CarolR

My sister and brother in law sailed the Eastern Med on the Poesia.  They said the ship was beautiful, food excellent and good service.  The food she said is Mediterranean and that may not appeal to some North American's who may be looking more for burgers, fries etc.  We are of Italian heritage so she said the food was some of the best she ever had.  She did say the shows were not as good but overall no complaints about the cruise. 

Its terrible.  We booked a cruise last week and I've been trying to log in to book an excursion and it keeps telling me it doesn't work and to call a number.   I have emailed a few times with no response.  We've been on 25 cruises and in this day of modern technology I've never seen anything like this.  

I think cruise line has a lot less to do with experience than departure port or time of the year. Miami and New York are great to cruise from but the people can be a bit more rude and pushy. Charleston SC, Tampa, New Orleans and Baltimore people tend to be a lot friendlier and deferential to others. Summer vs winter vs fall vs spring also bring completely different crowds. We love cruising out of Baltimore and New Orleans, passengers and crew always seem to be the best.

Totally agree on this point. My adult son is an amputee in a wheelchair but extremely independent and does not expect help or any special treatment. That being said on our recent Horizon cruise out of NYC his experiences were totally different than cruises out of Southern ports. We can't count the number of times people cut in front of him so he had no time to slow down and ended up running over someone's foot. People would not move even a bit to let him by. Strange experience since on most of his other cruises I was amazed at how gracious and helpful people were.

WOW! I would have been out of there after about 2 minutes and standing in line to complain loudly about my disaster of dinner.

Just not right, nor were the other problems but you pay to go eat at somewhere that is supposed to be a bit "refined"

We dine in the steakhouse on every cruise and I have never seen anything like it. The worst thing is the parents who do nothing and the servers who have to put up with it. You're right - we should have left.

Every cruise is a different and maybe isolated experience; since many of us take only one or two a year at most, it's reasonable that they leave a lasting impression - for better or worse. I'm going by the cruise we just finished on Sunday - the Breeze out of Galveston. The passenger mix, and the conditions/behaviors I saw were light-years different than on my last cruise, which was RCCL to the Med out of Barcelona, or the one before that which was an Alaska south-bound, also on RCCL.

 

It's easy for anyone who wasn't there to assume I'm lying, or have an axe of some kind to grind but that's just not the case. We've sailed Carnival 3 previous times and though we understood what we were getting. We are not particularly "high-brow" and come from rather humble roots, so socio-economic demographic shock wasn't the issue either. It was, plain and simply, a whole bunch of startlingly boorish individuals who either didn't know or didn't care about the most basic level of decent, polite behavior in a public setting.

 

We encountered countless sloppy drunks at all hours who accosted us to hug, cry, rant and just generally make a spectacle of themselves. Were they just trying to be "friendly"? We witnessed two separate fights amongst groups (that appeared to be known to one another) that necessitated Security breaking them up. The vulgar language and inappropriate dress of many passengers on the pool decks was cringe-inducing. The pool decks themselves were filthy with debris from food, drink, smoking, whatever - the crew really couldn't keep up and the bathrooms were worse than I've seen at truck-stops with feces and vomit often spewed on the floors and walls. I even saw two instances of men hawking loogies onto the deck as they walked along.

 

Was this all I saw? No, there were obviously many other instances of "normal" people going about having a regular good time in ways that you would expect. But as is human nature, those aren't the impressions that stuck. Going by our experience only, (and not really caring whether anyone else believes this account), we won't be booking Carnival again, nor would we in good faith be able to recommend it.

We recently cruised the Horizon out of NYC. Have cruised 25 times the majority with Carnival. This one was the worst as far as behavior. There was a fist fight on the lido deck over deck chairs. There was a huge fight right outside our cabin door that necessitated about 7 or 8 security. I heard some pretty scary things being screamed out by the couple fighting. Scary enough that we closed the door and wouldnt leave until security had it under control. Endless babies in diapers in the pool with nothing said and in the hot tub. A large group in the steakhouse with children running around and one in a diaper and no clothes being allowed to run around . One child dragging another across the floor by his shirt. Just an example of some of the behavior on this cruise.

We cruised the Miracle the end of May and I was one of 2 guys in the Steakhouse wearing long pants. The other 5 guys had cargo shorts, tees, caps, and 1 even had a wifebeater.

