snorkelgirlca

I saw the northern lights in Fairbanks on August 30 1999 before my cruise on Princess. It was close to 1 am and still fairly light outside. Someone later told me that if there is increased sun flares you might see them.

Something I will always remember for the rest of my life as awsome

Is the new menu on the Miracle? If so does anyone know the port selections for PV, Cabo & Mazatlan since we are definitely not in the Caribbean. :)

 

BonVoyage

Dawna

I got off the miracle on 4/9. They have the American table. We had two nights in cabo and one in Puerto Vallarta. The port selection in Puerto Vallarta was fish tacos and they were good. One night in cabo was carne asana tacos and I passed. I,don't remember th second night of cabo's port selection cause I did not order it but I think it was something pork based.

I liked the American table menus on the miracle, and like others said the ship's chef can either make it good or bad. I spent ten days on the dream in the Caribbean in January with the American table and both the food and the service was sub par to me.

The major changes between both the old and new menus I noticed were with the appetizers and the deserts. And yes there were more chilled soups.

Got off the miracle on April 9th. Yes they have the American table now. Was also on the miracle in October 2015 with no American table. Thought the service was much faster in April than in October. Also thought the food was better too.

Was on the Dream in January 2016 before they got the American table and thought both the food and service was horrible. Even worse than the miracle pre American table. Took forever to get food and then it was cold and tasteless on the Dream.

And frankly the Majority of the main courses served did not seem different pre and post American table. It was mainly deserts and appetizers which were different between the two menus.

Got off miracle on 4/9 and the gift was the packing cube

Hi Snorkelgirlca

Was reading your reply about cruising in a Vista suite to Sydney.

 

We live in Sydney and in October will be in vista suite (5th floor) on the Carnival Legend cruising the Pacific Islands. Have read quite a few reports that we will be disappointed by the layout of our vista suite as it is set up as one big room rather than being divided.

 

It is too late to change now as everything is booked out.

 

Could you give me your thoughts on this particular suite. Were you disappointed?

 

Many thanks...Favlady.:p

I was on this cruise by myself as my husband did not want to take off,three weeks plus. He was with me in Alaska this summer in the two room suite.

I actually liked the bigger one room set up but then there was just me in the room. Lotsof space to use. Could spread out clothes as there was both a sofa and a big wardrobe on top of the closet.

The only negative was there is no overhang so when it is raining or really sunny the balcony was hot or completely drenched. Fortunately it only rained the two days we were getting away from the hurricane which demolished cabo last Septembe. It rained more in Alaska and there was a small overhang on the fourth floor vista.

The two room suite is more set up for entertaining than the one room suite. Both have the same bathroom set up meaning the two sink vanity and full tub shower so that is a push.

So for two people there is less privacy in the one room vista but I actually liked the set up better for me.

The one rooms suite when booked through the carnival USA was slightly cheaperin 2014. I saw that both types are still available through carnival au for next October 16 Honolulu to,Sydney at the same price of roughly $6500 USD for the 17 days. So yes if I could get either room for the same price I would go for the.two room if there was two people, but I would not cancel the one room vista if that is all that is available.

I usually try to get an extended aft balcony due to the price difference with the vista. So if you have been in one of those rooms, think of the single room vista balcony as being an extended aft moved sideways as the bed faces the 25 feet Windows which open up to the balcony, with double the internal room size and

with a full bath tub double the size of a regular balcony.

M

I had the vista suite on the legend this last year for Alaska. Fourth floor wrap has no overhang. I also had the vista suite on the legend that is on the fifth floor the one room wrap for the 2014 trip to Sydney. I love wraps and frankly get them when available. So all told I have spent nearly 30 days on the wraps on the legend.

I was very cold on the Alaska wrap. Got the extra comforter out ( yes the room steward will bring you one if here isn't already an extra one in the closet) and sat there for hours when it was not raining. I am also a camera fanatic and a semi pro outdoor photographer so I like to watch for whales and birds. I had also been to Alaska in 1999 on a princess ship with no balcony and agree that Alaska is definitely worth getting a balcony.

You will be exposed to rain and if it rains a lot like it did this last year you will find that you can't go outside and sit on the fourth or fifth floor wraps.

I would also advise going on the small boat excursion to the glacier if it is offered. You can sit in the front and get up close to see the glaciers, even with mobility issues. Just don't plan on climbing the stairs to the upmost level when the boat is moving. This excursion is pricy and sells out early but worth the money. It was not listed on carnival's excursion page so one of my friends called carnival and got the email address to book it directly.

Last year on the legend's transpacific everyone including the us citizens had to surrender their passports upon check in. We got a receipt and then they were returned the last day. Carnival made arrangements with the Australian govt to have the immigration authorities fly in the day before disembarkation to process all.

Out of maybe 20 cruises that was the only time I had to surrender my passport.

Sorry but I too agree no kids menu in the steakhouse. While I would (and have) taken out of the room two of my seven who misbehaved at dinner in a public place, I have seen too many others who won't or don't.

The Liberty is the same as posted, just breakfast then closed all day, kind of a waste of good space.

