cruisebarbie

On 12/27/2023 at 11:11 AM, TxTeach79 said:

Current lineup of reserved stuff, shipboard edition:

 

Chef's Table on Monday. We did this on the Pride in Europe, the very first group in their newly renovated Chef's Table space, and we really enjoyed it. It's long and can be a night ender, but I figured after what's sure to be a late and wild NYE and a pool heavy New Year's Day, that's not the worst thing the night before our first port. Excited to see the menu.

 

Teppanyaki on Tuesday. B and I have done Teppanyaki on Horizon and Mardi Gras (I've also done the equivalent on Norwegian Breakaway and Jade) and it honestly might be her favorite meal onboard. It's up there for me as well, we always have a great time and love the food, and we're two for two with really entertaining chefs. 

 

Pasta Master Class at Carnival Kitchen around lunch time on Saturday. Neither of us has ever done one of the CK classes. I wanted to try one out last year on MG but they all booked up super fast and I missed the boat. It came down to this one or the BBQ one, and doing BBQ in an hour just seemed sacreligious to me, so Pasta it is!

 

We just got off Jubilee yesterday and did the pasta class.  It was so fun!  I think you picked a good one.  On another note, I always plan to book another cruise as soon as I get off one---I have been leaning toward Celebration with this same itenerary (with addition of Celebration Key. )  I can't wait to follow your adventures!  Have fun!

2 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Thing about an early flight is that I miss my airport bar time. A tradition unlike any other. 
 

Getting a mimosa at that bar before a flight is a tradition for me!  

48 minutes ago, MeganGC1983 said:

It was good. Not Key West good, but good. 

Megan what place in Key West do you recommend for the lobster roll?

Thanks!

Vicki

I am loving your review!  I think your humor is great and keep doing exactly what you are doing.  Thank you for bringing us along on your adventures!  

What a great report!   I love your positive spirit and you really make us feel like we are there with you!  I am so glad you are going to do another review on this great ship!  

You missed cold and rainy days here in North Texas and coming home just as the rain stops!

10 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Patio was completely shaded. Chilly. I scratched it off, headed back up to Tides. Better. 
 

It looks like you have been able to see all the areas without them being crazy crowded.  That's so awesome, especially since it is a holiday week.  When we were there in September it seemed every area was super crowded.  Serenity pool looked like people soup (haha!)and people sitting all around it all day.

2 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

This guy is so good. From Bon Jovi to Metallica to Cat Stevens. Seamless. 
 

I loved that guy! He plays so many different types of songs and it is a great backdrop when sitting at Fortune teller. 

3 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

I have assumed the position 

 

That’s where we would watch the shows. Perfect viewing and a table for drinks. And no one crowded next to you .  We always were able to snag a seat there. 

32 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

it definitely seems like Jennifer has moved on, likely either on vacation or to Celebration. But there is no shortage of excellent bar staff here, fear not! Melissa at BM and Jakub/Zoltan at Alchemy have been fantastic. I’ve only had a couple at FT but they were great too, and honestly Jocelyn and the rest of the staff at the casino bar have been right up there with the best of ‘em. 

Melissa was the best!  She handled the busyness of Brass Magnolia like a pro.  She remembered everyone's name and mixed the drinks while carrying on full conversations with everybody.  Loved seeing her in your picture.

I  am loving your review!  I feel like I am reliving our trip on the Mardi Gras but also learning so much that I didn't know!  Also, regarding Serenity---it was strangely windy when we were on it too.  It is like a wind tunnel in that area.  And, no one was in the pool either--just people shoulder to shoulder sitting around the pool the ENTIRE time.  I went in to cool off one time and felt so strange!  

And the elevator situation--it was a mess on our sailing.  That is one big fail on this ship I think.  

Keep up the posts as your week goes on!

13 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

that’s a fantastic story! Thanks for sharing! I love her “byyyeeeeeeeee!……… ok bye”…. She hasn’t broken it out yet but I know it’s coming!

 

Enjoy Your Christmas cruise! I love the Vista. And Go Eagles! (If you have any Argyle connection 😂😂)

Yes!  My kids went to school at Argyle so we are definitely Eagles fans!  Haha!  Looking forward to your adventures today!  I can't believe the Brass Magnolia was so empty last night!  Wait until all the other cruisers find it---The bar will look like Alchemy by the end of the week.

3 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

praline truffle is DEFINITELY on my radar! Thanks!

 

i love Kyndall too! I’m from Texas so I sail out of Galveston often, I’ve sailed with her on Vista before! I’m fairly certain she’s here so she’s 100% ready to take over Jubilee when it comes to TX. 

We are from NTX too!  We are close to UNT near the Tx Speedway.  (Argyle area).  We cruise from Galveston quite a bit and going on the Vista this Christmas.  Kyndall has a special place in my heart as we took a cruise in 2019 shortly after my mom died and the first time I heard Kyndall's signature "Byeeee" it made me emotional as that is how my mom always said goodbye to us on the phone.  I sure hope she is on the Jubilee.  

Also, when you attend shows in the Grand theater we found there were a section of seats right by the bar that were close to a ledge on the bottom level.  They never had people sitting there and we always had a great view of the shows.

39 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

Fortune Teller 

 

 

 

Bog Juice. Pretty good! They’re super nice here. 
 

 

 

My favorite at that bar was Lime on the Coconut.  So good!  I totally forgot Kyndall Fire was your cruise director--she is great!  

I am loving all your pictures and I can't believe all the places you have been that I never saw on our cruise.  I need to book another on this ship!  Hopefully the Jubilee will be similiar and I can catch some of these areas  I never even saw that 8 aft area!

