Bers

I used to sleep with a fan also, mainly just for the sound. Cruises make this difficult and I switched to this little guy below. It has a bunch of different fan sound variations and is small enough to carry with you. LectroFan High Fidelity White Noise Machine with International Power Adaptors for The US, UK and EU - Global Power Edition https://a.co/d/a5BYmLV

The rental was really an ask from mom, and we don't plan on venturing far from home base and only with a mapped out plan. I have driven in the fast-paced chaotic countries, third world included, though TBH, it was with the military and with our own vehicle so the thought of all the details that goes along with a rental has certainly caused a bit of....contemplation, but I'll take each situation as it comes. My last trip to Tampa pulled the same insurance scam on me that you're speaking about, so I'm familiar with that nasty scene. I do appreciate the warnings. I certainly understand these two vacations are not complete parallels, but they're certainly similar and I thought I could help others who had the same curiosity that I did.

Makes perfect sense. It didn't make it into my list because these aren't things we typically use, so we could take it or leave it.

I’ve been on several cruises, all Carnival, and they have been my only real major form of vacation that I have taken. Mainly because I wanted something where I didn’t have to do a lot of planning and I was never sure an all-inclusive resort would be enjoyable for me, fearing I’d be bored. However, my mom, who has been my vacation partner throughout, said she would like to try a resort and so we booked one for this coming January for 7 days. Because I had always been interested in the cost comparison between the “cost effective” Carnival cruises and an all-inclusive, I thought I’d share for others, too. BLUF: A Carnival cruise is, for my mother and I, the winner by a smidgen, at least my most recent one. This does not include any extras like dining, Cheers, shopping, etc, so YMMV. Really, any extras would just about put us equal to or greater than an all-inclusive. Hope this helps those who are wondering the same thing. Below are the numbers: Cruise -Panorama Carnival Cruise fare – 7 day – 8C Balcony (7268) – choose your own room location (after taxes/port fees/tips): $2,306 -Airfare (St. Louis to Long Beach): $908 ($454 x 2) -Insurance (The Trip Insurance Store): $261 ($106 for myself, 44 yo – trip and medical; $155 for 73 yo mother – medical only) -Hotel: $170 -Lyfts (to and from airport/hotel/cruise terminal): ~$210 Total: $3,855 All-Inclusive – Using Southwest Vacation Packages for the Paradisus Cancun for 7 days (prices have since the booking raised) -Resort + flight (booking did not break this down): $3,354 ($1,677 x 2) -Car rental: $278 -Insurance: $250 ($125 x 2 – did not ask for age, etc.) -Lyft to airport/return home: $120 Total: $4,002

I think people can easily grasp where marijuana ranks in addiction/lethality/whatever compared to other drugs, but just because someone finds it useful for cancer or MS, doesn't remove the fact that it's not allowed on board. People can find another vacation if they can't do without. "Showing grace" is not about allowing misconduct, it's about the forgiveness shown after. And calling people names in your post for stating the rules is just snotty.

I shipped it from a St. Louis suburb. I have wondered why some take longer and some are seemingly "immediate". I have a government security clearance and wonder if that comes into play.... Even for applicants with derogatory information in their background, I would think it's either a yes/no decision and not a let's-sit-on-it-for-three-months-and-think-about-it decision.

Just an update on passport renewal times, for those that are waiting for theirs. I sent off for my expedited passport renewal on August 5 for an upcoming Panorama cruise in October, though mostly for a land based Mexico vacay in January since a passport isn't required for my cruise, and they received it Aug 9 (St. Louis to PA). On Aug 20, my status showed "Approved", and I had my passport the next day. I did not pay for priority shipping so the quick return surprised me. Less than two week turn-around surprised me even more, though! I wonder if the government is finally getting their act together...🤔🤣

Does anyone have any experience with booking a spring break time-frame cruise for 12 days (regarding the amount of kids)? I typically cruise in Jan/Feb but because Th Venzia will be out of New York, I'd like to wait till a little later so it can warm up a bit. Thoughts?

I don't know if what he says is gospel, but there's that.

This is the same question I am wondering, too. I have read a few places on this site where people have done just that, but the Carnival site is seriously lacking it the specifics so what if I get a clueless person checking me in and I'm denied entry? They need a list of what tests you can use other than "any over the counter test". So, not FDA approved? I ordered the free gov't tests and haven't received them yet, but assume they're FDA approved (EUA, of course because they're a joke). I would also love to hear as many tried-and-true cases of your question to give me the warm fuzzies before I get on that plane.

So they know who needs a test. Unvaxxd get tested.

Let's all just try to accept that there are those that refuse to accept that covid is at the omicron stage and try to ignore them because they are the minority. Then we can move on to celebrate the great news of the return to semi-normal. You know, like when thousands and thousands died from the flu without pushing constant panic... Because we knew the reality of these crappy viruses and if we were to afraid to get it, we didn't go on cruises.

I'm single, so I'm looking at the ships with the studios leaving the west coast to miminize hurricanes, like the Norwegian Bliss. I typically neeeeeeed the balcony but just to go on a cruise I'll try anything, for crying out loud. 😂

Copy. I think many of us can agree they both have their faults. 😊