~ Carnival Triumph CC Family Group Cruise 4/15/06 ~

[Chucksta63]

Triumph Travellers Part Two Join this Family group aboard a tried & true "Funship" in Carnival's fleet: Carnival Triumph!

 

This ship has some of the best nightlife at sea, with entertainment for every taste and age group. The Carnival Triumph also boasts one of the largest casinos afloat and one of the largest spas and fitness centers on a cruise ship. Guests will also find a huge variety of entertainment and dining options, excellent food, spacious and comfortable cabins, friendly and professional service and an exceptional value for the dollar. Read what else Cruise Critic has to say about Carnival Triumph!

 

Itinerary

This Western Caribbean sailing, departing on Saturday, will call at Cozumel, Grand Cayman, & Ochos Rios.

 

Saturday - Miami

Sunday - Fun Day At Sea

Monday - Cozumel, Mexico

Tuesday - Fun Day At Sea

Wednesday - Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Thursday - Ochos Rios, Jamaica

Friday - Fun Day At Sea

Saturday - Miami

 

 

Rates are based on double occupancy and include port charges and gov’t fees.

 

 

 

 

 

*Your Cruise Critic Group Cruise Includes:

$ 100 p/cabin on-board credit

Cruise Critic Lanyards (One per person)

Cruise Critic Magnets (One per stateroom)

15% Discount on all other Cruise Critic Logowear

 

 

 

Final payment will be due on or before 12/30/05

For general information about sailing with this fun group, contact your Official Cruise Critic Group Leader at Chuck. To book this cruise contact Kevin at Crucon.com at 1-800-493-6609

 

Are you thinking about joining this group, or have you booked this cruise? Chat with others who will be sailing with you on the Carnival Triumph Family Member Board

 

For additional information please contact Laura, Community Manager, at community@cruisecritic.com

[Chucksta63]

With four swimming pools, seven whirlpools, nine bars, a giant casino, and a daily schedule of activities that will make your head spin, the Triumph lives up to Carnival's "Fun Ships" motto with gusto. A passenger looking for a little peace and quiet could easily find themselves locked in their cabin ordering room service for the duration of the trip, but if you can (or care to) look past the crowded bars, loud music and long buffet lines, you can definitely relax on the Triumph. Head to the Oxford Lounge for your nightcap rather than the Hollywood Dance Club or sunbathe on the Spa Deck rather than on the crowded levels surrounding the main pool. I hope the female passenger who had so much fun late one evening that she left her underwear on the main staircase eventually found the, um, privacy she was looking for.

 

With all the drinking, partying and resulting debauchery that takes place, the biggest surprise is the number of families and the scope of the onboard children's program. Camp Carnival's activities for kids are as diverse as the adults' and run from early morning until late at night. Children's World, the main play area, has sand art, educational computer games and plenty of space for jumping and tumbling. I wasn't at all surprised when a little boy, maybe 4, told his parents who had come to check on him that yes, he was having a lot of fun and no, he was not helping the counselors clean up.

 

You have to appreciate the attempt of the Carnival Triumph to take you on a trip around the world, even if you're really just on a four-day, one-port cruise like I was. The ship's theme is the world's greatest vacation destinations, and with names like Club Monaco, The Big Easy and Hong Kong Noodle Co., there is real diversity on this ship -- in entertainment, in dining, among your fellow passengers and of course, among the lovely crew members.

 

So when two of the Carnival dancers -- he from Moscow and she from Canada -- got engaged to be married in front of a crowd of Americans late one night in a New Orleans-themed piano bar and then were serenaded by a pianist from New Zealand among lots of cheers and hugs from strangers, I really wasn't surprised. That seems to be the idea on the Carnival Triumph -- to bring people together with good times and, at least in this case, love.

 

There are two main dining rooms on the Triumph -- the London and the Paris. Breakfast and lunch are open seating in the Paris dining room while both are open for two dinner seatings each night. Both are two levels and feature an open and airy floor plan that minimizes any crowded feeling once at your table. However, there were long lines and crowds around the entrance on the first night, prompting us to arrive at the dining room ten minutes late on the subsequent evenings and allowing us to stroll right our seats and receive attention from our waitress immediately.

 

The dinner menu in the formal dining room was small, but there was enough of a variety to make choosing difficult. While lamb and turkey entrees were spot on, the much-touted lobster dinner (which was actually a lobster tail) was rubbery and disappointing. Though I didn't sample it, there was a "Spa" menu at each dinner with entrees that reflected those on the main menu, with slight variations. There is a children's menu with chicken fingers, pasta, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that comes with a coloring book and crayons to keep kids occupied.

 

On the Lido deck, the South Beach Club serves up the breakfast and lunch buffets daily. You can also choose to have dinner there if you're in the mood for something more casual than what the dining room offers. Besides the typical cold salads and hot carving station fare, there are two more places to check out: The New York Deli and the Hong Kong Noodle Co. While the menu at both is limited, the food at the deli is more authentic (Reubens, overstuffed pastrami on rye, and bagels with cream cheese and lox) and therefore more delicious.

 

Hint: The New York Deli is wildly popular and each order is taken individually, often resulting in long lines. It has extended hours of operation though so you may want to check it out in the off-hours when the majority of the lunch crowd is elsewhere.

 

Other options include the Coney Island Grill that features hamburgers, hot dogs and French fries by the pool, and the 24-hour pizzeria that serves up your typical toppings but also offers a few gourmet selections and a Caesar salad. If your sweet tooth is acting up between meals, head to the Vienna Cafe where you can get a slice of cake or a gourmet coffee at an additional cost. A limited room service menu with salads and sandwiches is available free of charge 24 hours a day and the service was prompt. If you've partied a little too hard, you can hang your breakfast preferences on your door until 5 a.m. for delivery at the time of your choice.

 

Hint: If you enjoyed a particular wine during dinner and then decide you'd like another bottle delivered to your room, be sure to make a note of its name. The room service staff has no access to a wine list and is unable to help in any selection beyond red or white.

 

In keeping with the "fun" them, there is complimentary ice cream and frozen yogurt offered at various stations 24 hours a day.

 

When you board the Triumph, you'll find yourself in the Capitol -- essentially the ship's lobby -- which, like the building for which it is named, features a soaring, gold-domed ceiling and a circular staircase rising seven stories. Here you'll find the Capitol Bar, and arranged around the open area on various decks the photo gallery, shops and shore excursions desk.

