Noledad77

I'm not sure what would cause that, but I'd kinda like to hear more about the fight at the buffet...

Everyone knows that quote was from 1936, not 1935. Quit trying to throw us off! 😂

74

I just pitched this idea to 2 of my kids the other day, but for my wife's car (we're taking 2 cars with 8 total in our group). Since I don't like to do a whole lot of walking (don't tell my doctor, please), I'll probably just have my son drop his 3 passengers off, go and park his car and meet us back at the terminal. 74 days and counting!

Savage! lmao

Hoping you all have a WONDERFUL time on your cruise! It doesn't affect me, but I'm so glad that the fine people in Norfolk were able to spring into action and set it all up for the Baltimore passengers to sail from Norfolk while the bridge debris field is searched and safely removed. It really is incredible that, all things considered, cruising didn't miss a beat. 22 year old me would've flipped my s**t. 47 year old me is happy for the ability to improvise, adapt and carry on.

If you don't want to be on a giant ship, the Paradise sails out of Tampa. Probably a little late to book for 9 weeks from now, but good luck!

I have yet to plan and book my own cruise. The 2 I've been on and the upcoming one have all been done through a 3rd party, because either 1 or both of my girls were dancing on board. I'm currently mulling over the idea of one in Feb 2025 during my birthday. Once we figure out if it's in the budget, we're going to use a TA that we know, and hopefully can get us a good deal. I really want to have the control in my hands, though, because for the upcoming cruise, the details were originally to sail with Royal Caribbean and (due to some of the parents not having their money in on time), it had to be changed to Carnival. I'm ok with that, since we're gaining "status" with Carnival, albeit very slowly and not very much each time. Once everything was settled, it took forever and a day to get our booking numbers, but finally two of them trickled in via email. Problem was, there should've been a third as well. So, I bugged my wife to ask the studio owner about it. Over, and over, and over, and over again, to the point where I called the booking agency and got it myself. I don't consider myself to be a squeaky wheel, but I wasn't about to wait until March or something to get our last booking number, because we also decided to book excursions, and I'm not exactly patient sometimes. That has all been worked out. I think a year to 18 months is plenty of time. It allows you to plan for excursions (if you're so inclined), and to pay it off at a reasonable monthly rate. Whatever you choose, I hope you have a fantastic time!!

Now 82. Eighty. Two. Dad mode is engaged.

If you can find a collapsible/foldable scooter with a detachable battery, you can charge it separately. My MIL has one with a detachable battery and it works out very well for her. Granted, she's going to be in an accessible cabin, but every little bit helps.

This is the same reason a 20oz soda bottle is $5 or more in an airport. You're a captive audience. I do hope you're not shocked by this revelation...

One of the cruising channels I'm subbed to on YT said Carnival is rolling it out on limited ships (multi-device wi-fi), in the hopes of having it on all of their ships eventually. Sounds like the one you're on is part of the pilot program. $75/day for up to 4 devices.

I'd opt for Port Canaveral / Cocoa Beach myself. I'm not a fan of endless traffic, so I try to avoid Orlando/Kissimmee as much as I can. Sometimes it's unavoidable, but I'd rather be near the beach or directly on the beach. I still can't find the hotel we stayed in for our one sailing from Port Canaveral, but it was right by the beach.

I don't remember the CD from our first cruise, but I do remember the one from our second (Paulie). He was very energetic, always got the crowd going, and was a great host at things like the "80's music trivia" in the atrium bar. He also took some time out of his afternoon to come and see a little bit of the performance my girls did while on board, so that really stuck with me.

For 2 adults and 2 children (who are not toddlers), a balcony room would suffice. If you really want the room to spread out some, I'd agree that the connecting rooms are a good call as well. Our first cruise, we did 2 connecting cabins and that worked out great. Granted, I have 4 kids and not just 2, so my wife was in one with the girls and I was in the other with our boys. Amazingly, I didn't get kicked at all. Hmm... Whatever you choose, I hope you have a great time!

I've only been on 2 and they were older and smaller ships, so no standout bells & whistles, but also fewer passengers. For the group I'm traveling with and our purpose for the cruise (aside from the obvious vacation, my youngest is dancing on the ship), it just works out to be better. Wife and I are looking at a cruise for February and not telling the kids about it until later this year. That will likely be on a slightly bigger ship.

Did you go to a State Department office or another location? In my town, we can just go to our county courthouse and get everything done. You might still have time if you have other options available, rather than directly through the State Department location. If you get them back before June, it's a bonus. If not, sounds like you've got a contingency plan.

Can't go wrong there. I think 417 might be a toll road as well. I try to stay away from that area in general because inevitably, my wallet starts to hemorrhage money, it's a big mess 😂

There are a lot of ways to get from Orlando to Port Canaveral. Someone mentioned 528, which is a toll road, but I think it's the fastest and most direct way to get there. Worst case scenario, just get yourself to I-95 and adjust from there. Nuclear option would be I-4 to Daytona and down or south some on the Turnpike and over to 95 and then north towards Cocoa Beach, but I wouldn't suggest that otherwise. Hell, 192 south out of Kissimmee to Melbourne and back up would be a good option if you have the time and only if traffic is jammed up on the fastest route.

This was a fantastic review. I've never been on the Magic but this kinda makes me want to now. Cheers!

I see your Aerosmith "Livin' on the Edge" and raise you Molly Hatchet's "Flirtin' with Disaster".

You can take a trolley from Avis to the port? I think my ingress to the port just got solved... 😃

Sounds like CC is trying to tell you to book another cruise! 😁

This is such a great flying hack... If the airline asks you to "voluntarily" check your bag, that's like them offering you $50-75 because most of the time, that's what they'll charge. Obviously, status passengers could pack their entire house and fly it for free (exaggerating, of course), but anyone else who wants to check a bag will pay dearly. I've done it when traveling alone and recently with my older son on a trip to Minnesota. Gate-checking is also an option sometimes, especially out of my home airport, which normally sees regional jets and the occasional larger jet.

How often do the various cruise line CEO's go on cruises themselves? Are they cruising on their own cruise ships as well as others? Are they ever immediately recognized or have they managed to stay incognito for an entire trip?