FastFreddie

beshears,

I will be retiring this coming July. I turned 66 in Sept. and it's time for me. But like you I wouldn't mind working part time either. So I asked my boss. He will run it up the management chain. Perhaps you could ask your boss the same? What's the worst thing she/he could say?

Good Luck!

I am still working on the 5 weeks vacation .... must have been a government job :D

I'm 66 and will retire in June this year. The wife will retire then too. Bought a home in Florida, can't wait!!

<sniff> Being excluded by sweetcupcakegirl because I am a guy :( J/K

I turned 66 today. Start collecting a check next month and I am still working ... why you say? I have the Italian disease fundsalo.

Maybe June when the wife retires.

Is the OP still alive? :D

I never want to retire. I would like to do a 4 day work week in 2013 when I turn 66.

What the ThePatientOne and seabee22 said. When you make reservations make sure you contact the Carnival Representative called a (PVP) Personal Vacation Planner. They will help you out, but you will have to ask. I faxed my DD214 to them.

I think if you have a Sea day the dining room will be open and it's anytime style, as well as breakfast. So Traditional is only for the evening meal. Also you have specialty dining available (at an additional cost and IMHO well worth it on any Carnival ship) you should try it at least one time. Be prepared to take a long time though.

As far as being able to catch a show goes, there are 2 times for the same show to accomodate the 2 traditional dining times (I think there are 4 times on the valor 2 early and 2 late with a 15 min time difference between the early times and the same difference with the late). The good part of anytime dining is that you're not "stuck" with the same tablemates. But should you be at a table you don't like you can always ask the ma'tre D to change tables with Traditional dining.

For myself I prefer traditional because I like to talk with new people and make new friends. You may just want to be together by yourselves, if so both Traditional and Anytime dining would work out.

In any case please enjoy your cruise I loved the Valor!

The absolutely best MDR that DW and I have experienced was on the Celebrity Zenith tied w the Celebrity Horizon.

The second best was Blu on the Celebrity Solstace.

The Carnival Valor, Liberty and Celebrity Century 3rd.

The RCCL Liberty of the Seas 4th.

The best buffets IMHO go to RCCL

Followed by Carnival

The Worst MDR was the Carnival Triumph (almost didn't sail Carnival after that one) food was not tasty, service was poor, and atmosphere aweful.

The second worst MDR was the Jewel of the Seas. Worst breakfast, terrible lunch. Ate at the speciality restaurants 3 times, they were very nice.

My conclusions are that it's difficult to get consistancy on some cruise lines. If I were to book Carnival again I'd pick the larger ships. Same for RCCL (besides there is more variety like Johnny Rockets etc.). I prefer Celebrity but have yet to recieve any MDR meals, on any other ships on any line, to compare to the Zenith class ships on Celebrity.

I haven't sailed Princess, HAL, MSC, COSTA, or NCL ... yet ... but I have yet to have a bad cruise, so I will most likely try to sail them if they have the right itinerary!

I was in cosumel last April with a scooter and had NO problems whatsoever debarking or going into any of the shops/restaurants. As long as you are docked at a pier you will have zero problems.