Towel Critter

Just received a phone call from my agent, on Saturday we still have plans for Nassau but Sunday we will be relocated from great stirrup cat to Key West port. This will be my first time at Key West, let alone first cruise. Any suggestions for key west?

 

That's an upgrade! I've been to both places and much prefer Key West. Lots to see and do on foot. The Conch Train is fun and inexpensive as well, if you don't care for a lot of walking.

Go to HMC, if it available. You won't regret it. If it were me - and it isn't - I'd sail from Florida... warm from the start. Just my two cents. Oh, and the Atlantis tour in Nassau is a nice excursion.

Beach can be walked to but would say it is about two miles. Easier to take island bus.

What beach is that? Thanks.

Although I don't dislike Carnival and have been on several ships.There is one thing that really bothers me about Carnival.There are just too many Grossly obese people on Carnival Cruises.For some reason they seem to gravitate to Carnival.I cruised all the other major cruise lines and believe me, there is a difference in the clientel.Its not that I dislike obese people,it's just that it sickens me when I see then gorging themselves like cattle eating out of troughs.Otherwise Carnival is fine!

Interesting very first post... not "hi, I'm so-and-so... nice to meet you... so excited about my upcoming cruise, but instead... obese people make me sick to my stomach. Okay...

1. price

2. friendlier and more helpful staff than the other lines I've sailed

3. slightly larger cabins with more comfortable bedding than the other lines I've sailed

4. better food, in general, than the other lines I've sailed

5. casual upbeat atmosphere

 

Really, the only area where other lines I've sampled have Carnival beat is entertainment in the main show room. I wouldn't choose another line just because of that one thing. A cruise is entertaining in itself, and going to a show is only one hour out of the day, or less. I do miss the older, better shows though.

Please compare it to other cruise line developed private islands, beaches, etc... meaning, similarities and differences. Also, maybe rate it in regard to similar ports of call. Lots of pics would be good too. Thanks.

I'm not sure an accurate reading can be made. Even Carnival doesn't show all available rooms at all times, except for possibly the last week or so before the sail date. I think it's probably rare for Carnival to sail without a full, or mostly full, ship though. If you assume the ship will be very near capacity, you will be right most of the time.

Not a fan of "Playlist."

I have to agree with the majority here. The "Playlist" shows are far inferior to the older shows, which had real stage props, real music, and two good singers (I'd rather hear two good singers than six or eight average singers). I was usually genuinely entertained by the older shows. I can't say that for the new shows I've seen. I'm a big Carnival fan, but I'd be less than honest if I didn't say that entertainment, more so than anything else, has declined in the eleven years I've been cruising with Carnival. True, the new virtual shows can be changed more often, and no doubt more inexpensively, but personally, I'd rather watch the same good show two or three times in two years, or whatever the schedule used to be, than watch new, inferior quality shows, each time I cruise.

One of these will be from an older menu (which I miss)

 

App: Caesar Salad

Entrée: Lobster

Dessert: Caramelized Lemon Custard and Basil Ice Cream (an all time fav, gone, but not forgotten)

Nah, you shouldn't worry. Somebody says that about every ship. Take reviews with a grain of salt. Look at lots of them, discard the really bad one, the really good ones, and pay attention to what's left. :-)

Thank you. And keep writing! Keep that passion alive, it's good for the soul. :-)

Will do! Now, I'd better let these folks have thread back. lol.

Lol I am, yes. I'm not a musician though, I work at a label. I transferred here with the same company I worked at in California and they were nice enough to let me move and work from our Nashville offices. My dad has been here for 23 years and I have other family here so that was a big reason for moving too. Quality of life is just better here.

Interesting. Thanks for answering my nosey question. I was curious because, 1. That's usually why people make a move to N'ville from far away, and 2. I was a wanna-be writer before I got too old to be relevant. :-) But that's neither here, nor there. Anyway, happy "labeling," and I hope N'ville continues to treat you well.

Sorry for the very delayed response! Don't judge me ;) Yes, I do hate that a table for two becomes a table for 20 something. lol. Last Carnival cruise, we got a table for 4 on late dining, and our table mates never once showed for dinner. Was fine by us. :D

 

I'm not southern, but I live in Nashville, so I may judge you. LOL. I kid. I moved here from Los Angeles, where I was born and raised, and will never look back. I love being in the south now.

 

Oh, there you are! I thought I had misplaced you. I'm glad you are enjoying the South, and Nashville in particular. I've spent some time there. It's a nice little city. We haven't done a table for four in a long time. If I knew my table mates wouldn't show up, I'd ask for one though. Nosey question: Are you, by chance, in N'ville because of music?

Same here, we cruise Carnival primarily because of the lower prices, but also because of the positive experiences we've had with Carnival, the friendly staff, and the balcony staterooms, which we enjoy very much, because of the size and layout of said rooms, and also because of the décor. I happened to enjoy Carnival's shade of pumpkin. :-) We too have tried other lines, and while we enjoyed RC and NCL, we enjoy Carnival more, and since it happens to be cheaper too, why change? If it ain't broke...

I wear dress pants, a dress shirt, and tie. My wife wears a nice dress. All the cool kids are doing it. :-)

Thanks. I remember having to go to some desk on my last cruise (years ago) and stand in line with oodles of other people. I hadn't noticed anyone complaining about that so I knew that wasn't the case with Carnival. And I was totally going to force my way in and force the room stewards to interrupt their work, so glad I know now not to do that. [emoji57]

Welcome to cruise critic, where you can get reprimanded for something you weren't planning on doing anyway, just because you asked a question. Kudos for the comeback. You'll fit it well here. :-)

Puerta Maya.

 

This is a pic I took last time.

 

 

They also have used International, but I think they do seem to dock at Puerto Maya more often.

Carnival uses both piers. I can verify this, since I've on been ships that docked at each. Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there is a way to find out which you will be using ahead of time. If I'm incorrect about that, maybe someone will correct me and tell you how to find out. I hope you get lucky and dock at International.

Tuesday.

Yep, that! We sit by ourselves because my partner and I don't like to be judged by anyone. ;) ;)

Don't you just hate that a "table for two" now means a table for twenty-something, with a six inch gap between your party and the next party? I miss actual tables for two. My wife and I prefer to keep to ourselves and enjoy each others company as well... for different reasons than you and your partner, I'm guessing. Though we too have been sort of judged on at least one occasion in the MDR, because of being from the South. Well, not judged, I guess, more like stereotyped. But I'm rambling now. I'll hang up and listen. I need to go pick me out some ball caps for the upcoming cruise anyway. ;-)

Where in the Carnival dress code does it say that arm pit hair cannot be visible at meal times?

 

It says men cannot wear tank tops, but women can. Nothing says women have to shave, so I'm not seeing the armpit hair ban here...

 

There IS no arm pit hair prohibition in the dress code. You got me. Clever you. ;-)

Trust me, I'm way beyond salvageable. And so is my hair. Hence the cap. lol.

I feel your pain. I'll be there with you eventually. But I refuse to wear a ball cap to the MDR. I'll wear a Darth Vader helmet. :-)

Thanks for the heads up.

We don't use the dining room at breakfast or lunch, but I do remember a friend who had his ball cap on at dinner one night & was asked to remove it. As far as elegant nights, I've seen nice jeans & top all the way to tuxes & gowns.

 

As far as I'm concerned, just be clean & covered (no armpit hair, please).

I totally agree on the arm pit hair. Who wants to see, or smell, that while eating?