Carnival Glory sailing 4/15/12

[riquohog]

Hi All! We're really excited for this upcoming trip. My wife and I are celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss! This is our 3rd cruise. Our 2 daughters, 15&12, will be experiencing their 1st cruise and are pumped!

Just wondering what to expect as we haven't been on a cruise in 20 yrs!

Looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying the ports of call!

[OrcaGirl]

Congrats on your anniversary. We'll be on the same cruise, celebrating our third anniversary.

 

Make sure to check out the Roll Call thread for the April 15 sailing of the Glory.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1302542

 

It's still a bit slow but will pick up as the date gets closer.

 

Erin

[okgirl]

Hi All! We're really excited for this upcoming trip. My wife and I are celebrating 25 years of wedded bliss! This is our 3rd cruise. Our 2 daughters, 15&12, will be experiencing their 1st cruise and are pumped!

Just wondering what to expect as we haven't been on a cruise in 20 yrs!

Looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying the ports of call!

 

LOTS has changed in 20 years........the Glory is probably going to be about twice as big as what ever ship you sailed on last......it is a Conquest class ship and many people feel it's difficult to navigate so be sure and study the deck plans.......

 

Use the Lido and the Promenade decks to go from forward to aft.

 

There is an extra charge Steakhouse ($30pp) on the Glory and it requires reservations after you get on the ship so you may want to budget for that, it's well worth the cost (especially for you and your spouse)

 

There are two formal dining rooms that are both 2 levels and the aft and midship of decks 3 and 4....if you are assigned to the middle dining room you go in behind the Lobby bar.

 

Even though your docs say boarding begins around 12:30 it really begins around 11:30.

 

Be sure you have your passports or state issued birth certificates, and some say if the wife doesn't have a passport she needs her marriage license too.

 

Carnival has a great kids program and you should take the kids to orientation the 1st time just to see what they have to offer.

 

The Glory also has other free specialty eating venues like a Fish & Chips, Deli, 24 hour Pizza, hamburger grill, Mongolian Wok in addition to the 4 line grand buffet on the Lido.

 

Breakfast is also available in the MDR everyday and Lunch is also served there on sea days.

 

There are wine tastings (for a fee) and tea times (free) a couple of times during the week.

 

They have added a comedy club and the piano bar is now smoke free.

 

Edit to Add: There are two elegant evenings during the week and many people will dress up for that though it's not nearly as dressy as it used to be.....jacket and tie for men or even just a shirt and tie, and cocktail dress or Church type cloths for the girls......You can wear jeans in the dining room most evenings and the women can wear capri sets in the evening on non-formal night.

 

The comedy clubs have 2 seatings with one time being family and the other adult only.