Bobbylah

We live in Phoenix and have cruised out of Long Beach several times. We have always drove (6+ hours) the day before and done a park and cruise deal (Hotel Maya) each time. It is a little more expensive than just driving to the port the day of and paying for parking at the port, but not that much more. We feel it is by far worth it to pay a little more and avoid the stress of same day driving through miles and miles of empty desert!! We get in the day before and start the party early. I say do whatever you are comfortable with.

Not quite following you there regarding the stress of driving with no-one around. That sounds very relaxing to me. I found my stress levels were much higher when I was commuting every day around DC on 495 or getting back across the causeway from Malaysia to Singapore with everyone else after weekend jaunts.

Yep. Most every time we leave out of Canaveral. I get to bed early the night before (8pm ish). Get a few hours sleep and we leave around 3am (Greensboro NC). My wife sleeps in the car until we make a fuel stop and grab breakfast. It's a 9-10hr run and very easy. Hardly see any traffic until we hit 95. Never had a problem and not tired after getting on the boat. Crash at a regular time that first night (12-1ish typically).

Drove down the day before once (with kids) and stayed in a hotel near the port. Got worse sleep in that hotel than if I had driven the day of!

Like the title says.

We have done the Sunshine a few times, plus the Freedom, Fascination and Dream. I know the Fantasy is one of the oldest ships, but went through a Fun 2.0 in 2016. Looking to get input on the following;

1. Freedom as an updated ship. We don't go to shows or the Casino. More about relaxing, food and some (many) adult beverages.

2. New Years Eve cruise. We did a Christmas cruise in 2017 which was fun. Kids (3) - 13/11/8 thoroughly enjoyed it. For us, there was little that was different over a regular cruise.

3. Port of Mobile. We have traveled out of JAX, Canaveral and Miami. Canaveral is by far the easiest port we have used and in always quick to embark/disembark.

4. Western Caribbean vs Eastern. Most of our cruises have been Eastern or Bahamas. Thoughts on weather differences and what we can possibly expect at that time of year.

I know that each of these has been individually covered elsewhere, but so have all questions that come up here. Looking more for current experiences of how people have enjoyed that specific route in general, noting our preferences.

Many thanks in advance.

Takes a while (and a strong arm) to make a Gin Fizz properly. Good luck on that one.

That's good for people to know, but not everyone sails to those locations or have a carrier that covers them. So telling everyone to use their phones in roaming while in port isn't a good idea. Telling them it'll save them money compared to on board wifi, when in fact it can possibly cost them a lot more, is also a bad idea. That's the first time I've ever seen anyone on these boards tell people not to worry about the costs of roaming. Bad advice.

To me, that read as 'here is some potentially useful info, contact your carrier for clarification on your particular situation'. I don't believe the intent was 'hey just plow forward using roaming without a care in the world, you'll be ok'. There are options. People need to do their due diligence. If you don't and get charged per your contract terms, suck it up. You made the mistake, no-one else. Too many snowflakes out there not taking responsibility for their actions.

Please don't encourage people to use their cell phones in port while roaming. If they're carrier plan doesn't cover that area, they will incur heavy charges that rack up to very big bills.

 

Also, are you sure you were receiving Hub app chat messages five hours after leaving the ship? Because the Hub app doesn't work unless connected to the ship's wifi.

I had the same issues with the onboard package. I just used roaming when in ports. No big deal. Not sure about other carriers, but Verizon only charges you $10/d for a travel package when overseas.

If people are not aware of their terms of contract when using roaming, they deserve to get hit with large charges. Not understanding or knowing is not a valid excuse and gets used way to much these days.

That's exactly why we fly from NC to Florida. We can sail on a bigger ship to better places for less.

We'll be leaving out of Greensboro NC early Sun morning for a Port Canaveral departure the same day. Its a very easy 9 hr drive. We feel it's less risky than dealing with potential flight delays. We always get travel insurance, just in case. Only time I have had to use it was when a cancelled connection from RDU to JFK delayed our trip to Portugal a could of years ago. We ended up being messed around and arriving 3 days late on a 2 week vacation. Wear and tear not as issue as i have a company vehicle (2015 Tahoe).

I had never heard this before (makes sense though: entree is similar to enter, start) and I saw a definition of entree as meaning main dish but also definitions that it was a course before the main dish. Wikipedia said the later definition is for French and English speaking that isn't American or parts of Canada. Since much of (mainstream) cruising is catered to Americans it makes sense that the American usage of entree applies.

 

I also went down the rabbit hole a little bit on wikipedia and discovered that Elevenses is a real thing and not just part of Middle Earth. I'd never heard it outside of Hobbit/LOTR. I do like the concept:)

That would be the Brit in me coming out!

We are leaving this Sun on the Sunshine for a 5 day to use up some left over vacation from 2017. I absolutely plan on some 'second breakfast's ;)

I say go the full monty. How often do you get dressed up?

