nycruise

I have no problem with Carnival as a company. I have issues with the crowds they specifically market to.

 

I did Costa a few times, too. Had an Italian grandmother actually throw a fist at me because I didn't let her cut in line. And had another guy threaten me if I didn't give up the lounger I was sleeping in.

 

No surprise that Costa is owned by Carnival. Both altercations I had on a US cruise line were on Carnival cruises.

 

Now I just avoid that particular crowd and their exciting habit to maximize their cruise value.

I think Carnival attracts different crowds based on the particular cruise. If you take a 3 or 4 day cruise on an old ship out of Florida, it attracts a very different crowd than on a 10 day cruise on a newer ship in Europe. Not all that much different from other cruise lines like RCCL.

Wonder if Carnival will buy the dredge remnants for their vegetarian buffet again.

I think Carnival gets a bad rap. They must be doing something right, they own, Holland America Line, Cunard Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Costa Cruises.

They may not be the best but they do give value for the dollar and serve a large piece of the market. We've been on many Carnival cruises, along with most of the other mass market lines, and have enjoyed them all to varying degrees.

We're taking an Anthem cruise to Florida/Bahamas.

We are considering three possible tours in Port Canaveral. The first is Port Canaveral Highlights, which visits the Air Force History Museum, the Canaveral Locks, and the Exploration Tower.

The second is the Kennedy Space Center - which we visited back in 2003 – have they added/updated any attractions?

Help us choose between these two and just hopping on the Cocoa Beach shuttle to visit Ron Jon’s and check out the town (we’re not really beach people).

We are considering three possible tours in Port Canaveral. The first is Port Canaveral Highlights, which visits the Air Force History Museum, the Canaveral Locks, and the Exploration Tower.

The second is the Kennedy Space Center - which we visited back in 2003 – have they added/updated any attractions?

Help us choose between these two and just hopping on the Cocoa Beach shuttle to visit Ron Jon’s and check out the town (we’re not really beach people).

For the 12/27 cruise, was able to book entertainment almost 120 days before the cruise.

Got this e-mail today.

"As of June 1, 2015, Royal Caribbean will be adjusting the automatic daily service charge from $12.00 to $12.95 per day for regular staterooms and $14.25 to $15.95 per day for suite. This service charge is shared by dining & culinary services personnel, stateroom attendants and other housekeeping and guest services personnel."

Much like a hotel, I have me sheets changed often: guys, this is not a timeshare, where they only clean the room weekly!!

How often do you change your sheets at home??

Talk about creating unnecessary work for the staff. :rolleyes:

A few more sail away pics.

 

 

Coney Island?

That sure is Coney Island with the world famous Parachute Jump, which was originally built for the 1939 World's Fair. It was relocated to Coney Island when the fair closed.

Here's a little history:

"The Parachute Jump is a defunct amusement ride in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, whose iconic open-frame steel structure remains a Brooklyn landmark. 250 feet tall and weighing 170 tons, it has been called the "Eiffel Tower of Brooklyn".

It was originally built for the 1939 New York World's Fair in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park, Queens, and moved to its current site, then part of the Steeplechase Park amusement park, in 1941. It is the only portion of Steeplechase Park still standing today. The ride ceased operations in 1964, when the park shut down for good.

The ride was based on functional parachutes which were held open by metal rings throughout the ascent and descent. Twelve cantilevered steel arms sprout from the top of the tower, each of which supported a parachute attached to a lift rope and a set of surrounding guide cables. Riders were belted into a two-person canvas seat hanging below the closed chute, then hoisted to the top, where a release mechanism would drop them, the descent slowed only by the parachute. Shock absorbers at the bottom, consisting of pole-mounted springs, cushioned the landing. Each parachute required three cable operators, keeping labor expenses high."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_Jump

I couldn't have said it better myself.

 

I'm a big fan of the bear (so much so that when were recently in denver for the first time, i made my DH schlep across the city to see the matching blue bear there), and I love giraffes, but this just looks like a blown-up child's toy. I'm all for whimsical art, but this looks, as you said, cheap and cheesy. I'm still holding out hope that it's an April Fool's joke....

Here's the Denver Bear.

Yes. The internal part can go at any time if un-attended. The cruise line can not guarantee the responsible usage or manufacture of travel steamers.

 

I am not going to debate this issue.

 

Steamers are not allowed. They are not allowed for a reason.

 

Hotels have a little different situation when a fire actually occurs. The evacuation and potential for loss of life is not the same.

We've been cruising for 30 years and this is the first I ever heard of travel steamers being banned. I would bet 90% of the passengers aren't aware things like steamers, heating pads, scissors, and extension cords are banned items.

I think the cruise line should do a better job of publicizing what constitutes contraband.

