dustedice

I am ecstatic that I can say.. THREE days till my first cruise!! :) But we leave in two!

If you have My Time Dining, it is very easy to get a table for two. Just tell them when you show up for dinner.

 

If you have traditional dining, then go to the MDR as soon as you board and try to arrange that with the person at the podium.

 

Note that some of the tables for two can be very close together.

Thank you so much for the quick reply. :) We do have My Time Dining.

I appreciate the helpful feedback!

I am leaving for my first cruise this weekend (it feels so great to finally say that!!) and I was just wondering something..

Is it possible/easy to get seating for two people in the MDR? I have heard stories about the big table and that sounds fun as well, but seeing it is our honeymoon I would like to have the option for a romantic dinner. Are they usually able to accommodate this request?

Thank you for the help!

Hello Jim Zim!! I am really looking forward to reading your review. :) I hope you had a marvelous time!

Thank you, everyone! It helps a lot. I was able to call and order them successfully. It will be a fun little surprise for DH.

Sorry to hear others had problems. :-\ I think it is worth a shot trying!

Hello everyone. :)

I am trying to order chocolate covered strawberries online through Gifts & Gear and I cannot find how to add them to my "cart" or "bag". I have tried different browers on two different computers. Am I missing something or is the website just wacky?? Has anyone else had a problem ordering online?

Thank you for reading my mundane question. :)

Don't worry we are gonna live it up over the Christmas cruise! At least I know I am. Went on Explorer out of Galveston last year same route over Christmas and had a blast. This deal is just so sweet such a shame I hadn't planned anything and still had the time. I'd be packing!

 

Bo

Yes sir, it will be a blast!! :D

That is incredible! And frustrating because I am taking the same exact cruise over Christmas for way more than that. But the memories are all that matter after all. :P

19 days!!!

I am very excited to bring a bottle of champagne for breakfast mimosas and a bottle Starborough Sauvignon Blanc (MMMMMMMMMMMMMM) on our upcoming cruise!!!!

 

 

***Shout out to my Memphis peeps! We'll all have to get together soon and have lunch and share tips and ideas if you're game! Don't forget to watch me on the news tonight at ten! ;-)

Gosh, there are a ton of us Memphians!! I love it! (But I only have 6 months left here, then off to East TN!) It will be fun to see you on the news!!! I had no idea. :)

Michael,

Thank you for your awesome review and amazing pictures!!!!

Thank you very much!

I have a quick question regarding onboard credit. We booked our cruise in July while they had $400 onboard credit offer.

From what I understand- I can use this on drinks, specialty restaurants, an excursion (as long I book on the ship, correct?).

I was just wondering if this credit applies to the shops as well?? If I bought, say a watch, would it come from this credit?

I apologize if this is a silly question, but I appreciate the insight!! :)

Still soooo excited to be on the Serenade of the Seas in 72 days!! :)

Thanks for your review, and enjoy Carnival!

Hey y'all!

Do you all have a favorite month to cruise?? I am sure ANY month is the best to cruise, but do you have a favorite because of weather or prices?! I am sure it depends on where you are traveling to and everything.

Are there any months that seem to be the least expensive in your experience?

Thank you for your input!

The Allure....it is where I met my wife😘😘😘😘😘

That is amazing!! :D So sweet.

I highly recommend Dunn River Falls when in Jamaica. I have done it twice and both times it was exhilarating! They bundle it with a bunch of different experiences. Last time the wife and I did the excursion in conjunction with a trip to Mystic Mountain to do the bobsled. It was sort of fun, but a lot of waiting around for everyone on the excursion to do the alpine slide. They also have zip lines on the Mountain, but we did not do those as part of our excursion.

 

In Grand Cayman, we really liked the island tour as you get to do the main attractions including Hell, the Turtle Farm, and Stingray park. You can also spend time on Seven Mile beach with some of those packages, depending how long you want to stay on the island. You can always taxi it to Seven Mile Beach as well.

 

Cozumel you can do almost any excursion. Oddly, we have never done anything at the port. One time we did a beach break and another time we just stayed on the ship and had Allure basically all to ourselves.

 

Enjoying planing the cruise. That is half the fun!

Wow, thank you for sharing your experiences! It is very helpful. I really am enjoying the planning and anticipation. I could get hooked on this feeling, for sure. :P

People are so nice and helpful here! :)

So far Voyager of the Seas. I am getting to like Independence of the Seas more and more, but how can you say no to this? :D

 

Oasis of the Seas is cool too.;)

WOW. Gorgeous! :D Thank you for sharing!

Radiance class, so far in our experience. Tried Independence, tried Navigator, tried Legend, but we keep coming back to that Radiance class (of which Serenade is one).

 

The bigger ships have all that junky stuff in the middle - all the shops and pubs, the parades, all that stuff. To me, it's just something I have to figure out what I have to do to get around all that bulk to get to the things at the front of the ship. Legend is lovely, but limited - you'd better like your traveling companion and the people you meet. Not a lot more than that on that small ship. But the Radiance class, big enough for some buzz and some variety. Small enough to easily find your way around.

 

We've sailed on Radiance (herself) Brilliance (more than once) and coming up in October, Serenade. Can't wait! People mention all the glass, but here's what it means in practical terms. You can have a drink in the Schooner, and see out the windows to the passing scape. You can eat in the dining room and see out the windows to the passing scape. You can stand in line at Guest Services and see the passing scape. It's everywhere you look, all the time. Oh, and you can have your Windjammer breakfast outdoors - try it once and you'll be hooked.

