luvs2beachit

On 7/10/2023 at 9:17 PM, JoseyP said:

Greetings Cruisers!

 

I just about HAD to book this......after paying for a long transatlantic on Princess which i will take in November, I checked with Carnival about my credit from a pandemic cancelation today.... Got NO emails that i had to book and SAIL by the end of September of this year! And, lost the promised OBC also. So after looking at Florida options and this cruise, i picked this. When i get off I'll be going on Meraviglia 2 days later on Sept 18 with friends!  This one is solo for me.

This is the first time I am really annoyed with Carnival, and i am Platinum with them. I plan on writing guest relations about not being informed about the dates. If i didnt book and sail by 9/30, I would have lost over a thousand dollars. So with that and a gift card, this cruise is "free" (sort of) for me.

Hope to meet some of you onboard!  So looking forward to another cruise. I hope the weather cooperates.  It's a good itinerary.

Wow that's terrible that you were never notified.  Lucky that you found out on your own.

Your new fall schedule now sounds busy but amazing!  I am looking forward to this cruise (9/8) as I am hoping that Carnival will have figured out the embarkation / debarkation logistics and that the ship will be a bit less crowded then my 6/27 Venezia  cruise.  😁

I was on the 6/27 Venezia cruise and can confirm that there is no JiJi's on the ship. What they did have was a small Asian buffet set up by the aft pool area at the Seafood Shack for lunch on most days.  

On 7/15/2023 at 1:03 AM, Haljo1935 said:

Is anyone starting to get serious about excursions? We had been planning on the fall foliage tour in Halifax, put it in cart a couple times,, but never booked. Yesterday we see it's sold out. So now we're looking for options.

There's not much to be found on other sites. Could we expect independent tours to be available in Halifax or does anyone know of any?

Halifax is a lovely port to just walk around and explore.  The boardwalk is very nice and there is lots to see and places to eat.  There are also some independent sightseeing  tours offered right from the pier.  I don't have any firsthand information about the pier tours but maybe someone else on this thread will be able to jump in with details.

4 hours ago, matt082600 said:

I just got off the Venezia on Thursday 7/13.  I didn't experience any altercations,  but the ship seemed very full.  Our waiter tIold us there was over 4500 passengers and said the next cruise was supposed to exceed 5,000.   I'm curious how many were on your sailing.

Well on the 6/27 cruise I was told 3 different counts. 4500, 4800 and "over 5000" so take your pick! 

I will say it was not the most crowded feeling ship I have ever been on but there really were no quiet areas to hide and relax either.  

On 7/2/2023 at 1:00 PM, Haljo1935 said:

 

If I can call early AM for pre-breakfast coffee so long as there's not a huge delay in getting it - kinda defeats the purpose of ordering night before and rolling out of bed to receive it from room service delivery person if I have to actually wake up and be coherent, lol. 🤭If that's what I have to do to protect it from the "charming little rugrats" 🥴 then so be it. Where are the Hall Monitors when you need them. I miss HAL already...😪

I was on the Venezia 6/27-7/5 and ordered coffee and juice every morning and it almost always was delivered in 15 minutes.  I see that you said you were on again in Sept and I will be back on in early Sept so will post if things have changed.

12 hours ago, WhiteOptima said:

Try adding cream cheese.  I cook the sausage add 8oz cream cheese then add milk to get desired consistency and of course black pepper.  I know it isn’t “normal” but since I tried it at a neighbors that is the only way I make it.

Sounds good.  I will try the cream cheese next time!  

15 hours ago, latebloomer56 said:

Don't forget the fresh black pepper. Darn it now we have to have biscuits and gravy with Sunday breakfast. I need to stop looking at food posts 😁.

And some red pepper flakes.

I was also unable to book my selected cruise.  I saw it posted earlier in the morning but when I looked at around 930am it wasn't listed.  I spoke with PVP and she could not find it listed either but while we were checking we saw that other cruises weren't listed either.  She contacted the Elite department and they acknowledge that they were having problems and were working on fixing the issue.  Around 330pm this afternoon I finally received a confirmation for the cruise.  Maybe give it another try as the site seems to be up and working.  Good luck!

I wasn't in that exact cabin but I was in 7321 last week and the bed was near the balcony.  Not sure if all cabins have the same layout, especially on other decks, but I did peek into another balcony cabin on deck 7 and the layout was the same as my cabin

Love, love, love cove balconies.  They are private and cozy.  Can use the balcony any time of day or night.  No worries about sun or rain.  When I have a cove I tend to spend more time on it then a regular balcony.