If you are wanting to try another drink at BM the Praline trouffle martini was amazing.

Also, I can't believe you got an elevator to yourself---The elevator situation on this ship was so bad on our cruise.  But we just walked the steps (11 flights up and down got REALLY old by the end of the week though.  haha!)

Keep it up this week as I am loving following along on your trip so far.  

9 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

Okay, a woman just got the mic and yelled that everyone must be seated in the terminal before we board. No one can be standing. Never heard that one before. 
 

Now she’s explaining zones. 

They did the same when I was on Mardi Gras in September.   I think they may do that because the ship is larger and more people boarding.  

Great review so far!  When you get on board make sure you go to the Brass Magnolia,  It is a great place to people watch and good drinks.  Hopefully Jennifer the bartender is still there.  She's aweome.

And, the Fortune Teller bar had a great musician that played 80's music among other songs.  A great backdrop for having a drinks.

Can wait to follow along!

While I like to book outside cabins, on a ship this size if it was a choice of Havana or upper balcony I would pick Havana.  These ships are so big and the main nightlife are on decks 6-7-8.  Taking the elevators are horrible on these ships and climbing 11 flights of stairs to your room is no fun.  We booked spa rooms on Mardi gras thinking we would hang out on Serenity but it turned out that even that area was so crowded and not relaxing during the day.  We missed Havana!  I think you will like Havana area for convenience and peace away from the crowds when you want it.

33 minutes ago, Qchell said:

I've done a few times - that is pretty much it.  Just bear in mind any OBC you purchase will NOT show on your booking on Carnival.  Just keep documentation of the purchase and it should show up in your S&S account once onboard. 

 

Good to know thanks!  Did you purchase the on board cash with the card and then use the points to pay?  

We have had a Carnival credit card since 2019 and never redeemed points.  We now have 35,000 points.  Can we use them on an upcoming cruise toward on board credit?  If so, how do we redeem them?  What is the best use for these points?

Thanks in advance!

Vicki

9 hours ago, Capn12 said:

Just got off of the MG today. I’ll say, everything you hear about the elevators is 100% true: extremely long wait times, very stuffy and hot. We took our bags down 11 floors (spa room on the 17th) just to avoid the wait today.

 

In term should of dining options, MG has been by far, our favorite. For us to have a 7 night, and not once enter the MDR, that says a lot. That’s of course, dependent on the options that are free now, but will be charge at some point.

 

The ship itself, I find pretty neutral/generic, lacking much in the way of unique character. I’d go again if the price was right, otherwise, maybe not.

 

It doesn’t help that the best aspect of the MG (Eden in the Piano Bar), is now done with the MG contract as of today, too.

Yes, same for us on the 17th floor.  We would take the stairs 11 flights when going to the main areas.  We hated that we would wait for an elevator forever and then one would open up and people would just walk on and didn't regard those that had been waiting long before them.  We started using the spa elevator that would take you from 17 to the spa.  We did that on the last day with our luggage.  It was a life saver.  And, I second, Eden---He is amazing and we spent every night there.  Every night it was packed and fun

We had a Christmas cruise scheduled and I called last week to rebook for the following year.  I am a planner and didn't want to wait and not have a plan.  Carnival switched my cruise with no fees.  We hadn't made final payment which helped.  I just don't think things will be back to normal the rest of 2020 unfortunately.  Now, I have 3 cruises for next year!  That is something to look forward to.  We switched our 2020 trip to an all inclusive in Jamaica.

Vicki

Havana all the way.  We have cruised in those rooms twice now and won't ever choose another area if possible.  The access to the back area was so worth it.   I am not sure if your son will utilized the teen programs but they will have several activities he can attend with that group and he will get to take advantage regardless of which room you are in.   We sailed with our boys in December and had a Havana room for the first time for them.  Although they are a bit older it was still awesome.  I can't stress how much better our cruise was having that back area as a type of oasis away from the masses.

We are scheduled for a class reunion cruise on Royal this June 16th.  I am amazed it hasn't been cancelled yet.  My flight got cancelled last week.  We are scheduled on Carnival for Christmas and I pray that we are able to take that cruise.  This has to get over soon.  If I can't cruise or have some vacation I am going to go crazy.  

Vicki

13 minutes ago, Bronx12 said:

I'd rebook cruise

I definitely want to rebook sometime when this one eventually gets cancelled.  It's a bummer because it is a 30 year class reunion group cruise.

I am on the Navigator of the seas this June and I just got an email that my flight is cancelled and they were unable to find available flights within 3 days.  Not sure what to do.  Do I start looking for another airline?  Carnival cancelled all North American cruises through June but I haven't heard about Royal.  I need this cruise but not sure if I should look to rebook?

What are your thoughts?  We live way too far to drive.

Thanks in advance,

Vicki

I saw the posts about discounted cruise cash.  I haven't ever bought any for my cruises before and wondering do they discount them often?  I thought I would buy some for our Christmas cruise since our bill can sometimes be up to $1000 at the end of the week for our family.  This could be a good savings if I buy this at a discount.  I have just never bought it before.  

Thanks in advance for information and weighing in!

Vicki

With the prices going down, I am thinking of buying 100 shares of stock.  From what I read, if you have 100 shares you can get $100 on board credit?  We have a cruise planned in June and look to cruise more and also with Celebrity in future.  Can someone confirm if that is true about the on board credit.  The cruise we have in June is only a 4 day.

Thanks in advance!

Vicki