pirate4me2

Good to have you along Jeff! Yes, I can't wait for Greenland, that is going to be AWESOME!

Our itinerary

Who is sitting at home, chomping at the bit to get on a ship, but still has months left before their sail date? Well, I can’t pack you in my suitcase to join me onboard the Celebration, but how about the next best thing….you can sail along vicariously with this LIVE review! I booked this sailing around the same time I booked our MG sailing last fall, right after Carnival lifted their vaccine and testing requirements. I was apprehensive about sailing such a big ship leading up to our MG sailing, but I have to admit…I actually really, really like the Excel class! I love all the included dining options, the variety of bars to choose from, and I was impressed with how they designed the ship to spread out the crowds. I am really, really hoping that Celebration is just as awesome! Now, I will admit….DH and I splurged on this sailing. Since I hadn’t sailed MG before booking this, and I was worried about feeling crowded, I wanted access to Loft 19 to be able to escape. So, to gain that access, we booked our first ever suite aboard a ship….an Excel Corner suite at the front of the ship. I will admit, I am stoked to have that big huge balcony, but looking back now after sailing MG we could have done without such an expensive room….the Serenity deck on MG was amazing, I loved it, and if Celebration is the same then I have a feeling that may be where I spend a lot of time! I have also heard not so favorable things about Loft 19, how the “pool” isn’t really that great, but we shall see. If nothing else, I will enjoy my big balcony and room! This will also be one of my milestone cruises, so that has me pretty excited. I know I don’t get anything special other than a different sail and sign card, but I am still stoked about it. I am saving the OBC for our 14 day Greenland cruise next September. As far as the ports and excursions go on this sailing, y’all may be disappointed with me. We are visiting San Juan, St Thomas, and Amber Cove, and I honestly think I won’t make it off the ship this cruise. I am not a fan of Amber Cove, we have been to St Thomas numerous times, and although I love San Juan, I really just want to relax. Life has really been taking some good swings at me lately, and I just need to rejuvenate. DH will be scuba diving in San Juan and St Thomas, hopefully I can get some of his dive pics to add in here, but don’t expect any great port adventures this time around. If I am feeling frisky I may get off the ship in San Juan to just walk downtown, but my plan is really to camp out in Serenity and make BFFs with the bartenders there. I wanna max out my Cheers package at least one day this cruise!

I second this 100%.

That is so disappointing about the service at Jack's! We have always loved that place. I'll probably walk down and try it out at least once, but if I get the same level of service as you and Patti I probably won't return.

Ahhhhh, Grand Turk! My favorite port, that water is so beautiful!

I've seen creativity at sea, but I think it was on the Journey's cruise I did several years back. I really hope this Soul Play is still on Spirit (as well as tablecloths!) when I sail on her in November!

Absolutly felt safe. We were in a taxi bus with several other passengers and our driver was nice. The ride was about 25 minutes.

This is a hard one for me. I love the Havana area on Horizon, but I am NOT a fan of Jamaica. I like Grand Cayman and Coz a lot tho. I love the Excel class ships for all they offer, and I like that itinerary way better. Their Serenity area is pretty darn nice, but not quite as nice as Havana on the Vista class. That cruise is an extra day though... I guess in the end, if I were having to fly in, I would probably go with cruise #2 due to the extra day.

I had never seen Soul Play before either, I love the idea! I will have to check it out on upcoming cruises.

That looks delicious!

This site has the info, no form to fill out. 2021 US Annual Report (carnivalcorp.com)

Yes! I get it now, I had heard so many rave reviews and I was like "is this place REALLY that great?" Yeah....it was. I'm hooked.

We went to Maya Chan in November, and we had been to Jaime's (on the "main drag" as we called it) a few years ago, and hands down we would choose Maya Chan. We loved it so much there that we have reservations for our September cruise that stops in Costa Maya.

Last November on Mardi Gras they had these fries, and maybe I am in the minority here but I actually prefer them! They were crispier than the old fries, and I prefer crispy ones. Hopefully in a few weeks on Celebration they will have these!

I have been to both, and I can say hands down that any time we return to Costa Maya we will book Maya Chan hands down. It was AMAZING. The service was top notch, and food and drinks were delicious.

Years ago we enjoyed Lighthouse Pointe Grand Lucayan, and plan to go back there in November.

That looks like my “Christmas in a glass” Alchemy drink from Mardi Gras in November. Soooo good!

Hey Kim! I saw your username pop up and was like "I remember that name!" And I do remember the cruise that was not-Bermuda-bound. I am trying to get back there this August, fingers crossed. I need to make myself a note to go get some more Tums, we sail Celebration in just over 2 weeks and have Cheers again....I def need to make sure I am stocked up!

Hehe thanks, I'm pretty pleased with it myself, just wish we weren't missing you guys on the Vista! Now I'm just patiently waiting for summer/fall 2025 to be released (I know it's a long ways off) so I can FINALLY (hopefully) get a cruise on the Legend on the books.

Oh but I have!! My poor DH pleaded with me to not go down it after I successfully drank the whole wine bottle at dinner and was taking my "to-go" cocktail with me. He walked in front of me just in case I tripped and went down. BUT GUESS WHAT? I didn't! Victory!

I love love love the steakhouses on the Spirit class being under the funnel! And I love the glass staircase…but it is unnerving walking on it, especially if you’ve had a few too many like I do sometimes! 😂

Supposedly it’s to rest your foot on while shaving your legs, but I personally found it a bit too low when we sailed in November.

We LOVED Wee Jimmy! My husband still compares current CDs to him, and very few have surpassed.

This is a great idea!!! Thanks for doing this review, it's helping get me thru until I board Celebration on the 26!