BeachLoverstoo

Since you don't know the club schedule until you are on board, it would be impossible to book in advance. One night there were no comedians, other nights there were four shows. There aren't two lines, with the ticket system we had no lines. We left the theater after the 8:15 show and headed down to the comedy club where we saw the sign at the lounge to get tickets (These were laminated cards printed with the group letter). We probably sat there for 10 - 15 minutes when they called the first group.

We had it on the Magic in May and it worked well. The previous situation with a line up that blocked the passageway and couldn't have been beneficial to the piano bar customers was eliminated. We waited a few minutes in the lounge and soon they only had SRO tickets left. Better to find that out then, than to wait in the line only to have no seat. There was no mad dash to the door. as they called each group number, those folks went out a side door to the comedy club and handed over their tickets at the enntrance. It was a nice setup we thought. We were able to get seats where we usually sit.

We did a B2B on Magic with a 7-day Western and 8-day Southern. With that we had different comedians and different Port of Call items on the menu. We had Dr. E for CD and for those who like his style, I'd think the muster drill would be tolerable. We never felt like, been there, done that because there really is a lot to see and do on that ship.

Yes. One gift per platinum guest. But you will get chocolate covered strawberries, which you might be willing to share. We think the free wash and fold laundry is the best perk and I don't think they care if it is the card holder's clothes or someone else's. LOL

In Aruba we did Trikes Aruba. It's a bit pricey, but a one-of-a kind experience. DH didn't stop smiling for days. This is not a rent and go on your own. There are several other bikes with a guide leading the way in a dune buggy and one following up to keep the group together. Whether you ride a motorcycle or not, it is a breeze to do and it is one of our top five excursions..

We also recommend Jack's Shack for a nice beach day.

In Curacao we walked away from the port area to the town, crossing the amazing bridge, for shopping.

Radisson is our hotel of choice and the night before the cruise, we walked over to the Preacher Bar for drinks and dinner at a mostly local spot.

Towel Critter, in your case I might be ready to get off too. However, our B2B was 15 days, with a western, then a southern. We went to several new ports and with the Ports of Call menu items, even that was really a difference. We often found items on the menu the first week that we couldn't get to, so a second chance was great. We did some shows both weeks, saw different comedians and never felt like it was a rerun. I put all the praise on hubby who found these two cruises and since we got back realize how unique they were.

Booked b2b Paradise in September. Couldn't get the same cabin.

It's not that much of a hassle. We talked with our cabin steward from week one, who Ditka was the week two steward. We were just one deck lower on the second leg and when i kindly offered to just slide our bags down the edge and onto the balcony of the other cabin Ditka said he had some rope to use. It was so easy. We packed up our toiletries and things in the drawers, everything else was taken on hangars.

We met in the MDR (there were 62 B2Bers) where they had coffee, juice and pastries. We gave up the old card (which we got back), walked off the ship, showed our passports, turned in our customs forms and back on board with brand new cards. They gave us champagne, mimosas, etc. We had a group picture taken and then we were free to explore the ship.

No transportation arranged yet. Looking at some private services instead of goportcanaveral. Thought a private service could get us there quicker. Also, there is a RC ship disembarking that morning and 3 Carnival ships. How crazy will the traffic be?

If you are off early it shouldn't be terrible. RCL had already docked and Carnival Liberty was pulling in about 6:30. Shuttles were everywhere, but not at the Magic as this seemed to be unexpected. DH called the hotel and the shuttle arrived in probably 10 or 15 minutes. We were in our car and on the road at 7:15.

Does anyone know how responsive the steakhouse generally is to dietary restrictions such as "seafood only"? It sounds like you're saying that we should let them know so they *omit* portions of the meal that they would normally offer us.

 

From that I'm getting the impression that they don't adjust what they offer in any way to such dietary restrictions. While we didn't eat at the specialty restaurant on the Disney Dream the main dining room adjusted what they offered us quite significantly. I'm a little surprised that a specialty restaurant on another Cruise Line wouldn't do something comparable..

