alreadypacked

It looked like a fruit fly. I freaked out hahah. I almost ate that piece of chocolate too!!!

Whew! Well, I'm relieved to hear that.

I cannot stand bugs, but I accept that little flying things like gnats or fruit flies are hard to control and can fly into the cleanest establishment and get into food or drinks. It's not really an problem of cleanliness or lack thereof.

I've worked in a restaurant before and dine out a lot. Living in South Florida, I can't tell you how many times I've ordered a glass of wine that a fruit fly dove into.

Disgusting as bugs are, glad it wasn't anything worse. Ick!:eek:

Great photos and detail!! Thanks for posting.:)

A BUG? You had a BUG in your dessert?? :eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

My reaction exactly!

What kind of bug?

Something tiny like a gnat or fruit fly?

Or something big and crawly like (gasp) a roach?

Wonderful review!! Thank you!:)

Great start to the review! Love your screen name--my DH is a big Yankees fan too!:)

Great start to the review!! Can't wait to read the rest. Thanks for posting!:)

Truly spectacular photos!!:):)

 

This time when Sasha asked if there was anything he could get me - I did think of something special that I really really wanted - so I batted my eyes at him and said I would so LOVE to have a Breeze Ship on a Stick - that would make me so happy (seeing that there were far and few being given out at trivia games :( )...

 

At 4 pm we all went to Ocean Plaza to try our hand at some trivia games.

 

Then it HAPPENED - I found my ‘extra special machine’ at the Casino. So as you have read I wasn’t having much luck with any of the machines I was playing, but at least I was playing with Carnival $$ so didn’t feel so bad ($500 OBC upon boarding). Anyways I tried a new machine today - the Space Invaders one with the cows in spaceships - and the cows were very good to me - giving me back $315 after a couple of spins! Time to celebrate - finding Sue at one of her machines with her super duper ‘drinks on us’ card - a Miami Vice appears for me! :D

 

Tried to take some sunset pics outside this evening - but too many clouds so I gave up and went inside.

 

I just love that machine!! :D "Planet Moolah" it's called! I've played it on the cruise, here in Florida, and Atlantic City--great machine!

Hi Paul - loving your review - also Liberty used to be my favorite ship - but now definitely love the Breeze.

 

Can you please confirm your comment about the smoking in the Piano Bar? I understand Carnival's new policy (as of a while ago) is no smoking in the piano bars on any ship? And of course when we were on the Breeze there was definitely no smoking there? Have they changed the rules!!!????

I'm interested in confirming this as well. I'm a non-smoker and despise smoke, but at least the piano bars were lively and happening back when smoking was allowed! The piano players were good and it was so much fun, it was worth the smoky clothes and scratchy throat!:eek::)

Simply breathtaking!! But oh h*ll no!! First of all, I'd never make it to the top. And, your guide did this in flip flops!

Loving the review GA Pearl!! Can't wait for your next one!

Really enjoyed your review! Thanks for posting and congratulations on your marriage!:)

I have really enjoyed your previous reviews and am looking forward to this one!! Thanks so much for posting!!! :):)

Can anyone tell me where the policy has changed saying you can bring box wine? This is what I find on Carnival website. :confused:

 

Guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages on board. However, at the beginning of the cruise during embarkation day, guests (21 years of age and older) may bring on board one bottle (750ml) of wine or champagne, per person, only in their carry-on luggage. A $10 corkage fee per bottle will be charged should you wish to consume this wine in the main dining room; $14 corkage fee per bottle in the steakhouse. (A corkage fee is a charge exacted at a restaurant for every bottle of liquor served that was not bought on the premises)

On embarkation day, each guest may bring a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages on board and only in their carry-on luggage. A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 bottles and/or cans, 20 ounces each or less.

