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The Tribe has Spoken!! Carnival Celebration - 1/14/2024 (with pics)

Jamman54

By Jamman54,
in Carnival Cruise Lines

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Jamman54 Great Review Rare

Jamman54

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Our final thoughts and ramblings. 

 

Patti and I don’t normally like sailing in January. Patti and I don’t normally like sailing from Miami. Patti and I don’t normally like sailing for “only” seven days. But when our friends Jim & Pat told us about the Tribe cruise, we jumped right on it, even though it was “only” seven days, from Miami, in January.

 

This was a chance to meet a whole bunch of people that we had been “talking” to for years here on Cruise Critic, and this experience did not disappoint. In fact, the only disappointment was that the cruise ended much too soon. We want to say that it was an honor and a pleasure to meet and cruise with each and every one of you. We would cruise with any one of you again in the future. So thank you Pam, Ellen, Vic & Donna, Amy, Heather & Peter, Lorraine & Roger, Beverly, Karen & Gerald, Megan & Brian, Sid, and Jim & Pat, for making this cruise so special!

 

You may have noticed that I used their real names. That’s because these are real people. We sometimes forget that there are real people posting behind the screen names they use. If you have been following this thread you should be able to match the real names to the screen names, but in the end, these are all just great real people.

 

Patti and I have our own personal Hall of Fame of prolific Cruise Critic Reviewers that we have had the honor and pleasure to have met and cruised with. This cruise provided us with two more inductees. This is our updated list, somewhat in the order of appearance: jimbo5544, Mitsugirly, Saint Greg, willdra, MeganGC1983, & sid_9169. If that looks like a who’s who of prolific reviewers, that’s because it is. There are quite a few more out there that we would love to meet and sail with.

 

Now, as for the Celebration, we did give our final thoughts after our first cruise on her last April, but I’ll re-hash some of our points. Patti and I really enjoyed our time on the Celebration, but the Excel Class is still not our favorite. We still enjoy the Spirit Class, and the Vista Class if having a Havana cabin, better. Everyone has their favorites, right?

 

As like the first time that we cruised on the Celebration, we never ate in the MDR except for the Diamond Lunch. There are just so many dining options there is no need too. There were a couple of days where we just wanted a quick meal up at the Marketplace. We had no problem finding something that we liked, and most of what was on the dining room menu that day, was available here.

 

Once again we have to say that even with over 6,000 passengers on board we really didn’t run into many crowding issues, other than embarkation day where everyone heads to the Lido Deck. Yes, you had to line up for the 18+ comedy shows at the Punchliner, but the PG comedy shows at the Limelight Lounge were no problem. It was almost impossible to get a seat at the Alchemy Bar. In fact, I don’t remember having a drink there the whole cruise! We didn’t have any problems getting a seat at Latitudes or Golden Jubilee.

 

 If you want a good seat at the Grand Spectrum Theater, get there a half hour early. Now the Center Stage is a different animal. There aren’t many seats on any deck that give you a clear view of any show. If you want one of those, get there an hour early. Patti being hearing impaired likes to sit as close as possible, so you’ll find us down on the floor amongst the props and set pieces. It’s pretty cool to sit down there, but even down there you can’t see everything. With the huge video screens, you feel like you’re “inside” the show, and during some of the shows the cast will interact with you. Pretty cool. Just one thing to know that if you sit down there, you can’t leave once the show starts. Well, you can, but there is a procedure that the crew will explain to you before the show.

 

We enjoyed our ports of call. Our Pool Cabana in Amber Cove, Patti walking around Old San Juan while I utilized the Cheers Program, and our day at Coki Beach in St. Thomas were all very enjoyable.

 

We love the cabins on this class of ships, even if the bathrooms are a little smaller. On all four of our XL cruises, we have had extended balconies on the “hump”. I believe that these are the only balconies on the ship, other than the cove balconies, that you can look down directly to the water. We will have the same cabin that we had on this cruise (11358), when we sail on the Jubilee next year. 

 

As far as embarkation and debarkation went, it was as almost perfect as it could possibly be. I would highly recommend that you get passports if you haven’t already. Though not needed to travel on these cruises, getting through customs is a breeze if you have one. Step up to the facial recognition and you’re out of there. If not, you’ll have to wait in what could be a lengthy line to see an agent. It’s your choice. 

