Sabalon

- Get there the night before. Anything can happen while travelling and it's one thing to be stuck in a 2-3 hour delay the day before than on the way to check-in. Don't know what local traffic is like in most places I stay, and I assume it's all as bad as Atlanta in the mornings, so I usually like to be within 5-10 miles of the port. Our last one was 4.5hrs away and we went down the night before. - Can't answer about 14 days of clothes - am willing to do research though. Someone book me a 14 day cruise!!! You'll either do laundry or pack way more than you'll need. Can always google the best way to maximize space folding clothes, etc. Of course, it all has to fit coming back off as well. I usually pack more clothes than I wear on the shorter ones as is, but myself, on something that long, I'd opt for laundry service and make my luggage easier to deal with. - Bags - sounds like a good plan. We usually just pack a beach bag that also doubles as the carry-on. But a small backpack sounds like a good also-have plan - don't have to worry about stuff dumping out etc. Just need to plan out what all you think you may put in it, a little extra free space and make sure it's comfy when weighted down! Know my daughters used those drawstring style backpacks, but I find those cut into me too much myself. May also want to look into a couple carabiner clips - makes it easy to hang your water bottle or maybe a bag of purchases from what you're already backpacking. - Snacks - you take care of you...I don't think I've been on anything where they say "no eating" or something. The hungry kid - that's between them and the kids parents. Be obvious about it if you want to!

Our recent one, one bag arrived around 2, one around 4. Had to go to guest services around 7 to find out where my bag may be - it was off to the side with about 11 others - the tag had somehow been ripped off (and it was the first luggage checked in for the ship - got there too early). But usually 5-6 at latest. I was beginning to get nervous as half my cpap was in my checked luggage. (Power and mask) - stupid on my part. Keep any meds you must have with you - I was running through things I didn't have like my eye gel I need at night. Was also thinking about my contact holder and solution...should have had either that, or at least my glasses with me. Swimsuit if you want to be able to change and hit the pool early (esp for kids!). Probably at least one extra shirt, shorts and underwear change to be safe. And of course anything valuable. After laying there thinking about my suitcase maybe still being on shore, I think next time I'll look at it like "Okay...if Carnival has to replace my wardrobe etc because they lost my suitcase, what could they not easily replace and would I miss it?"

In the time that it would take me to get the coffee going, etc, I could already be up in Lido 🙂 (unless it's a k-cup, then I'll be up in Lido anyway) And then the creamer - one more thing to pack, for security to check (honestly, it's just amaretto "flavored"), and with the way the fridges "cool" not worth it.

Anything prescription it's always good to have the prescription for it...just in case they decide that it's not ED, but perhaps something else so you can prove it... but... That said, I had my hydrocodone (recent tooth issue) and lexapro with me in their own bottles, and then in another ginger pills, ibuprofen and antibiotic (was easier to consolidate). They didn't bat an eye - they didn't even look at the bottles of wine in my bag. Next time, if I have multiples, I'm just putting them in one bottle. The wife has her little pill caddie for hers. Perhaps if you had a baggie of 1000 pills it may be different.

My wife doesn't drink either (other than sips here and there of mine) due to stomach issues. While yes, she could get other items, coffees bother her, and she doesn't drink soda either. So only way it'd be worthwhile is if she gave every drink to me, but I don't need that much per day! 6 frozen drinks, 5 cocltails or 8 beers a day to break even for one person. I'm usually too tired, to worn out from the sun etc to go overboard with drinks anyway so per-drink has always worked the best.

Last week on Elation we had printed fun times. Never looked at it - used the app. Also had printed dock/event photos put out, where 4 years ago on a Conquest class ship all the photos were on the app. I wish you could see the photos people uploaded to the app after the sailing, but oh well. Also, as far as the MDR reservations - I watched them show people how to download the app, get it setup, etc just so they could make a reservation - seemed a bit overkill. also, also, even though it says it'll notify you when your table is ready, if you stay on the same page it takes you to after reserving, the notification doesn't seem to come up. It's quirky!

