PurdueChefAmber

My thoughts exactly. We've cruised on Carnival 14 times and have never (knock on wood) had a bad cruise. Love it enough that we now do only B2Bs.

How fun! I cannot wait until we can do B2B's! I have about 35 years until retirement and can't take two weeks off back to back at my job. haha I will surely be Diamond by then and living the life :)

I have never purchased insurance. My "insurance" is flying out the day before in the winter months.

We like late for a few reasons:

1. It gives us time to go to the Taste Bar or get some room service after a day in the sun.

2. We like the time to get some pre dinner wine or martinis.

3. We like the ability to take time to get ready before dinner.

4. We like that there is a more lively crowd at the late seating.

5. We like that we are not rushed through dinner.

This is turning out to be a great thread!! Let's keep it going! Anyone else?

I am so excited for your reviews of your upcoming cruises! You do a fantastic job and get me excited for my upcoming cruises!

Glad to see there are more people like me! I wasn't active on Cruise Critic until lately. I would hate for people to be scared off by all of the negativity!

Yes you are exposed to the floors above...no privacy. And, depending on the time of year and the direction you are traveling the only shade will be provided by the mass of the ship itself. I would think you can possibly count on these balconies being in the sun pretty much full time.

This makes me happy! Thanks Dutch Girl! I love feeling that Caribbean sun! OP, try a higher floor traditional balcony. I never had much sun until later in the day on those!

I love every single cruise that I have been on with Carnival. Give me a DOD and a sunny spot on the boat and I will have a GREAT time. I can always find something to eat that I love. I can find the good in every employee and in the ship. For $400 dollars, I think I get a FANTASTIC deal. When I read so many complaints, I just smile, knowing I will be the happy girl sitting in a lounger by the Aft Pool enjoying a slice of pizza in 289 days.

I sailed back when we had a lot more extras but, you know what, Carnival is the most affordable vacation you can go on and unless they take away loungers, the pool, and food in general, I will always choose Carnival. :)

Please, someone answer this! I am booked in an Aft Extended and WANT the sun exposure!

This is just terrible. Prayers to everyone involved.

People visualize 2 tops away from each other, but the ones I've been at were small square ones in a line. One side had a chair, the other was sofa style with a low seat.

Exactly this. You can request a 2 top from John Heald on Facebook or on the ship around 2:30, embarkation day. I always request one SOLELY because you get faster service. I have had a lot of fun at my random tables, it just takes too long!

Thank you for the review! That meal looked awesome! We are not sailing until January so I am sure the menu will change again by then but it will hopefully be just as yummy!!

The only thing I disliked about balconies was that it was always smokey but with the new rules, I am hoping that won't be a problem on our upcoming cruise! We love balcony rooms and have an aft extended booked!

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Aft balcony as high as possible!!

What do they tell platinum and diamond cruisers?

Valor. I have been on both ships and the Valor holds my heart.

I agree with everyone. We have been to grand cayman so many times that we always stay on the ship when we port there. If it's a new Port of call we get off and explore. Secretly, I like having one port that I stay on the boat. No lines and your pick of a chair!!

I printed our January cruise tickets already!! I hung them on the cork board in my office to get me excited!!

I think that with it being so port intensive I would go interior. It's not worth the price difference when you can just go into an open deck to see your surroundings. I am a balcony girl but would do interior on the European cruises.

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We are doing early dining on this next cruise because with MDR taking longer, we would not get out of dinner until almost ten. I like getting out of dinner by 8 and having the rest of the night to have fun. It is no big deal getting back from the ports by 4:30, if I was having too good of a time in port, we would skip MDR that night, no big deal.

I am on weight watchers and most of this thread is a no no BUT yay to taco salads, removing breading from the fish and making fish tacos, and fresh eggs at the omelette bar!

Take a bowl from the buffet and head over to guys topping bar...... get the really nice shredded lettuce from there and now go to Blue Iguana. They will add lots of shrimp or chicken .. or both!!!!! then toss in some peppers,tomato,onion,and finish with a couple of squirts of quacamole .... a low cal lunch that feels like cheating.... had one every chance I could get!!!

Yum! Thanks for the tip!

This sounds awesome!!! Sign me up!

We are excited!!!! I am going to cancel my Steakhouse reservation since we always do the Steakhouse. We want to try the new menu! mmmm