Jump to content

sra12574

Members
  • Posts

    177
  • Joined

Posts posted by sra12574

  1. On 8/16/2023 at 3:31 PM, Mum2Mercury said:

    Yeah, you're right about having a limited amount of time on shore, but that's just what a cruise is like.  The ship must move on towards the next port.  After you've completed this first cruise, you'll be able to say with certainty whether you like this style of vacation or not.  

    Yes, read reviews.  Look for patterns.  

    I can't claim 70, but my experiences have been the same.  

    And consider your timing ... if you leave the ship early (like 8:00 or 9:00), complete your planned activities, and then head back to the ship after a bit of exploring around the port, you're likely to return mid-afternoon and still have a couple hours before sail-away. 

    Very good point, but few ports require tendering these days.  

    Thing is, the private excursions are almost always superior, so I wouldn't want a price match.  

    On  the  excursion I  got  the  price  match  I  am  glad  I  did  the  ships  excursion . If  I  had  of taken  a private excursion  that  day I  most  likely  would  have  been  looking  for  alternative  transportation options  to get  home . It  was  a  tender  port  ,  ship  excursions  get  priority   getting off the  ship , we  were  the  first  excursion  offered  that  day  and  made  it  back to the pier 15  mins  before the  last  tender . My  wife  didnt  want to  go  on this  excursion and  said  it  was  the best one  she  ever   did  when  she  came  back. Some  places  a  private  excursion  works  for  some  people  ,  sometimes  it  wont  .  . 

  2. 2 hours ago, icft said:

    This is a cruising forum. Everything is a first world problem. If you find first world problems aggravating, rather than put down people who discuss them you would find greater peace by not being here.

    I  agree , Some  people  don'  want  to  be  wasteful  ordering  a  full entree  and  send  most of  it  back  but  may  want to  try multiple  apps  instead . The  original poster  having  concern  is  warranted  , they paid  for  their  experience  already and  should  get  the  experience  they paid  for . As  it  is  many people  booked  cruises  and  some  changes  have  been  made  that  diminish  some  of  the  experiences  hopefully   this  ordering experience does not  add   to  the list .

  3. 15 hours ago, MisterOJ2 said:

     

    One of those was the elegant night menus that will be on longer sailings (six nights or more) and it included lobster. The other one was for shorters sailings and it doesn't include lobster.

    I  know  the  shorter   cruises  dont  include  lobster  but  his  post  said  that  he  was  going to  preview  what  a  7  day  menu  would  look  like  . The  Dream  does  an  8  day  sailing  so  when   they  released  that ,  it  also  had  2  cruise  elegant  night  "feast  menus" the  first  one  was  completely  different  from the  2nd  one   which  has  the  lobster on  it . The  first  one  had  escargot , chicken alfredo , duet of  filet mignon and  short  rib ,  2  different  Emerils items  I think  a  tuna  appetizer  and  a  bbq  salmon  entree ,  different  desserts  including  grand  marnier souflee , and  chocolate  panacotta . Although  I do  like  some  of  the  offereings  on  the  menus  he  posted  on FB for  the  elegant  nights  I prefer  to  have  variety  on  my  main  dining  experiences. With the  old  menus  the  formal  night dinner  just  was   the  version  of  the  elehant night  without  the  lobster  not  the   lobster  being  switched  out  menu . I  could  see  them  using that menu on  a  shorter  sailing  like   on  the  Conquest  which I  think only  has  4  and  3  day cruises  now  but  when  theres  2  formal nights it  would  be  nice  to  have  different offerings .

  4. So  I  was  folowing John Heald 's posts  on  FB and  he  leaked  a  menu night  each  day . I  think  there  might  have  been  something  wrong  with those  posts  because  both  elegant  night  menus were  identical  except  for  one  entree . The  first  had  rhe  Shrimp  and  Fishcake   as  an  entree  and  the  2nd  had  lobster . All  the  other  items  including  deserts  were  the  same  on  both  that  he posted  .

  5. twice  as  much  is  not  always  true  and  you  need  to  look  at  different  factors,. Do  your  research  see  if  there  is  any  differences  in the  trips  . One  time  I  was  able  to  get  a  partial  price match  I only  tried once  so its  not  like  it  only  worked  the  one  time  kind of  thing . The  difference  in the  tours  was  the  Carnival  excursion  included  lunch  so  they  credited  me  65  dollars instead  of  80  for  3  people  total . We  were  on a  long excursion that  had  3  different  departure  times  and  we  were  on  first  trip  we  got  back to the  port  15  minutes  before  the last  tender . I  imagine  the  other  2  groups  were  glad  they  booked  with the  cruiseline . 

