REALgetaway

IF my partner can get off work for so many days, we'll be sailing March 27, 2015 on the Diamond Princess. We're regular Princess cruisers and I've always wanted to go to Australia. The itinerary includes four stops in Australia, Bali, and also Vietnam. It's to celebrate my 50th birthday, and we'll be sailing just prior to our 24th anniversary.

 

Since our seasons are reversed, I wonder if we'll have descent speedo-wearing weather on this trip?

Steven and Daniel, what a great Princess cruise that is going to be. I am so jealous ;). that's a great double celebration cruise. Birthday and your upcoming 24th anniversary too! :D the port stops sound wonderful too. Where do you leave from?

Let us know how it goes as the cruise day arrives.

Congrats on your 24th anniversary too Bramcruiser! Where did you go to celebrate the occasion?

Right, and of course subject to change. but Eastern or Western Caribbean both look pretty promising to us. It may be difficult to choose though :D

My partner and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary in 2015... but we're not yet sure where to cruise to. WE live in the Western US.... we are open to suggestions for a romantic 7 or 10 day cruise.

Most likely we would cruise in late summer or fall in 2015.

thanks Crusin Karen... i appreciate it. Just a year away and i'll be on Miracle ;)

I think you will really enjoy Splendor too.. we sure did.

has anyone here been on Carnival Miracle? the ship that will replace the Splendor in Long Beach? thoughts?

when does Splendor leave long Beach and head to the East Coast?

Just came off the Carnival Glory yesterday, they had it at some odd times...

11:30pm a few nights ...most couples were in bed by then,

9:00pm a few times ...it was during the second dinner seating and

7:45pm one night....just before our dinner seating so could not stay

long. There was about 13 of us. I did see another couple who always

made eye contact but did not seem interested in mingling.

It was held at the Burgundy Bar which was in a very busy area

next to the disco, a few times it was taken over by straights.

They should have had it in the Blue Bar or another quiet place.

they really should have it at the same time every night. on our cruise on Carnival Splendor. it was at the same bar and most always the same time. I think 9pm.

I guess if the bar and times don't work out for most.. you could ask to have it moved to another bar or just move it to another bar yourselves. ;)

Oct. 6, 2013 to Mexico for our friends 25th anniversary.. can't wait.. two years later in 2015 my partner and I will book another cruise for OUR 25th anniversary.. can't wait for that one either.. it's going to be epic! :D

I was wondering if anyone can tell me if there is a soap and shampoo dispenser in the shower or maybe a shelf where you can put your own stuff?

 

Also, this is a great thread for those of us who are waiting to cruise on the Splendor. Something to keep us excited!

yes there are places to hold your shampoo and other items.

is Splendor back up and running now? we were on her two weeks before the fire. She's a wonderful ship to cruise on.

Do you or does anyone else know if you can get a passport card if your passport is lost/missing?

 

I am asking for someone else. Thanks for any replies...

from what I know.. a passport card is only good to use if you drive into Mexico or Canada. if you go by ship... you need a passport. that's what I was told.

Ok so for those of you that have just sailed or are about to sail on this BEAUTIFUL ship, how many of you used a passport and how many just did certified birth certificate? I have the passport card but when my husband applied they sent it back saying he had to provide like 5 additional documents and fill out this 6 page questionnaire about everywhere he has lived, worked, gone to school and everything else. So I think he might just use his certified birth certificate like he did when we went in November of 2008. Any answers and opinions will help.

Thanks

we just got back from Mexican riviera on Splendor on Oct. 24th. we used our passports and didn't run into any problems.

good luck

Hi, We're sailing this Sunday (11/7) on the Splendor and I am starting to panic about embarkation. I've poured over this thread a few months ago but can't remember seeing anything really clear about embarkation.

 

I've read some places that you check in on the Queen Mary (?) Can anyone describe the process for me at this port? Namely where to go and what time you have been able to successfully check in? I'm a bit of a worrywart when it comes to this stuff and just have an unsettled feeling. We've sailed out of Tampa, Port Canaveral and Miami and things seems so straightforward there. Am I worrying for nothing?