 

The Washington Library is decorated quite tastefully with dark wood tables, large gold armchairs and red carpeting. Though small, it is a peaceful retreat with a large selection of board and table games available. You can also check out books but the hours are very limited -- there is only one worker on duty for one hour, two times each day.

 

The Oxford Lounge is a quiet reading and gathering spot by day and a laid-back cigar bar by night. It is dimly lit with large red leather armchairs, low tables, book-lined walls and plenty of ashtrays. Adjacent to the Oxford Lounge is the Internet Cafe. It is more like six monitors along the wall of a hallway with one desk on the opposite wall designated for wireless service (the only spot for wireless on the ship). The service is spotty and the manager is tricky to track down. On one particular day when the Internet went down, there were signs posted for several hours to keep checking back. When frustration set in, I tried the computers anyway to find they were functioning perfectly well, so I removed all the signs and left them on the desk of the once-again-missing manager.

 

Hint: If you need to keep in touch with family or friends on shore, this is the way to do it. Phone rates are $7 per minute to the United States and $9 per minute internationally. The cost of the internet is 75 cents per minute if you pay minute-by-minute, but decreases with the purchase of a variety of packages.

 

The World's Way Promenade on Deck 5 is where the action is, at least in the evening. It's here you'll find the Club Monaco casino and the adjacent Olympic Sports Bar which shows the major sporting events through an ESPN satellite feed and news in the off hours. The California Wine Bar is a small but lovely nook that does in fact serve a variety of wines but inexplicably showcases only large bottles of Grey Goose vodka behind the bar. The Big Easy piano bar is small but often very crowded -- in fact, we were unable to score seats until the last night of the cruise. This New Orleans-themed bar is decorated with oyster shells from floor to ceiling and features a recessed piano surrounded by a circular bar, a great spot for shouting your requests and singing along.

 

If you prefer dancing to singing, head to the Venezia Lounge. The cover band plays a great variety of familiar light tunes, and night after night the dance floor was crowded with couples of all ages. If your music or dance tastes are a little (or a lot) more high energy, head to the Hollywood Dance Club where hundreds of television monitors lines the walls from floor to ceiling. Here you'll find louder, more contemporary music and a younger crowd.

 

Also on the World's Way Promenade is the Vienna Cafe where, for a reasonable price you can purchase designer coffees and pastries. Underground Tokyo, the ship's arcade, is also here, and while it is cleverly decorated as a winding, narrow cave with games lining the walls, parents might be wary of its location -- right smack in the middle of the ship's mostly over-21 nightlife.

 

I have to say I was impressed by the size of my balcony stateroom -- never did I feel crowded. There was a king bed plus a sofa that in my cabin was transformed into a single bed. The balcony was large enough for two chairs with room to spare. Inside the cabin, there was no coffee table, but a desk, long and narrow, running most of the length of one wall. There was ample closet space, but few drawers, though each closet did feature a shelf.

 

The decor inside the cabin was very plain and mostly muted peach in color. While the king bed had a lovely, fluffy duvet and plenty of pillows, the single bed had only a thin wool blanket and one pillow -- it resembled a Navy cot though much more comfortable. Our room was constantly being made up, however, and it seemed every time we left and then returned, someone had been there in our absence. Whether making up the beds, turning them down or just generally tidying up, the turn-down service each night was excellent. I anticipated returning to the room not only for the mint on my pillow but to see what creative towel animal would be sitting on the bed to greet me.

 

I was equally pleased with the size of the bathroom. There was ample counter space around the sink for makeup application as well as storage of products. Though there is a hair dryer in each bathroom, the one in my room seemed out of date and quite literally fell apart several times. If you need to dry your hair for any length of time like I do, you'll have to take several breaks as the hair dryer becomes so hot it can burn your hands. Bottom line: BYO.

 

One nice touch was the basket of products in the bathroom when we arrived -- razors, toothpaste, dental floss and soap. Depending on how many people are in your cabin, don't count on this to be your supply for the duration of the trip. There was only one sample of each product and the basket was not replenished. But when I discovered I had forgotten my toothpaste, I was certainly grateful to Carnival for saving me a trip to the gift shop. The shower wasn't large, but roomy enough and even had an area to store soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc.

 

The majority of the big-ticket events on the Triumph take place in the three-deck-high Rome lounge. Once again reflective of the ship's overall theme, the Rome lounge pays homage to its namesake with stately arches and columns. There are two main shows -- Wonderful World and Century Cafe. The Wonderful World show is an international journey through the dancing and music of different nations while Century Cafe is a fun and energetic retrospective of the 20th century with interesting costumes and set design. For these two main shows it is a good idea to get to the Rome Lounge early although there is ample seating, some of the views are blocked, particularly on the upper levels.

 

Besides the shows, you'll also find lots of Bingo and audience-interactive events like the "In the Bag" and the "Not-so-Newlywed Game." The passenger talent show was quite enjoyable -- think the "American Idol" finals rather than the massive tryouts. If you love to be the center of attention, the Triumph gives you plenty of opportunities to shine. If you don't, you'll still have plenty of fun laughing at or cheering on your fellow passengers from the sidelines.

 

If you love live music, you can find it at literally any time of day on this ship. Besides the nightlife on the World's Way Promenade, you can relax to the tunes of a Calypso band poolside or read your book in the Oxford Lounge alongside a classical music quartet.

 

But it's not all martini sipping and jazz trios on the Triumph -- after all, this is a Carnival ship, and what would a Carnival ship be without a little, how shall I put it, less sophisticated entertainment? There is a late-night adults-only comedy show, karaoke competitions (this would be the time to drum up images of those early "American Idol" auditions) and of course, the hairy-chest competition. The point is: No matter what tickles your fancy, you can be sure you'll find plenty to amuse you at any moment of the day on the Triumph.

[Chucksta63]

There are a total of four pools on the Carnival Triumph, each with its own personality and purpose. The children's wading pool on Deck 12 near Children's World is often in use by the campers of Camp Carnival. Kids will also love the pool on Panorama Deck 10 -- the highlight is the 214-ft.-long twisting and turning water slide. If you're looking for a party scene, head straight to the Continent Pool (Lido Deck 9, midship) where there is often live music and deck chairs are arranged on levels that resemble stadium seating. For something equally as fun but a little more low-key, the New World Pool is a great alternative and it even has a retractable roof for the less-than-perfect days at sea. There are also seven whirlpools around the ship, and with the exception of the two located in the gym, are fun and very lively day and night.