 

Patti and I are not crazy about sailing from Miami anymore. For us, Port Canaveral is much easier, since most of the time we drive to Florida, and can save about eight hours of driving by cruising from there. I also know that it’s much easier to fly to Miami to board a ship, than it is to fly to Orlando for PC departures. Whatever works best for you. 

 

My mind has gone blank, so if you have any questions at all we’ll be more than happy to answer them for you. If I think of anything else, I’ll be sure to post it.

 

And now here are our future cruise plans. On April 14th 2024, we will be back in Port Canaveral for B2B cruises on the Carnival Vista to the Eastern and Southern Caribbean. We have the same Havana inside cabin booked for both legs. Two weeks of the “Havana Experience”. Sweet! Based on our experience with Cheers on the Celebration, we will be purchasing Cheers once again!

 

Then on August 31st  2024, we will be boarding The Carnival Venezia from our homeport of New York, on B2B cruises to Bermuda and Canada. It just so happens that Lee Mason will be boarding the ship the same day as us, to take over as Cruise Director. It should be fun.

 

2025 will be a special year for cruising for us. To start off, we will be making a mega road trip that will take us to New Orleans and Galveston, two ports we haven’t sailed from, on two ships we haven’t sailed on. On March 31st, 2025 we will be boarding the Carnival Valor in New Orleans for B2B 5 day cruises to the Western Caribbean. Upon return we will head over to Galveston where on the next day, April 12th, 2025 we will board the Carnival Jubilee on a 7 day cruise to the Western Caribbean. That should be some adventure!

 

Then in September we will be flying out to Seattle, where on September 26th, 2025 we will be boarding the Carnival Spirit for a 15 day cruise to Hawaii. It will be great to go there once again! Will any of you be sailing with us? If not, we’ll be bringing the cruise to you! 

 

Before I end this, I have to thank my beautiful wife Patti. I couldn’t do these adventures, these reviews, or live life without her. She is my best friend, my rock, and a heck of a photographer! 

 

Speaking of photography, the photos you see on these reviews are only a small portion of all the photos Patti takes during our cruises. If you would like to see the whole package, there is a link in my signature for our Cruise and Vacation albums. Feel free to check them out if you are so inclined. 

 

So, until next time, may you have blue skies and calm seas!!!

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rwest898

rwest898

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I enjoyed your review Jeff. Your cruise on the 14th of April starts on my birthday 🎂.  Keith and I will be on the Miracle going to Hawaii but will read your review when we return.  Enjoy your cruises!

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Jamman54 Great Review Rare

Jamman54

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8 minutes ago, rwest898 said:

I enjoyed your review Jeff. Your cruise on the 14th of April starts on my birthday 🎂.  Keith and I will be on the Miracle going to Hawaii but will read your review when we return.  Enjoy your cruises!

Thanks Rhonda! I will raise a birthday toast to you from the Havana Bar on embarkation day! :classic_smile:

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carolinagalcruise2011

carolinagalcruise2011

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Thank you for another great review! I have enjoyed reading them over the years. I always laugh when I see your comments on passing that South of the Border. It was nothing special over 30 years ago when I was a kid and my family stopped by to check it out. I’m surprised it is still in business! Looking forward to your April review!

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Jamman54 Great Review Rare

Jamman54

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10 minutes ago, carolinagalcruise2011 said:

Thank you for another great review! I have enjoyed reading them over the years. I always laugh when I see your comments on passing that South of the Border. It was nothing special over 30 years ago when I was a kid and my family stopped by to check it out. I’m surprised it is still in business! Looking forward to your April review!

Thanks for reading! I first stopped at South of the Border in 1973 while heading down to Fort Lauderdale for Spring break. It was a dump then! 😁

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Frank12

Frank12

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15 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

Thanks for reading! I first stopped at South of the Border in 1973 while heading down to Fort Lauderdale for Spring break. It was a dump then! 😁

Once a dump.....🤣

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Jamman54 Great Review Rare

Jamman54

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6 minutes ago, Colorado Beach Bum said:

Great review Jamman54.  Really enjoyed following along. You got us ready for our Celebration cruise on Sunday. 

She's a great ship. Have a great cruise! 😎

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Jamman54 Great Review Rare

Jamman54

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2 minutes ago, Webecruzen said:

Great review!  Thank you and Patti for all your time and work on helping us relive a much needed great week with great people.  

We're so glad that things finally worked out and you were able to go.😎

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