TruckinMama

If it says no rates for your selection it likely means your category is sold out.

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It floats?

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Are you on the December roll call for the Dream cruise??? It is an active roll call already which makes the wait for the cruise even more exciting

Yes, I'm on several roll calls in various places. :D

I'm so excited to hear all about the Dream! We're on the December sailing with you. :D

This is exactly the main reason we booked for the 2nd week in December, rather than later in December. After that 2nd week, kids will be out for Christmas break and I wanted NO part of that. Our kids are grown, and weren't EVER allowed to run as they pleased, so tolerating this generation of kids is not something I care to do at all.

We will never cruise over a holiday, or from May-August, unless it's an adult only cruise.

Large, light, durable, hard sided quad spinners for us. We have no problem fitting them under the bed at all.

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Just off the Dream this morning and It's exactly $249 for a couple. One thing I'd recommend is that you choose a cabin mid-ship or forward. You get to the spa via the forward elevators. That trek to the spa from the aft is quite a distance. We found we used it longer on sea days and a few mornings first thing but it was too hard to find enough time otherwise to probably get our money's worth. Loved the thalassotherapy pool and the aroma steam room though!

That is exactly why we booked interior spa cabins! I figured the trek across the ship would deter me from utilizing just passes. This is the first time we've been in spa cabins, so I am looking forward to it. Plus, we now can't even get the interior rooms for enough people for less than what we paid for these cabins AND insurance, not to mention an extra $650 for the spa passes for 2 couples and a single! I.just.can't.wait! Ha!

I guess we just hand them a $20, make sure they are tagged properly for priority, and don't spend the time trying to decide how much it was "worth". Customer service jobs are quite thankless for the most part, and for me, the passing of that tip is when I feel like I am finally ON vacation! :)

We use cash for our ship account. We also use cash for ports. I break down what out allotted amount per port is and put it in envelopes, these stay in our safe until we are leaving the ship. We split it up between us before we go ashore, so that if one person somehow loses some, we haven't lost it all.

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Best thing to do is look at the prices for balcony cabins then add in I believe $250 per person for a spa weekly pass.

 

Unless you're going to use the spa every day, I personally don't think either are worth it. On my Breeze cruise last year we had a spa balcony, but the only thing I used the spa was for the private showers so the GF and I could get ready at the same time.

It's actually $250 per couple, or $150 per person for weekly passes.

We have Interior Spa cabins booked on the Dream, and I am definitely using the spa every day! :)

The first two people booked in the cabin can use the spa amenities at no additional charge:

The Cloud 9 Spa and Spa Accommodations are on the Carnival Splendor, Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic boast an impressive 40,000 square foot area, creating a spa resort atop these magnificent floating resorts. The spa and fitness centers are 23,750 square feet (21,000 sq ft on the Splendor) and encompass two forward decks. In addition to the fitness area, the spas have a number of features such as a Thalassotherapy Pool and Thermal Suite, including indoor and outdoor relaxation areas and additional treatment rooms. Some of the facilities are capacity controlled and extra charges may apply.

Note: For those guests who do not purchase a Spa Stateroom, we offer Day Passes to use the Thalassotherapy Pool and the Thermal Suite for ($40 USD). Voyage Passes are available - cost depends on the length of the cruise.

Spa Features

Harmony

The Thalassotherapy Pool, covered by a glass dome featuring jets of water jets massaging your body as it soaks in ionized water. The pool featuring jets of water jets massaging your body as it soaks in ionized water at temperature 91°F temperature (33°C).

Tranquility

An elaborate and exclusive Thermal Suite, which offers intensive relaxation and a new sensory experience provided through 4 individually, designed heat therapy chambers to cleanse, tone and purify the body, using dry and wet heat chambers. Note: For those guests who do not purchase a Spa Stateroom, a fee applies.

Dry Heat Chambers:

Laconium: is a large dry heat bath / sauna-like chamber, wherein body circulation is stimulated, thereby facilitating the elimination of metabolic waste accelerated and mobilizing the body's own defenses, while reducing stress. Body circulation is stimulated at a temperature of 55°-65° C or 131 - 149° F which facilitates the elimination of metabolic waste accelerated and mobilizes the body's own defenses, while reducing stress.

Tepidarium: is the relaxation / rest area with the ergonomically shaped heated loungers for intensive relaxation, often referred to as the classic transition area of the spa, where you complete the process of regeneration. The classic transition area of the spa, where you complete the process of regeneration with ambient temperatures around 38° C or 100.4° F.

Steam Chambers:

Oriental Steam Bath: is typically referred to as a large steam chamber called the Caldarium. The high humidity and radiant heat provides an extremely relaxing climate, which has a purifying effect on the whole body. The high humidity provides an extremely relaxing climate. The respiratory tract is cleansed, circulation stimulated, muscle tension relaxed, the skin becomes pliant and supple. Temperature: 40 - 50° C or 104 - 112° F.