 

Thanks for any help or advice you can offer. Please feel free to direct me to another thread if one exists. **Note: I have read the posts on the departure ports boards and that's where the confusion started.

 

I really appreciate any help. Thanks!

We cruised about two weeks ago on Splendor.

When we arrived around noon the line was pretty long.. so the porter took our luggage and said we may want to consider taking the "red" bus to the other side of the marina and have some lunch or browse the area. We're so glad we did. We had a nice lunch at Bubba Gumps and walked around the marina and took several pictures before returning to the port to check it at 3:30pm. The line was very short and we breezed through security, and sign in pretty fast. So I highly recommend doing this.

You'll still have plenty of time to board the ship and not have to wait standing in line so long. I would do the same routine again the next time.

enjoy your cruise and relax... everything will be fun and good.

on sea days what was the temperatures like? what was the high on the ship say the first few days??

Another question from a new Carnival cruiser...

 

I was reading through other CC threads about checking in earlier then Carnival suggests. I noticed most rooms are not usually ready until after 2:00pm. If that is the case and you check in early, what do you all do with your carry on? With Princess our cabin has always been ready no matter when we check in, so we've never dealt with this dilemma. I would hate to drag around our carry on while we explore the ship. What has been your experience with this?

that's a good question, and one I have been wondering about too. We will be arriving on the day we board the ship.. but will be there about 3.5 hours early.

First a couple of questions for those who have recently sailed the Splendor:

 

 

1. Do you have menus? I'm especially interested in knowing what the appetizers are on the first elegant night. DD and I will be eating in the Pinnacle that night and we don't want to miss escargot in the MDR. I know we can get them at Pinnacle, but would like to have the opportunity twice during the cruise. :)
   
2. And, what movies have been playing lately--both on the big screen and in the room?
   

 

I found some links about the Splendor I haven't seen before, and thought I'd share. :D

 

This one's video. This guy was playing with some features on his camera and did some slow-mo and some time lapse. There's the ship, the dining room, and the ports of call. Very enjoyable.

 

This one is a blog--she starts with the food. :) She can certainly turn a phrase, which I enjoyed overall. She has one blog post about the spa (they were in a spa balcony) that had me thinking about skipping a port and spending the day in the spa! :D http://www.shari.com/2009/07/carnival-splendor-the-food.html

 

And, here are her photos (if I recall correctly, close to 500 of them):

 

And here's the Spendor page from the Unofficial Carnival Wiki: http://www.unofficialcarnivalwiki.com/wiki/Carnival_Splendor. It's mostly stats, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. :)

thanks for the links.. some of those I haven't seen yet.. I esp liked the guy who posted the video.. wow.. incredible beautiful video and what an amazing job he did with the editing and shooting.

what happens if like in Cabo the water is to rough to tender.. I know that you have another day at sea.. but are you just stationary just outside of Cabo or are you in transit to somewhere?

if you can't tender in a port.. were you compensated for it?

since this is our first cruise.. i wasn't sure what and where to book on Splendor.

so i booked window stateroom category 6A 1239 forward starbord, Riviera deck. I may upgrade to a balcony deck as time nears. we'll see.

I too am trying to learn as much as i can about Splendor before we take off.

This thread is a good idea. i have enjoyed reading it.

If you like dancing to club music that would be great too being that my BF is not into it and thinks I need to grow up and leave my past behind...LOL I absolutely refuse!! :)

Ha ha. good for you... dance club music always puts me in a good mood.

wish we were on your cruise.. we'd have fun.

I'm still learning the lingo and the do's and don's of cruising, but I do not know what FOD is. Can someone explain that term?

MiamiSpartan, yes I can see where that would be annoying.

I hope on our cruise on Splendor in OCT, 17, 2010 we can meet other gay single or coupled men. Since this will be our first cruise... it would be great to have other like minded men to meet for drinks or dinner..