TravelBluebird

Have a fantastic time1!! If you could report back the number of passengers once you know, I’d appreciate it!!

Ugh sore point. I was booked on that TransAtlantic, but it was cancelled back in December. You can book right now sailings start December 2023!! Pretty tight for the first couple of months of sailing, and expensive because its a brand new ship, but I was able to get a bunch of rooms for a big group of family and friends in March.

As others have mentioned, they make you work for ALL of it now. Started with the pandemic, and as many things in travel in general and cruising in particular, reduced services started with the Pandemic and never went away.

It does! But I do like the stripe matching the funnel, and the Carnival blue.

I book cruises in one of two ways. I have my “Fun In The Sun” cruises. Get me out of the winter weather to a warm beach. I want a resort vibe, so bring on the big ships with all of their bells and whistles, and the private islands! So for those trips, I don’t care how often I go to a private island or to Grand Turk or even Nassau. Just point me in the direction of a nice beach and I’m happy. Then there are the “port intensive” cruises. Usually on a smaller ship, but not always. For these, I want to visit new places, experience the local vibe, and the ports are the point, not the ship. I don’t want to visit a private island or any other frequently visited ports for those trips. So bring on Coco Cay on my upcoming trip on the Wonder; its a total “Fun in the Sun” cruise for me!

We’re going next year on Jubilee from Galveston with friends from California and Idaho; really is much easier for them to get to Galveston than Florida! And yep on the Galveston mess…I hate having to get there after flying in to Houston. I also have some video coverage of the new Jubilee zones in my cruise news video this week; just look for Cruising with Dee on YouTube,

I do love your iPhone photog style. I own a Nikon and a Fuji camera, but lately, like you, due to size and weight, I tend to only take my iPhone with me anymore. Especially after breaking my ankle, I like to walk a lot and I don’t want to feel unbalanced by the camera. The lasted iPhone with the wide angle makes that more doable for me; like you I have the iPhone Pro Max 14.

Yes, you can reserve a table with anyone else, even if your reservations are not officially linked. We did this in the app every night and it’s easy to do.

For me, I don’t eat more than once per trip on Chibang so it doesn’t effect me; I’m curious how many people want more than one dinner there per trip, and if $8 per person for additional meals would dissuade them. I’m more worried that they’ll start rolling out nominal charges for all the other included dining —not just Chibang but also Cucina, Pig and Anchor lunch, etc. One of the best distinguishing features of the XL class of ships, to me, are the number of included food options. Would hate to see that change.

You and I should cruise together; we keep similar hours! I’m not actually retired; I run my own business and do work for a non-profit. So I can mostly keep my own hours except for people calling me early in the morning! I just hate it when they call before I’ve had my coffee. My husband is a morning person so we keep completely different hours. He’s up at 7:30 am. And retired. I just don’t understand it! On a ship, it helps if we have a small suite because otherwise our hours drive the other a little crazy.

Well I used to fight with my sister over licking the mixer, so I think I just enjoy having my little bowl of brownie batter (um…Chocolate Melting Cake!) on Carnival!

Yep this! It just cost my husband 400,000 points for Business Class to Japan. It’s outrageous; with points so worthless we’ve simply been traveling based on routes and price instead of loyalty, and i was Platinum//1K with United for years, so I used to really care and book all my travel with them.

Crazy right? We found the same thing with our Mardi Gras trip last month; prices for the hotels near the port were outrageous. My hubby and I are so similar to you in age, pets and children! Although you have us beat by 1 grandchild 😂 Have a fantastic trip! I look forward to more of your report!

Bon voyage! Looking forward to hearing all about your TransAtlantic experience!

When I started cruising, I used to stay on the ship for a port day at least once a cruise. I was so enamored by the ships and just wanted everyone to get off at the port so I could enjoy the ship in peace! 😂 Now I rarely stay on the ship on a port day—not sure why; I think I just am better at navigating ports, and finding something to do, plus I’ve been on enough ships now that the “OMG I’m on a SHIP” reaction has waned. When I used to stay on the ship, I’d hang out at the uncrowded Lido, or Serenity deck. Have a leisurely and uncrowded lunch. Take lots of photos with fewer people in them. Sometimes take advantage of a spa special. It would be the most chill day on my trip.

