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We've taken 3 TA's from Barcelona. Two went a southernly route porting in Miami and New Orleans, both left in November. One took a more northernly route leaving in October that ported in New York, that one had less pleasant, rougher weather and seas. The other 2 had some of the best weather and calmest seas, we've encountered on any of our many other cruises. We anticipated much worse, and were more than thrilled the seas and weather were so enjoyable! But...certainly can't say how the weather will be sailing in March or April, but thought I'd share what we did experience.

Curious...where was it announced Chibang and Cucina are no longer free of charge? Are we talking about the charge for additional visits after the first one, or something else?

They were indeed!!

You may be able grab some chips at the Deco Deli. We were on Jubilee a couple of weeks ago and grabbed a few sandwiches at the Beach Buns deli...basically the same as the Deco Deli on Celebration, and they had potato chips. They'll toss a handful of chips on with a sandwich order, but we asked a couple of times for just chips and they gave them to us. Neither my wife or I can remember exactly what they did on Celebration last year.

Still offered…Categories > In Room Food and Beverages > water

Give this a read on Carnivals very own website https://www.carnival.com/drink-packages/cheers-package/cheers-SUM?icid=default_mcmcard1_cheers_1222020

How was that Comfort Inn, ok at least for a night or 2? We stayed at a Comfort Inn in Galveston for a cruise on Jubilee a couple of weeks ago...we were umm....not pleased with that one, but may consider this one for our Venezia cruise in Mayl

Very nice review. We're sailing Venezia in May, the info you provided will be very useful as we plan our cruise on Venezia...which will be our diamond cruise! Question please. Early in your review you mentioned you'd be staying at a hotel about 2 blocks from the cruise port post cruise. Could you share which hotel that was? Searching shows a view that seem close, but I thought I'd inquire which place you stayed at. Thanks.

We just booked this same sailing yesterday, I'm thinking you'll get a good number of replies suggesting not flying in the same day, something I'd agree with also. While we could drive, we'll probably take Amtrak to Penn Station and taxi or ride share to a hotel at least one day before the cruise. Another airport to consider is Newark New Jersey. While I can't say for sure, I've heard it could be a more efficient ride to the cruise port than LaGuardia, but I've no idea. Here's a review of someone who recently sailed on the Venezia, that along with the East Coast Departures forum could provide some useful info.

Nope, not unless you are logged into your booking, however setting a reminder on a watch, phone, tablet, laptop or computer will accomplish the same thing. Also keep in mind the midnight check-in time is midnight EST, so depending on where you're cruising, you may have to allow for a time zone difference.

The HUB app doesn't allow for "reservations" until the "opening time" for YTD. Last week we were on Jubilee..and YTD started at 5:30. I think this varies btsy ship. However once it opens, it will give a guesstimated wait time...so you kinda gotta just "wing it'...and base the wait time vs the time you'd like to have dinner. Earlier times seem to have the longest waits, and even longer on play dress up night. Wait times we've found to fairly close...many time less than the estimate.

Which night was this menu offered?

LoL!! My wife has a similar infatuation with Blue Iguana also....I like to fit it in to my "food rotation' as well. I do enjoy their Huevos Rancheros...just had a couple this past Saturday debarking the Jubilee. Speaking of Jubilee...we did dine in the MDR for Valentines Day last Wednesday (all the specialty restaurants we're booked!!) ...I we did want to try the beef wellington...which was actually pretty decent!

We got over the hype of the MDR after our first 2-3 cruises, it's just not that special, and there have been a number of changes over the years that lessens it even more. When Carnival implemented YTD, we never looked back to set time dining. We just did 5 consecutive cruises on Excel class ships...all with YTD. I think across all 5 cruise, we maybe went to the MDR...a total of 7 times. Having the specialty dining options as part of YTD is a huge plus for us. We're also not opposed to grabbing a couple of slices of pizza and a few beers for dinner. We've also done YTD with groups of varying sizes all without issue.

Yep...from day 1. When you check in for that cruise, your boarding docs and luggage tags should say priority or platinum or maybe both. One thing you could also try is checking in 2 days before your checkin date..platinum and diamond folks can do their check in 2 days prior to the "normal" check in date/time for the sailing date, maybe not..not sure about that part.

