LaurieHoffman

Wish I could do the Miracle but this time it is only a 4 night. My daughter is OK with anything and the bunk is a full size 'bed' so she would be OK going up the stairs. I was thinking about the more space too but will recheck our options after school today when I go to book.

I am looking to book a cruise for my daughter and myself in March our of Long Beach - 4 night. I am Platinum and she is close to it.

In the past it is usually my husband and me plus kids or the kids and me without hubby. This time it is just going to be the two of us - she is 15.

I am thinking of trying something new this time to save a bit of $$. We usually book oceanview or even balcony. Interior category has available Upper/Lower, Porthole and regular Interior. I have stayed in a porthole once before and did feel the motion of the ship and not sure if I liked that. I think either regular interior or upper/lower would work. I would rather do ocean view but in order to talk the hubby to let us go alone I think I need to do it less expensive. The upper/lower is about $30 less than regular interior. I know the room is a bit smaller but with a pull down bunk it may seem like there is more room?

Your thoughts on these two type room categories.....

My friend posted on another site that their ship was still in port at 10:25 yesterday. I was wondering what ship it was and why so late. I asked her, but she didn't respond.

AM or PM?

Just saw this on our news coverage but my question is if she was as drunk as they say how did she manage to stay alive in the water for 90 minutes!? And I feel this lawsuit should be tossed out immediately.

I have sailed on the 3 night and 4 night cruises out of Long Beach. We usually arrive about noon and are on the ship in less than 30 minutes. If you get there at 10 AM there will be a long line.

3 night cruise the formal/elegant night is on the 2nd night. The 4 night cruise the elegant night is on the 3rd night - the night you are in Ensenada I think.

If you get to port very early you actually check in at the Queen Mary - there are signs directing you where to go. If you arrive a bit later - sorry but I don't know the time - you check in where the Spruce Goose used to be housed as someone previously mentioned.

I found check in to be very easy when arriving noonish and check in was very easy when checking in early but then you stand in a long line based on your boarding zone. When I did the noon check ins it was quicker in my opinion.

I have been on 10 Carnival cruises and never once received the call. I have been on a total of 15 or 16 cruises and we were upgraded on Disney once from an ocean view to a large balcony with split bath. It was a great surprise but once we didn't pay any extra for or even know about prior to checking in. Carnival has never yet called and would love to receive a call someday.....

We sailed her last month - Dec 13th. It was a 3 night and not sure if I would do a 3 night again as it was to much of a party atmosphere for me. As far as the ship goes though it was fine. Everything was in good working condition, clean, crew for the most part was very friendly especially our room stewart. The dining room staff was just OK. We had anytime dining. First two nights were good, last night was HORRIBLE - service and food. We complained and barely got a sorry... Left without even ordering dessert. Love the mongolian BBQ but I only get it on the first day for lunch. The lines are very long but I do enjoy the food there. The buffets are just OK not great but not horrible. Shows enjoyable.

Do the 3 day cruises have tea time on their sea day? Any other differences? This will be my first 3 day, am a little nervous. :eek:

We just went on the Inspiration and tea time was served at 3 PM in one of the dining rooms. Not as fancy as I remember it being on the Dream but still quiet and relaxing.

Sounds like a 3 day booze cruise. With 10 Carnival cruises under your belt did you expect something else?

Actually I DID expect something else. I have done 3 night, 4 night, 5 night and 7 night on Carnival. The 3 night's were never 'booze' cruises in the past that is why I was so surprised this one was so bad. In addition to being woke up at 4:30 AM two of the 3 nights the food quality has gone down hill and the service in the dining room has gone down too.... I posted this was my 10th Carnival cruise to show I know what a cruise should be like on Carnival. It was not on this past cruise..

thank you again.. I am worried about her liking the food but she will have to decide that.. I know she will eat cheese but no meat products.. She has done it all vegetarian, vegan, raw etc.. :) I am sure she will find enough food to eat and it will be interesting what she thinks of the food..

wow - thank you.

When I sailed many years ago on Carnival there was a lady at our table who had requested vegan meals. She never knew what she was going to be brought to eat but every meal looked delicious...

My sister is going on the Inspiration - only a 3 night cruise but I would think they would have something to accommodate special requests.. Many of the indian dishes are vegetarian and many are not. I will hope for the best...

My sister is going on her first Carnival cruise in 3 weeks. They just booked it. I have been on 10 myself and eat 'normal' foods so I can't help her with her questions. She called carnival on the phone - not email - to request vegan meals in the dining room. They told her they don't have any....:mad: I don't think this is correct... Any insight or who do I have her contact? Maybe special needs? They do have vegan meals correct? I remember in the past they did and they looked very good..

My last cruise on Carnival - which we just took over the weekend.. It was atrocious! (and it was my 10th on Carnival and 15th overall) I felt like it was Spring Break with the wild young adults on board, the all night parties, running and screaming down the hallways, poor service in the dining room and mediocre food and I could go on and on....... I have always been a cheer leader for Carnival but after this cruise I am rethinking my primary cruise line and want to try Princess or someone else ASAP...

