Cruiseathoning

back on forth on Royal Allure vs. Dream. In the end will the extra money be worth the hassle of flying when Dream will provide fun for a fair cost?

for society in general. It is not meant to be enjoyed without being absorbed. You have to show up in a mindset to literally, evolve as a person and take a life lesson from it.

It is an enormously touching, moving, and though provoking show in the right setting but the atmosphere of a cruise ship is probably not the right setting. That is why I think Mamma Mia, on Allure, makes more sense.

Looking to book a cruise expecting a potential lull in occupancy, but am finding no such thing across the board. Even to Caribbean countries known to be dealing with Zika, and cruises out of Miami with localized Zika, there seems to be no drop in demand.

A nice interior can be had for a strong $500ish pp or so, which seems to be commensurate, if not underpriced, for what Carnival is now providing. I am not exactly sure if I love all of the 2.0 changes, but the lunch variety is incredible and their pizza is always homemade and fresh and you have to try to be bored day in day out.

This just means the cruiser is not buying what is being sold by the media, and even in the peak of hurricane season, seems to be unfazed by breathless reports of infections and flooding.

I am not really disappointed, as I don't want the country to be directed by fear, and the strong economy is supporting higher demand being returned to us in better amenities, and upgraded ships.

Some disagree but I will take a Guy's Burger over a pillow chocolate any day.

It may all be Sysco, as they say in Las Vegas, but Sysco has an A team and B team, meaning grades of ingredients. Fine dining is not something that can be fully evaluated as a one off experience.

I have never been on Celebrity, but I have never known anyone who has to dislike the food, likewise I have never known anyone who thought the Windjammer, "Turkey Casserole" could hold a candle to Carnival's selections on the buffet. To each their own.

We don't eat buffet anymore anyway, as it is too much salt.

1. Is there still a tandoor?

2. Was the comedy overcrowded? The large issue with Carnival's 2.0 entertainment is seating, is the overall crowd experience comparable to the Magic?

3. Have they upgraded the main dining room food at all from the advent of American Table?

Thanks.

what some people actually believe. Supply and demand is the biggest myth in economics. Google DeBeers. That concept only applies when supply can not be manipulated. Corporate America has kept you fooled for years. Sick actually, of talking to stupid people who need a cure for Dunning-Kruger syndrome. Look it up.

As far as prices go, well, heh-in about a month you will be begged to buy seven- dayers for $399. Hang tight. The economy may or may not be collapsing, but you don't wipe out $2 trillion dollars of wealth without a hit to the expendable cash niches.

Hotels that normally run for $149 a night in Kemah area are going for $65 on Priceline. Search it, the cancellations are already starting. So is this good or, uh, not good. Well poor people are poor in a bad economy, and a good economy, so for most, they will feel it in a trickle down way, barring total depression. Realistically if you can hang onto your job during a downturn, an argument can be made it is positive for you. IF. Prices drop, savings rates increase, and crowds thin. I already have the heads up to wait, BTW. Now I just need to wait for some know-it-all to tell me I am wrong..5, 4, 3..

understood how the state could require me, inside of an enclosed vehicle, to wear safety restraints while allowing people to hurtle down pavement at 70 mph held only by their hands, and sometimes without a helmet. I just chalk it up to some lobby and let it go. If that is your thing, so be it. Just seems incongruous is all.

I have no idea why it is so in vogue to question the toughness of parents and children who simply don't want to be exposed to the world's ills. Yes it is a violent sick world, it is also a beautiful benevolent world. Sometimes it is neutral.

But in a situation like this, the whole "walk it off" attitude leaves plenty of room for a wound to fester. A psychological trauma to a snowflake as you call them is an injury, not a character flaw, and as such, demands proper treatment. Perhaps this disconnect explains millenial passivism vs. baby boomer alcoholism. We all cope one way or another, whether we realize it or not.

but why do you assume just because WingNut71 did not get offered assistance, he/she did not seek it independently?

mistakes people make is not letting professionals handle psychology. If you are saying that the parents should act as counselor, you are wrong. If you are saying that Carnival should not provide counseling to children who were traumatized by the scene, you are wrong.

Regardless of fault, it is in Carnival's best interest to provide assistance to these children, and it is certainly the morally responsible thing to do.

years ago my Wife and I happened upon a motorcycle accident. I won't describe the scene-the man was coming from a wedding and the bride and groom showed up to check on the victim. I have tried and tried to remove those images from my head. I still lose sleep over it.

I asked the groom, really told him truthfully, that if you love your bride you will NOT let her see what I saw. Now this was before the proliferation of cell video but I can honestly tell you, had such a video been on my phone, I might have thrown it into a lake-I am weird like that.

I have no sympathy for Mr. Davis. His children yes, obviously, because his first thought should have been to help if possible, and then of course shield his children from the sight. Now it seems as if he wants his 15 minutes and compensation.

I fear for society.

Is the internet now handing out forensic science degrees? I am not in the blood viscosity evaluation business, are you, zqvol?

The man is gone. Whether there is blood colored hydraulic fluid or that is his blood, the key fact is the same. As far as the guy that took the video, I don't know his motivation. I do know that their cheap facebook package cause more people to walk around with their phones and is one MAJOR turnoff of Carnival. I cruise to unplug.

How that applies to this is I think that young people are becoming more likely to document than to internalize, as if the phone takes over their emotions and they are not quite connecting with the moment, any moment, especially those that require assistance not narcissism.

