flem1064

Ok, just so I'm clear, I think the value of this Ship/Cruise at this time of year is unbeatable anywhere! Plus I'm 20 minutes from the Port so no flights or parking. You can't go to a Motel 6 for 4 nights for $169 with food, stale bread or not.

I'm not crazy about either of the current shows, The Brits and Motown "Something Or Other". I don't know if the current shows on the other Carnival ships are better or not.

The service across the board was excellent. People pay more than double the $169 for this same cruise at other times, but the servers and room stewards treated me like I paid $1000.

The prices in the onboard jewelry store were no bargains, duty free or not. The liquor was a pretty good deal with Bacardi in the low $12 range or less for a Liter. And they supposedly price match from the islands.

Here's the scoop on liquor, right out of the mouth of the customs agent. Customs does not bother levying duty of less than $10. So even though the allowance on this itinerary was 1 liter per person, you could carry off 5 liters and they would not tax you. As long as you declare it on the customs form. They don't like people misrepresenting what they are carrying. You can also "pool" your allowances between family members traveling together but MUST be living at the same address.

So if you want to buy a Tag Heuer for $2500, 4 people from the same address can "pool" your $800 allowances and the watch is duty free. Loose gemstones are ALWAYS duty free, regardless of price.

If I think of any more tidbits, I'll add them later.

Embark and Debark were flawless, lots of agents on the way in and did priority walk off on the way out.

Lido dining has declined over the years. Missed Indian food at lunch. Dinners were eh. Bread up there was embarrassingly stale! Seriously stale. Lines were reasonable even for the wok.

Staff was excellent all around, pretty much always been the case on our cruises.

Rudolfo the cabin steward made sure my 12x12x12 was always filled with ice. Rum Runners made it through as always.

Ship was very clean, lots of vacuuming and carpet spot cleaning going on.

Pizza seemed less popular than the deli most times I was there. Miss the roast beef sandwich they used to have. Arugula, mozzarella, pepper on focaccia as good as ever.

Still looking for the secret to line the key up with the vault to win that ipad + $500!

Wish the older ships had the outdoor screens for football games and nighttime movies.

All in all, a great little 4-night cruise for $169 plus taxes! Can't beat it with a stick.

Just stepped off the Ecstasy this morning with Tervis tumbler.

This is the first building you walk through when you disembark in Nassau. The women waiting to braid your hair can be found just on the other side of this building......

This is a shot from a suite balcony on the Carnival paradise when it was non-smoking. One of the best rooms/cruises we've taken on Carnival.

Hey all!

I thought I'd start a new thread here, since I am bored at work and need some more entertainment!

Here's a guy swimming near the Carnival Triumph at Grand Turk

And a close-up of the same swimmer

Hi Roz,

I didn't book it yet, my idea is to take a couple of inexpensive, short cruises so I can get closer to Platinum level. I just don't want to share a cabin with someone I don't know.... Thanks for replying.

I couldn't find an answer to this question using the search function. If I book a 1A on a Carnival cruise (upper/lower I believe they are), do I get the room, or is it a share? I saw the following symbols on the Carnival web site next to the 1A (SH,N) and I couldn't find a key to tell me what it meant.