stargate fan

I found the famous Carnival chocolate chip cookies for the first time. Holy cow, how had I never eaten these before! These are the best cookies ever, I probably ate like 20 during the cruise (from room service and the buffet).

Only 20? I probably ate double that on our eight day Breeze cruise back in October. :D

Shhh, don't tell anyone...I took an empty plastic container and brought cookies home with me. They are in the freezer. So yummy!!!

Several in our extended family are cruising Saturday on the Victory. Including my son, his wife and two girls ages one and two. We were discussing the cruise over dinner, my son is concerned about floor space for the crib/trundle beds, as they have a regular balcony cabin. I mentioned to them next time they might consider looking for a "wrap around" cabin is they have a bit more floor space. LO AND BEHOLD not 30 minutes CCl rep calls me and advises, as my wife and I are platinums, they are offering a wrap around balcony for an additional fee. I advised the rep we were happy with the cabin we booked, not thinking and after ending the call I thought; Could I have gotten the same offer for my son and his family! I tried to re connect with the agent but failed to get he rep#. Now I feel guilty for asking. I say all this to ask; Do you think they would have offered the same deal to my son (who is not platinum) or would they have continued to work down the "platinum" list for find a taker?

My mom and I booked a wrap around on deck 7 on Destiny, which is close to Victory but not exactly the same class. The cabin itself was much smaller than the regular balcony cabins we've had in the past, and since. In fact, the cabin interior was shaped like a triangle and we were on top of one another all cruise long.

Feel better now? :D

Does anyone know if two people are listed on a booking and one doesn't make it before ship sails will the other person be allowed to board.

Of course.

Make sure when you both print your boarding passes you pick the "individual" option.

If the other person does not make the ship, he/she will get taxes and port charges reimbursed but that is it. You will not have to pay any more money. That other person loses his/her money.

How early can you walk off the ship in Mia. Can we make a 11:10 flight with a private transfer to the airport?

Last month, we sailed Breeze out of Miami but Had flights in/out of FLL. Self-assist was called before 7:30. Last year, we had an 11:45 flight out of FLL for Miami sailings. We never had a problem. Travel time was under 30 minutes.

May I recommend SAS (ridesas.com) for your transfer? We've used them numerous times. We've always had excellent service.

So glad you mentioned those vents LOL I just changed my cabin # to 9265 :D

Glad I could help. I wish someone else had written about them before I booked.

Enjoy your Lido cabin. It's a great place to be!

Can I carry my pitcher around on the lido deck and drink it there?

You absolutely can. You can carry it anywhere on the ship.

What a great idea, btw.

So, I've booked the Liberty and now am questioning my decision. I like crystal blue waters, nice sandy beaches. We'll be going to Cozumel, Roatan, Belize and Costa Maya. The other choice that I passed over was the St. Maarten/St. Thomas itinerary. Are the beaches on my itinerary as nice as the beaches on the one I passed over?

Costa Maya had one of the most beautiful beaches we have ever seen.

I researched and researched and found a place called Tropicante. (Check it out on Trip Advisor.) The place is owned by a guy named Steve, from Texas.

It cost $2 pp by taxi to get there. (Steve emailed exact directions on how to get to the taxi stand. It was a quick five minute walk outside the port gate.)

Unlike an all-inclusive, which was on the same beach and shared the same ocean and sand, Steve did not charge for use of his deck chairs. He did ask that we buy a drink or a snack. We made reservations through e-mail and found our four deck chairs right on the water's edge as requested.

The sand was soft and the water was warm and crystal clear all the way to the bottom.

In comparison, the AIs on Costa Maya charged $50 pp. We were four people. We had two buckets of beer, one pina colada, freshly made fish ceviche, guacamole and chips, and salsa and chips. They were all so delicious. The service we received from his staff was as good as, it not better, than on the ship. All this cost us $70, instead of $200, which included gratuity!

I'm sure you'll get lots of opinions on the other ports, but I can't stress enough how much we loved Costa Maya and Tropicante. I can't wait to go there again some day.

