thistoo

How about a beach bag instead of a basket?

There is the possibility that the food is different at different times.

True enough! The one thing I'll always pass on (and really, I'll eat anything) is Bitter and Blanc. I just really hate white chocolate, but that means there's more for everyone else, right?

I think my favorite thing is the vegetarian pot pie. It was SO freaking good.

I tried it in December and it was weirdly sweet to me. Just goes to show, different taste buds will have different experiences.

On our cruise in December I witnessed a fellow passenger berating the bacon server about the actual pieces he was serving her. He was extremely accommodating (more than she deserved, frankly) and did his best to give her what she wanted.

Moho is great -right at the pier. They have wonderful chocolate, you can do a $2 "tour" which is basically someone explaining the chocolate making process and very short, but comes with samples of chocolate, brownies, and a milkshake. They are very passionate about how their beans are grown and handled. There's also a nice bar out front to get chocolate drinks or, if you're weird like me, have a beer with your chocolate which has always been one of my favorite combinations. :)

Beer and chocolate is fantastic. :D

We're booked at the Tahitian Inn before our April sailing. I'm curious what time you checked in? I want to be prepared to cab it if we can't get on the early shuttle list, since we have FTTF as well. How much was cab fare, if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks!

There's a huge advantage in booking early if you want a certain cabin or deck. Booking early is really the only way to ensure that you get your first choice.

That said, I am planning to visit my parents in Florida for Thanksgiving this year, unless my job circumstances change (I'm looking to change jobs at the moment) and if there is an open cabin at a reasonable price, I will try to hop on a cruise last minute. If my mom wants to tag along, fine. If not I'm hoping for some more 'no single supplement' sales at the end of the year.

I redeemed some points for my December cruise and they never showed on my documents. On the second day of the cruise there was a letter in my cabin showing a 'gift' from Mastercard. It was on my S&S account when I settled up at the end of the cruise, no problems.

I like the idea of destination-inspired specials. If they replaced the 'didja' selections and kept those, I'd be happy.

I use it to prepay for the Cheers program so I don't have to think about the $400+ charge at the end of my trip. I'm sure my S&S bill will be above that, and they'll put the balance on my card so I can pay it off when I get home. It's easy to use; just make the purchase and it appears on your S&S card when you board.

There is oil and vinegar at the salad bar. I'm not positive, but fairly sure it was a basic red wine vinegar.

No idea if the burgers are gluten free, though the dining staff is very good about answering these questions. My mom ate a burger in the dining room without a reaction, and she is gluten and dairy free. She really didn't have much trouble eating on our December cruise, in spite of her dietary restrictions. They'll substitute pretty much anything that they can, and if you speak to the maitre d the first night, they'll accommodate you in the dining room throughout the cruise.

I'm fairly sure the sauces at the Mongolian Wok are safe. My mom ate there nearly every day on our cruise without incident.

And I'm already in vacation mode too. :eek::eek::eek:

Same. I've got 55 days to go, according to carnival.com, and I've been in vacation mode since I booked, basically.

For me right now it's about price. Carnival fits into my budget, and I always enjoy my sailings with them. I'd love to try other lines and also river cruising, however, so maybe someday I'll be in a position to do so.

I pretty much failed at pictures of the actual ship because I'm lame, but I did a review of our December cruise which you can find here. It's a great old ship, very clean and well-maintained in spite of its age, and the crew did a great job.

HA! At least he goes. We have good friends, he loves to cruise, she doesn't, so they don't. Sad for him, so glad DH and I both have the bug and will find any reason to hop on a ship.

Oh, that is sad. My dad really enjoys cruising, but when we're out on the balcony he will sit next to the balcony door, hold it open, and watch the TV from the balcony. If you call him on it he'll say he's just 'checking the score'. Whatever makes him happy. Luckily my mom is used to it by now.

I know, I know, who cruises to watch TV?!?

My dad. :rolleyes:

I generally skip dessert (I like to save my calories for alcohol) but I make an exception on tiramisu night in the dining room. Mmm...tiramisu. Not the best ever, but it'll do.

In the lido the only things I can't resist are the cream puffs and occasionally the chocolate chip cookies. They go really well with a cup of delicious hot chocolate.

Excuse all the scribbling on it, I was doodling on it while talking to the PVP person on the phone and my wife was trying to teach my 7 year old how to sign his Valentine's Cards.

I clicked the picture before I read your last paragraph and saw the 'Love, Blake' and thought, "Man, they REALLY want these people to book a cruise!" :D

Black Russian, or white if they have milk. The perfect after dinner drink.:p

 

Next cruise, getting the cheers program and plan on trying Long Islands and Martini's.

On my next sailing, I'm getting cheers so I can try EVERYTHING ;)

(Except Long Islands. I've never liked Long Islands.)

Can anyone tell me the drink I think its Chocolate Meltaway...or something very similiar. Going on the Valor next week and I want to try it!!

I believe you're looking for the Mocha Chocolate Getaway.

I console myself with the fact that I couldn't have cruised by the deadline anyway (not enough vacation time saved up) so it wouldn't matter if I did get it. I do wish my parents had; they're talking about a short cruise this year to introduce friends to cruising, and they live right near Port Canaveral so they could use it for sure.

I haven't sailed the Legend yet (we board on 4/27) so I can't speak to the music, but I can tell you from obsessively reading reviews and looking at deck plans that there is a bar in the Serenity area.

Very nice of you. One caution. They do not allow open-toed shoes. When I went, they sent some ladies back to their cabins to change. Make sure mom packs some shoes that will be acceptable.

That's really good to know, thank you. I'll pass that along after they get the tickets so I don't ruin the surprise.

Thanks to everyone for the input! I would love to join them, but I have a feeling the friend I'm traveling with won't want to spend the extra $100, and I don't want to abandon her alone for half a sea day on what's supposed to be our vacation. Maybe next time I cruise I'll get the chance to go. One of these days I'll manage to book a trip without *anyone* inviting themselves along, and I can sign up for the tour on my own. :D

It can sell out very quickly so I would get onto the ship asap and go right to excursion desk.

Will do, thanks! I purchased FTTF (BFF's first cruise; she wanted the 'total' experience) and we'll get to the port as early as the hotel shuttle can get us there, so it'll be my first stop before purchasing Cheers and heading to our cabin.

Yes they will, but you should know that its a 3-3.5 hour tour with some steep stairs up and down. Also you will NOT see the Engine Room. They take you to the Engine Control Room, you will see all of the computers and such that control the engines, but not the engines themselves.

Thanks for the quick answer! They're both pretty active so I think they'll be able to handle the walking. I'd read that you only get to see the engine control room, but I'm pretty sure that would be good enough to satiate my dad's curiosity. As a recreational sailor he'll get a kick out of seeing the bridge, too.

Thanks again!