ewynn9

We sail next week on the Breeze. How was the piano player? It's one of our favorite places to go in the evenings. I think our sailing is his last one from a chart I found. 

Booked through Carnival for our only 2 cruises and got 1 offer which we took. $48 to move from deck 7 port front balcony to deck 9 starboard front Lido balcony.

Our first cruise was a deck 2 cove balcony which we loved. Anxious to be up on deck 9 with all the action.

My son and I did the Stingray Catamaran in Grand Cayman and had 12 people on the trip, and sure enough the Carnival excursion pulls up with 40 people.

My wife and I also did a Stingray Catamaran and it was amazing. Maybe 15 people on our boat and we got there as the big groups were leaving so we got swarmed by sting rays

When I was on the Breeze in November 2016 the only game they played on the big screen was the Thursday night game between Dallas and Minnesota because we sailed out of Galveston. That was definitely a memorable night watching the game on a packed Lido deck under the stars in the middle of the Gulf.

I'm really hoping the Freedom shows the Sunday night game between Dallas and Houston in October when we sail out of Galveston. That will be a lot of fun with all the Texas residents that will be on the boat.

My wife and I typically bring $100-200 in small bill cash and $500 for our onboard account. Cheers ($700) and Gratuities ($180) are prepaid. Excursions are also prepaid as much as possible.

Wait, wait. A cash account is non refundable or "Cruise cash" is non refundable? When we last cruised in 2016, we had a cash account that we funded during check in and we withdrew the balance during the final night of the cruise. Has that changed?

It won't be after final payment date. I'm sure are quite a few rooms that will open up after the due date from people not being able to pay.

My very first cruise was in 2016 on the Breeze in a cove balcony. My wife and I absolutely loved being that close to the water as well as the privacy. During sail away we had a couple of dolphins right below us. We had constant shade due to the location and picked a balcony with no life boats over us. The one downside about our location was the exhaust vent from the galley over us but it would not prevent me from picking that exact room again. To give an example of the amount of privacy, you could sit on the balcony in your birthday suit with a cup of coffee and no one would ever know unless you hang over the edge. As for the size, the cabin was pretty large and the balcony seemed to be a little wider than a regular balcony but I have no frame of reference due to it being my first cruise.

Some negatives:

Sea salt and sway due to wind, not a deal breaker but it was there

In the event of high/rough seas they can and will seal you balcony shut. Didn't happen to us but it is possible.

The staff came around a couple times to hose off the balconies. I think it happened on port days.

Deck 2 is far away from everything

Rough seas were felt. Not a deal breaker but not a positive. Late November was rougher seas.

Positives:

Privacy, privacy, privacy

Lots of shade (could be a negative depending on the person)

Closeness to nature

Atrium bar was just a 20 second walk down the hall and up the stairs

Did I mention privacy? No one walking on deck and being able to see you relaxing on your balcony.

Price - I believe was actually the same price as a regular balcony.

Cove balcony will forever be our first choice if it is available on a ship. I tried to think up any negatives I could which even then are minor in my eyes.

How does it work if I both the DW and I have Cheers and want to go to coffee bar in the morning to get both of us a coffee, could I just show both S&S cards, or would she be required to be present at the time?

Yes, I did that every morning and no one said a word about it. Did it for alcoholic drinks as well. I don't know if there is a policy against it but no one seemed to care as long as I had both cards.

I just booked the breeze as well!!!

 

The only thing i have to do now is try to figure out navigating Galveston/Houston. It seems difficult and expensive so far.

My wife and I are sailing Nov 27th and managed to find Gaido's Seaside Inn on the seawall. Total cost is $160 for 1 night, parking for the duration of the cruise, and a shuttle. It's only a 10 minute walk to the pier and restaurants as well.

Interested in this as well

My wife and I are sailing that same day out of Galveston for our anniversary and are hoping for the same thing. We are only in our 20's and don't hate kids but she works with toddlers so a vacation with few kids is ideal.