Drose716

On 8/2/2019 at 2:05 PM, Cafedumonde said:

No.  In NYC there are armed NYPD all over the place.  Big difference.  I go to NYC all the time for work.  And I’ve lived in NOLA.  Nothing compared to Belize.  Lol.

Actually there are military guardsmen in in Penn Station (& other areas) all the time. Not to say NYC = Belize at all. Just sayin' I'm sure to tourists in NYC it can be jarring.

To the OP,  we loved Roatan & Belize! Highly recommend cave tubing in Belize- we used Cave Tubing.BZ. They were excellent! In Roatan we used Victor Bodden to see the monkey house. LOVED the sloth! Then we went to the beach. Too many vendors for my taste but otherwise a nice enough beach. Our driver stayed close by keeping an eye out. Never felt particularly unsafe. Just use caution & do your research! Don't miss out on two lovely places because of some bad reviews!

Just got off Victory. We were only a party of 3, but we went 3/4 nights to MDR around 6:30-7 & never waited more than 5 minutes, if at all. 

Our prior cruise we were a party of 4 on Horizon. We used the app to request a table in the same 6:30-7. The wait time from request to ready was never more than 15 minutes. 

We did once. We had booked as 3 for memorial day weekend. By the time my SO decided he wanted to attend, there were no 4 person cabins or 2 persons close enough to meet the rules for my kids ages. So we switched weeks to a couple weeks earlier & paid the $150 penalty.

Then of course, wouldn't you know, 2 days later an important event for my daughter popped up for the new booked date. We called to change dates again & asked to waive the fee & explained the situation figuring it couldn't hurt to ask. Carnival agreed noting it was a one time courtesy & stating we had to be firm on dates this time (we were). We were very grateful. We left the original $150 alone- never asked about that. Can't be greedy. 

I believe only in certain rooms like suites. I didn't have one in 2016.

On 9/17/2019 at 4:02 PM, K&RCurt said:

One note I will add is that you have to actively check for chat messages, there are no notifications that you received a chat message and the app has to be open and on display on your phone to see that you received a message.

I believe it may have a bit to do with the phone. On the Vista my boyfriend had an iPhone8 & I had an S8 & my daughter had the J9. He got notifications, we didn't. Our last cruise on Horizon they had iPhone 8s, I have the S9 & we all got notifications. 

Definitely Conquest. I've never sailed her but I have sailed Sensation.  I've also been on the Freedom & Valor (Conquest sisters so same feel for you) & I'd pick them any day over Sensation.

I went on several 3-5 day cruises in my early 20s. They were party cruises for sure. But that's because I was like 23 & seeking out the party. During the day they felt like the 8 day cruises in my 30s are. I doubt the passengers not seeking out a party really noticed much different at night.

I've been on cruises from 3 days up to 8. The only time I ever noticed a party vibe that disrupted other passengers was a 6 day with a large travel group on board that imbibed way to much & got physical too often. The brig was full. Such behavior was never seen on my shorter cruises.

I think you'll be fine! The "party" vibe is rarely, if ever, in my experience, enough to impact those not looking for the party.

I've been on 11 Carnival cruises. I've been to the steakhouse once on Vista. I booked as a special treat for my boyfriend. Idon't eat red meat. I got the chicken. He likes a good steakhouse & enjoyed his meal. Yes, it was worth it in my opinion because we had a lovely night. The chicken was good too. 

"Worth it" is up to the individual. Give it a shot & decide for yourselves!

20 days until our quickie Victory

334 until Legend Med cruise

We were on the Horizon in April for my son's actual 10th birthday. We booked a meal at Cucina (& had a cake delivered from cherry on top to our room after dinner). After dinner, they brought him out a little cup of whipped cream with a candle in it & sang Happy Birthday in Italian. Oh the great cost to Carnival for that cup of whipped cream! It still made his day!

My point is even when you are on the date celebrating something, they aren't dedicating big company dollars. Celebrate together. The waiters will sing over your already free dessert & maybe pop in a couple candles. As long as you aren't expecting something grand, go ahead & celebrate! 

On 9/6/2019 at 2:02 AM, geoffrywillhardt said:

I honestly am surprised by all the hate for Vista class. We sailed on the Horizon and loved it.

 

For me the ship I will never go on again is the Sensation.

Had to quote you because I agree with your entire post 110%. I admit when I first boarded the Vista around her 1st birthday I wasn't a fan. It was "too different". By night 8 I warmed up a lot but still preferred Dream class.  We sailed Horizon back in April & loved it. She's now my favorite. And the elevators weren't that hard! 

I also just posted that Sensation is the one I'd never sail again. It wasn't my first time sailing an older gal. But it was the first & only time a ship really, really showed her age all over.

I wasn't a fan of Sensation & just recently chose my short, cheap, interim cruise based on NOT sailing her again. I sailed on the Imagination prior so I knew going in what Fantasy class meant. I thoroughly enjoyed the Imagination. It wasn't the size or class. The ship just looked run down. Tears in public seating. Cracks in tile. Several more examples of more obvious wear & tear going unaddressed than I was used to or expecting. 

I admit the weather was blah & it was a VERY blah sailing passenger wise so that probably didn't help.

3 hours ago, pjhootch said:

There is always yogurt available at breakfast and on the breakfast room service menu- and it is the sweet type, so most children like it.

