latebloomer56

Well finally think I found an easy excursion for us from Carnival. Tradition, Flavors, and Dancing with lunch and rum tasting. List you go to a farm for a traditional Dominican lunch view traditional dancing. Anybody do this excursion? It lists Puerto Plata & La Guerra also rum sampling which not sure if this is at an extra fee, would think so as not listed in the actual excursion as free. Thanks folks.

Just 64 more days, train tickets and car service to and from South Station in Boston confirmed. Now need to check on the Intrepid if we need tickets prior to day we wish to visit. Planned to seek afternoon boarding time but got a text from somebody at pier 88 said these times are very busy? Anybody else hear that? Was thinking most folks want early boarding, but with no cabins before 1:30 that would make sense wanting later time frame. When do we get our boarding time we don't have the app.? Thanks and have a good day, Laura

Well 67 more days 66 and we will be in NYC. This trip is an impulse booking. Had to cancel our Venice trip which went to Rome on a land tour for a week in Italy before sailing to Greece. I can't fly at this time so we were looking for another trip from the northeast. I saw the Venezia and thought this is a sign not Italy but the theme. Now not so sure, I don't plan on doing a lot, some shows, food, walking the decks, and mostly enjoying our balcony. I have breathing issues and strong odor trigger attacks. Simple perfume on an elevator if to strong can start me coughing. Now I'm reading folks have no issue smoking pot on their balcony and one poster said get over it they always do this another claims she has smoked for years but in the smoking areas ( which I avoid of course) and nobody even crew members don't have an issue with this. Haven't been on Carnival in many years is this normal for this line? Have only sailed 23 times on various lines but haven't run across this. Hubby will freak if I have an attack just sitting on our balcony. For warned is for armed I guess knowing what to expect I will handle it better. Thanks

Well 72 more days. Reviewing area we are staying in for a market or pharmacy. We want to grab some can soda for hubby to have in the cabin and I always bring a bottle of wine for sail away. May just pack these in the carry on from home. Looking at Gotham West for dinner it is an area with nine different restaurants, don't plan on Carmine's for this trip. Well not happy with reviews on a different forum about heavy pot use on the four day trip. One prison posted they didn't feel safe at night and missed strolling on the upper deck hoping to star gaze. Carnival replied they had dogs checking and made arrests on board but not sure as haven't seen anything from those who abused this law. My hope is this was because it was a four day trip and just one big party for some folks and we don't have to deal with the stench on our trip. I have smelled the skunk weed off and on over the years but not constantly. We shall see how Carnival handles this before people board in the weeks to come. That is all for me heading to my respiratory therapy another cloudy day for us. Take care everybody. Laura

Several postings in another forum about heavy use of pot on this four day trip. What was your experience with the stench everywhere? It was answered several times as well Carnival had the dog checking bags etc. Our trip will be longer hoping this was just because it was a party time for many so was in use more.

Just 76 more days and it's our turn. Tips hints and things I've never experienced are starting to pop up. Never needed to have the card in a slot to keep the lights on for any cruise (hotel once and the AC shut off if your room key was in the slot). Just read the outlets don't work either unless you have a key in the slot. Smart elevator, so there are two of us we need to press our floor number twice, ok easy enough. Now the elevator will only stop if there is room for us, ok. The issue I am hearing is folks are not pushing the correct number of passengers so it stops for you thinking it has two or three on it and it is full because a family of six got on but pushed only one. Guess we will have to wait and see how this works. MDR looks like it will become an issue for me with long wait times. We will need to stand in line and wait anywhere from half an hour to an hour for a table. We don't have the app so can't leave the area. Hubby said he may try to download this for Carnival but it didn't work for Princess. We had no issue with Princess because we had early seating, never waited. I see lots of buffet meals over this trip.

I would be concerned with the transfer to the airport. What time is the bus heading out? And from past experience the buses wait until they are full to leave. If you do the walk off option with facial recognition customs is faster you just need your own transportation. Can't help there we haven't needed this before at this port.

Excellent thank you so much. Have aside trip home again I enjoyed all your posts.

We are staying at the Holiday Inn Express West 48th. In Aug. Your post has you checked your bags? Does that mean you can drop you bags and return later for your check in? Check in is 3:00 we should be there by noon and we want to visit Intrepid the day prior to our cruise. With check out at 11:00 may wait and do this the next day because I don't plan to go to the port before 1:00. Thanks

Welcome back and glad your feeling better. Thank you for your posts and taking us along on your journey. Safe travels home.

The Venezia is now in the USA 😀.

A huge THANK YOU for sharing your travels with us.

Good morning and happy Monday we have 80 more days. Can't believe it has gone by this fast guess booking only six months out instead of a year has its advantages. Watching live posts on the Carnival board as well as FB and YT for the ships TA cruise. Some of the excitement appears to have petered down just a tad, but could be some folks get antsy with so many sea days. Always judge for myself but love reading others viewpoint. The menus look nice hope they stay close for our cruise not sure if some items are just this first under Carnival or if it will be the same for us, always tweaks for different regions. Well now lets see who is still with us I know Kaye1085 said there are 11 in their group a few posts ago and CruiseTime101 just joined. I listed us as we appeared on the roll call some joined early but haven't posted again. Have a great week, Laura feistyangel20 (started this roll call) Gotti1985 mustang1969 latebloomer56 (me) Kaye1085 NMCruiser crazcruiser33 CruiseTime101

Welcome, this board is pretty quiet but I think a lot of folks are tracking the live reviews and waiting. Laura

Beautiful, love rainbows in Hawaii almost every day in the fall.

Really, I'm disabled and never go to the front of the line? Maybe because they want to keep the area clear of scooters or chairs.

Glad to hear we just sailed NCL out of Boston in the Haven. Very disappointed in breakfast and lunch venues MDR was hit or miss the buffet was good. Looking forward to Carnival your food porn is great. Hope we have the same menus in Aug./Sept. looking forward to trying so many new items.

Thank you we have been to 88 for NCL so know the area. Wanted an address for the taxi.

Sad my be in 81 days and enough people ask they will have some. Thanks

That's darn good with everything you shared with us, wow, not bad at all.

We don't use the app, phones are locked away on all cruises except one when we get off the ship in case of emergency. Really hope they have the ship maps.

Which pier will the Venezia be docked at?

Wow no way would I eat that raw meat, your brave 😊. Would of had to order something else. Thank you again for such a great review love your pictures.

Ok we have 84 more days. Hotel - Booked Holiday Inn Express West. Amtrak - Booked Aug. 30 Arrow early train Boston to NY. (RT Sept. 8th afternoon). Cruise - Final payment completed, still waitlisted for early dining. Excursions - Booked, after much flipping back and forth hubby made some suggestions. Anybody know if we can leave our bags at the hotel before check in? We have done this many times in the past at other hotels but haven't stayed here before. Check in is at three but will be there by noon and want to go to visit the Intrepid. The other option is to leave the bags there early the day of and go to Intrepid the back to hotel for bags then back to port to board. Aug. heat in NYC, not a fan so first option would work best. Still don't plan to go to the ship before noon or later, no cabin before 1:30. Anybody following the live posts? Have a good day, Laura

Thank you very much was thinking I would need to go to the buffet area each night to fill something for my ice pack I use at night, most nights.