ABCGreys

We love it. It's usually just my husband and I when we do Anytime Dining. We tend to eat early and go down about 15-20 minutes after the dining room opens and have always gotten seated quickly except for once on the Conquest on Elegant night. Be forewarned, the tables for 2 are really close together. We normally just say a quick hello and if our neighbors want to chat, great, if not we don't mind. 

I'm wondering if in order to confirm you watched the safety video they'll have you either do something on the TV or call a number or something. When I take CPE (continuing professional education for my CPA license) online, there will be a series questions that I have to respond to. In order to get credit for the course, I have to answer all of the questions and within a certain timeframe of them being posted. They pop up sporadically throughout the class. Hopefully, I'll find out September 11 on the Mardi Gras!

My person favorite:

My toddler is still in diapers. Can they go in the pool?

We experienced slow service on the Magic a couple of weeks ago. One night we waited over 15 minutes to get menus and only got them because DH went and asked for them. We never got out of there less than 1 hour and 25 minutes at a table for two.

I wish they split the entry. One line for people that have a table assigned through the Hub app and the other line for walk ups. It was really congested at the entry and we felt like we were jumping the line even though the hostess directed us to the podium.

I understand where you're coming from. There's nothing wrong with wanting to try other lines to see if they meet your needs better based on what your expectations are for food and entertainment. We've sailed on Carnival, NCL, RCCL, and Celebrity. But, we keep coming back to Carnival. For us, it's just the FUN vibe we get on board that keeps us coming back to Carnival.

For us, Cheers doesn't make sense. My husband is a light drinker and even with milkshakes, specialty coffee, etc. we don't hit the daily cost. So, we go a la carte. Our highest bill at the end of a 7 day was still about $100 less than Cheers would have cost. I do the calculations before every cruise and knowing our drinking pattern, itinerary, and cruise length, I've never been able to justify the cost.

We've always been notified of port changes or timing changes. Maybe the notice went to your spam folder?

Lido deck. We find it's a really convenient location for food/coffee/bars. 

Can't wait to see what you think of the 27 waterfalls with Iguana Mama. We're booked on that excursion in April. Loving the review!

We've had a party of 13 on one large table, but  which was OK but space was tight on the table. I don't think any more could have fit. *This was on the Fascination.

I so want to cruise on the Mardi Gras, but I'm having a hard time justifying the cost when I've done those itineraries countless times (I know, first world problems) cheaper.  I understand it's a new ship so we're paying for that but I was hoping for better ports to go along with the ship.

I agree with the above. Plenty of taxis or call for an Uber. The Carnival shuttle is annoying. You have to wait for it to fill up. 

The website doesn't specify what they consider a government issued photo ID. I think either thing you mentioned would work but would call Carnival to check. 

Photo Identification

A non-expired government-issued photo I.D. is required of all guests 16 years of age and older. The following are acceptable:

• Driver's License (a temporary Driver's License with photo is acceptable)
• Driver's Permit
• School/Student I.D. (acceptable for guests 16/17/18 years of age)
• Government-issued identification card including a U.S. Military I.D. with photo (city/state/federal)
• Government-issued Trusted Traveler Program Membership Card (NEXUS/SENTRI/FAST) - for photo identification use only

We've had FTTF for several cruises and on our last cruise (Splendor) the sign didn't indicate that D/P/FTTF could enter and my husband felt really awkward going through the doors even though he knows we had access. Once I explained the key in the mailbox thing, and that our keys were available, he felt a bit better. However, when we got back through the doors to the elevator vestibule, some guest starting pointing at us and shouting at the crew member about why we could go to our room but they couldn't. 

On 9/18/2019 at 4:14 PM, wardamnweagle said:

Last time I bought a bucket it was out of NOLA, they were bottles, and the bartender opened all of them before I left the bar. Am I to understand they don’t do that now?

Or, if you're on the pool deck, they'll come in cans. I've never had the server open all 4. I had a couple of buckets of Rebel IPA on sea days and they all came in cans.

We love the Lido deck and try and stay on it every cruise. Easy access to bars and food, a quick walk up to the gym, and as someone else mentioned, the elevator is nearly always headed there. We've only had an issue once with noise but it wasn't because of location, it was because a family traveling together put about 5 boys aged 10-13 in the room next to us and they were absolutely obnoxious. 

We usually give about $2-$3 per bag, depending on how many bags we have (i.e. if we have the kids, we have at least 4 bags with one of them being my step-daughter's overly large, over weight, I packed everything but the kitchen sink bag, which dictates a large tip).

13 hours ago, lmb84 said:

Hmmm....I'm doing Alaska in May...only done Caribbean (12)...I also like the vibe on the Caribbean cruises...I hope I'm not making a mistake...ugh

We did Alaska in May, 2017 and it was unseasonably warm in the day time. In the 70's. So, you may get lucky.

Whenever we've traveled with the kids and have had assigned seating, we've been seated with other families with children of the same age group. Once, we had a table of 12, 3 families with 2 kids each. All were between 14 - 17. The boys really hit it off and spent a lot of their on board time together. The girls seemed shier (including mine) and didn't interact much. 

To travel, I pack my purse stuff into a backpack (so I don't bring my every day bag) and bring a small evening bag for on board for lipstick/balm, room key, phone, etc. I used to use a wristlet but my phone had outgrown the size of the ones I have and DH looks at me cross-eyed what the Coach or D&B boxes get delivered so I haven't gotten a larger one yet.  

During the days on board, I use a lightweight day pack for the above items plus camera, towel clips, bottled water. Depending on what we're doing in port, I use either a cross body purse or the day pack. 

I guess it depends on what you like to carry and the most efficient way to ensure you have what you need without over packing. 

Roses are blooming in the yard.

When we were in Cuba in September, we took a Carnival tour, but it was on our second day there, not arrival day. They had the Carnival tours meet in the downstairs area of the terminal after going through customs and exchanging money. You're right, the first day it can back up because every has to stop to get their picture taken in customs and exchange money. The first day, it took us about 45 minutes to get through the lines and out of the terminal and we had waited a bit for a 2:30 tour after a 12:00 arrival.

1 hour ago, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

Hello, all!

 

My family and I are about to cruise to Grand Cayman/Cozumel aboard the Paradise.  I have 2 questions:

1.  I read somewhere that aboard Carnival, guests are allowed extra entrees in the main dining room at no extra charge.  You know, in case one wants to try more than one thing. Is this true?

2.  I have a 12-year-old daughter who is dreading the club.  She did not like it on another ship/line, and I have told her that this may be different - as that club included younger kids, and this one is just for ages 12-14.   If you have a child that age, did (s)he like the kids club aboard Paradise?

 

Thank you in advance for your kind help.

 

 

1. Yes, this is true. A sister line (HAL) is testing fees for second entree, but it hasn't been seen on Carnival as yet.

2. My kids loved the Carnival clubs. The key is going the first night to the initial meet and greet. Most of the kids form their groups on that first night. 

I've seen stories about straws made out of pasta https://www.pastastraws.org/ which seem like they'd hold up well and then be quickly biodegradable. 

I don't think we have a favorite ship but our best cruise was probably on the Paradise to Cuba. The crew was amazing and the food was great compared to other recent cruises. All of the Fantasy class ships kind of blend together and we've been on 6 of them. There is something about the simpler layout and less people that appeals to us.