RoperDK

22 hours ago, coffeebean said:

We were on Harmony last week in a JS. We were somehow very aware that CK was a perk for us but only if space was available. My husband said he had seen that information on RCI website but the info was not easy to find.

We are on Harmony in a JS in a few months. Did you try for CK reservations?  How successful were you?  

Thanks for posting the pictures. We will visit in a few months.  Looks great!

Following.  Can't wait to hear more.

11 minutes ago, Snowbird_in_training said:

Harmony of the Seas.   Eastern with Coco Cay (which we LOVED)

We are on the Harmony Eastern itinerary in September.  We did Sky class on Oasis and loved it.  We are only Sea class this time because that is as high as our traveling companions wanted to book.  We do like the space in a JS, but I just love the Coastal Kitchen and we were planning on doing most dinners there.  Now we will have to cross our fingers and hope that there will be availability for us.  From now on, it's Sky class for us.   

We have 2 cruises booked on the Mardi Gras.  The one before the Halloween cruise and one in Jan 2021.  I have a feeling we are going to cruise on this class ship many times!

13 minutes ago, Mallow said:

I generally find a bartender I like in each location of the ship that we frequent and give them an extra $1 per drink.  Even if they are busy a lot of times they will ask me if I want the usual while walking up to a packed bar and have it made before they move on to others.

Yes, this.  While we don't tip extra for every drink, we'll slip in a $5 here and there to those bartenders that go the extra mile for us.  It usually gets us a well made drink in short order.     

We cruise various lines and on our splurge cruises we opt for a nicer cabin.  So nice to relax on a wraparound balcony or enjoy the extra space on a Carnival ship.  If I were cruising on Carnival, I would choose an AFT EXCEL suite on the new Mardi Gras. Two room suite and an enormous wraparound balcony with your own private whirlpool.  Now for RCCL, I would choose an Oasis Class ship and get at least a Grand Suite to enjoy the many, many benefits that Royal Suite Class offers.  Can't beat it.  I know you can go to a more upscale line, but for us, we enjoy the fun and activities on Carnival and RCCL.   

Just trying to confirm suite benefits with the Royal Up program.  You receive all of the class benefits associated with your cabin type (sea, sky, star) except the double crown and anchor points, correct?  I assume that if you originally start out in sea class (JS) you still receive the double points. I don't want to incorrectly factor in the cost of the drink package, gratuities, and specialty dining if I get the chance to go star class.    

2 hours ago, Sean_B said:

 

To clear up some confusion, can you confirm that this is only for the lights and that the power sockets will still work without a card inserted into the slot?

The only time we leave a card in the slot is when we are trying to charge something.  We never use our cruise card though. We use some generic card that we take out and put within easy reach.  I don't want to take the chance of leaving my card in the cabin.  BTW, before you take the card out and leave your cabin, make sure your spouse isn't in the bathroom.  Been there, done that!  😨🤣

About how far of a walk is it to Tickles from the ship's gangway at Crown Bay?

20 minutes ago, blue_water said:

Can anyone answer the OP’s question about any obstacles at PP when arriving by taxi? We haven’t driven up in some time and I can’t remember if there are steps up from the parking area to the restaurant area.

 

At least with a taxi you wouldn’t have to walk from the ship and up the stairs to the tram..

Thanks blue_water.  I am the OP.  I've done the trek to the tram and all of those stairs many times, but last time was proof that I'm not getting any younger, LOL.  I've never traveled there by car so I have no idea what it's like.  

Thank you for your menu and drink pictures!  So informative.   

We've always docked at Havensight , but will be at Crown Bay for the first time in September.  Is there someplace close to the port to have a Bushwacker and enjoy the water views?  We always head up to Paradise Point by tram for a Bushwacker and the views when we dock at Havensight.  Are there cabs available to take us to Paradise Point?  Approximate cost?  We've been to St. Thomas so many times that we just like to get off the ship for a short time and enjoy a local watering hole for a couple of hours.  Also, I have some mobility issues and the last time the walk and the tram plus the stairs nearly did me in. Are there any obstacles going by cab?  Thanks in advance!    

We've been disappointed with the dinner buffet options on Carnival for the last several years.  They seem to be scaling them down more and more.  Know there must be a happy medium between offering fresh tasty hot options and not wasting a bunch of food.  We don't do the MDR anymore and used to be totally happy with the buffet.  Not so much anymore.  We pick and choose and there is always the deli.  Would prefer more tasty options.  Emphasis on tasty. Quality over quantity.  We survive, but other cruise lines do better IMO. 

