MonaCD

Thanks to all for your quick responses, very helpful. I do plan on taking a powdered mix but it is good to know there will be an alternative onboard if needed. Also, the fact it is included, makes feel better about having purchased the CHEERS package. This is the latest in the Winter/Spring season we have cruised and I fear the heat will be sucking the water out of me!

I see on drink menus that "energy" drinks are available at different venues and are included in the Cheers package. I was wondering if there were any re-hydration or electrolyte replacement drinks like Gatorade available.

TIA

On 4/11/2023 at 4:09 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Carnival changed our specialty dinner reservations (kicked it back perhaps 30+ minutes), but we didn't find out until we showed at the steakhouse. "Guy" (burger Guy) was in there with his family. When they did let us in one of his handlers came right up to us and said "when you walk by, just keep on walking - don't look or talk with him". I was like "I wasn't planning on it anyway". I might like his burgers, but I'm not a fan of "Guy" !!

 

Tom

Always thought he was a bit of an arse, this just proves it. Seemed he was on every second show on the FoodNetwork I figured he must own it. I discontinued subscribing to FoodNetwork because of him. But, yeah, the burgers are good at Guy's.

Can you make dining reservations through the interactive TV in your cabin?

36 minutes ago, cacruisin said:

Has anyone ever had their melatonin gummies (or other vitamin gummies) mistaken for adult special gummies?

 

I packed last night and just put my melatonin gummies in a non-discript ziplock baggy and now am a bit worried they will be misidentified???????

Since I travel from outside the U.S. I have to go through customs so I take all medications in their original packaging. Just for this reason. Is there a label you could add to the bag?

I see, depending on where our ship will dock, there can be a quite lengthy walk to get from the ship to the shore. Can anyone tell me is there some sort of shuttle or golf cart that would get those with mobility issues to a spot where they can meet up with excursion/tours or can get a taxi?

On 3/18/2023 at 3:09 PM, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

We booked the Rotterdam 11-12-23 12-nt sailing. We picked up a deck 4 aft corner where the balcony looks rather similar (if not larger!) than deck 4 Spirit class (4228/4237).

 

Thanksgiving in Key West (last day of cruise). Hard Rock, and Mattheessen's here we come.   🙂

 

Hop onboard !!

 

Tom

Looks like a great cruise, good value too. If we win the lottery I am booking it. Now that B has a walker, we'll fit right in. 😁

1 hour ago, mz-s said:

 

Sweetums, the huge Muppet character! https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Sweetums

The Frog prince is one of my all time favourite movies. "Sweetums lay you ugly head down upon your wretched bed. Close your eyes and go to sleep, Rest, you hulking heap:

19 minutes ago, Saint Greg said:

 

I've never known it to be stocked in all of my cruises.

My last Carnival cruise was 8 years ago and I can't remember if it was stocked at that time But I know it was stoked on some cruises prior. Had to ask them to remove so we could just use it as a fridge.

I noticed the picture of you mini fridge was not stocked as a mini bar. Do they not do that anymore or did you ask to have the items removed? I am hoping not, I never get anything from the mini bar and would rather have it empty as a default.

3 hours ago, Caracarn2 said:

  Thanks for the feedback, but if I understand it right, no one knows and it will depend on who's at the main dining room door when we arrive.

You pegged it.

11 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

I've sailed with HAL once, but was not quite 4 years old at the time and can't recall much at all, lol

 

 

Tom

Too cute for words Tommy 😁 Sorry I can't be more helpful.

31 minutes ago, odyssyus said:

The ones I really have an issue with are the older 'veterans' that wear their hats.  I'm a veteran and I was taught to take my hat off when entering a room, especially a dining room.  If you are going to espouse how you are a veteran with your hat, you should honor the etiquette and protocol you were taught.  

My husband is retired Navy and not much gets him more riled than seeing someone inside wearing a hat/cap. Try wearing a hat in a Legion Hall and you if didn't remove it when asked, you'd be promptly shown the door.

8 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

But that's not what they enforce nor what people wear. 🙂

Totally agree. I was just copy and pasting the policy as I read it on the website, didn't say they enforced it. On a different thread I said that they don't enforce the "not permitted" dress code for dining rooms. Some were very quick to come and tell their first hand stories of being turned back.

Just one response "I can confirm having been turned away from the Steakhouse on Mardi Gras last year. My then 15yo son was wearing nice shorts and a button-down shirt. We were told he could not enter wearing shorts. We ran to the room quickly and changed. No big deal, but it did happen."

That's why I also said "I would suggest your wife wear what she wants but be prepared to be turned away if she is wearing something not permitted. Can either change or eat at the buffet." It seems, like most "rules", it depends on the person left to enforce them. Could get different results depending on the staff or even the day, who knows. It just seems random.

20 minutes ago, Caracarn2 said:

Trying to find this.    What I found differs (the biggest one being that in what you posted it seem non-gym shorts are allowed, which is what we typically wear), but this page on the site seems to say even for casual not allowed?   Where on the site did you find your list?

 

 

I copy and pasted it from the FAQ/Help page page, What to Pack & Bring/What to Wear

In my experience, they seem to be more lenient regarding women's attire than men's. Having said that, the Carnival website states

MDR attire 

• Not permitted: cut-off jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, tee-shirts, gym or basketball shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire

Elegant night attire

• Not permitted: jeans, men’s sleeveless shirts, shorts, tee-shirts, sportswear, shorts, baseball hats, flip-flops and bathing suit attire 

People will argue that they have seen any or all the the not permitted attire in the dining rooms. I would suggest your wife wear what she wants but be prepared to be turned away if she is wearing something not permitted. Can either change or eat at the buffet. 

