RoperDK

Since aft isn't available, then I suggest you get a non-extended balcony on whichever side offers the best scenery (as stated above). The extended balconies are recessed and do block your clear view fore and aft. Deck 3 is an outside deck that wraps all the way around the aft and on both sides. It does not go all the way around forward though. It is covered and it is nice to have quick access to this deck (deck 4 cabins) for scenery in rainy weather. Deck 9 (lido) has good aft viewing from the serenity area and the buffet by the windows offers climate-controlled viewing. Deck 10 has good viewing outside, also. It does seem true that the wildlife will always be on the other side from where you are. So, having the ability to cross to the other side quickly is nice. Of course, everyone else will be doing the same thing. Depending on your mobility, I would get a balcony close to these decks (deck 8) and near the stairs or elevators. I would pick a balcony towards the aft as you can access good viewing on the outer decks from there. Forward is just too windy. Hope this helps.

When does the casino open after sail away? Asking for a friend. 😉

I did try to search, but it seems that this perk is a moving target. We're sailing on Spirit in 2 weeks and the Carnival site didn't mention this benefit anymore. The website said "cabins can be accessed at 1:30. I am talking about just leaving our carry-ons in the closet and immediately leaving the cabin area. I thought I remembered JH saying we could still drop off our carry-ons, but we haven't been on Carnival in over a year. So, what is the latest "rule"? Thanks.

I just disembarked from Wonder of the Seas on Sunday. Like it or not, the "Monstrosity" ships offer more than anyone can possibly do in one week. They truly are a destination in themselves. The do plain vanilla itineraries and still sail full week after week. I was hoping that the Excel class ships would be able to compete. I don't feel the experience is even close. We didn't really care for Mardi Gras after sailing on her twice. When you compare other classes of Royal and Carnival ships, then the experience is more on par. You might argue that one's food is better or service is friendlier, one is charging higher prices, one actually has straws, etc. At that point, you are actually comparing apples to apples.

This! Deck 4 is the way to go.

Oasis class never tenders. They always dock. I don't know how they do it, but Royal's embarkation, debarkation, and leaving the ship at ports is extremely organized and moves faster than Carnival.

We just got off the Wonder in a GS. We ate in CK most meals. Frankly, not having to deal with the crowds on the rest of the ship made CK perfect for us. We enjoyed the comradery of the waitstaff and there were plenty of options for us. We customized our meals several times. CK has the everyday classics that the MDR got rid of. The MDR quality is no comparison to CK for us. We sometimes ate the suite lounge offerings for our other meals. They were plentiful and a bit lighter that a full meal. When you have a full suite you have free room service and we use that on non Oasis class ships quite often. I would make your reservations each night at CK and you can easily modify them if you feel like eating at the MDR. We don't ever get the UDP as that is just too much for us. Enjoy your cruise.

I just got the dreaded e-mail this morning about a Grandeur April cruise that is paid in full. It shows I owe $187. I will track down to see if it has to do with cruise planner refunds. I have called twice today. The first time the agent said we were paid in full (which I already knew) and to ignore the email. I said no, that this is a back to back and final payment is in a couple of days and I will be on a cruise next week and don't want my cruise cancelled. She said that she corrected the problem and resent my invoice. Of course, the new invoice says that I owe $187. So, I called back and the rep said that I don't owe anything and that they sent the info to resolutions and I would hear back in a day or two. Ha! Now I'll have to work on this during our cruise. The funny thing is that when I check the planner online, it says that I don't owe anything. If I check the app, it says that I owe $187. Arggg!!

I am surprised about all of the differing opinions on the "sir or ma'am" usage. I grew up in Miami, spent 23 years in the Air Force traveling all over the world, and have now settled in Alabama. We were taught and we taught our children, who have now taught their children to say sir and ma'am along with please and thank you, etc. I can't imagine how being polite would be construed as sarcastic and I have never come across that in all of my travels. Perhaps it is a generational thing, as I am in my sixties. I have seen kids be sarcastic using sir and ma'am, but the tone in their voice gives that away. Here in the south people can tell the difference between a heartfelt or sarcastic "bless your heart". I don't expect anyone to say please, thank you, sir or ma'am around my family though. Those things don't bother me and frankly, I haven't seen too much overly bad behavior on my cruises.

