Pellaz

7 hours ago, jsglow said:

I LOVE HB's answer. I'll do the Cliff Notes version........

 

Cozumel. 😊

LOL, you're not totally wrong.  

A few years ago we were on a Western Caribbean itinerary that already included Cozumel.  A hurricane had messed up the Eastern ports and many ships had to divert....to Cozumel, of course.  EVERY dock had a ship (Puerta Maya, International and city piers) and a HAL ship was tendering its people in.   It was a madhouse...although in a sorta good way.  

2 hours ago, cruisinqt said:

I totally agree with you that Carnival is terrible for solo cruisers. I think it isn’t fair what they charge them. And I worry about my future cruising with Carnival if my spouse were somehow no longer in the picture. I wish they’d change their stance on that. Happy sailing ⛵️ 

Even if it was just a 50% solo supplement instead of the whole amount (double the standard fare), that would help.  Better to make a quick nickel than a slow (or nonexistent) dime.  

Well, darn.  Ordinarily there's yet another hi-res live feed available for NY harbor from StreamTime Live -- https://www.youtube.com/@StreamTimeLive -- but I just checked and apparently it's having technical difficulties at the moment.  😞   

It is located at the Waterfront Museum, Red Hook, Brooklyn.  

Even with the cutbacks that have some folks here clutching their pearls in dismay, Sea Day Brunch is still one of THE best meal offerings on Carnival.   IMO, of course.  

On 6/13/2023 at 9:46 PM, dewats74 said:

Thank you so much for the help.  It doesn't appear to be available.  I know they used to add some more FTTF later, do you know if this still occurs?  Anyway I will just keep checking and hope we can get it for our cruise.

They used to add FTTF slots in batches of 15, if capacity allowed.  

We've had FTTF on every Carnival cruise except for the post-COVID barred ones, and it seems like they get the capacity-control just right:  there has never seemed to be a long Priority line at Guest Services, for example.  

Even if no slots open up for a while for your cruise, there's a good chance that some will open when the final payment date rolls around.  

On 6/18/2023 at 9:06 PM, Etta1213 said:

Is that probably true for other cruise lines? I'd love this!

Yes!   It worked for us -- albeit slowly -- on RCCL's Freedom OTS last January.  We were dismayed to find the minifridge's interior barely cool to the touch when we arrived, but after propping the cabinet door open, we found that after a day or so, it cooled canned sodas to an "acceptable" level.   

On 6/14/2023 at 12:26 PM, 80sGal said:

We recently tried RC after finally reaching Platinum on Carnival this year.   (......)

Carnival -- hands down the winner on bedding!  Those wonderful Carnival pillows!   On Royal -- I've never had to sleep on such a lumpy pillow (all four of them the same amount of lumpy) as I found on Odyssey.   The bed wasn't as comfy either, although I will say that our bed on the Pride wasn't as good last year as the newer bedding on Horizon, Sunrise and Celebration.   But overall -- Carnival wins here!

Oh my god, so true.  

I've never had a problem falling asleep on Carnival -- even when using a Pullman bed or a sofa/couch -- whereas I've had some trouble falling asleep on Royal.   Part of that has been the pillows. 

And then...   On our January cruise on Freedom of the Seas, we were startled at how HARD the mattresses were.  It wasn't just me; both of my cruise-friends thought the same thing.   I considered calling the steward and asking about it, but we hadn't seen him yet that day.  

On 6/16/2023 at 12:52 PM, cruisinqt said:

I guess I should have explained this a bit better, I was referring to the amount of elevator banks PER DECK of which Royal has two. Quantam of the Seas has only two sets of elevators per deck, one forward and one aft. This is standard with Royal. Carnival has 3 sets of elevators on each deck, one forward, one midship, and one aft. Having 3 sets of elevators to choose from per deck (instead of 2) makes a HUGE difference in a ship that hold 5,000+ people. 

More importantly for gout and plantar fasciitis sufferers like me, it means that in general, you won't have to travel as far to get to the nearest elevator banks on Carnival as you do on Royal.  