Hi all, we reserved our cabin # 9274 on the Carnival Freedom for next Sept. Have never stayed on Lido deck before, hoping it's a good choice. Our room is right next to the elevators it looks like and right next to Millennium too. Has anyone stayed around this particular area on this ship and because it's so close to Millennium will there be a lot of noise?

We always book cabins on the Lido deck, except for Spirit class ships. (Those do not have cabins on the Lido deck.) Awesome deck, very close to the pool, the buffet. Going back to the cabin for something is quick. There are fewer cabins so there is much less foot traffic. We've never had problems with noises from the elevator, the atrium, nor sounds from the Lido deck.

That said, we were in 9276 on Liberty. (Same layout as Freedom.) We had a vent over our heads that sounded like a train 24/7. It was horrible! Didn't matter if the balcony door was open or closed. I hardly slept for seven nights. We did not enjoy spending time on our balcony.

The guy standing on the balcony shows 9274.

That was my 10th Carnival cruise. By then, I should have been smart enough to look at the exterior of the ship when choosing a cabin. Had I known, I would have moved more forward, far, far away from those stupid vents. I learned a very expensive lesson!

My honest opinion is to book a different cabin on the Lido deck, anywhere forward of 9268 (port) or 9265 (starboard).

We are flying home after Glory from Fort Lauderdale.

 

Is there a shuttle? If so, how can I make arrangements and find details?

 

How much would a cab cost?

 

Thanks for any information (:

A cab would be expensive...about $80-100.

 

Carnival has a shuttle service. $30pp one way.

 

We always use www.ridesas.com.

We have also used SAS numerous times. $15 per person. We've always had excellent service.

I want to make some sangria with the wine I bring on board with fruits from the Buffet. What goes better with the fruits/juice offered? White or red wine? What do you use to let the fruit and wine soak in?

 

Anyone got any recipe for me to use?

 

Tia

Danielle

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I prefer white sangria because it's usually sweeter.

As for fruits, different fruits were available at different meals. At breakfast there were cut-up melons, canned peaches, prunes, grapefruit and orange sections. At lunch there was fruit salad that had pineapple, strawberries, grapes, and watermelon. I believe whole apples and oranges were there at both meals. (Don't know what was at dinner.) Because I liked the lunch fruits better, I would fill bowls and stick them in our fridge to enjoy with yogurt the next morning. (We asked our room steward to empty the fridge.)

I really wish Carnival bars offered sangria.

Im trying to choose between the Dream 7 day and Legend 7 day in Feb 2014. Ive been on the dream before and had a great time but have been really wanting to try the Legend due to most people saying great things about the spirit class. Heres the issue. The legend sailing is the first sailing after the scheduled two week drydock. Ive heard stories about the first sailing anfter any drydock can be a mess including unfinished areas late departuure on embarkation day etc. Can anyone make me feel better about booking the Legend? Oh and the dates are set in stone due to my kids being on winter break that week so the wife and I will send them to my parents for the week whilst we have a grown up vacation.

While I cannot answer your question about sailing after dry dock, I can tell you that Legend is moving to Australia in September 2014 so now is the time to sail her.

Howdy,

 

Okay, Okay, so this is not exactly Carnival related, however it is related to wife and I's upcoming Carnival Cruise in January. We only travel one time a year and are fortunate we don't have to fly at all for our career's so we are not up to speed on airports and connection times etc... so I'm looking to Cruise Critic members for a little help.

 

We are going on the Valor in San Juan on Sunday 1/26/14, we are flying from SFO to San Jaun via Jet Blue and connecting in JFK on Friday 1/24. Figured this would give us Saturday and Sunday to see San Juan pre cruise and since this is such a long way for us give us a little buffer in case anything went wrong since we were flying in the middle of winter.

 

When I originally booked the flights we had 1hr 45 minutes between scheduled landing time in JFK until departure to San Juan. I figured that would provide plenty of time in case of weather delay and they usually pad the arrival times anyway.

 

We just got notified by Jet Blue that our flight times have changed:

 

SFO - JFK 808am - 430pm

JFK - SJU 530pm - 1021pm

 

So, that leaves 1 hour to connect. We are not experienced flyers by any stretch and fortunately it will be just me and the wife (leaving the 3 kids at home) so we should be able to move quickly (I upgraded seats on our flight before this time change to be comfortable, we are in seat 2). Having never flown into JFK didn't know how easy it would be to catch a connection with Jet Blue, I understand they are in a newer terminal etc.

