Countrygurl

We spent last night at Hyatt House in Jersey City pre-cruise. Best $ every spent on a hotel. Very nice. Clean rooms, AMAZING views!!!!! Awesome complimentary breakfast. Easy commute into city as Path train is directly beside it. Highly recommend!

Wow I swear some of you must own RC stock. You can't take any criticism of this cruiseline. IMHO I believe OP has every right to be upset. I have had many a cruise where itineraries were changed. Mostly due to the weather. I rolled with it and still very much enjoyed myself. But I can understand his frustration at not wanting the change to include a stop in Miami. I think he needed to vent and most of you jumped on him. Give him a break. Hopefully, OP will calm down and cruise again. If not, its his hard earned money. Take it where you at least feel appreciated. Happy honeymoon!

Thanks! Dial 7 it is!

Super excited for my first RC cruise, first trip to NJ/NY and first NE/Canada cruise in a little more than 2 weeks!!! I have priced Carmellimo and Dial 7 from airport to hotel and then hotel to cruise port. There is only a dollar difference. Is one better than the other?

My travel friend and I are thinking about booking a cruise on Carnival - we've cruised RCI before and loved it.

 

My concern is that from what I hear, Carnival boats tend to be more of a party/drinking environment. I've also heard that as long as you stay away from 3 and 4 day cruises, it's generally a different "class" of passenger.

 

How true is this and what difference does departure port make (Charleston vs. Port Canaveral, let's say)?

 

We are looking do something this fall to tide us over til our next RCI cruise in May of next year : )) Charleston is about 2 hours from us, so there's no ancillary travel expenses short of gasoline, which is why I'm curious.

 

Thanks for the input!!

I vacation every year with my DM and 2 other relatives, all in their 70s. Most of the time it is on a Carnival cruise. So, the answer is no, it is not necessarily a party ship.

I have been on 5, 7, and 8 day cruises. There are definitely more kids on a shorter cruise. I know what you are saying when you refer to "class". I don't think you are necessarily referring to financial status. And I'm sorry but yes, the length of the cruise does make a difference IMO. (Back off people its just my opinion!)

I've never had a bad cruise. I love Carnival. My next cruise is on RCI in about 3 weeks. Can't wait!!!.

I agree that the soda package on Royal is better, very convenient. However, we never pay for soda when we sail Carnival because we find their drinks acceptable. Some of Royal’s standard drinks (like lemonade) are watered down which kind of forced us to buy the soda package. Not sure if that’s still the case since we always buy the soda package now.

 

We went on the Vista last year and even though they are stepping up their ships, they still have a ways to go to offer as much as some of Royal’s ships. We stepped away from Carnival for a couple of years because of the “clientele”, but I think you can get around that when you sail on the newer ships during certain times of the year.

 

 

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The 8 day Carnival Vista cruise we were on was a big step up from the 5 day Carnival Conquest cruise as far as "clientele". I agree the newer ships AND additional days make a huge difference!

The travel agent has to make the change. It's very easy, as long as there is space.

Thank you!

We have cruised 2times before with Carnival. What will be the biggest difference with going On RCCL. We will be on Liberty of the Seas in 2019. Looks like a great ship.

Four Carnival cruises under my belt (7 day Alaska on Spirit; 3 Carribean cruises on Glory, Conquest, and Vista). First RCI next month.

We have MTD. How easy is it to change to early seating? We used a TA. Do they have to do it or can we?

Exactly why I take longer cruises in October. Most children are in school. Don't get me wrong, I've raised 2 children and have 2 grandchildren. I LOVE kids! What I don't like is parents who refuse to control their kids. A couple of years ago on a cruise, I called security because a boy approximately 7 or 8 was banging on his cabin door for the people inside to let him in. I tried to help him but he insisted he just forgot his room card. Then when I would go back into my cabin, he would begin banging and yelling for them to please let him in. I finally called security. They came and what happened I don't know. In my opinion that was bad parents or adults, not a bad kid! But I sympathize with the OP.

We sail Adventure next month! Anxiously awaiting the rest of your review!

Carnival has been upping their game but I admit, I didn't use them because of the chatter in past years..

