Heirloom

Thanks to yesterday's long-awaited notice from CDC regarding mask removal.... Carnival, NCL, and RCL stocks having giant % value

increases today.

Ya think people are looking forward to cruiseship vacations soon ??????

What a ridiculous port....really nothin' there. ZERO lost if the cruise docks

are out for good.

Usually you can find the ratio at both double occupancy and full capacity. For example, Norwegian Escape shows a ratio of 39.2, but at full capacity it's 32. I sailed her at full capacity and while I had a great time on that cruise, it was the most crowded I've ever felt on a cruise. Ideally, you want to be in the 40s for a comfortable cruise.

 

The number I posted earlier for Westerdam was at full capacity. At double occupancy, she's at 42. Since HAL doesn't typically attract families, you could very well be closer to the 42 mark on your cruise.

 

The thing about Carnival is, their model has been max passenger loads since day 1. I remember reading about that in the book Devils On The Deep Blue Sea. Passenger crowding has always been one of Carnival's weak points. The point about that is, all Carnival ships have a low ratio number. Carnival Spirit is 34. So if a person who loves Spirit Class is afraid to sail mega ships due to crowding, they really shouldn't be.

Regarding Spirit ships, at least........Cruise Mapper says you are quite wrong.

(go down the attachment to see all ship numbers):

http://www.cruisemapper.com/wiki/761-cruise-ship-passenger-capacity-ratings

We were on the Pride for the fourth time in February. We've been cruising for many years, and on many different cruise lines. For us, the Pride is a great size, easy to get around, the crew has always been fantastic, the port is only an hour and a half drive from our house, and we always get a great price. We're not looking for mega ships. We're not taking kids along, so we don't need amusement park-like venues, i.e. climbing walls, bumping cars, etc. It's also hard for service not to fall off a little, when you have 4,000+ passengers on a ship.

 

We love the Serenity area, but you need to get there early because there are people who go there, put their book on the chair and leave for a couple of hours )-: Additionally, we always choose traditional dining and not YTD. We just like eating later, and at the same time each night. There's a sushi restaurant too, and if you like sushi then definitely try it. Guy's Burgers are another great place to grab a burger for lunch while on the Pride.

 

Anyway, we're happy with the Pride. I just wish they would change their itineraries, and add more Bermuda cruises, instead of Nassau, Freeport, etc. I wanted to book the Bermuda cruise for this September, but we have a wedding. FYI - I don't know if you've ever been to Bermuda, but we've been going there since the 80's. While it's not the Caribbean, Bermuda is by far my favorite island. I'm still not losing hope that we might be able to book one of the Pride Bermuda cruises this year, and if not, definitely in 2017.

 

Have a great cruise on whatever ship you choose!!!

We agree ! Pride and Legend (both spirit class) are our favorite, zero question

about it. We have felt CROWDED on ALL other Carnival ships we've done as a comparison. (Liberty, Freedom, Dream, Destiny/Sunshine). Likely due to

a great design, as well as space per passenger. If you go down the attached page to the middle, square foot comparisons will show how much larger

the Pride is per person:

http://www.cruisemapper.com/wiki/761-cruise-ship-passenger-capacity-ratings

We've done Pride 4 times. Each time in Nassau, Captain backed in, which resulted in left side of ship looking out toward island. Right side toward that

little peninsula and ocean.

Just got off our second cruise on the Pride. IMO - it is the BEST of all the Carnival ships. The decor has the feeling of an old time ocean liner. Easy to navigate like all the Spirit Class......

 

.......Anyway - give the Pride a shot! I don't think you'll regret it.

Yup. That's the COMFORT we find important when choosing a place to live for 7-8 days. Have a tough time feeling squooshed by comparison on Destiny, Liberty, Freedom, Dream.....no matter where onboard you go.

Pride and Legend feel so open, there's no comparison. Unfortunately, Pride destinations after 4 times are looking a little too familiar ! Not sure about

going to Mexico, but may have to fly across country to try Miracle. (or live with feeling like a canned sardine on other Carnival ships).

......and imprisonment.

Real nice.

Heard the name might be "Too Crowded".

