Bear-n-Babe

At the worst, you may have to wait a little longer for a table. They will either seat you at a large table, or if that is not available, would pull together two 4-person tables to accommodate you. We did anytime dining our last cruise, and there always seemed to be a lot of tables available.

If you are serious about getting those abs, email me. I am a fitness coach, and I have a couple programs that focus on abs, and also ones that are more inclusive that include ab work. A shake alone will not give you those desired abs, but the proper shake (along with eating cleaner) will help to fuel your body to achieve quicker results.

I can relate to the desire to lose weight before going on a cruise. Our family took our first cruise in December of 2012, and I was so very overweight and did not want to look the way I did in my swimming trunks. A friend who is a Fitness Coach got my wife and I on his Support Group and helped us select an exercise and eating regiment that was right for us. My wife and I did a 3 month exercise and nutrition program in September thru November of 2012, and we both lost about 18 pounds. It was just a part of what I had to lose, but it sure made a difference in how I felt, and in my mobility. An ingredient to my success was not only the Program but my friend plugged us into a Support Group to keep us accountable and for all of us to encourage each other. I eventually trimmed off 45 pounds over the course of 12 months. Last year, I joined this team as one of their coaches to help counsel and guide others in losing weight and inches and improve their health. Basically, we did an exercise program that was right for us, and our coach taught us how to make healthier choices in eating. (with some occasional cheating! – hey, I am only human!)

Wonderful older ship. Well maintained. Great fun. Crew is terrific. We love the Cruise Director (Wee Jimmy) one of the best we have encountered on Carnival. Agree about the Casino, tight. We were down the first day and never recovered.

I got a kick out of Wee Jimmy. He was very friendly, and was in the lobby saying goodbye to everyone as we disembarked. I had good luck at the Casino, but as they say "know when to fold em". Within 5 minutes, I hit $80 on a $5 investment, and told myself, CASH OUT. Never went back. Too many times, went back the next day and lost it all and then some.

I would probably still book passage on the Carnival ships, but get one of those suites that are tucked away and not advertised. They are there, but you can't find them via the cruise line website. When we were on the Sensation, I knew ahead of time where their two VIP suites were and even found the doors that were marked Private.

Would I try another line? Probably one of the new multi-level suites on a few of the RCL ships, if couldn't get something VIP on Carnival.

Would I go for a private yacht? Not too likely, because I enjoy being around different people, socializing and making new friends. On our last cruise, the wife and daughter thought I was being tooo chatty with the family at the next table at dinner.

not sure when they're sailing on Dream, but soon Dream won't be leaving out of Port Canaveral. They'll have a new home and I think but not sure it's in New Orleans.

Liberty will have a new home in Port Canaveral. That one I can't wait.

Been on Dream Feb 2013, great ship, booked on Dream again in Jan 2014 with a hopefully better cd.

The last cruise for the Dream out of Port Canaveral is April 5, 2014, and it is a repositioning cruise. 9 days and disembarks in New Orleans. We have been considering that cruise, because we have family close to Port O, to stay with before the cruise, and then good friends living close to NOLA to visit with after the cruise. Just waiting to see how some finances work out after the first of the year to determine if we have the funds to make it happen.

We did the anytime/mytime dining on the Sensation. The only night that we had a wait was formal night, and that was also the night that they had (man-made) Christmas Snow cascading down through the center lobby just outside the Dining Room.

What we liked best about this dining choice was that we did not have to rush back from what we were doing to make it to a specific time. We got there when we were ready, and it seemed like the wife and daughter took a long time to get ready for dinner on a couple nights. We would have never made the early dining time on two of our three nights, and the late seating was too late for us.

There are NO such thing as 'dress' jeans.

Actually, I have two pairs of black jeans in my closet that are considered "dress jeans". They are ironed with a crease, and look better than my normal "blue jeans". When I was about 50 lbs lighter, I wore them a lot in situations that normally dictated dress slacks. Never had a problem. They are great for when you want to go the cowboy boots route. Add a nice collared dress shirt, and sometimes I would add a tie. On one occasion got an "oh baby" from a couple ladies.

I think any cruise ship will have kids that week.

