jedi bobs

28 minutes ago, ChuckF said:

With limited staff, the crew has less time to go on shore during port days. Last cruise we asked steward and wait staff if they needed anything while we were out at Cozumel.  They all wanted Doritos.  Go figure. 

This. If you want to something for your cabin stwerd besides cash, Ask them if there is anything you can get them while on shore.

On 2/6/2023 at 3:10 PM, Jamman54 said:

D

Another thing that Patti and I agree on is that we will never do a stand-alone cruise shorter than seven days again. Five days is just too short. If the ship we’re booked on is doing shorter than seven-day cruises, we will make it into a B2B to make sure that we are on that ship no less than seven days.

 

 

I thery, Ann and I agree with you, but if what we can afford is a 5 day, so be it, kind of works out in terms of work. She gets Sat to Fri day off, then we have to get at least 1 day off at the start and one at the end..  Ann and I would also like to invite you to come along with us on the Eleation out of Jacksonville on Dec 9th I think of 2024, we are going to Bimini and Nasau.

1 minute ago, mz-s said:

 

A mandatory gratuity isn't a gratuity, it's a service charge or a tax. And those have to be disclosed in the booking process (like the port fees and taxes) which makes the cruise more expensive, so that's why these things are broken out as optional gratuities in the cruise industry with most lines.

How do you propose to stop the idiots who refuse to tip, or remove gratuities for no reason other then they are tight wads? I'm not talking about having a good reason to remove gratuities but the idiots who are tightwads?

I wish Auto Gratuities were not needed but I am for MANDATORY gratuities. The reason is this, I work for Spark Delivery service(walmart Delivery) I see an offer for lets say 17 dollars for 7 miles.  I get to the store, they load my car up, and I take the groceryies to them.  24 hours later I discover the Gratuity was removed becuse they put the gratuity high so they could get fast service otherwise most drivers would have rejected the $7 order becuse there was no tip.  You got to remeber I am paying for my own Gas and Vehichal Matinince too. That is why I am for Manadtory Gratuities becuse people remove tips, or don't give tips becuse they are tightwads.

While I aggree with the above poster on an aft interior, I typicly get something in the mid ship or front when on Riviara deck. I do like riviara deck fro when we get back from port, only one deck up the stairs and don't have to fool with the elevators.

I don't mind a couple keeping a seat reserved while the other runs to the bathroom, bar, whatever, I wouldn't mind up to 2 extra seats but thats it.

Loving the review as usaual.  Tell Patty that Ann and I said Hi.

BTW Hi to you too Jeff.

2 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

I'm thinking that you're going to need to plan for transportation after each leg. If your Royal ship is the only one in port that day, you will dock at Terminal 1. If there is more than one royal ship, you could be docking at Terminals 5 or 6. The Glory, which is taking over for the Liberty, will dock at Terminal 3, the same one used by the Mardi Gras. The Freedom usually docks at Terminal 6. None of these scenarios are conducive to walking. 

Thanks Jeff, that is what I was afraid of. I'm going on Adventure of the Sea, then Glory 3 day then Freedom 5 day, for our 25th aniversery. Looks like I am flowing you and Patty again, this year we will be on Sprit and Vista, and 2025 the s2s2s2. We are doing a land Vacation to Philly in 2023,

We are planing a S2S2S in Port Canavral. We are starting off on Royal. From the Royal Peir would we need a Taxi or Uber over to the Carniaval Glory? We are then getting off the GLory and getting on the Carnival Freedom. if there is 2 Carnival ships in that day will they be close enough to walk it or will we need another Taxi?  Thanks.

7 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Getting off the Freedom now. It was a great warm up cruise! Patti took over 1200 pictures! 😁 Heading down to Fort Lauderdale for two days, then we board the Spirit on Saturday. 😎

The link in your signature is not working for both your reviews and picures

Looks like you guys are on "Stubby" .  I am looking forward to your review of the Spirit, I am on her in October out of Mobile. We are going to have to sail together again sometime.

1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

Me, too!  

 

And I am the odd man out in that I love the Vista class because of the Havana area. I am super pissed Galveston is losing the Vista!  I wish they would take the Dream or the Breeze instead and let us keep the Vista.

At least you are getting Jublee that has havana area.

My Wife her Aunt and Uncle and myself just got off the Paradise, and I have a few thoughts and a few ship happens, and two  Oh Ships

The good:  MDR food was exelent, was brought hot well prepared food(except melting cake)

Aunt was Glutian intolerant and head waiter took order for next day, and she said her food was good.

Mr Sancho's was fun.

Stateroom stewerd was excellent.

80's pop to the max was a good show

80's rock and glow was a lot of fun

Ship Happens

Waintress forgot multi apps, sides and such, no big deal, but still annoying

Annoying loud drunk trying to be a fun squad member seeking attention every day.

Member of playlist goes down with voice problem, show canceled and replaced with 2nd Deal or No Deal(will get back to THAT!)

Excursion cancelled becuse sandbar for stingrays unsafe(not carnivals fault)

Comedian told a guest that there voice sounded racest(I know comedy is subjective that is why I didn't go back to see him)

Oh Ship

Aunt and Uncle's room on M130 got flooded and had to move rooms to R69 only offered $50 for inconvenance, and had to move luggage themselfs Now I understand that they had to go to the room advaliable, and I understand that sometimes something braks and needs repaired, but IMHO this is a downgrade.  They had a mid ship ocean view on deck 5 and got moved to a forward deck 4 OV. now that we are off the ship nothing they do will matter, but still.