 

The gym is really quite outstanding -- there are at least one dozen treadmills and enough other cardio machines and weights to rival any hometown gym. One thing your local gym probably doesn't have though is the floor to ceiling windows so you can look at the beautiful ocean while you work off your buffet butt. There is also a selection of classes offered, but the trendiest and most popular (Pilates, yoga and spinning) are $10 per person. Even with the surcharge, the class I went to (yoga) was much too crowded -- and there were several no-shows on the attendance list. In addition to the gym, there is a jogging track on Deck 12 if you prefer your workouts in the fresh air.

 

I have to say that Spa Carnival was one of the only disappointing experiences on the ship. I made an appointment for a one-hour massage for the price of $110 (I didn't know at the time that I could save money by booking in port) even though I thought the price was high -- and I live in midtown Manhattan. The first problem was that the massage was not an hour, or even 50 minutes, which is standard. The whole experience -- from check-in to changing clothes to a consultation and filling out forms to then changing back into my clothes at the end -- was less than one hour total. This alone would have been problematic enough, but I was also in a room directly underneath one of the Camp Carnival play areas so it constantly sounded as if the ceiling was about to come crashing down. Not exactly relaxing. After I paid and tipped, I casually mentioned what had happened to the receptionist and suggested perhaps not booking people in that room while Camp Carnival is going on. Instead of being polite, the woman was so rude that I cancelled a scheduled facial. Later that day, my friend went to the spa for her massage and was told they had run out of robes. For $110 I really think you should get a robe.

 

However, Spa Carnival does have a kid's spa called Generation Y, which I didn't visit but got rave reviews from others on the ship. The treatments are similar to the standards but with a fun twist -- for example, the fabulous fruity or acne attack facials. Massages are shortened to 25 minutes for the kids and there are even parent-child treatments for a little side-by-side quality time.

 

Besides the family spa options mentioned above, there is ample opportunity for kids and parents to spend as much or as little time together as they want. Children's World is the centerpiece of the onboard experience -- a 1,300-square-ft. play area with arts and crafts, sand art, educational computer games, and plenty of tumbling room. The super-friendly and cheerful staff members were certainly busy when I stopped in to check out the scene, but rest assured there is plenty of supervision. Camp Carnival is divided into four groups by age with age-appropriate activities for all from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. If you're looking to have some adult fun late into the evening, Camp Carnival also provides babysitting services from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. for a fee of $6 per hour for the first child and $4 per hour for each additional child in the same family. One thing that makes Carnival stand out is that they do not require your child to be potty trained to participate.

 

In the daily Carnival Capers newsletter, there were a many opportunities for kids to have fun onboard. Talent shows, slumber parties, scavenger hunts, towel-animal folding, temporary tattoos and dance-offs for teens were all part of the daily fun. And despite the questionable location of the arcade, Underground Tokyo, it was packed with teens and pre-teens day and night having a great time.

 

Though most kids will be thrilled with the 24-hour free ice cream and juice available, you can also purchase a "Fountain Fun Card" on week-long itineraries for $22.95 that gives passengers under 21 unlimited soft drinks. Depending on how much soda your child drinks or is allowed to drink, you can check out this option and see if it works for your family.

 

Carnival attracts such a variety of people; it is hard to pinpoint exactly what you should expect. So, what you should expect is a lot of diversity in age, ethnic background and personalities. There were several large family groups onboard identified by their matching T-shirts celebrating everything from birthdays to anniversaries to reunions. There were also a significant number of disabled passengers on this particular sailing, perhaps a testament to Carnival's ability to accommodate people regardless of physical limitations.

 

On the one formal night, guests wore everything from tuxedos and evening gowns to sport coats and cocktail dresses. If the men in your party pack a dark suit and the women a long dress or pantsuit, everyone will be comfortable. The rest of the time, the dress was casual -- mostly shorts, jeans and bathing suits.

 

Carnival recommends $10 per person, per day, broken down to $3.50 to the waiter, $2 to the assistant waiter and $3.50 to the cabin steward; the amount is automatically added to your shipboard account but can be adjusted in either direction at the purser's desk. A 15 percent gratuity is automatically added to bar bills. An envelope is provided on the last night for those who want to extend thanks to the maitre d'. A gratuity is not included in the room service delivery, so you may want to tip then too.

[Chucksta63]

Here is a review from Last April's Cruise!

Carnival Triumph 4/16/05 Western Review – Finally!

 

First I will give a little bit of background…..I am a 37 year old single mom with 4 children. This was my kids Spring Break week at school here in Connecticut. My ex husband took 2 of the children on an RCCL cruise and 1 of my children was scheduled for a school orchestra trip to Disney World. About 3 weeks prior to the sailing I looked at my 12 year old DD and said “Let’s go away – just you and I!”

I used a wonderful TA and looked at several sailings that fit into my time range (specifically a 4 /16 sailing). After considering about 3 different ships/itineraries I decided on the Triumph. I sailed on the Triumph 2 years prior on an Eastern run with all 4 of my kids and I have also sailed on Carnival Destiny (sister ship) solo.

I booked a Balcony Guaranty. I planned on flying down one day early and booked my own flights and hotel for the pre-stay. As soon as I booked the trip I checked out the Roll Call Boards on Cruise Critic and was lucky to find a great group of people on our sailing! We chatted quite a bit in the weeks coming up to the cruise and made arrangements for Meet and Greets. Chuck became our official “pre-cruise director”! He made baseball caps that were emblazoned with the logo “Triumph Travelers Caribbean Cruise” on the front and “April 16, 2005” on the back and offered them to us at a special price!! Some of us got our caps via UPS prior to the cruise and some of the group got them when we met up onboard.

The CC group also had a game of “tag” started with a special hat that we would sneak back and forth to each other and see who was “It” at the end of cruise and a scavenger hunt was also planned by Chuck – Thanks again Chuck!!. Door Decoration poster was also emailed to the group and we shared cabin #’s and some of us cell #’s.

This was all so wonderful because we were able to start the festivities in advance and my DD was able to “chat” with some other kids her age that would be on the sailing.

