lazydayz

OP, I appreciate your honest opinions. On this long of a trip, there are going to be issues. Like long lines and food you don’t like. But your overall enjoyment is shining through. What an amazing trip!

Your food at Rudi’s looks good but I miss the fun plates.

Very true about the pricing on the ship and for excursions. We are doing a European cruise and the price of Carnival’s excursions are astronomical. But most everyone on the roll call are planning private ones at less than half what Carnival is charging.

Now that the new "normal" has set in, the only positives I see are the revised muster drill, the availability of Mardi Gras and Celebration, the new curfew for kids, and shorter lines to debark if you have a valid passport. The negatives include once a day cabin service, poorer food quality, overworked staff, continued supply chain issues (try finding a Heineken on any Carnival ship!), and watered down Platinum/Diamond benefits (I don't want to chase everything down; how hard is it to just have everything in our cabin on arrival like they used to - I know, staff shortage and they are really hoping many of us do not go to Pixels or call room service for our benefits). So while I would say overall the experience has gotten a little less enjoyable, it is still wonderful to cruise, enjoy my balcony, get caught up on my reading and spend quality time with my husband, our family and friends.

That is so exciting. Wish you had better weather for it.

Enjoyed CC more when it was undeveloped, but do appreciate being able to dock rather than having to use tenders. If we score beach club, then we go. If not, we stay on the ship.

Love the photos. Thanks

Congrats on the winning ticket!

If it's a photocopy of an originally issued government birth certificate, she may be fine. But if it's a copy of one from the hospital, she is out of luck.

We did the ruins and the boat ride on the River Wallace. We really enjoyed it but I doubt the four year would enjoy anything other than the boat ride.

You will be cut off after you order your 15th drink. There may be some exceptions for a bottle of wine or a bucket of beer ordered earlier in the day. Once you start getting close to the limit, the number of drinks ordered that day starts being printed. Of course, you can bring a bottle of wine per adult and order a bottle of liquor for your room pre-cruise. And maybe get free drinks at the welcome back party or elsewhere on the ship. But Carnival is serious about the limit on drinks ordered, regardless of whether you have the drink package.

Given our last experience with downtown Miami and the Port of Miami, I would welcome Carnival cruises from Port Everglades. It literally took us 2.5 hours to go two miles. Yes, it was the Ultra Music Festival but still. Both downtown and the port were totally unprepared for dealing with that many cars. and I love sailing from San Juan. It is one port I will gladly fly to, even though I live within easy driving distance to four ports.

That's too bad. Sorry you missed your graduation, but continue having a great cruise!

Just make sure you are not above the Limelight. In 80 cruises, this was the only time we actually changed rooms once on the ship! The Limelight turns into the nightclub and the bass thumps until 2 a.m.

When we had the aft extended Havana cabin on the Horizon, we did not have any soot on the balcony. Guess we got lucky!

Sure, they are only open to Elite invited guests. Up to five contestants were chosen to play the game. Most won free play ranging from $100 to $500. I missed the fill my bag one, but talked to one guy who was chosen and he won free play, a spa gift certificate, t-shirt, etc. However, I was on an unlucky streak, as my name was not called for any of the nightly drawings.

Smooth sailing. This is so exciting.

We almost always celebrate our cruise by doing specialty dining on the last evening. Highly recommend it.

Almost cruise time! Looks like you enjoyed your time in Australia.

Never seen them in the planner. Once they are available to book, there was a banner on my cruise page. Love the Cabanas for the peace and quiet, shade and great service. While we tip a little extra, remember you have already tipped the Loft 19 staff over $250 when you rent the cabana for week. And we did a dollar per drink when ordering beverages. And you get champagne everyday you use the cabana. Mimosa anyone?

Just the name, which includes "family", is enough to keep me away unless I am cruising with my grandkids. I would not accept this offer.

So glad your travels went well and you are on the ship. Enjoy!

Good luck packing and safe travels.

Thanks for doing this. Glad you are branching out and taking us along.

Agree with you about the ship rocking. We felt it both Friday and Saturday, and we were on deck 11 mid-ship.