livinthedream99

We started a tradition years ago, where we pick up a magnet on each new stop, on all vacations. They are inexpensive and always bring a happy memory when I see them. However, I agree that your pictures make a great souvenirs! Just enjoy yourself and try not to stress on your vacation. Best wishes~

We always arrive at dinner with a cocktail! Never had a problem. Enjoy~

Love a price drop! Woot!

Happy 25Th Anniversary! This is on our cruise to do lists. Looking forward to following along! Thanks for sharing. 

We are leaving on the Liberty next Sunday. I have canceled and re-booked our drink package 3x to save $. The lowest I have found since we originally booked, $45. 

We have been given unopened beers to take back to the room. We got to know our bartender well the first day. He found out we liked to watch movies in our room. After the 1st day of my husband running back and forth to the bar, he found us a solution. He would give us a nice (large double pour) of the alcohol of our choice, in one cup and mixer in another cup. He even sent us with limes on the side! We would order a bucket of ice and mix our own drinks during the movie. He was AWESOME! 

Wow, thanks for taking the time to share such detail! We are planning a trip for October of 2019, but I love to start looking at options early. I enjoyed a couple of days in London, a few years ago on a work trip but my husband has never been. We will be on the Inaugural NCL Encore sailing Nov 2019, out of Southampton. We plan to arrive a week or so early to London.This was very helpful! Glad you had a good time~

Our first cruise, we drove down the day of departure. Ended up with car problems on the way. Talk about stress...never again! The next few cruises, we arrived a day early but still left for port early. It always seemed rushed and hauling around our bags, wasn't ideal. The last few cruises we have decided to start our vaca the day we arrive at the hotel. We ask for a late check out and bring a bottle for champagne, for the morning. The morning of, we sleep in and enjoy breakfast. Then, relax in our room with mimosas! By the time we get to the port (around 1pm) we are relaxed and can walk right on, to our room. From there, we head to an uncrowded spot for a late lunch. Seems to work better for us. I am all for those that get there early. Sometimes I wish I could but I am just not an early bird. ;p

My kids usually wear a sweatshirt and use the blankets, but they tend to run cold. The outdoor movies are one of our favorite things on Carnival. We really missed it on our last cruise with NCL. Hope you have a wonderful time!!!

We have one but only use it for travel purchases. I use a 2% cash back card for everything else. I prepay for my drinks package, gratuities, and any extras, before the cruise. That way, I can use the double point for that cruise. If I am getting close to a cruise and need a few extra points to hit a gift card goal, I'll swap to the Carnival card until I hit the goal. I pay both off in full each month.When we go to cruise, I usually have $100-$200 in onboard credits from the Carnival card. The 2% card nets me a decent amount of cash, I consider my casino fun $$$!

Had mine taken this past March, on a cruise out of Galveston. It was the same one I have taken on every cruise without a problem. I managed fine without it but was surprised it was taken.

We are both over packers. My husband just says he keeps his eyes down when dragging all the luggage and don't make eye contact with people staring at all the suitcases. He figures if they are judging us we will not ever see 99% of them again after our cruise.

Dying! :'):') This was us on our last 2 week trip. We did a 9 day out of New Orleans and then met friends in town for the rest of the week. On the way to the cruise, I kept saying, we just have to get to the porter. Don't look anyone in the eye....shame...shame!

We try to avoid that line but sometime you can't, so in the line you wait. When my key card wouldn't work and I couldn't get my 1st vacation cocktail, I braved the line! lol

I'm curious how those that book under 6 months out know they are getting the best deal? Like I said before, I book two years out when bookings open. I can watch the price from the minute I book until the time I sail. If you book six months or less out how do you know what the price was the day bookings opened? I find the 6 months or less window to be the highest prices offered. I booked the Escape way out when she first sailed and it only went up in price. I booked my 15 day Bliss cruise for March 2019 back in May 2017. Never went down a cent but up $1100.00

as of this moment. Unless you know what the price was for a cruise the day it became a Available, you can't be sure you got best deal. Way early and last minute are the best prices in my opinion.

I don't always know if I received the exact lowest price but usually have a pretty good idea of where they started. I start looking 2 years out, to get an idea of prices for any sailings I am interested in booking. I make a note of them for reference. When I am ready to book, I check to see if the prices are still in a range that is comfortable and make a deposit.

I tend to book our cruises during less expensive times of year, which may help. I also try to book promotions I am sent or sales. The price for a cruise I was watching has never gone up more that $20 when I book. By the time we sail, that is another thing! ;)

I do look forward to booking farther in advance, I think you are smart to do so. Our schedules don't always allow for planning that far out. For now, I have to what works for me and hope for the best!

We also enjoy the Solarium Bistro. Although, we may need to try chops next time around!

We usually book within a 6 month window. However, this year we knew we wanted to cruise with out daughter for her Senior year trip, so we looked for that cruise a year out. We also decided we wanted to try an inaugural sailing. We are booked on the Encore Nov 2019. As long as we have cruises on the books, we are happy!

Thanks for taking the time to share you review.

We always dress for dinner in the specialty restaurants, our choice. By no means are we black tie, but we have seen it on board. We dressed for what we considered a "date night". You will see a little bit of everything. Whatever makes you happy... that is the beauty of freestyle cruising! Enjoy~

The ages vary. Newlywed - 10+ - longest married. Most shows we have watched, have multiple couples per age category, compete for applause to gain the spot. If you want in....stand out! lol

It took us 3 cruises before we discovered the Blue Cantina Huevos Rancheros. Once we did, it became and addiction. Lol

We also enjoyed the lunch options in Cucina Cucina. If you enjoy wine with your dinner, I suggest stopping by one of the bars and grabbing a glass on your way into your seating. Sometimes service in the MDR can be slow. This way you can order a 2nd glass for dinner, while enjoying a glass during apps and salad course. Another thing wine related... we found some of the wines we prefered, were only offered in the steakhouse. They have a small bar with seating. They do not mind if you pop in for a drink without dinner reservations. We were often the only people at the bar.

I have cruised on multiple lines and love different things about each one. Carnival is my go to when we cruise with our children. It always has a great vibe and the "included food" options are some of our favorites. The kids love the pizza, clubs, and constant things to do. They have such a good time, we have to schedule time to see them! We love the comedy clubs, dine in movies, trivia, and wonderful staff. Carnival really does bring the FUN!!

We enjoyed it when we were able to purchase. The last few cruises, it has been sold out. The priority customer service perk was a HUGE time saver!!! That line can be outrageous!

Chicken wings in O'Sheehan's (or the equivalent, can sit there for hours, ordering nothing but drinks and chicken wings, lol,) and Sliders on the appetizer menu in the Main Dining Room.

Same on the wings. We ate a ridiculous amount of wings on our last 9 days cruise!

Welcome! This site has been a place to answer my questions and keep me going until my next cruise! Glad to have a place to learn from people who share my same passion. Enjoy~

We take two small battery operated fans and an alarm clock, for the side of the bed tables. We have had a few rooms that seemed to run hot. We could use our phones as an alarm clock, but keeping them in the safe makes me feel like I am on vacation! We also pack a few items from the dollar tree that don't take up much space in luggage, but keep us organized. A pop up hamper, Led push lights, air freshener, collapsible cube to hold medicines etc,and extra batteries. When we come home, I keep them all in a suitcase ready for the next cruise!