pastamom2011

I'm a big fan of Seat61 for information. I set my calendar alert for 90 days prior to travel and book. We were able to go Alsace to Rome for about $150 and mostly First Class--which isn't necessary and we changed trains in Switzerland and ended up in some super crowded car that wasn't 1st Class--and it was too difficult to consider finding our car with all our luggage. And then in Milan, my husband ended up on the wrong train to Rome-- he had a blast. I had 5 Euro in my purse and no one to talk to and no USB port to recharge my phone. Point there... use Trenitalia in Italy. He had great service, great bar car on the WRONG train... and they didn't charge him.

Probably more information than you needed.

So after five cruises on Carnival, I feel like I am ready for an upgrade. I have enjoyed Carnival, especially when cruising with teenagers but I feel my husband and I are ready for a new scene. We love great food and wine. Entertainment is nice... but we don't go every night to the shows. We do go to the gym and spa regularly. We are both pretty active. Love people watching. Enjoy the Caribbean and the Med. Viking looks great, but I can't pay $5000 per person for a week. What cruise line should I look at if $1800-$2500 look good for a week with a balcony.

I bought a bright pink colored 'leather' cell phone case that closes and has slots for cards. I carry my cell phone as a camera... so its handy for my sign and sail, too. They bright color keeps it visible. At dinner, I carry a small purse. My husband uses a lanyard for keys at work, so I pretty much expect him to use one for his card, too.

No beach is beautiful if it has a body positioned in the sand every four feet. You just can't see the beach. So at Meghan's Bay we spent our afternoon sitting at the beach bar. Very entertaining.

Really helpful info. We set a week long dollar amount for our son and had no problem. He wasn't into the arcade or the candy so we were lucky. But my nephew loves video games. We will try the daily amount for him. I really appreciate everyones input.

Very much enjoyed reading your review blog. Hilarious! I especially LOVE all your photos that don't have anyone in them. Because I meet tons of nice, fun, somewhat fashionable, happy, energetic, enjoyable people on Carnival. But there is always one brief moment when I become dazed and confused while looking around and think that I have somehow been body snatched and set down in Walmart. I forget between every cruise... but it eventually happens. Your photo of embarkation day brought the memory up like a flashback. And, yes, I am horribly snarky... while, you.... you are just endearingly funny.

I wouldn't change it now, because you would still have to pay two fares for the inside, plus the 3rd person fare for the nephew in your cabin. Better to leave it as is. You can get extra cards/keys for the nephew to get into your cabin. Does your aft balcony have a couch or bunk for him? EM

Thank you! I didn't know we could get extra room keys. Brilliant!!

Trying to find out whether there is a couch in our aft cabin has not been easy. My travel agent couldn't find out either. I am just having faith it will all work out for all the occupants... or that the 15 drink limit will be enough for me.

Yes, that had crossed my mind. My 90 year old Father in Law doesn't need a drink package and I wouldn't want to see him try to get his (my) monies worth!! But for my husband and I, two drink packages would be okay even though I don't think we could get to 15 drinks. Thank you. I can't even remember why I booked the rooms the way I did. I know I was hesitant to make a 90 year old look our for/be responsible for a 14 year old.

I am booked in a cabin with my 15 year old nephew. My husband is booked in a cabin with his Father. We have decided Option 1-- put the nephew with his Grandfather so my husband and I can share a room:hearteyes:. How do we manage room keys? Or do we need to officially change cabin names with Carnival? Option 2 is to have our nephew stay with us in our Aft Balcony Cabin and just give grandpa the interior cabin. And Option 1 could turn into Option 2 because my father in law is 90 and has little patience for today's young teenagers. Do I need to officially do this?

Thank you!!

I think I will pay my nephew NOT to use the arcade. He gets enough video at home!!

We have cruised on Carnival Glory, Dream & Conquest with our son, who loved Club 02. He made so many friends and loved all the dancing. He even enjoyed wearing a tux on formal nights. Go figure!! His senior year of college he went on a Carnival Cruise with friends because he had enjoyed himself so much with us in high school.

We are now returning to cruising with our nephew who is a young 14. I am hoping he will enjoy Circle C. He needs to find activities that take him away from video games!! Do they have video games in Circle C?

Thanks!

Wine was anywhere from 7 to 24 Euros. Red and White and Cava. They sold Perrier water, but a six pack was 8 Euros. I did not see beer. Another shop had a variety of liquors. We went on board the ship at noon, dropped off our carry on (our room was ready) and then went back into the port terminal to purchase our wines.

You can never go wrong with Cava! Some of the wines in the wine shop had little blurbs about the flavor of the wine, dry, sweet, fruity, etc. So even if you don't know a lot about Spanish wine.... the notes and the shop keeper were helpful.

Hi. You mentioned linens. I am interested in getting a nice set of made in Italy sheets. I will be in Venice, Rome, Florence and Naples, among other ports. Where would you recommend I look? Do you have a fav. store for linens? Thanks. Diane

That is a good question. Unfortunately we brought back table linens, so I can't answer about bed linens.

I have a question. I'm a newbie to Europe. My first trip will be in 2014! Is it feasible to ship things home? How do you manage? Do you bring an extra suitcase? Also, about the Murano Giles's. how can you be sure you get the "real thing"?

 

 

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We shipped things back but it wasn't cheap. I pack a flat duffle bag in my suitcase. it brings home dirty laundry and my harder sided suitcase brings home linens, shirts, scarves, wine, etc.

We always shop for small gifts. Our waiters love it when we bring back waiter cork screw/wine openers from different places. I love the wine stoppers I bought that plug into the bottle and then hook under the lip of the bottle. They keep Prosecco fresh for up to a week. I bought several scarves for myself and friends. A leather backpack purse for myself in Sienna.

We bought "art work" in almost every city. It was expensive to have it shipped back. This year I am bringing one of the shipping rolls with me. I'll stuff it with socks and things on the way over, but have it for art or photos on the way back. And if I don't buy any of that stuff, I can just leave it there.

Thanks for such a detailed review and for answering everyone's questions. We are going on a Med cruise in a few weeks, but a river cruise is definitely on my bucket list. I appreciate how thorough you were.

Thank you Dubrovnik Travel Lady for the link to the map of the city. Its just a small part of the great information you have provided.

I won't even wear jeans to the dining room on Carnival Cruise Line. Of course, the way everyone else doesn't dress on Carnivial might be one reason I am looking at Seabourn. Carnival was perfect with a teenager... but it is time to move up and move on! Hooray for empty nesting.