moongal

I will hope some changes come after this is over, among them, the muster drill. Packing people in like sardines literally standing shoulder to shoulder touching is not a good way to avoid spreading virus. (Any virus!)

I think having a 24 hr turn around between sailings is a great idea. This gives more time for the crew to clean and also maybe give them a little more time off so they can start the new cruise more refreshed and ready to do a good job. Even before the virus I thought it was somewhat nasty (barely vacating a room and a new group coming in within a few short hours) and tiring for the crew to not even have a moment to catch their breath in between sailings. The crew has sometimes seemed tired and worn. Who wants to work so many days in a row!
I definitely think the buffet should be done cafeteria style where you point to what you want and a server puts it on your plate. My stomach literally turns when I see the gross things people do in the buffet line! (Which is why I won’t eat at them for the most part and if I do I go full on hazmat cleaning after touching)
Those are the main things that can help possibly to make cruising more enjoyable and safe. Oh and less people on each sailing! Less crowds would def be awesome. I’d be willing to pay more for all of these things to be implemented.


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Has anyone ever stayed on deck 12 in one of the spa balconies?  Is it shaded?  Or is it open to the sky?  I remember reading somewhere about a deck of balconies that doesn't have any shade and I can't remember which deck or which ship that was on and I am considering booking this deck 12 spa balcony but I do not want to if there is no cover.  Thanks!

When my daughter went to the Circle C club it was just more a meeting place the first night when everyone formed into their own groups and then the rest of the time they just ran around the ship together.  It did not seem to me that anyone actually stayed in the Circle C club.  After the first night and the first day, I did not let my daughter go anymore to hang out with her new friends as it was not up to my comfort level having my young daughter running the entire ship.  But there was definitely no "signing in or out" and as far as I could tell I never even saw any Circle C staff except for the first night. 

Is this a new rule?  I don't remember ever reading that before in the rules.

This upsets me greatly.  Our poor planet.  I have a cruise scheduled for this June and even though I have had it planned for over a year, and was really looking forward to going, I still hope they throw the book at Carnival and they are not allowed to dock or even worse.  I really feel like the beards should be held accountable along with the workers who actually did the illegal dumping.  Perhaps if more corporate beards were held accountable with jail time, or some other form of actual punishment that would PERSONALLY punish them, there would be more compliance.

All these posts from people upset about missing their cruise....look at the bigger picture of what is at stake here.   The very planet we live on is getting ruined.    I for one will be thrilled if Carnival is made to pay.  Even if I lose my cruise.

My goodness, y'all must be a bunch of tenderfoots from the frigid North!  I've walked across the decks in middle of July barefoot and didn't notice a thing.  Felt just as cool and comfy as carpet.  Lol I guess it comes from years of going barefoot in the hot summers on hot pavement in S. Texas.   I remember reading about this very thing before one of our cruises and I made all the kids pack water shoes and water socks, but we all did not see the need for them.  😉

We checked our bags for our first cruise and never again.  One of our bags was super late arriving... we were a room of 3 and everyone's all showed up except for one bag for one person, but it was the most important bag for them, with all of their clothes.  It did finally show up around 11pm but it wasn't fun worrying about it.  I also don't like having to leave my bags out in the hall on the last night, and having to pack and pick and make sure I didn't accidently put something in my checked bag that I needed on that last night or in the morning.  Also every single cruise I have been on, there have been the "lost luggage" flyer passed out, saying "have you seen this piece of lost luggage" type of thing and it is always like 2 or 3 days into the cruise, so those poor people have been without their luggage for a good chunk of the cruise. 

And before most of you chime in, that those are rare cases, let me tell you, that I don't think it is all that rare, since this has happened (the lost luggage flyer) on EVERY cruise I have been on, and even if it is a super rare occurrence, if it happens to YOU, it doesn't seem rare. 

It just gives me nice peace of mind to be 100% in control of my luggage at all times.  Yes, it is a pain to lug, but it is just a short time that I am lugging it compared to a long time of waiting and worrying for it to show up, or if it did get lost. 

To each his own, but for me, I never check mine anymore.

It would be ok if there was some other option added to replace  the MDR.  I hate buffets.  In all of my cruises I have only eaten at the buffet handful of times.  Love the Guys Burgers and usually eat there for lunch or have a late brunch on sea days.  Don't care for pizza at all on land or at sea, so I would hate to lose an eating option.  I wasn't that impressed with the steakhouse either... it was good.. but I'm not sure it was worth the price for our family. 

