Landlocked_N_Texas

I would like to purchase the Cheerios Tablecloth package but I'm told everyone in my cabin who will be eating must also purchase the package and I'll be danged if I'm paying for 2 packages when only one of us is sophisticated enough to use a tablecloth properly.

So. Much. Win. I am waiting until they sell tablecloths in the onboard shops...

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There are reliability issues, and questions about how accurate the systems are at actually determining whether an object is a human or not. On a previous thread about this technology on the Disney forum (the only line to have automated systems), we had a manufacturer's representative claiming that the system used radar to determine "mass" as a criteria for determining whether a target was human or not. When I questioned him how radar could determine "mass" rather than "volume" (which a radar could do), they stopped posting.

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, most likely the case. They wouldn't turn around until there was video evidence of a person going overboard, or the head count showed one person missing, but they most likely notified the USCG immediately upon the report of the person potentially being missing. So the USCG could have scrambled assets hours before it was actually determined the person was missing, I don't know where the ship is or where the incident happened so I don't know the response time, and air assets move a lot faster than sea assets and cover a greater area. And you don't know whether the USCG had assets in place for other reasons (drug interdiction, etc.).

This was my thought. Air and sea rescue might have gotten there more quickly or, being afternoon when she was found to be missing, maybe assets were already in the area.

I hope this is the case. Any speaking out against this woman, her frame of mind, or Carnival's conduct after searching onboard is just speculation.

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All a matter of perception and which sign of the fence you are standing on. Company decisions are just that, decisions. If it pleases everyone, then it was a pretty easy decision to make.

Just to clarify, I don't mean that other cruise lines please EVERYBODY. I just meant they use tablecloths and still manage to watch the bottom line. Sorry it was vague (I think I am sometimes :) )

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I wonder how many of those who want tablecloths and other "nicer" touches want to dress down as much as possible?

I want nice tablecloths and I dress up for dinner; beyond the requisite "no shorts, no flip flops." I'm talking dress or skirt; dress slacks if we go to the Lido for dinner. Believe me, it's very difficult making your kids and husband dress up if other passengers don't.

But I'm in my late 30's and know I'm in the minority.

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Business decisions usually don't work that way.

Great businesses can figure out how to do both. I'm not saying it's easy, nor that every person will be 100% satisfied 100% of the time. Somehow other cruise lines do it and still make a profit - even thrive!

Then again, maybe people not wanting tablecloths is just a sign of changing times! Just like Anytime dining...

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Oh! I just saw people had already replied! I didn't see that before posting :) ! I'll blame the I pad, but it might have been a brain fart! Enjoy your cruise!

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Hello fellow cruisers,

 

 

 

Quick questions:

 

 

 

1) Does the room/bathroom get stocked with shampoo/conditioner or should we bring our own?

 

You get shampoo only...not great but adequate if you're okay with generic hotel shampoo.

 

 

2) Pool towels - is it advisable to bring our own or are there sufficient available on decks?

 

They will give you a fluffy beach towel for each guest. You can trade them in for new ones at the pool if you need to or the room steward replaces. Just be advised that if you take them off the ship like for an excursion and don't bring them back, they charge you for them!

 

 

3) Pillow - do people bring their own special/favorite pillow or is that just weird (ya, I know the cabins have pillows :) )

 

I like the pillows, but I know you can ask the room steward for a different type if you want (cotton, feather.... Probably not memory foam)

 

 

4) Is there a way (like an app or something) that allows you to communicate with family while on board? Texting? something?

 

Download the Carnival Hub app. before you leave. It's free, and gives you access to what's going on daily. For $5/day you can get Facebook and use Facebook messenger to text. It might be $25 for the week? Someone will know!

 

 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

Jenn

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I wish they would, but let's be honest. 95% of people could want them and it wouldn't happen. Carnival has made it abundantly clear that they care more about the bottom line than guest experiences. Strange they can't figure out a way to look out for both...

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I've been on the Freedom twice and the Magic (in the same class as the Breeze). We are booking a Nov. cruise on the Breeze! One big plus for the Breeze is the outdoor area on Deck 5. It was just such a fun place to hang out outside of Red Frog on the Magic! The Ocean Plaza is great - and the Breeze has this too. There is nothing comparable on the Freedom. I also liked the Magic's spa area better. There are thermal suites on the Breeze and Magic. Also, on the Magic, the mani and pedi area overlooked larger picture windows of the ocean. The Freedom's spa was dinky in comparison. I'm looking forward to seeing if the Breeze is comparable to the Magic.

What kinds of things do you like to do onboard? I know you said you don't have kids, so the ropes course would probably not interest you...

Oh, the Serenity area! I liked that area on the Freedom better. Wish I could help more, but maybe that gives you some ideas!

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Anyone have any information about the Comfort Kitchen? Says on the Carnival website that it's new too.

Most ships have Comfort Kitchen as part of the Lido buffet. It is just a station at the buffet. I think it's where they normally have more "home cooked" food like mashed potatoes and fried chicken?

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All of these standard cruise lines serve about the same food of about the same quality. I happened to prefer Carnival somebody else might prefer Norwegians but bottom line all of them are about the same. When you say you have not ruled out trying Premium cruise lines I assume you're talking crystal cruise lines or the like because if you're talking about Princess, RCL, or Norwegian I've been there and done that and they are the same as Carnival.

I have to disagree. I don't consider Disney "premium" (over-priced maybe) but their dining is a far different experience compared to CCL. Not only in food quality, but in overall presentation as well.