All alcohol/hard liquor/beer (sealed, unopened bottles/cans), wine/champagne over the allowable 1-bottle per guest (sealed, unopened bottles) or excessive quantities of non-alcoholic beverages (over 12 per person, sealed, unopened bottles/cans) will be confiscated and stored for safekeeping until the end of the voyage. The retained item(s) will be available for collection onboard in a designated location on the morning of debarkation. Unsealed liquids that are prohibited will be discarded, as well as any unclaimed items left after the voyage, and no compensation will be given in either case.

The box wine reference is fron the Carnival Funville online community as stated by a CCL employee at this link:

http://www.carnival.com/Funville/forums/p/226989/1183916.aspx

Here is the copied and pasted text:

one bottle, 750 milliliters or less, per guest 21 years and older

· one box of wine, 1.5 liters or less, will be permitted, if shared among 2 guests 21 years or older

On Liberty, we sat there and watched Piano Bar Bob work the crowd and make several hundred dollars per night in tips. The good ones can make a lot of money. It's a shame they can't get more consistent talent fleetwide.

It is indeed a shame. But it seems that in the past, Carnival had no problem filling their piano bars with talented singers/pianists(for the most part). Something has changed. Over the years we've had some good singers in the piano bar; I wish they'd come back:

 

Victory Dec 2007: Eric Fisher (Excellent)

Miracle Nov 2008: Roger Concepcion (Wonderful; A Die Hard on the Pride)

Freedom Sept '09: Josh Tuckman (Hard Rock anyone; just all around good)

Liberty Sept 2011: Pollyanna Jones(Great Michael Jackson medley; fun)

Imagination Feb '12: Dana Honey (oldies but goodies and great fun)

Agree the good ones can make money. Pollyanna Jones was very good. She had a good voice and was very personable. Saw Roger also in 2008 and he was very good.

Somehow in 2010 it all changed. I wonder what has happened.

I had loved--absolutely loved--the piano bar several years in a row, then bam! Horrible piano bar singers. Has Carnival really dropped the pay that much?

I had heard from some singers that Carnival requires more "other duties" (besides singing) from them also.

On my recent cruise, I saw a dancer (based on her name tag) reboarding passengers at a port of call.:eek: Maybe talented musicians/singers don't want to do that.

Great start, thanks! :) Was on the sailing prior to yours--still putting my review together... Thanks for promptly posting yours!

BTW, did you go to the piano bar? If so, what did you think of Martin?

The first Carnival Cruise (Triumph) I was on had a Guy named Mark Wieser "the Piano Whore" He was awsome. My friends found him one night. I had never been to a piano bar and thought it would be boring. His shift was scheduled to end around 1:00am. By the time he did quit it was 4:00am and he was getting $50.00 a song. So when we took are next cruise (Valor) one of the selling points of getting all of our friends (13 cabins) to go was how great a piano bar is. It was horrible we went twice stayed maybe 1/2 an hour. I don't know the guys name but he didn't speak english vey well let alone sing. It was sad. The last Cruise we went on (Splendor) It was just ok.

Ugh...I feel your pain. Piano Bar used to be good. I first tried the cruise ship piano bar in 2007 on the Victory, after going to a piano bar in the Bahamas at an all-inclusive where the singer was awesome!

We loved the piano bar on cruise ships until 2010, when it started to decline.

We'd heard grumbles from piano players of the increasing non-performing duties that Carnival requires of them. I'm starting to believe this.

On my recent Oct 6 Freedom cruise, when I got back on thie ship from Aruba, the individual "dinging" my sail n sign was one of the dancers, as evidenced by her nametag. I was like, "Wow, you're a dancer!" She said, "Yes, we help out everywhere." Never saw that before.

Love her. She was very new when we had her on the Liberty last year, but she was fun

Yep, we had Pollyanna on the Liberty last year too. She was new but we really enjoyed her--great personality, song list, happily takes requests, and does an awesome Michael Jackson medley that's a real crowd-pleaser!

