BonnieH

Thanks for the video. Can't wait to see the next installment. I'm trying to decide between the Magic or the Vista for our next trip.

Have they adopted the new American Table Menus on the Valor? We were on this ship in January and they had not at that time. Also, do they still use tablecloths for the evening meals? They did in January. We were on the Carnival Magic a couple of weeks ago and they have the new American Table Menus in the main dining rooms and they do not use tablecloths except on the two "Elegant" nights. I'm not real fond of the new menus and I definitely prefer a tablecloth and appropriate silverware for the evening meal. That is one thing that makes cruising special, in my opinion.

 

Thanks in advance for your answer.

 

Rosemary

My daughter and I were on the same sailing.

No..they haven't adopted the American table menus

Yes..they still have the tablecloths at all dinner seating

I hope it is 5. On the Conquest last year the chips were $2 instead of $1.

just off today...$5 minimum, chips $1 each

We use them every time we cruise (even have a "frequent parker club card" :)

My daughter and I will be on the same cruise as you. We are hoping to be at the parking lot by 9:30.

Just a note.....

If you are looking for an inexpensive place to park, the Park and Cruise at exit 52 off of rt 528 on Merritt Island is nice. They are very helpful and have valet parking at their lot. They have an indoor waiting area with picnic tables and benches. They load up your luggage and away you go.

The drive right up to the doors (to the left of the port entrance doors) and unload your luggage so that all you need to do is walk over to the actual port doors and check in. Their pick up is painless as well...collect your luggage then walk over to the right of the entrance doors. They will load your luggage and drive you back to their lot.

If you pay for the valet parking (about $10 more than their normal price), they say they will have your car pulled up to where their shuttle drops you off.

parkcruise.com

we had the anytime dining for our 4/8 cruise and were in the lower level of the aft dining room (deck 3). deck 4 aft was for assigned seating

I was on this same sailing with my BF. Due to medical issues with him (aftermath of major hip surgery) we weren't able to do everything that I wanted to do so we just hung out around the ports and on the ship.

I've been on the Sunshine when she was the Destiny, and I most definitely liked the Destiny set up better. We didn't experience any issues with our cabin nor did we have any experience with unpleasant odors.

Some of the food was good, some not so much. Maybe it's me, but Guy's burgers would go under the "not so much" column. I don't see what the big deal is about them. We ate in the MDR for most breakfasts and dinner. We had the anytime/your time dining and was able to get a 2 top every time. Service was occasionally slow.

I decided to splurge on the CHEERS package...for this trip it wasn't worth it for us. Carnival made money on us.

There were some chair hogs, but we could usually find a place to hang out.

I'm not a person to cruise on a specific ship because of the cruise director, so I have no opinions of the one here. On the last sea day, I went to bingo and the chick that headed up the bingo drove me nuts.

Check to see if your airline allows the walking stick.I know that they require that a cane has to go in the overhead bin.

Thanks, but we won't need to fly...we live about 20 minutes from Port Canaveral :)

On board he may PREFER a cane, anyway.

Decks and floors in buffets can be, and are slippery.

A walking stick is great on cement, or open trails, but you may find the rubberized pad on the cane to be a benefit for navigating wet decks, and buffet line circumstances.

Also those long romantic walks on the Promenade...definitely a cane.

Thanks. This walking stick has a rubber bottom, so I don't think the wet decks will be a problem. I'm leaning more towards the cane so that we don't have any issues at check in

My BF is recovering from major hip surgery that he had in October 2015. He uses a walking stick (because as he says...canes aren't cool :o ) for walking long distance. I've searched through the Carnival site and can't find an answer to my question....

Will he be allowed to bring on his walking stick? Or will he have to suck it up and use a cane? I'm wondering if security would consider it a weapon and confiscate it if we try to check in with it.

thanks!

We got the call about 2 weeks ago for our 4/8 Sunshine cruise..$400 for an ocean suite from our Lido balcony.

My daughter got a call Thursday night for her May 2016 cruise - $400 for an ocean suite from a balcony

silly question....do the spiked milkshakes count against the 15 drinks a day limit?

I need the breeze too I get hot

I know that feeling. My "personal summer moments" hit just about every night. :)

why not bring your own bottle of wine (1 750 ml bottle per person), uncork it in your cabin and bring a glass (large glass in my case :) ) to dinner?

no minibar isn't a problem for us. we'll just bring a small collapsible cooler and have the cabin steward put ice in it. we just need it for wine and ginger ale.

My BF eats gluten free. Some stuff is good, some not so good.

My suggestion....if you plan on eating in the MDR, go there when you get on and talk with someone. They can help you plan his meals.

I think that in the buffet lines, you can ask to talk with a chef about what is and what isn't gluten free.

so, this place keeps your car keys??

OK...don't hurt me, but I must be the exception to the whole female & roses/flowers thing. They just aren't my style. That's not to say it isn't "sweet", just not for me.

Now if you want me to be happy....send me some real (not lab created) emeralds :p

No to go cups from the buffet. I would suggest bringing your own.

If I remember correctly, the only place with to go cups of coffee are at the specialty coffee bar on the Promenade deck

Another Tervis on the Dream over Valentine's Day

My BF has to eat GF. When we were on the Dream last October, we spoke with one of the hostess's in the dining room on Saturday night. He was able to order Sunday nights dinner off the menu. When we got to the dining room, they had a special ticket for him that was given to the head waiter.

Even though he had pre-ordered, the hostess handed him a menu so that people wouldn't look at him funny.

Each night in the dining room, they brought him the next night's menu so he could order ahead of time. They even brought him brunch menu so he could order off that as well.

When the dessert was apple pie, he said "too bad...I can't have that"....they made him his own small apple pie.

He never had any issues finding something to eat. He wasn't a fan of the pizza since it was too doughy for him.

My BF got the letter the week of Feb 10th while I was on the Dream. He threw it out then I grabbed it out of the recycle. He has been on only 2 cruises while I've been on many more.

Now we are set for an 8 day exotic eastern on the Freedom on 4/5/14. Cost us $160 to upgrade to balcony. With the $160 upgrade fee and taxes/port charges and gratuities, it comes to about $564. Luckily we can drive to Port Everglades, so no airfare is involved.

Looks like I'm cruising again in 46 days....

MY BF got one in the mail sometime last week while I was on the Dream. He threw it out. Luckily it was at the top of the recycle bin. Booked an 8 day exotic eastern on the Freedom out of Ft. Lauderdale today for the both of us. Cruise cost for a balcony was $160...add on taxes/port fees and pre-paid gratuities and it comes to a whopping $564. Since I'm platinum (and he's not), we even ended up with priority boarding. No need for FTTF!!!

Looks like I'm cruising again in 46 days....

MY BF got one in the mail sometime last week while I was on the Dream. He threw it out. Luckily it was at the top of the recycle bin. Booked an 8 day exotic eastern on the Freedom out of Ft. Lauderdale today for the both of us. Cruise cost for a balcony was $160...add on taxes/port fees and pre-paid gratuities and it comes to a whopping $564. Since I'm platinum (and he's not), we even ended up with priority boarding. No need for FTTF!!!

Kennedy Space Center, air boat rides, go to Christmas, FL and visit the "worlds largest gator"