hughdm

Get some OJ and make Mimosas. It's good enough for that!

A final comment, I was once told by a hotel chef he can deliver a far higher quality dining experience when he is serving 2000 meals continuously over a three hour period than if he is doing 2x 1500 meals at set times.

No wind issues, elevator noise, or engine noise. This is our favorite cabin (6133) and we booked it again for next year on Summit.

Carnival is also starting a program that is interesting. For about half the price, you can get a package that will let you get to email, Facebook, Twitter, and a few other sites but not unlimited browsing. It worked quite well for us, as that's all we really need on a cruise anyway.

People are talking around the real issue which is MDR users invading speciality restaurants.

 

An included offering for PH and RS suite guests, they are being forced to deal with these venues being frequented by high spending MDR users who have a sense of entitlement. They have a dining room (the MDR), what makes them think that just because they can splash their cash around they have the right to displace us.

 

What's worse non-suite users can leave their MDR seats vacant and pay on a per use basis for the speciality restaurant they want when they want, while Celebrity charges suite users a significant upfront premium to allow them access to all the restaurants at virtually all times which includes a complimentary flogging by Cruise Critic users as an amuse bouche. Sorry ignore the last point, that one actually makes sense.

As a suite passenger (usually) I love this!:D

Here is another vote for a walk to the Sea Glass Beach. Really neat to see.

For several reasons? What reasons? And how can those reasons not be met by select dining? Seriously, you need to g...

1. First and foremost is the reason for this entire thread: We NEVER have to wait one minute for our table. No beepers. No being bumped. Ever.
   
2. We have the same servers every night. They quickly learn your preferences. Your favorite drink is often waiting. Also, the servers in Traditional are the better ones. We never have had a bad server team.
   
3. We like to make friends on cruises. You eat with the same folks every night and we have made a few permanent friends. This one isn't 100%, as you can get a few duds, but the balance is in favor of the nice fun folks.
   

The Normandie for sure, at least by our tastes. The lobster prepared table-side is to die for.

We have stayed in suites over the years and if we want to go to Blu we just join on the end of the line in Blu. We don't try and jump ahead of anyone and when we went to the Mdr we did exactly the same, joined the queue in select and waited like all others. This was pre Luminae but we don't believe that being in a suite should allow line jumping.

Here is what you tell her. I"m booking a cruise in an inside stateroom. When she starts to whine and moan tell her that you will be happy to go by yourself. Even if you have to pay the single supplement it will be less than the price of of a suite. Why coddle her? You just have to rip the bandaid off. My guess is that she will not stay home and let you have the run of the ship without her and at that time you can compromise on a Veranda.

First time we had a Royal Suite on Summit, we got invited to the officer's table the second formal night. Not the captain, but a couple of other high ranking officers. It was fun. The second time we did a RS on Summit, we got to do a bridge tour, a backstage tour, and a galley tour. This was 1 1/2 and 2 years ago before the new suite perks.

Our experience has been that you can check in as soon as you have paid for your cruise in full. No optimum time except don't wait too late!

I don't even understand why some even bother to cruise or vacation. They seem more concerned about labor conditions or living conditions of the staff. I vacation to forget my problems for a week not take on the problems of strangers. If the conditions were so horrible they wouldn't be there.

Amen!

We have only been on one trip right before dry dock. Ours was not a good experience. They ran out of everything. It's understandable......it's the same thing that happens at home before a very long trip...BUT.....

 

They ran out of fresh vegetables, fruit, condiments, certain brands of liquor, and so on. I'm not really sure how low they got, it just seemed that everything I wanted, they were out of it. :)

 

This was not Celebrity.

Was this on Celebrity? This was one of my fears.

What are your experiences of being on the last cruise before a drydock? Are we making a mistake? Thanks for responses!

They will charge for sodas from the mini-fridge.

We were offered an upgrade from a Sky Suite to a Royal for $1200 for a 7 day cruise. We jumped on it and Denny01 is right, it's dangerous. Now I keep trying to get in the Royal!

I only mentioned it because I had learned on CC that you could ask to swap it out, however, when I asked yesterday I was told no, but then he agreed to check for me.

DH really likes the beer too!

 

I seemed to have been told NO a lot yesterday, but no worries, it was all worked out and we are enjoying ourselves. Now time to go see the Easter Bunny! :-P

Sometimes I think they tell you "no" so they can make it look like they moved mountains for you later.

Jose on Summit has always swapped out the vodka for rum for my DW in our RS. That perk isn't new. The beer is, though. I'll like that!

We are booked on the last cruise before this dry dock. Not really fond of that...

Does it cost $0.01? Galveston has the same tour!:p

Princess is really in their element in Alaska. Glacier Bay is one of the most awesome experiences one can have on a cruise ship. Check out Princess cruises from Vancouver that do Glacier Bay.

She has a Carnival Live concert "Little Big Town" and will not be leaving until midnight.

Freedom is still in Nassau. Anybody have news as to why she is leaving so late? Thanks...