RCL cruiser has questions for booking

[joandian]

Hi, We have only cruised RCL and Celebrity and are thinking of cruising Carnival out of Galveston. I have a few questions that I hope you folks here can answer.

 

Which is the newest Carnival ship in Galveston? Is she the largest sailing out of Galveston?

 

I don't want to create a smoking debate but I would like to know about the smoking policy on Carnival and where exactly smoking is permitted.

 

What do you love about Carnival and what amazing (or totally non amazing) things can I expect?

 

Thanks for any info.

 

J

[cruiser fanatic]

Hi, We have only cruised RCL and Celebrity and are thinking of cruising Carnival out of Galveston. I have a few questions that I hope you folks here can answer.

 

Which is the newest Carnival ship in Galveston? Is she the largest sailing out of Galveston?

 

I don't want to create a smoking debate but I would like to know about the smoking policy on Carnival and where exactly smoking is permitted.

 

What do you love about Carnival and what amazing (or totally non amazing) things can I expect?

 

Thanks for any info.

 

J

 

The newest Carnival ship sailing from Galveston is the Magic and she is the largest. You can only smoke in certain areas of the ship (places will vary from ship to ship) and you can't smoke on the Balcony. I love everything about Carnival.

[kelkel2]

Currently the newest/biggest ship in Galveston is the Magic.

Sorry, I can't help with smoking policy but I know others will chime in.

Oh the magic is a cool ship. They have the cove balconies. They are close to the water on deck 2 and are more inclosed than traditional style balcony with the glass railing but the views from them are amazing and totally worth the trade.

Since it's a new ship, if you have children your kids will be happy with the waterpark on the ship, it's large and it's really nice.

The Magic also has Red Frog Pub that features live music, food, and Carnival's very own brand of beer. It's actually pretty good! I think you'll really enjoy the magic!

[serene56]

What do you love about Carnival and what amazing (or totally non amazing) things can I expect?J

 

 

the price. I sail with what ever cruiselines have the best deal for when I want to cruise.

Sailed the Voyager of the seas because that was the cheapest

Sailed Princess 4 X because that was the cheapest.

 

but by far Carnival has been my boat of choice.

 

I found my Royal and Carnival cruises to be about the same in terms of food and entertainment.

I have not sailed Celebrity as they are never on my "For Sale" list.

[Gon2hwe]

The Magic is the largest in Galveston I believe. I;ve been on Breeze and Dream. The sister ships of Magic. The have the best smoking areas on Carnival ships since the balcony bans. I'm booked on Dream three doors up from the smoking area on deck 11. There is also a nice area at the back pool on 11. On deck 5 there is an outside area right off Ocean Plaza. I believe half the bar in the casino and some machines spread out in the casino.

[joandian]

Thanks for the information. I'm a smoke hater due to serious allergies, so I'm pleased to hear there is a ban on balcony smoking. So there is smoking allowed in the Casino? Can any non-smokers speak to how smoky it is?

 

J

Edited January 7, 2015 by joandian

[springs741]

Ex smoker here: The Magic casino is fairly well spread out compared to some other ships. This helps. The smoke is not bad early in the day but by later in the evening it does get hazy in the smoking area. We all know smoke can read where the smoking and non smoking machine are located. I have not sailed the Magic since the balcony ban went into effect. My last cruise on her was the week before. Others have said that since the ban smoking has become more intense in smoking areas.

[serene56]

Thanks for the information. I'm a smoke hater due to serious allergies, so I'm pleased to hear there is a ban on balcony smoking. So there is smoking allowed in the Casino? Can any non-smokers speak to how smoky it is?

 

J

 

 

in any casino on any ship there is non smoking sections. (but some ships have a non smoking night-- but it really does smell in there even on those nights

[jp30338]

the price. I sail with what ever cruiselines have the best deal for when I want to cruise.

Sailed the Voyager of the seas because that was the cheapest

Sailed Princess 4 X because that was the cheapest.

 

but by far Carnival has been my boat of choice.

 

I found my Royal and Carnival cruises to be about the same in terms of food and entertainment.

I have not sailed Celebrity as they are never on my "For Sale" list.

 

 

Celebrity has some amazing prices right now and they include the pick your perk promo.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

Celebrity has some amazing prices right now and they include the pick your perk promo.

 

 

I'm bombarded with offers from Celebrity but I don't see the good prices, especially for the 1,2,3 promos.

 

While the inside cabins aren't bad pricewise they aren't included in the promo offer.

 

If going to an oceanview I am seeing pricing about $300 more pp . So they are really just building the cost of the promo into the price of the cruise.

 

Bill

 

 

Sent from Iphone 6 using Cruise Critic App

[joandian]

Celebrity is more expensive than RCI and we have cruised with them when they were going somewhere we wanted to go but RCI didn't. Celebrity have no smoking in the casino which is great.