I would be ok with eating at the buffet if they had people that plated the stuff for you, like at Luby's cafeteria... you point to what you want or tell them and they put it on your plate and pass your plate to the next section and they are using gloved hands.  I hate buffets where people serve themselves.  My stomach turns when I see people licking their fingers, then handling the scoops or scratching their hairy armpit and then handling the food scoop.  Yuck... Also witnessed too many people pluck food off of their plates with their licked fingers and place it back in the food serving bowl.... multiply that kind of behavior going on at every line for all the hours it is open and you can get an idea of the amount of germs.  Double yuck... and I know... there are all the people who say they eat at the buffet all the time and never wash their hands and they have never gotten sick, and that is probably true, but for me it turns my stomach..

So yeah, I would miss the MDR. 

I wouldn't like this change at all.  It is one of the things that I like about cruising.  While I don't normally order 2 entrees, I have done so a time or 2 when I wasn't sure if I was going to like something and wanted to try something new.   My son and husband are major carnivores, so they always order 2 of the flat iron steaks but all they want is the 2 steaks, not all the other stuff that comes on the plate, so I feel like that should be an option (just bring 2 entrees and not 2 fully plated meals) and could reduce food waste while still giving people that feeling that they can branch out and not be pinching pennies.

 I NEVER try anything new when I go to a restaurant on land... I don't want to pay for something I might not like.  We don't eat out much, so I definitely don't want to waste a "go out to eat" night on something I don't like, so I don't try anything new.  That is a big draw for me with cruising... it is like a food adventure..,  and before everyone starts judging me.... for me that is one of the things I enjoy with cruising.  I don't drink, so I want to enjoy letting loose and eating food!    I will be unhappy if they implemented this.. but I don't know if it would stop me from cruising... I guess I could still go to the buffet and eat all I wanted, but I also don't really care for buffets. 

On my first cruise we did the late dining, and it was ok, no problem, but then after that we chose YTD and i will never go back to an assigned dining time.  I like being able to be free while on vacation.  We have to be on schedules for school and work and on vacation I just love having NO SCHEDULE at all!!  So we always choose YTD and that way we can eat whenever we feel like it within the time allotted.   It is so important to me, that I have canceled bookings and refrained from booking if the YTD was not available.  I didn't want to have to fuss with going to a maitre de on embarking, and worrying that our request wouldn't get granted, so for my money, I want to eat when I want... so no YTD,  no cruise.

16 hours ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Unhealthy! �They had real meat not processed, they had fruits of all kinds, vegetables cooked and raw, many types of salads, cheese, seafood, the good healthier meals, now you get pizza, burgers, hot dogs, French fries, grilled cheese!! �

�

I am not saying having a large lavish buffet, just have a buffet with some good items as they used to have. �Eating late at night on a cruise for a week is not going to be unhealthy or do anything to your health. �I stay up until 2-3am as well as many others and we sure would love to have a late night healthier snack, instead of waiting for pizza on those long lines...just saying.....

�

I agree totally!  We are night owls also and the lack of anything decent to eat late at night always seems a shame to me.  I don't want pizza, or some old decrepit sandwich, and I guess I could use room service, just never tried it and like someone else said we don't want to sit around in our room waiting on room service.. it would be much more fun to be able to go so a nice buffet as pictured above with the fruits etc.  I guess most of the people on this board must be early to bed peeps.  When we are out late at night on our cruises there is always a very long line for pizza and many people say they wish there were more choices late at night. 

14 hours ago, chill6x6 said:

As mentioned....nothing like Royal Caribbean, HAL, NCL, Celebrity, or even Princess.  Included Carnival suite perks:

 

Priority embarkation and debarkation

VIP check in

Priority dining times

Two Bottles of water in cabin

One bag of laundry

Priority tender

Enhanced turndown service

 

In addition if in a GS on Horizon and Vista you have access to the Havana area.

 

I believe that's it

 

 

What is ENHANCED TURNDOWN service?  We did not notice any extra service from our steward when we had a Grand suite this past summer... in fact I was a bit disappointed in that there was nothing special.  But now that I read it is supposed to have  had some kind of enhanced service, I am even more bent because we didn't get anything special done and I left extra tip. 😞

We were in a Grand Suite on Valor last month and I was a little disappointed. I mean the extra room was very nice, and I loved the larger balcony with the lounger on it, but I feel like the service could have been a little better, or there needed to be something else special about it to justify the steep price.  Also we had 4 so we were using the pull out sofa bed and it was like sleeping in a bowl.  The mattress and springs were so terrible that I literally felt like I needed to tie myself to the side of the bed at night so I wouldn't roll down into the "hole".  This was an extreme disappointment because for the price I was paying, it was worse than a budget hotel room bed. 

