Eli_6

Trader Joe's has some really good sparkling "fruity" drinks. I think so long as it is the same size and similar alcohol content, you are probably okay.

All of my cruises except my first one and two where I was in the middle (one was an aft balcony and the other I was in an interior "walkway" window view at the very front of the boat), I have been on starboard. I have even tried to book port and our rooms got changed because they changed the boat.

Unfortunately, the person whose name is on the room regardless of who pays. We found this out the hard way. Had a Vista sailing canceled due to the ship having to have repairs (pre-Covid) and got a 100 percent FCC for Me, my husband, two kids, and our nanny. We paid for it all. The nanny got a FCC in her name. When we took the follow up cruise, she was no longer working for us.

I have been on 5 ships since the restart and the Pride was the only one that looked like that. I do, however, agree with you on how the Pride looked, though...I think that is probably why it is going into dry dock next spring.

I was on her in July and, if I am honest, it was not the best experience...BUT many of the problems were related to tendering (which probably won't be an issue on your sailing like it was on mine where most of the ports were tender ports) and you will probably have different crew by the time you are on. The ship is older, but I did really like the layout. It was easy to get around on and I never felt crowded. In particular, I really like the layout of the rooms we had which were a Vista Suite attached to a rear facing balcony. It had a separate living area from the bedrooms which was nice.

I am not sure, but I know my husband hooked up my Kids' video games someway to the tv when we were on the Pride.

The Praline Truffle at the Brass Magnolia.

Question: If two adjoining rooms are linked bookings but only one person in the two rooms is platinum, can the other room (immediate family members including small children) board with you? I am thinking the answer is probably no, but I thought I would ask because they allowed my adjoining balcony to board with my suite on my last cruise...but it was probably one of those things where because we were obviously a family boarding together (Mom, Dad, two young kids) the person checking our boarding passes let us on anyway.

Yes. Spring break is generally in March or, at the very latest, at Easter at every school I have ever been at or had children at...and that includes even a UK school.

I paid somewhere around $5k-$6k for the aft Excel suite corner balcony on the second Mardi Gras sailing last year. It was huge, though, and had its own private hot tub and separate living room and even a dining table outdoors.

Havana is totally worth it on the Vista class ships. On the Celebration, it depends on the price difference. The Havana pool area is pretty small on that class, but the Loft area pool is not much better.

So do Diamond and Platinum board before Suites? Or Suites before Diamond and Platinum? Or is it just based on boarding zones? Because it seems like I have experienced all three at one point or another...

It is offered, but I am terrible on a bike. I didn't learn to ride a bike until I was an adult and am still not very good at it.

Oooh! Anyone know if it will have a Havana area? Looking at the old costa deck plan, it looks like they have one!

When will the TA take place? That sounds like a good trip because there should be slightly fewer sea days. Also, is this another Mardi Gras ship or one purchased from Costa?

I am asking about Carnival specific excursions. I have been to Cozumel many times, but this will be our first time to cruise to Progresso. Does anyone have a CCL excursion they recommend? The ones that looked interesting to me were: 1. Blue Hole, Cenotes & Swim Adventure - ($85 per person) 4.3 stars on CCL website 2. Chichen Itza, Cenote Swim & Buffet ($125 per person) - 4.7 stars on CCL website 3. Lazy River Tubing, Cavern Swim, and Mayapan Ruins ($115 per person) - 4.8 stars 4. Snorkel Underground Caverns & Shaman Ceremony ($89) - 4.4 stars All appear to include lunch. All are anywhere from 6 to 7.5 hours. Has anyone ever done any of these and would recommend them or not? Which would you pick? It will just be my husband and I. No kids. We are both in our 40s. The main thing I want to do is swim in cenotes or caverns.

Good to know! I have wondered about doing that but was nervous to try.

Calamari in the MDR Chocolate Melting Cake Guy's Cheeseburger The Fun Ship drink Quattro Formagio pizza Truffle fries from the deli Several of the sandwiches from the deli - I really like the one with avocado on a pretzel roll Praline martini on the MG

Have you done this? Did it work?

The menu stays the same at the Steakhouse. I personally would not eat there for 4 nights. If you really don't want to do the MDR, I would do the Chef's Table one night, the Italian place, and JiJi's....or one of the other specialty places if you are on MG.

Another option would be two adjoining window rooms on the Vista that puts your right there by the main lounge on deck 3. I think some of those even have an extra bathroom with an extra sink and tub...so you would 2 toilets, and 4 sinks and showers/tubs. With that said, at Christmas last year we sailed in two adjoining window rooms on deck 3 on the Vista and while I loved the location, I swore I would never do an inside room or OV again because the room started stinking from my stinky children and there was no balcony door to open to air it out. We literally had to set one of their shoes in the hallway because they smelled so bad and were stinking up the entire room...and then someone picked them up and threw them away (presumptively because they were gone) and he had NO shoes then. We had to buy him flip flops in the gift shop.

I would do two adjoining rooms over 1 suite for a family sailing together. We sail as a family of four--Me, Husband, and 2 kids. 2 rooms gives you 2 tv's, 2 full bathrooms, 4 beds (or two kings), 2 sofas, more closets, and you can close the door in between you and the kids if need be. My favorite configuration I have sailed has been a Vista Suite adjoining to a balcony where you basically have two bedrooms with a living room in between (and 3 tvs), but that is a different "class" of ship (Legend, etc.) than the Vista that has that configuration.

Come back and let us know what the situation is after you sail out of PC. Not being snarky. Interested to know.

Good point. This will end up being my husband and kids. They will get it and take it back to the room and put it in the fridge for later...and it probably won't be eaten.

It wouldn't hurt my feelings if they eliminated all the elegant nights. We could cruise any cruise (including 10+ day Europe cruises) with just carry-ons if we didn't have to bring "dress" shoes for my husband's size 12.5 feet and my two growing boys who are already in men's sizes even though they are 8 and 10.