LMAO....I love me some Waffle House, but being in Georgia, I can stumble 500ft and hit a few on the way! Was looking for a local place. We ended up at Another Broken Egg, which I did not know was a chain until later, but at least it was a chain I'd never eaten at before.

Also, maybe not funny for those involved.... There was a couple on the Conquest or Glory. I don't know if they were newlyweds or what. Early 20s. She was obviously enjoying herself. Saw this a couple days, but one of them down in the atrium bar, she had had a number of drinks I guess. I think he was trying to cut her off and she was getting mad. She would be sitting at the bar talking, then she'd get up and dance on the small dance area (sometimes the only one up there). She'd fall quite a bit - she had a short dress on and one of the other things bothering him was uhmmm...we'll leave it at in the dress there was no modest way to fall down, and get back up. She went back up to the bar to get something, then couldn't find him, started to get mad and loud about how she was just trying to have some fun, and he just goes off and leaves her, and on and on and then finally decides to storm off (back to the room?) in anger. The whole time the guy is sitting there in a chair right by the end of the dance floor in plain sight, staring into infinity, replaying events leading to this point in his mind I'm sure. After she left, he waited a minute or two before going after. Again - not at all funny for them, and I hope that they were able to reconcile and are still together but from the outside, they were the talk of the lobby.

Watching our daughters make friends onboard on the first cruise. The oldest LOVED the Circle C. Going to pick her up for dinner, and from the door of the Circle C room, watching her win a cup stacking tournament they were doing. There were three of them that would hang out constantly. (The best part is the person she beat was from the next town over from us, her friends in Girl Scouts picked up on her talking about him too much, began making fun, and then at one cookie booth, seeing him going into the grocery store and about panicked. Then turns out, his mom plays bunco with her mom.) The other daughter did not like the younger kids club (it's babies up to 5th grade) but at Freeport she met someone from the ship and they became inseparable after. We had to leave a note on their door because they wanted to get each others numbers and they talked on the phone for a few months after.

As others have said, the port areas know they need the tourism. I'm sure even the crime groups know better than to mess with that - directly or like the sad case in Cancun - indirectly. Most of these areas are at the same level as The Bahama ports as well. Will second Paradise Beach. We did Grand Cayman, Roatan, Belize and had excursions at each so we decided at Cozumel to just take it easy. Somehow with the social wifi onboard, I found out about Paradise Beach. We did not take it easy. We had sooo much fun. Great food too. Only issue we had is when we got there, we couldn't go in the water due to "un pequeño cocodrilo". Watched the staff spend about 15 minutes chasing down and cornering a 4ft croc.

If we're trying to figure out something for lunch, it's usually the fall back default. Thankful we have one in McDonough just down the road from work. When they have the special pretzel-house burgers I'm up there what seems like every other day!!!

The aft of Lido is where we tried to eat but for some reason those tables never seemed to get cleared - always had dirty plates all over. We'd consolidate some sometimes, but usually was more than we felt like dealing with. It was a nice out-of-the-way place to hang out. Chairs are not the nicest but good views, great for morning coffee. On the port side, the sliding door was so overworked it would sometimes stop working, or partially work. Made for some fun people watching. We were trying to stay outside to relax so the inside ones just weren't going to do it. Library is nice though. Did not walk through the port side Verandah - I just saw the same setup and assumed that it was also smoking. I want a do-over now!!! Serenity was a catch-22. We could usually find some seats in the shade.. but sometimes it was fine, but the lack of a breeze got a little stuffy. All I want is a quiet area with shade, a slight breeze, comfy chairs, no smoke and loud music, that no one else knows about or uses🙂

I like finding the out-of-the way places to relax away from everything. Lido isn't it! We were just on Elation and I kept wondering around trying to find some decent seating where it was quiet, and some shade. Not much luck. While walking around early, we found a nice area on Verandah...covered...comfy chairs with cushions. We quickly figured out that was the smoking section. Guess they get the nice stuff.

