LIVE - Sometimes - Carnival Celebration 6/9 - 6/15

[Host CMLA]

2 hours ago, Vacationdreamer<>< said:

I absolutely get this  ♥
I am sorry the hair appliances weren't working.  That would break my heart and I would have a hard time thinking about anything else.

 

 

You're my people.  🙂  You can see how much I wrote about it to let you know how much I focused on it.  Every since it's been hit or miss on whether or not my flat iron will work.  Yesterday and today it won't stay on.  I'm having to do all kinds of stuff to use it.  We'll be home tomorrow night.  I'll never take my home set up for granted ever again.  

 

9 hours ago, fla33023 said:

Or even better - put it in the app if it's that important.

 

Great idea!  I'll put that in the survey as a suggestion.  

 

12 hours ago, wrcjr98 said:

I'm so sorry that the hostess at Rudi's was so RUDE!  My husband wears shorts every night.  Even elegant night.  He says he is on vacation, and he is not dressing up!  So - I'll know never to go to Rudi's!  And your poor son!   He need not apologize - he did nothing wrong!   On the picture you posted he looked great, you both did!  Don't let her ruin your trip.  I would definitely try to get her name, because when Carnival sends that survey our - she would definitely be on it - and I would tell Zoe today too!

Try to make the best of the time you have left!!  

Keep posting, your fans like us are loving it!!

 

Turns out you can wear shorts at Rudi's on the patio so if you don't mind sitting outside in the elements, you can eat there on elegant nights.  

 

My son got over it.  He's a teen boy like all teen boys.  Absolutely everything is an annoyance especially with their parents.  He had two lobster tails in the main dining room and moved on.  That woman was rude though.  Maybe there was a language barrier and she didn't realize she came across so harsh?  I can't imagine she would do it on purpose. Be mean.  Instead of, you aren't dressed nice enough to eat here, she could have said, please come over here with me...unfortunately on elegant night we require long pants for men.  We're sorry for the inconvenience or if that wasn't clear.  Would you be OK sitting on the patio or does he have pants he can change in to?  But no, you're not dressed nice enough.   Is 15 a man?  Is 15 not still a kid?  Does that make a difference?  I was in a dress with new shoes I bought specifically for this dress to wear on this cruise. Darn it.  

[Vacationdreamer<><]

I’ve come to realize it really am a 5-day cruiser.  Any longer and it’s just too much rich food. I like dressing up but I get tired of it. I like leaving the ship, but I get tired of the pack up. 
 

I hope you had a wonderful cruise and a safe trip home. 

[Host CMLA]

3 minutes ago, Vacationdreamer&lt;&gt;&lt; said:

I’ve come to realize it really am a 5-day cruiser.  Any longer and it’s just too much rich food. I like dressing up but I get tired of it. I like leaving the ship, but I get tired of the pack up. 
 

I hope you had a wonderful cruise and a safe trip home. 

 

We JUST said this earlier today.  My son and I agreed that we'd rather do 5 day cruises.  I told him we'd have to sacrifice the larger newer ships.  I'm not sure if he's ready to do that.  

 

We're done.  We canx dinner at the steakhouse.  We had something to eat at about 4 pm and we're calling it a day.  We'll eat again at the airport tomorrow.  I thought about going to the Lido but it's so far away and there are at least 150 people I'd encounter.  I've peopled so much already this week.  I'm peopled out.  I do love cruising.  The way I like to cruise is changing though.  Maybe shorter cruises on the older ships is my speed?  

[LatinaInTexas]

59 minutes ago, Host CMLA said:

 

You're my people.  🙂  You can see how much I wrote about it to let you know how much I focused on it.  Every since it's been hit or miss on whether or not my flat iron will work.  Yesterday and today it won't stay on.  I'm having to do all kinds of stuff to use it.  We'll be home tomorrow night.  I'll never take my home set up for granted ever again.  

 

 

Great idea!  I'll put that in the survey as a suggestion.  

 

 

Turns out you can wear shorts at Rudi's on the patio so if you don't mind sitting outside in the elements, you can eat there on elegant nights.  

 

My son got over it.  He's a teen boy like all teen boys.  Absolutely everything is an annoyance especially with their parents.  He had two lobster tails in the main dining room and moved on.  That woman was rude though.  Maybe there was a language barrier and she didn't realize she came across so harsh?  I can't imagine she would do it on purpose. Be mean.  Instead of, you aren't dressed nice enough to eat here, she could have said, please come over here with me...unfortunately on elegant night we require long pants for men.  We're sorry for the inconvenience or if that wasn't clear.  Would you be OK sitting on the patio or does he have pants he can change in to?  But no, you're not dressed nice enough.   Is 15 a man?  Is 15 not still a kid?  Does that make a difference?  I was in a dress with new shoes I bought specifically for this dress to wear on this cruise. Darn it.  

