cruising maniac

I would take the empty carafe from the night before to the lido deck and get my own hot coffee in the morning. Walking around the quiet ship is my treat to myself every morning. A little slice of heaven.

I live in Orlando and it is an easy 45 minute drive from the port to the airport. If all goes smoothly with no unforseen emergencies, you will be fine.

You get points everyday that you simply sign in to your account. Not many but it adds up. Thanks for the suggestion to sign up for the news letters. Didn't know about that one!! I just bought 4 e-mailed gift cards and went right to my cruise manager on Carnival and bought cruise cash. Love saving the 10% and it really adds up. Actually, it helps to keep me coming back to Carnival.

For me, Kiss on the Lips sounds perfect, and I will avoid the Cruiser if it sounds strong. I have very poor alcohol tolerance, and prefer weaker drinks. I know, people are laughing, but it’s true. I suffered a concussion almost 3 years ago, and have had issues with alcohol tolerance since. I love my cocktails, and a glass of wine with dinner, but truthfully, one glass of wine, and I’m ready to go to sleep! Lol! So, having dinner with it helps.

I get it because I don't drink often, either. I wasn't such a light weight when I was younger.

:D:D:DDeposit on your next cruise.

I just looked up the recipe for the Cruiser and it looks both strong and fruity. I am going to have to remeber that for my cruise in September. Also, looked up Kiss on the Lips and it only has peach schnaps. Not strong at all.

If I had to make my own bed in the morning, I would not feel like I was on a cruise. If I did not have turn down service and a towel animal in the evening, I would not feel like I was on a cruise. It's twice a day for me.

I'm fairly certain that they all turn on by motion. Why else would my husband and I both wake up sweating on a cruise but not at home. And that duvet cover is so thick I can't move my legs. It would be interesting to see if an oscillating fan triggers the AC.

My husband and I have been on 30 cruises and visited most destinations. For me, I love, love, love the days at sea. Not so much for the activities, but for the relaxation. I would be very happy on a transatlantic cruise with minimal stops. Give it a try and enjoy the ship.

I'm really enjoying your review. You are a very good story teller!!

I use them for everything. I buy them from AARP and send the card # and PIN to my TA and she pays my cruise through Carnival. I buy beer and water for the room and pay for excursions all with gift cards. Then I take a few with me for OBC and add them through the kiosk. ny OBC leftover, I cash out through the casino. 10% at a time adds up.

I've been watching for a price drop because there are quite a few empty cabins on our September 15th Conquest cruise. It is almost the drop dead pay in full date and I bet there will be more empty cabins after that date.

My OBC from my TA doesn't show. But then again it never does. I always take proof with me just in case there is a problem. I also have $75 in cruise cash from rewards I traded in from the Carnval credit card. That doesn't show up either, The only thing under billing is an excursion and water for the room.

I loved your review. Thank you so much. we are 82 days and counting until sailing the Conquest to Aruba and Curacao.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. :D

I was on the Princess Ruby a couple of weeks ago, they had all the networks including FOX news. I don't know of one cruise line that has dropped all of the news channels. Carnivals decision to drop the networks and only keep nonnews CNN is a disservice to its paying customers.

I agree with non-news cnn. I liked RCL for their TV options.

We had a couple of 4's and a 3, but mostly 7 and 8's. Made platinum in 61 days but I had a hell of a time finding proof of those old cruises on the Mardi Gras in the 80's. I had to dig deep in the pictures.

Our room was a Handicap Room #7335 on Empress Deck. They assigned it to us, but said we'd have to move if someone needed it. No problem. It was located directly in front of the elevators/stairs. It was fine for us, noise-wise, as we don't care, but for people who do mind or light sleepers, we could definitely hear the dinging of the elevators and people walking by if they were talking. But on a good note, we just had to simply walk up 2 flights and we were in the buffet, or walk down 2 flights and we were in the Casino. Two places we frequented the most all week.

We had late dining, but we didn't attend it at all. We prefer to just be free and not dress up, therefore, we thoroughly enjoy to eat at the Buffet for every meal. The food was great. We always liked what they were offering.

 

The service was totally fine. Our room steward did an adequate job. We don't really need much, other than clean towels everyday. His name was Wayan and he was very pleasant.

 

The Cruise Director, Chloe, was a hoot! Very energetic and incredibly entertaining. She is definitely the right person for the job!

Thank you!! Very helpful!!

My first cruise back in the mid 80's was on the Mardi Gras. They would ring chimes to let you know the dining room was open. That is when you ate. Although the option of room service was available. There was no buffet but there was a spectacular midnight buffet. You could buy a bottle of liquor in the shop onboard and take it back to your room. There was a live band playing calypso music by the pool much of the time. With the steel drums bringing out the party, tropical atmosphere. This is probably what I miss the most. I remember being a little loopy and doing a congo line around the pool deck while my husband watched in horror. The comedians were actually funny and I didn't feel insulted while watching the shows. Embarkation would sometimes take hours with the lines wrapped around the building in the hot Miami sun. Yup. There have been a lot of changes. Some better. Some worse. On all cruise lines. That is my walk down memory lane.

Where was your room? How was the food? Did you have early or late dining? How about the service? I have questions.

Thirty cruises and still learning. I love suggestions about saving money and specific ship information.

I learned about that maximum capacity thing the hard way. Got switched once to a cabin under the buffet and didn't sleep all week because of the noise. It was horrible!!

I always book the cruise myself through the cruise line and then transfer to my TA with 90 days of the booking. I get about a 10% OBC from the TA and the price is the same as the cruise line unless the TA is able to put me into a group booking with a better rate. Then I email any payments or changes to her and she promptly takes care of it for me.

Your $10 price difference was probably because one put you in an early saver rate and one put you in a past guest rate.

I got one too and I only play the slots just a little because of the smoke. It saved us about $40 per person over my brother's booking who was early saver. No chips, OBC, drinks, or anything else included.

I loved that RCL counted my many sailings with Celebrity toward my loyalty level. I love my laundry perk on Carnival. I cruise because of itinerary and not perks. But, after my first cruise last year on RCL, I felt that it was a higher class cruising experience than Carnival. It does pain me to say that because hands down most of my 30 cruises are on Carnival. I am a loyal Carnival cruiser and my next two cruises are booked on the Conquest and the Magic. But, I did really, really like RCL.