Dunnik

Replace the shoes with black pumps and the belt with something silvery, toss in a necklace and you'll be good to go.

Honestly? I don't see you'll see too much difference.

Granted I've never sailed with RCCL, but know people who have. I've sailed with CCL before (but it was a long, long time ago).

RCCL is known for their "gee-whiz" amenities on board. So if you absolutely have to have a zip line, freefall wind tunnel, surf generator and so on then you may be dissapointed. Then again, the new Carnival Vista has its share of "gee-whiz" too: the first micro-brewery and IMAX theater on board a ship, as well as the Sky Ride and elevated rope course. And you're correct: The Vista's maiden voyage is on May 1st, she's only now just finished up her final sea trials.

CCL has a greater reputation for being a party ship but to a certain extent that's a legacy of 1980s and 90s marketing. Being cheaper or cheapest, the line does tend to attract the youngest demographic of any cruise line. But that's not to say that you can't party on a RCCL ship, either.

As you might expect, Med cruises are a little more sedate than Spring Break in the Caribbean, so this difference will likely not matter for you.

Otherwise, I've heard it said that RCCL may have slightly better food but that CCL has the edge in service. CCL has, AFAIK, a slightly more generous smoking policy and I'd imagine would tend to be less formal in terms of dress codes.

They could always offer up an invisible/secret hand stamp at the muster stations by which adults could "redeem" it for a free drink later in the evening. That alone would get 90% of the people there... LOL

 

Tom

"Attention passengers. This is your Captain speaking. Emergency muster drill will now commence. The first 1000 people at their muster stations will receive a free cruise."

[chaos ensues]

Oh please explain!! :D

OK, well, you did ask for it so:

A parkway is a highway through a park or park-like setting. The Don Valley Parkway in my home town is a classic example.

We all know what a driveway is, but its origins go back to the horse-and-carriage days. Your fancy guests would drive up in their carriage to the front door or a side door with a portico, entering the house directly.

The verb park also goes back to the horse-drawn age. You'd "park" your waggon as you would "park" your car.

So that's how you can park in a driveway and drive on a parkway.

Like I said, explaining it ruins the fun.

aft cabins on the vista over look the havana harbor.

http://maritimematters.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/CL_VS_HavanaPool_03_ren-copy-592x394.jpg

 

 

i dont know any other ship in carnival fleet that has this tyoe of area. For the afts-- looking out over the water was why i got the aft balcony.

 

I dont want to look down and watch people swim

Thanks for the replies, I forgot that the aft cabins do overlook the Havana area on the Vista.

Perhaps then this isn't a problem, since there's a good chance I'd be one of those people staying up late on that patio (I'll try to keep it down!). That suits me better than, say, being above the main pool area and being woken by screaming happy children or the CD yelling into a megaphone, neither of which is likely at the Havana pool in the morning.

I would agree with you...however, this was actually to her demise. When she first sailed as the SS Norway in 1979 she was a cruise ship marvel.

Sad but true. Ship enthusiasts make up a tiny fraction of cruisers - those people who would book on the Norway in part because of what she was.

But by early 2000 she was competing against newer ships....

She was also competing against new NCL ships. The cruise line largely gave up on her and decided to put as little money into her as possible, including skimping on maintenance. "What's the worst that could happen," NCL executives might have said. Eight dead crew and the end of her service live, is what.

Keep in mind this alert is for US citizens only. Americans are, unfortunately, even more a target than the rest of us.

Even though, as a Canadian, I'm almost as much as a target as my Yankee cousins, my government has not issued a blanket alert for travel to Europe.

Point is, when you travel, avoid anything that would suggest your nationality. I know most Americans are very proud to be so, but leave the Stars and Stripes branded clothing at home, as well as anything that might suggest your origin (such as, say, college/NCAA stuff).

Also, avoid baseball caps. Wearing a ballcap in Europe basically announces to everybody that you're American.