In just a few hours we board the Inspiration for a quick 3-night cruise. This will be my 10th and I am finally Platinum and for my husband this will be his 5th or 6th. I don't track his as much. :) Hope the weather holds out and the date - Friday the 13th is a GOOD omen. Off to port I go.......

If they eliminated the Fun Times I think the sales of highlighters at the dollar store would go flat.

 

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Forums mobile app

I have learned over the years to bring my own highlighters, hold puncher, power strip, night light and a few other handy things

From John H directly ------

For some strange reason I received two comments today asking why we are not going to be printing the daily program the "Funtimes" anymore. I honestly don't know where this stuff comes from but that's not important thing. The important thing is this is not true in the same way as saying I am a sex object is not true........ok, I ask my wife for sex and she objects.....but that's a different story.

So you will continue to receive a copy of the "Funtimes" In your cabin each evening for the following day.

My parents are on a cruise to Hawaii now. They left San Francisco on Monday or Tuesday and had rough seas over to the islands. My mom who has been on at least 20 cruises and NEVER gets sick got sick on the way over. Also today they could not dock in Maui as it was to rough to tender to the island. She said this is the roughest cruise they have ever taken... Hopefully the seas calm down soon...

I am enjoying reading your review. I too will be Platinum on this same ship Dec 13th! Can't wait... Have been on her for 2 other cruises so don't care what we do.. just relax and have fun. Can't wait to read more of your review.

So the upgrade fairy called tonight.. offered us an upgrade to an ocean suite from a balcony... we jumped on it.. who can give me info on cabin number 7228.. if anyone has pics it would be sooo appreciated!!

Sorry, I don't have any information on the cabin you are asking about but do have a question. Was there a charge for this 'upgrade'?

I must have missed something.. I just saw Randi passed away back in December ... We LOVED our ride with her and were so saddened when the ships decided to skip docking there. I thought about her often and wondered what this would do to her business.. Any details on how she died?

 

Again... we thought the Holiday show was great! It was cute and really put us in the holiday spirits. I was pleased this was on our sailing since we weren't on board during an actual Holiday. But we did book this cruise as our xmas cruise so it was great to have so many adorable decorations around the ship and the added bonus of a well put together holiday show to boot!

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We were on the Inspiration the week before Christmas... We saw a similar holiday show too and it was great seeing the kids perform and then the snow and then Santa too.... Can't wait to read more and see more of your photos..

I loved your review and especially your photos. The food came to life in your photos. Thank you for sharing. Still trying to decide if I should book this for our upcoming cruise. It will be hubby and me only and it is over our anniversary too. Just not sure how he will react.

Cove balconies are AMAZING!!! We had one last month. LOVED it. Slept with the door slightly opened every night to hear the ocean. The being so close to the water was a plus. The balconies are slightly larger than a regular balcony from what I read - 40 sq ft vs. 35 sq ft. Not a big deal but they looked straight to the ocean and then when you look up it is only the lifeboats you see. Much more private in my opinion than other balconies and shaded too. Loved that and sitting on my balcony reading a book with a drink in hand. Wish these were on more ships.....

Coming off the Carnival Dream, what time do you ask the limo company to pick you up? We don't have an early flight out; in fact, we don't fly out until the next day and are not in a big hurry to get off the ship. Thanks to this thread and all your recommendations I booked with Michael at Executive VIP Limo, but can't figure out what time to give him for pickup. Thanks in advance!

In my opinion it depends on what zone you have to disembark. We were 17 and didn't rush but waited for our one to be called. This gave us time to wake up, get ready, head to breakfast in the MDR - with our luggage - finish breakfast and then easily walk off the ship approx 9:20 AM.. We had a renta car shuttle so they continued to come and pick people up so we didn't have to specify a time but to be safe you might say 10 AM - 10:30 AM

Hey you guys - I have a question. I have the Residence Inn reserved for a pre-cruise one night stay in November. I was reading that their shuttle doesn't start until 11:30am? Can anyone confirm this? I suppose DH and I can just take a reasonabley priced cab to the ship? I know, I know...11:30 is actually probably a fine time to leave the hotel but you know...we get excited. Also - how is their system back? I hope I made a good choice in hotels. We wanted to be as close to the pier as we could to come back, hop in the car and head back on the road to Virginia.

Can't help you on the shuttle but we stayed there last month and loved it. the room was huge and clean. The breakfast in the morning was way more than we expected from fresh scrambled eggs (much better than on the ship!), oatmeal, fresh baked waffles, cereal, fruits and much more....

As far as the shuttle goes if it doens't leave until 11:30 you will completely bypass the zones and the long wait to get on the ship. We did this quite by accident and when we arrived at the pier sometime about 11:00 - 11:30 we were checked in within a few minutes and then walked onto the ship. They were done with the boarding by zones at that time... A definate plus in my opinion and we still headed to the pasta bar with no wait...