The room steward did not seem to even give as good of service that we had gotten on our previous cruises.. I guess I was expecting maybe a little better service since we were paying premium dollar. 

We also bought FTTF because we wanted to be able to go to our room right away and for the money I think just getting a regular balcony room and getting FTTF is a better deal than spending money on the suite.  

For the price they charged for the suite, it seemed to me there should have been something more to it... seemed just like all of our other cruises, only just a bit more space, but a LOT MORE PRICE.

I was just on the Valor a little over a month ago, and I bought the premium internet package...not sure if that is the name, but I bought whichever one was the most expensive one that was supposed to be the fastest and best and it was TERRIBLE.  There was only one day that I could actually get online and get through to anything, and that was while we were ported at Cozumel, so I am not sure if the internet was different while we were ported or what, but it was so useless the rest of the time, that I felt like I had been cheated out of my money as I could not get online most of the times that I tried.  Not even at a slow speed.  I even tried the computers at the Internet hub place on the ship, and those weren't any better than my own devices.  I couldn't even get email but maybe 2 times the entire trip.

I don't know how any of these people who are saying they were able to get on were able to do so, because I couldn't do squat.  And I do not have a VPN.  

I don't know if you need some kind of special magic wand or what, but for me it was a complete waste of money. 

2 hours ago, bury me at sea said:

 

You could be right.  I have read many posts raving about them.  I'm not inclined to try them again, just as I don't give a restaurant on land a second chance if their food is sub-par.

Lol, I am the same way regarding a restaurant on land... one and done if I don't like it the first time, won't go back.  Not about to waste my money a second time giving a second chance, but on a cruise, what do you have to lose?  The burgers are free... well you know what I mean... not any extra expense and if you still don't like it, you can still just toss it and go find something else.  No risk whatsoever!   Guys Burgers aren't the absolute best burgers on the planet, but they are pretty decent.  Give it another chance next time you cruise!  Maybe you will be pleasantly surprised!  And no, I am not an employee of Guys Burgers! 🙂   🙂

Just now, bury me at sea said:

 

I too enjoy a nice, juicy burger.  The one I had, and the reason I had only one, was that the one I was served was overcooked, hard, and dry.

Maybe it was just a bad day at the Guys Burger station!  I haven't had such bad luck thank goodness!  🙂  But if I did get a dried out Crapburger, I would have tossed it and gone back for another.  Perhaps you went at a time when there wasn't a big demand and the burgers had time to sit around under a heat lamp or something.   A port day perhaps?  I have only ever been to the Guys Burgers when there was a line and they couldn't keep up fast enough with keeping the hamburger patties coming, so it didn't have time to get charred or dried out.  

Try it again!  Maybe you will have better luck.  🙂

Everyone in my family had at least one a day, sometimes 2.  I thought the Guys Burgers were the best food on the ship....but then again for me at least a nice juicy hamburger is my favorite food.  I am not one of those foodie type people.  Just give me a nice juicy hamburger and fries and I am happy! 

Magic was my favorite ship I have sailed on hands down.  I only got to go once because she moved from Galveston and I am excited to be going on the Dream this May, but the Magic was my all time favorite so far.  The Mardi Gras will always be there and you can book it anytime later. 

I have found it to be hit or miss when calling Carnival for any issue.  I can't remember what my last issue was but I do remember calling and the first person I spoke with had no idea what I was talking about.  I got frustrated and hung up as I was getting no where.  I called back and got someone else, and they did not know what I was talking about either.  It was some simple issue regarding a booking of mine,  I can't remember exactly what it was, but I do remember being completely perplexed as to how the actual rep working for Carnival seemed to know less than I did.  I hung up and gave it a third try and that time I got someone who INSTANTLY knew what I was talking about and fixed the problem within minutes.   I was dumbfounded at the level of incompetence of their reps.   This was not the first instance I had with this same scenario. 

Long story short.....if you can't get an issue resolved, just hang up and immediately call back and eventually you might get someone who actually can help you.  I also found I had better luck if I called during the middle of the day. 

You have to show valid ID and proof of citizenship (either passport or birth certificate) when you are boarding and when you are leaving ship.  If you are using a passport, you can use that as your valid ID and proof of citizenship since it has a photo.  If you are using a Birth certificate as your proof of citizenship, then you must also produce a DL or other government issued ID. This is required at both embarking and disembarking.  

