chascougs

22 minutes ago, livingonthebeach said:

Something to keep in mind is that not all specialty restaurants are open for lunch on embarkation day. I've always been able to walk in without a reservation using my UDP at whichever specialty venue was open for lunch on Day 1.

Hooked, Chops, Izumi, and Jamie’s are all accepting reservations for lunch on boarding day, on the Royal website. Thanks for responding! 

We’ve always just gone to Johnny Rockets for lunch on boarding day but wouldn’t mind changing it up. If I book Hooked for lunch and pay the cost today, is the cost refunded once we get on board and our dining package is acknowledged? Was also. Considering hibachi for lunch on boarding day. I know there is small upcharge with the dining package, is the cost to book prior to boarding refunded minus the upcharge? 
thanks! 

Can Uber over to Mt Pleasant, 10-15 minutes depending on traffic or walk over to the Waterfront Park (take a left on Concord St and walk passed the Fleet Landing Restaurant and the new complex under construction), walk down the pier and take the water taxi over to Patriots Point. 

Been a hot minute since I’ve sailed out of Port Everglades and was wondering how “strict” is the port security and Royal (sailing on Symphony) about adhering to designated arrival times. Check in opened today and the earliest time I could get is 11:30. Will you be allowed in the terminal if you show up before your scheduled time? Last year in Miami for an Oasis cruise, you had to show your arrival time and if it was early you weren’t allowed to get in line to enter the terminal. My main concern about boarding a little later is that we have ultimate dining package and on the Harmony, early 2022, by the time we boarded most of the prime reservation times were already taken and Chops was already booked solid for the week. Thanks for any input. 

Grew up in Charleston and raised my kids here as well. Downtown Charleston is incredible but can be pricey. If you are looking for more moderate priced lodging I’d suggest Mount Pleasant. Easy ride across the Ravenel Bridge into town. Lots of good restaurants over on that side of the harbor as well. My kids used to love to explore Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island. The walk over the Ravenel Bridge offers breathtaking views well out into the Atlantic. My kids loved to play in the fountains at the Waterfront Park (just past the cruise terminal). Patriot’s Point in Mount Pleasant has several ships you can tour including the aircraft carrier Yorktown. The South Carolina Aquarium is small but well designed. White Point Garden on the Battery is another place to take in the views and let the kid run around. A stroll thru the Market is always fun. Lots of shops on either side of the Market as well. Fall is my favorite time of year here! Temps are still in the 80s but the humidity is way down from summertime, just be aware that Sept and Oct are the months we see the most tropical activity during hurricane season. Any questions please feel free to ask. 

Scott 

Area where Guys BBQ and the adjacent Hero’s Lounge will have games. Carnival has NFL Ticket (at least they did last Dec when we sailed Mardi Gras). I would advise getting there early and securing a good viewing spot for the game you want to watch as it will be packed. 

On our 12/14/19 sailing, we arrived at the terminal around 10:45, breezed thru security and check-in. Waited till about 11:45 when our boarding group number was called and was at The Local ordering lunch by noon! Very painless. 

What day in February will you be here? The first big weekend of the year is over Valentine’s weekend with the Southeastern Wildlife Expo in town. If it’s that weekend prepare for lots of congestion especially down around the Market area and you may find extended wait times getting served most restaurants and ride share services (Lyft and Uber) will most likely be having surge pricing. 

Our Oasis sailing (12/8/18) has Ultimate dining for $129, beverage package for $15 and internet for 1 device at $11. Canceled and rebooked everything saving over $200 this morning!!!!

I don’t drink but my wife does. Anytime we sail with the kids we always book my wife and 2 Kids in an inside across from myself and our other child in a balcony. Upon boarding we go to guest services and switch the kid in my cabin for my adult. Guest services attendants have never so much as batted an eye at this request.

We did the very same thing last cruise on the Magic except ours was 12 at the time. First night she just brought pillows and linen over to our cabin, next night the steward gladly made up the sofa for her (sofa did not convert to a bed but she had no complaints).

Can someone please answer the question of the original poster "How hard is it to get a pick up by Uber/Lyft?