 

The Miracle was the 1st Steakhouse I've been on that allowed this type of dress, and I've eaten in every Steakhouse on the Conquest, Dream and Vista class ships, some multiple times. On any other ship those guys would have been either turned away or asked to "re-dress" their attire.

 

The Miracle Steakhouse is also open to the atrium, and we were bombarded with the noise from the name that tune and sing along karaoke or whatever to the point that made it difficult to have a conversation. There are several reasons why I won't sail the Miracle again and this is one of them.

We recently cruised on the Horizon and ate in the steakhouse. There was a large family group including several children and babies. They allowed one of their babies to run around the dining room in a diaper only with no other clothes and all of the children ran wild around the restaurant. One child was dragging another across the floor by his shirt. They were getting in the way of the servers but no one said anything. Not the atmosphere I paid for.

What day of the week are you doing this and where are you coming from?

We are driving in from the Toronto area on Monday Sept 3. Thinking of spending the 4th in NYC. Staying about an hour outside of NYC, I think in New Jersey.

I’d pick just one area, we just spent a day downtown at the 9/11 memorial, museum, and the observation tower. We live 10 miles west of the city, took about 45 minutes to drive there on a Sunday morning, $40 to park. I did see folks in wheelchairs there.

 

If you do the museum, either buy tickets in advance, or at least on your cellphone instead of waiting in a long line. You can download a free app and bring your headphones and save $7 on a self tour (we paid $2 just for earbuds).

 

The observatory had the most amazing views of NYC.

This sounds good. Is the parking close to the memorial? I need to convince my husband that this will work so I'm hoping the parking is not too far away.

That is a very ambitious itinerary for 1 day. We went to the 911 Memorial and spent

4 - 5 hours there and the Freedom Tower. The Empire State Building is not worth going to see. Central Park is beautiful. As to parking all I can say is it's tight and very expensive. We take a bus or train to NY because parking is so damn expensive but we don't travel with a wheel chair.

 

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Thanks for the info. I am happy visiting the 911 memorial and Central Park. I didn't realize that you could spend so much time at the memorial but its something I really want to see.

Sailing out of New York in early September. We are three adults including my adult son who is in a wheelchair. We were thinking of driving in a day earlier and do one day around NYC. I would like to see Central Park, 911 memorial, Empire State Building. Does anyone with experience in New York think this is possible with a wheelchair. Is parking available in an around these sites. My husband thinks it is not doable but I would like to use this opportunity to see a few sites. We are staying about an hour outside if NYC so we would just drive in for the day for sightseeing. Any comments or advice would be appreciated.

Tablecloths in the mdr

More servers and less tables in for them in the mdr.

Yes yes yes to both!!!

Just off the Vista. My third time dining there and the menu has changed. Not for the better in my opinion. No more carbonara, cannoli, tiramisu. The pasta we had was tasty but we just didn't like the menu changes.

And I don’t understand why someone with no interest in using internet on a ship would bother reading and posting in a thread about using the internet on a ship.

 

I don’t have to think about it. I want internet on a ship and it’s no ones business why I want it or how I’m going to use it.

 

Everyone has different wants and needs. Think about THAT instead of assuming everyone should be like you. SMH!

 

 

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Agreed!! We always use the internet for various reasons that have nothing to do with work. My husband and son keep up with their fantasy sports teams for example. I like to post photos for people at home during the cruise. We just got off the Vista with 16 family members and used the Hub app daily. With that said, it did not work well at all and the message deliverance was sketchy at best. Some family members said the Disney app works great.

Just off the Vista and at times they turned the music up so loud at the back pool, conversation was useless. Music is great but it should be in the background unless its a concert or club and not so loud at 9am you cant converse with your friends over breakfast. They had great music in the atrium but again, it was loud enough that conversation was not possible. I couldn't wait for them to take a break so we could continue our conversation.

I would like to book Italytoursharing but if you set it up will you be on the hook to pay the entire amount if you don't get others to join. Thats what worries me it.

Thanks everyone for the tips. The roll call for this cruise is the one beginning Sept 3 in Barcelona. We are picking up the ship on Sept 6 in Rome. Definitely researching some private tours - simply can't pay the prices NCL wants and converted to Canadian dollars, they are about $350-$450 per person per tour.

