Cruise to Nowhere

[SeaTrailer]

Read in our Sunday's paper that the Carnival Triumph is doing a cruise to nowhere out of Norfolk, VA on June 11th. Our aniversary is June 10th. Anyone have experience with a short cruise like this. Is it worth it?

 

Thanks

[MrPete]

Me personally? TOO QUICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Even 7 day cruises are too quick.

[Snowball]

I just got back Sunday from the Carnival Legend's cruise to nowhere out of NYC. Although the CTN was a lot of fun, I don't think I would do it again. You find yourself in such a rush to fit in everything you want to do (which is just impossible) and you end up jumping from one place to the next and never really get to relax. It was a nice weekend trip, and I had a great time because we had lots of cc friends on the cruise, but time just flew by and it was over way too quick. JMHO.

[ebonybee]

have taken the Victory out of Norfolk twice on these "NoWhere Cruises." I'm also booked to go on Miracle this Sunday-also a two day cruise. I like them as a short get away and if you don't have high expectations for service. You pay the tip with the cruise fare-$20.00 pp, so given this service has always been difficult to find. On our last one-cabin was not service. Dining room service was also non-existent and I'm in no way a person who likes to be waited on hand and foot.

 

Daughter and I always havea marvelous time-entertainment quality is high. Plus, an unexpected surprise-our neighbors. It was like an all night party. Food was the same, but I don't cruise for the food. I find a lot of people who would go to Vegas or Atlantic City takes these cruises for gambling purposes. I don't gamble!

 

You carry on/off your own luggage-an overnight case for me. I utilize the gym/hot tubs/steam rooms/ etc,. Buy $10.00 watches and cruise ship T-shirts for my great nieces/nephews.

 

Recommendation-Book the latest possible. This is the third time the price has dropped and dropped significantly. Originally, booked at $349.00 for balcony cabin. Price is today is $249.00. If it drops after final payment, Carnival only like to give upgrades not refunds.

 

I say, take it only as a short weekend getaway. Do it for an anniversary, only if your spouse has a sense of humor and don't expect perfection. Service will not be as normal.

[serene56]

I, too was on the Legend this past weekend to nowhere. I paid a lot less then other people who sailed the ship I guess since I booked over a year ago. By the time we sailed the ship was sold out months ago. (I wouldnt wait til the last minute)

This was my second cruise to nowhere and I think I rather pay the money to go somewhere. 2 days is just not enough. By the time we got checked in and got our cabin keys and got situated in the cabin it was time for the muster drill then time to eat....the whole weekend felt rushed rushed.

Yes, the casino was crowded but there are 2 different shows the whole weekend plus the two midnight comedians.

The above poster stated about service. Service in the dining room was very great to a point. (only offered drinks on Friday night--nothing on Saturday. and only one round of bread on Friday and again nothing on Saturday. The cabin steward-- i dont think we had one as the cabin was not made up that whole time. (thank god it was only 2 days..lol) Tips are prepaid with final payment and you can not adjust these at the pursers desk like on longer cruises/

[idiebabe]

I just came back from the CTN on the Legend as well. I also had a previous one a year ago June on the Victory. I think they are definitely too short but it is a nice weekend getaway. I also booked very early and had an unbelievable rate on a balcony on the Empress Deck.

 

My experience was different than the above poster. We had excellent service in the Dining Room both nights and our Room Steward was AWESOME!!! The only negative I found was the weather sailing in October as opposed to the one we did in June. It was too cold and windy for the Lido Deck outside and that kept everyone inside the ship at all times. If I do another CTN, I would go in the warmer months.

 

We had friends with us who never sailed before and they are already planning their next cruise. It was a fun weekend!!!

[Cotton]

I won't do a CTN again. I enjoyed just being out in the Gulf for two days, but it was very different from a normal cruise. Mine was a spur-of-the-moment cruise that Carnival put together in a really big hurry, due to hurricane fiascos. This was on the Holiday on 9/18.

 

I enjoyed the two production shows, and was surprised that they offered both, one each night. (There was lobster, of course.) I don't know about other CTNs, but this one was open seating in the dining room, and I don't like that at all.:rolleyes:

 

I realize this cruise was put together in two days, so probably the long-planned CTNs are more organized. I still enjoyed it; just too much trouble for such a short period of time, my opinion.