All she would have to do is pack one little dress, a sundress even or skirt/skort that could be easily slipped on come meal time. Sure might save a whole lot of angst. 

5 hours ago, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

I always tell my students that the line "I don't mean to be rude, but..." indicates that the speaker is fully aware that what they are about to say is rude but somehow thinks that prefacing it with "just tell me if I am being rude" somehow changes that fact.

 

I'd take someone who is oblivious to the fact that they are being offensive over someone who is cognizant of that likelihood and chooses to proceed anyway. 

I was taught that any statement made before the word "but" was a lie. I think of that whenever I use "but" in a sentence and adjust my statement accordingly. Reminds me of when southerners use the phrase "Bless his/her heart", thinking that will soften the criticism that comes next.

17 hours ago, cacruisin said:

I think the difference between those who "smelled pot" vs those who didn't is more based in those who are "looking to smell" of pot vs those who are minding their own business and focusing on their vacation because I agree pot is likely on all sailings just depends on who you are....like these threads often make me realize I REALLY don't pay attention to strangers like some people seem to.

Since Cannabis became legal in Canada, the smell of weed has become ubiquitous. You don't have to go looking for it and the aroma is unmistakable. Well, those who are unfamiliar might think they smell a skunk nearby. Walking down the street, in a parking lot, at the beach or park, driving down the road wafting from the car ahead (yup that's illegal), heck we even caught a whiff while driving on the highway. When you walk into a Cannabis store, there is no mistaking where you are. 

I have smelled it while cruising, while out on my balcony and in the hallways. In my experience, I find those who smoke weed are more mellow and far less likely to become aggressive than those that over consume alcohol, illegal or not.

12 hours ago, Crusin Karen said:

I'd like to apply for a position on your office staff.  I'll even sweep floors if I have to! 

Get to the back of the line 😆

5 minutes ago, geaux_aces said:

I can confirm having been turned away from the Steakhouse on Mardi Gras last year. My then 15yo son was wearing nice shorts and a button-down shirt. We were told he could not enter wearing shorts. We ran to the room quickly and changed. No big deal, but it did happen. 

I stand corrected. Maybe it "all depends". I typically don't pay any attention to what others are wearing. Just for curiosity's sake I may be more observant during our May cruise on the Celebration.

I haven't been on a whole lot of cruises. It's been 5 years since our last cruise and 8 since we last cruised on Carnival. But, I have just had it confirmed from friends who cruise quite frequently, there are no strictly enforced dress codes. Not in any dining room, specialty or otherwise. I haven't heard of anyone being turned away from any dining area because of what they were or were not wearing. Maybe if they were wearing a bathing suit but I don't know. If someone has recent first hand experience of being turned away from a dining room on a Carnival ship I would be interested to hear the reason.

I suspect, especially after covid, like many land based dining establishments, Carnival is just thankful to have people on board, no matter what they are wearing. They are not going to aggravate paying customers. 

I agree with mz-s, I think Carnival just uses it as a photo opportunity. They provide "tips" on what you might want to wear for the evening, it's not an enforced code. And I would argue even some of the "not allowed" attire has been spotted in dining rooms. We used to go formal but in recent years we have toned it down to "business casual" So much less packing! 

I usually wear what I would be comfortable wearing in any equivalent restaurant on land. If what someone else is wearing bothers me, that's on me I guess. But to be honest, I couldn't be arsed to care what anyone else is wearing, I'll be too busy enjoying my vacation.

Where are the included specialty coffees available?

Orly was playing in the Brewhouse last week. We enjoyed him very much. It's the one bar we went to nightly.

I wonder if that's a new policy, a screw up, or the waiter just trying to be nice. We were definitely charged 2 cover charges for the 2 of us when we had lunch a couple of weeks ago.

I think it was our waiter trying to be nice. All my husband had was a side salad and cheesecake, I had and order of nachos with salsa, fish tacos and key lime pie, none of which I could finish. Our friends both had starters, meals and dessert but could not finish theirs either.

We were on the Escape last week and went to O'Sheehans 3 times, twice for lunch and once for dinner. We went there as soon as we boarded on Saturday. I had the the Buffalo wings and a chopped salad, Brian had hotdog and fries. Service was fairly quick, we were one of the first seated and it filled up pretty quickly. The chopped salad was good and the wings, while on the mild side for Buffalo style, were decent. Not the best I ever had but not the worst either. Brian said the hotdog and fries were good.

We went back for dinner for the prime rib night. We probably waited a little longer for service that evening and it wasn't too busy as we went about 6:00. We did ask to have our seat moved as there was live music in the Atrium at the time and it was so loud we couldn't hear each other talk. It was a good meal, decent portions.

We went back for lunch on the last sea day, again not very busy and we didn't have to wait long for service. I ordered the Buffalo wings and nachos this time and Brian ordered the "Irish American Stew". The nachos were "meh". They come with a cheese whiz type sauce on them, bacon bits, jalapeno peppers and a drizzle of sour cream. I asked for and received some salsa and sour cream. The wings were, again, decent.

The Irish American stew was in no way Irish or stew. Irish stew is made with lamb and stew is typically gravy based. This would have been more aptly named a corned beef and cabbage soup. It was mostly cabbage and corned beef with a couple bits of potato and carrot thrown in.

Like any restaurant I suppose, service and food can be hit or miss. For the number of people served on this ship each day, I'd have to give the Escape props for serving pretty decent food with relatively good service.