When I was on the liberty there was Mexican food next to the bar that served tacos until six pm. This was in April.

Thank you for the great photos. We go on July 28!

Not much difference. I hope at least it's actually PRIME. Perhaps they can do a "showing" of the steaks beforehand as they do in the steakhouse. ;)

 

Tom

I was on the liberty in April. We ate at the steakhouse one night for our anniversary. There they do the parade of steaks and lobster. Two nights later in the MDR the waiter advised us that the casino had offered us a choice of wine or the "steakhouse" options which were three entrees listed at the bottom of the MDR menus. One steak entire, one lobster and (I think) the pork chops. Hubby had the steak and I had the lobster.

Other than the choice of "meat" the steakhouse option in the MDR was no different than a regular dinner in the MDR. I am not complaining as the lobster was great but you don't get the steakhouse experience by eating that option in the MDR. To me it is worth paying the 15 difference between the two for the sides and appetizers alone.

Is lobster in the dining room still free on formal night? Like OP, I will have a birthday cruiser, and I am contemplating a steakhouse visit (never been) or just MDR.

Yes it is but it is nothing like the lobster at the steakhouse lobster which was awesome

The steak house options in the MDR on the liberty two weeks ago were three choices. Lobster one steak and pork chops. The steakhouse itself had at least four different steaks fresh fish and lobster. And you don't get the sauses from the steakhouse either. I probably would not have ordered it in the MDR except the casino paid. And we ate in the steakhouse one night too. Took about two hours and was empty. I used to take my boys out to teach them how to behave in restaurants. If you go early the steakhouse is empty so even if they get rambunctious there won't be anyone annoyed.

And even if they get annoyed so what. Kids don't learn unless you expose them to different situations.

I was on the liberty during the first round two weeks ago and they did not have hockey. No nbcsport. But it any games go on regular nbc hey might show that if they have reception.

Ducks fan here

I ate there three times last sept on the trip to Australia. Never spent more than $15 USD per meal and was full. It was good too. The poster above was accurate about menu.

I was on last weeks liberty sailing. If you don't get to at kitts and like to snorkel I enjoyed the champagne snorkel in Dominica that carnival arranged at the last minute. Would recommend it.

[quote

US Airways would not let us checkin early when we flew out of San Juan last year. We had a 5:30pmn flight and had to wait in a rather hectic and small area with very few seats.

We had the same experience with Southwest. They will not let anyone check in early or check bags early. We sat in the airport with luggage for quite a long time.

Since then, I learned that Barrachina's would hold luggage if we still had hours before the flight.

Barrahcina's has good food too. It will be my first stop when I get off the ship in two weeks cause I can leave my luggage there and explore old town while waiting to check in to my hotel in condo beach later on that day.

I am on the liberty cruise of 4/12 so I am interested in the ports you went on as they are the same.

Thank you for taking the time write an extensive review.

I had the deck five vista suite on the legend in August 2014. The bed faces the window.

I,too got off the star on 12/14 and while I was not impressed with the food in the Buffett it was no better or worse than carnival or princess for that matter.

The crepes were good. And so were the cookies.

But then I don't cruise for food.

My booking for April 13 shows a change of ship but to the same room number which is also an aft balcony. Same ports.

So i am ok. Would have appreciated an email letting me know.

Thank you to the poster who saw this and to travel agent who confirmed the change. Going on the legend sat for 23 days and then would not have found out until after I got back on October 1

I was curious how this rule came to be and found this interesting:

 

http://mentalfloss.com/article/12424/why-can%E2%80%99t-you-wear-white-after-labor-day

Thanks for the link. Never know why my Mom used to cringe when I wore white after Labor Day

And since I am leaving on the legend this sat for 23 days of cruising to the south pacific I am taking lots of while clothes. So Mom is probably looking down from above (she passed last September) and giving me that look again.

After over a YEAR of planning (and paying) my amazing cruise from LA to Sydney is 9 DAYS AWAY! I almost does not seem real! I'm used to waiting six months for regular caribbean cruise but this was a year wait for an epic 23 day cruise across the South Pacific!

 

Single digit dance never felt like this before!

 

Congrats to my fellow cruisers in the single digits! :D

Me too! Looking forward to the legend's trip to Sydney

They served tea on the conquest from 3 to4 last sept. And there was a selection of various teas to pick from.

You were seated at a table with others too.

I think the times were posted in the daily handouts and it was on sea days only.

Been to grand Turk and to st Martin to snorkel. Saw the rays in grand Turk which the other poster above referred to and creole rock in st. Maartin

Either trip was ok but not as good as Belize as another poster pointed out which is not your port. But ironically when I went to grand Turk it was a substituted port for Belize because carnival cancelled going to grand Turk once we were on the ship.

But the trip to see the rays in grand Turk was offered by. Carnival and going to creole rock was not a ship sponsored tour. It is one hour each way via taxi to creole rock and in 2012 cost $80 each way. Creole rock sport offers a two hour snorkel back then for $40 each.

Which ever tour you choose enjoy.