    • Like 2
  6. On 7/18/2023 at 1:49 PM, Pyxie said:

     

    Are they? I wasn't even aware of that.

     

    I know the croissants they set out in the morning are free but I thought that was it.

    I think  they  are   refering  to  Java  Blue  on  the  new  ships  . Mardi  Gras  and  Celebration have   a  different  set  up  for  Java  Blue  . There  are  some  things  that  are  offered  on other  ships  that  you  would  pay  for just  as  you  would  for  those  items  on  other  ships  but  they  also  have  additional  items  ,  sandwiches  , epanadas  and  a  few other  items  that  they make  as  well  as  a  grab  and  go  section  that  has  fruit and  other  healthy options .

  7. On 2/28/2023 at 11:14 AM, Robpuffdaddy said:

    I went like 8 years ago,  went thru a local tour company cheaper.  Yes I know your not protected by Carnival and if something happens the ship could leave you if you were on a non Carnival tour, but the ship is right there.  Will not happen.  I can not recommend anyone specific, but Grand Turk is one the best places to snorkel.  The water is crystal clear and the highlight is the "Wall"  the area where they take you.  your in like 20 feet of water or shallower and then all of a sudden there is a wall the edge of the earth and it drops to pitch darkness.  It is incredible.  Lots of fish to see!!!

    We  went  on a  snorkling  tour  in Grand  Turk through  the  cruiseline . Oue  excursion  got  back  late , The  ship  waited  for  us . We  dropped  our  stuff  back  at  the  room  went up  to  get  a  burger  from  Guys  and  before  we   ordered  the  ship was  pulling  away . If  you  do  do  an  excursion  with  a different  vendor  make  sure  they  have plenty  of  time from  when  the  excursion  ends and  that  you  need  to  be  back.

  8. So I see  a  lot  of   posts  and  videos   on  old  San  Juan  walking  tours  . How  long    do  you  think  a  typical  visit  to  each of  the  2  main  forts.  I'm  thinking of  taking a  taxi to  a  beach  and  was  wondering  how  much  time we should  budget  if    we  wanted  to  explore  San  Cristobal  and  El Moro.  Would  a  half  hour  at  each  fort  be  a  realistic  amount  of  time  to  spend  at  each location , 

  9. On 4/19/2023 at 5:29 PM, mz-s said:

     

    Yes, that's how Carnival is doing things with their new ships.

     

    I agree it's a poor experience for set dining cruisers.

     

    I don't see why they don't just allow everyone to reserve a table at the restaurant of their choosing when they want. Go to 100% "freestyle" dining.

    I  think  the strategy  is  based  on  the  main  dining  rooms  not  being large  enough  to  accomodate  all  the  passengers . The  people  who  in the  past  have opted for  set  dining times were guaranteed their seats  in  a set location  with  the  same  waitstaff. by  having  this policy  it  encourages  traditional  diners  to  keep  with  their  traditions . 

  10. 1 hour ago, bailey57 said:

    Traveling solo with only a daypack for a 4-night sailing on Freedom. In the past, carried on a 12-pack of Diet Coke, but don't need that much for such a short trip. Carnival guidelines say soda now must be "in a carry-on" - can I carry-on 6 sodas in my roll-up pool/beach bag (separate from the daypack)? Thanks. 

    Yes as  long  as  its  cans . You  can  even  mix  it  up . You  can  take  up  to  12  different  soda  cans  per  person . They  wont  let  you  take  bottles  anymore  though.

  11. 1 hour ago, mz-s said:

    Carnival used to do that pre-COVID with the American Table menus but they always had selections that stayed the same. Carnival has actually moved away from theme nights.

     Did  Carnival do  away  with the  ports  of  call  section . I  think   that  was  Carnivals  answer  to  give  a  theme . I kind  of  liked  that  strategy  because   you  could  order  the  special apetizer  , entree  or  drink  .

  12. The  waterparks on  the  ships  look  fun and im  sure my  family  would  like  to  try  them  oursekves  when  we  go. When  watching  a  youtube  video i  saw  you  need  to  reserve  times  and  they  do  45 minute time  slots , that  actually  sounds  good  to  me  so  things  dont  get  to  overcrowed . I didnt  see if  the  waterparks  cost  anything or if  they  were included. If  they  do  cost how  much  are they and  if  its included  thats  even  better .

