picklebongo

Anybody here with experience in the royal owners suite?

Folks...cut me some slack, we were in total crisis mode here. At guest services we were told the return flight was cancelled, though the departure and transfer to the ship was fine. At guest services we were told someone had cancelled THEIR flight, not the flight in general. My sister checked her emails remotely, nothing. Carnival said they had no idea who cancelled it. My sister asked them to rebook the flight and what made her mad was in the midst of this, the guest services guy asked who was going to pay for it.

Ten minutes ago, after a lot of stress, standing at guest services and yes, a few swear words, they were rebooked on the flight they were somehow cancelled from.

My two sisters and their husbands cruise a lot, usually Crystal, Celebrity, Regent and Princess and it was my idea to cruise Carnival because we had first time cruisers in our group. My sisters had not cruised Carnival in over 20 years and they held their noses and booked. Quite frankly, they were blown away by the ship, service, food, entertainment and the overall experience. One of my sisters is cancelling the Disney trip she had booked for eight grandkids and their parents to book Carnival.

This snafu tonight was a bitter pill and my sister was saying she'll never book Carnival again. Luckily now that this was ironed out, she can have a more balanced view and remember the overall experience and not just tonight.

I can say though, having the unlimited internet for $99 was a lifesaver. We had to do some of the legwork with the airline on the iPad, FaceTime folks, check emails, it was and is a blessing.

I appreciate those of you who tried to help by posting information and giving suggestions, we were in a full blown panic. Now our bags are packed and it's smooth sailing...goodnight and thanks!

We have spent hours at guest services. My brother in law has the onset of dementia and can't sit around the airport all day. Carnival can't tell us who cancelled the flight, though they said it was done on the 17th. The departure was fine and the transfer. They told us they have secured them a flight, but they can't tell us the airline nor the time, just go to the airport in the morning. That sounds nuts, if they actually have a flight, they should be able to tell us details.

This is truly awful given I arranged this cruise and everything had gone seamless.

We are currently on the Breeze headed back to Galveston. My sister purchased her airline tickets and transfers through Carnival. The first leg of the trip was no problem, but we just found out, for some unknown reason, Carnival cancelled their return airline ticket. They are refusing to book another ticket, just telling them to go to the airport tomorrow. Any advice would be helpful cause we are stressing.

What is the newest RCL ship, 2nd and 3rd?

Don't want to walk dragging luggage.

Sailing on the Breeze, looking for full service hotel near the pier.

Please write fadter, this is soooo interesting.

OH yes... the Legend! Heading back in about two months -- to our favorite aft corner! :D

 

 

Tom

What ship and cabin is this? I cancelled an aft because it didn't have enough of an overhang, but this looks excellent.

I totally agree with the OP, the taking of stuffed animals in public and posing them for photos, putting them on the dinner table, etc. is childish. But if folks enjoy it, fine, but we can still have an opinion.

I recently booked an aft wrap on the Splendor, sailing this summer. I am having some serious second thoughts because of comments to the effect that it's really hot back there, very little breeze and virtually no overhang. Slying or sitting out there is like constantly being in the sun.

I am considering booking a cat 11 or 12. What do you guys think?

Yes, bringing, a can of soda into the MDR is very tacky, in my opinion.

The suite comparison has been very enlightening and I'm hearing lots of good things about NCL. I'd particularly like to know what the vibe is like on Epic, for instance, is there much of a night life, older crowd, very sedate, that type of information.

What a great lighthearted thread, thanks for posting!!

Now don't some of you folks think it's going a bit too far when one starts to bring blenders onboard to mix drinks. These are the same folks plotting here about making drinks from "smuggled" items and who would say if you can't afford the tips, stay home. Perhaps one could say the same about purchasing drinks too.

LOVE Greg Iles.....also Steve Martini' date=' James Patterson, Jonathan Kellerman, John LeCarre..........

 

I take plenty of books with me as I'm an avid reader....and, the selections onboard in the gift shop are few.

 

On the Miracle a few years back, I re-read the entire original Foundation series by Isaac Asimov. It's as good today as it ever was!![/quote']

 

All of the authors you mentioned are favorites of mine also. Since we seem to enjoy the same genre and authors, if you are not familiar with Harlan Coben, his books are excellent also. I pack about 7-10 books and read them all before leaving the ship and then I have to frequent the library and their offering is abysmal. What's really shocking is that Carnival does not have a single copy of a children's book in their library and this is suppose to be a family friendly line. On my first cruise I remembered my books but forgot my children's and wanted to read them bedtime stories, couldn't do it.

Greg Iles... Black Cross. http://www.gregiles.com/blackcross.htm

Haven't read it in a while, but still remains a top favorite. Most of his books are great reads, and quite a variety of themes.

 

Ann Rule, any. Not a fan of true crime, but her writing style is amazing. Read one of her books years ago, and anxiously await each paperback. She draws you in.

 

Michael Palmer and Robin Cook... both are physicians who write amazing medical mysteries. I do admit I'm having a difficult time getting into Michael Palmer's latest, The First Patient, but that's an exception rather than the rule.

 

Just finished the book Marley and Me. Hilarious, and much, much better than the movie.

I "discovered" Greg Iles two months ago and I have been scouring used book stores ever since trying to find all his titles and have been reading them sequentially. Before my cruise in Aug. I am going to spend a few days in Natchez, mostly because his books are peppered with references and the city sounds fascinating.

I don't have any photos to share but I visit this thread often and have enjoyed all the ones here. It is so great to visit a thread where everything is positive and upbeat. Keep them coming please!! There are some fantastic photographers here.

To the poster who mentioned having American cooks, particularly to prepare breakfast items, I am surprised about this request. Breakfast has a truly excellent array to choose from and I can't imagine whatelse they could add that would have universal appeal such as cereal, yogurt, sausage, bacon, etc. Grits I don't believe would have appeal to the masses and I really don't believe they have the time to prepare them properly. It takes a realllly long time to cook grits and being a native from Louisiana, what most folks called grits would not pass muster in my family.

I never knew this was how to hull a strawberry, thanks. Now for a cooking question I have always been to embarrassed to ask...when a recipe says to mince garlic, does that mean to chop it into incredibly small pieces or just smoosh it up with like a mallet or something.

I love good food but don't consider myself a good cook. So excuse this question if the answer is obvious, but I just don't know how to do this. The strawberry bisque said to "hull the strawberries". How in the world does one do this to a strawberry. There is no hull, is there?

I love good food but don't consider myself a good cook. So excuse this question if the answer is obvious, but I just don't know how to do this. The strawberry bisque said to "hull the strawberries". How in the world does one do this to a strawberry. There is no hull, is there?