I always take a passport and have had to show it every time I am leaving the ship and the customs man always looks at it intently and compares it to my likeness in person before letting me pass.

With that said... on my last cruise which we just got off on Jan 12, they were short of customs agents due to the government shutdown and so they were pretty much just taking a cursory glance at whatever paper you held out and did not seem to even care or even be looking at anything too intently.  So if the government is still shut down when your daughter and friends disembark, it might work in their favor that maybe they will just let it slide, or not ask to see a Birth Certificate if she just has her DL out as she passes through. 

I would also think that since she had to show proof to get on the ship, and I am sure people have lost their passports/birth certificates before, there is a process that will be followed to allow her back in the country.  I think they make a copy when you board... I know I see the lady pass my passport under some kind of machine thing when we board... so perhaps they can go back and look at that. 

I would definitely have the friend go down to Guest services... at least maybe get the process started before she tries to disembark.

Wow I must have missed them somehow!!   I never saw them.  I usually did eat lunch really late after the buffet closed so I guess that must have been why.   I guess the desserts they had out during the dinner buffet were the same old ones.   I generally had a Guys Burger or just skipped lunch.   So sad I missed cake!!!!

Maybe it depends on the ship, and the time of year you are sailing?  When we sailed on the Valor last July we tried to get into the steakhouse but it was full every night, we could not get a reservation... we did not try to make a reservation in advance before sailing but once we were on  board.   So when we sailed this past Jan (Jan 7-12) I made sure to make my reservations early when I booked the cruise.  We made them for the first night and literally there was only one other couple in the steakhouse.  I had been so excited to try it since I have read on these boards about how fabulous it was... but I was definitely underwhelmed.  The steak was good, but nothing to write home about... just average good steak.  I had the stuffed mushroom appetizer and also some of the onion soup, the cowboy steak and macaroni and cheese and the cheesecake.   The macaroni and cheese was the worst I have ever eaten.. it was dried out and flavorless.  The stuffed mushrooms were just meh... the steak was good, but like I said, not anything special.   The cheesecake however was super delicious.    The service seemed just ok.... servers did not seem very friendly really.  I don't know maybe since I had read such wonderful things about it, I had perhaps way too high of expectations.  But I certainly did not leave full.   I really only nibbled at the appetizer and soup was awful.  I did eat all of the steak, but none of the macaroni and about half the cheesecake since it was so rich, I figured I better not eat the whole thing...

I will give it another try for sure, maybe we just went on a bad night.  The dessert menu seemed quite lacking though.  The only choices seemed to be some kind of pear chocolate thing, the cheesecake and the art at the table.  (and of course the cheese and fruits)  one of my party ordered the chocolate pear thing... it was awful they said.  It came with like a chocolate sphere that they poured some hot chocolate sauce on which caused it to melt right away and she was left with a plate that looked like it was filled with just a bunch of chocolate water.  We never did see any pears in it.. there was a weird dried up berry or something... we thought maybe that was supposed to be the pear maybe???  Who knows but she was definitely not impressed.  Everyone else got the cheesecake.  The only other couple in the steakhouse got the "Art at the table" thing.. they seemed to enjoy watching it get made, but it did not seem like they were eating it.  Perhaps it is more just to watch than to eat? 

I am considering booking an 8 day cruise for 2020 with a stop in Half Moon Cay.  I would like to purchase the FTTF for the priority tendering, (Half Moon Cay is a tender port isn't it?) but I seem to recall reading somewhere that they do not offer FTTF for cruises 8 days and longer?  Can anyone confirm this?  Thanks!

We just got off the Valor on Jan 12.  I don't know if the desserts were new or not, but they seemed the same tasteless fare we had when I sailed Valor back in July  (8 months ago), so I certainly hope they are not the "new" desserts.   They seemed to be the exact same desserts that when you looked at them, they seemed like they would be oh so tasty but when you actually took a bite they left you feeling hollow and disappointed (I know first world problems!!! )  I certainly hope the desserts get an overhaul... I have never understood how a dessert can look so appealing but be sooo tasteless!  I often wonder what they are using for ingredients???!  Seems to be desserts for pictures only.. not for human consumption.  Only exception to this was the Carnival Chocolate Melting cake in the MDR and the cheesecake in the steakhouse.    Those were both divine.   Oh and the cakes in the Java Cafe that you have to pay extra for, those were divine as well.  I got my dessert fix there.   I would go and purchase a couple of slices and go pick up some plates and forks in the buffet and store the cakes in the fridge and we could all share a midnight snack of cake.   Just a heads up though the plate with the cake will not fit in the fridge with the cover they give you, so ask for extra paper napkins from the Java cafe to cover your cake after you put it in the fridge.  (if you purchase the black forest cake, or the vanilla cream cake that needs to be refrigerated)

Bon Appetite!