 

You think we will make it?

As long as there is not a delay in SFO, you should be fine. With the jet stream flowing west to east, I'm willing to wager that you arrive at JFK even before scheduled time.

We've had Jet Blue connections of 35 minutes and haven't had a problem.

We were looking at a 2014 cruise. We found Pride for about $1911 in a French door stateroom during Spring Break for 2 people. We never pay over $2000. We don't need airfare. It goes to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Freeport, we've been to Freeport. I just found a deal for $1197 for 2 people in a porthole on the Dream in late August. It goes to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. By then we would have been to Grand Cayman and Cozumel. I know the Dream Is a better ship, but we need airfare, and that's about $300 a person, but still cheaper. Which would you do and why?

Grand Turk and Half Moon Cay are two of the most beautiful beach ports we have ever visited. The sand at GT is like non I have ever felt. It's finer than flour and I could not stop laying with it.

We loved Pride much more than Dream. She was easier to navigate, she was smaller and felt less crowded, the whole aft deck was Serenity and had a pool, and she did not have the large screen noisemaker by the Lido pool.

Glad I picked a good location. Let us know how you liked the Breeze.

Will do.

Hi..I've booked lido deck on Breeze 10275. I am just wondering if any noise can be heard from the pool area when sitting out on balcony and also when in the cabin itself. I could have had a cabin 5 cabins further forward but turned it down due to atrium noise (been there and done that and didn't like it). I'm hoping I picked a decent location as I've always wanted to stay on lido.

 

Also, does lido deck have self service laundry area?

 

Lastly..is there a fee to use facilities in the spa? such as pool, sauna, etc. or do I need to book a spa package of some type?

 

Thanks

We were in 10274, directly opposite your cabin and on the port side of the ship, on Dream last year. (She is a sister ship to Breeze.) We heard no noise at all from outside on the Lido deck, nor on our balcony.

What was great about that location was that at the end of the hall there was a door that went right to the sliding doors to the pool deck. Hardly ever used that door so there was not much foot traffic near the cabin.

We'll be in 10277 on Breeze soon. I'll let you know how it was.

i wonder if the kids that arent potty trained in the pool had swim diapers on. When i put my daughter in the kiddie pool, she has a swim diaper on, and a bathing suit over it so you cant tell that she's "protected".

Even children wearing swim diapers are not allowed in the pools on Carnival.

boarded a ship and did you use faster to the fun?

October 2009-Miracle-10:30. But this doesn't count because she was repo-ing and sailed empty to FLL.

June 2012-Glory-10:55. No FTTF. We were the first non-Platinum guests to embark. (Weddings, Assisted, and Platinum started five minutes before us, but there were only a dozen of those total.)

I love getting to the port early and as long as the ship was on time and everything was going as planned, we were usually are on board by 11:30. We're Platinum now so all is good. :D

Thank you for all your tips. I just booked the Hoilday Inn miami cruise port for the night before our cruise. Now I need to find a cheap way to get there from Fll.

 

The day we get off our cruise our flight home is not till 630 pm any tips to what to do with all that time?

 

Lynn

We used, and will continue to use, SAS (ridesas.com) quite a few times. We were picked up at the airport and were driven right to the front door of the Holiday Inn Port of Miami.

Hint about HIPOM-call the front desk and ask for a room overlooking the port. The views at 5:00 am are remarkable!

I always use ridesas.com they are reliable, cheap $15pp, and you can schedule the pickup at the airport.

 

I always stay in Miami then take a cab to the port. I usually stay at Holiday Inn POM and it's a $20 cab ride to the port.

 

SAS will also pick you up after the cruise and return you to FLL.

This is exactly how we begin our cruises out of Miami.

I would like some recommendations for a hotel in Fort Lauderdale that have a free shuttle from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Intl. Airport. Just staying there one night before my cruise on Jan 25th 2014. I would like it if the hotel had at least one on-site restaurant. I would prefer to stay under $200.

If I may, I'd like to recommend the Embassy Suites on 17th.

