meanjean80

I got Escargot one night on the Paradise just two weeks ago.  5 day cruise.

I think they change the menu every year and a half or so...but the new menus don't all roll out to each ship at the same time.  I would agree on the three hour time line...it's a marathon, not a sprint.  🙂  There will also be a galley tour involved, so it will be strongly suggested you wear closed toe shoes.  That said, I've never seen anyone turned away for footwear, but at the same time I wouldn't attempt heels because of the flooring/walking through the galley portion.

6 hours ago, Linsuesue said:

Spirit Class! Heaven to me is one of the deck 4 Vista View aft wrap cabins. Love the serenity area and the ease of getting anywhere on the ship. Have sailed both the Miracle and the Spirit. My second runner up would be the Splendor because of the Thalasso Therapy pool. 

I have my first aft wrap on deck four on my next cruise in Alaska on the Legend.    Can't wait.  (My sister and I have sailed the Legend so much that getting on that ship feels like coming home)

19 hours ago, tandemcruzr said:

Spirit Class Serenity area, Lido Deck aft.

Plus 1!!!!!

You're on a great cruise for "no excursions".   For me, I love Grand Turk; just get off the ship and walk a ways down the beach.  Pay 20 bucks to a guy for a couple of beach chairs and an umbrella.  Swim.  Drink local beer, eat conch fritters.  If I could live the rest of my life that way I would be a very happy cruiser...

If you do want to "see" Grand Turk, down by Jack's Shack there is usually someone offering a trolley tour to the "downtown" 

On 6/17/2019 at 10:42 AM, Sabalon said:

 

This time next week, I'll be on a Carnival ship for our anniversary.  Wife prefers Carnival...I prefer not being at work.

 

This may be my favorite line ever...

I was just on a 5 day that was (ahem) supposed to go to Havana.  Did not find excessive partying.  I have also sailed Norwegian and I found very little difference in the atmosphere between the two.  Least 'partying' cruise I have ever been on?  My Carnival Panama Canal transit, where it was in general an older demographic.  I have heard the shorter cruises (3-4 day) tend to gather a more party crowd, but can't vouch for it because I've never done one.  That said, if you can avoid college spring break, you probably decrease the chances of any extreme partying.

I was on the Carnival Paradise last week which I believe is a similar layout.  I used the gym a couple of times and can report about six or so elliptical machines.  🙂

13 hours ago, mexicobob said:

Sister-in-law and family were on a cruise last week and they were NOT able to purchase any drinks not on the cheers program.  They had bought Cheers.  Attempted to buy a bucket of beer on the side and were refused.  Even went to customer service and complained but were told if you have purchased Cheers you can not purchase a drink "on the side".  

This can't be quite correct because I had cheers on my last cruise and was able to purchase a round of shots in the special glasses at dinner one night.  Or is it that you can't purchase "on the side" after your 15 drink limit?

I'm a huge fan of the Spirit Class ships (my sister and I have sailed so much on the Legend it feels like home).  Love the layout.  We just returned from a 5 day on the Paradise, however, and were generally impressed with it even though it's a smaller ship.  The one thing I missed is that the Paradise no longer has anything resembling a jogging track.  Sailed on a ship as big as the Magic and enjoyed it more than I thought I would.  But for me, Spirit class is the optimal size.

24 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

I'll bet I'm not the only one reading this who has cruised to St. Petersburgh, RUSSIA.

Raises hand...was there on a baltic cruise a few years back.  Still not hit North Korea however...

I am on the Paradise this Saturday.  In our case, we chose this cruise because the length, travel date, and departure port worked for us, so we're not really upset. Since Carnival is allowing folks to cancel, my fingers are crossed for a really uncrowded ship!

I love the Spirit class ships, so I would vote Legend every time.

I've never actually done these, but am now working out more than I used to.  Curious if the "free" classes are used as a sales pitch for the paid ones (Spa sales tactic)?
 

I am in the same cabin, but on the Legend, this July.  Great to see the report.

I did this on the Legend back in 2014.  One of the best cruises I've ever had.  From memory, I think we did Cayman, Cartegena, transit through the canal, Costa Rica and Cabo, ending in Long Beach.  The one place I would strongly recommend a ship's tour is Cartegena. 

The highlight of course is the day's transit through the canal.  Carnival had someone narrating the experience most of the day.  

I will say Tampa is one of the best airports I have ever flown out of for ease of security and boarding.

I've never seen this enforced, for the record.  I've always had something like a pair of ballet flats that I could wear, but I saw people with sandals.  To me a bigger no-no would be heels, closed toed or not.  The walk to and through the galley really calls for flats.

For the minimal price difference I would definitely do southern.  I feel like the eastern is a  lot more commonly offered.  And I could live on Grand Turk...one of my favorite places of all time.

Hi, Sandi.  Haven't done the Chef's Table on Elation specifically, but have many times on other ships.  It's a fabulous experience if you are food adventurous (which I am).  It is also a huge amount of food, so I recommend a very light lunch eaten very early.  Also, if anyone has any food concerns (ie, allergies) if you let them know they will accommodate that person's meal (one CT I was at, someone didn't eat pork, and they made amazing adjustments for that person.  The rest of us got our pork belly.)  The wine flows freely.  Each dish looks small, and then when you get to the seventh dish you begin to wish you hadn't had so much bread at the beginning.  

Have fun. 

Have had high blood pressure since 2015.  Not had a single problem at either customs or on the cruise ship with having meds in a per day dispenser.  Not in a couple of land based overseas vacation, either.  I do carry a photocopy of the label with me in case something happens.  But the original bottles are three month supplies from Express Scrips, and I would think traveling with that large an amount would actually be a bigger problem.

I had an airline (Continental) lose my luggage right before my third ever cruise.  Hadn't booked the flight through Carnival.  Airline cheerfully insisted it would be on the next flight. It wasn't on any of the next 3 flights (Newark to Fort Lauderdale is a busy run).  Eventually had to go to the ship without it.  Called while on board before we left and now Continental is telling me they have 72 hours to get me my luggage (technically correct).  The lady at the Carnival gift shop noticed I was out of sorts as I was looking about for something to wear.  Once she heard the story, she marched me over to guest services, who promptly said to give them the flight info and they would take care of it.  They also gave me a $75 obc and a free formal-wear rental (they used to do that).  I had my bag by our first port of call.

Carnival obviously handled my situation better, but the bigger moral of the story is that I will never again travel without a carry-on that includes a pair of shoes, several pairs of underwear, a bathing suit and a sundress.  Because stuff happens.

On 4/7/2019 at 8:14 PM, Gettys84 said:

Ugh. You have no idea how much I miss the funny French toast.  

They don't have the flamin' tomatoes fire roasted soup?

THEY DON'T HAVE THE FLAMIN' TOMATOES FIRE ROASTED SOUP?????

ARGHHHHH...

I've been following Grand Turk/Turks and Caicos, and I've been pretty impressed with their response efforts. They seem to be better organized than some of the other islands. If the cruise port area is available as normal, then I am sure they would be thrilled to see ships coming back. Unlike other islands, Grand Turk's cruise port area alone is worth the time spent there.

As someone who just got out of a connecting cabin, I will say when I booked (on line, myself) the other half of the connect was already booked. Since I was booking two cabins, had it been available I would probably have chosen them both. However, it worked out better in the end. We had cove balconies, and although the rooms didn't connect, our balconies did. Strangely, it would not have been possible to open the divider (there are two different kinds) between the balconies of the connecting rooms. Not sure the logic of that...