Destiny0315

It's interesting how some feel that HAL should be grandfathering them into this new program with AARP for existing bookings and not just new ones. I know I can't be the only one still waiting(nearly 14 years now) for HAL to add the double Mariner Society points for suites booked before the fall of 2009 when that program was introduced.

Yes it has been essentially sold out for weeks now with occasionally 2 or 3 cabins popping up as available for a day or two and those being mostly insides. As we get to 60 days remaining before sailing (this weekend) and again at 30 days away in a month you might see a few more cancels here and there.

That definitely sounds like a classic Chat & Cut going on there.😀

I agree! The Hal Cruise Directors stay at the level they should be based on the line they are working for. They are mostly low key and not the in your face, know my name, sometimes self absorbed CD's you tend to find on the main lines. Some of those CD's remind me of the type of DJ's at parties that take over by playing mostly music that they like and then get very active with the crowd on the dance floor like they are part of the show while always looking for your attention.🥳

Well yes tracking it is one thing but what you do with that data is another. So far their use of it and new technologies on three ships seems to be working well but with 89 to go the challenge is beyond huge!

So yes they know a lot about their ships, employees and customers on all lines. https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/digital-transformation/carnival-corporation-sails-edge-tracking-oceans-data/

During this past week there was actually two Terrezza aft wraparound premium balconies on deck 8 & 9 that became available again for a couple of days. As a solo it didn't make much sense to upgrade to that level of cabin but boy that balcony alone on the deck 9 cabin could handle most of us on this roll call for a sail away party! https://youtu.be/f4p7ci_1XVw

2013: Carnival Destiny(1996) refitted and became the Carnival Sunshine 2019: Carnival Triumph(1999) refitted and became the Carnival Sunrise 2021: Carnival Victory(2000) refitted and became the Carnival Radiance

Exactly!! CCL's stock has been on the downturn dropping nearly 6% in the last week after peaking in the $19 range. What better thing than to promote this as news while also tying in HAL's legendary history. That history is what keeps HAL safely in the parent company's back pocket at least for now imho. Oh and btw, where else can you really spend just a $1 (initially) especially for something as big as a cruise today? Even one of the companies that promotes that buying concept, Dollar Tree, has the majority of their items priced at $1.25 or more now! Oh and their stock is at $144 a share, go figure...

I agree, nothing that any experienced solo cruiser wouldn't likely know already, but good info for anyone who is new to the solo cruising experience.

A new article with solo cruising tips... https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidnikel/2023/07/13/cruising-solo-5-tips-for-solo-cruise-travelers/

Well it looks like you're all set for bodyguards for your Carnival Venezia cruise, but hopefully they won't be needed.😀

Never a friend of the cruise ship industry but at least this site's just published article gives more insight into what ships might possibly have issues on this matter. https://www.cruiselawnews.com/2023/07/articles/fires/which-cruise-ships-are-equipped-with-faulty-paroc-fire-resistant-panels-the-cruise-lines-product-supplier-shipyards-and-clia-wont-say/

Well usually on summer cruises like that the complaints tend to be about all the kids and teens running around onboard and creating havoc. I have done mostly cruises on HAL and CCL recently and both are fine if you know ahead what to expect or not expect. If this had been on a HAL cruise it might have froze Cruise Critic up for a day or two because of all the responses it would have created. But even for CCL this was beyond the normal amount of stuff you usually encounter. As the Venezia's cruises get longer and the crew and pax adjust to the new ship the hot summer vibes should get tamped down and I think we will all be just fine in Sept/Oct.🤞

The offer says availability for 500+ of the 694 currently scheduled HAL cruises.

The refurbished (by Fincantieri) Crystal Serenity has completed its sea trials and "ensured the fire-resistant panels were properly certified and not defective" according to this article. https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/refurb-interiors/crystal-serenity-completes-sea-trials-ahead-planned-july-31-debut

https://cruise-arabia.com/2020/04/25/the-worlds-oldest-cruise-lines/ Most of these are still around and can probably say been there done that when they welcome you back!🙂

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/cruise/clia-and-msc-cruises-react-after-cancellation-of-explora-i-debut

Your probably right because if by 5am it hasn't gotten good yet it's probably going to go bad! Anyone for breakfast? 😉

How would you like to be the poor dog having to sniff that out.😉

Welcome back John! Its sounds like you had a nice few days away in your RV. I have enjoyed following your frequent updates on here for months about the Carnival Venezia and this itinerary. I am Rob from Massachusetts and I will be joining you and the others on this cruise. I will be traveling solo and excited to be returning to Aruba where I first visited with my wife(now deceased)forty years ago during our honeymoon in October of 1983. We returned there 20 years later for a day in 2003 on a Carnival cruise and now I hope to do it again 20 years later on this cruise.

Also that line is open only from 8am-5pm pst Monday-Friday

Celebration leaving the Port of Miami at 1:45am!

Kudos really to all three of these cruise lines CCL, NCL and MSC, and their personnel along with the Port of Miami for pulling this off! Beyond a logistical nightmare going on here to turn around roughly 30K+ people with roughly 5K+ crew members and who knows how many port people involved at totally abnormal hours for all. Also the Carnival Conquest and Sunrise ships along with the RCCL Freedom of the Seas are scheduled to be arriving at the port in just a few hours.