I think they are accommodating to the needs of guests, but I also think you need to notify the host in advance. They generally bring out a tray with all the menu options (ie. steaks, lamb), but you can ask them not to do that.

The appetizers offered will give you plenty of options: shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, lobster bisque, plus of course salads, and then you can choose fish or lobster as your main.

I'd suggest you save room for dessert, but so far I've never been able to do that!

I think it was due to the captain's vacation beginning, but last month on Magic we did self-assist and walked off the ship at 6:25!

If you are trying to make an early flight, I would recommend doing self-assist. You have your baggage and can be on your way much faster. Do you have transportation arranged?

Port Canaveral has always been an easy port for us because there really aren't problems with late arrival.

Last month when we ordered a drink at Cucina, the waiter had to go to another area to get it. When we ordered wine at dinner, it took forever for the bottle to arrive. They have wine bottles on display, but i didn't see any type of bar and our experience leads me to believe you couldn't just order a drink there like you can at the steakhouse.

We were also on the Magic 5/13 and it wasn't open. Not listed in the Fun times, but we were checking out the coffee shop and noticed it was not set up. I'm not sure why, it was open on sea days. Also open from 11 - 12:30 on Tuesday when we docked in San Juan at 1

There are two lines, they serve you so the line moves quickly. The day we went we got our food, headed back up to Deck 11 and grabbed an adult beverage to enjoy while listening to music.

I asked about this on John's page and he said send photos we had taken to an e-mail address (Can't find that). Within hours our 1980 Festivale cruise was added. We had a post card of the ship, two posed photos with the name of the ship in the corner and a couple with the ship's name on the background. I'd suggest you ask

Just back from Carnival Magic 5/13/17 sailing and have to say there were few attendees at the event, but I'm guessing it was because few received invitations. It was not listed in the Fun Times. We were visiting with someone from another site who mentioned her daughter didn't get her invite. We didn't, but since she told us the time and place, we dropped by. A woman with a clipboard asked for our invitation and we said we didn't get it, but we had signed up. She made a call and then let us enter. Maybe 10 - 12 people were in the Piano bar. The only crew member was Dr. E. He shook hands with a few people and left. No offer of snacks or beverages. We won't be signing up for this again.

We are a party of 12 in six cabins, 5 in cove balconies and 1 in an inside spa room. .

How were the cove balconies? We have one next week and I'm getting a bit worried because of complaints of a sewer smell on the balcony. We live on ours, so I'd hate to find it unusable.

We are on the Magic next week. We discovered on our B2B last year that the Italian restaurant is a great place for lunch the first day. Few people realize it is there and free. A completely different menu from at night, but really good food, and did I mention, it's not crowded!

Another question, if I never get a confirmation, I am just going to assume I don't have a reservation. If for some reason they DO have me down, and I don't show up (because I didn't know!) will I still be charged? I don't want to have to fuss with chasing down some maitre de on embarkation day to check if they have me down or not, but I also don't want to get charged for being a no show.

 

 

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No you won't be charged if you are a no show. They only bill at the end of the meal. You should get a card in your cabin so no need to chase down anyone, though a trip to the steakhouse is not the same as trying to meet the maitre de for MDR seating. We usually walk around the ship that first afternoon just to check it out and there's never been a crowd at the steakhouse like there can be at the MDR.

I think the uncomfortable part comes when you are seated at a larger table and the waiters wait for the no shows.(Sometimes they are just late, other times they never arrive.) Since it would be your own children, you could tell the waiters to go ahead and begin service. We've had that when we did fixed dining and it can be not only uncomfortable for the guests, it puts the waitstaff off. As to YTD guests at your table, that doesn't happen as there are separate dining areas and on larger ships different dining rooms for YTD.