 

I agree the non-smoking areas of a casino are useless as the whole place smells of smoke.

 

RCI has a buy one, get one half off, promotion going since last May and there are very few bargains. All they did was raise the regular price and cabins are going for much more than they were a year ago. Just looking around for a change even though we have Diamond+ status with RCI.

 

J

[Cardex]

Hi Jo!

 

I Love Carnival! Here is a great pdf that shows smoking areas on each Carnival ship

http://www.carnival.com/~/media/CCLUS/Images/pdf/carnival-ship-approved-smoking-areas-pdf.ashx

Let me if you have any other Carnival questions.

You should also look at NCL. The Jewel sails out of Houston/Bayport and they have the beverage package free if you book by the end of the month. The sale was so good I just booked 2 cruises :)

 

Linda

[jp30338]

I'm bombarded with offers from Celebrity but I don't see the good prices, especially for the 1,2,3 promos.

 

While the inside cabins aren't bad pricewise they aren't included in the promo offer.

 

If going to an oceanview I am seeing pricing about $300 more pp . So they are really just building the cost of the promo into the price of the cruise.

 

Bill

 

 

Sent from Iphone 6 using Cruise Critic App

 

The 3/28 sailing I had originally booked with Celebrity was an OV and was $699pp then dropped to $649/pp with pick your perk. 7 day So. carib

 

My carnival cruise is actually going to cost more overall and I only get a Inside Guarantee. $640pp for ISG with no perks. 8 day So Carib.

 

With celebrity you have to watch those prices like a hawk and book early.

[S.S.Oceanlover]

The 3/28 sailing I had originally booked with Celebrity was an OV and was $699pp then dropped to $649/pp with pick your perk. 7 day So. carib

 

My carnival cruise is actually going to cost more overall and I only get a Inside Guarantee. $640pp for ISG with no perks. 8 day So Carib.

 

With celebrity you have to watch those prices like a hawk and book early.

 

cool you got a great deal with Celebrity. I check a lot but apparently not enough. lol

 

Enjoy your cruises.:)

 

Bill

[SNJCruisers]

I'm bombarded with offers from Celebrity but I don't see the good prices, especially for the 1,2,3 promos.

 

While the inside cabins aren't bad pricewise they aren't included in the promo offer.

 

If going to an oceanview I am seeing pricing about $300 more pp . So they are really just building the cost of the promo into the price of the cruise.

 

Bill

 

 

Sent from Iphone 6 using Cruise Critic App

For a point of comparison, the price difference on the Caribbean sailings in Nov and Dec of this year on the Reflection and the Silhouette are only 130 when you go from inside to OV. The OV cabin gets you the free drink package, which is worth substantially more than 130. Also, if you compared 9 days on the Constellation on 11/28 @ 949, the 8 day Breeze on 11/21 is 759. For your extra 190, you get an extra day, plus the drink package.

 

The reason I bring this up is because you can see from my history that I am a Platinum cruiser with # 18 coming up later this month. And the reason I have cruised on carnival so much is because of the value. But the 1-2-3 Go Promo and Pick Your Perk Promos from Celebrity have been fabulous. If you add the cost of Cheers to an inside cabin, you can sail on Celebrity in an OV cabin and more often than not, a much better ship.

[Cruzaholic41]

Celebrity is more expensive than RCI and we have cruised with them when they were going somewhere we wanted to go but RCI didn't. Celebrity have no smoking in the casino which is great.

 

I agree the non-smoking areas of a casino are useless as the whole place smells of smoke.

 

RCI has a buy one, get one half off, promotion going since last May and there are very few bargains. All they did was raise the regular price and cabins are going for much more than they were a year ago. Just looking around for a change even though we have Diamond+ status with RCI.

 

When looking at prices, I think you should be aware that Carnival is like the Spirit Airlines of the cruising industry. You get lured in with an attractive price, but if you want to move up a deck - you pay more. If you want more midship - you pay more. Rooms are priced differently within the same category, unlike all rooms of the same category being the same price on RCI. Do a mock booking on Magic, choosing the room you like and see if the price is really all that much different.

[SNJCruisers]

When looking at prices, I think you should be aware that Carnival is like the Spirit Airlines of the cruising industry. You get lured in with an attractive price, but if you want to move up a deck - you pay more. If you want more midship - you pay more. Rooms are priced differently within the same category, unlike all rooms of the same category being the same price on RCI. Do a mock booking on Magic, choosing the room you like and see if the price is really all that much different.

Carnival does have promotions at time that include an upgrade within category, This means that if you want an inside cabin, you can pick any one from a 4A up to a 4H. The same is true for OV and balcony. The exceptions are the specialized categories, like the 4J with walkway view or the aft balconies.