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Got back Sunday from our 4/22 cruise on the Dream. I've never known of so many medical evacuations on one cruise. In Key West from my balcony saw an ambulance on the pier by the gangplank. After about 20 minutes the EMT's rolled out a gurney with a person on it who had the sheet up over their head. I would like to think this was because they didn't want people staring at them, not that they were dead. Ambulance was in no hurry leaving, no lights or sirens. About an hour later another ambulance pulled up. They were in and out of the ship quickly with a person on the gurney, left in a hurry with sirens and lights. Then Freeport where departure was delayed as they had to wait on an ambulance to pick up a person who needed medical attention. Then Saturday morning. A Coast Guard helicopter attempted to do an airlift in a strong storm - lightning, heavy rain, strong winds. We saw the copter from our table in the MDR where we were seated by the window. The ship listed several times so much we had to grab our dishes and glasses to keep them from sliding off the table. A large tray of clean silverware on top of a cabinet slid off onto the floor with a loud crash. We watched the copter struggle, flying around the ship several times, once almost going into the water! It had landed a crew member and the basket, but that was all. Later I saw a video of the attempt to evacuate the passenger. The cable was attached to the basket, they tried once to pull it up, but after raising it about a foot off the deck they dropped it back down, which gave the passenger a bad jolt! They gave up. Later that afternoon when it had turned into a beautiful day with clear skies and very little wind the copter returned and successfully took the passenger and crew member off. Hope all those evacuated are now in good health and back home. And I hope I never have to be airlifted off a cruise.

On the cruise on the Dream we just took last week, it was TBA and getting close to time to go. I hadn't received an email from Carnival telling me I had been assigned a cabin and giving me the number. I happened to check my account on Carnival's website, looked at Booking Details, and it showed a cabin number!!! The cabin number was on my Boarding Pass, too, so figured it wasn't a mistake. And it was actually a pretty good cabin, unlike the one we had our on cruise in January on the Dream which was also TBA. It was on deck 6, just above the smokers' area on deck 5, among other issues. I was surprised Guest Services would take my calls after a while, I complained so much. I know it's a gamble when you do TBA to save a little - you have to take whatever you get, so it's great when it turns out good.

My husband and I will be turning Diamond on our cruise next week. I see the list of perks, but can someone give me details? To get the speciality dinner, do you just call to make a reservation or do you have to go through guest services? On the upgrade, how far in advance of your cruise do you have to request it? Anything else I should know about?

That's great to hear! Thanks -

I have a cruise scheduled on Jubilee next year. Does anyone know if there is a non-smoking casino on it? None show on the deck plans, but then Dream has one and it doesn't show on its deck plans!

Is priority luggage delivery to cabin no longer a perk? I don't find it on the list. Used to get mine right away, cruise on Dream in September and November didn't get it until after 3:00.

Too bad they no longer have Crown on any ships. My husband's favorite was Crown and water. Now it's Woodford and water. He says it's not as good as Crown.

I'm sensitive to scents, especially in clothes. I have never detected the slightest scent in the laundry that's returned. The free laundry is my favorite Platinum perk. I doubt the clothes are washed in hot water - that would be more costly than cold. Same with over-drying. It's mostly my husband's clothes - underwear, socks, jeans and shorts - that are laundered. Sometimes my capris. I certainly wouldn't put anything delicate in there. The clothes are folded so nicely it's almost like they've been ironed. I've never had anything shrunk or stained. On our cruise last week the clothes were still warm when I took them out of the bag.

I don't know what you'll do without a cell phone. You have to use it to check in for YTD, you'll get a message when your table is ready. Also, for breakfast and Sea Day Brunch in MDR you have to check in to get a table number and find out when your table is ready. Also, the menus are on it, but you can ask for a printed one, as well as activities during the day - no more printed Fun Times unless you go to Guest Services each day and get one. You can no longer get your account summary or menus or other information on the TV. It takes some getting used to but overall it's an improvement from the piles of printed information you used to get in your cabin. I'm sure there must be other passengers without cell phones. Visit Guest Services when you board to find out your options.

On our November 5 cruise we were very frustrated trying to make breakfast and dinner reservations using the HUB, wouldn't let us access the reservation feature, always got no wi-fi connection message. Went to dining room to get reservations and instructions on how to make reservations. Even went to Guest Services for help, we are in our 70's and not at all tech savvy. Finally, on Thursday we discovered we couldn't get the wi-fi connection in our cabin! I know, slow learners, but no one helping us suggested this might be the case. Maybe it's not all cabins - on our September cruise we didn't have this problem. Now we know!

I'm ordering two of these today! Why did Carnival do away with trays? Getting lunch or breakfast on Lido is a challenge even with both hands free - dinner plate, salad plate, bowl, utensils, cup, dessert plate. A lot to fit on a tray, but impossible to get it all in one trip without one. Thanks for the tip.

Our room was ready when we boarded, but luggage wasn't delivered until 3. The waiting area for Diamond, Platinum and Suites was small and very crowded, no place for us to sit. On our Nov. 5 cruise there was a small area cordoned off, not enough room for everyone to sit. Priority check-in and boarding, which was nice to have back.

I think that's not true. How would they sort out clothes if they put several people's in one bag? And why would they use hot water when it would be an extra expense? The laundry service is probably my favorite plus of being Platinum. Same day service, the clothes are folded so nicely they look like they've been ironed. Nothing has ever been damaged or stained. First we just used it for my husband's stuff, now use it for mine, too. I wouldn't put a fancy top in, but everything else is fine. I keep seeing this about the hot water and putting clothes all together - I think this is from people who have never used the laundry service. Like people who denigrate Carnival when they've never cruised on it.

We will be in Nassau next month and would like to go to Ardastra Gardens. Would like to hear from those who have been and what they think about it. Also, how difficult is it to get a taxi at the pier?

We will be in Nassau next month and would like to go to Ardastra Gardens. How difficult is it to get a taxi at the pier?