Caps_Shield

On 7/22/2023 at 2:35 PM, happy cruzer said:

So is it JiJi's or Bonsai that you had slow service in?  How about the deli and Cucino del Capitiano?

 

Getting my expectations set to be patient :).

 

thanks for the report.

Bonsai Sushi was the bad service.  We loved JiJi and had a wonderful time there.  Cucino was also very pleasant.  In all my sailing, it was the first time Bonsai was this bad so maybe it was a one time thing.  

Just now, RiotAct said:

so what you're saying is.... it was pretty fun?  😉

I think I maybe over used that word.  🤣

Just off the Breeze on July 8th (then I hopped on the Vista) and it was a wonderful ship.  If you gamble but don't smoke they have a smoke free casino that was a lot of fun!  If you like the piano bar that was big and fun.  It kinda depends on the piano person at the time though as we had a dud of a time on the Vista last week.  Trivia was a blast.  Laurence was our cruise director and he was a lot of fun.  It really was a lot of fun.  I hope you have fun.   

I was just on it!  Great ship!  Only complaint is that for my sailing every bar was closed by 11pm.  Maybe that was just a odd thing for my sailing and maybe that isn't a concern for you.  Just something to keep in mind.  

Just off the Vista this past week and there were more great things than bad.  Thought I would make a little list and be here if anyone had a certain question.

GOOD

1. The Havana Area - We had rooms in the Havana area from Cabanas to inside cabins.  The rooms were great and the area itself was amazing!  The pool was never really crowded and neither were the hot tubs.  It was so nice to be able to find a spot when you wanted.
2. Fahrenheit 555 - First trip in 9 or 10 cruises and it was well worth it.  Everything from the bread to the dessert were amazing!
3. Cruise Director Leon - Man was he fun!  My favorite cruise director next to Lee Mason.  He was all over and when you stopped to say hi, he really seemed to engage with you.  He is a superstar!

BAD

1. Number one has to be that the place closes down by 11pm.  I was on the Breeze the week prior also and there you can find a drink or a bottle of water until all hours.  On the Vista, after 11pm you are out of luck.  You could go to the casino and chase down a server but that seemed crazy since they were few and far between to begin with.  If Carnival is going to rip out the casino bar, IMO, you need to replace it with another bar opened late.  A few bars said they were open late then by 11pm they were closing down.  One night I just wanted a bottle of water and was out of luck.  To me that is poor planning and I have never seen a ship like this before.
2. Service in the Sushi bar.  It was non-existent.  Our server went on break after we sat down and we had to ask a food runner to help us.  It was a mess.  It was only 8:30 pm and the place was crowded.  I was shocked how many people had service issues.  may it was just a one time thing but it left a bad taste for me.  
3. Short time in Cozumel.  I understand we have a "propulsion" issue but the ship was doing 22 knots on the way to Galveston.  That seems fast enough.  We were the last ship in port for Cozumel and the first to leave.  Not sure why since we could see the Dream sailing in the distance that night.  They got extra time in that port. 

Other that that my group of 7 had a fun time!  If you have questions let me know!

6 minutes ago, staceyglow said:

In Long Beach,  you are required to queue up in the line that corresponds with the check-in time on your boarding pass.  Once that line is allowed into the building, THEN you can use the Priority line that is near the entrance.

As John stated and others have pointed out, there is no point in FTTF if you can't enter until say noon.  The entire point is going in early.  Perhaps Long Beach is one that was told to change.  That I do not know.

John Heald has had this topic asked a lot this week.  He even asked the higher ups and if you have FTTF or any other priority boarding, you show up and join a priority line (or lack there of depending on the lines size).  The rumor of that changing is not true and I guess ports were told that.  

I commend you for trying this.  We never had the guts when our kids were young.  They are the cause of the huge gap in cruising we have.  I hope everything goes smoothly for you all!  

22 hours ago, Clearwater said:

He's an amazing son.  I loved hearing how everytime he returned home he would get her groceries and her favorite foods and flowers.    As soon as she fell, he has been by her side.  Not a lot of people are so selfless.  Sometimes he can be over the top but he did me right on a cruise ages ago when I asked for help.  He is fun to follow on social media. 

 

I am glad she didn't pass on their Mother's Day. That would be a very bleak reminder. 

