Retiredmedic

On 9/19/2022 at 7:53 PM, BasicSailor said:

👎

That's why we are now traveling to Florida cruise at least one out of our two cruises a year. Love living just minutes from Galveston but you can go to those ports only so many times and you're sick of them.

6 hours ago, mz-s said:

I would only bet on having Dr Pepper on the ship if you sail out of Galveston or NOLA. I have never seen it on cruises out of Miami or Charleston for example.

Why do they serve instead of Dr Pepper? Mr Pibb is a Coke product.

3 hours ago, kelkel2 said:

How much did you pay for the upgrade? 

$300 total or $150 each.

Depends on other ships in port that day. Mar 22 on the Breeze we docked starboard. Oct 22 on Vista we were port side.

30 minutes ago, ShakyBeef said:

 

If Carnival really wants to cash in on this, they should start selling big ole bags of Doritos for about $15 each, late nights at all the bars (and heck, even the late night Pizza Plus station).

Little Debi snack cakes, always hits the spot after a bowl.

Texas and New York are the only states where you have to wait till the next day to use Cheers, all other as soon as you step in the ship it is in effect. As for Dr Pepper I know Galveston and New Orleans will have Dr Pepper on their ships. Maybe since Carnival is using Pepsi as a vendor they all will carry Dr Pepper. 

Just now, klfrodo said:

Thanks for the link.

I still prefer edibles though

Those are nice, hard to find the real edibles here, can get what they call Delta 8 edibles here, not the same.

As I was wrist deep in mixing up a meatloaf last night my phone starts ringing. I look and it says Telemarketer Florida. I let it go to voice mail, finishing getting my meatloaf in the oven and noticed they left a voice mail. Listen to it and it's Carnival offering a upgrade for our Mardi Gras cruise in a few weeks. Tried calling back as they left their extension. No luck getting through to them. Here comes the but part, they called me this morning and the upgrade was still available. So we go from a inside Havana Room to patio Havana room.

3 hours ago, mz-s said:

 

How long ago was that? I don't think the Deli has any frozen sandwiches anymore. Everything that I've ordered anyway is fresh made to order.

March this year, on the Vista, it was Carnival's version of the Cuban, it still had ice in the middle.

1 hour ago, Joebucks said:

 

There's definitely a few options. People like to pretend that other cruise lines have everything going all day.

 

The deli is seriously underrated. I remember when they "changed it" and everyone cried of cutbacks. Since Carnival tries to "preassemble" the sandwiches, people associate it with prepackaged gas station food. I actually like the new menu better. It is quite good.

Last sandwich I had from the Deli was still frozen in the middle and crust was so hard I actually chipped a tooth trying to eat it. 

15 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

So many Carnival cruisers seem to want to eat early these days (I'm not one of them). Then maybe early to bed? So food after 10pm would be a don't care. Breakfast at 4:30am might be.

 

{not one of my better attempts a humor}

 

I would love to see breakfast options at 0430 hours. I've been getting up at 4 am since high school. At home I am eating breakfast at 0430. On a cruise I have to wait till 0700 to eat. 

First cruise in 2010 on the Conquest. All I remember of the CD was his first name was Chris. They looped the morning show on the screen on the Lido deck for hours on end at a volume that was ear splitting. I almost never cruised again just because of that. But with better ear buds I now tune that out. I will say I will never ever ever go on a ship with JH as CD.

Yes each person in your cabin can bring on one 12 pack of cans. So if there are 2 of your in a cabin you may bring 2 12 packs of Coke. I'm with you on Rum and Coke, Rum and Pepsi is just nasty.

15 minutes ago, cruiserbrianj said:

1/2 price pitchers...ie, caribbean tea, jamaican sunrise, etc and then 1/2 off carnival beer...caribbean wheat, 50th anniv beer, etc...you can get 1/2 off those buckets too.  Bud light and non carnival beers aren't included.

Any beer with Lite or Light in the name is not really a beer. It's beer flavored water.

19 hours ago, chengkp75 said:

 

 

I don't even think the US Army uses powdered eggs anymore.

I know they did in the 80's.🤢

59 minutes ago, ChattTenn said:

Carnival cruise price is not cheap but they are trying to cheap out a lot of stuffs such as room one service per day (our cabin steward has 38 cabins to care for), food is down grade/cheap and portion is very small etc.  But the suggestion tip is getting up there with other lines which have a better service.

