TruckinMama

We booked Nachi for December. I can't wait!!

I've noticed a bunch of folks saying they just paid off their cruise, BUT how many simply moved the debt to their Credit Card? ;) John

Not here, we NEVER put vacations on our CC. Cash only. My CC is used for gas to and from work, and paid off in full every month, that's it. I only got the CC to build our credit up so that we could buy a house eventually. We had lived on straight cash for 18 years and had a ZERO score, no credit good or bad, it was a pain trying to get financed for a vehicle (we had paid cash for the last several we've owned). Carnival offers a no interest payment option, I see no reason to put it on a CC unless you can pay the CC off in the same billing cycle.

We didn't think they were even close to worth it. I guess if you HAVE to have a balcony you might think so, but we spent all of 15 minutes out there in 5 days. It was simply too hot/humid, too windy, or raining. We won't be booking a Jr. Suite again.

Last year we had two actually ASK for a tip, telling us their families needed to eat. They will also tell you they have no change, so be sure to have small bills with you to pay them!

I wish the tour/excursion/beach places all had their own drivers to meet passengers at the pier. I hated Cozumel because we were constantly bombarded for tips or to purchase something. When we go this year, we're going straight to an AI and back, there will be no walking around town shopping, they blew it for me spending any money like that.

I'm concerned too. It's one reason we opted for interior rooms this time, rather than a balcony. Our first cruise on the Elation last year was way too warm, we figured it was partially due to the large windows and balcony door. It was so bad we couldn't even sleep until we were exhausted, and we were showering 3 times a day to stay cool.

I'm hoping that this cruise being in December will help, we went in May last year.

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No, they have to be 18 to use the spa.

We booked spa cabins for Dec about 7 months ago and I'm very glad we booked so early, they sold out several months ago.

The day rate is $40, the weekly solo rate is $149.

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Interesting web pages but so what. I am with those who could care less but not by much. The history of events in my cabin are history and as long as no sign is there for me to see, why should I worry. I echo the person who commented about deaths in auto collisions and you don't avoid that part of the road. Heck, if you did try to avoid any such intersection, you probably not move through most cities!

 

If I were in the cabin where some lady knocked to the where somebody else was murdered, I would have freaked. You deserve a medal for both stupidity and callousness. Your curiosity does not justify disturbing those in another cabin.

 

Later,

M

You should obviously read the entire thread. I didn't bother anyone, and even if I had knocked, not everyone may feel the way you do. Thank you for your judgement though, it really shows who deserves the medal....

You did not indicate it was a joke, only now.

 

A picture outside the door was just something to go along with the history of the ship.

Why did it have to be that particular cabin? "Oh, and here's THE cabin where someone was brutally murdered."

 

 

On a public forum, all posts are open to comments. Lets just say that I'm curious about the behavioral aspects of someone.;):)

 

The winky face didn't give the indication of a joke I guess. I apologize, as those well versed in internet jargon and emoticons would have understood that.

 

It was THAT particular cabin because in researching the ship I came across the information on the murder, and knew which cabin it was in. As I said, it's a piece of history, and also fits in with my my interest in true crime and criminal behavior. If you don't understand that, feel free to keep on scrolling. I won't hold your judgemental views against you. :D

Well, I guess it mattered because you started a whole thread about it asking what we thought. Sorry we didn't recognize your humor from what you wrote. I mean, you actually sought out the door of a cabin where someone died (I'm guessing brutally) and took a picture - and you judge us?

I didn't start this thread? What are you even talking about? I commented ON the thread.

I like NOLA too, but we LOVE South Dakota!

 

We could visit Custer State Park every year. Oldest son and his wife want us to plan another trip there. We usually do the Badlands, Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, then to Custer State Park. We try not to tell everyone how great it is because we think it is a Best kept secret how much one can do there! ;)

We're on the opposite side of the state in Sioux Falls. :)

Why would you have your picture taken outside the door? You actually knocked on the door and asked to look around?? What did you expect to see and did the people let you in??? Not getting why any of that has anything to do with the behavioral aspects of a crime.

No I didn't knock and look around. That was a joke. Good grief.

A picture outside the door was just something to go along with the history of the ship.

I'm not clear on why ANY of this mattered to you?

It wouldn't matter to me how I was getting to port, there is no way I would ever pay that for a case of water!

We drive from South Dakota to New Orleans, so I'll continue picking water up for $1.99 a case on sale and toss it in a rolling duffle bag. It's really not an inconvenience to me compared to that outrageous price.

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We book at least a year out, if not more. It gives us time to completely pay for everything we want to do ahead of time.