Travel Day

We flew Jet Blue from JFK to FLL. I booked a very early morning flight (6:30AM) so that we could enjoy the day on the beach. A shuttle picked us up at our home at 3:30AM and got us to the airport. Had a great flight and landed on time (9:30AM). I had scheduled for a private car with Meet and Greet service with Tri-County Limo. I did not mind the shuttle going to the airport but for me…that is probably the only time I don’t mind it! I prefer to have private transportation arranged for most other aspects of travel as I don’t like the added time it often takes to wait and pick up other passengers. I have decided that my time/aggravation is not worth the money that I would save with shared ride or shuttles.

We were at the hotel and checking in by 10:30AM. We stayed at the Royal Palm Crowne Plaza in the South Beach area of Miami. I really wanted to have a nice beach day as well as show my daughter a bit of South Beach. I booked this hotel through Hotwire and got a good deal.

Our room was not ready at that early hour (as I expected) but they held our luggage and we had full use of the facilities and amenities they provided. We had bathing suits and cover ups in our carry-on’s so we changed and headed right for the beach. The front desk took down my cell and said that they would call me as soon as our room was ready.

Hotel was lovely. The grounds were beautiful! This is a beachfront hotel so we only needed to walk across the sandy boardwalk to get there. After a bit of water play and sunshine we were ready for lunch. DD and I opted to sit at a table by the pool and eat al fresco. The food here was eh and of course overpriced – but once again I expected that!

When we were done eating at about 1:00PM, we walked over to the front desk and our room was ready for us. We decided to go up and deposit our luggage and freshen up and re-sunscreen. We were in a suite. This was nice because it gave a place to just dump our luggage and not have to step over stuff. I can’t say too much else about the accommodations as we really were not in this room very much. My DD only wanted to go back to the beach! This was fine with me and back we went for a while. We also sat by the pool and enjoyed the floating stuff the hotel provided.

We showered and changed and went down and caught a cab to Bayside Marketplace to meet some of the CC folks who were in town already for a pre-cruise dinner at the Hard Rock Café. What a fun time! It was really wonderful to put face and voice to some of the people we had been emailing with! We took along our baseball caps and it was easy to find each other! We had a lot of laughs at dinner and then my DD and Chucks DS went off to do a little shopping while the adults went to an outdoor bar and had a drink. We left shortly after to catch a cab back to the hotel. DD and I were both exhausted having been up since 3:00AM.

Embarkation Day

Saturday morning I woke early. We got our bags together and DD and I had a nice leisurely breakfast in the hotel restaurant. This meal was much better than our lunch the day before. They had a very extensive buffet with an omelet station. The food was good as was the service. We checked out and got a cab over to the pier. Took photos of the ships as we drove over. It was pretty cool for us because the RCCL ship that my other children were on was docked with only one ship between us.

We got to the pier at around 10:30. Handed our luggage over to the porter and then took a few photos in front of the terminal. When we entered there was a line of people waiting to check in. We saw some of our fellow CC’rs here as well. Waited in the check-in line for about 15 minutes, got our sign and sail cards and then moved over to the line waiting to board. At about 11:15 they stopped pre-checking and everyone coming in got in line behind us. About 20 minutes later they let those of us who already had our sign and sail cards pass through security and head over to a waiting area with chairs. We received info sheets and were told that we would be able to board in a few minutes. The Lido Deck was ready and waiting for us but not to go to our cabins until after 1:00PM as they were still being cleaned. As promised just a few minutes later we were allowed to proceed. Walked through the terminal, got our sign and sail pics and then the embarkation photo. We were on the ship at noon.

We boarded with some other CC Members and we all headed to the Lido Deck. Got settled at a couple of tables and got some food and drink. There was a table set up to purchase Fountain Cards and we got my DD one while the line was short.

At 1:00PM my DD and I headed for our cabin. We were on the Empress Deck, 7409. We met Sherwin, our cabin Steward. He said that he still had a couple of things to do but it was OK for my DD to stay. She began unpacking her carry-on and I headed over to the London Dining Room where we had a late seating time to get info on our dinner table. I like to check this out right away! I was told that we were at a large table and there were some teens seated with us. Just what I wanted to hear!

DD and I decided to walk around a bit and reacquaint ourselves with the ship before heading back to the cabin for PFD’s and the Muster Drill. Muster Drill was pretty quick and painless this time. We returned our PFD’s and headed out to the Sky Deck for a SailAway Meet and Greet with our fellow Triumph Travellers CC Members. As soon as the other girls her age arrived they made quick introductions (they had been emailing pre-cruise) and then took off! We adults had a nice time hanging out. Went to a lower deck and got some drinks and chatted.

Only my DD and I as well as one other couple from our CC group had a late dinner seating so after a while we went our separate ways. I headed back to the cabin to re-meet up with DD and see if luggage had arrived. One of my DD’s bags was there and she unpacked. I laid down for a rest. We talked about plans for later in the evening and the Camp Carnival First Meeting time was scheduled for 8:00PM. I told DD that it was fine for her to go to that and go off with the kids and skip dinner that night. We made a trip to the Dining Room so she could see where our table was in case she needed to find me.

We had another CC Meet and Greet scheduled for 7:00PM in the Atrium. DD and I went down but those who had the early dinner seating did not make it. The few of us who had late seating sat and chatted for a bit then went to get ready for dinner. I went to the Vienna Café for my first double cap of the cruise and also to the internet area to sign up for package for the week. The plan was for my other children to do the same on the RCCL ship so we could keep in touch. I checked several times throughout the week but my other kids never emailed so I wound up letting DD use the time to email her friends whom she missed! Then it was back to the cabin to freshen up for dinner and DD went off to the Teen Meeting. Luggage was all there and I unpacked.

I went to dinner at 8:30 in the London Dining Room. My tablemates were all already seated when I arrived. We were seated with a single father who was with his 2 teen age children (DD 16 and DS 18) and each of his kids had a friend with them. The sign language interpreter for the sailing was also at our table. We had a nice time talking and getting to know each other. My DD came to dinner with me every other night and all tablemates showed up every night as well.

Our Headwaiter was Harry and the Assistant was Dennis. They were great! I just love how they remember the details about what you like after the first night. Amazes me how they make each one of us feel as if we are the only PAX they have served and yet they do this every week!

Our CC group had one more Meet and Greet scheduled for 10:00PM (Adults Only) in the Oxford lounge so I headed there after dinner. Only one other CC’er made it and we had a drink and chatted for a bit before both going off to bed tired and ready to rest for the next day!