Just got off the Valor this past Saturday.  It was a nice trip and the ship was in good shape.  I was amazed though at the difference between sailing in summer and sailing during "off" peak times.  I have only been sailing during peak times in the summer and this time Jan 7-12, was like heaven.  The ship seemed empty comparatively.  I did not see even one kid running around.  I did see toddlers but they were so little they were with their parents and caused no mayhem.  It was so nice not to see children putting their mouths on the soft serve ice cream spigots late at night.... no kids running up and down the halls and in the elevators.  Don't get me wrong.. I love kids.. have kids myself and grandkids also, but in the summer in large doses on the ship they can be a bit overwhelming! 🙂

There were no lines anywhere, getting on the ship was a breeze... I had bought FTTF and got to Galveston about 11 but they had already been boarding for some time it seemed as they had already called several zones.  Since we were FTTF, they opened the divider and let us through.  So we were on the ship in no time and for the first time ever, there were plenty of elevators!  On all of my other summer cruises it seemed like the elevators were clogged into the wee hours of the night with all the luggage handlers.  I never had to wait for an elevator even the first day and night.  Muster drill was heavenly quick and we were not squashed in like sardines and there was no mad herd rush when it ended.  Disembarkation was the absolute best I have ever experienced.  We got into Galveston early and we were the 2nd people off the ship... was in my car before 8am. 

The dining room seemed to be running at peak efficiency... we had anytime dining and never had to wait, and our food was brought out so quick I was actually wishing it would take longer... on all of my summer sailings the meals in the MDR seemed to take an eternity. 

The only negative was that the ship was like sailing in a meat locker... it was COOOOLD wherever we went... like we felt like we needed coats to wear in the theater, dining rooms, etc... I sailed the Valor in July and it was the same frigid temp, so I was at least prepared with blankets and jackets.  The AC system in the room (we had a balcony deck 7) did not seem to be working... no matter what setting I put it on... it just stayed like a freezer.   I was a little disappointed in the weather as well... was looking forward to a nice warm Caribbean climate, but it seemed chilly even in Coz and Progresso.   But other than that it was all very enjoyable.  For reference, I am from the Houston area and I love the summer heat and absolutely hate the frigid winters!

The people I was sailing with wanted to swim with Dolphins in Coz, and we did the royal swim (booked on our own) at the dolphin place at Chankanaab(sp?)  I wasn't looking forward to this as I don't really like seeing animals in captivity, but I was pleasantly surprised and the dolphins seemed happy??  (I don't know how you can tell really, but they seemed to be doing good) 

In Progresso we were supposed to go to some ruins, but some of us just weren't feeling up to traipsing through the jungle so we changed it to the Merida Highlights and shopping tour.... was supposed to tour historical sites in Merida then do some shopping... basically we were pointed out the historical sites from the window of the bus, then let off in old downtown Merida and told the bus would be back in 3 hours and oh yeah... they do not take American dollars here... (thats what we were told)  So we just basically walked around a small area near where the bus said it would be back... got some lunch where my credit card got declined, I have no idea why... it had a zero balance and I had alerted them to my travel plans.  This was quite uncomfortable as we did not speak spanish and no one at the restaurant could speak english.. they did not take American Express which was the other credit card I had on me.. so I just started trying to hand them random amounts of 20's in American dollars... which after some useless gesticulating between us they decided to accept.    We all needed to use the bathrooms, but when we asked where the Banos were, they did not understand us.. oh well... only an hour to wait for the bus!  Lol!  We were never so happy to see the bus arrive back.  We all (everyone on the bus pretty much) needed to use the bathroom but the one in the bus was broken or something so we were all so happy to be heading back to the ship.... until the bus broke down just as we got into Progresso.  They said it overheated... so we had to wait till the bus cooled down and after it cooled down we made our way back down the long pier and we were all so happy to see the ship!

We laugh about that experience now and have added it to our hilarious trip tales.  

Hope you have a good time on your trip, the Valor was a nice ship and we all had a great time.  The CD TJ though, was getting off with us for his 6 weeks off... I don't know who was taking his place.  We really like TJ he was there in July when we went.

Oh my this is way too long... oh well I guess it is kind of a review of sorts. 🙂