This was especially apparent back in January.  We had an aft balcony on Freedom OTS -- one of the two best aft balconies on that class due to that annoying metal superstucture that gets in the way of your view, but not OUR view! -- and the walk from the cabin to the nearest elevators was a LONG trudge.  We've had aft balconies on Carnival's Conquest-class several times and that walk seemed like perhaps a third of the distance that it was on Royal's Freedom OTS.   For our booking next year, both of my future cabinmates asked if I could request a room closer to the elevators (it's a charter cruise, booked through the charter co.) and I said "Oh, ABSOLUTELY."   

Maybe that LONNNNG walk was why I found my rolling duffle randomly dumped halfway down the corridor to our cabin.  I was lucky to spot it, and I suspect the Royal crewman just got tired of trudging down the hallway.  Lord knows I did.  

It will depend on the timing of your cruise -- which ports and which days -- and of course, the path and expected severity of the storm.   

In extreme cases they could route you to the other side of the Caribbean so your Eastern could become a Western.  It's a complex dance, but as with all the cruise lines, Carnival will take the safety of its guests and crews as paramount.  

On 5/29/2023 at 8:31 PM, happycruiser220 said:

Deck 7 forward either side. There's one door, open that, then there's another door (watch your step though) and you'll be looking at the front of the ship. It's on deck 6 through 10. Deck 7 there's an area to sit. Very peaceful, especially at night. Enjoy.  

Yep, the so-called "secret decks."   They are usually very quiet but can be very windy when underway.  

That forward area on Deck 9 has "wings" above the bridge that stick out over the side, so you can get a great view down the side of the ship.  On both sides, there is a magnetic gyrocompass under a Velcro cover.  Please replace the cover above the compass dial when you're done.  🙂  

On 5/24/2023 at 11:13 AM, simplelife said:

For a Shirley Temple, ask for a Sprite (Starry, now)  - included in Bubbles - and ask sweetly for the bartender to please add a little grenadine. I double they will  refuse.

They didn't refuse years ago when my sister asked for a Cherry Coke Zero (her favorite).  The bartender apologized and said they didn't carry that flavor onboard at all.  When I adroitly asked if they had Coke Zero ("yes") and grenadine ("yes!") the bartender gave me a huge, knowing grin and proceeded to add the grenadine.  I think he enjoyed helping out with that wee workaround.  🙂  

10 hours ago, vwrestler171 said:

Sonar probably hit a fish, whale, or something so it appeared shallower than it really is.  That being said, I've seen plenty of spots where a shelf causes it to go from 200-5000 ft in 20 ft.

Many years ago on the Victory, I noticed the ship was swinging back and forth a lot while anchored at Half Moon Cay.  I asked the Captain about it during the BtF Tour and he smiled and said "The forward anchor was in forty feet of water.  The aft anchor was in in four HUNDRED feet of water."   Quite a range just within the length of the ship.  

5 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

Was the sunrise the ship that got battered by the storm yesterday?

I believe that was the Sunshine, not the Sunrise.  

On 5/17/2023 at 3:20 PM, Itried4498 said:

I have written several times that Carnival yields a great value, but it offers an underwhelming experience.

Why, indeed you have!

On 5/17/2023 at 3:20 PM, Itried4498 said:

  The Mardi Gras features the same menus in the MDR and entertainment program -- just more of it, since it's a larger ship -- as the rest of the fleet, but yet it's some how "game changing."  I honestly don't get it? 

No, apparently not.   Please to tell us which other ships in Carnival's fleet offer an aerobatics show?  Which other Carnival ships offer a jazz trio and a string ensemble simultaneously in its French Quarter neighborhood?

Yeah, there's more entertainment.  Which is kinda our point.  

On 5/17/2023 at 3:20 PM, Itried4498 said:

Quite frankly, when the headlining show is the bore fest Celestial Strings, I would hope that any new shows would be an improvement (of course, CS found its way on the MG and Celebration).  

Wow.   Just...wow.   

I'm a metalhead, and I like more "active" music in general, but I thought Celestial Strings were top-notch.  I tend to like musical talent when I see it, regardless (mostly) of genre.   But hey, to each their own.