Peoples might jump on me for saying all this but after 10+ cruises with Carnival plus many more from other lines we can tell the different.

We are going on a NCL and Celebrity cruise in 2023. We live just minutes from the port in Galveston but are tired of the western Caribbean ports. So we figured since we have to travel to get to other ports might was well try other lines.

My GF saw something about it, but searching the internet produced nothing.

13 minutes ago, sanmarcosman said:

Yes to the iciness of the products. I was told it's not the product that is the issue but the high volume demand that makes them chill the product faster that causes the ice crystals. I won't touch the stuff anymore, no longer creamy. 

Because it's not really ice cream but Ice Milk. There was once a distinction that in order to call a product Ice Cream it had to have a certain percentage of milk fat in it. Groups lobbied to have that changed.

In my opinion yes, good for specialty coffees which my gf loves. 6 alcoholic beverages per day pays for it.

13 hours ago, BasicSailor said:

Strange food this goat meat.

When I was in the military I attended the Combat Casuality Care Course where we learned how to do various medical procedures on goats. Last night of the course there was a big BBQ. Cabrito was on the menu.

Made to order omelette 's. Other meals I'd rather eat MRE.

1 hour ago, KKB said:

@graphicguy Interesting perspective. (now I need a vs. Celebrity comparision...)

 

After DCL, RCCL, Princess & Celebrity we did NCL Getaway in 2019. 

We, too, LOVED LOVED LOVED the Waterfront & that ALONE draws us back to that NCL class.

We were offered a free Carnival Cruise via their Casino Match offer so picked the longest one offered--14 days. Will have to look into their Chef's Table!

I have no desire for the Chef's Table as it takes 3 hours or so. I worked EMS my entire life. My motto is eat as much as you can as fast as you can cuz you never know when your next meal will be. But I don't know anyone for going to it.

27 minutes ago, The Shrike said:

That's the one I was on, out of Tampa in January 2020.  We saw the staff at the pool have to react to upchucked drinks several times.  We started to call them the VRT - Vomit Response Team.

One thing I really liked on CCL was the Blue Iguana Taco Bar and Guy's Burger Joint.  I think those are better places to grab a quick lunch than the pool grill on NCL.  Other than that, graphicguy is spot on.  I've been on the Escape three times and enjoyed it every time.  

Ours was out of Galveston, it was pretty tame, cruises out of Galveston not much of the party boat scene except during spring break.

22 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

My experiences are pre-covid.  I found the NCL entertainment better than carnival, with the exception of comedy shows which Carnival excels at. 

 

I liked the dining room food on ncl better than carnival, but the carnival's buffet better where you can always get a deli sandwich freshly made. Better comfort food in general.   O'Sheehan's on ncl is a big plus, pub food available day and night (never tried late night),

 

Ncl has nothing comparable to a ship on a stick...  but no one in a pirate costume will impose on your dinner either.

 

Carnival gets a younger partying crowd which, to me, translates to some serious people watching opportunities.  Overall NCL is a little quieter and likely to have more bells and whistles.

The deli on CCL no longer has fresh sandwiches, they are made elsewhere frozen and thawed on the ship. Broke a molar eating a Cuban sandwich.

33 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

Escape is one of my favorite NCL ships.

 

It's been a while since I've cruised CCL (before COVID).  And, on that one, I actually stayed in a Havana cabin.  Kinda cool, except people kept falling over the outside fence/porch late night and early mornings.  Not amused.

 

Generally speaking, entertainment will be way better on the Escape.  I found service on NCL to be better, too.

 

Dining is subjective.  I found the Chef's Table on CCL to be the best meal I've ever had anywhere, on land or sea.  But, aside from that, dining was better on NCL.  MDR Manhattan Room is particularly nice. Specialty Restaurant favorites include Cagney's and Le Bistro.

 

Love.....LOVE....NCL's Waterfront. You can dine, drink, or just relax on the WATERFRONT (which is a walkway outside with bars, restaurants, couches, chairs all overlooking the water.  I much prefer that area than crowding around the already crowded outdoor area.

 

Spice H20 is an all adult bar pool area which is nice on NCL, too!

 

Some people like the look of CCL ships.  I can understand that.  I prefer the NCL ships design.

 

You'll enjoy it.  I'm sure.

Thanks, I'm not much into shows, but my gf is and I will attend at least one with her to keep her happy.