I highly recommend this. My daughter lives in Japan and except for the pandemic, we visit there about once a year. I would recommend a land tour company for a first time visitor, since the language barrier can be difficult, and they will be able to transport you to many more places than you can get to on your own. Even with a tour company, just be sure you have good mobility if you are going to Japan (or at least discuss with the tour company the amount of walking their tour will require). I always seem to walk a ton in Japan (and that includes on the one land tour and one cruise I’ve taken there), and distances at train stations and between trains (such as the bullet train) can be far. I feel very sorry for everyone who has been cancelled and I hope you can make alternate arrangements to visit Japan.

I still love it! But I also limit it to once or twice a cruise at most, with the scoop of vanilla ice cream. Congratulations on your grandson! Hope you get to rebook the Mardi Gras!

I have never in 30 years of cruising cruised in an Interior room. That is about to change. I also have never been on a Royal Caribbean ship, and its about time that I sail on one! Want to try out Wonder of the Seas this October. Husband can’t go, but he said I should go anyway, but only if I get the cheapest room available. Which, of course, is an interior room. Since I write/vlog about cruising, I think this is also an experience I should have. Excited about sailing Royal, but honestly nervous I’ll feel claustrophobic in the interior. We shall see how I do!

I am with you on this! I love San Juan, never cruised out of there, and would like that option on Carnival. I may do it with another cruise line instead. And as many have mentioned, the cost of air//time in flight isn’t that much difference than Florida for me. I also love sailing from Ft. Lauderdale. It’s such an easy port to fly into (well, when it isn’t flooded out like last week, I should caveat) and I have a favorite hotel there in easy walking distance to several good restaurants and a favorite coffee shop. I’ve only sailed Celebrity from Port Everglades, and I’d love a Carnival ship there instead of the usual hustle and bustle of Port Canaveral or Miami.

I think you made a great choice! I’m a big fan of the Mardi Gras; been on it twice. I think it is my favorite ship! Was surprised how much I liked it…insisted my husband come along with me last month and he, who has said he would NEVER like a big ship, really enjoyed it, so much that we are already booked on the Jubilee next year! As for the casino you will LOVE it. The biggest casino at sea I’ve ever seen! I’m a non-smoker, and there is just a huge non-smoking area. Smoking area looked just as big. And for me, the 9th floor is the PERFECT location, and the deck I always pick on the Excel class ships. Everything you want is an easy walk down the stairs on 6, 7 (Casino!) and 8. Coffee, restaurants, pizza (I always grab some pizza after late-night gambling), Havana Bar, Summer Landing, Grand Central…it’s great. Really only need the elevators to go up to Lido deck and the sports//outdoor activity deck.

I look forward to watching your vlog! Thanks! Internet willing, I’m hoping to do a couple of live videos from the ship; make sure you subscribe//turn on notifications on YT if you are interested in those!

Your rainbow photos are spectacular! Love the reflection ones.

I’ll be on the Venezia for the TransAtlantic from Barcelona! I’ll be doing a LIVE! here plus coverage on my YouTube channel. Can’t wait! I’m also excited to hear about the first few New York sailings; I’ve cruised out of NY just once with my sister years ago on the Splendor, and I still have family in NY so that is always an interesting port for family trips for me.

Good evening all! My husband Russ and I will be on this cruise, and we are so excited! We are from Knoxville, TN. We were initially on the cancelled Jubilee Transatlantic, but we are glad we found this cruise as a replacement! We’ll be staying 3 nights in Barcelona before the cruise. My first time in Barcelona, although my husband has been before.

No worries! I know you make the acquaintance of lots of people through your LIVE! blogs! Covid Ground Hog Day! That is a good way of describing where our heads were all at back then!