Carnival Victory forward inside cabins

[NCTribeFan]

Here's what I'm thinking...

 

Looking at sailing on the Victory's Southern Carib itinerary. Since there are no sea days, I'm happy with an inside cabin.

 

I'm curious about those inside cabins all the way forward on Upper, Empress, Lido and Panorama.

 

I've had motion sickness in the past, but not on my last two cruises after adding Ginger to Bonine, so I hope being all the way forward won't be an issue!

 

It looks like you'd have easy access to those forward decks through the not-so-secret doors. It also looks like some of the end cabins might have more space due to the irregular shape of the cabins. Haven't found any photos of these cabins and would be very interested in seeing the layout.

 

I'm fine with the two twins as I sail with DD or a friend and twins are what we need anyway.

 

Anyone have any info on these and any recommendations? Due to the prior motion sickness issues, would Upper or Empress be better than the higher two decks?

 

Thanks.

[NCTribeFan]

OK, still hunting for pics of any of these cabins and realized and many/most are wheelchair accessible, so please no lectures on booking a HC cabin if not needed.

 

I've been assigned HC cabins by a PVP and didn't even realize it until boarded, so the problem isn't so much with passengers intentionally taking these cabins as it is being put in them without knowing about. I will gladly give up a HC cabin to anyone who needs it.

 

And it appears that although some sites show these as "insides" that others describe them as OV. I wasn't aware they had windows until I looked on cruisedeckplans.

[serene56]

the handicapped cabins are on the ends. the beds sit headboard to headboard.

These cabins across the front have windows. they were reassigned as insides not too long ago because of the obstruction- you will see no water at all from your cabin-- only a wall.

 

The deck outside of your window can be accessed by the public- BUT no many people know its there- the doors are located off the side of the halls.

 

VERY long walk to get to the foods/ pools EVERY day-- by midweek it got too long.

 

here are pics of the liberty- victory will be the same

http://travel.webshots.com/album/548278080jXyEHP

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks. That's what I thought.

 

We did go out on the forward decks on Glory to check them out. What I would love would be to have a few loungers out there. That was the case on our RCI cruise. We found these very private, forward decks, and sat out there one entire sea day. It was like having a very large balcony at the price of an inside.

 

Since the 1As with the huge windows aren't available, this might be the next best option. I do worry about the motion that far forward.

[serene56]

Those famous 1a's are now classified as 6B's (carnival does read cruise message boards--lol)

 

You could try to put lounce chairs out there-- some cabin steward will come and take them away-- its too windy out there and chairs will be a safety hazzard when they become projectile.:p

 

yep-- there are cameras out there.

[grandmato4]

If seasickness has been an issue for you in the past I would not be doing the far forward cabins on any of the decks as one does feel more motion there. I'm not sure that lower would be that much better. Those forward outside decks through the not so secret doors would be great while you are in port as few people go out on them but while sailing they are VERY very windy. We had a cabin on Lido on the Victory in Feb and loved staying on that deck as its so close to everything else on Lido and had no issues with feeling the motion but our cabin was closer to midship as we were in 9287. Good luck!:)

[NCTribeFan]

Thanks for the info. I suppose I'll just go for an inside if I book this, since it will be an expensive in-port cruise. With almost all the ports being new-to-me, I'll want to see as much of them as possible, and those excursions add up quickly. Of course, I won't have much time to lie around on deck consuming adult beverages, which will help keep the cost down! :D

[serene56]

Thanks for the info. I suppose I'll just go for an inside if I book this, since it will be an expensive in-port cruise. With almost all the ports being new-to-me, I'll want to see as much of them as possible, and those excursions add up quickly. Of course, I won't have much time to lie around on deck consuming adult beverages, which will help keep the cost down! :D

 

 

on the southern cruise-- if you do the excursions with independant vendors then dealing with the cruiselines youwill save enough for those poolside drinks for next cruise.

