Floating Lanai

Hi all. Like Dorisdvu we're also sailing on Magic 10/1, can't wait! Our first time on Carnival. Because of the wonderful reviews of the Steakhouse we booked there one night. Also doing Everyone Loves Rays in Cozumel. Has anyone been there?

 

 

 

Jen

I bet you will book a 2nd night at the steakhouse after your first visit. It's great

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That eighth day makes a huge difference from my opinion. I love it

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Would you rather go to st Thomas and and Amber Cove.

Or go to St Marteen and St Kitts.

The other two ports are the same on both itinerary.

I would prefer the 8 days instead of 7, so it would come down to conquest or sunshine.

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Upgrading to a spa balcony from a regular balcony should be cheaper than if you initially booked a spa room

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I have been considered upgrading to a spa balcony from a normal balcony because I know my wife is interested. However, would there be much of a difference between the two? I know the passes are limited.

The Spa Room would guarantee your spot, if you are worried about missing out on a pass onboard. But doubt you would if you were to get one on embarkation day.

The only differences from a spa room and normal balcony are:

-Spa room comes with slippers and different robe, and different carnival beach towel

-Spa room has slightly different decor and colors

-Spa room has different toiletries, shampoo etc.. that are "spa like"

I think that is it. I have booked an 8p on my past two cruises and my 1 current future booking, for Spa pass mainly. I also like the higher floor, being close to spa and above lido, close to serenity and like the front of the ship etc...

I think sometimes the OBC is per person and sometimes it is per stateroom.

On the 7+ day cruise we take at least $200 cash. $1s for tipping steward and waiters since we do your time dining. And we take even more cash if we booked our excursion direct instead of through carnival, sometimes you pay in cash at arrival. Plus spending money in Port shopping.

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The Cenotes in Cozumel are awesome too

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Maybe don't miss the boat? just kiddin'

Haha

-Don't miss the steakhouse (or guys)

-On decks (I think) 5-7 walk to the very front of the ship, it's an awesome view and very windy but cool

-LFK is a must do in Roatan

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Mahogany bay is one of the best ports in all of the Caribbean, due to LFK in my opinion. But the other three stops are nothing to write home about when compared to Roatan, or places like grand Turk. I would always welcome going to Mahogany Bay, and Magic is a cool ship but 75% of itinerary is weak.

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The Magic is a great ship, I would say a must do is the steakhouse but understand not going if the MDR is doing the job for you. Thanks for your review.

The Steakhouse is outstanding. My wife thought the Lobster Bisque and the Sea Bass was some of the best she has ever eaten.

The bisque on carnival is amazing.

The whole steakhouse experience is amazing. 4 course meal, great value at low cost, delicious and large meal. You can even take desert back to the room.

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My wife's is the blue margarita. If I'm on the lido and it's really hot I actually like a beer over ice with some beer salt.

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Yea I definitely recommend booking LFK directly through them and not the ship. You get there much earlier than the cruise tour and can stay much later.

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I've been on planes with no windows in rear facing seats. The thought of that was weird but it wasn't bad.

With cruises I've actually never thought about which way I'm facing, thinking about it now I believe my last cruise was rear facing bed. Don't think it made a difference.

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Le Meridien...great location but parking there is very expensive.

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LFK is the best. Take towel and some cash to tip the bartenders and other guys helping make that place awesome

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Seems like carnival is always pinching pennies, cutting cost and trying to save money some where. But prices do not reflect as they continue to increase.

I dont mind cutting cost in certain places, like only 1 lobster night in the MDR. I dont mind paying for a lobster in the steakhouse. But cutting cost in terms of employees and service....if the thinking behind 1 time cabin servicing a day is giving stewards more rooms and dropping the number of total employees, that is unfortunate for spoiled cruise goers, and will be difficult with these bigger ships.

Just curious - if you are booking now for the 2017 cruise, did you also book the 2015 cruise 12 months or so out?

 

This is interesting as Aruba cruises are some of the most expensive out there. I'm not sure I'm willing to pay an $800 premium to get on the Vista in 2017. I certainly could be wrong, but I don't remember the other ships holding that new ship value for that long.

I think we planned that far out but did not book that far out. We met an awesome large group of people on our 2015 cruise and are planning this 2017 cruise with the same group. But now looking further into this, the Splendor and Magic have the same Itinerary a little later in September for $1k less than the vista.

I'm assuming you are looking at the final bill, so maybe you cannot answer these questions.

 

Were they sailing from the same port?

Also there are different stops on your Vista cruise which may result in higher port fees at those stops?

 

Agree with others that the Vista is in high demand.

Yes both Miami

Gotta give Carnival props....FTTF may be Carnivals single greatest marketing tool that they have ever come up with....think about it, they have so ingrained this gimmick, that you have people who at least say "I wont sail without it"....LOL....You going to give up a cruise vacation costing roughly $2000-$3000 because of a $60 item....that is friggin brilliant on their part!!!!

I don't think people are willing to lose that amount of money for FTTF, of course that's crazy.

But I do think people would reschedule or even upgrade to a suite for certain perks offered in FTTF.

For me, getting on early with literally hours to have the ship fairly empty is of high value. I knock down the slides so I don't have to worry about lines in the week, that's 1 thing down without a line. We grab burgers, settle in the room, explore the ship and start drinking all with empty halls and no hassle. It's a great value for $60 and really makes the cruise especially the beginning much better, so I don't mind refreshing my comp or checking daily. I wouldn't cancel without it, I wouldn't reschedule but I would consider a suite upgrade if one were available.

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I wouldn't wait for a reply, I would keep checking. People can cancel FTTF at any time and I don't believe that they would "save" it for you.

Of course! I check every day.

I don't really understand your question...

Not really asking a specific question. I am not even upset with the difference either. Just an observation and wanted to share. If there is a question, it would be more on other people seeing similar things. Or since we can easily see new, shiny and "bells and whistles" then how much of this is fluctuation if any at all.

Looks like the address works with an auto reply, I got the same not as the above two. Now we will wait and see if there is a response within 10 days or at all.

Hi,

I was going through old cruise emails between myself and TA, and excursion hosts at various ports. I decided to do a quick price comparison.

Aug 29 2015 8 day Breeze Cruise

Grand Turk

La Romana

Curacao

Aruba

Sept 9 2017 8 day Vista Cruise

Grand Turk

San Juan

St Kitts

St Maarten

I booked the same 8P category, on the same floor (11) and same amount of days with similar itineraries. The Vista is also sailing 1 week later in the season. But the vista is $800 more than what I paid for the Breeze cruise. The OBC i am getting with Vista is only $75 more than what I got with Breeze.

I can easily amount (at least a majority of) the difference to the newer ship, Breeze was 3 years old at that time and Vista will be a bit over a year old.

What do you think? Have you seen similar?

And, how long ago. It's my understanding that the email address no longer works. FttFinfo@carnival.com

Good question.

I purchased FTTF just a month out on my last cruise. I was probably really lucky but I would keep looking, and will keep looking for my current booking.

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