Happened to my husband at the steakhouse on elegant night. She apologized and told us pants were required this night. Then said they could seat me if he wanted to run up and change, said any pants would do even jeans. Good thing cause that's all he had😕

[Vacationdreamer<><]

And the “older” ships are always getting newer. Vista is how old now?  Horizon? Etc. 
 

I do love cruises like Elation and Valor, but it’s harder with kids. They need a little more. 
 

thankfully there are so many ships. ❤ 

[Frank12]

56 minutes ago, Vacationdreamer&lt;&gt;&lt; said:

I’ve come to realize it really am a 5-day cruiser.  Any longer and it’s just too much rich food. I like dressing up but I get tired of it. I like leaving the ship, but I get tired of the pack up. 
 

I hope you had a wonderful cruise and a safe trip home. 

5 days is the perfect cruise length! After 5 I'm ready to go home!

[tradewinds traveler]

We really enjoyed the 6 days on the Horizon. I felt bad for your son & Rudi problem. He sounds like a sweetheart.

[jimbo5544]

Sorry the thing at Rudi's did not work out.  That said, I think Carnival has been consistent in their no shorts on cruise elegant nights in the upscale restaurants, and I think it is in their doc, but what is done is dine.  How they handle it makes all the difference.  We travel in groups almost all the time and repeatedly have had some in our group push the envelope even though they understand the rules (regarding shorts).  Almost without exception, they were denied sitting but offered the opportunity to go change.  Kids are a different topic tho....   

 

Sorry it happened and "flavored" your cruise.

[jimbo5544]

Interested in your thoughts on thinking 5 day cruises are more appealing and older ships.  Can you expand on this?

[Host CMLA]

23 hours ago, tradewinds traveler said:

We really enjoyed the 6 days on the Horizon. I felt bad for your son & Rudi problem. He sounds like a sweetheart.

 

I felt bad for him too.  If we had known, I wouldn't have accepted the offer of dinner from the casino.  We go with the recommended dress code and even though it was elegant night, I went to the hub app and it aid it was casual and it listed all the different casual attire that's accepted and my son was wearing accepted casual attire.  Turns out that on elegant night, you can not wear the accepted casual attire.  You must wear pants.  That should be listed somewhere.  🤷‍♀️

[Host CMLA]

13 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Sorry the thing at Rudi's did not work out.  That said, I think Carnival has been consistent in their no shorts on cruise elegant nights in the upscale restaurants, and I think it is in their doc, but what is done is dine.  How they handle it makes all the difference.  We travel in groups almost all the time and repeatedly have had some in our group push the envelope even though they understand the rules (regarding shorts).  Almost without exception, they were denied sitting but offered the opportunity to go change.  Kids are a different topic tho....   

 

Sorry it happened and "flavored" your cruise.

 

I haven't experienced that on a Carnival cruise. Then again we don't usually go to the specialty restaurants which is why I looked to the Hub to tell me what was OK. Elegant night acceptable dress is different than the accepted attire listed in the Hub.  

 

It didn't negatively affect the cruise experience except that it was irksome but stuff happens. We never lacked food. LOL. Now we know.  

 

 

13 hours ago, jimbo5544 said:

Interested in your thoughts on thinking 5 day cruises are more appealing and older ships.  Can you expand on this?

 

Having done so many cruises and literally been around the world on cruise ships, to 5 continents, I've done all the excursions and activities.  Now when we cruise, we don't do those things.  It's a much more relaxed experience and after 5 days, we're ready to go home.  For me, it also might be that I like being at home.  I'm a homebody. I miss my stuff.  

 

The Celebration was my first time on a big massive ship. The last biggest ship I'd been on was the Vista.  At the time that felt overwhelmingly big.  I'm more the Sunshine speed.  There are newer restaurants.  Nice spaces.  Good size theater.  It feels more manageable.  You don't have to pack a lunch to get from one end to the other.  Also, I can drive to more of the ports with the smaller ships than the big ship ports like Miami, Port Canaveral, Galveston.  I can get to Charleston in 5 hours.  Mobile in 7.  New Orleans in 8 1/2.  Those are drivable.  

[Host CMLA]

I didn't do a write up of the day yesterday and today we debarked and traveled home. 