On 5/17/2023 at 3:20 PM, Itried4498 said:

Carnival's "cake station" is an example of its underwhelming product.  The cakes are attractive, tasty and well-liked, but they're also a significantly cheaper product to produce than the individual desserts offered elsewhere.  

"This cruise line has too much cake!"     Said virtually no-one ever.

On 5/17/2023 at 3:20 PM, Itried4498 said:

 

Americans are generally mesmerized by newer & bigger but once the novelty of the Excel Class wears off, the short comings on the fleet will become more topicable.

Thanks for the random offensive stereotype, there. 

And, others will speak of the pompitous of their love for the Excel class.  😉  

On 5/14/2023 at 10:41 AM, Butterbean1000 said:

Another thing I would like to mention. It seems to me that you would lose the perspective of even being on a ship.  It's so big and it's made up in "neighborhoods".  On smaller ships you can see the ocean in places, even if it's through a window.  I love feeling of being at sea. I just seems to me you wod miss that on a mega ship.  

 

Does anyone else feel like this on a mega ship?

One thing that Carnival and NCL -- but NOT Royal -- have done is increase the amount of "ocean-facing" areas on their new-builds.   Both have incorporated "lanai" decks fairly close to the ocean (around Deck 5 or so) where you can dine or relax outside, weather permitting.  Royal has not done that, and frankly on my last few Royal cruises I've just felt like I was in a mall.  

On 5/15/2023 at 10:51 AM, CruizinSusan70 said:

I would recommend the Vista Class for the Havana area.  It's the one thing that is better on the 3 Vista Class ships compared to the Havana area on the Excel Class.

This.  THIS.  A thousand times this.  🙂  

21 hours ago, Itried4498 said:

I was responding to your generalized posts, but I don't have to travel on the Excel Class to form an opinion.  Carnival's website tells me that the Excel staterooms are significantly smaller than the Vista. 

Hmm, perhaps, but my two cruise-friends and I have sailed on the Vista AND the Mardi Gras and we didn't notice any serious decrease in the amount of space in the cabin...certainly nowhere near as serious as the doomsayers here had me believe.  

21 hours ago, Itried4498 said:

And logic tells me that if Carnival is increasing space for upsell products (including shops, restaurants, lounges, etc.) plus adding fancy amenities like roller coasters elsewhere... something has to give.  (And BTW, a common architecture "trick" since the mid/late '00s is to use colors to make a small space feel bigger... and Carnival itself touts the colors used throughout the Celebration.)  And that something is almost undoubtedly the pool deck (e.g. space per passenger), theaters, etc. as this space has shrunk on every single class.

If you had sailed on an Excel class, you'd be aware that there are three large publicly-accessible pools on the class...perhaps forgetting the Summers Landing pool on Deck 8?    And then there's the Serenity pool, the Loft 19 pool, and the postage-stamp "plunge" pool in the Havana area.   Doesn't sound like the pool-deck space "shrunk" at all.  

As others have mentioned, the entertainment on Mardi Gras might not be as glitzy as a Broadway show, but there is a lot of it.  Every time we turned around there was a string ensemble or a jazz ensemble or other musicians, and they were all quite good.  While the seating arrangement isn't ideal in Grand Central, the varying presentations there -- and that amazing digital wall -- really amp up the amount of things to do.   And, Carnival remains the best at sea for its onboard comedy shows, changing the comedians out once or twice during a sailing and bringing in new ones.   

Also, I'm not a regular habitue of piano bars, but I've enjoyed my occasional visits and the general consensus is that Carnival consistently has great piano entertainers.   

On 4/17/2023 at 6:33 PM, cooncat_mom said:

I’m glad you found your bag!  On our last cruise (Royal) our bags were very late in coming to us - way after the other bags had been delivered and pulled into rooms.

Something similar happened to me on MY last Royal cruise -- my rolling duffle was dropped off down the hall from our cabin and I happened to spot it while walking back.  My cabinmate's suitcase was dropped off on the OTHER side of the ship, but happily on the same deck.  😮  

On 5/9/2023 at 1:27 AM, csm5986142 said:

We've had 2 issues w/luggage (out of 25 cruises) and now only travel with carry-ons.

