Sweet Dutch Girl

Carnival doesn't skimp on the alcohol in its drinks...I am sure there is a hefty 2 ounces or more. So 15 hard liquor drinks and you've consumed a total bottle of vodka (for example). I don't think I'd be able to stand let alone order another drink even over a 16 hour sea day. I think Carnival would be right in protecting me from me.

It can be done in most cases, but you have to check with guest services when you get onboard.

That is false information. At every so many cabins that divider cannot be folded back and attached because the doors from the cabin to the patio are adjacent. (ie: the interiors are mirror images). If the interiors are flipped windows adjacent then the divider can fold back like they can if the pattern is door window, divider, door window, divider. It may take some heavy research to figure out exactly what the configurations of the cabins are since the deck plans don't go into that detail.

When I book a cruise I know what can spend, I book early enough to get the location I want and to put myself in line for some nice early booking airfares (the place where I really save money). Then I pay it and don't even think about looking at the fares again. I got what I want, at the price I could afford etc.

Maybe...but you'll rarely know until you get on board and find out which sides can permanently fold back. It's all about the interior layout and where the balcony door is situated.

The permission letter is for medical power of attorney. An 18 year old is considered an adult and can make those decisions on their own. Other than drinking I think an 18 year old is considered an adult while cruising.

The entire purpose of the sign and sail card slot for lights is to discourage people from leaving their rooms with all the lights blazing for an entire day. Of course you can use other cards that are sized like the sign and sail card but be considerate and turn off lights when not in use.

Make sure to check Carnival's website and bring letters signed by both parents (if not sailing with you) and notarized (I think) stating that you have permission to take him out of the country. You may not need the letters but Mexico is notorious for asking for them. Without the letter you won't be able to leave the ship. Have fun!

Not true...Mexico does not check the ID or papers of anyone leaving the ship or returning to the ship...

If you fly into Mexico and have to go through Mexican customs then the story is a bit different.

So, a birth certificate and photo Id is all you need. With all the "different" types of family dynamics traveling the only thing you may need is a power of attorney for medical purposes if the child is not related to you.

The regular balcony esp on deck 6 & 7 look right down on the lanai deck 5 & could be noisy & not much privacy.

Can't speak for deck 6 but the deck 7 balconies are wonderful and private even being above the promenade. If you want to hang over the railings you can see down but line of site (even from the hot tubs) doesn't allow people to look onto your private space. And when you are moving on water the sound of the sea crashing into the hull precludes sound from traveling from deck 5 to 7.

The coffee on the ship is just like the coffee from almost any land based restaurant...and the nice part is you don't have to pay a buck and change for every cup you drink. I gave up on expensive coffee a long time ago....unless someone else is footing the bill its like I'll settle for the house tequila instead of a shot of patron. And starbucks and seattles best and dunkin are all pretty mediocre house brands, nothing to write home to Mom about and the ships coffee is on par with them.

Thank you for this. I prefer nova smoked and usually get blank looks from servers or others when I asked what type of smoking procedure has been used on the salmon.

 

I would agree that the salmon on Carnival is lox; it has the very salty taste of lox.

Funny...I can picture the server foraging for the box the salmon came in to read the particulars for you. And I always thought that "lox" being from the belly of the salmon was the preferred cut. Whatever, smoked salmon is still smoked salmon.

And yes, you can get it most anywhere on the ship....as well as red onions, peppercorns, cream cheese and bagels. Enjoy

Independent tour operators "know" what time a ship is set to. They would loose business if they confused patrons by flipping times. In all my years of cruising when I book a tour they are there at the stated time whether it is Island time or not. These tours often pick up cruisers from various ships which may or may not be on the "same" ship time. That is why they ask you, when booking, what ship you are arriving on before giving you a meet-up time. It's best not to over-think or over-worry this kind of stuff...tour operators have been doing this for years and years and years.

This is YOUR vacation....as long as you wear clothes not bathing attire you will be fine in the MDR. Lots of people wear sweats, jeans, rather revealing sun dresses, shorts (I personally haven't seen any man in the last 20 years wear old fashioned cut off at the crotch shorts though gals still do), t-shirts, flip flops. Carnival may suggest a bit more dressed up attire...but they won't turn anyone away.

I'm not sure I fully understand the need to post numerous complaints and supposed "bad" acts by a cruise line on their forums unless the impact would be vital information for upcoming travelers. If certain services are no longer available fleet wide that is good information, if a certain ship's crew is notorious for allowing chair hogs I like to know that so I just pile up towels on chairs left unattended after 45 minutes, if floors are slippery in a certain area that's good information so that I walk more gingerly. I like information about cabins where noise or obstructions are concerns or comments on buffets where long lines may be a continuous item...that way I'll know to get to the buffet at opening if I truly want a certain food item.

But subjective comments like bad food or poor service are often just in the eyes and taste buds of the consumer and makes legitimate remarks suspect.

The glass elevators that look over the atrium. 2264 is under a carpeted section of the lobby area...not known for much noise.

I am sure Carnival did the best they could in handling a safety situation after the fact since they probably had no prior knowledge that some guy was going to go ballistic on the ship. And I'm not sure what purpose it would serve to advertise how they handled the situation, post incident. Someone could have told you anything and you would never be privy to the actual outcome since, other than your peace of mind, it had no bearing on you. And I don't think I would have worried about the incident happening twice since it's rare that you hear of it happening once.

Buffets rarely, in any circumstance, have a trillion options...that just isn't the nature of the beast. And if you wanted an omelet cooked to order there is always brunch or breakfast in the dining room...its a nice peaceful way to begin a morning with no hassles or lines.

I, too, hate cell phones but I can't expect a cruise line to control the disrespect of other passengers. Same things happen in business meetings, restaurants even in movie theaters.

Room service has now taken a back seat since the cruising public got their wish and "buffet" is now the norm if you choose to skip the dining room. For me room service is a nice gap filler...coffee before the rest of the ship is humming, a quick sandwich after a shore excursion and the wait for late dining. I like to mingle on a ship and holing up in my cabin to eat a "meal", well I could do that at home in front of my own TV.

Won't comment on the entertainment since that's not my gig...I would have been one of the ones upset if they turned off a good sports event for mediocre entertainment. And, I would have thought where I was going to book my room well in advance so I wouldn't have to be anywhere near a public space, especially directly above or below.

I hope the OPs next cruising experience is more to their liking...with any luck the fellow throwing loungers won't book the same one.