What did you learn on your last Carnival cruise?

[evandbob]

I learned that even with a casino discount, a cruise on Carnival's older ships, the Miracle, is not to my liking. I succumbed to the temptation of a lower fare, so I booked a suite on the Miracle, an old, hideously decorated, not well maintained ship. For years I avoided the Fantasy class, now I'm adding a few more Carnival ships to my "do not sail" list. The suite was nice, but showed its age and usage, as did the ship in general.

 

I'll still sail the Conquest class if I have to (read - casino fare discount), but my preferences have trended towards the Dream and Vista class, as well as ships of other lines.

 

Sailing the brand new MSC Seaside Saturday, will be 1st time on that cruise line. There's a great review from a poster currently on the Seaside in the MSC threads now, complete with some great photos of the menus, venues and decor of the ship. Brand new ship, less expensive than Carnival, with drink package included for those so inclined. Looks like a "WOW" to me.

 

JMO, YMMV.

[Bobbylah]

 

Did most of you know (I havent read the whole thread), that you can order home made Indian food in the MDR if you order 24 hours ahead of time thru the maitre d? last time i asked about it and the maitre d kept aaking every night if i wanted it. its a hard choice, i love the indian, but has to be ordered 24 hours in advance. they give you more than you can possibly eat and its not mass produced. the main cooks are indian and cook for themselves and you get whatever all they make for their own dinner, its wonderfull.

 

I have done this on the last three cruises. I just talk to the maitre d' and then our head sever and request the non-vegetarian indian dishes each night. The server then confirms each night if he should bring it along with whatever other entree I order. I do it each night as I never have the desserts, so enjoy the entrees. Yummy.

[Bobbylah]

That Cheers is totally worth it:

 

[tlacabe]

I learned that Blue Iguana Burritos makes the best TACOS ever! I loved the burritos but the tacos are even better. I also found out that they make their own taco shells fresh right in front of you during their open hours. Wish I had one right now [emoji39]

 

Great to know!! I love the Blue Iguana

[tallnthensome]

The Swaside

Sailing the brand new MSC Seaside Saturday, will be 1st time on that cruise line. There's a great review from a poster currently on the Seaside in the MSC threads now, complete with some great photos of the menus, venues and decor of the ship. Brand new ship, less expensive than Carnival, with drink package included for those so inclined. Looks like a "WOW" to me.

 

JMO, YMMV.

Good for you guys, we sailed her with my two kids in April. The Seaside is stunning and it was just wonderful with a price that couldn't be beat. Best entertainment we've seen. Great MDR food as well as buffets. nice pools as well. Sailing the MSC Seaside is sailing above anything Carnival has ....... Your fellow passengers are more diverse from around the world and were very friendly with no issues. Enjoy!!! We'd sail her again!

[firefly333]

Good for you guys, we sailed her with my two kids in April. The Seaside is stunning and it was just wonderful with a price that couldn't be beat. Best entertainment we've seen. Great MDR food as well as buffets. nice pools as well. Sailing the MSC Seaside is sailing above anything Carnival has ....... Your fellow passengers are more diverse from around the world and were very friendly with no issues. Enjoy!!! We'd sail her again!

 

I learned MSC serves a lot of Italian food. I dont eat hardly any Italian. slimy noodles, dont like cooked tomatoes etc. Just dont like Italian.

 

You will have slim pickings on this ship if you dislike Italian food.

[dcwalker]

I just talk to the maitre d' and then our head sever and request the non-vegetarianindian dishes each night.

Bobbylah - can you tell me what kind of meat you've gotten with your non-vegetarian Indian dishes? We ordered it one time (on the Pride I think) and never again. We couldn't for the life of us tell what the meat was - it was something chopped up and rolled into kind of a patty. We asked our server and he didn't know, we asked him to find out and he never got back to us. We've always enjoyed the vegetarian Indian offering. I'm tempted to give the non-vegetarian another try.

[dcwalker]

On my last cruise I learned that there's just too darned much to do and too darned much food to try in just eight days, so my next cruise is for 12 days.

[Gallivanting Souls]

We learned that there are plenty of things to do on a 13 day cruise. Never got bored. Learned that you can make up your own rules playing ping pong and miniature golf and have a blast with your loved one.

Also, if doing the Panama Canal crossing don't expect to get anywhere near the edge to see what is going on. Would also love to be able to get a spa package that only included the T pool. Did not use any of the other spaces, but loved the T pool.

[tallnthensome]

I learned MSC serves a lot of Italian food. I dont eat hardly any Italian. slimy noodles, dont like cooked tomatoes etc. Just dont like Italian.

 

You will have slim pickings on this ship if you dislike Italian food.

MSC is an Italian line however none of the above was the case on the Seaside out of Miami. Way way way better food then Carnival in the MDR and the buffet. The selection was 5 times what is offered on Carnival.

[Purvis1231]

Make the best of it. There was heavy rain in Cozumel but we did a jeep excursion, although we got soaked, could not go to the beach due to heavy seas, and the jeeps were barely safe, we have a great time.

[Bobbylah]

I just talk to the maitre d' and then our head sever and request the non-vegetarianindian dishes each night.

