gotscrapz

I was on a Europe cruise where people got on in various ports. We were the 1st group boarding in Rome.

We did this tour a year and a half ago pre-cruise so we could stay as long as we wanted and it was amazing! Long day and it costs a bit more than your post but so worth it! Our guide was great and we took good care of him. You'll have a blast!

I have done a 10-day cruise on the Escape combined with land stay and we went all over Italy, Malta, and 3 Greek islands. It was awesome and exhausting! 9 ports! We are going back to Italy for 2 weeks in October and then hopping on the Prima for TA back stopping in Livorno, 5 -6 places in Italy, France, Portugal, and the Azores. We found we just have to go back, so much to see! Originally we were going to the Epic back as a TA from Rome because it was cheap and relaxing but my mom hated the bathroom and our cruise was cancelled so we rebooked on the Prima. I will say that the Epic cruise was going to be 1/3 of the Prima and had 2 ports...so now our relaxing TA just got pricer and more exciting! I think you'll love whatever you choose!

I should have added that I have been single raising teens and young adults so I have tried to appeal to them. Now that I am thinking about a solo trip and having been working like crazy I may not care as much - just some R&R on the water. That being said I am booked on a 16 day Prima cruise soon lol.

Newer for us. I am not opposed to an older ship if the price and itinerary are great. So far I have gone for pretty and new and location.

You were the my last cruise in Italy 1 1/2 years ago and we are also sailing the Prima TA to NYC in October. I'm no actual help but I thought that was interesting. We are staying 2 nights in NYC when we arrive and this is one of the reasons - arrival / weather / flights and bcus we on the west coast and want to enjoy NYC a bit. Hope it works out for you.

Thank you so much for your wonderful review. Love the details, photos, and videos! You seem like such a lovely couple who are enjoying your traveling years ❤️ I am off to read your Alaska review!

Thank you Greg for such a great review as always! I know I will refer to this thread when I book my Alaska cruise, which won't be until 2025 since I will be going back to Europe in 2024.

I love NCL but Carnival has way better pizza hands down! However I have the room service to be really pretty good, I get the veggie but my family has gotten other pizzas and they liked them. The pizza in the Italian used to be amazing wood fired pizza but now it is more like what you are showing. Let's be clear, I am still going to eat the pizza lol!

Usually, it can be immediate to like 10 minutes at the most I have waited.

Prime usually day way and then again the last day. It is normally offered even in Osheehan's and the MDR and other restaurants. My dd likes to go to Osheehan's for it because its usually so much faster - unless we're in the Haven!

You can order 2 alcoholic drinks plus a water / soda / Gatorade or coffee or whatever

Happy to jump aboard! I am not sure how I missed this since I am stalking CC for Mardi Gras and port info for the Bahamas, DR, and Grand Turk! I have gone back through your Mardi Gras review just this week - we sail 9/10. We switched to NCL a few years ago and have been so happy! But I had booked the Mardi Gras with friends who only sail Carnival - so here we go! But like many, I compare all these when picking a cruise line for a cruise. For us, NCL has us- especially when upgrading to the Haven. I am following along as I want to sail NCL to Alaska in 2025. 2024 going back to Europe - NCL cruise plus land. Jewel is an old ship so I hope you try a newer ship as well to see some of the nice upgrades. I know you'll have a great time on any ship - as will I!

I am so glad to hear that there are more accessible cabins! We recently made my workplace more accessible as well. We had an employee who was able to really help us see what we needed. Legal ADA accommodations are present of course but I think there are so many things you don't realize would be helpful unless you are in those shoes. I am fortunate that I don't need one for our family, but someday we might! Good news for you and your wife!

We have the same question. I like some of the further beaches better, but I don't want to go too far from the ship on my own. I really like what I have read about Sousa... But if Playa Dorado is good, we'd just do that.

I want to add, I think if you add up the car rental and park costs and compare with Iguana Mama, I haven't looked that far into, might be better to go with some sort of company because it might be cheaper and less hassle. But that is just me - and I would never try to drive in the DR after being there a few times lol. At the time the price made sense for us to with Iguana Mama. I know we did get a discount as well because someone in our cruise group set us up as a group. They provided transportation, falls entry, and lunch. I didn't eat the lunch - I am very picky but my daughter and most of the group did and liked it. I am in no way affiliated with them, just a happy customer. Also, at the time, on that cruise - the cruise line did not offer it - looks like they do now. Our small group - under 20 was nice. And a guide was always last following the slowest person to make sure no one was left behind. They provided bottled water (you need bottled water in the DR!!!) at various points during the hike up to the falls and made everyone drink it to prevent dehydration. I hope you find what works for you and enjoy the falls!

We chose Iguana Mama and they were awesome. Check reviews for them on this board or anywhere. It was a while ago was awhile ago for us. Just a note- they have photographers at the falls and will sell you a thumb drive of photos after, it was $35 cash when we went. It has been almost 2 years though so pricing may be different. Just a heads up because I don't remember if they took cards. https://www.iguanamama.com/

This is exactly our problem as well. We sail in 9 days ... when do you sail?

I'll be on the Mardi Gras in 2 weeks and the AC had better be working lol.

Sounds like a fun mom-and-daughter thing to do. I used to do that my daughter was younger too.

Misunderstood, sorry!

Glad you made it onboard and grabbed and drink and straight to the conga line lol? Enjoying the review, love the pics so far.

I am so loving your review! Looks like it was great family time! So I always go to the craft time on Carnival - and to be honest, I have made some pretty cool things. Not cheesy, but cool stuff. My daughter wasn't normally up in time but they let me take a kit to her on the days she missed. We made pretty beaded lanyard holders, tied nautical rope bracelets, picture frames.. cool kits with quality supplies that were "Michael's" branded. My daughter laughed at me at first but in downtime she'd get to work on her crafts too lol. I love that your daughters let you take their pics for their insta and snaps... my dd prefers to take her selfie and then I have to beg her into sharing them with me lol. She's a little older now so it's better...but still! She has 3 older brothers and all I can say is, it's just different with a daughter lol.

I totally agree.

If you have the drink package they do not. They give you the drink package free and if you accept it you pay gratuity on it when you accept it. I have never seen them charge anyone on embarkation but that doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. To me this is a great deal, even if they charged me corkage for something I brought on board (they haven't). YMMV. That's why it's great that we have so many cruise lines to choose from.