Our final thoughts and ramblings.
Patti and I donāt normally like sailing in January. Patti and I donāt normally like sailing from Miami. Patti and I donāt normally like sailing for āonlyā seven days. But when our friends Jim & Pat told us about the Tribe cruise, we jumped right on it, even though it was āonlyā seven days, from Miami, in January.
This was a chance to meet a whole bunch of people that we had been ātalkingā to for years here on Cruise Critic, and this experience did not disappoint. In fact, the only disappointment was that the cruise ended much too soon. We want to say that it was an honor and a pleasure to meet and cruise with each and every one of you. We would cruise with any one of you again in the future. So thank you Pam, Ellen, Vic & Donna, Amy, Heather & Peter, Lorraine & Roger, Beverly, Karen & Gerald, Megan & Brian, Sid, and Jim & Pat, for making this cruise so special!
You may have noticed that I used their real names. Thatās because these are real people. We sometimes forget that there are real people posting behind the screen names they use. If you have been following this thread you should be able to match the real names to the screen names, but in the end, these are all just great real people.
Patti and I have our own personal Hall of Fame of prolific Cruise Critic Reviewers that we have had the honor and pleasure to have met and cruised with. This cruise provided us with two more inductees. This is our updated list, somewhat in the order of appearance: jimbo5544, Mitsugirly, Saint Greg, willdra, MeganGC1983, & sid_9169. If that looks like a whoās who of prolific reviewers, thatās because it is. There are quite a few more out there that we would love to meet and sail with.
Now, as for the Celebration, we did give our final thoughts after our first cruise on her last April, but Iāll re-hash some of our points. Patti and I really enjoyed our time on the Celebration, but the Excel Class is still not our favorite. We still enjoy the Spirit Class, and the Vista Class if having a Havana cabin, better. Everyone has their favorites, right?
As like the first time that we cruised on the Celebration, we never ate in the MDR except for the Diamond Lunch. There are just so many dining options there is no need too. There were a couple of days where we just wanted a quick meal up at the Marketplace. We had no problem finding something that we liked, and most of what was on the dining room menu that day, was available here.
Once again we have to say that even with over 6,000 passengers on board we really didnāt run into many crowding issues, other than embarkation day where everyone heads to the Lido Deck. Yes, you had to line up for the 18+ comedy shows at the Punchliner, but the PG comedy shows at the Limelight Lounge were no problem. It was almost impossible to get a seat at the Alchemy Bar. In fact, I donāt remember having a drink there the whole cruise! We didnāt have any problems getting a seat at Latitudes or Golden Jubilee.
If you want a good seat at the Grand Spectrum Theater, get there a half hour early. Now the Center Stage is a different animal. There arenāt many seats on any deck that give you a clear view of any show. If you want one of those, get there an hour early. Patti being hearing impaired likes to sit as close as possible, so youāll find us down on the floor amongst the props and set pieces. Itās pretty cool to sit down there, but even down there you canāt see everything. With the huge video screens, you feel like youāre āinsideā the show, and during some of the shows the cast will interact with you. Pretty cool. Just one thing to know that if you sit down there, you canāt leave once the show starts. Well, you can, but there is a procedure that the crew will explain to you before the show.
We enjoyed our ports of call. Our Pool Cabana in Amber Cove, Patti walking around Old San Juan while I utilized the Cheers Program, and our day at Coki Beach in St. Thomas were all very enjoyable.
We love the cabins on this class of ships, even if the bathrooms are a little smaller. On all four of our XL cruises, we have had extended balconies on the āhumpā. I believe that these are the only balconies on the ship, other than the cove balconies, that you can look down directly to the water. We will have the same cabin that we had on this cruise (11358), when we sail on the Jubilee next year.
As far as embarkation and debarkation went, it was as almost perfect as it could possibly be. I would highly recommend that you get passports if you havenāt already. Though not needed to travel on these cruises, getting through customs is a breeze if you have one. Step up to the facial recognition and youāre out of there. If not, youāll have to wait in what could be a lengthy line to see an agent. Itās your choice.
Patti and I are not crazy about sailing from Miami anymore. For us, Port Canaveral is much easier, since most of the time we drive to Florida, and can save about eight hours of driving by cruising from there. I also know that itās much easier to fly to Miami to board a ship, than it is to fly to Orlando for PC departures. Whatever works best for you.
My mind has gone blank, so if you have any questions at all weāll be more than happy to answer them for you. If I think of anything else, Iāll be sure to post it.
And now here are our future cruise plans. On April 14th 2024, we will be back in Port Canaveral for B2B cruises on the Carnival Vista to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. We have the same Havana inside cabin booked for both legs. Two weeks of the āHavana Experienceā. Sweet! Based on our experience with Cheers on the Celebration, we will be purchasing Cheers once again!
Then on August 31st 2024, we will be boarding The Carnival Venezia from our homeport of New York, on B2B cruises to Bermuda and Canada. It just so happens that Lee Mason will be boarding the ship the same day as us, to take over as Cruise Director. It should be fun.
2025 will be a special year for cruising for us. To start off, we will be making a mega road trip that will take us to New Orleans and Galveston, two ports we havenāt sailed from, on two ships we havenāt sailed on. On March 31st, 2025 we will be boarding the Carnival Valor in New Orleans for B2B 5 day cruises to the Western Caribbean. Upon return we will head over to Galveston where on the next day, April 12th, 2025 we will board the Carnival Jubilee on a 7 day cruise to the Western Caribbean. That should be some adventure!
Then in September we will be flying out to Seattle, where on September 26th, 2025 we will be boarding the Carnival Spirit for a 15 day cruise to Hawaii. It will be great to go there once again! Will any of you be sailing with us? If not, weāll be bringing the cruise to you!
Before I end this, I have to thank my beautiful wife Patti. I couldnāt do these adventures, these reviews, or live life without her. She is my best friend, my rock, and a heck of a photographer!
Speaking of photography, the photos you see on these reviews are only a small portion of all the photos Patti takes during our cruises. If you would like to see the whole package, there is a link in my signature for our Cruise and Vacation albums. Feel free to check them out if you are so inclined.
So, until next time, may you have blue skies and calm seas!!!