 

On Friday we were in Nassau.  It was overcast and off and on raining.  We didn't leave the ship, per usual.  We lounged a lot in the room watching on demand movies.  We watched Argylle, the new Hunger Games movie, and Mean Girls.  Mean Girls was for me and I'm sorry I made us watch it.  New Mean Girls is not classic Mean Girls. 

 

We did hit the Seafood Shack for a smorgasbord of fried food.  I could feel our arteries clogging as we ate.  It was alright.  I liked the fried shrimp the best.  The lobster roll was alright.  I make those types of buns at my house when we make crab salad rolls.  The seafood shack butters the rolls a lot.  Your hands will get greasy.  They don't come out of the oven that way.  They add the butter to toast them.  

 

We hung out in the room in the late afternoon packing.  By the time we were thinking about having some food, I did not feel like getting myself together and walking all the way to the back of the ship.  I didn't have dinner and it was OK.  We'd eaten a lot this week. We did have a reservation for the steak house as well that we canceled.  

 

Up bright and early today we made it down to the Carnivale dining room for 715 AM.  As Excel suite guests we were in group 1 to disembark where we carried off our own luggage.  It couldn't have been smoother.  We were off the ship and in a cab and at the airport by 8:30.  We had an 11 AM flight.  Plenty of time.  

 

I don't need to get into the delay we had getting home out of Charlotte.  It's never easy.  

 

Overall we got from the cruise what we wanted.  My son and I wanted to chill and hang out and have some nice meals and enjoy the view.  We did exactly that.  The Celebration is the largest ship we've ever been on and we may go back to older ships for the next cruise.  Maybe the Breeze, which we liked very much.  For the most part we enjoyed the food.  Bonzai and ChiBang were our best meals.  I eventually had Big Chicken on a busy day when the fries were hot and fresh and they were amazing so all the recommendations I got to have the fries were justified.  Unfortunately, for me, when I went during an off time, the fries weren't great.  The chicken strips were always good.  The forward corner Excel suite was fantastic but you will get in all of your steps everyday trying to get anywhere.  Maybe that's a good thing?  I had some luck in the casino and I played an hour or so on most days.  I did get a casino offer outside the door today.  Free suite with $200 funplay.  Have to book by June 28.  I'll see if there's something I want to book.  We enjoyed the Family Feud shows and the comedian shows we saw.  We attended the Platinum/Diamond get together which is usually a nice time.  Even with the few snafus, we enjoyed it and we will cruise again soon.

 

I appreciate y'all that followed along with me.  Like I said at the beginning, we're low key non participation cruisers.  We rarely get off the ship.  The room means a lot to us because we spend time in it.  That's how we cruise.  🙂 

[bg2310]

So sorry about your experience with Rudi's! On one of my cruises my friend was told what he was wearing wasn't "dressy" enough, and that he would need to change to dine there. This was in the MDR on elegant night. We went back to the room for him to change then went back and got a table easily without further issue.

 

Yet I've also seen people in MDR on elegant night in shorts and not all dressed up. It really does seem to just be inconsistent enforcement. But it does seem the specialty restaurants are more sticklers.

 

Since my own experience viz-a-viz my friend, I've just always worn pants and dressed up for elegant night, even in the MDR so I don't run into the issue of that one stickler saying I need to change. Btw, not sure about the app, but the "Fun Times" pamphlets they handout and provide everyday will usually tell you whether it's Cruise Casual or Cruise Elegant that night. I just follow whatever that says and usually change after dinner into something more comfortable for the rest of the night's entertainment if it's elegant night.

 

The lady definitely could have handled it much better than she did though, I suspect it very well could have been a language issue or something as you suggested. But something should be said so she knows in the future not to handle it that way.

[bg2310]

To another point, maybe it's just me, or part of being a guy, but when I'm on vacation I will go out looking how I want to. I'm not there for anyone else afterall. Yes, at the start of the day and for dinner I will get cleaned up and looking nice, but otherwise I will throw on an outfit, some sunglasses and maybe a hat if it's needed and just go for it. Sometimes even first thing in the morning for breakfast/brunch I'll do it without really getting ready.

 

At the end of the day I'm on vacation for me, not anyone else. So if I'm not feeling it to get all the way ready, I don't. But I don't let it stop me from going "out" and enjoying the things I want to either. I try not to let bother me what others think of or see of me. I pay it no mind and go about my business. Then again, it's always kind of been my personality to just do and be me and not really be worried about or concerned with what others think lol. 