When I moved down to Florida, close to the ports, I found a Carnival cruise worth trying on the newly refitted Sunshine (renamed-was the Destiny) that Carnival has spent $2.3 million redoing it. We figured, how bad could it be? I mean back in the day we camped! :eek: So we took a leap of faith and so glad we did! We couldn't believe what a great cruise it was! My advise is to go on a newer ship with the 2.0 dining, If you don't have kids in tow (any kids we DID see were begging to go back to Camp Carnival!), go when the kids are in school. Keep an open mind as you will be amazed at the diversity of their entertainment plus late night comedy every night and their food was excellent.

Of course, being a Diamond Plus member, I am always happy with Royal but itineraries are also considered....

Oops, I got off subject and changed it to why Royal cruisers should consider CC! :eek:

Oh I have been on many a Carnival cruise, my last being an 8 day on the Vista this past October. My kids are grown so I cruise whenever I can! Very excited for my fir RC cruise next month! Can't imagine a bad cruise!!

Probably Uber. Shared shuttle is $20/pp. Price Dial7 and Carmellimo to see if they are competitive.

Thank you!

Best and most cost efficient way to get from cruise port to Newark airport post cruise for 4?

I have pleasant dreams of waking up on a Carnival cruise. Amazed that someone would think that was a nightmare. With that said, some ships I've liked better than others. Never had a bad cruise though. Looking forward to my first RCI cruise next month. But it's not because of dissatisfaction with CC.

Also.. If you're leaving from a US Port, and returning to a US Port, you don't need a Passport to board the ship. It's considered a "Closed Loop" cruise.. All you need is proof of citizenship and a gov't issued ID. Leave the P/P at home if you REALLY don't need to use it. But if you're one of those who worry, bring it along.

Not the case. Last year until my aunt produced her passport on a cruise leaving/returning from Miami, she could not board. Not saying this is every situation, but it was ours.

Found out last year you cannot board without a passport. Four of us flew in the day before the cruise. When we got to check in, they asked for our passports. My aunt had left hers in her luggage. Yep, luggage was left for the porters and we had no idea where it would be!!! Fortunately, we had gotten out of the transport van and in our excitement had not waited for the porters to take our luggage. So they left it right where it was taken out of the van. (Found out you must stay with your luggage until the porter actually takes it too) So thankfully our luggage was sitting exactly where it was left, and thankfully my aunt hadn't taken her passport out or we would have been without luggage. Alot of lessons learned that day and it was hardly our first cruise!!!! When we all boarded, first up...a rum runner!!!!

Walkie Talkies, rum runners, cigars, cigarettes and a boom box.

For our honeymoon my mom called the cruise line and purchased gifts that were delivered to us on the cruise. I remember getting chocolate covered strawberries, champagne, and a specially catered balcony dinner.

You could also get a new piece of luggage to put her shower gifts in.

 

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Love this advice. One of my friend's is getting her the new luggage. I do have a Coach tote bag I purchased to put all the essentials in I purchased.

I will call the cruise line and set up the deliveries! Perfect!

Come on, you'll be the coolest Mom ever. :D:D:D

Thankfully one of her girlfriends has this covered!:p:plol

Thanks to everyone for the advice. All very useful!

Sexy nightgown. :D

Ugh, as a mom I'm not sure about this!lol

My DD is getting married next month. She will be honeymooning in Italy and taking her first cruise. I want to put together a cruise basket for her bridal shower as a gift. I have luggage tags, ginger chews and sea bands (she gets motion sickness very easily). Suggestions on what else would be helpful?

I had an amazing 8 day Carnival cruise on the Vista last October. I know I’ll have an equally great cruise on

RC next month. It’s a cruise and a vacation! Be happy and enjoy!!!!

"Personally, I would tell the kids, this is how it is going to stay and if they don't like it, you will get a babysitter for them to stay home.

Agreed!

We are a party of 4. First RC cruise. Adventure in August. We have MTD and have always preferred to wing it on our past cruises. (I’m on vacation, I like to just go with the flow). How bad will the wait be if we don’t make reservations?

My husband and I are going on Adventure of the Seas for the first time at the end of August to Canada and Maine. You are getting me excited. Enjoying your trip is a way to make mine start early! Thanks for taking time from your cruise to help me enjoy mine!

We will be on this cruise as well. It is our first time on RC. So excited! And love reading these reviews!