CarolSW

I pack my own little bags of chips and pretzels to have as snacks. It’s a sickness I know 🥹 lol. And for those salty snack lovers like me, who sometimes have the dreaded swollen ankles on a cruise (wonder why??? 😣), may I kindly direct you to THIS thread…. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2915941-cruise-ankles/page/3/#comment-64854783 🙄😳

Ship - Breeze Deck 9 Stateroom 9475 Corner aft cabin Category Starboard Wraparound balcony Unusually shaped room, not a lot of walking room when moving around the cabin. Bathroom was tucked away around a corner of the room. No room for a couch, only a small coffee table. The balcony was a very skinny wraparound, with the door set in the middle. 2 lounge chairs, 2 regular chairs, 2 small end tables. Again, not much room for 2 people to pass by each other on this thin balcony. Difficult to squeeze past the chairs, especially the loungers, to go to another area of the balcony. I believe the corner afts below us were a bit wider. This one was also very shaded by the overhang from the lido deck above. No soot. Only one deck up to to Lido pools, buffet. Long walk to the Serenity deck & spa at the front of the ship. Convenient to go 4 decks down to the piano bar, & comedy club.

This interview with the man who miraculously survived last week’s fall off the Valor does not remember falling off, but claims he was not drunk. I know it’s possible perhaps, but this does not convince me it really happened as reported. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11495013/Passenger-28-reveals-PASSED-treading-water-20-HOURS.html “I had taken off my socks and everything waving them around my head trying to do something where they would see me and when that light finally hit me, I heard it, we got him and seen a guy coming down from the helicopter and it was coming towards me and right there I thought, man, I see the light. ‘Well, the first thing I actually told him, I don't have any clothes on because I didn't. I stripped out of everything. ‘He said that's fine. I was like, okay, he told me to hold on to this life vest and I was just thinking, thank you, you are like a guardian angel.” I just don’t know about this. Had taken off his socks to wave them around his head to get the rescuers to see him? He still had his socks on after 20 hours in the water? I want to believe in this miracle, but it’s a stretch for me.

IMHO this is bordering on truly unbelievable. CNN https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/man-rescued-carnival-cruise-gulf-of-mexico/index.html Passenger Missing from going to the bathroom while at the bar 11:00 pm day before Thanksgiving Reported missing to ship authorities noon Thanksgiving day 2:00 pm final call for the missing man in the ship Ship turned around to retrace route 2:30 pm Coast Guard notified and informed ships within 200 miles 8:25 pm man spotted in water by a bulk carrier Coast Guard helipcopter rescued the man at some point after that So, theoretically he could have been in the water as long as 22 hours? So much of this story is really difficult to believe. But I cannot imagine what anyone would gain from making this up.

I have learned that all piano bars are not equal. I too was sorely disappointed on Vista….several times, the most recent being last summer. It really does depend on the energy, engagement and sense of humor of the pianist I think. We are at their mercy. And you’re right that you don’t have to be a stellar musician, just highly engaged with the crowd and being comfortable ‘on stage’ ! A fun piano bar experience makes ALL the difference in my cruise enjoyment. The first time I went to a piano bar on a ship I had a blast, and made sure to go there on every cruise since. When they sometimes didn’t compare, I thought it was ME, that I just wasn’t the fun person I was that first time. 😒 But I finally realized it has everything to do with the entertainer, because I re-discover the fun person I AM when the talent is energetic, engaging and funny! 😃

I think this might belong in the “how to save money on a drink package” or “is is worth it to buy a drink package” discussions LOL 🙄

I am hoping/assuming the new terminal debarkation will be the similar to the excellent improved debark experience at Terminals 1 & 2. Since RCI is an established line in Galveston, should be an easy transition to new digs, technically called Terminal 10 I think. But I would also guess, like anything, there will be a few glitches the first days in an unfamiliar setting. However, I am DELIGHTED with this new addition to our home port! Can’t wait to try it in Feb. 2023!

