living at the beach

I got deleted about my reference to Anonymous Phoenix. It should have started with “Thanks”

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to act smarmy. I should have said instead that I was confused reading the posts about probable changes in specialty dining. I’ve never tried to book additional specialty dining because together with my platitudes and free to the sea’s benefits I was content. Now that I have booked a 14 night cruise and hearing from folks who have posted about changes in the MDRs for the worse, I was looking for more helpful information about if my included dinners would still operate the same way.

 to Anonymous Phoenix for your helpful post. But also I think that I understand from other posts that the changes will be for extra booked specialty restaurants and if I book them before October 1st since I’m already booked that the old rules should apply.

I’m booked to sail on a 14 day cruise on the Pearl. In a balcony guarantee.  In the past I would have my Platinum vouchers plus my Free at Seas would give me two more vouchers for specialty dining. I have checked out previous conversations about the potential changes but will that impact me?

4 hours ago, valleyvillage said:

After watching this, I would definitely book it!

Thanks, that helped a lot!

Will be on a 14 day Caribbean in January and the cost will be high. I like to use the thermal pool and heated chairs but not sure if it will be worth it 

Well, the galley like on many ships as well as the Gem,  does make it a little difficult to move from forward and midship on the Gem. The most elegant main dining room is aft, so it can be confusing to get there the first time. The ship has fewer passengers and more public spaces including many specialty restaurants as well as complimentary for most ships it size.
I was on it on the June 7-14  cruise round trip to  Boston to Bermuda including one day at Bar Harbor. Loved never feeling crowded anywhere, but hated the persistent nickel and diming, and would have missed the lack of live complimentary entertainment options if staying out a bit later and enjoying beautiful Bermuda on the gorgeous sun- filled days didn’t kept us on the ship too much. Not happy with Norwegian’s cuts to complimentary live entertainment, but that’s not just the Gem.

Check out ship deck sites to see where your cabin might be in order to find if you might be in a less desirable location.

but even though it’s older, the Gem , with its 2 pools and them corresponding less exciting venues like rock climbing and fancy pools leads to less teenagers on board, don’t blame me, but because I’ve learned before that they are often less supervised and therefore more likely to cause mischief then you’re more likely to have an enjoyable adult experience.. More room, less wait lines, more specialty restaurants for ships ‘this size, less waits- if you’re excited about the itinerary, go for it

Thanks

Thanks😊

Thanks for your information 

Just now, living at the beach said:

I apologize for not checking my post before sending. My autocorrect changed fool on to fool 

Did it again! “ roll on” not fool

Just now, living at the beach said:

Departing in just 3 days from Boston on the Gem going to Bermuda. Does anyone know which main dining room will be open? Much better alternative to dealing with the buffet with fool on luggage 

I apologize for not checking my post before sending. My autocorrect changed fool on to fool 

Departing in just 3 days from Boston on the Gem going to Bermuda. Does anyone know which main dining room will be open? Much better alternative to dealing with the buffet with fool on luggage 

Departing in just 3 days from Boston on the Gem going to Bermuda. Does anyone know which main dining room will be open? Much better alternative to dealing with the buffet with fool on luggage 

For those who were on the Boston to Bermuda cruise recently, which main dining rom was open on embarkation day?

Yes, many guys do laundry- that’s great! But I was most concerned about how Carnival handled the more delicate items that women usually have👙🤭and whether or not CCL does separate delicate washes. Thanks again for everyone’s information 

On 4/14/2024 at 10:44 AM, jsglow said:

We travel worldwide for weeks on end with a carry-on plus backpack each. We are always sensitive to the clothing we bring making sure it's appropriately 'weathered'. Still, there are items we will hand wash in the sink. We typically send out a modest bag of laundry every 2-3 days. In what probably now approaches 100 total laundry bags on Carnival, we've probably had 2-3 items that were slightly impacted but it is worth noting that general fading does occur over time. I've noticed a few polos that I often take where after a half dozen trips through the ship's laundry it is somewhat noticeable when compared against brand new. We take the approach that clothes do wear out over time and industrial washers are hard on them. We're blessed to be able to travel and that's a small price to pay.

 

Oh, and I must strenuously object to the thread title!!!! I'm a guy and am routinely responsible for our laundry onboard. (Just pullin' your chain OP. 😁) Sail on. 

On 4/14/2024 at 10:44 AM, jsglow said:

We travel worldwide for weeks on end with a carry-on plus backpack each. We are always sensitive to the clothing we bring making sure it's appropriately 'weathered'. Still, there are items we will hand wash in the sink. We typically send out a modest bag of laundry every 2-3 days. In what probably now approaches 100 total laundry bags on Carnival, we've probably had 2-3 items that were slightly impacted but it is worth noting that general fading does occur over time. I've noticed a few polos that I often take where after a half dozen trips through the ship's laundry it is somewhat noticeable when compared against brand new. We take the approach that clothes do wear out over time and industrial washers are hard on them. We're blessed to be able to travel and that's a small price to pay.

 

Oh, and I must strenuously object to the thread title!!!! I'm a guy and am routinely responsible for our laundry onboard. (Just pullin' your chain OP. 😁) Sail on. 

Yes, many guys do laundry but I was mostly concerned about Womens more delicate fabric stuff.👙🤭

Thanks so much for the suggestions 

All of the things that I would like to do using Carnival’s guaranteed shore excursions for St Thomas and St Martin are already booked up. I’m traveling solo so would prefer going on their excursions rather than heading out on my own

Thanks for all your input. Guess I will pack cotton pjs , socks, and undies. No delicate stuff. I am platinum on Carnival but haven’t sailed with them for quite awhile because my guy no longer wants to fly or go through the hassle of cruising, so Norwegian has been my standby. But the elimination of their best entertainment and my frustration about a lot of things that have declined on NCL has made me try Carnival again. Yes, a bit more expensive because Carnival doesn’t give any breaks to solos, but giving Carnival a try. Any help from Carnival folks helps me to make the best of my upcoming cruise

So do things come out okay? Do they wash on normal spin or do something’s on delicate?

I’ve always done slacks and tops but never tried pjs or undies. But with

 a 3 day stay before an 8 day on the Magic, would like to cut down on how much I have to pack

Thanks so much for answering my question 

I am a solo. If I go to a specialty restaurant on the first night will I be able to get the complimentary bottle of wine?

After two disappointing NCL cruises this year- the first on the Viva from San Juan in January and the second on the Breakaway in March from New Orleans, I have booked my first Carnival cruise since 2015. I am Sapphire on  Norwegian and a solo cruiser so my Carnival interior cabin will actually cost more than my solo balcony on the Breakaway. So why? Well mostly because NCL doesn’t have the great entertainment that it used to have. Also I found too many of the food choices in both the MDR and specialty restaurants were way too salty. And after choosing NCL exclusively for the past seven years since my guy refused to travel on planes and go on cruise’s anymore NCL is so good for solos. About the entertainment. On the Viva we were supposed to have Beetlejuice but it was canceled and now is removed from future cruises. On the Breakaway all they had in the main theater was five dollars Burn the Floor and 2 okay comedians. The other venues for entertainment- Syd Normans and Headliners are so very small that you have to wait out in the hallway for at least 30 minutes to get a seat. Traveling solo and not into the casino entertainment is more important to me than to others. So I’m giving Carnival a try. According to recent CLL reviews their entertainment is better than it used to be and food is relative . I remember enjoying  the Blue Iguana and Guys Burgers and the Sea Day Brunch. By the way, I am 77 years old so wild partying is not my scene. But bigger pools and the Serenity lounge sound good. I’ll report back when I have come back from my cruise