 

The main thing is that we do NOT want to park at the port.

Should have no problem hailing a rideshare. If able I would walk across Concord St towards the Customs House and Market Street...much easier place for the driver to meet you (I am a life long Charleston resident, have sailed out of Charleston, and have also done some driving for both Uber and Lyft).

Eat at JiJi's Asian one night. Amazing

We ate there twice on our recent 7 day trip...yep is that good!

There is a bbq lunch on embarkation day set up at the taste Bar on deck 5 by the ocean plaza....it is not the same as the Pig and Anchor

We love the Dream class ships (been on all 3). My kids have been on 4 different ships and still rave about the Breeze (they were 14 and 12 at the time). We are booked on the Magic for an Spring Break cruise next year in side-by-side cove balconies. Wife and I had a cove a couple years ago and they are my favorite cabin now, really close to the water and you don't get much direct sun so they don't get so blasted hot you cant sit outside for hours on end. Only drawback to a cove is that you often have spray so it can get a little wet and then when it dries you have salt left over. My kids loved the water park, the ropes

coarse, Circle C, all the food options. They can't wait to sail again!

No one else will probably give you this answer - the pork chop on the everyday menu. It's SO good! It is thick and served with a creamy/white cheese sauce, green beans and a chunky applesauce. If you don't find anything that hits you on the daily menu, the pork chop is a wonderful standby.

Sounds like the pork dish on the sea day brunch menu, my favorite! Have never ordered the pork chop at dinner but will make a point to try it on our upcoming Sunshine cruise...Thanks for the heads up!

Been on both and I would say Liberty in a skinny minute. Nothing wrong with Majesty just Liberty with the 2.0 upgrades just offers so much more.

Sailed all 3 of the Dream class ships and have noted the side to side rocking on all 3. Be that as it may it is still my favorite of the carnival class ships, love the ocean plaza area and the extra deck around the Lido pool area.

Was on the same sailing same cabin midship on starboard side. Same issue with balcony being wet from spray. The next 5 days more than made up for the first. Was so nice being shaded and the views are incredible! Only complaint is that it's a bit more involved getting a lido snack than our normal lido balcony. Will do a cove in a heartbeat again if given the opportunity.

My wife and I have a cabin on Dec 10 Magic sailing. After booking my SIL, her son, and MIL expressed interest in going too. My 15 y.o. twins stated they couldn't afford to miss a week of school but my 12 y.o. daughter said she wanted to go. My SIL agreed to book a quad so she could go. SIL has decided that she won't be able to leave until Friday afternoon while we were planning on leaving mid morning and driving all the way to Canaveral. Question is can my daughter board with us Sat if my SIL isn't there at that time. Guess my question is can a minor board without the adult in the cabin she was booked into even though she will be with her parent. Hope that was clearer than mud lol.

On our Breeze cruise last Dec. my younger daughter received a blue card while her brother and sister got the correct red cards. With her being 10 years old this was a big deal to her so I went to guest services and they took care of the issue quickly and updated her VIFP record and issued her the appropriate S&S card.

Been on both and hands down the Breeze was superior in all aspects from food to service. Sailing the Magic in Dec so I guess we will have completed the Dream Class cycle :)

I was awarded sole legal custody of my 3 kids 6 years ago. The mother moved cross country to AZ and has failed to provide a physical address all this time (she's 20,000+ in arrears of child support so she doesn't want to be found and served for contempt of court here in SC) so it's a virtual impossibility getting a notarized letter from her. I make copies of the court documents showing custody status, and a copy of a letter from a process server in AZ who attempted to locate her unsuccessfully. Haven't been asked yet to produce a letter from the mother yet...doesn't mean I won't in the future but the court document establishes my legitimacy as the custodial parent.

Sailed both as well and preferred the Breeze. Royal Promanade felt like a shopping mall to me...much preferred Ocean Plaza on Carnival. We felt that food had a big edge on Carnival as well. With all things being equal (price and ports) I'd choose Carnival.

Magic because of cove balconies, ocean plaza, red frog pub, and the hot tubs on deck 5....oh and the new Guys BBQ place!