Ohh thanks! I didn't even think of yogurt. He's not a huge fan but could probably be talked into one small spoonful. 

I'm an omelette station gal. I haven't paid much attention to the buffet in our last several cruises & couldn't even remember the options!

We are going on a fairly last minute short getaway at the end of the month on Victory. My son takes a daily morning medication that I pour from a capsule into some applesauce. He's young & hasn't mastered pill swallowing yet. This will be my 12th Carnival cruise but our first since this med so I've never paid attention before & can't remember everything available! Is apple sauce or some kind of jelly or cottage cheese even a breakfast offering in the buffet? Would I be allowed to carry on a small container of applesauce in my carry on or checked luggage if needed?

I know I could always reach out to the special needs department but they aren't open now & this isn't a super urgent medication. Just curious if anyone has paid better attention than me! 🙂

Tomorrow! 😁

I've been on Valor but in an inside. I'm no help me on the cabin front. 

On the school front... I initially planned our next cruise to be during memorial day break meaning minimal school lost. My boyfriend then found he can't be away from work that week. We had to switch to my new kids missing a full week. My honor roll middle schooler... Her teachers are really accommodating with our promise that she will get fully caught up. She's a good student so they're happy to help her have a nice family trip. My son is in elementary & his teacher just had to say that our travels &  family time will probably teach him more than school anyway. It doesn't hurt that his 10th birthday happens on the trip. 

In summary if taking her out is best & you're concerned, speak to the teachers. I had middle school & elementary teachers tell me to take the trip & enjoy our time as a family above all else.

Yes muster stations are indoors.

Most

Nassau- Around 2012 I had a guy block my way to the taxi area to offer me a necklace which I declined. He proceeded to get close enough to toss a necklace on me & ask for $5. I handed him his necklace back & pushed past.

Jamaica- to be fair to the port, the worst of the experience was leaving Dunn's River when I declined to enter a shop with my kids. I was followed down the path while being called rude after repeated firm "no thank yous". My inner NYer came out pretty fast.

Least

Grand Cayman

Key West

Puerto Rico

Cozumel- I'm surprised to see this port known as aggressive! I've been 3 times & I honestly don't recall even being approached once in any visit.

We're on the same cruise! GT is the only port that is a repeat for us. We have excursions (not through Carnival) planned for La Romana & daytime in Curacao.

GT we're just going to head down the beach to Jack's Shack for a drink or two & then maybe stop at Margaritaville so the kids can hop into the pool. This is a super easy port to wing it on your own. The beach is right there. Food & shopping is right there. 

Aruba we're taking a cab to the beach. I haven't done much research into the port area. 

Curacao we have a privately booked tour during the day, but plan to explore the sights in the port area in the evening. I've seen pictures & it looks lovely at night with plenty to see in walking distance. From my research & the pics it looks like this is a port you can do on your own also.

La Romana I understand there's not much right there. We're taking a private tour for most of the day & the heading back on board.

47 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

It’s called pasta bella but it’s the same thing right?

It's not the same, although I do believe there's a Pasta Bella on Dream. I stopped by but didn't eat at the pasta place on Dream. It certainly was nothing like Cucina that we paid to dine at on Magic & Vista. The Dream does not have Cucina currently.

I just figured this out on the Magic in August... My 10th Carnival cruise. I opened all 3 closets & almost no shelves to be seen. I knew that couldn't be right. So I investigated & figured this system out & made us some shelves lol

My favorite kick off is the Frog's Island Iced Tea. So good. So strong. So good!

I can drink with the best of them. My stomach does like the sugar & juice for long so I try to stay away from the fridge fru drinks. But I can't turn down a FIIT... or a Punchliner. My kryptonite.

Take me with a grain of salt (ha... keep reading) because I'm the rare cruiser that isn't a balcony fan. I had 1 in 10 cruises. Deck 7 aft on Vista. There was so much salt all over the thing...

That said... If I ever were to do a balcony again I think I'd take a cove. I imagine being closer to the water would worsen the salt situation. However, I've fallen in love with OVs on the lower decks because sitting in the window watching the water so close is just 🥰🥰 If I spring for a balcony & know that they get salty even on 7.... I'd rather have close water views. 

8 hours ago, CA_Cruzing said:

Choose wisely. 

 

One is bueno and one is no bueno. 

 

 

 

This post. I've worn "sandals" & "flip flops" in the MDR. Always the latter & never the former. If I buy them at Old Navy for $1, they don't belong in MDR. If I buy them at DSW with in mind to pair with a nice dress & would never let them touch the beach, they're probably fair game for dinner. In summer at work we're allowed sandals that aren't "beach wear". If I can wear it at work, it's okay for dinner.

I've sailed in an inside room 8/10 cruises. That's what was in the budget & honestly I dont spend enough time in the room to have cared especially on girls trips & when my kids were young. They aren't bad & if that's how you can afford to cruise more go for it! You do sleep well for sure. 

I did a balcony once with my boyfriend sans kids. Sure it was nice, but I sure don't think I used it enough to justify the $$.

Now that said, if you can pull it off, I do highly recommend an oceanview. We had one last cruise & LOVED it. It was barely more than an inside but gave us the view & natural light. Plus the windowsill was an awesome place to sit & watch the ocean go by. Some ships offer ocean views with a second half bath. We got that last cruise & booked the same room again for our next in April.