Carnival Panorama 01/04/2020 – 01/11/2020

[Ak4n3]

I'll be posting a new Carnival Panorama review of our trip along with the fun times for planning purposes in the next few days .  This is a thank you for all the CC members who are very helpful in the forums.

 

Cheers to future voyages!

 

[steveweese]

Thank you   Can’t wait

[Wanna_Cruize]

Thanks! Can't wait. Do you perhaps also have the menus from the MDR? The one's I've seen so far have been from the holiday cruises, so they have been altered from the norm. 

[alliecat1970]

If you have menus I would greatly appreciate them thank you janet 

[Ak4n3]

Introduction: We are a family of 4. DH is a Navy Veteran who I had to drag kicking and screaming on our first cruise back in 2012.  Now, he likes it as much as I do.  “At least I can have alcohol on the ship.”  My kids Bren (14) and Aria (5) loves cruising as much as I do.  They both love  to go to the kids club and are usually pretty good on the cruise.  We booked this cruise two years ago and got the deluxe oceanview cabin 1268 (riviera deck). 

 

Popsie (73) and Monami (72) decided to join us last minute in October 2019 when Pops found out he had a casino deal.  So I ended up booking inside guarantee for them.  We received their room assignment a week later, they got a porthole cabin first deck (riviera).  I had difficulty with their dining assignment, however.  Up until the day we boarded, they were waitlisted for early dining.  I called Carnival customer service for help but even they can’t place my parents for early dining.  She could only link my booking with theirs in the hopes that we are able to eat together.    When we finally saw our cards, I was happy that we were placed in the same table seating.

 

Planning: Like our Alaska Cruise, we lucked out on the weather.  Two weeks before, our servers said that it rained on their port days and that Carnival cancelled some excursions.  When I checked the weather website for our cruise duration, Mexican Riviera temps ranges from  a sunny 82-86 degrees F.  Yay!  No thick jackets or sweaters to pack.  Shorts and tshirt weather all the way!

 

We were supposed to stay Hotel Maya on Jan 3rd and booked our hotel ahead of time as I am wary about the parking situation  at the terminal.  When the parentals decided to join us, we had to cancel our hotel room as it would be too expensive to book two rooms just to park one vehicle at the hotel.  I just decided for us to wing it on the day itself, if we end up parking off site or beg someone to take us to port.

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by Ak4n3

[Ak4n3]

Embarkation Day Jan 4

 

We left home at 10am.  It was an easy drive on a cool day.  When we reached the entrance of the Long Beach Cruise Terminal by 1030am, the lane for the drop off /pick up was clogged.   That it affected the entrance of the parking structure itself.  We probably were stuck about 5-10 minutes before we managed to squeeze on the left side.  We were pleasantly surprised that we managed to snag parking at the ramp between the first and 2^nd level.  From our parking spot, we can see there are ample parking spaces available at the second level.  I guess since the Imagination cruisers were parking offsite, it’s not as crowded for Panorama and Inspiration passengers. 

 

Side note:  We will be cruising again in April on the Imagination so I will be prepared!  Most likely, I’ll have DH drop us off at the Queen Mary side rather than the cruise drop off and take the kids and luggage to the porter before letting him drive off to the off site parking.

 

There are a lot of previous cruisers milling about, probably waiting for their rides.  It doesn’t look crowded, though.  I have a feeling the ship docked early, despite the schedules showing 9Am arrival time and that majority of them already left.  This is a good sign.  It might mean we’ll be able to board earlier.

 

After handing our luggage to the porter, we went straight to the early/late arrivals line to check in.  The check in process was quick and painless.  All that is left is the waiting.  And Aria was getting antsy. 

 

We have boarding zone A12 with arrival appointment at 1230p-1p.  Pops and Monami’s boarding zone was B11 with arrival appointment for 1p-1:30.  They started calling boarding at 1130am with the  wedding groups, diamond, and plats first.  About 10 minutes later, they started calling out the zones.  I believe, the As were up to A24.  Then they called the Bs after 10 minutes. 

 

DH and the kidlets went ahead and told them that we’ll meet up at the lido and save us a seat.  I had to stay with the parentals since they haven’t been oriented to the big ship and I’d feel bad abandoning them. Well, I was about to abandon them as I can hear the sizzle of Guy’s burger calling my name and let them play hunt for the lido on their own.  But knowing Monami, she’d end up below decks at the crew area or somewhere she is not supposed to be.  We didn't have to wait long as we also boarded not long after.  We found them at Guys burger with our traditional first of many many burgers, buns, and fries.

[grima625]

Will be following along.  Will be sailing on the Panorama in October.  This will be our first cruise from the west coast, so any tips you may have would be appreciated.

[MEUB1112]

We will be following, we were on this cruise with you. It was outstanding!!

[Ak4n3]

16 hours ago, Wanna_Cruize said:

Thanks! Can't wait. Do you perhaps also have the menus from the MDR? The one's I've seen so far have been from the holiday cruises, so they have been altered from the norm. 