 

Can't wait to get on Serenade in October!

Thank you for painting a picture of what it is like to be onboard a Radiance class ship! I love the idea of seeing the sea from many areas of the ship. I didn't even know all of this when I booked- but I am very pleased at what I hear about the ships.

I am excited for you to get on Serenade in October! That will be here before we know it. If you think of it, please let us know how you liked it!!

Enjoy, and thank you for replying! :D

Hello neighbor!

 

Dustedice, We're in Germantown, just east of Memphis, south of Cordova.

 

Longtime cruiser here, got hooked when I was 18, been sailing ever since.

 

The Mrs. and I got married during a cruise, and honeymooned on one too.

 

We're considering driving down I-55 for the Serenade ourselves in a few months.

 

Happy to give you tips and advice, or anything you need, we consider have sent a many friends on their first cruise armed with tips and info, and haven't had an unhappy customer yet.

 

 

Finding this website is a great step one.

 

We'll have to figure out a way to swap info, if you like.

 

But happy to see your excitement!

Thank you, kind sir! I am actually in Germantown as I type. haha Small world!

I appreciate your help! I will definitely contact you with questions. I am a little unsure exactly what to book for off the ship activities. We will be going to Falmouth, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.

Enjoy this beautiful TN day!

Serenade of the Seas!

 

All of that glass. Nothing but great views. Hands down winner!

This makes me even more excited to be on the Serenade in December!! :D

Go to school here? (GO BLUE!)

 

If so, UM Almuni Assoc do have some cruises they do, too. Never done one- as they tend to be a little on the affluent side of cruises....

GO BLUE!! I sure did. DH did undergrad and dental, and we met during dental school! I love that town, and I am am going to miss those crazy game days. haha

alfaeric, I just saw you are from "A2". :) I just moved from there last year!

And thank you for the warning. :D I have no doubt that we will be addicted like the rest of you great people!

Such a happy thread!

 

For us, it depends on our moods.

 

From the big-down....

 

Oasis-Allure- we keep mentioning how many things blow us away on these ships. The top highlight is hanging out in Central Park listening to music, having a glass of wine. Or just strolling through it. The neighbohoods, the aqua park, the shows, the dining options, etc. It's just an amazing ship. Yes, I know you can't see the sea all that often, but sometimes you do want a resort experience where you are in different places as the week progresses. The ships are just amazing.

 

Liberty (hope to do Freedom and Indy over the next two years)- this is kind of a mega ship with the view of the sea. With all of the options available, this is the one we keep coming back to as the actual favorite. Great sea based locations, great options, great ports, great shows, and great people.

 

Adventure/Navigator/Explorer- the Adventure was our second cruise, and at the time, it was the WOW ship. We still very much like these, but for the most part, it's about what is available in a close area. Short cruise with friends, long cruise from New Jersey, week out of San Juan. It's a smaller Liberty, and it seems to show it more than one would thing. Still a a great class of ships.

 

Brilliance/Serenade/Jewel- one of the most beautifly decorated ships- as in the elegance that one associates with the older ships. Yes, I know it's not a QEII, but it has a LOT of the feel of one (I think). It takes very little time to realize that this ship is all about the ocean. views, views, views. From the elevator that points out to the sea to the open deck of the Windjamer- the whole goal is to remind you that you are part of a ship at sea. The itineraries are interesting- some are about convienence- doing a cruise from Tampa, or just being in Puerto Rico at the right time- but others about the size and ability- going to Alaska and cruises from Boston to Canada. I also noted that some of the ports from San Juan are enough different than the Adventure that you kind of end up more on your own. And even with all of that, the ship options are really nice- lacking the Royal Prommedade and Ice rink- the water centric nature more than makes up for it. And it still has great dining options.

 

Rhapsody/Enchantment- similar to the Radience class, but just a little smaller. Not quite as water centric, but the crew really makes up for it. The week we spend on these ships (before the EN move to PC) puts you into places that big ships don't go. Two major highlights- the Endicott Arm to see a glacier, and parking in Conneticut for Independance Day. Two of our most favorite total cruises of all time were on these two ships.

 

Majesty/(Monarch)- people now think of these as small. But the Monarch was our first cruise back in 2001. got us into some great locations in the Caribbean. But for what she does now, the Majesty does it really well. For such a short cruise, the balcony isn't as important, nor is some of the more major ammenities. And since the crew knows it, they really try to make up for it. It is a good weekend outing, especially for the price.

 

So, in short:

Oasis/Allure- want to float an amazing resort

Liberty- real favorite

Adventure- great ship- but more for the convinence

Brilliance/Serneade- total sea going experience. lovely

Rhapsody- so good for the specialty cruises, we will do her in Europe

Majesty- perfect for the weekend get away (Enchantment, too).

 

That felt good to type.

*Applause*! Thank you SO much for this! I am going to copy and paste this for future reference. Each ship sounds so great in their own ways, and I am looking forward to trying many different ships!

I am so happy to hear the Radiance class ships are lovely. I think that will be just perfect for us!!

Thank you again. I really, really appreciate you taking the time to educate a newbie like me. :)