  13. I'm  new  to  MSC my  wife  and  I have  sailed  on  other  lines and  I  would  also  like  some  info  on the  entertainment  . Are  there  comedians  onboard . Also  on a  facebook  page  I  saw  something about  some  of  the  shows  in  the  main theater  being  shows  you  need  to purchase  tickets  to attend . Do  they  have  free  nighttime  shows  in the  main  theater?

  14. The  Costa   ship  is a  Vista  class  ship  but im  assuming  they  wont  be  putting  typical  Carnival  venues  like Guys, Blue  Iguana , and  Red Frog . Hopefully  what  it  does  offer  gives  people  a  nice  change  of  pace  though . Does  anyone  know  if  bookings  on the  2  costa  ships  other  then the  Luminosa  will  count  as  days  sailed  on Carnival  for  Vip status.?

  15. 22 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

    Port changes happen all of the time and when you read the T&C's the cruise lines are under no obligation to offer OBC as compensation.  If you're looking to cruise just for the ship, other options would be the Celebration or the Horizon with a Havana area cabin.

       I  wasnt  looking  for  onboard  credit ,  never  stated ,  never  implied  I  was  looking for  it . I  never  sail  just  for  the  ship ,   I  shop  for  ports  and  price  . Not  always   looking  for  cheapest option at  the  time  but  what  we  are  in the  mood  to try . We  most likely  will enjoy  the  trip  but  it  is   a  let  down , as  I  stated  this  is  a makeup  trip  from  before  Covid  for  us . It  had  already  dropped  1  port  from  the  itinary  that   we  originally  booked and  most  likely  are  going to  swap  out  another  port , both  ports  were  ones  that  we  have  not  visited  . Replacing  it  with Nassua  is  not high  on  our  options because  it  is  offered  in  so  many short  cruises that  we  could  do that port  at  any  time plus  my  son  and  I  scubadive  and  its   a  place   that  we  fly  and  stay  a  few  days  while  diving  its  not  as  diver  friendly   to dive  when  cruising in Nassua ( not  impossible  but  more  of  a  hassle  then some  other places ) .  When  you  take a  port  is  only  on a  few  itinaries  and  replace  it  with one  that  is  on a  lot  itinaries it  is  underwhelming  . 

    • Like 2
  16. I am  sailing  on  Mardi  Gras   this  summer  .I have  not  received  an  email  and  my  itinary  has  not  changed  on  my  cruise planner . I  really  hope  that   this  change  does  not  happen .  My  activity  on  cruise  critic  picked  up  recently  because  we  were  debating  on  taking  another  short  cruise  before  our  7  day  but  many  of  the options seemed  to  have  Nassau  and  that  has  us  underwhelmed . if   the  change  was   for  weather or  something  that  was  a  temporary  issue  for  a  few  cruises  I   am  cool  with that  but  to  change  the  itinary  this  far  our  sucks .  We  booked  this  cruise  as a  replacement  for  a  Covid  Cancelled  trip . So  far  other  then the  ship  we   feel  downgraded   by  the  replacement  .

  17. Now  for   more  of  the  ports  to  relax  protocols , I  personally  was   ok  with  a  pre  cruise  test but  we  are  not  vacinated  , I  had  covid  twice  ,   I  test  periodically  and   both  times  I  got  it  I  followed  protocols  and  isolated  . I  felt  fine  to  work  but  I   wasnt  going to  spread  it   , Grand  Turk   had  listed  that  they  required proof of  vacination  to  come  ashore  . I  wouldnt  mind taking a  test  to  go  ashore  there either . 

     

  18. We  are  going on  the  Mardi  gras  and  I  noticed  a  few  ,  not  all  the  specialty  restauarants  are  included  . We  are  looking  at  going on the  Horizon  and  2  of  the  restuarants  included on  Mardi  Gras  complimentary  options  The  smokehouse  and  Capitano  are  included  for  dinner  are  also  on  the  Horizon . It  would  be  really cool  if  that  was  included  too ,

  19. I  think  for  now   since   Covid  I  think  some  tour  operators  have  scaled  back  their  amount  of  tours , If  a  tour  operator   has   2  similar  but  different  tours  they  might  not  be  offering the  other  tour  at  this  time  , If  they  are  running  boats  or  buses its  more  profitable  to  send  out  one  full  booking  then  2  half  full , It  might  also be  a  time  of  year  thing  too , More  options  may  be  added  when  you  actually  are  onboard .

     

×
×
  • Create New...