Rottweiler Puppy

All I have heard about cruises is how good the food is. I thought it was one step above cafeteria food. Very disappointing. I didn't go hungry, but I certainly was not impressed. Except for Guys Burgers :-)

I find that is pretty much banquet quality at best on most lines. Everyone I know who raved about cruise food either sailed on Seabourne or they were from areas not know for good food. My cousins from Ohio thought it was awesome food but then again they come from what they call land of three seasonings. Salt, Pepper, and Sugar.

Sorry it didn't live up to the hype. I felt the same way about the Steakhouse onboard.

Lots of thing on cruises are over-hyped IMHO but thankfully none of this things have been deal breakers for me yet.

You can purchase powdered cranberry mix that is sugar free. That would be easier to travel with and is cheaper than premixed.

 

Just google it, there are several manufacturers.

Good idea but could the process of reducing it to a dehydrated powder potentially destroy some of its nutrients?

Something they might want to research just to be safe if its critical to their health.

Hi

 

Going by prices on the Getaway June 27th :

 

window 589 GBP

balcony 729 GBP (Great British Pounds)

 

I would be trying to snag a balcony with an angle so might cost me 739 or 749 GBP

 

Converting into USD$ that is about an extra $465 in total for a balcony vs a window - is it worth the extra ?

 

Thanks

Not for me. While I did have a balcony on my last Getaway cruise, I got it for a steal. It was only $150 more than the OV I have booked, so $525? ish for a balcony per person. It was worth it for that but certainly not over $400 more. A balcony is nice but not $450 nice. But some find them to be worth it.

You got it! I think the conspiracy theory is hogwash, but FTTF is exactly that. Turning a profit center out of problems they refuse to try and fix.

 

What will be next?

 

FTTF- (faster to the food) skip the buffet line

FTTS- (faster to the sun) Priority deck chairs next to the pool?

And like I asked the person you are responding to. What line and ship were you on that seemed to have the problem figured out and what did you observe about them that made it work?

 

Try a professional line, and see how well things are supposed to work.

Which professional line did you sail and what ship was it so can we use as an example? What did you see on that line and ship that worked?

I have done RCCL, Carnival, Princess, HAL, Celebrity and NCL. All of them at some point during the cruise had long lines to get on, to get off, tender lines, long lines at GS, etc.

Please help us compare by telling us what line and ship you were on where they had no lines? I wouldn't ind trying them.

I have never been on a Carnival cruise, the only thing that would make me want to is Guys burger joint . as I'm a big fan of burgers I am wondering are the burgers really that good? Are they already made or made to order? How long are they open?

They are not that good but they are not bad either. Just nowhere near the hype. Hours are limited.

They are not open 24 hours but I don't recall the exact hours.

What I don't get is the larger they make the ships, the smaller they make the gyms. The one on the Breeze was tiny compared to Liberty and even the Imagination.

Is it worth the hassle to try and board as early as possible? Is there a best time to board? I don't plan to get FTTF. Is it like an airplane where everyone is stepping on each other's toes to get on 10 minutes earlier? What would I miss if I waited until the hordes are already on?

Get there at 1:30. Walk right on the ship, go right to your room and by then most of the cattle have already fed so you can enjoy lunch without entire families and their mountain of carryons.

Getting on early is good if you want to book a Behind The Fun Tour as it fill sup quick. I bought FTTF so we can book the tour and family that are going with us want to go right to our rooms and drop the bags. Other than that, we prefer to get there after 1 now to avoid the zoo.

Cagney's is on NCL, but you are correct there are 3

LOL I am such a dope sometimes, thanks for the correction. I was going over my NCL review just before coming back to this thread lol.

I think the one on the Breeze was Farenheit 555

Cagneys, LaCucina and Bonzai.

Those lines are the same pre and post FTTF.

 

At busy times we've seen every station at GS manned and the ship only has so many doors to tender out of.

Same no matter the cruise line.

Exactly.

The theorist evidently does not cruise other lines.

Lines for tendering are usually long for any line or ship as are guest services lines at times. Seriously. LidoLarry, if you bump into the theorist ever again ask them if they have ever sailed other lines because if they say yes a and that it doesn't happen on them, they are flat out lying to you.

The hubby and I went on our first cruise on NCL last year and loved it. It was a paid for cruise so we didn't choose the cruise line. We are looking to book a second cruise and I was looking at Carnival. How does it compare to NCL? We are not big drinkers or into the club scene, is Carnival really a party ship? How does the food compare? Is the my time dining the same as NCL freestyle? any advice about the cruise line will be greatly appreciated.

Carnival can be a louder ship depending on when you go. Food is comparable with a sight nod towards Carnival in the MDRs but for buffets NCL wins way above Carnival.