Aroma Steam Bath: is typically referred to as the small intimate chamber called the steam aromatic grotto. The high humidity and radiant heat creates a moist, warm climate in the Aroma Steam Bath that gently but thoroughly cleanses the skin and respiratory tract, with herbal steam (sweet odors such as cinnamon, orange or apple) can additionally support the cleaning effect. The circulation is stimulated, muscle tension relaxed, stress is reduced, limbs and joint pains relieved. Temperature: approximately 40 - 50° C or 104 - 112° F.

There are additional treatments you can purchase at a discount if desired. There are also small spa sample products in your cabin.

http://www.carnival.com/core/faq.aspx#q-548753

We liked the Triumph over the Elation. We cruised Triumph pre-upgrades. The Triumph seemed to have more outside accesses than the Elation. We also prefer balconies (actually I prefer balconies) and the Elation has none.

 

Flying in is a pain to Galveston. The airport is about an hour away, so added time and expense to get to the port.

 

Time in Galveston would probably mean a rental car. Last I heard, the rental car companies are not open in Galveston on Sundays. That should not be an issue on Triumph, since it sails Mondays and Thursdays.

The Elation has balconies. They are just called Jr. Suites. We booked one last year.

The Elation is beautiful without upgrades. The crew was fantastic. The layout is great, and we were never lost.

For me, nothing I've ever done beats New Orleans. I would choose New Orleans over Galveston ANY DAY.

We've only sailed once, on the Elation with a balcony, so ours was last May. Ha!

However, we weren't impressed with the balcony, and thought it a giant waste of money. I couldn't even sit out there for more than a few minutes because it was so hot, and opening the door even for mere seconds just made our room that much warmer.

We're doing interior spa cabins, for LESS, on the Dream in December. At least I can use those amenities. :)

I get terrible motion sickness, to the point that I can't ride in the backseat of a vehicle and too long as a passenger in the front seat also makes me sick. I take 2 Bonine right away in the morning, and 1 Dramamine at night to sleep. I start this before we leave home, because we drive from South Dakota to New Orleans!

Thanks for the info!! Dec 7th can't come soon enough!

Holy CRAP, people. Do you even get to ENJOY your vacations?:eek::eek::eek::eek:

I take 200-300 on an 8 night cruise, and thought THAT was a lot.

 

Clearly, it's not.:o

Yes, we absolutely enjoy our vacation, and we have photo memories of every amazing moment to reminisce over later.

I very much ENJOY taking pictures. Enjoyment is quite individual and subjective.

The Elation last May was very warm, even at night. We chalked it up to the fact that we had a balcony, though we tightly closed the curtains and never left the door open, plus the fact that it was May and warmer in the Caribbean than we're used to.

If the Dream in December is that warm, in expensive spa cabins, we're going to have serious issues. We like it COLD. Anything over 68 is much too hot for us to sleep.

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When we sailed out of NOLA last year they all boarded together. We had a suite on the Elation. However, they've just redone the cruise terminal, and I'm sure they'll be attempting to separate the categories now.

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Yes, it's 12 - 20oz cans or bottles per person. In your carry-on luggage. They definitely check.

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I have sailed on Birthdays and Anniversary's Carnival did nothing for free...

In fact last September my DW"S birthday I purchased the Cake ...they gave it to and sang the birthday song to my SIL :eek:...my DW laughed about it ....but I did not laugh much!.....

On our Anniversary last year they brought a small chocolate cake to our table and sang to us the last night. It was really nice to have that surprise! :)

Unfortunately if one of the rooms or both aren't at their maximum capacity, they'll switch you so for an example: a family of 3 fills a "sleep 3" room. ....or a family of 4 fills a "sleep 4" room. I booked a "4 capacity" room and had to cancel one person and was told they could switch me to meet capacity. But.....I was advised.....doesn't sound like you were advised.

This is actually IN the contract. I don't agree with it without being notified, but it is there.

I believe that suites are the only cabin category that get priority-check in. Otherwise you need to purchase FTTF, be in a wedding party, or have achieved Platinum/Diamond status.

I had over 3000 on our 5 day on the Elation last year, plus another 2500 in NOLA.

When I went to DC I had over 5000 in 3 days, and in NYC I ended up with a whopping 7500 in 3 days! I'm kind of a photo hound. Ha!

Call and find out what they can do for you. I moved our cruise to another cruise/date, and it only cost me $50 per person.

To use the T-pool and other spa rooms, you need to either book a spa cabin or pay for a daily/weekly pass for spa use. The passes are only sold on the ship at the spa desk, you can't purchase them ahead of time, and they are limited in number. I think the weekly pass is around $150 for one person or $250 for a couple.