 

 

Days at Sea:

 

We had 3 days at sea on this itinerary which I really liked and was one of the reasons I chose Triumph. We did a variety of things on the various days. We checked out photos and made gift shop purchases, found some chairs on the Lido Deck and relaxed, ordered room service and ate on our balcony, got together with our fellow CC Triumph Travelers.

We did not attend many of the scheduled functions.

I will say that on the first Sea Day DD and her friends tried to do a couple of the Camp Carnival scheduled activities for Teens. Some of them went to the Dance Class with a Triumph Dancer and not one Carnival staff member showed up! They also went to Scooter Soccer and were put in groups with much younger kids and they left in disappointment. After those experiences DD was not really keen on checking out the scheduled activities for the teens and the kids just hung out as they wanted instead.

I did go to the Wine Tasting in the California Wine Bar (also on the first sea day) which I enjoyed. Boy was that place packed and overflowing! Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and were very friendly in spite of the close quarters. The wine tasting was a selection of white wines. They gave us a list of white wines with a brief description of each wine. We were able to order whatever we wanted to try for $2 per glass. I am a red wine drinker and was disappointed to find out that this was the only wine tasting of the week but enjoyed trying some whites and meeting new people! Also saw some of the CC folks there.

The Lido Deck was very crowded on these days. There was A LOT of chair saving going on! What I found most annoying were the people who saved chairs for their younger kids…you just NEVER saw these kids lying in a lounge chair! At best they would go over to their parents while they were eating an ice cream or something and usually just plopped down on the edge of their parents chair for a minute or two before running off again. I never saw adults in those chairs so I am assuming that they were saved for the kids but one never really knows!

We usually found chairs further up or when DD was off with other kids I enjoyed the privacy of the cabin balcony and a good book.

Cozumel

DD and I had decided on Paradise Beach before we went for a few reasons. DD really wanted a day at a fun beach! We had looked at the excursions on the Carnival website and DD was hooked when she saw the Beach Break! We looked into a Swim with Dolphins but due to our late booking for such a busy time only “encounters” were offered and not “swims”. I tried directly through Dolphin Discoveries as well. I thought about Xcaret but although I would have loved that I was not so sure that it was what DD would enjoy. We decided to table the Dolphin Swim and possibly do it in Jamaica or just wait until the next cruise! I knew that the Carnival excursion was to Playa Mia and I was able to go directly to their website and see what that would cost for the same thing. I also checked out some other beaches. I decided on Paradise Beach – same water toys as Playa Mia for my DD and I, menu looked good and prices reasonable and I had read good reviews of the food etc on the CC Boards. I figured that since Play Mia was where the cruise ship excursions went that it would be pretty crowded and Paradise Beach might not be as bad.

The day before Cozumel I made arrangements to go with CC friends to the beach. At around 9:45 we headed down to our CC friends cabin. We all headed down to the gangway. The line to get off was not bad and went quickly. We purchased cold water bottles just before we got off. There were 2 photo op’s at the gangplank there – one with the life preserver and one with a man in ‘native wear”.

They sure do get you in Cozumel! You have to walk through a large Duty Free Shopping area before you can get anywhere! Once through that indoor area you reach a nice outdoor shopping area filled with all kind of shops and restaurants (Fat Tuesdays’ etc). There is also a nice area with lounge chairs and hammocks where you can just relax and have a great view of the ships in port We walked through and went over to the taxi stand, They have a list of points of interest with taxi fares posted. As we were walking one of this girls realized that her lanyard had broken and fallen off during the walk. I took 2 of the girls and got a cab and our CC friends retraced footsteps with their DD and DS and were going to meet us at the beach. Cab fare to Paradise Beach was $12.

We got to the beach and paid the $5 pp for the wristband. Lounge chairs were free but the $5 pp gave us use of all the non-motorized toys for the day. There was a water trampoline, climbing water ‘iceberg”, kayaks, floats and snorkeling equipment. I found enough chairs for all of us. My CC friends arrived a few minutes later and the girls were off and checking everything out. For an additional cost there were motorized water sports – Jet ski’s, banana boats etc - , Henna Tattoos, Hair braiding and massage. My DD got her hair braided. I found this be on the more expensive side compared to the various places we have gotten this done. If I recall correctly we paid $35 for just the half head.

We had a very enjoyable day here! We all ordered lunch right on the beach and had the Pina Colada in the pineapple. Food was very good and I thought very reasonably priced. Keep in mind that they do not take American Express cards! I DID know this in advance but somehow left my MC in the safe in the cabin! I had some cash but wound up putting my lunch on CC Friends credit card and paying them back later.

Also of note….In order to use a Kayak or Snorkel gear you must put down a deposit which is returned when you return the equipment.

At some point in the afternoon we decided that we were ready to go back and we got 2 cabs again. DD and I went back to the ship. We had about a 20 minute wait on the line to reboard. We brought our beach stuff up to the cabin and freshened up a bit then we got back off the ship and did a little shopping. We were just interested in souvenir type things so I can’t comment on any other prices or “finds”. We went back to the ship and found a very long line to reboard. We were waiting for about an hour before we finally got back on the ship. Had a nice chat with the people around us though! Suppose we could have done something else and come back but DD was tired from all the activity at the beach and she was able to sit down while I stood in line.

Paradise Beach was great and I would recommend it.

Grand Cayman

We knew that we wanted to have a visit to Stingray City. These boards at CC are priceless for all the info you can glean! I emailed several private tour companies in advance. Based on times of excursions available I had selected Native Way Watersports and the Rays/Reef excursion for us.

The plan was to have an early excursion then get back to the ship and have lunch and still have time for a visit to 7 mile Beach.

HOWEVER…..this was the ONE morning that I did not wake up very early!! I overslept and woke to realize that we were late. We tossed our stuff together quickly and made it down to deck 0 and the tender but by the time we got across to the pier we had missed our tour!! There was a man there with a Native Way sign as they had other excursions as well. I talked to him and explained. He got on his phone and talked to someone and then told me that there was another excursion about to leave the dock. I decided to jump on that one and he personally drove us in his car over to the dock. He remained in contact with the Captain of that boat so they knew we were arriving.

This “new” excursion was the Rays/Reef and Rum Point. We first boated over to Stingray City. There were only about 20 people on this excursion and the guides we had were wonderful! We anchored in a spot that was a good distance from what looked like much larger boats with LOTS of people which was nice. Each of us had the opportunity to have personal time with the guides. They held the Stingray and helped each of us to do the same and also took turns putting them on our backs. We also had the opportunity to each feed them if we wanted and time to snorkel and swim with the Stingrays as well before getting back on the boat.