Meat - Love

Vegetables - Meh

Desserts - Hate

Absolutely. On our last cruise (Sunshine) I had a standing order in the MDR for the non-vegetarian Indian course (not on the menu), which I had requested through the Maitre d' on the first night . I supplemented that with whichever entree (bone of contention here, an entree is an appetizer not a main course - not sure why/when that usage worked its way into the common lexicon) took my fancy that night.

I have found it to be a mixed bag. Sometime great, sometimes terrible.

I usually get a couple of appetizers, a couple of mains, a martini to start along with either a few glasses of wine or beer, but skip dessert and no sodas. My weight stays the same as when I got on the ship. Typically bounce around the 180lb mark (+/- 2lb). No exercise other than walking around/stairs etc.

We used Park N Cruise. I would highly recommend them. Really nice drivers, and very helpful.

We like Park Port Canaveral - $10.95/day. Close enough to make no difference and pretty quick shuttles. Nice people. We will be on the Sunshine too, Jan 28th sailing. See you in the Red Frog. I'll be the one in the Kilt!.

We have done it both ways. When with the kids we drink less, but I always calculate how much we spent on drinks via the itemized bill and found that we probably spend half of what Cheers costs when with the kids and right around the cost of Cheers when we don't take them. The issue tends to become, we can both easily max the drinks on a sea day, and sometimes on a port day, but after 2-3 days of that we need a break, so lose out later in the cruise. It is just as easy to order whatever we want, when we want it and make out the same as if we had purchased the package over the duration. I understand that some want the 'carefree feeling' of having already paid for it, but my brain does not work that way. Whether I pay before, now or later, its the same money and therefore does not modify how much I spend on the ship. That makes it much easier to have the 14 drinks on one day and 1 the next without caring if I 'break even' or not.

Ours would either be our four with Capt Bob Cass in St Maarten, which included an island tour by boat, snorkeling, lunch on the beach at a Creole Cafe on the French side of St Maarten, and a visit to Maho Beach as the big jets came in.

.

Absolutely this one. Little pricey for a family of 5, but well worth it!

Not even if it was free. Talk about being claustrophobic. May the Force be with you!

Actually, if it was free I would, but then again I am probably the one out of the four that would make the others say, "Not even for free! :beer-mug::tropical-drink::tropical-drink::cocktail::cocktail:;p

Tie (or some other marker) for the door handle. At least that's what I believe passes for notice in US university dorms! Being a Brit, we don't share rooms at uni. (or at least did not back in my day).

I'm good with the MDR. Not interested in buffet for dinner.

Not interested in buffet - ever!

Likely:

 

Carnival routinely under cooks their steaks in the steakhouse, so I factor that in.

 

Tom

Its impossible to undercook a steak! ;p 'Blue' FTW

Any votes for White Tie?

LOL! another kilt yea! Hubby does his full formal with Prince Charles and all - when we pack it and he feels like it. ;) Only place he can wear it.

Ha! I also dress it down sometimes. Kilt/boots/t-shirt. I had a great day walking around Key West like that, with some interesting pictures around the statues. Also did the Mixologist competition the same way. On the Sunshine a year or so ago, we did the Red Frog trivia with Samual Lemmons and won each night as I recall. Couple of nights were close and the tie breaker was chugging a pint of beer. Mine was a Guinness and I believe it was Elegant night so I had the full Kilt kit on. My wife caught it on her phone as a video, so a good memory there.

Silly is your condescendingly insulting answer. Most of the rest of the world allows adults (18) to drink beer and wine. Our young men and women can join the military at 17 with parent's permission (and it has been my honor to lead them over the last 25 years) so why not allow them to have a drink with their parent's permission? Because you don't approve? I'm going to be politically incorrect here...grow up and realize that we (USA) are on the wrong end of this argument. Let the young adults have a drink. Heck, buy them one and use it as a teaching moment to discuss "responsible" drinking. Don't get them "knee walking, commode hugging drunk", just buy them a drink and be an adult with your offspring. Too much to ask? Then yeah, they'll learn to drink at parties in college (i.e. out of control).

Wholeheartedly agree (and Thank You for your service). That is exactly what my parents did as I was growing up around the world and I am pretty sure I am a normal, healthy, adult contributor to society. I recall fondly coming back from school in the UK back in the late 80's (I guess at an age equiv. to 11th grade), finishing my homework then popping into the local pub for a few pints and a chat with friends. I see nothing worse that the ridiculous behavior of people who hit the 'magic 21' and want to celebrate by getting fall down/black out drunk, or the stupidity of the college freshmen initiation challenges.

I wear my kilt with the Argyle jacket, ghillie brogues, sgian-dubh, flashes etc. Not full formal with a Bonnie Prince Charlie. Lots of fun.

Sorry I "misspoke" when mentioning the jeans being allowed on Elegant Nights, it's the Steakhouse allows them on casual nights.