 

15 hours ago, alliecat1970 said:

If you have menus I would greatly appreciate them thank you janet 

 

I do apologize, we didn't take screenshots of the menus.  Since the holidays are over, I find that the menus are similar to some, if not all, 7 day Carnival cruises that the other trip reviewers posted.  We must be cruising too frequently that my son knows the day's menu highlights even before seeing them.  

[Ak4n3]

39 minutes ago, MEUB1112 said:

We will be following, we were on this cruise with you. It was outstanding!!

 

Come along for the ride down to memory lane...from last week 😉 

[john91498]

We'll be on her this August.

[Ak4n3]

Some embarkation day snaps

 

Not too crowded in the Dome.  Ample seating for everybody.  There are arcade games off the side.  And if you need a bathroom, there are rest rooms.  

 

Monami and Popsie

 

The olds and the kidlets

 

View from Lido Deck. 

 

 

Enjoying our Guys burger (Aria got buns and fries only  😑).  We brought our own wine and Coke products to enjoy.  But I still got my traditional embarkation day funship drink.

 

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by Ak4n3

[Ak4n3]

Thoughts on Embarkation day:

Parking was easy, construction doesn’t look like it started yet.  Then again, we sailed on a Saturday so I don’t know what it looks like during the regular work week.  Boarding was a breeze, even though our arrival time states a later time.  DH’s group boarded ahead of the Olds and I but we caught up with them that we enjoyed lunch before 12! 

 

I must say that like what the other trip reviewers said, the entry to the ship was underwhelming.  No "wow factor" of seeing the atrium as soon as you get on the ship. It's just wall and casino.  Because of the size of the ship and the height of the ramp, we entered on the fourth deck off the casino and thru the Heroes Tribute Bar (formerly the sports bar) to get to the aft elevators for Lido. 

 

I did enjoy the new ship smell and the Casino still hasn't absorbed enough cigarette smoke to ruin the first impression, if you know what I mean.

[Ak4n3]

Here are the fun times.  

Embarkation Day.  I hope it's readable.  Please let me know.

 

[Ak4n3]

I grabbed 2 Kid's club activities to give you an idea what they do.  I just realized on the Hub App that they also have the kid's schedule there.  I never noticed that before.  This is a great idea to have the kids' schedules on hand without getting the physical copies lost or wet at the pool area.

 

Circle C

 

 

Camp Ocean - Penguins

 

 

We never got to utilize the Owl Jams or Night Owls (after 10pm activities), though, so I don't have any thoughts on that. 

 

Bren comes and goes as he pleases at their club. He has his own phone app and we purchased a chat for our family so we can easily find each other.   We basically chucked Aria in Camp Ocean once we are able to.  She's there after lunch and after dinner.    She enjoyed the activities and the counselors call her by name on the second day.

 

[mjrcruiser]

Loving your review so far!  We set sail in May!!   Our first Mexican Riviera cruise, so we are excited! 😁

[glrounds]

I leave in 2 days, so please hurry with your review ! 😁

 

Will drive to the port also (about 1 hour). Did you talk to anyone utilizing the OFF SITE PARKING ? If so, what were their opinions ?

 

Thank you for your review.

[Ak4n3]

More thoughts on Embarkation Day:

 

Does it feel more crowded?  Not really.  Well, for the first day, there seemed to be more people milling about at the elevators.  The midship elevators (or was it the forward) are used for luggage delivery, plus there is a learning curve for the smart elevators.  Eventually, the elevators were quick once you get the hang of them.  There are times when I could've sworn there were only 2 other people who pressed the panel, then I was squashed in the elevator with about 10 people.  

 

Luggage arrived when  the cabins were available at 1:30pm.    We couldn't do much exploring as the sodas, wine, and other carryons were a bit much of you're going up and down decks.  Not fun at all.

 

 

Muster drill was painless, too.  My group was B4 in the Horizon Dining Room (mid) and the Olds were B3 in the Casino.  I don't have our boarding pass right now, I may have mixed the two muster numbers but those are our locations.  Everyone was able to have a seat in comfort while the crew showed us how to wear the life vests.  

[Ak4n3]

5 minutes ago, glrounds said:

I leave in 2 days, so please hurry with your review ! 😁

 

Will drive to the port also (about 1 hour). Did you talk to anyone utilizing the OFF SITE PARKING ? If so, what were their opinions ?

 

Thank you for your review.

 

Well, I'll do what I can in the short time.  If I don't get to finish, I hope your experience will be a nice pleasant surprise.  😄 

 

I didn't speak to anybody who used offsite.  I will be going to park offsite in April for the Imagination cruise.  I found parking at the structure easy, however YMMV.

[Ak4n3]

Let's get the fun times out of the way;

 

Sunday First Sea Day

 

 

 

[Ak4n3]

Fun Times

Monday Cabo San Lucas

 

 

 

[Ak4n3]

Tuesday Mazatlan

 

[Ak4n3]

Wednesday Puerto Vallarta

 

 

[Ak4n3]

Thursday 2nd Sea Day

 

 

[Ak4n3]

Friday 3rd Sea Day