 

Anyway, I am glad you both enjoyed your cruise and thank you for sharing it with us! Also, I've seen reports that CCL is considering making Excel class ships not exclusively 6+ day cruises, so don't rule them out entirely if 5 day cruises are the ones for you.

 

I suspect it won't be too much longer before they have at least 1x Excel class ship doing 4/5 day or even 3 day cruises! Especially once Excel #4 and #5 start sailing in 2027 and 2028.

[jimbo5544]

36 minutes ago, bg2310 said:

 

 

I suspect it won't be too much longer before they have at least 1x Excel class ship doing 4/5 day or even 3 day cruises! Especially once Excel #4 and #5 start sailing in 2027 and 2028.

You may be right

[wrightkj]

I enjoyed your Live so much! Hope you slept well back in your own bed!

[Host CMLA]

4 hours ago, wrightkj said:

I enjoyed your Live so much! Hope you slept well back in your own bed!

 

Thank you!  I'm so glad you enjoyed it.  I slept really well in my own bed.  😉 

[ninjacat123]

On 6/14/2024 at 7:43 PM, Host CMLA said:

 

You know she may have offered the patio.  I didn't hear her say that but I wouldn't have done that.  It's hot outside.  If I'm in my swimsuit or what not, outside is great but when I'm in a dress etc, it's too hot and humid.  Sweaty.  They are good views though. 

 

I'm not sure I'd go to that restaurant.  Not because of this incident but because it's more expensive than I would want to spend on a cruise where there are so many other venues that are included that we like so much.  I have heard the food is good.  I've spent extra money for Bonzai and a few Java Cafe sweets but for the most part we eat in the included venues.  

 

We go home tomorrow and my son and I are ready.  We miss home.  😞

When my mom and I had dinner at Rudi’s on MG we were not that impressed. I know, a one off but we really had a great time and yummy food at Bonsai Teppanyaki. Sorry the hostess was a butthead. 

[Frank12]

5 hours ago, ninjacat123 said:

When my mom and I had dinner at Rudi’s on MG we were not that impressed. I know, a one off but we really had a great time and yummy food at Bonsai Teppanyaki. Sorry the hostess was a butthead. 

Also not impressed at all at Rudi's.

[beshears]

I just want to take this opportunity to THANK each of you who responded to my posting in regard to getting information in regard to the Carnival Celebration. I have shared some of this information with the ones that are to cruise with me, and they have decided to go another direction, but once again, thank you for your responses.

[Knights on the Beach]

On 6/16/2024 at 11:50 AM, ninjacat123 said:

When my mom and I had dinner at Rudi’s on MG we were not that impressed. I know, a one off but we really had a great time and yummy food at Bonsai Teppanyaki. Sorry the hostess was a butthead. 

 

19 hours ago, Frank12 said:

Also not impressed at all at Rudi's.

 

We (4 of us) had dinner at Rudi's on Mardi Gras in December 2022. I'm allergic to shellfish and don't eat any seafood at all. The other couple was dying to eat there, so we did. I was the only one to eat steak and the others all had seafood. None of them were impressed but my meal was delicious. 

[Host CMLA]

54 minutes ago, Knights on the Beach said:

 

 

We (4 of us) had dinner at Rudi's on Mardi Gras in December 2022. I'm allergic to shellfish and don't eat any seafood at all. The other couple was dying to eat there, so we did. I was the only one to eat steak and the others all had seafood. None of them were impressed but my meal was delicious. 

 

The best meal I had all week was at Bonzai.  Next best was ChiBang.  Funny how the lower cost restaurants were actually better for me.  Or maybe I don't have a refined enough pallet to appreciate how fancy some of the food is?  I wouldn't go to Rudi's if I was making the dining decision.  It was a comp from the casino because I'm a player with them.  I wasn't heartbroken to not go just irked about the way the situation was handled.  

[Knights on the Beach]

1 hour ago, Host CMLA said:

 

The best meal I had all week was at Bonzai.  Next best was ChiBang.  Funny how the lower cost restaurants were actually better for me.  Or maybe I don't have a refined enough pallet to appreciate how fancy some of the food is?  I wouldn't go to Rudi's if I was making the dining decision.  It was a comp from the casino because I'm a player with them.  I wasn't heartbroken to not go just irked about the way the situation was handled.  

 

I hear you! We love Teppanyaki and would do that over the steakhouse or Rudi's any day! And ChiBang is one of my favorites, both for lunch and dinner. 

[straitlover1965]

With all the money you were spending in the casino, I'm surprised your host couldn't get you some free room service food (the stuff they are charging for, not the stuff that's already free). 🙂 Glad you had a fun trip! 🙂