Thenagers

31 minutes ago, ninjacat123 said:

At Charleston I have found that the parking lot doesn't open up till 10am.  Maybe that has changed...

I have read that in recent reviews. I will be on the August 10-14 sailing with a 9:30 appointment so I will report back. I am not planning on getting there until right at 9:30. If like last year, I don’t want to spend an hour waiting in the building in those hard chairs!

17 hours ago, Clearwater said:

Approx $190 for 2 of us.  It was a free cruise from the casino so not worried about cost.  Fewer kids is a BIG sell to me. 

 

Be careful that you don’t lose any other benefits from the casino. I would call and confirm. I have read of people losing drinks/funplay.

1 hour ago, SDPadreFan said:

Personally - we've done CHEERS on a 10 day Alaska cruise and we now know we are just not CHEERS people. We can still get drinks whenever we want. Take 2 bottles of "our choice" wine on the ship with us and that covers us for 4 dinners. If we spent $600 on drinks (on the ship) between the 2 of us on a typical 7-10 day cruise, that would be a surprise to us.

 

Fancy Dinners. We've done fancy dinners before, but to be honest, put a big bowl of mac & cheese and some fall off the bones ribs and I'm a happy camper.

 

We do excursions when they interest us.

 

Bottom Line - if it was a cruise we'd done before. I'd save the $1600 and go on another cruise! We live in San Diego, and even then - a day on a cruise ship is still better.

I would definitely not do the drink package on an Alaska cruise and do the excursions but I have never been. Definitely different with any Caribbean ports because I could easily stay on board all day. Done them too many times.

How many nights is this cruise and what ports? If you are a member I would buy Carnival gift cards from AARP and get 10 percent off the drink package! Also have you looked at independent excursions and are there things to do close to the ports without breaking the bank? I would choose maybe JiJis in stead of chefs table? It is the BEST value for your money on the ships that have it! And tasty and well reviewed. 

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

Carnival has really impressed me today. 

 

Not just with the freebies, but also little things like letting guests know where dinner will be served tonight and that the revised itinerary won't be ready until tomorrow. Also, having cabins ready at embarkation. Sometimes it's the little things.

 

MSC and NCL are miles behind carnival today.

I think Carnival learned their lesson the hard way with the fiasco in Charleston last month. Ship was stuck in a storm, didn’t debark until 5 or 6 pm? They were still boarding people for the next cruise at 11 or 12 pm? Pretty sure no OBC or food options were offered but I’d be interested to hear from others who were in that delayed sailing?

The biggest difference I have found is the free options on carnival are better. Fast casual is amazing on Carnival. I would take blue Iguana over El loco fresh any day! And Johnny Rockets is not worth the up charge when Guys is free? I think RCL had a better MDR but I have not been since they changed that menu? I know a lot of people are not happy. I think RCLs ships are prettier but I was impressed with Mardis Gras so carnival improving? 

Curious if anyone currently on Dream has a review of. Some of the new items? I love Emirils on Mardis Gras so I have high hope!

4 hours ago, Iamthesea said:

I am sure that CC has changed significantly since I was there!!! 😀

 

We all love Asian food.  My favorite cruise ship restaurants are Tamarind on HAL, and Red Ginger on Oceania.  

As a fellow luxury cruise passenger, I want you to go into Sunshine with an open mind! I have done Seaborne, Celebrity, RCL and Carnival. I enjoyed them all. I would never take my kids on Seaborne or Celebrity though. They have loved Carnival. As far as Sunshine is concerned, I am booked to sail her again in August after sailing her last summer. It is now an annual Mom/son cruise for myself and my college son. We enjoy her. Definitely try Mardis Gras if you get a chance. We all really enjoyed her. Best casual free food venues at sea. We actually drove to Port Canaveral from Raleigh for this cruise. Broke it up with a college visit for my daughter at College of Charleston. It is just shy of 8 hours from Raleigh. If I was sailing in January, I would want to get further south than Charleston.

17 hours ago, lazydayz said:

The pool at Loft 19 is not well suited for kids.  It is more of a warm tub, and not big enough for swimming or playing.  And only Excel suites or those who purchase a cabana have access to Loft 19.  Since your child is young, a  LOFT 19 cabana would be nice to get out of the sun.  I would price out the lower level suites with the cabana, which are usually about   $2,000 per week. 

This is what we did last spring Break. We booked an Ocean Suite and got the Cabana. They became available pre cruise about a month before sailing. 