Great review! I remember your last review with your dad. Thanks for posting!:)

Freedom cruisers: Any new info/reviews of Martin Aucoin?:)

just off the Paradise (about done with the Fantasy class ships now, yay)

 

Started off kinda slow, but he worked into it very well

I shared some tips from other piano players and methinks he will improve, was much better by the end of the cruise

 

I know many cruisers think all the PBE's know each other, but they simply do not, a few have managed to meet, but it's the exception

 

Anyway, Tom will not disappoint, does lots of requests, has a "rhythm section" that he passes out

Our crowd was great and he put back what we brought to the game

Look for him on larger ships in the future!

Thanks for the report--that's great to hear!

We had Tom on the Imagination 2 years ago, and while he wasn't actually what I would call bad... At the time, he didn't have a playlist & he didn't really bring in the crowd.

As the piano bar is one of our favorite venues, we kept hoping. Sounds like he's improved a lot since then. Glad you had a great time!

1/3 mile apart

 

There were too many complaints from the resort's guests. The resort charges anywhere between $230-$450, low season, to $360- $600 per night, high season depending upon the type of accommodation (basic studio on up to 2 bedroom units).

 

Imagine spending $600 a night :eek: to stay at a resort only to come down to the beach in the morning to find all the shade palapas taken by cruise ship passengers who have paid a minimal sum for the privilege?

 

MVC is on Eagle Beach as well. It is all the same stretch of beach. High season rates there run $200 -$175 per night. MVC is a small "budget" hotel with only 19 guest rooms. ;)

 

Below is a photo of the entire length of Eagle beach

 

At the tip you see in the far right of the photo, around the bend, is Manchebo Beach and Druif Beach beyond that.

 

 

Above, the vertical stretch of beach is Eagle Beach and at the bend, horizontally is Manchebo Beach onto Druif beach.

Do you know how much the chair rental is at MVC?

Absolutely loving the review and your pictures are wonderful! I remember your Glory B2B review from last year and was super excited when I saw your Magic review. Thanks so much for taking the time to post this!:)

Gosh I really need to get my act together. Been busy with life stuff, thanks for covering Ceegers! And thanks for the additional updates. (filling my holes! ;) LOL)

 

One thing, I'd like to point out is that Carnival seems to be bringing in a lot of newbies into piano bars. I guess it's sort of like flinging crap at wall to see what sticks. Some of these guys have no experience on a cruise ship or more particularly a Carnival cruise ship. Give 'em a chance. The smart ones will listen to what the passengers ask for and adapt. The not so smart ones won't. But it will take some time. I've already heard good things about Martin Aucoin on the Freedom, adjusting and learning songs to make folks happy. Encourage them, chat with them, find out about their history, tell them what you like to hear, what you expect, but in a nice way! Look at Brennan Villnes who was on the Miracle earlier this year. The first reviews I read of him were terrible, but he paid attention, turned it around and was getting lots of good comments by the end of his contract.

 

Am I happy that they are bringing newbies in to learn the trade on their dime? Yes and no, on one hand they are doing it at the expense of some talented veterans, but on the other hand there are some real gems to be found.

 

Sorry, if I sound like a lecturing mommy or a broken record, but I always say, different strokes for different folks, always check the scene out for yourself at least once or better yet twice. If you don't like what you hear, feel free to express it, but the more details you provide on what you did and did not like, the more helpful it is!

 

Thank you and have some great cruises.

 

Laura

Excellent advice Laura and welcome back! :)

Yeah... that's not right... If he didn't know your song, a substitute should have been offered (or refund the $5 which he did after you questioned). I almost always side with the player as it's a much tougher job than most realize but you are completely right here.....

I agree with you--I know it's a tough job and never have I ever had to say anything like that to a PB player. But, it's like you said, he should've offered a substitute or at least said he didn't know it and asked me for a second choice.

Another thing that bugged me about this player was that he spent an inordinate amount of time listening to one girl's Ipod trying to learn a song she wanted to hear, all the while not playing a single song while the rest of us sat there.