meanjean80

Can't wait for Tandoor! I love Indian food, but because so many seem to fear it, it's always my go-to option for lunch.

Sailing on 8-26...looking forward to the rest of the review!

I did a full canal transit and there was no stop. Years earlier I did an itinerary that stopped in Colon and offered exursions through the canal. Essentially the ship treats the canal transit like a day long excursion. (FWIW, that transit remains my favorite cruise so far).

Looking forward to this...it will be my fourth Chef's table, different menus each time.

Sailing on Magic on August 26. Curious if you remember the name of your piano bar player? One of my favorite places to hang normally, but it looks like this one's not a winner.

Sailing to different ports, but I took note of your Nassau tour. I've "been there-done that" with so many excursions there, but this sounds like a great idea.

I live in NYC, work in Manhattan, and on July 10th I was stalking your ship, having walked over towards the pier during lunch to stare longingly after it and plotting ways to stow away.

Sigh. 37 days, two hours, 12 minutes...and counting.

My second cruise was on the Destiny (my first on the Celebration). Went from an inside stateroom on a small ship to a balcony room on what was at the time the largest ship Carnival had. Loved both cruises (although I've never looked back from a balcony). I honestly don't remember a single bad thing about the Destiny.

46 days, 1 hour, 15 minutes. :-)

I've got to remember to look at original thread dates before I open them (rolls eyes).

That said, as someone who is sailing the Magic in a few (not short enough weeks) as part of a party of 9, including 3 'newbies' I did start reading the thread.

Where the OP (and anyone who posts a review) loses me is in the hyperbole. Lots of "nevers", "worsts", "awfuls" generally are off putting to anyone. For example, although I am a frequent Carnival traveler, I am not a cheerleader. I've never had a bad cruise, but I can admit there are things I don't particularly care for. As an example, I've said (frequently) that I do not care for most of Carnival's big stage shows. The reason being? I live in NYC and get to see Broadway shows a few times a year, and I find anything Vegas style, heavy on electronic staging but low on live musicians, to be not my type of thing. I instead find my way to the piano bar, the lobby, the live rock and roll band, or the comedy shows, and am perfectly happy. To each their own.

However, if I wrote in the manner of the original poster, my statement would be "OMG the entertainment sux, Carnival doesn't have a live band like Royal does, all the shows were terrible, I can't believe I paid for this..yes, the piano bar guy was pretty good and I liked the comedians and the rock band in the lounge was awesome but I will never sail Carnival again" then it comes across quite differently. Essentially it's the same message: I don't like the main stage shows but I enjoy the smaller acts in the other venues. But does not inspire the same counter-reaction.

Love this. Leaving on the Magic on August 26th. Also staying at the Radisson. Counting down the days!

Sailed last summer on a mid-sized NCL for Batics...will be doing the same NCL next year for Greek Isles. A few things I'd noticed...

-Didn't get the drink package in our deal, MAJOR sticker shock on the NCL drinks. If you have a package this doesn't matter so much, but per beverage it was quite an ouch

-O'Sheehans nice, but verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyy slow

-The minisuite I shared with my sister and a friend was the same size as a regular Carnival balcony.

-Thought the main dining room/lido food was slightly worse than Carnival, but the specialty restaurants were nicer....however...

-I felt that the way the ships were configured around the specialty restaurants resulted in a lot less public space, made every bar area more crowded.

Granted, this was a mid-sized ship for NCL, so not the full experience, but my thinking at the time was, ship's fine for Europe (port intensive, spending all day touring, few sea days) but not what I'd want to do in the Caribbean.

I frequently cruise with my sister. She has a TA that she's developed a relationship with over the years so we often use her. This year's cruise I planned myself and booked online but wish I hadn't, mainly because I turned in to the organizer of three cabins of travelers, one of which is full of "newbies" and I feel like I've BECOME the TA, only without the commission.