 

we did the destiny-- used all private vendors in every port

[NCTribeFan]

If I decide to book this, then I'd love for your recommendations as to which vendors to use. Thanks!

[serene56]

A southern cruise out of San Juan is a totally different experince.

Your sailing will have no sea days-- very port intensive so no rest between.

Get back from port-- get ready for dinner then its time for bed since you got an early day the next day.

 

We sailed on the Destiny when it had its problems a few years back.

It was not a good experince and I was very thankful to finally get off the ship. The ports were great though. We did not do antigua or st kitts. we did have sea days and a trip to aruba-- which is the island I fell in love with and cancelled cruises for 2008 so i can do our first land vacation to aruba-- loved it so much that i cancelled out sept 2009 cruise so I can go back

[NCTribeFan]

Yes, I figure I'll need at least two days in San Juan post-cruise to recuperate. I really just want an excuse to go back. Absolutely loved OSJ.

 

If I do the Victory cruise in May, I just might do the Victory CTN from Norfolk in October. I could drive up that morning and only need 1 day vacation. That would put me at Platinum for the Miracle!

 

After that, I may start branching out. I think I could convince a friend or two to sail with me if we went on HAL or Princess. If I'm no longer paying for DD & I, I can go a little more upscale, since I'd be splitting the cabin cost with a friend. I'm perfectly happy on Carnival, though. Suits my needs and my budget well.

[serene56]

I have done two cruises to nowhere- I went when they were cheap. ANd have to agree its the best way to get to platinum.

Our first CTN was on the Regal Rustbucket-- I mean Regal Empress- ship was commissioned in 1952. WOW now that was a cruising experience that ruined my best friends interest in ever cruising again== no matter what she will not get on a ship never ever.

 

Do you live close to those CTN?

[NCTribeFan]

Not close enough!

 

Victory will be out of Norfolk, which is only about 3 hours, I think. Miracle out of NY is way too far to drive just for a CTN. I don't think there are any out of Charleston.

 

DD won a free cruise on Regal Empress (really was a free won; she won it at a ball game; not the timeshare things). If she could've gotten to Ft. L. fairly cheaply, I was all for her going.

 

I actually think sailing her would be fun. My first cruise was Jubilee, which is now gone. Then Empress of the Seas (was Nordic Empress at that time). I absolutely loved those ships, especially Empress, although that inside cabin was miniscule!

 

There just seemed to be more open decking outside and small enough that you had more chance to get to know the crew and other passengers.

 

I just feel sad that the older, smaller ships are leaving the US market, because we must have bigger, newer, more bells and whistles.

 

Sadly, I doubt I'll ever have the funds to sail the smaller ships that are out there now, as they're mostly luxury lines.

[serene56]

Our cruise on Regal was out of Philadelphia-- 20 minute car ride.

 

It rained the whole weekend-- I mean poured.. and nothing was really planned for indoors except one show a night-- which they tried to fit all those people into the showroom for the one show-- it was not a pretty picture-- with all the drinking that was happening.

 

the next one was on the Miracle out of New York-- that was fun. We took the regional rail to get us there.

 

Would do it again if the price came down. Mind you our cruises to nowhere were under 300 total.

 

Regal was 99 pp Last mintue deal- we got the cabin all the way on the front-- all the way on the bottom--remember the weather was horrible. we felt AND heard EVERY single wave we hit.

[NCTribeFan]

Well, I booked it!

 

I was on the phone with my PVP getting $400 off on Miracle (thanks to P1S sale which was any Cat 8 upgraded to 8I, which I'd already booked).

 

When I was considering this originally, it was just a PG upgrade of 2 levels to get the 4G. Now, with the sale code, it is any Cat 4 upgraded to 4G, so I got the 4A price. I chose 7205 because it's above a cabin deck and beneath the bridge. It's the lowest deck I thought I'd want (didn't want to be above the theatre.

 

Of course, I realize I could be moved because it's an HC cabin.

 

Still, for the price, I'm very happy. Now, to book the flight and hotels and figure what to do in all those ports.

