Grumpy1328

Thanks for the quick replies.  This is our retirement cruise.  Currently, we live in Massachusetts.  The day after the cruise (4/1/2019), we move into our new home in Florida.   I'm finding it a bit hard to get really excited about the cruise, as there will be so much going on at that time anyway!  I'm sure we will have a great time, though. 

This will be our first cruise with NCL, on the Pearl, Western Caribbean sailing on 3/24/2019.  Previous cruises have been on Royal Caribbean and Princess.  My question is about the muster drill.  Where do they hold them?  We have had experiences ranging from holding them right on deck next to the life boats to having them in a lounge.  Just curious about what to expect. 

I was expecting different responses. I had thought that due to the younger age demographic on Carnival vs Princess, there would be more emphasis on entertainment on Carnival, and hoped that the quality would be better. Maybe I'm under the wrong impression. I'm not knocking Princess, just looking for a more "active" experience. I liked hanging out in the Explorer's Lounge and the Wheelhouse Bar on Princess, just wasn't happy with the quality of the entertainers. Quite possibly I'm just being too critical.

As to the décor, I only have review pics to go by. I thought a few ships on Norwegian were a bit too flashy, while I liked a lot of what I saw of Carnival. Breeze, Magic, Sunshine and Freedom come to mind. Different strokes for different folks.

It will be fun to see what Carnival has to offer.

Now, to find the right itinerary....

Having cruised twice on Princess, I am considering trying Carnival. I liked the general experience on Princess, but had two problems. First, the décor was a little on the bland side. I tend to lean a little towards the tacky :D, and I have been thinking Carnival might be a little more "lively" in that area. More important, and the real reason for a change is live entertainment. I have been a musician for many years, so unfortunately have a somewhat critical ear. The bands on the Princess cruises were awful (to my ear, anyway). Either they couldn't sing, or they their instrumental talents were lacking. For me, to the point of distraction. Since I really like to relax with a drink and listen to a good band (just about any type of music) this will be a strong consideration in choosing my next cruise. So, how do the bands in the bars and music venues on Carnival ships shape up?

Sorry for being so long-winded!

No idea what is there. However, we were in D735 on the Grand in October to Hawaii. Never heard a sound (other than the wonderful sound of the wake). It was the best cabin we have yet had.

On the Grand, specifically, yes there is a self service laundry. We were on the Dolphin deck, and the laundry was just a few steps down the hall. IMSC, washer and dryer were 2.00 each, and detergent was 1.50. We used it twice on a 15 night cruise and had no issues at all.

Not sure about the Ruby, but we just got off the Grand, had D735 aft facing. No issues with noise or smoke or anything like that. The beam was not a factor. We had a UBD for four one night, and there was plenty of room. If you can snag it, do it!!

We sailed on the Grand from San Francisco to HI on Oct 4.

We had very high expectations for this cruise, and they were exceeded in all areas by Princess!

They did have a duo onboard, doing uke lessons and lei making classes. I didn't partake, but from what I heard from pax who did, the duo did a good job.

We had traditional dinning in the MDR, and waiter Jose and his jr waiter, Mark, did a fantastic job. Food was great, IC was great, Alfredo's was great. I would do this cruise again in a heartbeat.

The Grand is due for a short shipyard stint in December. According to the CD, Martyn, it will focus on doing some updates in cabins. Nothing really major.

I thought the ship was in great shape, and all the staff seemed to go out of their way to keep everyone happy.

We had a rear-facing balcony (D735) which was really nice. Wake noise not bad, and with the door closed, you couldn't even hear anything. No vibration or exhaust at any time. Absolutely loved it!

Have a great cruise!!

Ann:

We will be boarding the Grand in two weeks, and I am also organizing the slot pull. Could you send the spreadsheet to geofitz13@msn.com ?

Thanks in advance.

And thank you from all of us for continuing to monitor this thread!

George