Although it isn't really published, you can get free sodas, wine, and beer in the suite lounge from 11 to 11. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Your son is included in your CK amenity. You will find that some people will frown on a little one being there, however most people will accept your family just fine. You are entitled to be there, so enjoy!

Does Spirit still have the BBQ place? It doesn't show on Carnival's website.

I'm glad that menus are available if you ask for them. I guess I'm old fashioned, but I like to peruse the menu before ordering. Lol, we always look over the menu before going to the MDR and I basically have an idea of what I'm going to order. Somehow though, I do change my mind once I sit down and physically look at the menu.

We like to mix it up. We usually sail in suites and love eating at CK. If there is no CK, then we enjoy breakfast in a specialty restaurant. We do a lot of specialty restaurants for lunch. We haven't had dinner in a specialty restaurant in quite a while. We'll do the MDR for dinner if we like the menu or we'll hit up the Windjammer. We've been known to have the happy hour snacks in the suite's lounge and find out we're full enough to skip dinner. We just don't eat as much as we used to.

We are Platinum and will be on the Spirit out of Mobile next month. We usually cruise in suites but are in a balcony on this cruise. This is not a Journeys or special casino cruise. What is the current boarding order? Back in the day, I believe it used to be Suites, Diamonds, Platinum, FTTF, and then regular boarding. Also, does Mobile still have a priority boarding lounge and are Platinums included in the lounge? Thanks!

I noticed this, too. I guess someone did too much of a cut and paste job when they set up the cabin info on the Princess site. The top layout is indeed a cabana mini suite. The bottom is a regular (could be reserve) mini suite. These are almost exactly the way the Carnival Mardi Gras lowest level suites look. Instead of the sofa by the front door, you will either have the bed or closets by the front door. My preference is the closet because the room seems larger that way. The sofa should always be by the balcony door.

Weren't there some odd problems with getting drinks while in Grand Cayman? Something like only 1 bar onboard serving drinks? Is that still going on?

We don't eat fruit and I cringe when I see the fruit plate they provide for suites. Is there a tactful way to "get rid" of it? Would the cabin steward enjoy it? We just throw away the fruit as it decays. What a waste. It is always in our cabin when we arrive, so doubt we could return it.

I am no help here, other than to say that there is a big drawback to putting people in an inside cabin instead of your cabin. They would not have access to your star class amenities such as the suite lounge and Coastal Kitchen. Star Class is basically all inclusive and the others would only be in a standard cabin with nothing. Hope someone can answer your questions.

As you found out, Oasis class is great. Only Mardi Gras could compete. However, if Venezia is all you can swing, then give it a try and adjust expectations. Only you know if your kids could adjust to the different amenities and still have a good time.

We are on Wonder in a few weeks and I have a question about the rotation of the CK dinner menus. Are they always the same or do they switch them up to match the MDR formal nights. I have always had dinner at CK where formal nights were day 2 and 6. On our cruise, formal nights are day 3 and 6. Will they switch the day 2 and 3 menus? Thanks.

All I want is for them to bring back the everyday items. Celebrity did. You can still get the everyday items at Coastal Kitchen.

It is definitely a niche cruise. Since it didn't seem to sell out and smaller segments were subsequentially sold to fill the ship, it seems like it might be a one and done. However, I wonder what the impact of the tik tok and you tube influencers might have. The world cruise is definitely trending and is giving Royal a ton of marketing. So far, everything seems positive. Of course, that could tank if things turn sour.

Does anyone know if the signature restaurant has its own menu or is it just an extension of the MDR?

Off topic, I know, but Grace Hopper was an amazing human being. As a retired US Air Force computer programmer, her pioneering developments in the computer field were without match. I do believe that without her development of a conversational style of computer programming language (COBOL), only advanced mathematicians would be able to code computer processes. Her contributions help lead to the computerized world we now live in. Her life story is an interesting read. Now, back to Icon.....