3 hours ago, toad455 said:

 

Considering the number of staterooms that had water damage, I'm surprised the next cruise left almost on time. Or perhaps the ship wasn't sailing full and they simply moved whoever they had to?

The next sailing didn’t leave until after 1am. All guests were supposed to be on board by 11 but the earliest anyone got aboard was 9:30 so hard to get everyone onboard by 11! I did hear it was well after midnight before that got into their cabins. I would have canceled if I had a choice. Some people whose cabins needed repairs were offered a refund and FCC. Not sure how many cabins were not available. I know some trued ti cancel but didn’t have insurance or the offer to change. Makes me glad I get insurance. 

2 hours ago, kwokpot said:

TBH it's been that way in Europe for decades. I first went to Europe in the early 80's and they already had the handheld credit card machines. 

It is like that on Canada as well. 

2 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Nowhere in Europe so far takes your credit card. They just bring the device to the table or hold it across the bar and you tap. Even hole in the wall places 

And no tip line. We always left a few euros if they went above and beyond. I know they don’t really tip there. But I heard they actually pay waiters and waitresses better? 

9 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

I’m assuming that is a condiment? What does it compare to?

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

 Bingo I guess

 

 

Still says Costa? 

24 minutes ago, HelloItsMeB said:

Yes! I like her a lot. Did you read Daisy Jones and the Six and watch the limited series on Amazon Prime? Loved them both. 

Yes. Loved them both. Made sure to read book 1st.

9 minutes ago, HelloItsMeB said:

Living that sea day dream. 😎

Good book. My teen daughter introduced me to this author. 

6 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

That’s a wrap on a successful day one, folks! Bed feels great and I’m ready to drift away… see you manana as we head west toward Gibraltar 

 

After the last few days, you both need a good night’s sleep. Slept well and have fun! 

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

Yeah I do this quite a bit during football season since I have to get up super early to make it to New Orleans for those noon games. Sometimes I only get a few hours sleep. Which is more than I had today. But get some coffee in me. A few beers. I’m good till 10pm.  Of course we did skip 6 or 7 hours didn’t we? So it’s like afternoon now even though it’s 9pm. But this will be a great way for me to get adjusted. I’ll be 100% on their schedule tomorrow.

 

We ate a late lunch early dinner in Rome last summer and I went to sleep at 6:30pm. Slept a straight 12 hours and was pretty much on Eurpean time the rest of my cruise. 

53 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

Really wanna rob a bank and stay at this super cool W next time 

 

It is an awesome hotel. We used points for it last summer. Points are the way to go for the high end stuff. We mostly stay at courtyards and residences on family trips but we splurge when a couples trip! 

2 hours ago, maluhia87 said:

They can be used for other things as well. Such as finding the ship if you go exploring on your own or finding your vehicle if in a large parking lot/garage. 

 

Mine currently reside in my suitcase but if we go to a Chiefs game this year I will be taking one with. 

 

ETA - I have Tiles since my phone is a Samsung. 

I use them to track my teen daughter! Teens know ways to hide their locations. I have one in her car . I am so glad my parents didn’t have this technology:( I also have one on my digs tag. He got lost once but hid from people because he is shy. 

17 minutes ago, icft said:

I'm old and confused. What is the big deal. I understood they teach it in sex ed. these days...

😇

It is just the same as my preschoolers and “potty” words. They think they are so funny. Middle schoolers might be less mature! Lol

Deck 11 cabins were flooded. I can’t believe that a wave was that big?!

11 minutes ago, shof515 said:

it looks like the ship is finally about to the enter the harbor and should be docking in about 1 hour

There are reports of damage from a big wave. People embarking today are being offered refund and FCC to reschedule. Sounds like some cabins were damaged? Definitely heard there was broken glass. 

So the port of Charleston had to close because of winds this morning. The Sunshine has yet to dock from its returning cruise. People boarding today have been told not to come to the port because they can’t even park them until the others leave. It is also being reported they are getting horrible seas while they wait off coast. I know many drive to this port but it reinforces the need for travel insurance especially if flying.

5 minutes ago, soccermom4 said:

Hopefully some of your fellow cruisers without bags will take the same initiative and find theirs....just sitting there...waiting for them...Hurray for you!  Enjoy your cruise (and your clean clothes)!

But they might not have AirTags! I will definitely be using those in the future! Ever time!