He's from England.   They do not have the same date for Mothers Day.  Theirs is on March 19th.  Not sure when she passed away but they are two different days.  I think people forget he isn't from the US.

Thank you all for your help.  The person was making it sound that the normal shops and such are a 4 mile walk.  I understand now what i think they were actually trying to say.

3 minutes ago, dallasdan said:

Where they drop you off at is only a block or 2 to the beach area.

Thank you

Just now, dallasdan said:

They have busses that take you into town.

OK so it is 4 miles to town, not to the port area.  OK, that makes WAY more sense.

I'm being told that the pier in Progresso is 4 miles long.  How in the world can that be?  I have never seen nor heard of a pier being 4 miles long.  You would think no one would get off.  A lot of people can't walk 4 miles.  It's like a freaking marathon just to get a shot glass??

The last outbreak of trichinosis was 1981 and that was with bear meat.  I think you are safe.  Unless to fix the bacon issue they started serving raw bear bacon.  It used to be more prevalent in raw pork but that was fixed by what they feed pigs now.  

7 minutes ago, wemjam said:

If I am reading your post correctly, I think what you are saying is that once you ate in the Steakhouse you couldn't select MDR on hub app anymore?

 

So, you can still go and eat in MDR, you just have to physically go down and check in.  Their hub app system is not designed to allow you to dine twice for same meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

 

We found this out on Sea Day brunch one time.  We used the hub app to eat in MDR for Sea Day breakfast and wanted to go back at lunch time too.  When we tried to use the hub app to check in for lunch it wouldn't let us, so we went down and asked.  They just checked us in there, told us about the 1 and done.

Interesting.  I suppose they didn't go down and speak with anyone, they just saw it gone and assumed.  Thanks for the info!

On 4/19/2023 at 6:56 PM, mz-s said:

No, it's only available on the first night. It's nothing particularly special, your steakhouse dinner will trounce it.

 

However if you are signed up for your time dining, there's nothing stopping you from going to the MDR and just ordering a plate of calimari. It may also be available on Lido (I Can't remember).

I do not believe that is true anymore.  Family just got off the Panorama and when you selected a dining options the others are no longer available.   They wanted to do this same thing but could not go to the MDR.  Seems silly to me.

I'm going in July and really looking forward to her Havana area.  I have seen it on the Horizon but this is my first stay in it.  I hope you enjoy your sailing.

33 minutes ago, ZoeyVictoria said:

Along with the birth certificate, don’t forget to bring any name change documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, death certificate).  I just used a b/c for the first time (passport renewal was delayed) and did not take those documents. Had a scary few minutes when I thought I would not be allowed to sail. 

Death Certificate?? We have dead people boarding cruises now?  I live in Chicago I thought they only voted 🤣!

1 minute ago, joyce&bob said:

Thanks all info. helps....  Do the anytime dining guests go to a certain main dining room?

Yes, the Palm at the back of the ship.

My son gets Shirley Temples all the time.  Even at his "advanced age" he still drinks them.  Always free on BB.  

3 minutes ago, joyce&bob said:

Traveling on Mardi Gras with a handicapped person & trying to figure out routes to make going from one place to another.  Enjoy trivia; just wondering where the trivia games are held.  Can anyone help? Pre-planning will make our trip easier. Also, we are dining anytime; which MDR will we be assigned?

They were held in a lounge across from the casino I believe.  I want to as LimeLight.  It was a nice sized room so you should be ok to go!

It may seem odd, but I wear a digital, non smart watch, just for this issue and only on cruises.  I set it to the ship's time and I will always be right.  I suggest it to anyone worried about missing  the ship.  

You should note that cruise cash is you it or lose it.  IMO, it is better to just add a card to the account as not to risk anything.  Just my 2 cents though.  

For anyone who has been on the Panorama lately, I have a few questions:

• Is anyone in the pools during the day or is it too chilly?
• Do sold out times ever open up for specialty dining?  Can I get on a waitlist?

Thank you in advance!!!

19 hours ago, pc_load_letter said:

 

Well, sea days were always warm but with wind. Evenings were chilly to outright cold. I often bring a small lightweight zip up sweater I call my "Mr Rodgers sweater". Morning clouds until they burn off.

 

But that's what's frustrating...like I stated above, the inside of the ship was always running warm with the outside cold. Hard to dress if you go from a warm dining room to the cold open air for a deck party.

Thank you for the info!