So sorry for the loss of your husband to CoVid. That is devastating. Bless you for planning a cruise. May it help you cope with this terrible loss. I have been on 2 previous NYE cruises on Carnival, one before the pandemic, and the most recent was last year. Our 3rd NYE cruise is planned for this year on the Breeze. That’s how much I enjoy this holiday on a cruise! Carnival will have free champagne on the lido deck available on sailaway, and on the NYE’s party on the deck. There will be other venues hosting parties as well I think - the lobby,, where there may be a balloon drop, the Red Frog pub, piano bar, etc., and they may also have the free champagne too. I have always been on the Lido deck for the countdown. My experience is that you should scope out where the waiters are coming from when they bring out the trays of champagne glasses so you can place yourself strategically to get one before the tray is empty and they have to go back for more. That works best for me because those small glasses of champagne go fast lol! There may be one or 2 other times during the cruise when there is another opportunity for the free champagne (other than the art auctions which I avoid). I believe they serve Wycliffe champagne which is very inexpensive at my liquor store, but I think it is quite tasty. I learned about Wycliffe at several restaurants local to me that use that brand for their bottomless champagne brunches. I often carryon 2 bottles of Wycliffe as our wine allowance to bring on board. The atmosphere and energy of a NYE cruise is IMHO a bit ramped up, which I enjoy, even though I am at 67 considered “elderly”. I DO like a fun celebration on NYE, and on a Carnival cruise, I don’t have to worry about driving home afterwards! Many people will also dress up for NYE, and it will probably be designated as elegant night, but dressing up is not mandatory. I hope you have a wonderful NYE cruise, though this first one without your spouse will be bittersweet I’m sure. Best wishes on making it a positive celebration for more good things to come in the new year!

I applaud the effort to improve the internet experience for us, but I also recognize it will probably never be enough. Kinda like getting a raise in pay…..it will never be enough.

Saw this today in the Houston, and checked it online. Says no out-of-pocket cost for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. https://curative.com/covid-testing

To clarify, AS OF JULY, WALGREENS AND CVS ARE NO LONGER OFFERING FREE COVID TESTS FOR TRAVEL. You can still do testing there, for a fee, of upwards of $100 per person.

eMed multi-pack (6) if you have a family to test. Cost is $150 for 6, $25 per test. We bought a multi-pack to have on hand in case we couldn’t get free testing for the 2 cruises we had scheduled back in the fall. We did find free testing so we kept them in reserve. Unfortunately they expired in Feb., so we ended up wasting that cost. Once I found out Walgreens was no longer doing free testing for travel, I have now purchased only 2 eMed tests to use on our next cruise in a week. I bought them online on Thursday June 30. $70 for 2, $35 per test. Have not been delivered yet, but the notification says they have been shipped. Either pack is significantly less than the $100 fee for one test most places are charging now for asymptomatic and travel testing.

7.5.22 I thought it would be a good idea to have a running list of where members are CURRENTLY finding the type of CoVid testing Carnival CURRENTLY requires for boarding their ships. https://www.carnival.com/legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols On this link below, the CDC specifies what type of test is required. Scroll down to TESTING. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/cruise-travel-during-covid19.html#before-you-board It was relatively easy to get these required tests FREE prior to the end of June 2022. Now, my go-tos - Walgreens & CVS - have no longer offer the FREE testing for travel and asymptomatic folks unless you have been exposed. Each of those pharmacies is now charging over $100 for the test for asymptomatic travel testing. While there is currently a debate on a thread here regarding how to fudge the answers on the screening to qualify for FREE testing, let’s not bring that discussion here, and instead keep this one for where members are getting testing - FREE or for a FEE. Let us know where you have found testing, and please include FREE or FEE in your post. In my Houston area - https://www.randalls.com/vaccinations/test/Cue COVID-19 Test FEE NAAT. $99 https://rapidcovidclinic.com/covid-19-testing FEE Rapid Anigen test. $145 ($75 for first responders/teachers/health care workers/children 17 and under) ($100 group rate 4+) PCR $200 PCR expedited 4-6 hours $350 https://covidcheck.hctx.net/ FREE testing at specific locations in the Harris County area with a Harris County address. I was able to sign up, BUT I do have the pre-existing condition high blood pressure. HOPE THIS IS HELPFUL! I am still searching for a source of FREE testing, but am collecting the sites for testing fir a fee, which may or may not be reimbursed by insurance. Here is what I have found so far - no free sites discovered yet.

IMHO Limiting the availability of free CoVid testing at the popular drug stores is going to be challenging, both pre- and post-cruise. Cruiselines will have to take that into consideration regarding their requirement for boarding. I know that testing does not guarantee a CoVid-free cruise. On my last cruise a month ago, about 10% of my FB group for that cruise self-reported positive tests within a week of debarkation. And yes, we probably ALL unknowingly come in contact with positive cases on a daily basis in our normal life. My next cruise is July 16, and my go-to testing location, Walgreens, has just changed their policies for free testing. But according this, my Medicare Part B will still cover free testing there. https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html

I like the idea, and I may just be insane enough to agree with the OP that it might happen!

