glenn29

Yes, we used Jackie from Coral last year (2023 feb).  She was fantastic.  Let us pick wherever we wanted to go and planned our day for us.  Made recommendations for places we wouldn't have known about too.  Also, just a well spoken, personable young woman.  Would highly recommend.  

I just wrote Jacqueline requesting a tour for our upcoming visit to the island.  Thank you for the recommendation, your tour seems like it would be perfect for my family (much smaller, 5) as well.

Haven't cruised in a while (3 years) which I know makes me an outcast on these boards, but we are getting back in the game.  I've never booked this far in advance before but we are looking to book Feb 2020 (somewhere from the East coast, feel free to make suggestions).

My question is this, the last few times we cruised, prices of cabins in a higher category dropped to what we had paid for ours.  I called the cruise line and they moved us directly into the higher category.  Does this still work?  On all cruise lines?  I think both times I did it we were cruising Celebrity but I could be wrong (have also used RCC and Carnival).  

I generally like to book the cheapest room we will be ok with.  Usually an oceanview.  Then hope something higher drops in price.  I'd just like to know if this is still a viable strategy.

thanks for any help.

Thanks so much for the positive feedback on my opinions and ever more so for expressing your own opinions.

I'll see if I can get a few pics up too, although 99% of my photos are of my daughter rather than the ship :)

If this was on facebook i would have "liked" each and everyone of your posts.

Hey, Just got back from our first Carnival Cruise, the Paradise out of Tampa.

I'll type up just a quick opinion of the cruise and line compared to others we have sailed (Celebrity and RCCL).

Just as a side note, we have always cruised just as a couple, this cruise included our 2 Year Old DD.

EMBARKATION: Our last few cruises on Celebrity we were lucky enough to book concierge class. Included in that class was the perk of shorter boarding lines and a quicker embarkation. I have to say, even without that special class, or FTTF (which I tried to book too late) our Embarkation was a breeze, even wit a 2 year old in tow. From the minute we got in the terminal, till the time we were on the ship, I'd say was 15 to 20 minutes tops.

FOOD: Honestly, I'm pretty happy with simple food, that being said, even an uneducated palate like my own could notice the difference in food quality and menus. I certainly have zero complains about Carnivals food, but that being said, I did find the menu options in the main dining room much more appealing on the other lines, I also found the food much more appealing at the buffet and even the pizza and burgers. Again, I'd gladly take another Carnival cruise tomorrow and enjoy the food, I'd just say it's a half step down from those other lines.

Camp Carnival: Although I have nothing to compare it to on the other lines, I do know Carnival is the only place my daughter could go at 2 without us being around. She enjoyed it immensely and would wake up in the morning and after naps asking if she could "go to the clubhouse". The staff there were truly amazing and it really made the cruise for us. I'll also lump in the Dr. Suess stuff here as well, my daughter loves characters and got to meet "thing 1 and thing 2", "sam I am" and "the cat in the hat" and loved every minute of it.

Entertainment: The entertainment you would encounter walking around the ship (bands, djs, etc...) seemed really good. It also seemed to be focused in only two ares (the lido deck and the bar just outside the casino). Part of this may have been the smaller ship size, I just recall on some earlier cruises walking around and coming across a piano player, or a solo performer, or a small quintet. We went to two shows in the theater, and to be honest, they were really good, and then not really good. The same performers who put on a great show on night two (rock theme) seem to have struck out on night three (British theme). Overall I'd say this was a step down from my previous cruises, again though, nothing that would make me stay away.

Cabins: The Paradise has very few balcony cabins, so we booked an outside room. I was really nervous about the size with two of us plus the crib and the toddler. To my surprise, it was plenty roomy and not an issue at all. Everything that was needed was there, it's a bit of an older ship, so no real modern upgrades, but that's ok, it worked great and we were very comfortable. I'd rate it on par with previous cruises, and considering we were in concierge class on previous cruises I'd actually say Carnival gets the win here.

Service: Celebrity is known for it's over the to service, and it's a bit of a noticeable difference, but that's not a complaint or a knock at all. Sometimes the "over the topness" actually gets to be too much. Never on this cruise did I encounter any staff member who was anything but very friendly and hospitable. For the price difference, I can certainly do without the extra politeness.

There were a few other noticeable differences...and I now this can change drastically from ship to ship. There was not a lot of space in the pool (and there was only one plus a small kids pool). Half the pool space was taken up as a landing spot for the water slide. Of course, mentioning that, the water slide is a plus (even though we didn't partake). Will say, hot tub wise, Carnival, even on a small ship, had many more than any previous cruise we have taken (I think there were 6 hot tubs on board).

I have to say, my biggest complaint overall, was coming back from port to only find the burger place, the pizza place and the deli open for food options. At 3 pm on a port day there should be many food options available. I had to wait 25 minutes to get a sandwich and that was by far the shortest waiting option.

So, sorry for being so wordy, I'm generally very concise but just got on a roll, I will certainly have carnival in my searches for future cruises, and might even give them priority because of the fabulous kids club, but if Celebrity or RCCL is a much better deal, I certainly wouldn't rule them out either.

Awesome widallas. Thanks so much.

It's late and I might not get my answer tonight, and we hit Grand Cayman tomorrow, but can anyone exam the difference between the turtle farm exploration tour ($18) and the turtle adventure tour ($45), both at the same place.

I'm sure it includes extras, just trying to figure out what they are and if they will benefit my 2 1/2 year old.

Thanks for any help.

Well this is all good news, gives me some extra Pina Colada money, or maybe just extra gratuities for those that are kind to my daughter :)

Thanks for the quick replies everyone.

I did try and search this out, but couldn't find it, and ran our of search terms to try.

Before I even ask the question, it's more out of curiosity, I'm totally fine either way, just wondering.

What constitutes a "day" as far as gratuities are concerned? Does embarkation day count? (I would assume yes), how about debarkation day? (that's the one I'm really not sure about.

I'm going the paradise for 5 nights, 3 of us, just wondering if it will cost $180 or $216.

thanks for any help.

This is the first I've heard of this, glad I checked the thread.

So, from what I"m reading, something like this, which i was planning on bringing is no good

http://www.amazon.com/Socket-SS1650W-06-6-Outlet-Expandable-Protector/dp/B0017RXJSK

while something like this (because it does not have surge protection) is ok?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/4-ft-6-Outlet-Power-Strip-with-45-Angle-Plug-YLPT-2-1B/203353677

Am I reading that right? Sorry if this sounds ignorant, my skills with electricity are just about none.

We are sailing Carnival for the first time, I've had some level of luck/success with this in the past using RCC and Celebrity but did have a question.

If we book an interior cabin for $400.00 and haven't made final payment yet, then all fares drop, so interior cabin goes down to $350.00 and ocean view drops to $400.00 can we upgrade to ocean view for free rather then taking the price drop on the interior?

We are booking for the first time on Carnival as well and were thinking of early saver.

You mentioned some strict rules about cancellation, any other pros and cons not mentioned in the "big print" on the website about these fares?