Alex of the Seas

I agree with booking private tours unless it's an all day excursion. In Belize, we did the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins excursion. 8 hours. On the way back the bus broke down. Luckily it was thru Carnival and our ship was waiting for us when we arrived back at the port about 2 hours late. For shorter excursions, I will go private, but some of the ruins are all day affairs.

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Thanks 1025cruise. Having never been there, I was kind of expecting something like St.Thomas where you can see the lights at night and a busy port area and houses nearby up in the hills.

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Thanks much MedicKenK. We'll have several days of ocean view, so just wanted to make sure the 2 days there are different. 😀

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Planning a cruise and wondering which side of the ship will be dockside. It's an overnighter, so would like to get a cabin facing the island. It's the Carnival Sunshine but I doubt that enters into the equation. Do all ships using King's Wharf pull in the same, or is it whatever the prevailing conditions are? Here at Port Canaveral, it is always the same side used for docking. Thanks much!!

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I said my last Western trip which was 4 or 5 years ago. There were only the two that I commented on.

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Xunantunich is very impressive. Although I did not, you can climb to the top and the view is awesome. I don't do real well on steps and these didn't have a hand rail (maybe they do now). My buddy went up with several other people. On their climb up, his water bottle worked it's way out of his pocket and bounced down a few steps before going over the edge. He said everyone just came to a complete stop and a few nervous laughs before continuing. 😱 But even without going to the top, it was still a wonderful visit. I definitely recommend using the ship's excursion on this one as it was 7 hours and the bus did break down. They had another bus to us relatively quickly and we got back to the port about an hour late, but the ship was still there waiting for us. On long excursions I always recommend using the ship's excursion.

I've also done Altun Ha with the river boat ride. It was also enjoyable, but the ruins are not as impressive, nor as tall and massive as Xunantunich.

Lamanai and Cahal Pech were not available on my last Western trip so I think they are new excursions and I can't offer any thoughts.

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My first cruise (15 of them ago) was on Glory and we got a balcony. Everyone is correct, you won't want to go back. But have also sailed on smaller ships with just 3 or 4 days (Port Canaveral is only 8 miles from home), so I found a cruise with a balcony is the tops, but any cruise time is still fun.

Like others have said, room service (anytime) for breakfast, lunch, or an evening snack is wonderful. Can get a pot of coffee (decaf available) or bring back drinks.

I love the sound of the ocean waves as the ship cuts through them. So peaceful. I did have to try opening the balcony and cabin doors at the same time. Ha ha, not so peaceful.

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I've sailed on all sizes of Carnival's fleet. Some had fridge and some didn't. My first was on Glory with a balcony and fridge. I was hooked. Sailed other times on smaller ships that just had an ocean view window and no fridge. I still had a great time. I don't like having a bad vacation so I try not to let things get me down. Not worth letting others control my life. Maybe that old adage is true cause I sure do like lemonade. 😋 😁 😎.

Have a blast on your trip!!

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Totally agree with Shof515. We always take a small fan and a long single end extension cord. Never know where you will want to put the fan and where the outlet is in the room. Don't bring a power strip as it will usually be taken and held until end of the cruise.

I also bring a small 3-way adapter plug so I can charge electronics (cell, camera, tablet) while still using fan. Just bring it in the carry-on luggage. TSA doesn't care and it doesn't get confiscated. Stewards never say anything and I leave it out in plain view, just don't overload it.

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Stock and Shareholders are the same thing. If you have at least 100 shares of Carnival stock, you can receive either $50 or $100 of onboard credit (OBC) per cabin. The amount is determined by length of the cruise.

I think the book onboard​ credit is some amount they give you for booking your next cruise during your current one.

I'm not sure what the Milestone OBC is.

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1. Warm Chocolate Melting Cake with 1 ice cream and 1 peanut butter.

2. The cheesecake from the Steakhouse.

Is that peanut butter ice cream or a scoop of actual peanut butter? I could see both really adding to that.