It is not the exposed heating element that causes fires it is the internal electronics that make steamers dangerous.

 

This was most certainly the case in the house fire that killed 7 children in Brooklyn just 2 weeks ago, among many others. This was the internal element in the hot plate and not the heat generated by the hot plate that caused the fire.

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/nyregion/7-children-die-in-brooklyn-fire.html?_r=0

 

4% of maritime fires are caused by electric appliances.

But the hot plate was being run 24/7, unmonitored; while a travel steamer is generally only run for a few minutes.

Let me know if heat producing appliances aren't being used by the crew. Do you think they are any more responsible than the passengers.:rolleyes:

If they are so dangerous, why aren't they banned by hotels?

Never knew travel steamers weren't allowed. We brought one in our checked luggage.

Why are they not allowed??

We never tracked our luggage but it showed up in about 3 hours from curb to cabin.

We were on the cruise the week before you and thought the food and entertainment were some of the best we've experienced on a cruise. The staff we encountered were all very friendly and accomodating. The ship itself is one of the most beautiful we've encountered.

We loved the hi-tech features like the Bionic Bar, and the robot shows in 270, along with Mama Mia, and Sonic Odyssey.

Can't comment on children's entertainment since we didn't have any along.

Will agree that it was hard to find tables in the Windjammer.

Sorry you didn't enjoy your cruise.

Funny but a few days ago, someone was complaining that the Quantum was designed for young people with features like Flowrider, IFly, NorthStar, Bumper Cars, Roller Skating, etc.

Seems the ship isn't designed for the old or young. :rolleyes:

It's the Windjammer, They don't know how to clean the tables properly or whatever they are using to try to clean them wasn't any good. They were sticky all week last week.

 

Not good!

 

 

Jimbo:)

We ate breakfast and lunch in the Windjammer for 7 days and never had a problem, other than finding a table. Hard to say what causes an outbreak. Never heard of anyone sick on our cruise, 2/13/15.

We were in a right hand door 10298 and the bed was near the entrance door.

It turned out to be more to our liking since it was so cold out in February that the balcony door and window covered over in ice on the interior. Wouldn't have wanted to sleep close to that :D

Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

 

I have a question please. When in port, does the North Star just go up and down and not over the sides of the ship? Do you happen to know how late they are open?

We also went on Northstar at Coco Cay and went over the side. They said they cannot go over the side in ports but in Coco it's okay since it's their island.

Am I the only one who found Northstar boring and overhyped? Maybe it would have been more exciting if the ship was moving. ;)

Nice summary, we sailed Quantum last month and had a great time also.

We were on the Quantum last month and never had a problem at any of the 5 restaurants when asking for a table for two. We never waited more than 15 minutes, which was the first night, after that we were in within 5 minutes. We did have reservations for all restaurants and shows and it worked out great.

I would recommend that you make reservations for dining and then if the entertainment conflicts change your dining reservations. You have nothing to lose, otherwise you may find that some of the dining venues are booked once the entertainment is available.

I enjoyed the sailaway in the Solarium. Great view going under the Verrazano

We did the same, amazing view.

Thx. Was your bed by the "closet" or by the balcony?

Bed by the bathroom not the balcony, either would have been fine for us but we preferred this arrangement since it was so cold in February, the interior of the balcony door was covered in ice.

We were on deck 10, aft (10298) and never heard a sound.

I agree with this. The tables being so close, you do get a chance to talk to the people next to you, if you and, they wish, but there is enough of a separation that you have control over when you leave. You dont have to wait for table mates to finish two appetizers, and then two mains, while you are quickly done with one of each, and dont want to linger over coffee.

 

So while you are not exactly at a private quiet table for two, it is your table and you do have control over how long you stay, when to leave etc, and can cut the conversation short if you wish to move on and eat and then get out of there.

 

Unless I know my tablemates going in, from now on it is YTD for me, and table for two (or one:D)

Well put!!;)

Being close to the neighboring tables is fine with us, but don't want to actually have to share a large table. Have done that in the past and it's hit or miss regarding tablemates.

Which ship? The Fantasy class ships I've sailed on have two tops mostly next to each other. The Spirit class has some along the upper rails and other places that are not right on top of their neighbors.

It's actually the Vista and I realize there isn't much info as of yet as to the number of 2 tops.

We've traveled the 6 major cruise lines as you can see from my signature. Having said that we like Princess the best but we don't restrict ourselves strictly to one line. As a matter of fact we just got off the Quantum a couple of weeks ago and had a great time.

For someone with children I think RCCL is a better choice than Princess. Princess offers, in my opinion, a more traditional and elegant cruise and is geared more to an older clientele, not as old as HAL but definitely older than RCCL and Carnival.

My advice is to try all the major lines in the coming years and then you will know which works best for you.

Happy Sailing.