While there is not a free shuttle from FLL to the Embassy Suites, the airport is very close. The taxi ride takes all of 10 minutes and costs less than $15. In exchange, the Embassy Suites has a complimentary, incredible, hot breakfast every morning. Included are made to order omelets and eggs, pastries, waffles, cereal, meats, fruit, etc. There is also a complimentary afternoon snack time, which includes munchies and free beverages, alcoholic and non. In my opinion, the cost of what breakfast out would be far outweighs the cost of the short taxi ride. Right behind the hotel is a shopping plaza with restaurants and markets

The taxi from ES to the port is maybe five minutes and about $10.

We will spend most, if not all, of our time here. We liked the Serenity Area on the Legend even though we didn't care for the ship much. What we are looking for:

 

Size (Bigger the better)

Location (Preferably aft or forward so we can have views all around and located in a quiet spot on the ship away from other noise)

Bar

Hot Tub and Pool (If not both, atleast one)

 

Thanks.

Though you did not care for Legend, I like the Spirit class Serenity areas better than all other classes of ships because they were all the way aft, they were huge, and they had a pool.

The worst we encountered was Dream because it was right near the water slide and I heard yelling and screaming constantly. Definitely not Serene.

We are thinking of going on the "New" Sunshine in December and someone suggested a room on the Lido deck. I know it is close to everything but is it loud? I know not to be under the Lido or Casino just not sure of being on the deck. Any thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.

We too love the Lido Deck. We've never heard noise from outside as there are Star Trek "swooshing" doors between the interior and exterior.

And since we spend all of our time on deck sunning, it's perfect for us. It's a quick walk back to the cabin for forgotten items or the rest room, it's easy to get something to eat and bring it back to our balcony, etc.

Thanks for the great review! We are doing the exact same itinerary on the Breeze in October. I really cannot wait. Did you book all of your excursions thru Carnival or did you book them on your own?? I am trying to decide what we want to do but I cannot make up my mind!

 

 

Thanks!

Christa

We will be on the Breeze with you. We also don't know yet what excursions to take. We try to avoid booking through the cruise line. I guess it's time to research.

Would anyone who is sailing with Carnival soon mind picking me up a couple bars of their little, round white soap that they have in the state room bathrooms?

 

I KNOW this is an odd request, but I have problem skin and have tried everything from expensive products to cheap ones and for some reason that soap really helps me! My face is healing very well...

 

I won't be sailing again this year and I know what I have won't last until I do again.

 

I'd repay any postage or whatever.

 

Thanks! Like I said, I know this is a odd request.... I wouldn't normally ask anything like this but it's helping me so much I thought what the heck.

I have one bar (circle?) of soap. I'd be happy to send it to you. Sorry I don't have more.

Hi everyone:D

 

Our family, of 5, is planning a cruise after a few years away from it. ( Did some land AI's )

 

Our children's ages are : DS(16) DD (14) and DD (8)

 

The last time we cruised we all 5 were in one balcony cabin and it was STRESSFUL! Not enough room for all the shoes, clothes, girly products and space to get 3 girls ready!! One bathroom? Nuff' said. (Please refrain from suggesting I leave more crap at home it ain't happenin. ;) I believe you should bloom where you're planted and I was planted in a sea of girliness)

 

While we have ALWAYS found Carnival rooms to be more than adequate by stateroom standards:D, we feel we just need more space. We thought about getting a suite or the new rooms that have 2 bathrooms, but it will be much cheaper to just get 2 rooms.

 

How safe does a parent feel when older kids are across the hall? Am I worrying over nothing? I probably am...but hoping my fellow cruisers can offer some needed feedback from experience!!:confused:

 

Thanks in advance!!!!

Our sons have been booked in their own cabin many times. We got balconies for ourselves and insides across the hall for them.

They were given the riot act, but we trusted them, and still do. Setting ground rules is important-no one in their cabin and they cannot go in anyone else's. Sticky notes are great for leaving info. Also prearrange check-in times.

Oh, in addition, since your kids are underage, you will have to "assign" yourself or other adult in that room for booking reasons. FYI.

Not true.

As long as the kids are across the hall, they are able to be booked by themselves. We have done this many times ourselves.