Went over to a reef where we again had great service from the guides and time to swim and snorkel before we got back on the boat. As we got on the boat we were handed a menu and made our lunch order. The Captain called the lunch order in so that when we arrived at Rum Point our lunches would be ready for us.

Rum Point was nice. The food was brought out to a table and we could take ours and sit. There were plenty of picnic tables to sit at. After we ate I relaxed on a lounge chiar and my DD played on the beach and in the water with some other kids. There was a bar and shop but we were not into that. The bathrooms were well kept and clean.

After about an hour here we got back on the boat and headed back to the dock. Small bus brought us back to the pier. We still had time to walk around and souvenir shop a bit before getting in line for the tender back to the ship.

The line was long but moved pretty quickly as they can fit a lot of people on the tenders. As always, we had fun chatting with fellow cruisers waiting on line around us!

Ocho Rios

I have been to Jamaica on land vacations and seen a lot of sights in the past. I love Jamaica! I think it is just beautiful! My DD was not interested in doing the Falls this trip and when we discussed excursions prior to the trip we decided that we just wanted to “hang” here.

DD slept pretty late on this morning and I just let her go for it! I had woken her up to watch us pull into port early and after enjoying that and taking some pics she went back to sleep I was really enjoying myself with a book out on the balcony!! Ahhhh! R&R! She had a bite to eat and we got off the ship. By then the photo guys were gone. We decided to walk around a bit and headed left at the end of the pier. We walked by the beach but it was so hot and humid we decided to check out some shops first. Very pushy venders and shop keepers in Jamaica! My DD was getting frustrated and bothered by it after a bit and we were hungry so we decided to walk over to the Island Village shopping area and go to Margaritaville. We hung out there for awhile and saw some of our CC friends. Went back to the ship and had no line to get back on which was nice! We spent the rest of the time on the balcony watching people come back from the excursions.

 

 

Some Fun CC Triumph Travelers Stuff:

 

It was great to have the opportunity to “meet” people in advance and hang out with them on the cruise! The kids hung out and did some things together and the adults met up several times throughout the week to meet for a drink or a chat and sometimes to have dinner or go on excursions together. As a solo adult this was a nice option for me! I always meet people on a cruise and also enjoy alone time and adding this aspect as well was really nice!

Our group continued with the “it” game and had fun posting to thread when we got back to find out who was “It”

We also had the scavenger hunt which we tallied at a meeting in the Atrium on the afternoon of the last day at sea. Not everyone participated in this but it was fun for those who did and I think that even those who did not had fun watching us go through our stuff at tally time!

We had originally been planning an evening Adult Only Excursion into Cozumel but we decided that we would make some fun on the ship instead! While sitting there having drinks in the Oxford it was decided that we would have a “Cabin Crawl”. We got the listing of all the CC people in our group with their cabin #’s and we began! We would go to each cabin and have a drink and then move on to the next cabin. We would pick up members as we went a long! This was really a blast! We decided to start on the highest deck and work our way down. As we got into the elevator to head up to Deck 11 the elevator across from us opened and lo and behold was one of our fellow CC’ers! So we waved him into our elevator and began. We met some other people as we hung on various balconies and invited them to join us. This was really so much fun!! At one point we stopped at the bar near the casino and decided that we should go up to the Lido Deck and check out the big party that was going on up there. Lots of music and dancing and we finished the night there.

CABIN Empress Deck, 7409, Balcony, Starboard side, far aft. Cabin was just as we expected. We had more then enough closet, drawer and cabinet space for all of our stuff. The bathroom is roomy for a ship and the cabinet on the wall held everything we needed. There was a bowl on the sink filled with samples – some we used and some we did not - , shower gel and shampoo pumps in the shower. Water pressure was great! Plenty of towels. The beds were set up as 2 twins. The blankets have been updated since the last time we cruised and we loved them! Very soft, cozy duvets. With decks of cabins below and above noise from common areas was not an issue.

I spent a ton of time on the balcony! At night I slept with the door open and dozed off listening to the sound of the ocean lapping against the side of the ship…HEAVENLY!!

FOOD

Both myself and DD thought that the food was very good. I am a big red meat person and love to have steaks when I go out to eat. I like it medium rare and that is how I got it. My DD tried a couple of things and also ate from the children’s menu. We ordered Caesar salads even when it was not on the menu and filet mignon was available when not listed on the menu as well. The appetizers I had were wonderful, the soups were a little bland in my opinion, entrees were all good and the desserts that I had were great. I had a decaf cappuccino every night.

The Paris Dining Room is open for breakfast seating each day. We only made it to the dining room for breakfast one morning. I am not an early in the day eater and my DD slept in and preferred to get something on the Lido Deck when she got up or room service. The breakfast menu is the same every day and covers your basic breakfast fare – eggs, cereal, French toast, bagels etc. The food on the Lido Deck was exactly he same selections

Open seating lunch was also in the Paris Dining Room. This only fit into our schedule on 2 days. The portions for lunch seemed to be much smaller than what they served for dinner. If you know that you are hungry order 2!

The South Beach on the Lido Deck had a nice variety of food and everything that we had we enjoyed. Of course the pizza and the grill food is always a hit. I had great pastrami on rye at the Deli on our last sea day.

There always seemed to be tables available but we actually enjoyed carrying our plates down to our cabin and eating on the balcony.

Other Places:

On my previous Triumph trip I visited more of the venues than I did on this one. Those I frequented this trip:

Oxford Lounge – Very nice and inviting. My DD and I enjoyed music in here nightly before going to dinner. Classical and Jazz. I also met CC friends here for a drink after dinner many nights. This is a good meeting place because it is large, has comfy seats and you can sit and talk and plan on what to do next.

Big Easy – One of my favorite places! I just adore the piano bar! I went here most nights and once I entered I usually stayed until it closed down. I seem to always meet a lot of great and interesting people in the piano bars!

California Wine Bar – I liked to stop here sometimes before going into the Big Easy. A small bar and a nice place to meet someone and chat in a quieter atmosphere.

Atrium – Great place to people watch! I often sat here in the late afternoon after I got my double cap and before moving up to my balcony.

Shows – My DD and I only wound up attending one show. It was good and we enjoyed it but we just did not fit this into our schedule.