Bobbylah - can you tell me what kind of meat you've gotten with your non-vegetarian Indian dishes? We ordered it one time (on the Pride I think) and never again. We couldn't for the life of us tell what the meat was - it was something chopped up and rolled into kind of a patty. We asked our server and he didn't know, we asked him to find out and he never got back to us. We've always enjoyed the vegetarian Indian offering. I'm tempted to give the non-vegetarian another try.

 

I don't ask (I have lived in/visited a lot of countries and eaten of lot of 'meat', and it usually tastes like meat but I don't need to know where it came from*), but my guess based on texture/color was that we had chicken, lamb/mutton, and fish on the varying nights. In most cases it has been a similar offering to the vegetarian, multiple plates of condiments, with a main plate with the meat and a curry or other style sauce.

 

* I know for a fact I ate horse in France as I bought it in the grocery store and made a chilli with it when I was camping with friends. I am sure I ate some questionable things during my 5 years in SE Asia.

[stellarose]

relax and enjoy yourself. dont stress over things you can't control. its a vacation.

[evandbob]

I learned MSC serves a lot of Italian food. I dont eat hardly any Italian. slimy noodles, dont like cooked tomatoes etc. Just dont like Italian.

 

You will have slim pickings on this ship if you dislike Italian food.

 

 

I suggest you read the menus for the Seaside currently posted in the latest review by someone still on board today. You may find it changed from your experience.

 

I have posted many times about Carnival's "Italian" La Cucina and how I dislike their offerings and won't eat there again.

[LuckyStar]

i learned why people rave about the cloud 9 spa on the breeze, particularly the t pool.

 

this

[BoDidly]

I learned Carnival fails when it comes to trying to enforce the No smoking on balcony rules.

[Elsisi]

I have done this on the last three cruises. I just talk to the maitre d' and then our head sever and request the non-vegetarian indian dishes each night. The server then confirms each night if he should bring it along with whatever other entree I order. I do it each night as I never have the desserts, so enjoy the entrees. Yummy.

 

Bobbylah,

 

Do you happen to have any pictures of the non-vegetarian entrees? I love the tandoor on the Dream class ships and I've had the vegetarian entrée in the MDR, but never the non.

[Hotdog 52]

Ajorning room doors are paper thin. Just like being in the room with your neighbors.

The triumph full production shows are great, will be a shame when they go to playlist.

The full 9 member show band was great also. 2 trumpets, 2 saxes, trombone, lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and drums.

[Cabokalz or Ma-n-Pa]

I learned a ton of stuff! About sailing and time, about “I-95” on every Carnival ship! About how the chickens on Kauai are part of the islands known hurricane release plan to save their (the chickens) lives. I learned that Pearl Harbor is now over-run by tourists and it takes the entire day to see specific memorials. I learned that I should get FTTF every cruise! I learned that these great big ships have tiny steering wheels compared to the giant 4 foot wheel I stood helm with while serving on the U.S.C.G. Basswood! LOL! I took the behind the Carnival scenes excursion on my last cruise... I learned a lot!

 

 

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[princess76021]

Sometimes you have to take the elevator up to go down!!! :D

[Chief93]

Did most of you know (I havent read the whole thread), that you can order home made Indian food in the MDR if you order 24 hours ahead of time thru the maitre d? last time i asked about it and the maitre d kept aaking every night if i wanted it. its a hard choice, i love the indian, but has to be ordered 24 hours in advance. they give you more than you can possibly eat and its not mass produced. the main cooks are indian and cook for themselves and you get whatever all they make for their own dinner, its wonderfull.

 

I wish I had known this before! I frequently order the Indian vegetarian when nothing on the menu appeals to me. I can't eat red meat, but can eat fish and chicken. I'm going to do this at least once on the Vista in two weeks, probably on elegant night as I don't find lobster all that special and they no longer serve the best meal they had on the menu, which was the duck.

[PaperSniper4]

I suggest you read the menus for the Seaside currently posted in the latest review by someone still on board today. You may find it changed from your experience.

 

I have posted many times about Carnival's "Italian" La Cucina and how I dislike their offerings and won't eat there again.

 

Oh boy, more room there for me!:cool:

[evandbob]

Oh boy, more room there for me!:cool:

 

 

Yep, enjoy. Me and most every other Bronx born Italian won't be eating more than once or twice in Carnival's Cucina. However, you may get swamped by the Olive Garden crowd. Mangia!

 

We'll be boarding the MSC Seaside this afternoon so I'll get my 1st taste of their food and be able to check out Firefly's observation which seems contradicted by the posted menus.

[PhillyFan33579]

I learned Carnival fails when it comes to trying to enforce the No smoking on balcony rules.

 

I learn that every time I cruise. I should say, I learn that every time I cruise in a balcony cabin. The few times I have cruised in an interior room smoke from a balcony has never bothered me.

[Towel Critter]

I learned that eight nights can go by pretty darned quickly, that private tables for two do still exist, that I'd like to return to Aruba on a land based vacation, that musical entertainment on the Conquest ... how to put this nicely?... uh, needs work, that MDR service was better and faster than on my last few cruises, that Carnival isn't prefect, but that I still enjoy sailing with them after over a dozen times. Lastly, after refusing to try fish tacos my entire life, I learned that they are good eats.