We experienced the new debark process on the Breeze in February.  We are Platinum and our friends were in a suite and both received our tags in the stateroom.  We got #2, but this was a John Heald FFS cruise and there were MANY diamonds on board. I'm sure they received #1 because we met in the same lounge and they were escorted off before us.  Our friends in the suite did self assist and were on their way before us.   They were very pleased.  I noticed the positive change for our debark because the lounge had coffee and pastries and when our number was called they actually prioritized our debark by moving us through the self debark lines and got us to the luggage area in just a couple of minutes.  When we got to the luggage area only our luggage was available and they actually had someone organizing the porters so everyone got a porter in proper order.  No chaos as before where the loudest, most aggressive person got a porter.  It was our best Carnival debark ever.  Don't know if the John Heald group made the difference, but we will see on our next cruise.  It was handled more like other cruise lines, I was impressed.  If you didn't have priority, then you had to report to pick up your tags.  Not sure if people read their debark documents, but it clearly stated to pick up their tags.  I believe it was at the Red Frog Pub. 

On ‎5‎/‎3‎/‎2019 at 4:22 PM, christyran1228 said:

I don't know if the packing cubes really save space or not, but I love how all of my stuff can be organized in them.  I even use one for shoes.  🙂

Yes, this!  I don't think that they really save space, but they don't make things more bulky either.  So easy to unpack and access to keep thinks organized throughout the trip.  

36 minutes ago, molly361 said:

No double points when upgraded thru the RoyalUp program unless you were already in a stateroom that got double points such as going from a JS to a GS

My bad, I knew that.  Senior moment.  Thanks!

6 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Too much for us for the jump to JS, especially since there would be no extra C&A points.

I thought that JS received the extra C&A points.  We have received the double points in the past.    

1 minute ago, Artemus said:

Does Coco Cay have any transportation around to the various areas of fun❓Maybe that’s coming later. 

I sure hope so. Many people can't walk long distances, but can still enjoy the venues. 

Thanks for taking the time to do your review.  I'll be looking forward to your vlogs.

6 minutes ago, Sean_B said:

I left the Navy for the Air Force and became a Senso on the (Canadian) P3.

One of the reasons I've enjoyed the forums for all these years.  It really is a small world when you find out how much people have in common besides a love of cruising.  

1 minute ago, Sean_B said:

The view is outstanding, but the work is actually pretty boring and mundane. Being in the Navy, the bridge can be a little more exciting with large weapons and missiles being fired, but otherwise during peace-time sailing...I left for a reason.

Thank you for your service.  I spent 23 years in the Air Force.  I know what you mean.  Sitting behind a computer in a command center is a bit more challenging and exciting than sitting behind one at the local bank.   

3 minutes ago, Sean_B said:

 

It would put you to sleep.

Say it isn't so...….I guess ideas we have about jobs don't always hold up in real life.  You can't beat the view from the bridge though.  

Based on my 20 years of experience as a computer programmer, systems analyst, and database manager, I'd definitely be sitting behind a computer somewhere.  Now, if I could sit behind that computer on the navigation bridge that would be heaven for me! I would love to experience the day to day operations on the bridge.  

Another dream job would be if Carnival employed me as a "secret shopper".  They could pay all of my expenses and I could cruise all of the time and report back to them about my experiences.

I have a concern about elevators not accessing all decks on Carnival ships. The sports deck on a lot of ships require you to climb a flight of stairs.  Not a problem for most people, but it is a problem for me.  I can walk (slowly, for short distances) and play putt putt and enjoy several of the activities on the sports deck, but the stairs are such an obstacle for me.  What about the scenario of Grandma or Grandpa wanting to watch the grandkids do the ropes course, but they can't navigate the stairs?  I know that there are ADA lifts on some decks, but they are for people in wheelchairs and they aren't on all decks either.  I know that some ships have multi-level serenity decks, but the elevators don't go to all levels.  On the Mardi Gras deck plans the Loft 19 area shows an ADA lift, but no elevator.  Granted, that may change as the ship isn't built yet.  I know Carnival caters to a younger crowd and it wasn't that long ago that I took the stairs for the entire cruise because I could get there faster than waiting for the elevator. Injuries happen and time marches on so I have to rely on elevators now.  I've been on Princess and never had an issue finding an elevator to access any location on their ships.  I prefer the fun ship experience on Carnival, but that is my pet peeve about mobility issues and their ships.