Luckily for me I never had problems being double charged for anything or trouble with the launderettes prior to getting free laundry as a perk (at least on Carnival still working on that one for other lines). But if I ever did have the machines refuse payment back then, I would of immediately done the stuff the bag wash and fold service for $15 (an everyday day price the past couple of years, instead of a once a cruise special). True that's 2.5 times the amount of DIY without buying on board chemicals in the launderette (we used to bring our own), but I then would gone to guest services (with the time I saved by not waiting on the machines) to complain and get a refund for the difference.

 

The OP, winddawn, asked how we FEEL about the MDR dress code in essence being the same all cruise long. I expressed my feeling that if there was to be a uniform MDR dress code I would prefer it too be the "higher" standard of the 2 currently described. I'm not trying to force anyone to conform to my viewpoint and do not feel that how someone else is dressed (as long as it it no lewdly) detracts from my enjoyment of a meal. But rather the attitude copped and held onto by passengers when they are called out by staff to change or enjoy another venue is my detraction. These usually loud discussions and surly mood they maintain by the person or their companions during meal service, if they care seated near us, is what sours the dinner experience for my family. I just prefer to negate that risk by having a more defined dress code with little chance of mis-iterpetation.

Also I really do have a hard time understanding this whole "I can't fit a couple pairs of pants into my carry-on luggage" attitude so the cruise line should accommodate me by allowing me to wear whatever I do bring even it it's against their dress code. It's not like their luggage is lost, it was their decision to pick an airline that does not allow checked luggage as part of the ticket price and is unilling to pay for upcharge to do so. A line must be drawn somewhere, and as Carnival's Maître D’ and hostesses are now enforcing the dress code more often, at least for the cruises I’ve had the last 2-3 years. I can't remember any cruise (Carnival or not including) where we did not hear a passenger or 5 state that FAQs say shorts are allowed in the dining room when they are stopped at the MDR entrance and ask to change. Yes, Carnival's FAQs allow shorts on casual nights (while other crise lines do not) but it is stated they mean dress shorts (without further definition) which may be marketed as Bermuda, walking, or golf shorts, with certain staff members allowing cargo shorts. (Other lines only allow shorts during breakfast and lunch service.) By stating pants are the minimum for dinner then that confusion over what meets the definition of a pair of dress short is negated. It can boil down to a being a similar argument about what's the difference between a pair of thong sandals and what are flip flops, people will have agree to disagree and go by the judgement of the crew.

In part some of my disbelief that people cannot pack appropriate clothing, iss this...

I just packed 10 pairs of Dockers, 6 button down shirts, 4 polos shirts, 14 pairs of underwear, 3 sets of shorts, 3 t-shirts, 2 swimsuits, extra belt, a pair of walkers, and 3 days of gym wear for my husband (who wears 3X-Tall) for a 2 week business trip. (Basically a complete flip-flop of what is suggested to wear on a cruise.) He does not do laundry (except for the active wear which he will wash in the sink), does not send anything to the dry cleaner unless it states "Dry Clean only", and was unsure of the availability of any nearby reliable wash-n-fold service (not mentioned as a hotel amenity). This all fit in 1 garment bag (tipping the scales at 45# because of full sized toiletries) and 1 carry-on, so he did have to forkover at the airport $35 for the checked bag. But that was his choice not to avail himself of possibly paying only 3/4 of that amount to have his laundry done while he is in his various meetings. If it had been my choice he would have only taken a little more than 1 week's worth of clothing and pare down his toiletry choices to fit the quart bag, and sent out for laundry on day 6. This shortened list would have fit in his carry-on and a pilot bag/personal item, making them a bit heavy but still manageable since they are on wheels. Packing cubes and dollar store roll-up “vacuum” travel bags do wonders for maximizing a carry-on’s capacity, especially since no airline I know of weighs carry-on as long it fits the slot and/or the passenger can lift it to the overhead.

Agree wholeheartedly!

I enjoy 'elegant' (not 'formal' - there is a distinction) night. I can still pack a kilt, argyle jacket, ghille brogues and rest of the accessories, plus all the other day to day stuff without the need for more than one bag. One plus is that I get to dress down the kilt on other days with just a t-shirt and boots - and thoroughy enjoyed wearing them when i did the drinks making competition on the Lido a couple of years ago. Few and far between are the opportunities that I get to wear my kilt (other than weddings), so I enjoy it, and it always gets comments ;) (I am the guy with the 'It's a Kilt. If I wore something under it, it would be a skirt!' t-shirt.)

No matter how you sugarcoat it, we cannot get away from the fact that it is human nature to judge others based on culturally ingrained biases, but at the end of the day its all about having fun. I don't like ball caps, 'wife beaters', flip flops/thongs, etc., but if that is your thing, by all means, have at it. I reserve the right to judge you accordingly.