I was so confused when somebody said Norfolk-didn't realize 6-20 was the first NYC departure. Yesterday at lunch I was so bummed with my 66 day cruise count down that I walked down to the pier on 12th avenue just to see what as there, and low and behold there was Sunshine. Tried to figure out a way stow away but figured both Carnival and my job would object.

Your Maitre D' will know if you have a steakhouse reservation...and they should tell your assigned wait team. Now if you were eating off the ship (I'm thinking of San Juan where sometimes sail away isn't until after 10pm) they might wonder where you are. But if you have a reservation in one of the ship's restaurants, they will know.

I also have to believe that on embarkation day a number of folks might be tired and eat on Lido deck. Got to think this is something the wait team is used to.

Started reading this because I am, a huge fan of Miracle (and all the Spirit class ships). Will keep reading because I love your style. Thanks!

Just another reason to love the Spirit class ships...

FWIW, I have never been anti-kid. I'm anti-bad parent.

Sailed out of San Juan a few years ago, and yes, this is possible.

This will be my second carnival cruise and I was confirmed for a dinner at the chef's table I'm very excited about ! My question is with the dinner it said that red and white house wine was available and I am getting the cheers package can I order a better wine with each course or do I have to just drink the house ? Also curious about shoes it said close toed no heels is a wedge OK with a peep toe i was only planning on bringing three pairs of shoes . And it said it was on the dressy night whatever that means on Carnival ?? I do like to dress up and would like to wear nice shoes for that evening !

I've done chef's table several times and loved it. The wine (and champagne) was very good so I never thought about it, but I would ask in advance at guest services. You are not in a bar area so if you wanted a "better" wine they might need to plan ahead.

I've never seen them crack down on shoes (unless someone was wearing flip flops) however I would be cautious more for the wedges. You will be touring the galley area. There will most likely be stairs and some uneven surfaces. If you're talking a 1-2 inch wedge probably not a problem, if you are talking about a 4 inch wedge I'd re-think that.

If you are looking at an 8-10 day cruise your number of children go down exponentially. Expect some non-school aged who will be predominantly in Camp Carnival. And your chance of college age spring breakers also goes down to just about nothing.

I sailed on a 14 day Panama Canal crossing. I felt like one of the youngest folks on board (at age 46). I chatted one day with one of the workers from Camp Carnival and she said she had less than 10 kids enrolled.

Actually, the Ecstasy, Sensation, and Fascination all have balcony rooms.

 

Only on the suites, and only a few of those. No regular type balcony rooms.

 

This is actually not true any longer. Those ships went through a re-fit to add more balcony rooms several years ago. Granted it's not as many as on other Carnival ships, and yes the ships are older/smaller than others.

 

For the OP, the longer the time span (7 days versus 5 day) the "older" the demographic, and check the winter break of the schools, especially around the departure port (in NYC, winter break is scheduled for the week of 2/20).

I would have been in favor of the Valor until I saw the itinerary. I'm just not a Bahamas girl, although I think Valor is the best ship of these three. I haven't sailed the Sunshine unless you count when she was still the fairly new Destiny, but I do know several folks have reported crowding issues. The reason I've never sailed Paradise is partially because she has fewer balconies, but you're looking for an OV anyway so that may actually be advantageous.

Curious for the response. I'll be having the same issue, with three of us in a cabin using three different credit cards.

Was on my first NCL cruise this summer and had no issue doing what I often do...running up to Lido to get coffee and some nibbles to bring back to the room. Nobody said anything so I am assuming this issue died quickly.

It can depend on the cruise. Last one I took out of Tampa was the Legend Panama Canal transit. The port was a nightmare...mainly because 70% of the passengers were platinum or higher (some folks were traveling all the way through to New Zealand). So 70% of the ship qualified for VIP boarding,which pretty much killed the benefit. It made for actual chaos in the terminal. Had sailed several times without issue, however, so it was more a function of the details of this particular cruise.

This is awesome. I've been somewhat strong armed in to this package because my room mates are heavier drinkers than I am. I like an adult beverage but don't want to over indulge. The idea of trying high end drink options makes sense. I'll certainly be on the lookout for that champagne!