fantasy class ships with Carnival, the limited food options quickly became boring.

We will definitely get off at Half Moon Cay.  Probably book a shore excursion at Amber Cove.  For Bimini we are uncertain; would at least get off the ship & visit a nearby beach but won’t wait the 2-3 holding hours at port@Cruise Related mentioned they experienced a couple of weeks ago.

2 hours ago, phoneman69 said:

Well i'll be able to say "been their done that" after our Sept cruise. Looks like a nice stop

Hey 2 years ago I got to checkoff Dominica as an unexpected fill-in for St Thomas.  There are so many of these less-traveled cruise ports worth trying once.

On 7/24/2021 at 10:48 AM, ninjacat123 said:

We are doing the 360 Beach excursion through Carnival.  I'm curious if others have more info about Bimini.  Thanks for posting!

Hi ninjacat123.  What is the cost of this excursion thru Carnival?  They announced a lot of itinerary changes yesterday for various September cruises.  Still can’t add excursions they app.

8 minutes ago, phoneman69 said:

IN CASE YOU ALSO MISSED IT YOU NEED TO DO YOUR COVID-19 VACCINE QUESTION IN YOUR CRUISE BOOKING Yes Bimini will be new to us. Love HMC See you on the ship coming down from Boston

Thanks from St Louis and good luck at anything not involving my Cards! (in case you’re a Red Sox fan).

It looks like the mock bookings are being updated now too (at least for both Horizon 6 day trips).  Hopefully not too long before excursions are available related to those.  In the meantime, I’m off to the Caribbean ports board to look more into 3 new stops for me.

What excursions did you try on the 3 ports?  Our September cruise just got really-routed to match.  
 

I think you mentioned in the other topic that Bimini had delays for both excursions and walk-offs; do you wish you had stayed on the ship?

Just now, phoneman69 said:

Yes same sailing. sign into your carnival account and your Planner should reflect the update. Just saw mine today.

Thanks.  Just saw it.  Cozumel also replaced with Amber Cove.  See you on board.

@phoneman69

Do you have a link for the update?  I think your on the same (9/12) sailing as me & still see the original ports in a mock booking.  Tht

@firefly333

No offense taken & the prices I copied were from a Google search.  Obviously drinking the same amount of tap beers costs less than top shelf mixed drinks.

I can’t believe something as innocuous as quoting someone’s post off of memory can bring out idiot responses where they take it as my scientific proof that they are getting ripped off.  So done with the responses to this thread.

50 minutes ago, ray98 said:

 

You could have just said "thanks....I was mistaken".

 

 

 

You could have just read where I started with “someone…had done an estimate” rather than post some idiotic comment about math.  Either way, take a flying leap off the Lido deck for all I care.

45 minutes ago, ray98 said:

 

Probably need to check your math.  Premium "non-beer" drinks are between $10-$11 each.  Drink 8 of those a day and you will break $100 with gratuity.

That was quoting someone else posting pre-covid & not “my math”.  If it helps you sleep night you are probably right depending on what drink is selected.

On 7/22/2021 at 5:22 PM, SNJCruisers said:

Teppanyaki was not an option as a substitute to the Steakhouse.

Did anyone confirm that Teppanyaki was not even an option for the package?  

Someone (pre-Covid) had done an estimate that it took at least 8-9 non-beer drinks to “get your money back” on buying Cheers.  Obviously if you spend significant time off the ship in your ports, it makes it even harder to break even.

I’m not really a drinker but I can’t imagine just prepaying Cheers just to avoid surprises.  But to each their own.

2 minutes ago, MrMarc said:

You mean St. DeSantis wanted to stop cruise ships and wanted to stop COVID from coming into his State when it suited him? No way.

It’s funny that the same people that laud DeSantis for his pro-business, non-regulation stance (especially as it applies to cruising) are the same ones crying “politics” when when you bring up the dark side.  
 

Gotta wonder if stricter regs could have prevented Champlain Towers.  And NO, I’m not blaming DeSantis in any way.  I am blaming lax regulations and government oversight (mostly on the local level).  Too little government oversight can be worse than the alternative.

8 minutes ago, TNcruising02 said:

Thankfully, DeSantis had the guts to stand up for them.

Always taking a stand & making sound decisions:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/30/florida-governor-ron-desantis-cruise-ship-coronavirus-zaandam
 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.jacksonville.com/amp/112255994