I know a couple nights we looked at the menu and nothing really stood out to either of us. I too miss the relative-to-the-port items. Doesn't mean I always would get them, but it was a nice touch. Also I liked it when it was "Have you ever?" or whatever instead of "rare finds" for apps like Alligator, Duck, Rabbit, etc...not really rare. But I realized our recent cruise was just over 10 years after our first, and some of the stuff (the cold soups and a few others) are probably the same as they were 10 years ago. The desserts seem to have a small rotation as well. I love the idea of highlighting cuisine from home countries of the crew. Thankfully, over those 10 years, I've started to eat more seafood than I had before (anything more than zero is more!) so that has been nice that there are more things I'll try. This was the first time going to the deli one night and that was a pleasant discovery. Still haven't had the pizza, so I guess next time I don't see anything I want....

I forgot that my luggage wasn't delivered. Due to us being early, mine was literally the first bag given to them. Kept checking the hall and no bag. My wife went up to Guest Services around 7p to figure out what was what. They asked if it was one of about 12 off to the side of Guest Services. They paper tag must have come off at some point. They had put a debarkation plastic tag on it, that had my name and room number written in (probably looked it up from the name on the luggage tag on the suitcase). Don't know why they had it there - could be they were just finishing figuring out whose was whose and didn't get it down yet, or perhaps they want guests to verify it's theirs. They asked if my wife wanted someone to deliver it, but she said nah and just wheeled it down. Very very minor problem - but if not for that, I'm sure my t-shirt and athletic shorts in the MDR would be the subject of someone else's post 🙂

The horrid excursion in Nassau went there. By that time I was in full "I want to go home" mode, but they gave us a VERY small sample and it was VERY good. We got to do a 15 minute tour of the place which was neat. I didn't try the food, but others in our van did and said it was good - smelled good. Would love to have time (and health) to go back there!!! and LMAO off at "you know you will be there again!!!"

Too late now, but I was wondering if before we left, and everytime we had an actual uplink if signing out and back in (or reactivating it) would "restart the clock" or something. Without knowing what triggers it, hard to say.

Just got home from the Elation. Wife and I both have iPhones. 1) We were able to receive all sorts of push notifications - garage door opening and closing, gmail, alarms from work (boo), etc. Other than what would show up on the home screen you couldn't do anything with them, so I may see the subject and start of the text from a gmail, I couldn't open it up. 2) Things where sometimes delayed. We would get notifications in bunches sometimes, but they were sent 40 minutes earlier. 3) Text messages (via iMessage - ie from our daughters iPhones at home) would come through. Pics they tried to send of the dog would no. Also, we could not reply until we got on an island where we found wifi or I had cellular. 4) Text messages between my phone and my wifes worked pretty well. The first one I tried, it bombed, and tried to send it via SMS eventually (airplane mode was on so that didn't work). But after that one - probably her phone on airplane but not on wifi - things worked pretty well. Helped keep in touch with where the other was - when the other had their phone. 5) Sunday my phone decided "You have been signed out of iMessage". Don't know why. Don't know if there is a timer where it re-registers every so often and couldn't do that on the Carnival wifi without data. When we got back into port, I had to restart my phone to get it to re-activate with iMessage - no idea if I did that at sea if it would have worked or not...didn't think of it at the time.

It's a two mile walk. The first 1/3 mile won't be bad. The next 2/3 mile to the bridge is not a nice area. The bridge and beyond is okay. But you can go into the old Coral towers (the old hotels before the Royal towers were built) and the Casino and some gift shops. There is a "casino bypass" from where you'd get turned away from entering the Royal Towers that has some nice views of the private beach area, but it isn't worth a two mile walk. A shared taxi is cheap, Cabbage Beach is right down the road and a shorter, safer walk to Atlantis.

Just got back and there is still a lot of work to be done. I'd be surprised if any of it was open, but dang it looks nice!!!

