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BenjiRodney

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    Tampa Hotels

    in Florida Departures

    Posted

    Flying in the day before our Paradise cruise and was wondering what the best hotel would be to stay at that night before.. not familiar with the Tampa area[emoji849] THANKS!!!:D

     

     

     

    We have stayed twice at Hampton Ybor City, walking distance to food, some shopping and entertainment. Last month we stayed at Hilton Downtown and took the streetcar over to Ybor City. Hampton has a free shuttle to the ship on embarkation morning. Hilton has a company they recommend for 5 a person.

     

     

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    Why do you sail Carnival and I don't think it's for the vifp benefits

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    When you add the required gratuities and vacation protection I get over $4800 for four on the inside on that one unless you're one of those sneaky gratuity removers. My point was I just did the 8 day on Vista in April in a Could 9 Spa Inside for four for $1200 less then Horizon for 2019 all things being equal. The Horizon price is outrageous for an inside, no perks, and on the so-called budget line, Carnival.

     

     

     

    No I prepay everything. You were not clear in your comments earlier. Some people pay the gratuities on board and purchase travel insurance that offers better coverage for a much cheaper rate than through the cruise line.

     

     

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    Why do you sail Carnival and I don't think it's for the vifp benefits

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I sailed Vista in April because I have kids, the ship has great pools, waterworks, and the ports were appealing. However the price was high and there was no real deal or value even booking 13 months out. For 2019 I searched for my Panama Canal cruise. 2019 Carnival Freedom (older ship 2006) 14 day for four inside cabin deck 2 is $6700 for everything (taxes, grats, vaca protection). Norwegian Bliss (brand new for 2018) 15 day (one more than CCL) family inside deck 11 also $6700. However that price includes unlimited drink package for a whopping 15 days that has a $2000 value to it included for us, the Carnival Cheers was $1500 extra! :o No brainer which was a better value and an extra day on a brand new ship. It's booked. Carnival offers the least perks with climbing prices and we will most likely never sail them for a while. We are on MSC in 2018. BTW, look at the laughable prices for the Carnival Horizon for 2019. $5000 for a simple inside for four on a basic 8 day eastern Caribbean, nothing included. That's about a million miles away from any deal or value what so ever .....

     

     

     

    The last 8 day in April for 4 with tax is. 3933.00 for. 4 in an inside.

     

     

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    Splendor Dry Dock

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Does anyone know when the next time the Splendor is scheduled for dry dock and upgrades?

     

    Since she is leaving the Carnival Fleet and going to P&O Australia in 2019 I don't except Carnival to do a dry dock for it while it still sails for Carnival.

    Just off the Paradise

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    We just got off the Paradise on the 20th we had a great time! We took Uber from the airport cost just under $13.00 for 3 of us. We got to the port at our exact check in time 11:30 am. There were a lot of people in line but went quick they were just starting the boarding of zones and while we were in line they got all the way to zone 10 and were all done so once we got checked in we could just walk on in total from walking in it took 40 minutes to get on the boat.

     

    Our cruise was sold out but still easy to get food etc. the only line that was super long was the Wok line everyone loves those noodles. There were a ton of kids on this cruise so you might see bad reviews because of this. We took this cruise 2 years ago at the same time and there were hardly any kids for my daughter to play with not the case this time I was trying to figure out why and it was because of Easter I guess some schools have their vacation specific to Easter where we have the same week in April every year. It was great for my 7 year old but I can understand where adults would be upset the pool and the Jacuzzis were packed with kids and the bars could fill up with kids getting sodas. So sometimes I would run down one flight to the United States bar to get my drink that bar was always super quick.

     

    we occasionally smelled the funky smell but nothing different from other cruises and cruise lines and it would be on deck not in our room. No problem with water or toilets they did leave a note that the water would be turned off from 1:30am - 2am one day but we did not notice. Our first sea day the boat rocked a little you walked around like you had been drinking all day and it stopped around 3 this also happened the last sea day.

     

    Crew was very nice and the boat is clean I can understand where people say its dated but we didn't care. We had an ocean view state room on Riviera deck and it was fine.

     

    We made it to both ports went to Mr Sanchos in Cozumel which was great it was a $17 taxi ride and just did a walk around in Costa Maya.

     

    We were the last people off the boat group 24 so we just hung out by the pool until they called us around 10:30am and probably took 30 minutes to get outside. Someone told me if you grab a porter they have there own line so you can get out faster but since we were the last group we just stood in the line. I heard a ton of people went with the first group so it took really long to hear them just call the 2nd group. We took an Uber back to the airport same price just under $13 for all 3 of us.

     

    We got the Cheers program it works for us when you do the math. I always got a cappuccino in the morning, water bottles during the day, sometimes a powerade, milkshakes and of course the booze. You can also get Monster drinks, different kinds of coffee and virgin daiquiris. If you drink Grey Goose the US bar has the more expensive Grey Goose that drink alone cost $17 I didn't even know about it the bartender pointed it out to me.

     

    any questions just ask

     

    Do you know if the propulsion issues have been fixed with the ship yet? They have not changed our itinerary for July yet.

    New Diamond and Platinum Gift

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    The issue isn't whether or not the items get used by you, someone else, or even end up in the trash can. It's the attitude that something freely given by someone (whether a person or a corporation) without a requirement to do so to a person would be considered "junk". And to openly admit it, or even worse, asking for something else in exchange would be considered by many to be a major faux pas and downright rude.

     

     

     

    Very well stated. This needs a like button.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

    New Diamond and Platinum Gift

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    The child like behavior of some on here is amazing. Carnival does not owe us any gift. I gladly take and use what is given to me. I think is is rude to say you need to give me this or that or I'm never sailing Carnival again. Fine. Glad some of you have found another line that meets your needs.

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