If actual peanut butter, crunchy or smooth? That may require a whole new topic thread. [emoji1]

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Try some drinks you're curious about but have never done. I'm not a big drinker so I usually get to maybe 10 or 11 of the daily 15. That gives me the opportunity to try something new. I tried a classic martini (didn't like it) and a Hennessy vsop cognac after dinner. I think the Hennessy was $25 it $30, so it's not something I would have tried elsewhere at that price and not knowing if I would like it.

I have a bartender app and pick out some drinks I want to try as well as trying the classics: Mint Julep (today is Derby day), Sidecar, Cosmopolitan, and Sazerac. It's a great way to experiment. If you hate it (like the martini I had), have them dump it and you and the bartender have a good laugh.

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Thanks for the info. I am very nervous about the gift cards so all the details really help. My final payment is in Nov. I hope to start purchasing gcs in Oct.

May not want to wait that long if you are wanting any quantity of cards. They sell out (at least on Verizon) very quickly. I'd recommend getting a couple or a $500 one whenever you find them available and can afford. I've been trying to get them on Verizon for awhile now. Luckily I still have a couple months before my final payment is due.

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If the food served is barely edible and some not suitable for your dog, why do you continue to sail on a line you can't eat on?

My thoughts exactly. Must be miserable sailing on a ship you can't stand to eat on. Maybe they should try the QE II.

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I'm not sure about New Orleans, but have to believe it is the same as Port Canaveral​ and here they have the forms available if you are missing one. They have a little table just before the person who takes them from you.

So, don't worry and do have a great time.

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As to your question to whether they are trying to get passengers into the pay restaurants, that I don't know. What is fact and cannot be denied is that over the last 5 years the food and service has declined do to cutbacks. That is a fact. Unfortunately you will have the Carnival cheerleaders calling you names and defending what they know is an outright lie. These same people are the type that would preach against a certain group of people yet become a complete hypocrite and take a paycheck for 400,000.

I really would love an explanation of that last sentence you used. Examples please.

I like Carnival. I like the food quality and choices on Carnival. I have chosen to have a great vacation on every one of my cruises, and you know what, I have.

There are lots of choices out there and I am happy with mine.

I do tell people that I've always enjoyed my cruises on Carnival. If that makes me a "Carnival Cheerleader" then so be it. Please send me my $400.0k payment cause that's way more than I make now and will pay for a lot of cruises.

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Carnival screws their stewards enough without the passengers adding to the mix.

SaveSave

Just curious, do you enjoy cruising? I hope you do, but it just doesn't come across that way.

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The food doesn't bother me. Its actually quite the opposite. I'm fairly content with the mdr food and food options in general. I am just wondering if Carnival is positioning itself to eventually charge for all food on the ship. Eventually. Now that would bother me and cause me to change to a different cruise line.

I am also content with the food quality in the mdr and elsewhere on the ships. I don't see Carnival positioning itself to charge for it's restaurants though. Other than the steakhouses, many of the ships don't have any other for-fee establishments and even Vista has, what, four?

I think you may see that happen sooner on the others, like Royal or NCL. I thought I read some of their newer ships had 14 for-fee dining places.

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Martinis. We all know a vodka martini up or on the rocks is 2 to 3 shots. Any other martini drinkers out there that used the Cheers program before? Did they only give u a 1 shot martini? I keep going back and forth if I should get cheers or not. I probably will but then again I can get a bottle of Smirnoff delivered to the room for $60. A few of those would be half the price of the whole Cheers program.

My friend only drinks Long Island Teas and those have about 6 - 7 (?) shots of alcohol and with the new policy, they use top shelf brands. Add a $1 tip (or more) on your receipt when you sign and the bartenders will be your best friends. It's amazing. You meet them once and the next day they remember your name and drink.

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You can get Travelers Checks cashed at Guest Services or Casino Cashier. I've done that or take most in $20s and lock in safe.