I did order the lobster and filet for the upcharge in the MDR on a short cruise. I thought it was good, and cheaper than going to the steakhouse even when you have one. On a week long cruise you will get the lobster on one of the formal nights I think, but the filet itself was good.

YEP, room service is available 24 hours, with a possible charge of course. And this is what we brought, which I suppose is a camping style French press. https://www.amazon.com/Presto-02835-Single-Coffee-Maker/dp/B00HIXSAXQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=24NMF8280L2OZ&keywords=Presto+02835+MyJo®+Single+Cup+Coffee+Maker%2C+Black&qid=1656177063&sprefix=presto+02835+myjo+single+cup+coffee+maker%2C+black%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1 We brought Keurig cups to use with that. You will still need the hot water from Room Service, but maybe that might be available 24 hours in the Lido buffet even when the food lines are closed? I know I can make hot chocolate there after hours.

While I am not familiar with European sailings, this is pretty standard across Carnival ships: - Seaday brunch in the Main Dining Room (MDR) is something you should do at least once. It is included in the cost of the cruise, and has some items unique to that menu. On our most recent sailing it ended at noon, but we were still able to use it twice in one day - early for a light breakfast, and then closer to noon for more of a lunch. It’s fun, and we waited way too long in our cruise history to try it. It is only available on Sea Days. - at dinner in the MDR, the chocolate melting cake has a cult following, and I am a member. I agree that it has been a bit gooier recently, but I still love it, and I always ask the waiter to bring a small cup of peanut butter, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream with it. I get it once a cruise, which is an improvement on the nightly indulging I did in my younger days. - Blue Iguana breakfast tacos are great, and they also have little wedges of watermelon there at the condiment station which I love. - Guy’s burgers has tiny potato sticks on their condiment station that are good for snacking. - another vote for the dessert cakes at the Lido LUNCH buffet. They cut thin slices of them for you. The Funfetti cake with sprinkles is only served on embarkation day, and it has sort of a cheescakey layer that is yum. The dinner desserts at that buffet are different, with individual squares pre-cut, but there is always some sort of bread pudding-like offering with sauce. - when you feel a chocolate urge, the hot chocolate at the self serve station at the Lido buffet can take care of that for you. - We pack a small plastic tray to schlep food back to our cabin if we want to enjoy it on our balcony. Otherwise you have to juggle plates. Of course Room Service takes care of that - but their menu is somewhat limited. We have a tiny inside cabin next month, but we still might pack the tray to carry food to the Serenity deck where I spend most afternoons. HAHA - all of my tips were food-related! Bon voyage!

Since masking is at present no longer required, our experience was that on the June 4 ‘22 sailing of Vista out of Galveston, very very few passengers are wearing masks. Given our ages - 67 and 71 - and our belief that masks are helpful, we wore masks all the time, except when eating/drinking, and laying out on Serenity. Everywhere else we were masked, and were pretty much the only ones we saw who did. In our FB group of several hundred, based on self-reporting AFTER debarkation, about 10% have tested positive within a week after that cruise. I myself came down with a nasty cold which I am still fighting, but have tested negative for CoVid 3 times in the 2 weeks since debarking. My dh and I have had all 4 shots, and we always mask when leaving our house. We did many crowd activities on the ship, and attend numerous crowd events on land in our daily lives since the major shutdown ended. We have stayed healthy, except for the cold I am currently fighting. We have been on 3 cruises since the startup, going on another in 3 weeks, and have 4 booked after that. For us, we have our own personal mask mandate no matter what. IMHO I don’t see Carnival bringing back a blanket mask rule because so many are opposed to it, but we’ll keep doing it.

