sanmarcosman

17 minutes ago, gtouch said:

After reading these post I guess I won't be able to practice my axe throwing while on the cruise.

Sounds fun.

At Easter, Carnival's Braised Rabbit in Puff Pastry appetizer always gets us in a hoppin' mood.

I've sailed Panorama before and after the shutdown, 10 cruises altogether on Panorama. The aft soot has been an issue since day one. Last January I noticed there were larger sized mini-balls of soot and not just the specks seen on previous cruises. The oil in the soot gets into your clothes and causes a permanent tan colored stain.

The crew who work on deck 10 aft and I have compared our soot stains! The market umbrellas at Tides Pool have been replaced 3 times that I am aware of due to the black staining by soot of the red nylon fabric. 

I agree about adding hot tubs to the main pool so that Tides Pool would feel more like an adults area. Adding Shaq's Chicken where the underused Seafood Shack is also a great idea.

I like the Panorama more than Radiance because the upper decks provide more space for walking and sports/games. The warm weather in Mexico is a big plus in winter when Radiance is circling around in the rain and the cold temps. This winter has been the worst for San Diego County in many years.

3 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

LOL, you have effectively answered my question.  I value my life more than I value a plate of calamari! 

Well said 🙂 

9 minutes ago, Crusin Karen said:

Actually I WAS booked on Magic but they switched to Venezia!

 

All the more reason to stay mum, here's the maitre d' on the Venezia

I don't go to restaurants on land and ask for the food I had the night before when it's not on the menu. I think the galley crew and wait team members on cruise ships deserve the same courtesy. 

I wouldn't know. I debarked the Radiance only yesterday and printed Fun Times was not an option and was never mentioned. I assumed the start date was changed like many things with Carnival.

Carnival did have a " Top Optional " space on a top deck as shown here aboard the original Jubilee in February 1991. The space was sheltered from the wind and it was popular with the ladies who were the Jubilee Dancers who performed nightly in the main lounge. Most were European and my late wife would say: " I'm happy to see they shave. " 

Access and occupy are not the same in Carnival-land. It's still a good suite perk to drop your carry on things off and return when the room is ready for you to occupy.

43 minutes ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

not a fan so I'll pass. 

Did you get the idea from that that I thought paying more for a cruise to be on the same ship with JH was a good value?  lol

1 minute ago, EngIceDave said:

I had that booked.

Seattle to 3 stops in Alaska, then 4 stops in Japan, 1 in Philippines and one in Indonesia...heck of an itinerary...Need airfare to fly back home to the USA

 

 

They told me it was roundtrip by ship. They may be wrong for all I know. What ship was it?

1 minute ago, jamscckmc said:

Have been getting free Australia cruises offers since before Australia opened back up but the airfare is $$$$.

Some I have spoken with got an offer for a r/t Seattle 30 day cruise to Hawaii, Philippines and Australia for $200 pp and best of all: no airfare needed.

Miracle has dark interiors, particularly the Bacchus MDR and the Lido buffet with its heavy use of black glass. The Panorama and Radiance are light and bright with modern, sleek lines compared to the kitschy interiors of Miracle.

The long potato wedges they were slathering mayonnaise on and calling it potato "salad" were awful. Undercooked and nothing "salad" about it. I'll look next week to see if they have gone back to a traditional style.

1 hour ago, lesters said:

Did I get the value of $25 pp - probably not but that was more about me not jumping into any events or parties that had drinks included etc.    I don't think I'd be too fussed about doing it again but it was fun to see what the options were and how it all worked.

People here say the basic rates are higher for the FFS cruises and I have looked and seen this to be true. So there's that to consider in the value of a cruise with JH. Thanks for the information.

5 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Yes, if you develop that kind of relationship with them. 

While this change in using the hold option may not affect you, I respect your opinions and would like to know what you think of this change in general?

I have to say I'm surprised by the number of you who text their PVP. I've only had a PVP since 2011, been through 3 of them due to promotion etc.) and not one has offered their personal phone number to text them. 

Is this as common as it seems to be from this tread? 

20 minutes ago, Joebucks said:

The real question is how much do you tip the maintenance worker

I suppose it could be like room service and it's customary to tip $1 for every one degree rise in temperature. 🙂

2 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

As I said, the likelihood that Heald asked the right question, or understood the technical answer is up for question.

I was freezing in my cabin Feb. 7-10th with the thermostat set to heating. Two HVAC crew stopped by and said they would adjust some settings. After their visit the space had less airflow, from what I could tell, but no warm air was coming through.

I sail the same ship on Monday, Chief, so my question to you is: if I am cold ( and we are expecting more daytime temps in the low 50's and a first ever blizzard alert for the San Bernardino mountains here in SD County) what do I need to verbally express to the crew who come to my cabin when requesting heat? I'll gladly accept the answer "request a portable heater" if that is even an option.

Signed, Cold in San Diego

P.S. Will the armchair marine engineers please wait until after the Chief replies to me, please.) 

22 minutes ago, d12j28 said:

This is what we do. 

Carnival doesn't give boarding times.

4 minutes ago, ColeThornton said:

I would listen to @chengkp75 over the "brand ambassador" in matters related to engineering and ships systems.

Yes, that's the member here I was thinking of. I hope they will see this and comment. Thank you

Not worth it in our opinion. They'll take more of your vacation time giving you the hard sell in a small room to buy the whole array of photos placed before you. Dress the family up for elegant night. Stop at as many photo ops as you like and then choose from those photos. 

Carnival's brand ambassador says leaving the balcony doors propped open won't affect the temps in OTHER cabins. I've read to the contrary here by a recently retired Merchant Marine Chief Engineer. What are the facts, please?

" I was asked if it is OK for people to sleep with the balcony door open? The answer is yes, you can, and it doesn’t actually affect the air-conditioning in any other cabin, except yours." 

14 minutes ago, dolphinsfan246 said:

Well they literally can’t sail without proving that they do so I’m gonna say yes. Lol. The max capacity of Radiance is listed at 3,873 with every berth filled.

I took that as sarcasm but you are correct.

2 minutes ago, csm5986142 said:

 

This was over the Presidents Day weekend (2/17 - 2/20) and I should have known better than to book a short cruise over the holiday weekend, but it was great the previous year (now I realize it was probably because it was still capacity controlled at that time). 

Thanks for these details. I have sailed Radiance recently and the cold weather here in so.cal has been a contributing factor to guest space in the public rooms. Last August the interior spaces weren't as crowded and the ship was close to capacity. 

I prefer the 4 day sailings because they typically have fewer under 12's and I avoid holidays. Nevertheless, the ship is tight at capacity for sure.

These days the behavior of guests on most ships is a gamble. I had fewer pot smokers on Panorama but a lot more door slamming in the same area forward on the Radiance. On the Radiance more pot with less slamming doors. 

Some Carnival cruises I mentally put my hands in the air and move to another place, when possible, to avoid the unpleasant.

Earlier this month on Radiance the cabin wasn't ready when I boarded at 11:20am but the stewards had no issue with me dropping off my back pack and leaving them to finish up. It's a platinum perk I like and use.

The crew have been hard working and making a good effort but they are short handed at times and I have heard that many service crew left the industry for good during covid. Lots of reasons but no excuses.

I respect your decision and I'll see how the Radiance is doing next Monday when I board for another 4 day cruise. The weather isn't supposed to be good so I am going in knowing the public rooms will likely be tight.