SMSACE6

Peachypooh,  hope for better days ahead and a future visit to Barbados.  It is my favorite island/nation in the Caribbean.  I have been there so many times on land vacations,  and absolutely love the place and the people.  Let us all look forward to a brighter future for all, safe for travellers, and safe for the islands to allow visitors and support to their economies.  

I am not sure what buffets will be like in the future on ships or elsewhere, but putting aside the current situation and the likely changes in the future, I will say that I always have enjoyed the buffets in the past.  I loved the salad bar, and the continental breakfast section in the am among other things.   I really missed the Tandoor station when they took them away, so I would say add a few curries and other Indian foods on the buffet, even if it means they are served by staff.  I have no problem with that concept.  More curry, more vegetarian dishes in general.

I have enjoyed all my cruises, but if I had to pick one, I would say Valor, just something put me off with that ship.  I do like the class of ship, conquest class, but I just was not fond of that one.  Was a great cruise though in other ways, just the ship was not my favorite.

my first Carnival cruise was on Sensation, out of Tampa Fl, in October 2000.  It was my second cruise, but the first on Carnival and also my first solo cruise.  Up till then I was quite used to travelling alone due to my work,  and having started solo travelling early in life, but my first solo cruise, I was particularly worried about going to the dining room, and back then there was no anytime dining, so sharing a table was a bit of a concern, and I am not an extrovert, so debated going the first night, but figured if I did not go first night, I would not go for the entire cruise.  It turned out to be the most interesting and enjoyable group of people at my dining table, that dinner became the highlight of the day, both for the good food and service, but for the wonderful group fo dining companions, who somehow knew how to draw everyone into the conversation, and feel accepted and welcome.  Unforgettable experience.

Destiny was refurbished and changes made to it, also renamed as Sunshine.  They have done the same with the Triumph, which is now called Sunrise, and Victory will become Radiance.  Not all are happy with the changes, which are extra staterooms added and less public space, meaning more crowding,  and I am just saying what others have reported on Sunrise and Sunshine, but others do also love the refurbished ships with more food options, and updated rooms etc.  I cant speak from personal experience because I have not sailed on these ships since they changed, and were renamed.  I would love to do the cruise from San Juan, and include an added 5 to 7 days in San Juan before the cruise, because I love the place, and would love to see more of Puerto Rico.  I would do it on a Fantasy class ship, but would be just as open to Sunshine, Sunrise etc, or another class.

it has been a while since my last cruise, it was on the Splendor, out of Miami in 2016, late September ? I think, or early October, cant remember, been that long ago LOL.  It was western Caribbean.  The only reason that I have not cruised since then, is that I am caregiver to two parents, 24/7, with no other family to help, so travel is for me for some time not an option, and of course for all of us, now is not an option.  But as is with all my cruises, I have fond memories, and hope to some day get back to it again, though at the moment am in no hurry, given my personal situation, as well as the the global health/travel restrictions.  Still nice to reminisce on these boards of great cruises in the past, and hopes to some day get back to it.

there have been so many great crew members, some of them I never even knew there names, but if I pick one it would be a really great room steward named Angel, he was from Peru.  Always smiling, always calling out to me from a room he was cleaning, as I walked down the hall.  He always asked how my day was, was I having a good cruise etc.  Just a super friendly,  upbeat, happy smiling young man.  As I say many more, but Angel rates right up at the top of the list.  Carnival has very friendly crew.

tennboy1981,  I am frustrated with these offers in a very different way lol!   for years, I cruised Carnival every year or two or three, and spend a bit of time and money in the casino, as it is something that I consider part of my cruise vacation entertainment, and for many years I never got any good offers in that regard, just he usual offers that were not really that enticing.  let a few years pass, and I now cannot travel at all, due to being 24/7 caregivers to family members , I cannot travel now even without the current situation with travel shutdowns, but looking forward, do not see that I will be able to travel or cruise in the next few years, yet the offers keep rolling in, such great offers, but as enticing as they are it makes no sense for me to book even for next year, because I have no idea when I will be able to travel again.  So for me , my frustration is , why....when the times I could travel did those offers never come in, and I had to book cruises at prices that were not really good at the time, but fit my vacation time, and i did so at significant cost, inside room , solo.  Now I get these offers several times a day, that are beyond wonderful, but I cannot take.  So...just saying,  I  do not understand either, would normally be frustrated, but given my life right now, and the global health situation, am just considering all this.

