kgymn

I traveled with my paperwhite with 3g in May and there was a document delivered to my Kindle pretty much as soon as it was under the ships signal rather than US, and it alerted me to the policy for international usage and what specific things cost extra. I would imagine that there's no kindle fees if you are using it on wi-fi, because I am sure the fee is for data usage on the international 3g networks. If you have 3G on it, I can always pull up the document that popped up on my Kindle and let you know what it says.

~Katy

Katy - they let you bring a cooler on board??

They sure do! Small personal coolers... They have a maximum size allowed which I believe is 12". Its listed in a long document on their website on what is and is not allowed.

~Katy

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Yup! Last cruise, we brought on a 12 pack of soda for my husband and I filled a personal cooler with 12 cans of various juices... pineapple, mango, guava.

~Katy

I will be following this thread since we are doing out first B2B in March, less than a month away. Hopefully the first of many.

~Katy

They haven't announced (probably haven't even yet decided) which ship will be in Norfolk and RSL is correct, they are planning again to be spring and fall cruises. Last year they are only in May and October, and I would expect the same int 2015.

~Katy

They had it free on the Glory in May. It was really bland, though, and I don't recall seeing anywhere to add butter or salt to make it more tasty.

~Katy

I have not had my nails done onboard but if it was shellac/gel and you want something less involved to use at home, it's really all about the base and top coats you use. I used to never be able to have my nails done without at least one chip within 24 hours. Then I started using a good base coat (I like china glaze, but others are good as well other ones I use are Seche Clear and also one from Orly) and then for the top coat I swear by Seche Vite... when I use seche vite my nails last for a week or more, usually, regardless of what actual polish I used and it dries fast. Currently I'm wearing sinful colors, which is like $2 at walgreens, and it's been on a full week and the only nail that is messed up is the one I messed up before it had dried completely and was too busy to re-do. Otherwise no chips, no cracks.

~Katy

Well, my husband gets migraines and on our last cruise he spent a couple nights in the room cause his head was hurting. I also spent time lounging in the room keeping my eye on the deck cam since it rained off and on, and let me tell you the choice locations on the serenity deck I was able to get the minute the deck started to dry off ;)

In any case the great tip about the staircase back aft did it for us. E257 was available on both the sailings (we're doing B2B) so we booked that room for both! Not only is serenity my favorite area on the ship, but my go-to when I am looking for something to do is get pizza LOL and that's only one more deck up!

HOORAY!!

~Katy

I though there was a condition somewhere that states that if taxes and fees go up even after you are paid in full you may be responsible for paying the difference, in particular if gas prices go up. I'm glad they were able to make good on the original price for you!

I am very happy to hear they were able to get your booking back! I can only imagine how frustrated I would be in the same situation!

~Katy

I booked R1 and R3 on a fantasy class and noticed the 2nd cabin was bigger then the first, I asked the steward and he said, every other porthole room is slightly bigger (R3, R4, R7, R8...) due to the widening of the haul and the straight corridors.

Yep that is how it looks on the deck plans. I wonder if some of the larger cabins are even larger than the others if that makes sense. I'd be tempted to go in with a measuring tape rofl

~Katy

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If you do book the Aft Empress cabin---

There is a 'secret' staircase across from E244. Go up, on Empress (8) go outside and up the outside staircase (The deck on Empress is crew only). It leads directly into the Serenity deck.

http://www.carnival.com/legal/~/media/CCLUS/Images/pdf/carnival-inspiration-accessible-cruising-deck-plan-pdf.ashx

This is a good shortcut to take at night when the Comedy is going on. Seen several bathrobed pax becoming part of the show. :D

Now THAT is some priceless information! Exactly the kind of info I am sure to use, too. Thank you!!

~Katy

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Thanks for the input! It looks like we're leaning towards an outside now, its really not much more and if we luck out with an upsell fairy call with an OV it would be to a really nice cabin. Now I'm just worried about the location on the ship, we're debating aft on empress or forward on upper, but leaning heavily toward aft due to proximity to the serenity deck.

~Katy

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I can't even remember how many times I have walked up to a bar (not necessarily on a ship) and asked the bartender for "something fruity with rum" or "something fruity with vodka" I don't think I have ever gotten a funny look, just sometimes a question about what kind of juice or whatnot.

Also, they do have some drink menus. Drink menus never have EVERY drink they can make, but it's a good starting place if you don't have names of drinks you would like. The drink menu will list what types of alcohols and mixers are included, and you can get a pretty good idea of what ones you would like from reading the ingredients.

~Katy

Man am I missing the search feature right now!

Anyways we are looking to book the Inspiration for next month and are debating between getting an ocean view or a porthole. Porthole would save us a little, but the ocean view we could get on a higher deck. Our last cruise we had an inside on the Glory, so even a porthole is moving up for us LOL.

Anyone with any experience? Specific rooms to look for or avoid? Appreciate any input :) Thanks in advance.

~Katy

We had him on our May cruise and both my husband and I loved him. Great energy!

bettyboop16, you will not be disappointed he posted on FB today that he'll be back Aug 19th and will be on the Glory through the end of the year, so you'll have him in October!

~Katy

Worth a shot! But I should say that at our M&G some of us didn't have a free hand to toss a bean bag with ;) Then again, we only had a 1 hour one, and were determined to get more than our moneys worth.

~Katy

We had name tags, and wrist bands to designate who was 21+... other than that we just met at the location that Carnival arranged for us and we drank... as much as we could... I guess it depends on the personality of the group you go with. Our group would have never taken away from our drinking time to play a game...

Unless it was a drinking game... Darn, missed opportunity!

~Katy

Ralph Valente... and according to the schedule on John Heald's blog, he is back on the Sensation at the end of April and is scheduled there all year except for a time in Nov/Dec.

He was the assistant CD (or whatever it's called) on my first (and last) cruise in 2004 and I still remember him! He was a blast :)

~Katy

She was already mentioned in this thread (albeit a year ago!) But Jodi Picoult's books are some of my favorites right now! My Sister's Keeper was mentioned, but she has many other great ones as well. I've only read one that took a while to get into (Second Glance, I think) so far, and even that picked up nicely.

Nothing like a great book to go with the warm sun!

~Katy