cathyoo

Thanks for the review and the comparison.  We have 1 RCL, 9 Carnival and 1 NCL.  My Dh hated NCL.  Too crowded and narrow for him (Getaway).  The one thing I loved was the entertainment during dinner.  We really were Carnival fans but the entertainment on our last 3 cruises has been a major disappointment.  Booked for an Alaskan Carnival Cruise in May but I might go back to RCL.  Sad.

Some people have reported having to wait for 10-15 minutes. Personally we've NEVER had to wait for a table with YTD but based on other reports, if you go at peak times during elegant night, then you may have a 10-15 minute wait. I've never experienced this though. You can have the same waiter each night, don't worry about losing that aspect.

We cruise with many others and it is more than a 10-15 minute wait if you want to sit with or near 10 or more family/friend.

I was on the cruise after this one, departed Aug 28. Lots of wheelchairs/motorized scotters. Some people parked them in their rooms, others left them in the hallway in front of the cabin door.

 

Also, the jackets (carnival logo, raincoat with fleece lining) were $19.99 on my trip. A good price for what they are. Only one complaint, they are not very breathable. The lining tended to get wet. I turned it inside out and hung it up in the cabin at night, and it was dry the next morning.

thank you for the info.

Thank you for the great review. Loved the pre cruise review and all of your pictures. We are thinking of doing this cruise in August of 2018. Both my mom and myself have mobility issues. Did you notice any wheelchair passengers?

Thank you for your review. I am going on the Pride in October. Probably my 4th or 5th Pride cruise and I noticed last year it is getting worn down. We love sailing out of Baltimore. I am happy you had a chance to do a quick vacation with your kids. From experience, it all goes so fast so every time you can make a memory it is a treasure.

I call it pop here in Iowa. When people correct me and say its soda, I just remind them that it is correct to say Hello, not Hi y'all.

Never said "hi y'all in my life and it has always been soda to me.

I always travel with a group Choosing a dining time is much easier since we don't have to work around individual preferences. Since we are many we don't have to worry about sitting with strangers. Early or late don't care which the group decides on.

I don't buy Cheers so much for the saving butI like having every think paid in full. I pre pay my tips, put lots on my sail and sign and pay my CC in full before I step on the ship. Otherwise knowing me I would be penny pinching the entire cruise. I like being able to try something without worrying if I am wasting my money.

 

Show me a fun time, I'm happy!

 

Drydock is Feb...don't know what's planned.:D:D:D

(y)

I personnally removed 3 nights of dining team (we had YTD, 3 x 6.40$) because we ate at Steakhouse or Seafood Shack or Cucina. I dont consider myself cheap...

Everybody''s money is their own business. I just have a hard time understanding how you can pay thousands of dollars for a cruise and then feel the need to remove $19.20 from the tips shared between all the serving staff.

Sorry you had to cancel although I am hoping a bunch of folks with FTTF cancel their 10/21/18 Pride cruise

I think most folks understand the tipping of the behind the scenes and how someone is taxed is not my business. I prepay my tips and think of them as part of my cruise cost. I know it can be an expense when traveling with children but again part of the cost of cruising.

If you felt your waitstaff and stewards were being short changed why not leave the auto tips and add a little extra cash?

Thanks for the review. I too felt the Pride was run down a little in 2016 but I am sailing her again in less than 100 days.

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We were able to reserve for 16 in our party through regular reservations We had two tables one for 10 and one for 6. I believe it was a bit later than what we had hoped to get but we had a great time.

Unless you have a lot more luggage than most people $20 is a lot more than most people are going to tip.

 

What would you like to give them if there was no financial circumstances?

 

Bill

Probably $30-40.

We have left a wheelchair in the back of the theater many times on many ships without problem. You'd have to be pretty smarmy to steal someone's wheelchair. And if someone stole a rollator or wheelchair, where would they keep it in their room that the steward wouldn't notice its sudden appearance. When coupled with an announcement that someone had taken it.....

I agree when leaving my wheelchair for dining or shows my only worry is it being in someone's way. Never gave a thought that someone would "take" it.

Congratulations on your wedding. Hope you have a wonderful cruise and a lifetime of happiness.

I consider myself a decent tipper (daughter of a waitress) I wish I could be a big tipper but due to limited financial circumstances I can only do what I do. Coming in we usually give $20 for whatever is our car. Leaving is a different story cause we will be with other family members and the porter will pile our bags up on a cart and lead us out to our cars. Usually somewhere between $40 and $60 dollars.

No interest in what they make. It is not an easy job and I am thankful they are there to assist.

I must be one of the few people to actually enjoy the shows:o Maybe it's because I have low expectations/different expectations. On our cruise it was one of the later shows in the week, so we had already seen the talent level and found the voices and dancing acceptable enough for a 30-45 minute diversion. We don't use the casino or participate in the game entertainment (hasbro, newlywed, etc), so the theatre is ok for us. I fully expected campy/cheesy/corny along the lines of Gilligan's Island, Frankie & Annette, or Disney Channel/Camp Rock level entertainment - and it didn't disappoint:')

 

Carnival brands itself as the Fun Ships, so I tend to expect light hearted entertainment that matches the vibe of the other activities onboard. I probably wouldn't pay to see the shows on land, but for something to do that's included in my fare it's worth checking out with an open mind - especially if you don't have much else to do but still want to be out.

We would have enjoyed a Frankie and Annette or Gilligan's Island campy kind of show if it had been done well. We have some good experiences in the past with theater shows on Carnival so we were disappointed. We stayed to the end although half the people left after 15 minutes.

I do that too!

Now that I know this it will be me three

Have you considered talking to the school board about your dilemma due to their late decision and if they could give a pass on missing the first week of school (and if they can’t give a pass, tell them you expect them to pay the extra cost to move dates)

 

Of course your kids may have to do a little school work during the cruise to keep up but may be a win win

 

 

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But I thought the child did not want to miss the week.

Now I did not have something like a school board change but I was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer and spent 3 months in the hospital and was given a year to live and it was no dice for me

 

PS, (by the ways thru God and the miraculous doctors I have worked with I am now cancer free)

Happy to hear that. Nasty disease. Lost my BIL to it and he was only 59 Best wishes for continued health

Or respect your child’s desire to go to school rather than cruise.

I think missing the first week is really tough. It is when everyone gets into flow of things

I agree with the OP on some issues, 10+ Carnival cruises for me as I love love the Carnival brand and can't seem to make myself book another line. They are slipping a little, the last ship I was on was the Liberty and I did a detail Halloween Review w/pics (not sure how to post a link) but you can check it out on the Liberty ship thread.

 

Although we still had a great cruise, they ship needed a lot of attention, form their customer service down to the food and cleanliness of the ship. In the last few years it seems like the quality of the food has gone downhill, not that I starve or anything as you can always find something, but it is noticeable.

 

I do understand that cutting out certain things like mints, lobster on shorter cruises and a few others are understandable as it may help to keep the cost of the cruise low and that is the main reason I love Carnival. But that should not mean the quality of what they still offer should go down.

I agree, since 8 of my 10 cruises are Carnival I want to keep loving them but it doesn't come quite as naturally.

thanks again, keep it coming. Last cruise on Pride in 2016 we were VERY disappointed in the shows. Getaway Island did not meet our expectations