Last year on the Magic for our 1st B2B, there were 62 guests staying for a second week. We got the instructions, and the transit card if you wanted to get off the ship and return, the night before. We met in the MDR where they had coffee and pastries. A crew member took our old cards, led us off the ship through customs and immigration where no one even glanced at our documents. as we lined up to go back on board, we got our new cards. In the atrium we were served champagne, mimosas, etc. They took a group picture which was delivered to our cabin at no cost. We were able to go directly to our cabins. We did have to switch cabins, but that was painless. We talked with both cabin stewards, followed their directions to pack things from the drawers and bathroom. All our hanging things were moved by them. Midweek we got a fruit basket and bottle of champagne. We loved the experience and have another B2B this year.

 

Other thing is the Trikes are expensive ... we would each want our own so it will be $380/2 ... so doing a few water sports would most likely be better ....

 

Or we could rent a car and do our own tour ... choices choices ....

 

Between those options, what do you guys think????

 

Thanks for your thoughts

We did the trikes last November. You might consider just one trike and switch drivers part way through. It was an option. It is a great tour and the looks you get from others as you zoom through is priceless. Cars stopped and drivers waved and flashed their lights for us to go on as a group. Roundabouts were a breeze with other drivers so courteous, something we don't see much here at home! People came up at the stops to ask how we got this tour.

tvlworm, thanks for the info. We enjoyed our Sensation cruise too. I'm trying to get more info on the hotel stay that gets you passes to Atlantis. Our son and his family will visit Nassau on the Ectasy with three kids and I wondered if you had to book two rooms to get five wristbands. I think it would still be a savings, but thought I'd ask how you did this.TIA.

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We parked at the port last year and that was a good thing. The Elation was delayed in debarkation and you couldn't drop off luggage as usual. As DH was unloading our one suitcase, a porter came by and took it for us. We walked to the terminal and had a bit of a wait since no one could board. When we returned, it was so easy to get back to our car and be on the road.

I have looked and I can't find an answer to this question regarding a B2B cruise. We are doing a B2B in Feb 2018 on the Glory, for the 1st week we are in one of the front Ocean views on deck 9, for the 2nd week we are moving to a balcony room next to friends that are coming with us. After we go off ship, through customs and are brought back on, are we allowed to go directly to our cabin or do we have to wait until 1:30 like everyone else?

From our experience last year where we had two different cabins for our first B2B: We asked our cabin steward about the process. He told us what to expect and then gave us the name of our other steward. We went to meet with him and he said the two would work together. As others have stated, all we did was pack the things in the drawers and bathroom. The first steward removed all the hang up items and sent them to the new cabin and they were inside when we arrived. We had 62 B2Bers on our cruise. We met in the MDR for coffee and snacks at 10. Our old cards were taken, we walked off the ship through customs and immigration, we were given our new cards and met with champagne and a Welcome Back sign. They took a group picture and then we were free to explore the ship or, in our case go to our new cabin. We didn't have to wait at all. They really work to get those B2B cabins done first.

We kind of prefer getting a larger table for more conversation. It's more fun to meet new people. When you go to the MDR, they will ask your preference. The only problem with getting a larger table is that they sometimes don't take your orders until the whole table is filled.

We were at an 8-top one night and our servers, having taken care of us all week, suggested that the could bring us a cheese plate while we waited. Soon another couple arrived and they ordered a fruit plate. We didn't have a long wait to fill the table, but it was a nice gesture from the wait staff.

A polo shirt and khaki's are fine for him, whether it's pants or shorts. I've seen people dine there with t-shirts and shorts. It doesn't bother me, come wearing with you are comfortable with. Enjoy the cruise.

When we made reservations, the hostess told us no shorts at the steakhouse, even for the first night. Now the MDR, it seems anything goes, but I'd hate to see the kid to be turned away.

He will love the experience, foodie or just a hungry teen. The amuse bouche is a nice touch. All the courses make for a long, but lovely celebration.