We are doing our first Med cruise on Sept 6th on the Norwegian Epic our of Rome. I was stunned to see the prices on their website for their excursions especially the Pompei, Sorrento, etc location. $467.00 Canadian for one person for the tour we are interested in which seems incredibly expensive. Can anyone recommend some reliable private tour companies for that port as well as the Florence/Pisa stop.

Many years ago I found this thread and it really changed my cruising experience for the better. Every year I bring my Elemis oil and brush and started early applying my oil and brushing my feet. So September 25th 2016 I headed off on another cruise only this time I didn't remember to follow this procedure. Sure enough my feet started swelling like crazy. I quickly started brushing my feet every time we went into our cabin. Soon no more swelling I seriously don't want that to happen again. For reference I am 59 years old have slight hypertension. I take a diuretic daily. My feet only swell on a cruise, in the past I stopped drinking ship water and avoided all sauces that are usually laden with sodium.

 

Anyone who has suffered with this condition I highly recommend you give this a try.

Ironically, I am 59 years old and have slight hypertension as well. We just returned from a cruise and this is the first one in years that the swelling was minimal. I used Arnica Gel and brushed my feet and ankles daily. It really seemed to work and I could actually wear my nice shoes instead of the flip flops that fit my usually swollen feet. I won't cruise without my trusty brush and gel.

Just off the Magic and so disappointed they did not broadcast the baseball games either in the bars or the cabins. We are Canadian and avid Blue Jay fans and so looked forward to watching on the cruise. They were carried by TBS in the US but blocked on the cruise. We ended up watching the play by play on our phones. Just not the same.

I would consider booking a short half day tour privately but a full day only through the ship. On our Hawaii cruise in May we booked a full day tour in Kauai through Carnival and our van blew a tire on the way back to the ship. We were late and the ship waited for us. I would rather pay a few more dollars and not worry.

I WANT tablecloths.....I hate my drink getting condensation on the table and dripping on me! Tablecloths are civilized. Bare tables are NOT..they are tacky.

Thanks for saying that. Totally agree!!

Just back from the Carnival Journeys cruise in Hawaii. Booked a full day tour of Kauai through Carnival. At 4:00 pm on our way back to the ship our van blew a tire and had to pull over. Took 25 minutes to get that shredded tire off and changed with help from my husband and others in the van. Made it back to the ship at 5 which was sail time to officers on the pier and people cheering from their balconies. After this experience, I would never book a full day tour with an independent company. Would rather pay a few extra dollars and know the ship will wait for me.

This question just boggles me....

 

We don't know your husband.

We don't know his physical capabilities.

We don't know his mental and emotional capabiities.

We don't know what medications he's on.

 

How are we supposed to know if he can handle sitting in a bus for 2.5 hours, then do an excursion that includes we-don't-know-what, and then sit in a bus again for another 2.5 hours?

 

:confused::confused::confused:

 

If you actually want to visit Paris, I wouldn't recommend a cruise ship excursion. Tack a few days on to the end of your trip and travel there yourself and stay there for a while.

Wow!! This reply is unbelievably rude. I know the OP. She is new to cruisecritic and I encouraged her to join and ask questions on here because generally people are so helpful and provide lots of good information. There is a way to ask for more information about her husband's disability without being so thoughtless.

Aston Waikiki Beach is 249. Cdn. with a book now pay later, so if you find something else you can cancel no charge. We stayed last time we did this cruise. Good location.

 

We are staying at the Outrigger on the Beach, booked awhile ago and got it for 235. Cdn.. We stayed here one night last time so we could do the free vow renewal. It is also in a great location.

 

Have you joined the roll call yet for this cruise? We would love to have you on it.

 

Happy planning, Karen

We actually booked the Aston Waikiki Circle. Price looked great at $363 US for two nights but converted to over $500 CDN. Thank god we got great prices on flights in Canadian currency. Next is to book excursions which are in US so we need to add another 35% to the cost of those. Oh well, life is too short to worry about it!! Can't wait for this trip.

Thanks for the hints. I ideally would have liked to stay at $200 Cdn per night (around $150 US) but there's not much at that price so will have to raise it a bit. I didn't realize Hawaii was so expensive.