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Hope you all have great cruises on Glory. She was stationed here at Port Canaveral when I took my first cruise. I've done 16 now and 4 were on Glory.

To me, this is the perfect size ship. Wasn't too small and wasn't too big. Just right. I'm glad they've added some new things to make her even better. Just wish they'd bring her back to Canaveral, you can't beat having a cruise port only 8 miles away.

Have fun!!

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Sensation use to sail out of Port Canaveral, my home port. I went on several cruises on her. I never had a bad time and it is one of my favorite ships. You don't mention when you are sailing, but with most college spring breaks over, you have less chance of the ship being loaded with college kids.

I think you would have a fun time, but remember, if you go expecting to have a bad time, you most likely will. There will be some people getting drunk and making asses of themselves, but I don't think you will find it a "booze cruise" - unless her new sailing port is totally different than Canaveral. It's a big ship (even for being one of Carnival's smaller ships). There's lots to do and lots of area to go and have a great cruise. Go and enjoy it.

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And that seems to be the universal truth for almost all traveling.

 

Actually the old saying "bring half the clothes and twice the money" is one of my favorites.

 

 

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I totally agree. I always overpack. Once you pack, take 1/2 back out and leave it at home.

Take some $5's and plenty of $1's for tips - porter's, transportation drivers, excursion guides, room service, etc. If the service is good, reward it.

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I think that most marine industry safety specialists, including the USCG, and all of the classification societies that provide insurance underwriting for the ships, would disagree with your interpretation of "playing craps" with guest's safety. 90% of the time, itineraries are designed so the ship does not need full speed, both to save fuel costs and also to provide a cushion in case there is maintenance or a failure that could result in less than full power.

 

It might not even be a propulsion problem at all, but a generator capacity problem. Paradise has six diesel generators, and she needs all six of them to make full speed. There may be a failure of a component in one of the engines or generators that requires a couple of months lead time to deliver. As with my comment above about designing itineraries where full power is not required is the fact that these engines need overhaul at regular intervals. This is typically about every 2 years, so 3 engines would be scheduled for complete overhaul every year. This is a full tear down and part renewal, just as if you had a new engine put in your car every two years, and takes about 2-3 weeks to complete. So, in any given year, the ship is sailing around for 6-9 weeks of the year (11-17% of the time) with one engine out of service for an extended period of time, and no one is any wiser. I suppose you would recommend that the ship be taken out of service to do engine overhauls as well, since this affects the top speed of the ship?

 

I will again point out that 95% of the world's shipping goes out to sea every day with only one propulsion system (propeller) connected to one diesel engine, and given the industry's safety standards, this is considered to be completely sea-worthy, so the multiple redundancies of a modern cruise ship makes them the safest ships afloat.

 

I don't make comments on customer service issues, so I won't address the effect an itinerary change has on a vacation, or what should or should not be done in compensation.

 

Could they take a ship out of service whenever there is required maintenance or repairs to be made? Sure. How high do you want your cruise fares to go, because they are not going to just swallow the cost of docking, and loss of revenue, without making it up throughout the fleet.

 

And hating to get into the jimbo/thorncroft funfest, jimbo's point is that the "engines", which could mean either the azipods (made by ABB) or the diesels (made by MAN), are not made by either Carnival (sorry thorncroft) or Fincantieri (to dispel the "shady" construction comment).

 

As for the persistent "cutting maintenance" comments, this would require a wide conspiracy including not only Carnival, but also the classification societies, who stake their reputation and their financial bond on guaranteeing the sea-worthiness of the ships, but also the maritime safety agencies like the USCG that inspect maintenance records and programs as part of their PSC duties. Do some ships miss some scheduled maintenance, no doubt. Is is a company wide corporate strategy to save cost, I doubt it.

I enjoy reading a well crafted and logical posting. Thank you

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Trumps fault

 

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I thought it was Bush's fault. After 8 years are we now changing it? 😉

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