Captains Party – We started out on the Club Rio but wound up moving over to Venezia because it was just so crowded in Rio. We were able to find a table and enjoy the music and appetizers and drinks well in Venzia.

Past Guest Party – My DD’s first and she really enjoyed it!

Getting off ? and going home

Hate this part!!! Triumph was on the “newer” system of not calling decks. First were the PAX who would carry off their own luggage. NOT an option for us!!! We had packed and put our luggage out on Friday night before we went to dinner. Then early flight and tours were called and then there was a general call. We were not told that we had to be out of our cabins at a certain time. I let DD sleep and got some of her favorite cinnamon rolls on the Lido Deck for when she woke up. We took our time getting ourselves together and made a couple of calls to my other children who were getting off the RCCL ship which was docked right down the pier from us. Vienna Café was open so I had a last double cap on my balcony! Photo Shop was open but we were finished with that venue! At around 9:45 we decided to venture down and get in line to get off the ship. I am not really sure how long this took because I don’t wear a watch and what are you going to do about it anyway? Long and slow process but once again we chatted with people and had fun! Got through customs and went to find our luggage and get on a shuttle bus to FLL. I had purchased airport transfer for this through Carnival.

We got to FLL with a couple of hours to spare until our flight. DD had a cold that started the afternoon before and she was not feeling well. Got her some meds and then she sat while I waited in line for Chili’s. We had lunch and then headed over to our gate.

There was some bad weather in NYC and I saw some delays going on. Our flight took off on time but when we got to JFK we were unable to land and circling. Wound up having to be diverted to Atlantic City to refuel and then back up to circle some more before finally landing about 3 ½ hours later than scheduled. I have to say that Jet Blue handled this better than any other airline I have experienced! They kept us informed the entire time with many announcements and also brought a bunch of pizza on board while we were refueling so everyone could eat. My concern was that my other children were also flying into NYC and were supposed to come home after they landed. I used the refueling time to get on my cell and leave a message for my ex husband and make arrangements for my parents to be there to collect my children if they got home before me….which they did.

I had another wonderful cruise on the Triumph!! Of course I am suffering from PCD and am now looking into a family cruise for next year and a solo cruise for myself before the end of this year. Happy Cruising!!

[Chucksta63]

Age: 40

Occupation: Child Care Provider

Number of Cruises: 2

Cruise Line: Carnival

Ship: Triumph

Sailing Date: April 16th, 2005

Itinerary: Western Caribbean

 

We took a flight from CT on Friday morning and arrived in Miami later that afternoon. I would advise to leave on Friday and spend the night for anyone having to make connections. (We saw one couple who missed the departure in Miami and had to catch up with us in Cozumel.) We then took a shuttle from the hotel over to the Port at 11am. It took about an hour to go through line and actually board the ship. Lunch is served up on deck 9. We went to our room about 2pm. It was ready and our luggage arrived shortly after. We were on deck 2 ocean view. Nice cabin a little noisy near the elevators.

 

For first timers: Your cabin has a hair dryer, Clothes line in the shower, shampoo, some hangers in the closet and lots of storage. We had 2 people and didn't have any trouble.

 

Around the ship: They have an ATM for those low on cash. $6.00 fee. Gift shop has lots of little things you may have forgotten as well as nice gifts. We brought our own towels with us and they came in handy when we went to the beach. You can also buy your own along the way and keep them for souvenirs. Remember you can order room service in the morning for your coffee etc. They are very prompt and we always tip the person if they do a good job. Food around the ship is very good. We are not fussy eaters and if all else fails get a great deli sandwich and the burgers are the best. They also have pizza day and night. You can also ask for a Ceasar salad at the pizza stand. The soda card they sell is $44.00 for an adult and $34.00 for a child for the week. We don't drink much soda so we didn't buy one. My husband and I like the Lemonade. Drink of the day runs $6.25 and refills are $4.50. You can also buy a bucket with 4 beers in it, not sure of the cost.

 

Shore excursions, some people want to know whether or not its better to book them through the cruise line or on your own. Well the advantage is usually your with other Carnival guests which makes its a lot of fun. Carnival also sends out a photographer to take pictures you would never get on your own. The pictures are $8.00 but we really like them. Instead of worrying about getting a good shot we were having fun. Another advantage is that if all the Carnival guests are their you have no need to worry making the ship on time. Carnival works with these tour operators to make sure everything runs smooth. Ok you might pay a little more because Carnival gets a cut. One other experience we had was some guys got a taxi and it took them all over the place you need to be careful.

 

We swam with the dolphins in Jamaica and went to the beach in Cozumel. Grand Cayman was devastated by the hurricane but is coming along nicely.

[Chucksta63]

Greg DeBrosse

Age: 31

Occupation: News Producer

Number of Cruises: 1

Cruise Line: Carnival

Ship: Carnival Triumph

Sailing Date: April 16th, 2005

Itinerary: Western Caribbean

 

Getting There: Parking at the Port of Miami for seven days is $84, cash and it’s paid up front. If you go from anywhere in Florida you can call Cruise Connection and they’ll put you on a bus for less than that. Many people came and went by Taxi.

 

Embarkation: Imagine if you will the line for Space Mountain just after it opened for the first time. That’s how long the line is to get on the boat. Don’t forget to pickup your keys on the other side of the x-ray machine (I left mine there).

 

Our room, 8422: AWESOME! Balcony had enough room for four chairs comfortably. Room had a couch and a king-sized bed.

 

Room service is excellent. You can order from dozens of items, including cookies and brownies. They’ll bring them to your room with a cup of coffee. In the room, they have soap, shampoo, hairdryer, toothpaste, his and her razors and dental floss (you’re going to need it).

 

Booze: Plentiful. We put two bottles of wine in our carry-on and no one stopped us or asked us about it. You could probably take more. On the boat the first day you can buy a refillable glass for the drink of the day. It’s $6.95 upfront and $4.00 for a refill. Drink prices range from 4 to $7.00. You are never more than 100 ft. away from a bar, waiter or waitress. We found the fastest service at the wine bar and the casino.

 

Bars: There are three pool bars and they all have quick service. There is a similar bar on the embarkation floor right in the middle of the ship. There is also a bar in the casino, four to five clubs, a wine bar and they serve on the first floor of the show lounge.