 

Choose Carnival, and make liberal use of the Serenity deck. Choose either anytime or late dining. Most families will be at early dining.

I would agree with this approach as well. I also agree with the postors that after 5 days of adult only, a little light fun and relaxation would be a welcome change. Kids are found everywhere. Just go where they are not or minimal, besides on our cruising experience, I didn't really take notice of the numbers of kids. I have to chuckle... the wife just reminded me that we spent our honeymoon (24 years ago) at Disney World. Kids, kids everywhere! Helped us to act like kids and enjoy ourselves.

We did the Sensation last Christmas. For a short 3 day cruise and my first cruise so far, it was a nice way to 'break into' cruising. I am more into just relaxing, so I was fine doing without all the extras. We still had a good time. I enjoyed the Sea Days, sitting on a lounge chair, away from the crowds, sipping a drink and listening to my iPod or reading a book. With trying to keep track of two kids (18 and 21), the smaller ship made it easier for the wife and I to track them done when we needed them.

I am not one that likes big crowds and long lines. Even a busy time such as Christmas with a lot of kids on board, it was not that bad. Being a smaller ship, there were fellow passengers that we got to know and bumped into frequently throughout the cruise. I liked the intimacy of the smaller ship.

For our next cruise, we are going to 'try' a larger ship, just to see what it is like. I am hoping to take the wife on a week long 2nd honeymoon cruise, and the cruises that we are looking at are bigger ships.

The Raddison is a good choice. You can park your car there and they will shuttle you to the port and back.

I have only done one cruise, and I can say that, for the 'most part', the destination is not the biggest factor for me. I loved the ship and being on the ship. I have been researching my next cruise, and for me, the #1 factor is what is the ship and it's amenities. Now of course, I am considering the port of embarkation and where it goes, but for me this is to be all about relaxation. Based on my first cruise, the port-of-call was not relaxing, and I couldn't wait to get back on ship. Port-of-call was lay on a beach for a while, do some shopping and drinking and get back to my temp home (the ship).

Someone asked me why I have visited Disney World over 90+ days. Because it is familair and comfortable for me, and anymore now I go for relaxing and people watching mixed with seeing what is new, and trying out restaurants that I hadn't done yet.

When we did our cruise on Carnival, we were advised to NOT use your Sail-n-sign card. I used my drivers license card. I like the idea of using an old hotel room key or old gift card that no longer has $ on it. that way nothing gets erased from a card that is good.

Thanks! We're leaving out of Port Canaveral (sp?) So I'll probably only need to pack one sweater :)

Our family did a Christmas cruise out of Port Canaveral, last Christmas. We are from Pennsylvania in the Northeast. When we left port, it was nice. Shorts and tee shirt where in order. We went to the Bahamas. We wore swimwear at the beach, but the water was a little cool to get in and feel comfortable. Not too many people were swimming. You might need a sweater or light jacket for in the evening when up on deck. Everything was nice until the morning that we disembarked at Port Canaveral. I walk up on deck to go to breakfast, and I immediately turned around and went back to the room for a jacket. It felt like I was back North, and was freezing. So.... bottom line, plan for nice warm swimsuit weather, but take along that jacket or sweater just in case the temperatures turn colder. In the islands, it should be nice, especially where you are going. Our shock was on disembarking at Port Canaveral at the end.

I used the Herbalife products back in 1996 and lost about 80 pounds, and my doctor took me off all my blood pressure meds. They do have a lot of good products.

I still use the Herbalife herbal tea, because since I do not drink coffee, I drink their tea instead for my morning start.

Last Christmas I went on a cruise and the 5 months leading up to it, I switched over to use the Beachbody Shakeology shakes for breakfast and do the P90X exercise program, and lost several inches, 20 lbs and put on muscle. After the cruise I continued on with the Shakeology shakes and their exercise programs (i.e. HipHopAbs, P90X) and am down a total of 50 lbs so far in the past year.

I like their 3 prong approach to fitness: structured exercise program, nutritional shake, and teaching on healthier eating choices. And they assigned a coach to me to guide me and tweek my eating and exercise regiment.

If interested, message me, and I can hook you up with one of their coaches.