We decorated in June this year on the Freedom and saw lots of doors decorated. We used the 3M removable strips. I wish Carnival would have a policy! I know our door on the Magic was NOT magnetic. I had only cruised DCL, so brought a few magnets that did not work! But they looked great in the cabin! I don't know about the Freedom's doors - I gave up on the Magnet thing!

I don't know if Carnival offers it, but we loved Blue Lagoon. They were great with kids (our son was 8 at the time) and it was very educational. It was a fun, pretty ferry ride and there is a great beach to lounge at afterward.

My son is 12 and pays for his own arcade. Our first cruise he had bottomless bubbles. Last time I gave him a "1 drink a day" allowance - he never had that many. He shopped at Cherry on Top his first cruise but never after that. He is like others have mentioned - he shops at ports. He likes carvings best.

Now, if they let kids book the steakhouse or Italian, I could totally see him spending his allowance there. He's a bit of a foodie.

We like the Courtyard Marriott Seawall. You had to call for the Stay, Park and Cruise rate. They have a parking garage and shuttle too and from the port. Very nice!

After years of overpacking and the grief from my husband that goes with it, I allowed him to pack for himself and our son (12) for our last cruise. Fast forward to Day 5 and he's begging me to do laundry. He assumed he'd be in a swim suit during sea days, as he and my son had always done before. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on who you talk to) his swim buddy found a friend in Circle C. A young lady wayyyy more interesting than the pool or water slides or hanging out with dad. Plus, my son was wearing more outfits a day, so he needed clothes too.

I made my husband do the laundry himself. Cruel? Maybe. But I think that's the way you learn sometimes.

We were on the 7th floor on the Freedom in June in a Balcony (an 8C). 6277 will be near the forward elevators. The only negative (or positive) is that that is the large bay of elevators. Also, they are open to the Lobby, so you will hear the music and events, but it shouldn't be too noisy in your room. Plus, events in the Lobby end early, so sleeping shouldn't be an issue. You will have quick access to the Fun Shops and Casino on floor 5. Also, the photo gallery, Victorian lounge for shows and Circle C if you have pre-teens on 4. The lobby and shows will also be easy to get to on 3.

Up on 9, the forward elevators will exit where there are rooms, but the hallway leads to the pool area.

Over all, I like being more forward. The art and midship elevators I think are used more (because that's where the food and pool are!) and are noisier, but the forward elevators are usually more quiet.

I'll see if I can find pics of our balcony room; maybe it will help. How many are in your room? I have a picture of the upper bed pulled somewhere I think.

We will tip the porters $2/bag + $2. I usually request ice from the Steward and give him $20 the first day. If I have to make an unusual request, and/or when they go above and beyond, I keep $5 bills for the stewards, but I do cash at the end too. $1-2 for drinks (depending on the bartender) and $2-3 room service (coffee every day). I have envelopes marked for tips and pre-fill before cruising. As far as dining, we do Your Time Dining. Once we had an outstanding Waiter (Nonni on the Magic) who we requested and got each time. We tipped her cash at the end. This last cruise, no one stood out. We never requested a certain person's table, so we added $20 to the dining gratuities and that was that.

On our first cruise on Carnival I dumped a backpack on the bed (looking for sunglasses) and sand went everywhere! I felt awful!

The steward was so nice, but I didn't know to tip him at the time (I thought I did by adding to the auto-gratuities). I read later he may or may not have gotten it. Now I use cash!

83, baby!

We bring about $100 per day in addition to cash needed for excursions. We use cash in the casino, though. We keep it in the safe without any problem! We put whatever is left (or won) toward our S&S card except a little to get home.

Oh, and we also bring $1's and $5's for tips!

My plan is to take some pledge and a cloth, keep my head down, and look busy. I'll polish every banister on that ship if it means I can stowaway...um, I mean sail, another week!

I use zero balance gift cards.

Brilliant! File that under "Why didn't I think of that!"

Any one know which ships have which type of safe?

Freedom had magnet strip. Magic had keypad.

Our room wasn't ready when we used FTTF (this was on the Magic out of Galveston). We were told we could leave our bags (we only had a small carry on and a backpack). But one thing I didn't think about - I think the luggage was in our steward's way. Even when we went back, there was still sand on the floor, like it hadn't been vacuumed well.

I never thought much of it - actually I chalked it up to a difference between Carnival and the only other cruise line we sailed, DCL. But after our 2nd Carnival cruise I realized that wasn't the case! Our steward for our 2nd cruise was incredible - everything so clean and smooth when getting into our room. I think this has to do more with the room steward than the FTTF vs no FTTF.

We had an early excursion on a tender port and an early flight out, so those perks made it worthwhile. We want to try again, as our next cruise has a tender port and I like the idea of dropping things off. But if our room isn't ready, I won't leave our bag there.

As I said above' date=' if a server on DCL is not getting you the substitutions you want, they are just being lazy so-an-sos. There is absolutely no policy against substitutions provided that the item desired is on the menu. Going off menu is possible, but works best with advance notice. Special preps are an every day thing for allergy or other medical need situations. (these are a different issue than substitutions though).

 

 

 

Asking for a plain baked potato should NEVER be a problem. They are on the "lighter fare" section of the menu, so placing one on a plate and serving it is not exactly difficult!

 

 

 

We've actually had servers who went "off menu" for us every night without our asking. One learned that broccoli is my daughter's favorite vege. Every night he had a serving of steamed broccoli for her![/quote']

 

 

I totally agree! And our 3rd cruise, the server learned my son liked a plain salad with croutons as a starter. It was there every night waiting on him.