 

When I'm back from Fascination in a few weeks, I'd love your input as to which vendors. I'll probably use Papa Bear again in St Thomas, and I've read wonderful things about Cosol in St. Lucia. Other than that, I have no idea. I want to see these "new" ports, but don't want to be exhausted by Day 3, so probaby don't want too much activity. I normally like island tours in new places.

[NCTribeFan]

Serene - I'm ready to do some serious planning now for Victory southern.

 

Do you have recommendations for the ports?

 

I've already booked with Papa Bear in St Thomas, and have emailed Cosol in St Lucia (just need to confirm).

 

To avoid total exhaustion by Day 3, I'd like to stick to island tour type excursions. A beach day would be nice, but since these are "new" ports for me, it seems a waste to not see some of the islands. I do NOT want activity-related excursions, though!

 

I expect it will be: get up, eat breakfast, do island tour, return to ship, eat dinner, sleep!

 

Which is good! That will keep me from spending time in the casino and losing money, since I'll be spending quite a lot with so many excursions!

 

Recommendations?

[serene56]

I expect it will be: get up, eat breakfast, do island tour, return to ship, eat dinner, sleep!?

 

Thats exactly what you will be doing.

 

It will be a different type of cruise compared to what you are used to.

 

When is it you are looking to sail? If the ship does not sell out it will be offered to locals for dirt cheap- Locals rarely get off the ship in the ports so dont expect to sit on a quiet ship either.

 

Booking gurantee is NOT the way to go for this sailing. Victory allows rollaways== you do NOT want to be inbetween cabins that hold 4-5 people because whole families will be in there.

 

In St Thomas we did Godfreytoursvi.com is this your first time to St Thomas? te 2nd time we did the cruiselines tour of St Johns-- amazing.

 

In Barbados we used glorytours.com

 

But we went to Aruba on our cruise-- you got two extra ports swapped out for that island. Let me tell you that because of that cruise to Aruba we exerienced our first land vacation to aruba this past Sept. All I can say is WOW and sorry we waited so long. Came home and cancelled our Pride cruise for next Sept coz I want to go back.

[serene56]

PS-- spend $25.00 each pay and buy a funship dollar. By the time you cruise you will have tons of casino money

[NCTribeFan]

I don't do guarantees. I just know I'll be the one who gets THE worst cabin on a full ship. See above. I ended up with 7205 at the price of a 4A. And since the Ginger seems to have cured my seasickness, I'm not worried about the forward cabin, especially on a cruise like this where the distances between ports isn't great, so they aren't booking along at 21 knots day and night.

 

I was doing some reading today and think it will be Air Force 1 Tours in St Thomas (we went with Papa Bear before and loved him; he still sends me periodic emails just to see how we are);

 

Dominica: Levi (Bumpiing Tours)

 

Barbados: probably Glory tours

 

St. Lucia: Cosol Tours

 

Antigua: either Gordon or Lawrence island tour

 

St. Kitts: Thenford Grey tour

 

So, all island tours. Some have beach stops included. All hit the highlights, but only Cosol in St Lucia is a full day. I think. That should give me a good idea of what the island is like as well as let us see the main attractions, yet still get a little R&R in there, hopefully!

 

I have a credit card (that, unfortunately, has a balance and will definitely get worse once I book the air this week and start booking excursions and hotel pre & post cruise!) that earns points. I can redeem points for Carnival vouchers that I can apply as cruise payments, which is why I've booked directly with Carnival the past couple of sailings. Have to do that to use these vouchers. And I'm now a shareholder, so will get that OBC as well.

 

It won't be cheap, but at least air has come down from what is what a few months ago!

 

Thanks for your help!

[serene56]

Do you use Yapta or Kayak? to check flight prices?

 

I use Yapta to check prices- I put in the flight I am most interested it.

A few months ago our flight to Aruba was over 800 pp round trip. I put in what I wanted and it came down to a reasonable amount. 825.00 round trip for both of us.