Not sure what malfunction makes a man think "let's film this" instead of "let's see if a life can be saved." Same thing happened with the Garland tornado, some guys who said they "also tried to help" filmed first.

If your first thought at a sight like that is fame, and going viral, you just are probably a nihilist. I fear blankety-blank social media is breeding them. In the meantime, can we please keep discussions about how much and how a person bleeds, off of this forum? I pray the man went to Heaven and the family heals.

grab some seafood and play some games.

if you are on the ship, enjoy the extra time. If you are trying to get ON the ship, listen to instruction. Houston generally goes quick for embark but try to be patient. The professionals in charge really do want you to get on ASAP and enjoy your vacation. Complaining, being surly and or rude is just going to muck up the process. Laws have to be followed and procedures have to be completed.

Be glad it is not Galveston, where apparently Fog Boats become PPV bloodsports. (I kid, I kid) Try 8 hours in a terminal with no food or water. Not fun. So get there when instructed and relax. Bring a movie if you have a laptop.

Always get the insurance. And book a day at a hotel on debark day with a scheduled flight the next day, if possible. I know more cost-but much less stress.

completely unbundles? It is already well-known to be the line with mostly unfriendly/aloof crews, and such detachment leaves them far behind Carnival in the smiles department.

Liberty's sis Freedom was top quality as well. The entertainment is higher end on Royal, less interactive. Liberty has Saturday Night Fever so if you like disco that is a plus. Between the Quest and the ice show and numerous other activities both hosted and self-guided, Royal is amazing. Food choices also broader, but saying that, the Magic has ridiculous deck b-b-q and lunchtime Indian.

That said Carnival tends to master the personal, and the connections to pax, and our two favorite cruises of all time are Navigator, and Magic.

Notable? We have been on Norwegian Breakaway. Amazing ship as well, not in the top four of our cruises. Having been on the Magic twice, I would lean Liberty, but if you have gone on neither, ask yourself if you like a bit more structure and polish or a bit more whimsy and cheese.

Howl at The Moon, Second City, Rock of Ages-(The Real Deal, Vegas Quality) amazing food, gorgeous ship..

Dude, just, Dude. Chill out and prepare to have a blast.

I forgot the Cirque show..you get filet there..

the fact is that Carnival is doing gangbusters, so the free and easy, see a show, play a game, watch a comedian smorgasbord of entertainment is clearly working. Bookings are strong, satisfaction is high, and though there are plenty of negative reviews to be found, the people on the ship with me were 99 percent huggy smiley happy. The other times they were embarking, debarking.

Carnival either makes trims, or pricing goes up. They are staying competitive in my view when you figure my Wife and I can hit up an inside stateroom, drive, park, and get a hotel for about $1500 for a week. Aside from Branson, MO, I do not know any other vacation option that gets close to that. Sure excursions cost some, if you go that route, most times we just go to one port.

The rest of the time we party, and "re-connect." We laugh, drink, play games, eat from an amazing selection at lunch, and make friends. Works for me, SO LONG as I can escape smoking.

Sail often.

is amazing

for me.

live calypso back, maybe some lido paella, even complimentary rum punch or something. Good to see a move towards addition.

only real problem I have with Carnival is smokiness on older ships that lack buffer to the promenade bar area, because karaoke and bands play there, and that is a big part of the fun.

Go watch the comedians. Comedian contract issues? Go play basketball. Don't like sports? Go to the arcade. Don't like games? Go to the piano bar. Don't like piano bars? Play trivia. Don't like trivia? Toss washers. Don't like competition? Go to an art auction. Don't like art auctions? Judge a hairy chest contest.

Don't like hairy chests? Play mini-golf. Wait-you don't like sports, then go to Red Frog pub and listen to the guitarist. Don't like guitars? Listen to the R^B in the atrium (on Magic, assuming similar on Breeze). Don't like R&B? Do karaoke. Don't like to sing? Watch the magician in the dining room. Don't like magic? Ride a waterslide. Don't like water?

Why are you on a ship?

and does so transparently and respectfully in an effort to keep pricing competitive, and there are 7 dayers out of Galveston on the Magical Magic for $379 still.

Compare this to Royal who cuts back AND raises pricing and according to my research, is dropping the ball on customer service.

Sorry about losing lobster on shorter cruises, but if scallops and risotto and orange duck do not qualify as fine dining, perhaps the lobster is just a convenient target, and not a legit concern.

Now back to that price point-that is a 7 day cruise for the cost of a mid-range hotel for one night in Manhattan. Still concerned about lobster, especially in light of high end offerings they are still trying to provide?

In an era where three regular season baseball tickets can cost more than half of the double occupancy of a cruise, Carnival still provides the middle class an opportunity to do something truly awesome. Don't like it? Go to Disney World. But cash out your 401k first.

I wish Carnival was not in this position, but I appreciate the effort to be upfront and keep pricing budget friendly, which they are. Royal is not. The Navigator is going for a lot more from a year ago, per Mr. Fain's warning. But unlike Carnival you are getting less and paying more.

What Carnival is doing and providing is nothing short of a logistical miracle, and a tribute to the commitment of providing passenger happiness.

When they stop guaranteeing your vacation, then worry. But if you can't have fun on a (smoke-free) Carnival ship, you probably just are not the fun kind.