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I've never thought of that before....but, how would you find out, anyway? I don't think they would disclose that kind of info. How about hotels? I think you'd have a greater chance of someone dying/being murdered in a hotel than on a cruise ship.

You can actually see lists here, and look them up from the names and info given. http://www.cruiseshipdeaths.com/

I knew before reading your signature lines that you were referring to the Elation!

While on our Elation cruise last year I made my husband take a photo of me outside the door of cabin R-24. He wouldn't wait while I knocked and asked to look around. ;)

While the manner of death in this case was horrific, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone, I am completely fascinated with true crime. Not in a morbid sense, but more as to the behavioral aspects of what makes someone do something like that. Everyone says I should have become an FBI profiler. Ha!

While one comedian was definitely better than the other, the adult comedy was our favorite part of the entertainment on our cruise on the Elation in May 2013.

From what I've seen after reading hundreds of reviews, there are no other port cities that are a destination by themselves. Every review I read has folks flying into Miami, Jacksonville, Houston, Tampa, just to be there the night before the cruise just in case. Quite a few of the reviews from NOLA have folks that make two vacations out of one, which is our preference. Friends and family living there and my personal history down there just make it that much more enjoyable.

 

I love that we can go on a 7 night cruise and spend 3 nights in New Orleans, and feel like we actually did two vacations in one!

We feel the same way! We drive from South Dakota and stay for 3 nights, then cruise. I could stay in NOLA and let my husband do the cruise by himself. Seriously. I love NOLA!

We requested a table for 2 at every meal after they placed us in a group of 8 for the first breakfast. Never had an issue at all. Just tell them when you go in that you would like a table for 2.

Are you sure about those measurements? :eek:

We do 1 1/2oz tequila, 1oz Cointreau, and 1oz fresh lime juice. If you don't like them that strong, you can add some sour mix if you'd like.

To answer the original question. As long as the mix is powdered, and contains no alcohol, you should be able to pack it in your checked baggage just fine.

The question here isn't if the music is too lively, or too fun, or if there is a quiet place to go, it's about the VOLUME of the music. Yes, it is WAY too loud on the Lido Deck. When you can't hear someone from a foot away, yelling at you, it's TOO LOUD. The music can be on the loud side, it can be fun, it can be lively, but it doesn't have to deafen people. There is a difference between loud and TOO loud.

We drive. I won't pay what the airlines charge, and we actually just make the drive part of our vacation. We drive from Sioux Falls, SD to Memphis, TN, then stay the night in a cheap hotel that is paid for ahead of time. We go to Beale Street, check out the sights, get a good meal, and get a good nights sleep. The next day we drive from Memphis, TN to New Orleans, LA. We stay 3 or 4 days in New Orleans, doing planned activities that are paid for ahead of time (or free), then we board our ship and go on our cruise. Even with hotels and meals it's cheaper for us to drive than it is to fly from here, and I pre-pay as much as possible in the year before hand, so the costs are spread out. We don't use credit cards. :)

OMG.... More drama here than with the license issue! I tried to post to you guys from our balcony with my daughters smart phone that we were all on board and it would not work for some reason.. The license was no issue at all and not even mentioned luckily. I just got in from a 12hr drive so that is why I was so late responding.

Thanks for the input and concern guys....minus the drama of course!

I've been following this watching for an update (staying OUT of the drama HA!!). I'm so glad it all worked out for you! :)

Tell me it isn't so; my PVP assured me the Aft pool on the Dream was adults only. We are pretty low maintenance when cruising and enjoy all ships, but that is our only criteria when choosing a ship that is a dealmaker/breaker.

The Dream aft pool is definitely open to everyone. I'm with you though, it should be adults only. We actually splurged and booked spa cabins for December so we can use the spa rooms kid free. :(

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The sticky tack poster putty, you can get it at Walmart in the hardware section where the gorilla glue and stuff is sold. A little goes a LONG way.

I went to the dollar store for our last cruise and bought a bunch of cheap decorations that I could just throw away at the end of the cruise. They even have fishing nets right now in the luau stuff.

This year we are sailing in December, and taking the grown kids for the first time, so I am doing a Christmas tree out of ribbon on each door.

I'm thinking about a four-day on the Elation next winter, so I appreciate the review. I had a couple questions for anyone who's been on her -- Is there anywhere semi-quiet to read and sunbathe? Where would you recommend watching sailaway if we're more interested in scenery than the party scene?

The Serenity Deck for reading. Deck 11 Forward has a GREAT little almost private deck to stand out on if you want a more serene sail away. We were in V5 last May, and spent a lot of time out there. :)