 

Kayak lets you see all flights that is within your time frame.

 

I, too like island tours when cruising-especially if I have not ever been to a place. Never were we beach people until Aruba- I find we got bored very quickly..(not so in Aruba.)

 

We are heading to Princess Cay in February and debating to take an island tour of Eltherua or stay on the ship

[NCTribeFan]

I'm using Yapta and have been tracking the flights for several weeks. While I was gone on Fascination, it appears they doubled! But they've come back to where they were. I'm going to go ahead and book before they double and stay there!

 

I will look at Kayak though.

 

My "beach" stop is Half Moon Cay. I'm now trying to figure out how I can get there again without having to wait another two years. Really don't know why Carnival doesn't add it to more itineraries. It is just fantastic.

[ms simba]

I thought I remembered a post that said you had been in Cabin E56?

 

What did you think of it in realtion to:

(1) - Sea-sickness

(2) - length of walk to dining room

(3) - Noise from decks above (was your cabin below the shopping area?)

(4) - Any other comments on this cabin?

[serene56]

I thought I remembered a post that said you had been in Cabin E56?

 

What did you think of it in realtion to:

(1) - Sea-sickness

(2) - length of walk to dining room

(3) - Noise from decks above (was your cabin below the shopping area?)

(4) - Any other comments on this cabin?

 

 

what ship?

E 56 is under the show lounge- youshouldnt get noise from above you- My concern is the white area next door to your cabin- could be a cabin stewards store room-- could get noisy if he opens and closes the door all the time.

 

Dining room? or buffet area?? two completly different places.

BUffet area food/pools is where you will probably spend a considerable amount of time-- and yes its a distance-- its all the way aft.

 

Dinning room is one deck above you-- midship.

Buffet area is Lido deck aft. This ship has dead ends. so if you go all the way to the aft elevators --these will take you stright up to the food / pools

 

If you look to move your cabin-- you do not want to be under the galley- or any kitchen area --like the pizza kitchen which is opened 24 hours a day.

You want to avoid any show lounge staging area-

 

Try to get a cabin that is next to cabins that have no symbol in it.

an Inside cabin on the upper deck as close to the Aft elevators without going passed would be perfect.

 

inside cabins are extremly dark 24 hours a day-

[ms simba]

I thought that "NCTribeFan" had said that they had Cabin E56 on the Elation. I don't know how to email this person so I put the post here.

 

I will be on the Carnival Sensation in October 2009 in E56. Just wondering if I booked an okay room. I chose it because there weren't many to choose form on the Sensation (almost all handicapped cabins on the Empress deck) Don't remember now why we didn't choose those further back such as E20 or E123. I think my PVP said they might be noisy as the Art Gallery is right behind them.

 

I had to choose between being closer to the Fantasy Dining room and near the lounge which are two of the places we will be a lot. I found that the walk from Cabin M298 (on the Inspiration ) was quite far to the lounge where the shows were. So I opted to be close to these two places (Fantasy Dining and Fantasia Lounge). It was a choice of walking a distance to the lounge or walking a distance to the buffet. I figure we can always order room service if we find the walk to long to the buffet area. Hopefully by the time the cruise comes around we will be more fit than we are right now. I'm going to take aqua exercises and also get my sister out walking more before the cruise.

 

Thanks for the info about taking the aft elevators to the Lido deck. I didn't know that the ship has dead ends on my first cruise and had an extremely frustrating time trying to get to the front of the ship from the aft part. I was using a scooter and it was difficult to get on the elevators by yourself. Had other problems with the elevators too because of the scooter.

 

We were really limited as to which Cabin we could choose because we needed a handicapped cabin. I didn't mind the darkness of the inside cabin. Maybe because I have never been in any other kind. Of course, Cabin M298 was very wide and spacious so I was very happy with this cabin. Unfortunately, on the Sensation these cabins (M298 and R298) only have upper and lower bunk beds and we are too old to be climbing.