 

Drugs: Take some Dramamine even if you’re a seasoned cruiser. The motion-sickness patch you stick behind your ear was also very popular onboard. You’ll go places where Cuban cigars and other Smoking material are legal. You’re bound to smell it at some point. The ship is searched at debarkation by inspectors with dogs, so I wouldn’t advise trying to get anything off, or even using it while you’re onboard.

 

Food: Ugh! There is a plethora of food onboard this ship. There is a 24-hour pizza station. It’s the same stuff that spins around the circle at the gas station. The grill, had well done hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hotdogs, as well as stringy greasy French fries. The lunch and breakfast buffets in the South Beach kitchen will have pretty much the same thing everyday. The lettuce, bread and desserts start to get a little stale by day four. At the sit down dinner you can have lobster tail, some good salmon and an excellent quesadilla. The portions were small. The salads all tasted like they’d been washed in salt water. You can order as many entrees and desserts as you want. Make sure you ask for two the night they have the Baked Alaska. You won’t be able to get it on another night. They have two formal nights. If you don’t bring formal clothes, you can still go, but you may get some funny looks at first. No one will notice once you sit down.

 

Non-alcoholic beverages: They have a soda card for just under $40. The idea being you can refill it anytime. Well, there aren’t any soda fountains sitting around. So you have to find a bar tender every time. There are water, tea and juice dispensers out in the open and you can use them anytime. They also have coffee all day.

 

Tipping: Carnival lets you pay the tip upfront. That way you don’t have to worry about tipping anybody. That said, every time you buy an alcoholic drink you are charged an automatic 15% tip. Then, they’ll ask you to tip your Maitre D’. He’s the guy who stands there in a tux when you go to dinner every night. For some reason you’re supposed to tip him on the last night even though you’ve never met him. They leave you an envelope and you’re supposed to take it and give it to him on your last night as you enter the restaurant.

 

Excursions: The first full day at sea there is an excursion meeting where they try and explain what you can do and try and answer any questions. However, I would book at least your first excursion over the internet on Carnival’s website. The website actually has more information than is available on the boat. While on the excursion you should also expect the unexpected. For example, two of our tours dropped us off at places other than where we started. In Cozumel, we took the Chichen Itza tour. It involved first getting on a ferry that smells like hurl when you get on it and they start passing out barf bags as soon as you start moving. It was a very bouncy ride over to the mainland. Once you’re in Mexico you’re paraded about 4 blocks to a bus. The vintage 1970’s bus with 1980’s televisions poorly mounted on the ceiling, then takes you on a bouncy three-hour tour through a poverty-stricken section of Mexico. Once you finally arrive at the pyramid site, it is spectacular. You must be prepared for lots of pushy venders inside the site. They’ll sell you the shirt of your back if you let them. Then you get back on that bus, which reminds some of the night bus in Harry Potter. It zips side to side on the two-lane road to weave around traffic at what can only be described as ludicrous speed before getting you back to the pier. Then you get back on the puke ferry and ride back to Cozumel. In Cozumel the cruise ship is docked at the pier. We heard from others who tried to rent a buggie for the day on Cozumel. They had a rough time because the buggie kept dying on them at intersections.

 

At Grand Cayman we went on the Reef and Ray tour. Anything to stingray city looked like it was fun. It’s not something you’d ever be allowed to do in the states. You get in and feed the stingray. The guides will also put the 3-foot long creatures on your back and take pictures of you holding them. There is a tour that also takes you to Hell. It is a small unimpressive place on the island, named after a nearby rock formation. There is a place there where you can send a post card from hell.

 

At Grand Cayman you tender, which means you take a smaller boat from the cruise ship to get on and off the Island. It can be a little time consuming. As soon as you get to the Island there are plenty of shops to visit in walking distance. To get to seven mile beach, you will either have to sign up for the excursion or take a taxi.

 

At Ochos Rios Jamaica the main attraction is the hike up Dunns River Falls. Again, not something you’d be allowed to do stateside (at least not without crash helmets, life jackets and a rope). The falls move fast and you will too. Everyone holds hands, sounds scary at first, but it’s actually very helpful because you really move fast up the falls. The more tours the guides get in a day, the more tips they get. It takes 40 minutes to make it up the falls. The woman in front of me was probably in her 70’s and made it, but it was hard for her. The guides are very friendly and if you tell them ahead of time you may have a difficult time, they’ll make sure you make it, regardless of size, age or ability.

 

Then there is Dolphin Cove. You can swim with dolphins, stand in water with dolphins or just watch.

 

The cost for each is different. The dolphin show is then about 10 minutes. You’re not missing much if you just watch. The scenery from Dolphin Cove is breath taking.

 

Back on the boat there is never a dull moment. They publish a paper daily called the “Carnival Caper.” It has a list of everything you can do the next day.

 

The singing and dancing shows are like high school show-choirs with good props. The “Adult” magic show isn’t worth the air the performers breathe. Bingo costs you $20 for three cards, but the jacket pots can get up to a couple thousand dollars. The recreation department is always running some kind of event like the hairy chest contest and the synchronized swimming contest. They also throw nightly parties on the deck.

 

There is a special club for teenagers. They really seemed to enjoy it. There is also an arcade.

There are some events for singles and an entire store for those who are celebrating some kind of event, birthday, anniversary, honeymoon or wedding.

 

Carnival is also always taking your picture. The second night they run a special on the pictures, so wait a day, but then the special ends and it gets expensive again.

 

The ship has several nooks worth seeing. Go all the way to the front left of deck 6 or 8. There you can walk out the “secret door.” It takes you to the front of the ship and you can do your “King of the World” reenactment.

 

The exercise area of the spa has one of the most amazing views on the ship.

 

There is a topless sundeck for those looking for an all over tan. It’s well marked and sits up high, on the top floor above the running track, so you’re not suddenly surprised.

 

There is also an internet café, but it’s connected to a cigar bar where someone must have gotten sick repeatedly, because it stinks.

 

Cell Phones: It will work on the top floor of the ship the first and last nights of your trip. It will also work in Mexico and Grand Cayman but not in Jamaica. You can call out of your room, but it is expensive.

 

For Sale: Somebody will always be trying to sell you something on this cruise. If you don’t give in, you’ll be better off. Once you’re on board you could easily drop a couple grand, or you could spend virtually nothing.

 

As for my car keys, which I left at the security booth, the day I arrived, Carnival was good enough to keep them in Miami for me, when I went looking for them during Debarkation. That was seven days later.