wikoffclan

Oops.... Sorry. I've been looking for info on Chef's Table as I have cruises coming up in November on both Carnival (Valor) and RCCL (Radiance). Got my pages mixed up.

However --- the Chef's Table reservation option is showing on my Cruise Manager for both our September cruise on Valor and our November cruise. $80 + 18% gratuity ($94.40)

It's showing for my November 2022 cruise on Radiance OTS. No Memorial Day Sale though - $94.99 pp

39 minutes ago, Silent Penguin said:

Hi, Again.  I wasn't really thinking about writing a trip report since the most exciting part was managing to actually make it to the port on time.  

 

SO fun to read about your last minute adventure. Hoping you'll share more details.

LOVE Fantasy class ships. We'll be sorry to see them go, too.

IMHO - Port Canaveral is the easier port to get to and to park and sail. Love St. Thomas, never been to St. Kitts, Nassau is under construction.

If you love sea days, you'll Love a TA. Be sure to find the Roll Call for your cruise. The TA Roll Calls tend to be Much more active than short cruises. Look for groups with similar interests - Mah Jong, stitchers, Card players, slot pull, Meet and Mingle. We found people planning independent tours in some of our ports that were the Best we've been a part of. Bring your Kindle. Get involved, Have Fun!

19 minutes ago, TravelGirlinDallas said:

And the weird floating heads in the atrium, and the Pepto-pink MDR with the clashing orange mood lighting...

And the totally incongruous "Samurai" along the Casino hallway....

2 hours ago, MisterOJ2 said:

I went on the Valor in December. I'm going on the Glory in October. They're the same class, based out of the same port, with a similar theme and naming convention. I'm mixing the names of these ships up all the time.

 

If you're trying to remember the difference between what each looks like inside, just remember Valor is all about the eagles --- EVERYwhere. And Rosie the Riveter in the Lido buffet. Never been on Glory (3 times on Valor) but the decor looks like it may be more attractive/more diverse than Valor. Someone may disagree.

First cruise (on the Holiday) in 2008. The things I miss:

Farewell Party (with drinks, snacks and a band) for Everyone on the last evening

Welcome back Party for ALL repeat cruisers - with the video parade of Ships that everyone would cheer

A basket of amenities in the bathroom.

Chocolates on the pillow each evening

Twice daily service - and the stewards had probably half the number cabins to take care of

Ice bucket and ice in the cabin... without asking

Sodas in the fridge for purchase

A live Carnival band onstage for the main shows

Don't get me wrong. We love to cruise (Carnival, Royal, Celebrity, Cunard) and will continue to do so. Just miss some of those perks

I never received any Great offers until I started playing slots. Black Jack didn't result in any offers. My "best offer" was $25 for Interior for an Australia cruise with $300 AUD of OBC. Cost of airfare and Covid restrictions made it less than desirable. I'm wondering how much Casino play is needed to come up with a "free offer". I don't allot more than $200 for casino play and usually come back with most of that.

After my March solo cruise on Valor out of New Orleans, I got an offer that worked out to be only $100 more to move up to an Ocean Suite from a balcony. Our Ocean Suite on the September 10th Carnival Valor 5-day cruise for 2 is $753.72 - includes taxes and fees. Never had a Suite before. Will be a surprise for DH. (That's about the same price we paid for our first cruise in 2008. An aft OV cabin on the Riviera deck on a 5 day cruise in September aboard the Holiday out of Mobile :-)

Seeking clarification --- I will be Diamond after a solo cruise Oct. 2022 (after several solo cruises cancelled in 2020  & 2021... darn!!). But DH is still listed as Gold. Does he qualify for my Diamond status on our next sailing?

Just now, wikoffclan said:

Actually had "Priority boarding" for the first time on 3/3/22 (after 3 prior post-Covid cruises) with DH when he flashed his cane. No Platinum priority boarding in NOLA. The Platinum "gift" was a  "Photo Album". It will be in my  next yard sale. The "koozie" is much more useful. BTW - we showed up for "Priority Embarkation". No one else did.

Actually had "Priority boarding" for the first time on 3/3/22 with DH when he flashed his cane. No Platinum priority boarding in NOLA. The Platinum "gift" was a  "Photo Album". It will be in my  next yard sale. The "koozie" is much more useful. BTW - we showed up for "Priority Embarkation". No one else did.