Write this up while it's all mostly fresh in my head. This was the first cruise for the wife and I since 2019. It was a last minute (okay...Maybe late Jan/early Feb) idea. Out of Jacksonville with stops in Freeport and Nassau. This was the first less-than-5 day cruise we've taken. We're south of Atlanta, so drove down and stayed at the La Quinta Jacksonville on Butler Blvd - do not recommend. Place needs a lot of TLC and I was happy to be out of there. Ended up having breakfast at Another Broken Egg not far from there...really good. We then headed up to the port (after a stop at a CVS to find a better color lip-balm with sunscreen.) Being from Atlanta, I looked at Jacksonville on the map, and I see a beltway road and figured a nightmare. JAX has 1/4 the population of the Atlanta metro area...so yeah...we got there pretty early. We had a 10am boarding time and FTTF (so we ignore the boarding time). Weather was beautiful for waiting, and staff were wonderful in helping. Dropped our bags, waited a bit, first through security, first to check in... which really meant nothing, but was just weird. Am starting to see the wisdom in the people that show up at 1:30 🙂 A short wait in the terminal, talked to a 7 year old girl sitting next to me, with a stuffed turkey doll that they just got before the cruise. She was very proud of it. She was also excited to go swim with the dolphins - hope it went well for them! But around 10:45 or so they started boarding, and probably by 11:10 we had our carry-ons in our room. Our room looked ready, but we honored the "drop your stuff and get out" until 1:30. Just nice to be unencumbered on Lido. Went up to get my traditional mojito to start with...staff member offered me the special of the day (bahama mama), told him nope...wanted a mojito...he told me but mojito isn't the special drink of the day. Yup...it's all business. Had a guy burger, walked around a bit, etc... hung out on Serenity in the shade. Shoved off and had the nice short river cruise you get from Jacksonville, put phones on airplane, and then all downhill....(for me) I get motion sickness and usually take ginger pills and have no problems...but something about this trip - be it the ocean conditions, or perhaps that the ginger pills were from before our last cruise in 2019 and not potent anymore, but I started getting ill from the get-go. I tried to not let it bother me too much. We had our dinner, and kinda had an early evening. Freeport arrival was noon. Overslept - meant to get up to beat the breakfast lines...that didn't happen, but still had some Blue Iguana breakfast and an omelet. Both we VERY good. Hung out on the back of the ship for a bit and then went to get ready for our excursion. Banana Bay - will write that up elsewhere under excursions - was nice. Good driver telling us all about Freeport, and a nice resort. Service wasn't slow - but getting someones attention to get started could take a bit. Looks like most people ignored the "no alcohol beyond this point" sign. But a lovely location with good food. Got back to the ship, took a breather, had dinner, saw the comedy show (Aaron Thomas? hilarious). Just randomly wandered around and then went back to the room to consider the merits of spray on vs rub on sunscreen ( just call me lobster). Did make it to the liquor tasting which was nice to see something other than rum on the table. Nassau arrival as early - I like to watch us pull in there, but they got there earlier than usual and by the time I got up topside, they were doing a 360 in the bay area to back in. Early on-shore time meant more people at breakfast early. But illish or not, got down some pancakes and another omelet. We had an early excursion - "Must See Nassau" - would not recommend. Driver was great talking about the island, but it was basically an overpriced taxi service to take you from one gift shop to another. Samples promised in the description were minimal. I know it drives business to the stores, but several seemed put-out by it. And the bus ride - lot of stop and go and hills with a stick shift - did I mention the motion sickness. Initially we planned to eat back in town, but I just wanted to go back to the boat and die for a bit. That was around 2pm on Saturday. I didn't leave the room again until 10am Sunday. Wife enjoyed the Epic Rock show and did some other things, or sat up on Serenity. She brought me a gourmet meal of three pieces of bread! Sunday Sea Day was spent either at meals, trivia or me napping in the room and wife reading elsewhere. Monday morning, early self-disembark, and we were on the road back home by probably 8:10am. The Good Despite not feeling it, I will say that there was just a constant positive vibe. Guests were friendly with each other, random casual conversation, on deck, at meals, waiting for the elevator. Everyone was in a great mood. It was Spring Break - didn't think about it when we booked it (even though