CheckersMidwest

Well darn. The plum beaded dress came from ebay. It's beautiful but is too big across the shoulders & falls off. Wonder if someone could take a seam somewhere ?! The beads are going to make that difficult. Any tricks?

Here is a picture of a dress I just got this weekend on ebay. I love ebay. It is a plum color. It has beading all over it and the sleeves are sheer with the beading. I hope I like it when it comes !

This one is long & looks fully beaded, but actually just trim of some kind. It is royal & navy.http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a3dd31b3127ccef2c170e7d8dd00000030O01AauHLRm5cMge3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ls%3D00208093498520130311030540415.JPG/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D110/ry%3D110/

Love the colors !

Have any of you worn the wide leg chiffon pants? I see Dillards has some, they're cut.....but it's one of those things I'm just not sure about.

I don't necessarily mean for formal night, but dressed up on other nights.

Love the dresses I'm seeing ! Thanks for posting !

M..I..Z...........sorry, it's in our blood.:D

Love your review and the pictures are great ! Thanks for taking the time to post.

I am now looking into B2B !

We arrived home later than expected.....in the rain.....also to KCI. Our battery was dead too because we left a cell phone charger plugged in. Only in KC !:p

I read a list of suggestions on letting kids run around on their own here on CC this spring, but couldn't find it now to copy.

One of the ground rules it suggested was to stay off floors with cabins. Don't give anyone your cabin number (that person might give it to the wrong person). Different rules apply at night than during the day.

In May, on our cruise, I was walking down the hall away from the lido buffet. A little boy about 6 came skipping past me, dodging in & out of people with an ice cream cone. His foot came up & caught mine, knocking me down. He kept right on going. Innocent enough, I'm sure he just went for ice cream, but maybe he should've been walking....just like inside any other place with other people. For some of us, unaccompanied children can be annoying.

No blowdryers on the paradise. You can ask the room steward for one, but have to take turns. one of the ladies at our dining table had to borrow one and it didn't work out very convenient. my daughter & I brought our own for our cabins.

no talent show on the Paradise. I read where the Liberty had auditions for their Legends show, maybe that's it.

Does the liberty have the sports square rope course?

How do you get tender tickets? Which ports on this itinerary were tender ports?

Hi kc people! I'm just over an hour from you. Marceline: we play you in football:) small world.

Bump.......looks like these were hard to find. :)

Your pictures are so good !! I am really disappointed how mine turned out. They're all dark. Glad you had a good time too ! I've really enjoyed reading your review !

Disembarkation

On the morning of the last sea day, we received instructions and luggage tags under our door. We were Zone 18. According to the time chart, we thought that might be too late for a 12:20 flight. (We would have had plenty of time !)

We chose Self embarking. Luckily my husband & son are strong because we had 2 heavy bags, 4 carry ons, a couple of back packs, and a beach bag with the scrapbook stuff in it I'd bought.

We had breakfast in the Lido at 7:20 and relaxed at a table on the back deck. When they called for Main floor around 8:35 we went back to the room, got our bags, and were off the ship quickly. The only obstacle with all our bags was the 2 escalators, but they did have elevators available.

Outside the terminal were all kinds of airport shuttles for sale. On the corner was a taxi sign....."Airport $25 total NOT per person". From the time they called our floor.....to the check in counter at the airport was 40 minutes. We checked in at 9:10 am.

We flew from Tampa -via Houston- to Kansas City on United. I had one negative experience with United before but the price was right, so thought I'd give them a second chance. We will never fly United again. I had pre chosen our seats months ago. They were even printed on my confirmation. However, when we checked in, my husband didn't have a seat. They ended up moving us all around. Not a big deal, but why? The plane was sitting there in Houston, but we didn't start boarding until 30 minutes later....when a fellow passenger went up to the agent and asked if would boarding soon. She was handling several gates and I think she really just forgot ?!

When we arrived in Kansas City, both of our big checked bags were destroyed. The leather handles were torn, bags ripped , the metal frame was bent on one & curved outward, the wheel was bent on one, the plastic frame by the pull handle was cracked & hanging on one bag and completely gone on the other. If I'm going to pay $25 each for my bags to travel, then I expect them to take care of them !

Overview & final thoughts

We were very pleased with our first cruise. The ship was nice, lots of entertainment choices, a lot of shore excursion choices, good food, etc. We will plan another cruise, possibly farther south to the Virgin Islands. I considered Royal Caribbean next time just because their ships have rock climbing walls, the flow rider, boxing & ice skating. However, I haven't done a lot of research yet on the bigger Carnival ships. There was nothing that would make us not choose Carnival again. It was affordable, well organized, and enjoyable.

I especially liked the fact that unlike a hotel/resort, I didn't have to clean up once. No laundry. No cooking or cleaning. I truly had a week off. We could do things altogether, or on our own & meet up later. We always met for dinner.....rule was to be showered & ready by 5:45. It worked.

My husband felt the ship was crowded, especially the areas around the pool and in the shows at the Normandie lounge. It was full of people, but I expected that and wasn't much different really than any other place.

Art by the elevators.

Smaller pools & hot tubs in the back. The Basketball court is back here too. This area was quieter than the main pool and usually less crowded.

Serenity Deck - hot and quiet.

Hi Keystone ! I am finally unpacked with the majority of our laundry done. Always hate the Monday back to work after vacation.

We were also on the Main deck.....89 & 85 ! I recognize the pictures of your husband & son. As soon as I figure out how to load pix to photo bucket, I'll try a review too.

Glad you had fun !

We went to Dillards this weekend......their fall "homecoming" dresses were on clearance for $19.99, originally $70 to $100. My daughter got two for our cruise and I got one. Most were "young" but the one I got has a top with thick straps like a tank style. Only thing is it might be a little short for a 42 yr old.....

Honestly, the cruise is the only place I'll wear it, so for $20, the length will be ok.

Love this thread.......