Gon2hwe

I actually like the food on Royal better. The main dining room food is about the same but the buffett and other venues are alot better to me. Royal ships are prettier. Not the vegas style decor that carnival does. Kids clubs look better but haven't used them so can't recommend. Kids pools and adult pools are bigger and more for kids to do. But no slides. A lot more for teens and tweens to do. Basically Carnival is cheaper. You get what you pay for.

August and Sept. are very hot in NO and the Caribbean. I'd go with Oct. but you may pay a little more.

I got ours 32 days out on my next cruise. Last cruise it was 3 weeks out. You have to check 2 or 3 times a day if you want it bad enough. They may only release 2 or 3 of them at a time as they estimate how many VIP's will be onboard.

All cruise ships allow you to smoke 100 yards of the aft of the ship!!! Just remember to bring waterproof matches!!!!!!!

Wow! You must have a really crappy life to spew that kind of venom for no reason! Get a life dude!

You cant discuss anything about smoking or vaping on these boards without being attacted. New group forming in sm "Royal Caribbean Smokers and Friends Discussion Group". No nasty comments allowed.

Hi Evelyn.....yes I remember you. Thank you for sending them here to check out my review. My next cruise is on March 8 on the Carnival Breeze. I am cruising with Octavia, Peggy, Laura, and Jan (they were all on the Dream repo cruise)....do you remember them???

Thanks for the prayers for my dad. [emoji173]️

Of course I remember them and I know you all will have a great time together. You'll love the Breeze. We went on it in August. It's pretty much like the Dream but with a few added extras. In planning faze for the Dream cruise on the Roatan, Belize iteinerary so your review is coming in handy. Thanks for all the work doing it.

Hi Brianna.... We cruised together on the Dream repo in April together. Going back on the Dream in March and have been sending people to read your review on the roll call. I know how well a job you do. Tell your Dad he has our prayers. He is such a sweetheart..........Evelyn

I am so glad that I read this!! I am cruising on the Fantasy in 9 days and 5 FTTF just became available!!! I definitely jumped on it because it was sold out a few days ago!

Yiou should tell others inyour roll cale they are available.

Being from the south we always learned during the hottest part of the day to keep your drapes closed. Espescially if the sun is shining directly on your side. You'd be surprised how much this helps. If you have an inside then can't help you there.

The Magic is the largest in Galveston I believe. I;ve been on Breeze and Dream. The sister ships of Magic. The have the best smoking areas on Carnival ships since the balcony bans. I'm booked on Dream three doors up from the smoking area on deck 11. There is also a nice area at the back pool on 11. On deck 5 there is an outside area right off Ocean Plaza. I believe half the bar in the casino and some machines spread out in the casino.

It's not like RCL where you have to reserve shows. You do need to get there early to get a good seat though.

I believe it's on deck 5 outside of Ocean Plaza. It's a very nice area.

Go o your booking on Carnival and click on smoking policies. it should be listed there.

Didn't see what sides they served but it looked and smelled good. We had already eaten when we found it. Heard some complaining because they don,t have drinks down there. So take a drink with you.

Absolutely loved it but you have to check quite often to get it because when they put them out it's only a few at a time. We finally got ours 2 or 3 weeks before the cruise.

Thanks for your answers. Hoping for specifics so will know where to book cabin.

I'm not looking for a debate for or against smoking. Just asking where the smoking areas are on Explorer. Thanks in advance.

I believe just the casino and the cigar bar as well as the pool area. Im a smoker and booked my cruise back in January with an AFT Penthouse Suite, balcony.....When I heard this took effect on Nov 1 I was bummed because I love my morning coffee/cigarette, before I start getting showered/ready as I will probably be a tad tired/hungover lol.....I called NCL and because our ship departs on Oct 31st, we are the last cruise on the Dawn to fall under the old policy, soooo lucky for me, I can smoke on my balcony, YAY! lol

 

:)

So glad you will be able to enjoy your balcony!

These are the best responses that I've gathered for Norwegian Star, which I believe is in the same class as Dawn, so perhaps same areas:

 

- I loved the Biergarten bar (aft – deck 14) overlooking the beautiful pool, lovely ocean breezes, music from pool area, smoking allowed, very friendly bartenders, lots of friendly folks, hardly ever crowded.

- Casino, only when playing – deck 6

-If I were selecting a cabin for a smoking friend who could easily manage a flight of stairs, my first inclination would be to pick a cabin convenient to promenade deck (I believe one side is smoking and it is covered and also close to plenty of other stuff) .so maybe deck 6 or deck 8. Near pool deck might work, too, but somehow I think were I a smoker, I'd like promenade better.

-If there is a cigar bar, smoking is also permitted there.

 

Just an FYI, my best response (the "if I were selecting a cabin") came from a non-smoker! Hope this helps.

Thank you for your response. This helps a lot.

The port (left) side of the pool deck (and other outside public parts of the decks) permit smoking. Whether they will restrict it further, I have no idea.

 

I did find it peculiar that half the jogging path went through a smoking area.

Thank you for your answer.

The only thing that has changed is that there is NO smoking on balconies as of NOV 1 . All the open area's as before are still open to the dirty habit.

Thank you for that non answer.

Not looking for a debate for against the new policy. I just want to know where the smoking areas are on the Dawn once the new smoking policy takes effect.

I was on the Breeze a couple of weeks ago and I found the food to be very good. I've sailed NCL, RCCL, Disney and Carnival Dream. To me the food was very close to Disney, them being the best. The worse food was on the breakfast buffet. Limp greasy bacon and the yucky eggs benedict ( or whatever it was). But DH loved the freshly made omelets. I'm gluten intolerant but always found plenty to eat.

I've been on Breeze and Dream and Breeze by far has a lot better decor than the Dream. I can't speak for any other Carnival ships. If your looking for better décor you'll have to go with a different cruise line I'm afraid.

The Dream is in New Orleans now. Seems more convenient drive from the Midwest.