my wife works at a school and is off this week for spring break - duh). But this seemed to be more families that were off for spring break instead of college kids. The staff - as always very friendly and helpful. The Fun Squad entertainment staff did a great job as well. It was the Cruise Director's (LiA) first contract but you'd think she was a long time veteran. Staff the first night at the restaurant (your time dining) - you'd think he was getting paid per plate he brought out - kept asking if we wanted something extra, something instead. Not used to that. Got to try the deli which I never had before - Cuban was very good. Still have not had the Pizza. Had dental work the week before the cruise...now feel better about smiling for the ever present PIxels staff. The so-so Just some minor things that seemed off. In the past, if I set a plate down and went to get water, there'd be a chance of the plate being cleared before I got back. Noticed a lot of tables would have plates sitting on them for quite a while. Tables would get scarce. We just hit gold status, and should have had two bottles of water in the room - we did not. We don't normally use them so didn't say anything about it, but first time that's happened. Also, the fridge in the room did not work...they never work well, but this one was not-at-all. The bottle of wine we were going to keep in there, we never got to so we just left it for them to dispose of how they best see fit. Elevators - some were out of service constantly - I think staff were using them with a key override. And some of them would skip decks - we were on scum...er..Riviera deck. It'd go from 7->6->5->3->5->... weird. Pizza Pirate - despite everywhere I turned there was someone with slices of pizza, there never seemed to be anyone that station or pizzas out. Bad timing I guess...just seemed weird. Heard other commenting about no one being there too. Some of the places they try to hold trivia just don't work - either no seating, or too noisy with the bars. A limitation of the Fantasy class, but I'm sure they could figure something out better than what this was. The Not So Good Not going to call it bad - it's my opinion of things. But that initial "But mojito isn't the drink of the day" kinda tainted me as to how I viewed a lot. I noticed that a lot of the announcement of things coming up were ship store related, or bingo related, or basically "here is where you can next spend money". I know it's a business, but it's something I never paid much attention to before. The excursion in Nassau was the same thing. Not that our sign-and-sale cards didn't get a workout but it just seemed pretty blatant. The dental work - because I encouraged the wife to take some pics - well, we bought some, and also had a damn good laugh at some of us. I was surprised to see that with the App the ship was still printing all the pics out and hanging them up. Also with the app, the fun times and so much information just seemed such a waste of resources to me. And the app - annoying that in only half-works in ports if you're not on their wifi - want to be able to see events, menus etc to make decisions. Seemed hit-or-miss. And also, come off the $5 to use it to communicate. You have the wifi installed, I'm sure most of the data doesn't leave the ship - stop nickel-and-diming. And finally under the bad - I'm playing a game now that we're home called "Is it c. diff, norovirus, or something else?" Was it a bad trip? No... I just had an unlucky time.

We just saw this on a one-hit wonders. They played 5 seconds of Tubthumping by Chumbawumba, but not the version that everyone heard on the radio...so album edit or something (Team next to us called it the "Fan Club B-Side Only remix" as for how obscure it must have been). And one team got that no problem...one of the guys was a Diamond member, and even the host joked "you must have played this before"

I'd put them together. You can flop around more at night and feel more comfortable. One advantage of the second bed would be to store stuff on (honestly, we do that with the king too). If you get them put together, try not to sleep right in the middle where the mattresses meet. Sometimes they will separate a bit and push apart. 🙂

Whoa!!! And it's all encrypted end-to-end, so it's not like they could easily block all but their own push notifications! That is a huge thing to know. Airplane mode, turn on wifi, join their onboard wifi, and bam. I know what I'm trying as soon as we get out of cell range!!! Thanks for posting this and the info.

It kinda varies by how well it goes. Were they full of information or just getting us from A->B? etc. It's not a simple answer, but a tip (see what I did there? 🙂 ) Have a number of smaller bills on hand so you can easily adjust as needed. Don't want to be getting off the bus and only have a $20 on hand for a lackluster 20 minute drive. But you can always double/triple up on a few $5's.