op, it all depends on what or what not the travel agent is doing or not doing to your liking.  it is ultimately up to you to whether you fire the travel agent or not, and or whether the friendship is worth doing that.   Really nothing anyone here can definitively advise you on.  I really do however feel that travel agents, personal vacation planners etc these days are very much in need of some understanding and patience from clients at this time, as they must deal with us, the clients as well as the cruise lines and whatever other travel modes they deal with.  Times are tough right now, for all, but these folks are dealing with the same pressures we all deal with, ie' working from home and or social distancing etc.  Please try to work with your travel agent first before doing something without weighing the pros cons. JMO.

Oceandoll,  I am not long behind you in downsizing, so am not acquiring things anymore, however wish to say, thankyou for reviving this thread.  I too loved the the S.S.Norway, and was my first cruise ship, and cruise in October 1999.  Only reason I did not go back to Norwegian after that is because I started to cruise solo and got better deals on another line.  But I only have the best memories of the Norway.  Best wishes to you on your upcoming move and hoping that you are going to love it. 

3 minutes ago, rjbean4 said:

Dont forget Rotterdam and Captain Albert. She's approaching the entrance channel.

they are both real life heros, as well as their entire crew who have endured this and provided for their guests  during unprecedented times.   I was able to intermittently get on the webcams, but now am unable to.  all the front line workers, from ships crew, air crew, and of course our hospital folks, first responders.  All are heros in unprecedented times. 

looking forward to seeing Rotterdam dock too.

been watching, and following for a while now.. am now crying tears of joy and sorrow, and everything in between. So glad to see Zaandam in, and Rotterdam to follow. 

I have not cruised on Carnival since the deli changed menus, but I do like the new increased menu, with much more options.  could find lots of things on there, but I do love Cuban sandwich, so that will probably be where I start, whenever I can get back on a Carnival cruise.

mitsugirly, thinking of you and yours.  hoping that you will soon get back to good mobility and health with regard to your limb break.  I know that you and your family love to travel, cruise and even though I have not been able to do so in recent years I have always enjoyed your reviews.  Looking forward to the day that you and your family, and so many of us can all get back to cruising and travelling.  take care of yourself and yours, and will always look forward to your next review whenever that may be, but mostly just make this time matter by getting you better.  

my first experience on a carnival cruise might not fit your request, but for me it was Carnival Sensation out of Tampa in October 2000.  it was a 7 day western caribbean cruise and was also my first solo cruise.  I had by that time cruised already one before but not solo, but had also done many many trips to many places solo.  But because it was my first solo cruise I was very nervous about going to the dining room for dinner, because I am somewhat an introvert.  I remember at sailaway, debating whether I would go to the dining room or just go to buffet, but felt that i should at least go the first night, and if I did not enjoy my table mates, I would then go the buffet after.  I sucked it up and went.  It was the most wonderful group of people I have ever had the pleasure of dining with.  it turned out that that going to dinner was a highlight of the day, not just because of the good food and service, but because that large group of people, some solos, some couples, some group of friends, were so enjoyable to talk to and discuss plans for shore excursions etc.  Still one of my best cruise ship memories of all time.  Had i caved in to my fears of dining with strangers, I would have still had a good cruise but a much less sociable one.  Looking forward to hearing of others memories.

thank you all for your responses, memories, and photos.  I am so enjoying all the responses.  makes being unable to cruise right now, a way that I can, and hopefully we all can still stay in the cruise mode, by enjoying these posts.  Thanks again for all the responses.