Do this and you'll just been seen as a generic "Western Tourist". Still a target, but less of one.

For additional stealth, avoid looking like a tourist at all. Skip the shorts (Europeans don't wear them, except at the beach or for sports), fanny pack, DSLR around your neck, backpacks, running shoes, etc.

Hi, I am planning a trip tp Barcelona in October. Any suggestions re cruise line for first time solo cruise? There seems to be so many options.

The main CruiseCritic website has numerous articles on solo cruising. They've been very helpful to me as I plan my own solo cruise. Here are the search results for "solo":

http://www.cruisecritic.com/search/results.cfm?q=solo

The last cruise ship I was on was a converted transatlantic liner, so I've never experienced an aft cabin.

The view is great - the wake of a great ship can be mesmerizing - but I'm wondering about noise levels. I'm forming the impression that regardless of when you turn in for the night, you may have your sleep interrupted by activities on the aft deck(s).

I'm about to book on the Carnival Vista, and at this late date all the "good" cabins are taken. Looking at what's available it's the usual suspects: obstructed views, too far from anything, too close to the elevators and...a few aft cabins.

What is your experience with aft cabins and a restful night's sleep, or lack thereof?

Score, enjoy!

...instead of packing us like sardines under the life boats

More realistic that way.

Realistic training has a greater chance of lives being saved.

About 20 passengers didn't show up at our station, and they were all called out to report to the drill.

Grumpy Cat says,

Good.

I read your post with a sense of impending dread, mom02.

That 1pm arrival, as others have noted, doesn't seem to give you any margin of error. Leaving your surface transportation arrangements hanging will compound the potential problem. Take the early flight.

Commander's hooks, eh? Magnetic, I presume? I gotta get me some of those.

I like packing posts like this, especially from more experienced cruisers.

July 9 2016 aboard CCL's brand-new flagship, the Carnival Vista, 10-night Barcelona to Turkey and back again.

I'm 40, but look 30. Degree in European history, which - for once - will actually come in handy!

Nice! Got up to 22.2 now doing slaloms at full throttle

I wonder how much she's heeling over. Would love to be on her top deck (with a harness).

Should be noted, of course, that the Vista will never have to undertake such high-speed maneuvering in her service life...unless she's pressed into service and sent off to war.

High paid, highly educated employees also committed fraud.

Yes.

But less of them.

http://www.bna.com/pay-policies-prevent-n17179871204/

Surprised they have that LCD column working already.

Even the pictures look stunning. The real thing must be even more so.

Comforting to know that she conforms to the new Safe Return to Port protocol.

im feeling that we may not have that much fun anymore, has this ever happened to anyone before?

Don't worry.

Be happy!

Doing well, up to 18 knots....oops 19.2

Speed trials? Her top speed is supposed to be 23 knots, will probably be able to exceed that without all the passengers crew and fittings yet-to-be-installed.

Be awesome to be aboard her at this moment, but we'll just have to settle for the next best thing: this thread!

Bring a rain jacket (an un-insulated, breathable shell) and a medium-weight sweater and you'll be fine.

It's entirely possible you won't need neither, but obviously it's best to be ready in case.

Fore vs aft matters, but port vs starboard? Shrug.

Still can't get over that funny "duck tail" on her transom. I know it's a proven concept and helps her slice through the water but still looks funny.

I wonder how different her wake will look with this installed.

Otherwise, for a modern cruise ship of her size, she's got nice lines.

I wear different kinds but change them up with ties or even vests. Often we match the tie I wear to the dress my wife wears.

Lookin' good, Keith. That's how its done.

I long ago inherited my father's black mohair tux from the 60's (with velvet lapels and pant stripe) which fits me to a T and is still in great shape, but alas I won't be packing it for my upcoming cruise, as it would be overkill with a capital O.

Funny: your tuxes are working as intended - everyone's eye should not be drawn to the guy in the tux, no matter how well turned out, but to the lady at his side. Men's formal wear can never upstage women's.