Played Deal Or No Deal both nights, and won bingo package both nights, went to get bingo pacage and they said for night one they couldn't find my name, and second night we only had one match on each card. I'll let the second night go, but went to guest services and they said we had won the pingo pacage, but could do nothing about it becuse it was the last night and the prise was unclamed.  the bingo host came down to talk to us, and said there wasn't much she could do either, but she gave us a couple of SOAS for not being jerks, and in her defence she tried to make things right but couldn't do much becuse it was last sea day.

I'm not going to complain about the ship, becuse I like the small ships, and honestly the paradise moved smothly, and I didn't even feel when the captian did a 180 to back into Tampa Port   

Thank you for reading

6 hours ago, Spaniel Lover said:

Yep, I see they fixed it now.  I was able to go in and select and arrival time, and now I have a boarding group number.

Thank you all for your comments...  you saved me having to bother my travel agent!

Jim, just wanted to tell you how much I love your cruising vids. What ship are you and your wife on?

IMHO, the reason DCL is going back to old scool muster is becuse people are not doing there muster drill.  The cruise lines need to make an example of the people who refuse t go to there muster by disebarking them.  An hour before sail Away should be last call for muster if you don't get to yours by 45 min before sail away, you get kicked off the ship, no refund.

On 9/26/2022 at 6:16 PM, Jamman54 said:

A little before 3 pm, we head to the Firebird Lounge for our rapid antigen test, which is required for our next cruise. I think we were more nervous for this test then any of our previous tests, because we had read the many accounts of people saying they tested positive after debarking their cruises. 

In case you didn't know Jeff, there was an outbreak of Covid on the Mardi Gras that we saild on, I wound up with "Cruise Crud" which I think was a mild case of Covid, but never got tested. One of my co workers that was on the sailing did get it, and many people on the facebook group said that got it.  

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Demand compensation.

I am platnim on Carnival, and I am entitled to Free Drinks for the entirty of my time in the Bay. $100 OBC, A personal Apology from Ms Duffy for the lack of water on Tampa Bay, and a free cruise becuse I am am an extra special entitled Person 🙂  

Back to the real world, I hope everyone in the path of that storm is OK.

2 minutes ago, BlerkOne said:

Surprised no one has accused Carnival of more cutbacks. 🤣

Carnival is cutting back on water to Tampa Bay. Need to write to John Heald about this.

They can aways tender in in grand turk

It does not dock, you will be using tenders in Grand Caymen

1 hour ago, BlerkOne said:

I'm not sure if anyone has suggested the obvious - Radiance and/or Panorama are redeployed somewhere else.

While Raidance could be redeployed anywhere and can go though the Panamal Cannal, Panarama can not do that so to redeploy somewhere other than the west coast or the Pacific would require it to go down to the tip of South America and arould.

I don't know what Jeff and Patty's final thoughts are about the Mardi Gras, but, here are mine since I was on it with them on the second leg, these are my views and may or may not be your views there views or anybody elses.  

The Good: New freindships, Loves the space of the ocean view room(same as Jeff except no balcony) New free dining choices, Guys Burger changing fries. Soda fountians on deck 8 and lido. Lee Masion the Cruise Directoe was one of the best we have ever had just behind Josh Waitzman as best I have ever had. 

The Bad and Ugly: This ship was just to big for one week, and they had to much going on at one time, for example, one night they had 2 comedians going at the same time in both the punch liner and the Limelight lounge, Family Feud in the main lounge, and Play List in the Central area. Food in MDR was sub par, it wasn't bad but lacking, something seemed off a little, and I will chock that up to short staffing.  Design Flaws on the ship. I realise that this is the first of the class in carnival, but There is a walkway right though Guest Services, The public Bathrooms were horably designed and not enough public bathrooms.  Odd placement for Guys Burgers. 

Over all not a bad cruise. would I cruise on Mardi Gras again.....for the right Itenary I would otherwise no.  I am a cheep cruiser, I don't do Specialty Restrants, Don't Drink, don't spend money in the casino and only get the bubbles just for convenance, but on my next cruise will be taking my soda onboard.

Where would I place Mardi Gras cruise on my list of cruises, Probly towards the bottom half, I have not really had a bad cruise.

Thank you

4 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

 

This picture brings back memories. The first time we came here around six years ago, we had a non Carnival excursion booked. Independent excursion providers were not allowed onto the Mahogany Bay property to pick you up, so you had to walk up this hill and down the other side, and off of the property where they could meet and pick you up. However, upon return they were allowed onto the property to drop you off. Not sure if this is still the case or not.

 

 

To be continued……

I can conferm that is still the case.  Ann and I went to Paradise Beach, witch was nice, and had there pool all to ourselfs for hours.

17 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

 

This excursion boat is dropping passengers back right onto the ship!

 

 

 

To be continued…..

We were on this boat, and got back late barly made it to the MDR

This is the day We met Patty and started to get to know her and you. It is always a good thing when you make freinds on a cruise, always happens.  By the way Tyler has been promoted and will be on the Escasy as her final cruise director and we will be on it with him 🙂