I also have gotten many offers, some free cabins and drinks on us etc.  I just got another one right now.  I barely ever look at them now,  Even before this horrendous pandemic, I did not really pay much attention to them because I must stay home these days to look after two elderly parents, one who is very ill.   Even if I could travel, I would be leery to book something and then have to cancel it later, or wait for them to cancel.  It would be just too tricky for me to plan, since there would be air travel involved for me as well.  All is moot for me anyway.  Cant leave home anytime in the foreseeable future.  I am not surprised though to see these offers, since they are trying to keep up their bookings.  It is a terrible time for the whole travel industry, not to mention businesses in general.

I am one who also always enjoyed the Farcus decors.  I know that nowadays it is not a popular design or choice of the younger generation, but I have enjoyed them all, except one.  The Valor did not appeal to me.  It was a great cruise, but just somehow did not appeal decor wise.  I am also not a person who needs decor to make my experience, just something that I notice or observe.  I have not been on any Carnival ship newer than Conquest class, but have to say that from photos I have seen here on reviews or elsewhere, the Dream and the Magic, do appeal in that sense.  The Breeze not so much, and the newer ships are just ok.  Not bad, but just not something memorable.  This just me though.  I am someone who does very much like color, eclectic, and glitz. Not a fan of muted, brown and beiges. Again just me.  But have to say, that I would love to sail Magic some day, not just because of  the decor.

Oteixeira, thank you for that link to the YT video.  It brought back so many memories.  Will check out more of that. thx.

agree, but I guess this will largely be a point where I will or will not cruise again.  I did smoke for quite some years myself, but since I quit many years ago, it is something that I no longer can tolerate as a side consumer.  It will certainly be a huge consideration for me int he future with regard to travel in the future.  At this time in life, and in the current situation in the world, I am sadly finally thinking that travel for me is a thing of the past.  I hope that life for most will somehow come back to normal again soon.

it will be a long while till I can cruise again.  Now 24hr caregiver to two elderly parents, one very ill at this time, another not very well either.  I dont have any other family nearby to help, so I am happy to be here for them, but still hope that some day, I will cruise and or travel again, though, it will be at a time of loss for me.  

However, when I do eventually get to cruise again, and on Carnival, I will just enjoy what I always enjoy, the food, the drink LOL, bring on the funship specials, mai tais, and whatever new drinks they will offer by then, and hopefully, by that time, I will enjoy a smoke free casino. Have always enjoyed Carnivals casinos, but the last two cruises, 2015 and 2016, the casinos were so smoky that it severely altered my time in there.  

Next cruise on Carnival, look forward to good food, smoke free casino, and also hopefully a room with good temperature control.  Last two cruises were terribly warm in the room, and did not sleep well because of inability to cool the temps.

I am enjoying all these posts and photos, it keeps me feeling positive and hopeful that we will all some day soon get on a cruise again.  Memories are a great way to keep us motivated and hopeful.

I forgot to add to my first post, that my first Carnival cruise was on the Sensation in 2000.  It was a 7 day cruise, and was also my first solo cruise.  I was really nervous about cruising solo, especially with regard to dining.  I almost did not go to the dining room the first night, but I forced myself to.  It turned out to be the best group of people, and I looked forward to going every evening. Great memories of that cruise.

I saw another post on a different board, and remembered my first cruise, made me feel good, with remembering the things that I loved on that ship and cruise line, that got me hooked on cruising.  I ended up after that, and one other cruise line, making most of my cruises on Carnival.  Loved all my Carnival cruises.  Yes some complaints over the years, but in general, loved Carnival, and therefore in 10 cruises over the years, 8 were on Carnival.  

I would love to hear from the regulars here, or those who dont post often, when they started cruising on Carnival, and why they remain with them.  Even those who have strayed a bit, but come back.  What brings you back to Carnival.  

Of course we are all on hold right now, given the current health crisis in our world, but hopefully we can all spend some time reminiscing, and hoping towards a better day to come.

I am loving this thread also.  It is a comfort amid all the current frightening news, and situations with cruise lines, airlines, hotels and the travel industry in general.  My cruise on Norway was twenty one years ago, and I look back over those years and see so many life altering events for our world.  I am feeling down about it all right now, but this thread, bringing back good memories helps me cope.  Thanks to OP for starting this, and helping us all remember better times.