MississippiMom

My apologies, but I did not understand your first sentence. Why was MDR dinner a no? Is it because you were assigned to a table for six? Because you did not want early dining? Because you were waiting on Anytime Dining to open up? Or was the MDR menu lacking items of interest? Thanks for the photos of the casino dance floor. I would have never wandered in there to look, since I hate the casino cigarette smell.

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Those looking at these Atrium balconies are in their twenties and young thirties, and I’m guessing they will be attending the Atrium parties. Sounds like it will be fine for them.

We are looking at a multi-generational cruise on Valor next year. Several folks would like a balcony and to save a little money are considering Deck 6. From reading around the internet, it appears that the cabins above The Fun Shops should be okay from a noise perspective from directly below. However, is the open Atrium going to be a big noise issue? I have been on Conquest and on Glory, so I can picture the Atrium, but I cannot picture it at all from Deck 6. Help, please.

We have now gone on two cruises (two different lines) where the cabin card was outside the door and it still seems odd to me. It hasn't caused any issues for my family, but it does still feel like a "free for all" to me. I know that it is not, but it does give mischievous cruisers the opportunity to look around other cabins.

Fascinated by the pancake machine. In our many nights at hotels, we have never come across one. Our first multi-generational cruise was on Glory in March 2019. Like you, driving to port is our preference, and we do love New Orleans. Looking forward to reading more about your adventure.

For us, the Alchemy Bar staff are the ones we ALWAYS tip extra. (That is the main bar we use on Carnival.) And, yes, there are favorites. Those are the bartenders that listen to what you want or offer you an off-menu drink that they think you will really appreciate. If we were "regulars" at a different bar on a Carnival ship, we would tip extra there, too.

Related - Can someone enlighten me on "why?" the cruise lines have so many non-refundable deposit fares? I wish, as a past cruiser, especially, that CCL would give me some discounts with refundable deposits.

Wish I could see it. Sadly, my laptop isn't showing me the menu, only your typed words.

Thanks for posting! I have the offer. Sounds like it’s time to buy Cheers packages.

Is "Hell to the no" allowed on the boards? That reply seems fitting.

When we were on Mariner last month, they were definitely passing the baskets around at breakfast time in the dining room. Such delicious items in those baskets that I could have just eaten from there on a couple of mornings.

I am right there with your daughter. The only time you will see me eating from the buffet on any cruise ship is if I'm desperate. Yes, cruise ship breakfasts in the main dining room means a menu and servers. I assume that you could order an alcoholic beverage, just like at dinner in the dining room. For certain, there were omelets and hash browns. I believe there was an eggs benedict on the menu, but don't know for certain. The one day my husband actually had breakfast in the dining room, I recall him ordering bagel & lox.

On our recent cruise, I ate breakfast in the dining room every morning but disembarkation day. I would have preferred a couple of mornings of room service breakfast on our balcony, but the hubby likes to sleep in on those sea days. There were eleven of us cruising together, so there were never less than three eating breakfast together. We found it very delicious and quick. It was so much better than having to carry our own food around from the buffet to a table. Now my SIL preferred the buffet. She could get her six year old fed, easily, there.

Many thanks!

Looks like we are heading to Cozumel (again) on a multigenerational family cruise in July 2023. We are just now at the booking cabins stage and haven’t even started talking about possible excursions. In theory, we do not plan on large group excursions, but various subsets. However, I envision that my husband & I will offer to take our young adult children (and SIL) on an excursion in Cozumel. During past port stops, we have been to Chankanaab, Isla de Pasion (twice) and Paradise Beach. Punta Sur looks beautiful and something new for us. I don’t mind paying for a taxi driver to stick around, if needed, but is their a private car service that you might recommend? (I did see that Black Hat Tours pops up as a recommendation.). Ideally, one that might have larger vehicles, since their might be 8 of us. Thanks!

Yes, I know this is old, but was hoping someone from this thread might return to reply. The Carnival Conquest Class ships appear to have very few Fully Accessible Cabins. Are the "one-sided" accessible ones still large enough to drive a scooter into? It's really difficult to tell from the deck plans.

Plenty of CVS and Walgreens around. For certain, there is one of each on Canal Street. A very quick walk from Harrahs.

There is so much to see in New Orleans. I certainly hope you will be able to spend some time being a tourist and enjoying the city.

OP - Is it possible for you to edit the title of this thread to remove 2013 from the title, in hopes that more people read it and participate? All of us traveling to Costa Maya after the Covid shutdown could really use all the new information that other cruisers might update on here.

I’m going to “piggy back” on here just to see if popping this thread up gets more readers and replies. To the OP, please return and provide more detail, so people can assist you. We have a couple of family members who are considering cruising in 2023. Both do NOT require scooters or walkers on an every day basis, however, due to weight and health issues, they both move in VERY slow motion and struggle with steps. Just yesterday, I encouraged one family member to read over the accessible cabin options on the Carnival site and to book soon in order to obtain one of those limited cabins. I really think the other family member should consider taking a foldable scooter with her, but I don’t think she would need an accessible cabin. Would they have an option to request a dining room table toward the front, so they don’t have to navigate through the entire dining room to a mid or back table? Would they go through Special Needs prior to sailing or just wait until they are onboard?

We have regularly had “crazy” offers when I log in, but none have been an option for us. Our oldest daughter was ready for us to leave her dad and her husband behind and the two of us just go on a mom/daughter cruise, but we both work and can’t just randomly take vacation days.

Dang! I love that Deal Closer Alchemy Bar drink.

I am fascinated by all the only-balcony cruisers. At first I thought that I don’t have a deal breaker, but then I remembered how obnoxious I am about my cabin location. I am a light sleeper, so if the only cabins left were under, above or next to noisy public spaces, that would be a definite deal breaker for me.

I know your post is from 2020 (pre-pandemic shutdown). Were you able to go to Almaplena and what did you think? We just booked a 2023 summer cruise that includes Costa Maya, and I am just not certain where to go. Maya Chan, Almaplena and Malecon21 all look good online.

A minor exiting the ship is definitely a HUGE flag. We just witnessed it. My nephew stood in the (right) line with me to get off at a port, but his father (my brother) was in the other (left) line. Luckily, my middle name is my maiden name and matches my nephew's last name, so not a big issue. Security still stopped my nephew, but since they had seen us all talking they were quick to get the okay from my brother.