We did multiple sailings last year on both the Celebration and Mardi Gras, and leave this Saturday on Jubilee....we were booked on the Jubilee for her TA back in October that was canceled...figured what the heck, get all 3 Excel class ships sailed in less than a year. While we also enjoyed those ships, and anticipate enjoying Jubilee next week, one of the biggest disappointments of the Excel class is the the location of the Alchemy bar, just a bad set up/location for what that bar should be.

I use Fidelity and thats true, I did not enter any of my Fidelity user or account information, just the ownership statement without account numbers redacted. And received the stock benefit.

Really? A ship that first sailed in March of 2019 is now considered bottom of the barrel and old? LOL!! While I don't think the ship compares to Oasis for various reasons, Oasis is 11 years older!!

Nope...don't need too,

Define very long wait times? For some that could be 5 minutes!! But, we've done YTD on both the Celebration and Mardi Gras and soon will be on Jubilee!! I don't recall a wait time longer than about 15 minutes...and usually those longer times were on "elegant nights". We typically didn't waiver far from the venue's...maybe a restroom trip or something...but there is about a 15 minute window when all in your party need to arrive for the assigned table.

Last cruise, didn't come back with COVD, did come back with pneumonia.

Sure sounds like it. Though this morning I got email from Stockperks saying the confirmed my ownership of Carnival stock. Went back to app...hit the Green redeem perk button, filled in the sailing info...now waiting for Carnival email, though the app did yell at me saying I'm within 4 weeks of sailing, but they'll work hard to get my OBC added to my sailing...great.

I'm. going to disagree in part. Yes, a QTY/TBA you sign up for there is a possibility the cabin will be assigned at the port, sure, thats is a known risk. But, to check in, board the ship with your luggage when that was not what you planned for, to have the ship LEAVE THE PORT, and while sailing take hours to locate a cabin, no, that part is not acceptable, or even reasonable.

Oh wow...I read your previous posts...didn't see that the cabin was assigned after the pulled out of the dock!!! Whoa!!! A curious question. I recall you did get into a balcony cabin? Did you book a balcony QTY or something else? Also...while you waited for them to get their...stuff in order...what did you do....head to a bar (my choice) get something to eat etc? You didn't have to hang at guest services did you?

Hmmmm.....one thing that we feel is different is the ships...vibe....Last May we did a...and I'm calling it a back to back..cause..well...the cruises were back to back! On the Harmony of the Seas and then Celebration. From sail away to the all the activities, the Celebration was much livlier, and noisier!! RCI tends to feel more..."formal", less lively. Although one of or favorite places on the 2 times we sailed on Anthem was the Schooner bar...more or less the piano bar on Anthem...Matt Yee was on both times and hanging there was a great and rowdy time!! The other venue we frequented...and I can't recall the name....was a music and dance place....First time we sailed Anthem there was a Bon Jovi cover band that were very good...second time was a Led Zeppelin cover band that were pretty good. The 270 area in the aft of the ship was a nice place hang out....the shows back there were the only ones we went to and were very enjoyable...only went to maybe 1-2 show across both sailings in the main theater. Plus 270 was near the deli that served those awesome roast beef sandwiches!! One thing we feel lacks on the RCI ships we've been on is the comedy shows, the venue's they have them in not the same vibe like the Punchliner or Limelight lounges on MG and Celebration. Comedians were usually pretty good though...on Harmony last May there were 2 guys that alternated, but they were on the entire cruise, no change over like we've seen on Carnival. An yep, they have the bumper cars!!! We did those a few times...loads of fun. Of course they have the flow rider and that parachute simulator. The always mostly indoor pool is nice...had a sea day on one of the Anthem sailings that was pretty cold, so was nice to have the indoor pool to hang at. The forward solarium area is nice...We had breakfast most mornings on both sailings at the Solarium Bistro as it had a nice variety of breakfast options, without the relative insanity and higher noise level of the Windjammer...we don't do MDR's for breakfast..barely do them for dinner...so the bistro was a nice alternative. Although, the Windjammer...not bad....there's a seating area in the Aft outside the WJ that was nice to sit out and have breakfast. We also had dinner at the bistro a few times...same thing nicer, "calmer" venue for dinner...most times they had dinner options that we enjoyed. HTH...bout all I can remember clearly!!