1 hour ago, Haljo1935 said:

Never heard of using condensed milk to make gravy - seems like it would be sweet?

OMG!  I can't believe I said that.  I meant evaporated milk.  I hope nobody followed that recipe!  Thanks for pointing it out!

On 7/10/2023 at 5:59 PM, TxShipShape said:

I print extras and put one inside of the suitcase as a just in case

I do this also.  Just in case....

Following along.  Loving your review!  Have been considering the Horizon and now your review has helped me make a decision.  Thanks for taking the time to write your review.

1 hour ago, caribe123 said:

Sausage gravy out of a can???… you gotta be yanking my chain!!! My grandmother and mother would roll over in their graves

 

1 pound of sausage… spicy is better, gives it taste.

Brown it until there is no pink…Do not drain the grease

 

Add a tablespoon of butter and let it melt

 

1/3 cup of AP flour and mix it in until it absorbs the fat

 

 

Slowly add 3 cups approx. of whole milk slowly to avoid lumps

 

Stir until it thickens.

add black pepper and red if you want to.

 

Add to good biscuits.

 

I am from South Carolina and Miami is just a Piece  of New York that got lost

Basically use same recipe except use condensed milk.  

1 hour ago, JoeMo said:

It's with pleasure I revive this thread we thought was long expired. Mr. Heald told a friend of mine the Chefs are working on a new recipe for our biscuits and gravy. He didn't have a timeline, but assured my friend they were coming back. I love trying new foods in the MDR but would rather have my comfort food for breakfast. 

Now that would be excellent! 

I was on this cruise

6 hours ago, ColeThornton said:

And people wonder why CCL has the reputation it does.   SMH

 

Trash.

 

I was on this cruise 6/27/23 and I was also on the Magic 6/26/22  cruise that I believe was the catalyst for the new rules letter issued by CCL earlier this year so I am thinking I will not be booking any future cruises out of NY for the latter part of June!  I really don't want to be part of this annual event!!

On 9/5/2019 at 9:51 PM, pjhootch said:

Congrats OP.  Ignore the nasty attitudes here and enjoy the offer.  

They are not too common anymore.  

I was just going to post a similar comment .  Why the nasty negative comments? If you don't like the way Carnival operates you have two options.  Play in the casino or cruise on another line.  No need to sling darts at a person who is excited about earning an Elite cruise. 

Congrats on your Elite cruise and have a wonderful time! 

Was on the Spirit through the 4/16 Panama Canal cruise and then b2b on the May 2nd Alaska cruise.  One of the best 23 day cruises ever!  The  staff was outstanding.  The scenery was amazing.  Food was very good, with a few exceptions.  Love the ship, even the strange decor.  Never felt crowded. Fellow passengers were great. Would book the same b2b again in a heartbeat!

12 hours ago, lazydayz said:

Have you done your Elite cruise?  Wondering how they handled it maon the Venezia.  Thanks

No not yet.  We leave Tuesday 6/27.  I will report back when we get return next week. I have done Premier and Ultimate in the past but found them to be very overcrowded and a bit lackluster so I have not taken advantage of them in recent years.  I was already booked on this cruise, originally the Magic, and was moved over to the Venizia when Carnival switched ships.  I received the invite to the Elite cruise and saw that the Venizia was listed as a choice and called my PVP and she made the switch from my balcony / cash/ drink promo to the Elite cruise.  I am looking forward to the Elite cruise, in particular, because of your detailed account.  Thanks for checking back!

5 hours ago, TravelBluebird said:

Thanks so much for your quick and detailed response.  I was exactly what I needed to know.  

Judie

I will be on Venezia on 6/27 with my family and both my daughter and son need to keep in touch with their offices via email so I am interested in hearing if you were able to send and receive emails.  Also, what level of plan did you have?

Again, thanks for all your hard work.  

18 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

How about some pizza with pineapple!

OMG! Scary!

On 5/25/2023 at 7:10 PM, Imperial Cruisers said:

Evening all, just booked today ..Frequent on another line, this will be our 2nd Carnival (both this year )  Looking forward to the Venezia. Got a Casino offer we couldn't pass up !

Love those casino offers!  

On 5/30/2023 at 9:41 PM, MommaRH said:

B2b2b on Venezia sailing June 15 - July 5! 

Ok, I am jealous!  How exciting!  You will have the ship warmed up for us when we board on the 27th.  Enoy your b2b2b!

Good to see you back.  Loved your review and pictures.  Thanks for taking the time to 

take us along with you.