I believe check-in times and expedience can vary wildly among ports, ships, specific sailings and times of day. I have been in winding lines, crowds, and then also a surprisingly non-stop walk-thru check-in on the 3 cruises we have been on since start-up last summer. They were all from the Port of Galveston, which has seen its share of embarkation lines. Our most recent one was earlier this month - June 2022 - when we chose the earliest check-in time of 10:00 - 10:30. We strode through the whole process, including security, with nary a stop, and wondered out loud where everyone was. We did have a wait of about 45 minutes to actually board the ship, but that is in the seated area with space to distance from each other. We also talked with folks on that same sailing, who had a 1:00 - 1:30 check-in time, and they said it took them an hour and a half to get through check-in. So I think it is hard to tell for sure what it will be. I did hear that the previous sailing took longer to clear customs because of some arrests that were happening at the pier, but who knows? I believe that even if you do chose an early check in time, and somehow get delayed in your arrival and you are past the 30 minute window of your chosen time, you are still permitted to enter the terminal for check in when you arrive later. Please correct me if I am wrong about that. I DO know that if you are earlier than your assigned time, they won’t let you into the terminal. That took several years to enforce as I recall. Before the shut-down we had times assigned, but it didn’t seem to matter back then as I recall. I believe the wonderful crew is not exactly thrilled about Plat/Diamonds interrupting them as they are making up the cabins in the crunch to open them at 1:30. They have so many rooms now to cover, and though we aren’t trying to interrupt them, we clog up the hallways traipsing to our cabins to drop off our things. It dawned on me also that those cabins are pretty much literally wide open, and leaving my things like that was somewhat of a risk. It’s probably more secure to wait to leave important things in there until you actually have your S&S card to lock it up. I am not worried about the crew, but if it’s true some of our fellow passengers are sometimes met by the police at the pier when we return, you really don’t know WHO you’re cruising with I guess, and who might be traipsing those halls with you before 1:30. 😬 Just my current thoughts on this topic 😊

Learned about the funfetti cheese cake at lunch on embarkation day HERE on CC, and so glad I did. I should have tried more of their lunch time cake choices during the cruise I was on last week. Note to self - will do those fancy lunch cakes more days on our next cruise NEXT month! Thank you casino offers. The salad offerings had fresh cauliflower - love that. I like whatever version they have of a bread pudding, and they have one almost every night in the buffet, with a fun sauce to top it off. I discovered Parmesan chicken tenders last week. I think they might be part of the kids offerings, but very crispy and tasty. I love checking out the soup of the day. On our final night of our most recent cruise just last week, the buffet had so many things that were tasty to me. Fried shrimp, sliced turkey…..best night of the buffet all week. We have gotten lazy about going to the MDR. We only did it once last week on the first formal night for lobster and prime rib.

Thought I wouldn’t like an interior after nearly 30 cruises in cabins where I could see the light of day. Tried our first one for NYE ‘21. It was a spa cabin so that helped to get the spa amenities. Surprised that we found it to be very cozy, and cozy is what I like. The dark did not bother me, in fact I learned it was great for sleep. We also had motion activated night lights that helped. It felt easier to get settled because I didn’t have to decide where to put things. Fewer choices meant fewer decisions. It’s good to find a spot on a quiet deck that can be your pretend balcony. Every ship has somewhere like that with chairs of some kind to have your coffee in the AM. All in all we liked our first one enough to book another inside spa cabin. I think if you are going inside, it’s best to get as close to the action you are interested in as possible. I would hesitate if it was on Deck 1 or 2. The older I get the more I value the convenience of not having to trek long distances on a ship LOL.

FORGIVE ME - the formatting is all wrong on my post above and I am trying to edit it . ETA - fixed!