Suggest you read the State Department advisory about the specific areas you

would like to see down there.

Mexico is a very dangerous country:

https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

What we thoroughly disliked about the Dream (same category) was how our

7th floor BALCONY was horrible compared to other ships.

Looking out to view the sticking out DECK with never-ending walking and running traffic flow..... vs. simply the open ocean and sky. Yuck.

Added to that, also on that "stuck out deck", raised Jacuzzis full of heavy drinking clowns wooping it up until after 10:30 each night.

As balcony lovers, will never do that group of ships again !

OMG, you got one of the 2 best cabins onboard. We've had that one and the other side on same floor, on either Legend or Pride.

You'll always be able to choose either sun or shade because of the

fantastic overhang.....AND.....will have complete privacy, as nobody can

look down to see you from higher vista suites !

My recollection is that the doorway is located BETWEEN the 2 rooms, so

that with both bedroom doors closed, someone in the "living" room can go in/ out the door to deck without waking someone napping in the bed !!!!

Have a great cruise.

We love the Pride. And feel so lucky being able to drive there in a couple of

hours.

Am enjoying your review.....it might force us to get back on her sooner than

planned......last time was New Years.

Check out Pride, close to you by car.....and one of the best ships in the

whole fleet.

Maybe the 8 day trip .....great beaches !

Keep this in mind, if you'd like.

ALL independent suppliers have ZERO relationship with cruiselines. In other words, complaints/problems with them will fall on 100% deaf ears.

Other than a quick number of bucks from money-savers that will likely

not return any time soon to their business (in a foreign country), there is

much less of a motivation to get it done right.

Some will, some won't. Up to you as to whether or not it's worth taking

such a risk in order to reduce excursion fees. Considering our total

vacation costs, we're not encouraged to go independent ourselves.

One interesting exercise is taking the ship's displacement and dividing it by the number of passengers. by this ratio, the Spirit Class has the most room per passenger.

 

I prefer Sprit class ships.

And it certainly FEELS like the most room throughout the cruise. Willing

to bet it's Carnival's least profitable as a result of least amount of

squooshiness ! (In our experience the Dream was highest amount by far).

Damn shame.

Hope that this bad news helps stop someone who's thinking about

doing dangerous stuff casually in foreign places......rethinks it on their

own behalf.

Life's too short to begin with.

Thanks, everybody.

Will be scratching the Sunshine off....Destiny didn't feel crowded to us

either. The unique pool area was nice design, but if it's jammed up all

the time now, screw that.

Can't relax fully when I feel like we're driving on the Long Island Expressway

for a whole week !!!!!!!!!!!! (that's what the Dream felt like too).

We were on the Destiny several years ago, and enjoyed it for the most part.

One thing missing at that time was a steakhouse.

Has anyone been on Sunshine before and after change ? If so, what

differences/improvements did you notice ?

Thanks !

Interesting how all of our negative experience was indicated by others. We

will enjoy ANY cruise, but given a choice will opt out of Dream family ships.

Not bad mouthing for those about to cruise on Dream/Magic/Breeze. Just

saying we experienced crowds everywhere, wobbly movement at all times,

noisy mid-ship empress balcony overlooking a deck rather than full ocean,

and thin walls between rooms. (on Dream about 4-5 years ago).

For us, smaller is better, as in Spirit class. But if you have kids that make

a lot of noise and want to meet a lot of new kids.....go Dream !

Meaning, we're kinda old to be objective.

Recommend Pride or Miracle.

Best ships in fleet IMHO.

On 12/26/15 cruise, Pall Mall $ 20/carton. Marlboro $45/carton.

Appreciate your honest review so far.

We took the Dream once years ago. It was and probably still is the most

crowded-feeling ship in the fleet. With long waits as well.

Hey, a cruise is still great. But we prefer smaller Carnival ships.

Latest Zika Virus location report from government:

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-information

Just checked latest reports as we plan to set up next cruise.

In addition to Mexico, quite a few cruise ship stops are now listed, including

some favorites like Aruba. etc.

We may have to buy a ton of mosquito spray !!!!!!

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/zika-travel-information

Only cause for termination:

Death.

(Which is inevitable).