The first was a lost bag (lost for the first 3 days of a 7 day cruise) but it really wasn't Carnival's fault.  From what I understand, multiple teenage boys were sharing the room next door and grabbed it while moving their luggage in (not realizing it didn't belong to any of them).  And yes, leave it up to teenage boys to not realize, even after it sat in their room for days, that it wasn't one of theirs.  The cabin steward finally figured it out.

Many years ago, a couple on our CC Roll Call had TWO of their suitcases go astray during embark.  They even split their clothing between bags so if one bag was lost, each would have something to wear...but BOTH were lost.   

When they didn't show up by morning, Carnival gave them OBC to buy clothing items in the logo store and sent a letter to each cabin saying "Have you seen these bags?" with photos of the suitcases.  In the MDR on cruise-elegant night, the maitre'd told everyone not to give them the hairy eyeball for wearing Carnival logo tees and shorts because they were "the ones" whose luggage was lost. 

Somehow, the luggage magically appeared onboard the last night...and our only conclusion was that someone had brought them into their cabin and then ignored them the entire week.  Could have been similar to the "multiple teenagers" scenario you described where it was an honest mistake, but still.....

On 5/11/2023 at 7:29 AM, kdr69 said:

The crowds at a Costco are worse i think than on board. 

Yep.  On a Sunday it's like a cross between a football scrimmage line and Christmas Eve at Macy's.  😄  

On 5/8/2023 at 4:02 PM, EngIceDave said:

They have elevator shows?

Well, with the frequent confusion, the elevators ARE the show!   😄  

On 5/10/2023 at 6:52 PM, wemjam said:

If her daughter's passport does not arrive in time, will they accept a certified birth certificate to board the ship?  Drivers License and Photo ID will work.

This is false information.  For anyone reading this, please bring a passport, passport card or a certified copy of a birth certificate.   I'll leave the definitions of "certified" and "copy" to older, wiser heads to debate.  🙂  

On 5/12/2023 at 10:42 AM, shiner6 said:

Why is it ok to preorder plastic water bottles but not eco -friendly to carry them onboard? Just asking.

As others said, it was too easy for scofflaws to empty plastic bottles and refill them with Adult Beverages.  Now the hooligans have to make do with rum-runners.  😄  

However, the preordered plastic bottles ARE recycled onboard; I've seen the compressed "bales" of plastic and crushed soda cans on Deck 0 "I-95" with my own two Mark 1 Eyeballs.  🙂  

On 5/12/2023 at 11:02 AM, ProgRockCruiser said:

The larger systems, I suppose like a Sony "Party" Bluetooth speaker that costs $400 on Amazon, is the kind of system no-one needs to bring on board.

--Unless they're blasting Tales From Topographic Oceans, anyway.  😄  

On 5/12/2023 at 11:38 AM, ibarrio said:

You mean I can't play Slayer and Metallica out on the balcony at 3 am? 

"Sir, those bands are fine.  However, Cannibal Corpse and Cryptopsy are Right Out!"    🙂  

I'm a metalhead, and a metal broadcast radio deejay.  I enjoy the music, and many other genres of music besides, but I would NEVER assume that anyone else near me wants to hear the dulcet tones of Cradle of Filth or Behemoth unless I was specifically asked to play metal...in a reasonably contained space.   

I mean, that's just common courtesy, which, along with personal responsibility, has gone by the wayside in recent years...or decades.

Great review, and nicely balanced.  We'll be on Celebration in October 2024.

On 5/5/2023 at 2:12 PM, icft said:

I think most did indeed get your point and enjoyed the way you presented it. I know it made me chuckle.

I got it also, hence my equally tongue-in-cheek "Take THAT, Regent Seven Seas!" comment.  🙂  

On 5/7/2023 at 11:31 AM, balcony bound said:

Half Moon Cay used to be one of our favorite places and if I had a choice of itineraries where one had HMC that would be the one I chose.  That's not the way I feel anymore after my last two visits (11/22 and 5/23).  The ships are now so big that there are just too many people... going to the beach with 3908 of my new friends just isn't the same as it once was.  Still beautiful, but oh so very crowded. The beach has eroded a bit as well, leaving even less space for the lounge chairs.