June 11, 2022, 6 AM LOCAL GALVESTON TIME (CST) HELLO from Carnival Vista’s June 4-11, 2022 journey! Thought I would at least try to give a play-by-play of the final day of our journey - disembarkation day. I so admire those CCers who are able to take the time and effort to do LIVE reviews of the entire trip. THANK YOU to them - they are dedicated for sure, and I know countless members greatly appreciate those, and I am one of them. I have not ever had the kind of shipboard internet connection, in spite of always buying the premium plan, that I have enough confidence in to attempt a full live review, nor the writing skills, so this is the best I can do. I hope it is helpful. Saturday June 11 I woke up at 5:50 am, and peeked out of my balcony window on Deck 6, 1 cabin away from the Havana section, which it is blocked off by a door. Best as I can tell we are NOT yet in the channel leading to the pier in Galveston yet. Arrival time was posted as 6:00 am, but it is not to be. We made ALL 3 of our ports in the published order, - Mahogany Bay, Belize and Cozumel - and on time. There was no indication nor mention of any propulsion problems. All seemed right on schedule, except for sailaway, which was maybe 30-45 minutes late, but I think that was because we were waiting for those final few to report to muster. 6:30 am this morning we headed up to Lido for breakfast at 6:30, and it was nice because there were no crowds at that time. While up there we watched as we passed by the East Beach of Galveston and into the channel leading to the piers. Not soon after, we slowed down, and we turned around to head aft first the rest of the way to our berth. That is a long process because it goes very slowly backwards inching to the pier. The Dream apparently came in ahead of us. It is docked at the first pier so I think she has to come in first. Finally got into place at our dock about 7:55 am, nearly 2 hours past the published time, but it is the REALISTIC time. 7:40 am, after clearing out of our cabin, we headed to the Deck 3 Refections DR where Priority Diamond & Platinum guests can wait. They are telling all other guests to stay OFF Deck 3 & 4. We had no trouble maneuvering our way to that floor heading down the hall on 6, using the fore elevators to 3. We had to show our Platinum cards to walk around the lobby bar to Reflections DR. There were non-priority guests lining the overlooks on Deck 4 & 5, waiting for their turn. Once there we were inside Reflections, they directed to one side or the other depending on status. I didn’t pay enough attention and just took the first place we could manage with the carryons we had. We settled in, and it was then that we realized we were in Diamond section by mistake. Now I am a wannabe for many things, including Diamond status, but I don’t like to appear that way, nor do I want to break any rules (Catholic school ingrained), so we gathered out things and slunk over to the other side of Reflections, a mere 5 yards away. We had checked 2 bags last night, which left us with one rolling suitcase, 2 backpacks, 2 canvas totes and a computer case. YES we take too much. Part of that is that we pack our own sheets. I just like mine best. We live 1 hour from Galveston so not a problem getting our stuff to the port. I also overpack on my wiring for my electronics, but there are limited connections in the cabin, and you have to make sure you have what you need when you need them. 8:22 am - they just now called for the first group - DIAMOND with no checked luggage. 8:29 am - just called PLATINUM with no checked bags 9:00 am - just called DIAMOND & PLATINUM checked bags - HERE WE GO! Passport check was immediately at the bottom of the zigzag gangways inside the Terminal. However, YOU DO NOT NEED TO TAKE OUT YOUR PASSPORTS anymore. It is all done via facial recognition. You take off your hat, your mask if wearing one (we were one of the few that were, and that was true the entire trip), look at the handheld screen of the agent, and in seconds you are clear to go. THEN you get your bags from the #ed zone. You are free to exit at that point. If you want a porter, they are there. We did not as we could manage what we had and get ourselves to the area where the Port of Galveston parking shuttles pick up, which is to the RIGHT outside the Terminal exit door. We waited in a line at the shuttle pickup for the bus to Port Parking Lot B. Passengers already standing in line directed us to the back of the line as it snakes around. We were on the 5th shuttle that we saw come up after we got to that area. We rode to the lot, found our car, loaded up and headed out. From the time we were called in Reflections at 9 to the time we got into our car in Port Parking lot B was 45 minutes total. The most challenging part of this process was getting out of Port Parking B. It is NOT clearly marked, and besides vague directions to head to the corner, we couldn’t find it. We ended up in the shuttle lane and had to get out of that. We drove aimlessly looking for exit signs, and one that we did find, was blocked off. Finally we chose to follow another car that seemed to be leaving, and they were lost too. They stopped to ask one of the entrance attendants for directions to the exit, and he ended up moving parking cones to let several us nomads get by to the very poorly marked - as in not at all - and half open gate where another attendant was standing to collect our parking ticket that we had on our dashboard. Not sure what would have happened if we hadn’t kept that. Our favorite parking is the the Port parking garage that is right across the street from the pier. For embarkation we drop off our bags with a porter, then drop off our car in the garage, and finally walk across the street to the terminal to board. For disembarkation, we just roll our stuff ourselves back to the garage. However, when we I tried to reserve the Port Garage 5 days before this cruise, it was sold out for this one, so we had to do Lot B. I ALWAYS reserve parking before we go. Can’t imagine going to Galveston without knowing I have a parking spot waiting for me, but I guess some do drive-up day of the cruise parking. Now I know I have to reserve that garage way ahead. I already have my reservation there for our upcoming July AND NYE cruises this year. Parking there is at least 20 minutes faster, maybe more, to get on the road IMHO. 10:55 Home again home again jigging jig! It’s so great to live so close to the port. It was a great cruise, great weather, great crew, great people! We’re going to do it again next month! 😊

No casino bar on Vista. 😔 There is a Sports Bar down the promenade from the Casino, but it only has 4 TVs. We love the casino bar on Dream. Lots of TVs, and lots of folks at the bar watching their favorite teams. My husband is the gambler in our family and he spends a fair amount of time in the casinos. I know Carnival wants us gambling at the tables and slots, and not at the TVs, but the bar is a social gathering place, even for a non-gambler like me. It’s not unlike the Alchemy Bar, save for a slightly different clientele perhaps. Vista is fun, but there are a number of drawbacks on her, and no casino bar is one of them I think.