Out of Iowa

I understand your hesitation. I grew up hearing that "Mexico isn't safe" and my family never traveled there. On my Carnival cruises as an adult, I've been to Cozumel many times and the mainland a few times and always felt safe. Recent news reports shake that confidence. With the August 2022 US State Dept advisory about exercising increased caution in Quintana Roo ("exercise increased caution due to crime and kidnapping"), I'd chose to stay on-board or not leave the secure port area. There is no US State Dept advisory for Yucatan, however. If you've never stayed on the ship during a port day(s), this could be your opportunity.

I was on a Halloween sailing in 2012....went all-out on my costume (or so I thought) but some of the most creative, ingenious and over-the-top individuals rightfully won the prizes. The individual who I thought truly had the best costume painted himself in green paint and had a free-form, wood curved-shaped base painted in the same color...he'd drop it on the floor and assume an " army man" position like the plastic toys from the 1960s and 1970s. Very creatively (and well) done! There was a special dessert offering in the MDR - but the Grand Marnier souffle is so much better.

Wow, I will miss returning from a long, hot, energetic excursion to hop in the shower while waiting for my Room Service order of the (now absent) seafood salad on a croissant and a slice of delicious chocolate cake. No charge - except for the $ to the individual who earned it by making the trek to my cabin to deliver it. To simple me, that was luxury. One of the things I really appreciated about cruising with Carnival.

75 Euros for one person, for a single-day hop-on, hop-off bus tour with harbor cruise? That seems very expensive...did I miss something?

For those of us who live a very long way from even our nearest port, higher airfare costs and still-high gas prices make a cruise less enticing. Cruising is certainly not going to become a regular vacation in these times. And that makes me very sad.

This hassle and expense would be enough to cause me to enjoy my first-ever day on the ship while in a port.

the whale tail, because that tells me it is a Carnival Fun Ship; the forward hot tub, accessible from the gym/shower/sauna on certain ships [nobody thinks to be here after dinner for a moonlit, albeit indoor, soak]; any outdoor area where I can see the churn and inky-blue water in the ship's wake; Main Dining Room, when we have a booth; our dark, quiet Interior room; outdoor seating areas early in the morning, just my hot chocolate and my own thoughts.

What if the 20 yo checks in and states the other room occupant "will arrive later"? Would then make him stand and wait to check in, let him on (only to pull him off before the ship sails, or what?)...curious minds want to know.

If they removed the statue, they could use the 2,000+ lbs that it weighs to add more of those lovely, tiled and heated loungers in the spa. With this choice, the ship's weight wouldn't change but the beauty and utility would be improved.

Cake pops (only on embarkation day); salmon eggs benedict; the fabulous watermelon found on the toppings bar near Blue Iguana Cantina.

I've been on several Carnival cruises. I have yet to find any Chocolate Extravaganza over 10+ years --- and it wasn't for lack of effort on my part. and, yes, when we dine out lately there are abbreviated menus, unavailable foods, substitutions - and the bill at the end is noticeably higher. Carnival doesn't even give us a bill after dinner 😉