Sadly, I feel the same.  I've had a cabana for each of my four visits (out of 8 attempts) and it has been one of my favorite places to cruise.  I just can't rationalize the new pricing for cabanas and so, while the port isn't quite "dead" to me, it isn't the same itinerary-maker that it was.   

It's still better than Freeport or Falmouth, though.  😄  

On 5/3/2023 at 6:33 PM, vwrestler171 said:

Its older than just the Celebration.  I think it started with Horizon, I know Panorama had them.  

 

CCL should reprogram them to ask how many people.

It started on the Vista....briefly.  It had the "new" elevator system when we cruised, but it was removed or reprogrammed just a few weeks later.  

5 hours ago, TreyB said:

Lol, what do you people not understand with the unique Carnival funnel design facing aft and booking an aft cabin exposed to the downdraft?  

lol, it's almost as if the prevailing wind direction has nothing to do with it at all.  

And, uh, what "downdraft" is uniquely caused by the shape of the funnel?  

I really love Grand Turk and HMC.   I'd probably stay on the ship at Nassau unless I'm booked for an excursion, and at San Juan because I've pretty much seen all I need to see.  It's not as if the two forts, which are great to visit, will be changing too much.  

I was pleasantly surprised with my first visit to Bimini last February.

With the demise of the Bob Marley statue at Ocho Rios, that port is basically dead to me.  I'll stay onboard now.

I like Amber Cove but I'd just visit the port/pool area briefly unless I had an excursion booked.  I really wish they still had the "secluded villa all-inclusive" excursion available; we did it once and even at $100/person we thought it was great.  

Next year I'll be going to Taino Bay (the new cruise pier in Puerta Plata) so I'm curious about it.  

On 5/3/2023 at 5:20 PM, Jamman54 said:

2K.

Eek.    Although the Private Oasis DOES include, effectively, an open bar, so if you split it with a bunch of drunk friends you're good.  🙂   

7 hours ago, RD64 said:

If it is worth $999 to you then book it.

 

if $999 is a price point that you are not willing or able to pay, then stop complaining because they are not letting you book one for $99 or whatever price you are willing to pay. The universe does not owe you a cabana at a price that you are willing to pay. Economics 101 - no such thing as a free lunch + Law of Supply and Demand. 

TANSTAAFL.  

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

There's a whole lotta things on cruise ships that are so expensive I won't buy them. 

 

1. Photo packages

2. Spa services of any kind

3. Art as in auction

Concur.  

My mom bought a lot of art onboard cruise ships and it hung (sorta) proudly on the walls of the family manse.  When we sold the house, NOT ONE of those pieces sold at the estate sale.   I always found them to look somewhat garish.  

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

4. Balcony rooms

I'll splurge for one if it's not too badly up-priced and/or if two friends are also staying.  

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

5. Chef's Table

6. Most specialty dining

We seldom, if ever, pay extra for any dining.  I've done it on Royal, basically out of necessity (their included dining was sub-par) and also when a friend paid for a dining package.   I just (almost) never see the need.  Carnival competes with themselves when it comes to good included dining options.  Royal, not so much, on Freedom-class and smaller.  

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

7. A whole lotta shore excursions

Carnival's prices -- at least for the most part -- have been lower than Royal's...HMC cabanas and villas notwithstanding.  A similar snorkeling excursion costs around $70 on Carnival...but $130 on Royal.   I'll pick and choose depending on the port.  

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

8. SUITES! They should just get rid of them because they're too expensive. Especially they should quit making bigger, more expensive ones. Same with all ship-within-a-ship concepts.

Have never booked a suite on Carnival and with rare exceptions, I wouldn't consider it since the perks are comparatively lacking.  But those Havana areas, though.......

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

9. Fare on any luxury lines. They should get rid of them because I would never pay fares like that!

Take THAT, Regent Seven Seas! 

6 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

10. Laundry

11. Souvenirs in the gift shop

I think I get free (well, subsidized) laundry starting on my next cruise, so hooray.  

BUT, you can have my ship-magnets when you can pry them from my cold, dead, $6.00 poorer fingers.  😄