The Your Time Dining is the same as eating on NCL, just go when you want.

Carnival production shows are pretty bad now. It use to be really good.

I should say that I only sailed one NCL ship and that was the Getaway.

If the price is close or up to a few hundred more? I would do NCL. It its during a time when NCL is almost 2x more? Definitely Carnival.

Not exactly the same but looks close. Nice to know the value of each one of those burgers and fries is close to $20. Wish I could get those Buffalo Blue Sabi Fries on a ship.

$20? I wish the ones one the ships were worth that

LOL- there is a cruise line that does this. They advertise themselves as "Feestyle" - errr - "Freestyle."

It wasn't my experience on NCL at all. The nly thing that cost extra was specialty restaurants. Sort of like how on Carnival Breeze had the Bonzai sushi, Cicina Italian place and Steakhouse? but NCL had a few more choices? I don't recall paying for shows or any other entertainment either.

When you sailed on NCL you have to pay for shows, entertainment and food outside of a specialty restaurant? What ship was than and when? Things must have changed since you sailed them. I will assume you sailed them and are not repeating misinformation like how some folks do about Carnival.

I am not saying it didn't happen on your NCL cruise, I just wonder what ship it was and how long ago?

Cruising is evolving. NCL and RCI are attempting to take it in a whole different direction. From no MDR, to the need to book your entertainment months in advance to get into a show, to off broadway musicals and more, you could say disney-izing the industry. Some may think this is the future of cruising. We will see, I hope not so much.

RCCL and NCL got with of the Main Dining Rooms? NCL Getaway had 3 complimentary MDRs. Booking shows onboard was no problem either but I can see the benefit of doing it early, as well as the downside.

But like you mentioned in your post about not having to pay for bumper cars, ice shows and stuff you don't use, I just wondered if folks would be interested in cruising where you only pay for what you want. I wonder if it would come back into favor. Your post seemed to hint at it being prefered in a way. I would be willing to try such a ship.

We have heard is lounge much too small for comedy club and hard to get seats.

.

Sounds like the Breeze. The venue is just to small. Carnival needs to put them in the main theater as they will fill every time.

I wouldn't sail it.

Edited to add, sorry about that. You asked for folks who already sailed it. Lots of folks liked it so you should be fine.

Keep the past guest party but get rid of the complimentary drinks. This way, even with golds and reds, I can assure you that the party will be a ghost town.

That and make the party require drink coupons. I say two coupons would be swell. Should keep the octopus armed lushes down a bit.

Its good to see Carnival set a policy, now lets see if they stick to it. The folks at the party earned it so why let others crash the party so they just take it away from them later.

Would it be hard for you to go back on the older ships after you had a taste of the newer ships ?

Not at all. I liked the Imagination and would sail it again. I am also sailing on the Splendor in November.

The Breeze was nice but its not the best ship in the fleet IMHO. Its a good ship but not so awesome that it kills the other ships for me. To me its just a bloated Conquest class.

Now that idea I like.

Would you guys prefer an a la carte style of cruise?

If you want to see a comedian or show, you pay extra. Want to go to the chocolate buffet? Extra charge. Movies? Extra charge. Room service? Extra charge.

I don't like Carnivals shows (2.0 ones at least), don't care for the chocolate buffet, movies or room service. If they got rid of them and it saved me a few bucks that would be fine but others enjoy them. Personally never really thought about it until now.

Not being snarky or anything, curiously interested in if folks might like that style of cruising.

I got our booking moved to the March 6th sailing. Same stateroom, same price. Not sure about being on the first sailing after a drydock, but at least everything should be freshly spiffed-up! And luckily, it looks like all the vast majority of schools in the area are on Spring Break the week after that.

 

Too much stress, though. Think Carnival should have tossed in a drink coupon or *something*... I just find it ridiculous that they booked these cruises without having their drydock schedule set!

Glad you got it worked out. I wouldn't go so soon after a Drydock as my folks did that and they said the ship had a lot of bugs that needed to be worked out and some areas were still under construction.

Have a great time and am glad you didn't have to change ships.

Well, this is awesome. We've had the 2/21 Magic sailing booked since the beginning of March. Our first Carnival cruise. We do NOT want to go on Freedom, and we just did the Roatan itinerary in February. So now we have to possibly sail in March, with all the Spring Breakers, to stay on Magic?? Regretting deciding to give Carnival a try... because this has never happened to me in 10 cruises on 3 other lines. =/

That sucks. Is there any way you can change to the Feb 7 or 14th sailing?

nvm, wrong post

I dont get why they would even take bookings for that cruise knowing it would be in dry dock.

I take it its not something Carnival knows exactly when it will happen less than a year out? Probably the dry dock port doesn't let them know that far out?