[serene56]

I just came back from the CTN on the Legend as well. I also had a previous one a year ago June on the Victory. I think they are definitely too short but it is a nice weekend getaway. I also booked very early and had an unbelievable rate on a balcony on the Empress Deck.

 

My experience was different than the above poster. We had excellent service in the Dining Room both nights and our Room Steward was AWESOME!!! The only negative I found was the weather sailing in October as opposed to the one we did in June. It was too cold and windy for the Lido Deck outside and that kept everyone inside the ship at all times. If I do another CTN, I would go in the warmer months.

 

We had friends with us who never sailed before and they are already planning their next cruise. It was a fun weekend!!!

 

 

Thats kewl that your friends didnt base that first cruise to nowhere on furture trips- I spoke to a lot of people and would say 9 outt of every 10 I spoke to said no more. Sailing ot of New York is different from sailing from Florida...and check in is a lot smoother for longer cruises...but these people needed to give the cruiseline a break...the legend did run 2 hours behind the whole day it seemed. They just docked when we got there at 10am. Documents said 2:30-so we got started at 2pm it was still early.

[dolfinmusic]

I too just came back for the Legend CTN. If I had the money and lived close to port - I would do it again for sure! I loved being on the Legend again!! I thought we had great service the whole weekend!! Cabin steward and waiter were great! We had drink service both nights in the dining room and rolls both nights. I had so much fun though getting to know everyone on CC that was going and then meeting them in person! Plus rooming with 2 new friends that I met off of CC!! I would love to do one again!!! My only advice would be to just go for it and try it out yourself!!!

 

Terri

[SeaTrailer]

Thanks to everyone for the replys. Really good feedback! I have not heard back from my TA on a price. We shall see and then decide. It would sure be nice being able to drive rather than board a plane.

 

Thanks again.

[helen/steve]

Serene56

 

you said that you had drink coupons. did you get does online or at the ship.

are drinks cheaper like that (getting coupons )

 

helen

 

 

 

Miracle CTN 11/04

Grand Princess 7/04

Century 10/03

[palmtre2]

Just wondering about the NYC port - did you stay over nite or drive up in the morning?? We'll be in the same situation as you, coming from SJ. How was traffic, drop off at the port, embarkation.......

[Snowball]

Palmtre2 - I drove to the CTN with dolfinmusic and the rest of our roomies. We left from Philly around 8:30, and arrived at the port by 10:30 - encountered no traffic problems at all. In fact we were all surprised by how easy it was. We parked at the pier which is $24 a day.

 

Embarkation was a mess - the ship arrived in port late, so we had to wait for the previous week's cruisers to disembark, plus the port employees were extremely disorganized. When you arrived at the port and checked in you were told to wait pier 92 (even though the ship was in port 88) and were given a number, and they would use those number in order to call groups for boarding. Well, we were in the first group (number 40) and when our number was called we were instructed to line up and walk (with our luggage) over to pier 88. Once we arrived at pier 88 it was chaos - there were tons of people over there checking in and they didn't know where to put us. We should have been the first ones on the ship, but they made us get in line behind people that arrived way after us, and went directly to pier 88 instead of pier 92 as we were told to do.

 

It was very aggravating to say the least,:mad: but we didn't let it spoil our fun. So after arriving at the port by 10:30, we finally got on the ship around 2:00.

[jfritz126]

I also was on the Legend CTN this past weekend. Yes.....I would definitely do it again but probably not out of NY in October. The water was just too rough for me to enjoy!!! But it was great being on the ship with all the activities, the casino, the bars!!!!!!!!!!! We had a blast....when we weren't feeling rough!!!!!

[serene56]

you said that you had drink coupons. did you get does online or at the ship.are drinks cheaper like that (getting coupons )

 

 

Drink coupons can be had off the http://www.carnival.com click on gifts its in there. you get 4 coupons for 20 bucks. If you do the fancy frozen foo-foo drinks its worth it. If you drink 16 oz beers its worth it (thanks to Jill for that info) Coupons are good for any drinks up to 4.95 and the coupon already includes the 15% gratuity. If you drink regular mixed drinks like rum and cokes or bloody marys- use your sign and sale card.

Mostly drink coupons saves your sign and sail bill at the end as they are prepaid. Here is a bar menu to check prices of what you may want to drink.

http://community.webshots.com/album/37944457xihAnV

Prices are the same on all the Carnival ships.

[BK300]

They hold us over between long cruises. I book all I can that depart locally. ;)