Have always (last 4 post Restart cruises) had at least 3 test appointments scheduled pre-cruise for each. (Can you spell paranoia?) Local Health Department, CVS and Walgreens. CVS has canceled twice, Walgreens has come through twice and local Health Department has come through twice. Can't wait for a return to "normal".

DH is a Manhattan drinker. Order a bottle of Seagrams for delivery onboard and carry on a Martini and Rossi Sweet Vermouth as second "wine" bottle. Have not yet been stopped at the "naughty" table at the port (New Orleans and Galveston). "Wine" is apparently open to discussion.

My DH is an impatient, early to dinner kind of guy. We've done YTD since it became available. First in First out and he's happy. Have never have had any wait for the earliest opening time signing in on the app. I'm sure the more popular (later) times have a bit more wait time. (Cruised 5 times since restart)

13 hours ago, Luvtoeat said:

7 nights in a deck 11 midship balcony on Mardi Gras in late July with $200.00 00 OBC for $1615.00 or 7 nights in a deck 11midship  balcony on Mardi Gras in early  Sept with the cheers package for $2145.00. Greatly appreciate all thoughts.

If it's a Casino Offer (in my experience) there should at least be "Drinks on us while playing in the Casino" as part of either offer. 

On Valor March 2022, Inch of Gold, $10 special sale (handbags, etc), 2 for$20 t-shirt sale, $5 charm per day with "free bracelet" all available. Effy sales, etc. all as pre-pandemic. Bingo card sales, etc. also still as usual. Have Fun...! Just happy to be cruising again!

Drop our bags in the cabin and then head to a bar. I get a fruity cocktail and call my brother to brag about being on a cruise... every time!!

17 hours ago, Illbcruzn4life said:

I had it this morning in the buffet before they kicked me off. It was 2% chocolate milk which is fine with me since that's what I drink at home.

Chocolate milk in the Buffet on Valor has been Whole milk the last 3 times we've sailed (November, January and March) Love it in my "I don't drink coffee... except my half cold coffee and half chocolate milk drink" in the morning. Some might call it a Mocha Frappacino. Whatever... it's Very tasty!

We've cruised out of NOLA multiple times - both Carnival and Royal. Carnival has the better parking situation by far. Garage is Very convenient. Never had a problem finding a spot. Only once did we end up on "the roof" (not covered). But the that spot was the most convenient to the elevator and we could see our car from the ship!

You have to figure that the folks getting off the ship will be opening up spaces for arriving cruisers to park. It may cost a bit more than offsite parking, but the ease and convenience more than make up for the difference in price.

1 hour ago, iradi8 said:

I cannot eat that late. I will probably eat earlier (on Lido) and just go sit with them in the MDR for the late dining. 

I found that the nice thing about the Lido buffet on Carnival is that the buffet generally has the same foods as those offered in the MDR. So go eat in the buffet when you're hungry earlier, keep your seat with them for the late dining, enjoy their company and have another dessert... or appetizer... or main... or.... two!

On 4/24/2022 at 7:34 PM, ginabab said:

Hi,

 

My experience:

We have a medical supply service here (Apria) 

 

My experience ---fractured my heel stepping in a hole in Havana in 2019. Missed the second day in Cuba but wouldn't have traded the trip for anything. Once I got home I found a "knee scooter" for sale at Walmart. Cost all of $115. Best investment ever. I've since donated it to a church's medical supply "loan closet". Worth every penny I paid and will be useful to others in the future.

(BTW - in 1992 I had a 2 year old and broke a foot bone. Put the boy on a leash when we went out and scooted around the house with my knee on an office chair 🙂

4 hours ago, rockmom said:

You cannot do it on the app, you must go to the main Royal site, log in to your account and go the the cruise planner for your sailing. Then choose 'dining' and scroll to the bottom, that is where you'll see the option to choose your times (IF you are already signed up for My Time Dining which you choose when you first book your cruise). 

You're right. I had to do it on the website. And most annoying, I reserved 1 night at a time until I figured out how to reserve multiple nights. Not a very intuitive website. The longer you wait, the more limited the available times. Reserve early.

1 hour ago, audcc77 said:

Really. I was planning on taking home that coozie. 
 

In fact, I left the photo album on a table in the atrium with a note saying “Free to good home. Take it!”

 

I honestly considered leaving the "photo album" behind. Not really an album. Just a photo holder. Big, bulky and useless. Wish I'd thought of the "Free to good home idea"!