Shipbound

1995 on the imagination 9 girls and me at dinner table

Gary

This October will be my 32nd cruise with CCL and they offer the best bang for your buck IMO, since I am Diamond that is a bigger incentive to cruise with CCL but the only perks I like is the early embarkation and the unlimited laundry service the other stuff I don't care about. This October my cruise rate is $899.00 (including taxes)for a single on deck 7 mid-ship. The whole cruise including air fare was about $1127.00. Where could you go for that price including food and lodging. I also have a $249.00 OBC. I've never had a bad cruise with CCL granted some have been better than others.

Gary

LOL, it's not hip-hop/rap. Last cruise I paid particular attention to the Lido music because I keep reading complaints about it here. Actually, during the 'lull' they were playing a lot of 'Island' stuff, Jimmy Buffet, Bob Marley, etc... Then when the events started, like Sail Away, or Mixologist, or Hairy Chest, the would punch the music to top 40 pop with a heavy emphais on techno.

 

As much as a dwindling section of the cruising population would like, they are NOT going to play Sinatra, Johnny Cash, or The Shondells on Lido.

I was on the Liberty this April 4, 14 and the DJ actually played good music no rap or hip- hop and the guitar players also played a good mixture of songs but it was spring break which may have influenced the type of music being played.

Gary

I'm sorry you did not like the food but having any kind of food allergy does limit how your food is prepared. On my last cruise I had sodium free for my dinner choices the food really sucked. I really feel for those who have food allergies which limits the food choices. A girl at know at the gym I attend has bad food allergies and she must watch every thing that goes in her mouth.

Gary

I've stayed at that location near the elevations mid ship during my last two cruises on deck 7 and 6 the location was perfect ,this October on the Conquest I'll be on deck 7 again. Two decks up to the lido deck and two decks down to the casino bar.

Gary

I am Diamond so I'll drop my bags off in my cabin and go to the lido to get some chow maybe have a drink since I have a $249.00 OBC. I don't think I'll run out of cash for drinks.

Gary

I'm from CT and the winters can be bad so when I cruise I leave 2 days before the sail date but never had snow this early. I will be on the Conquest next month.

Gary

I was on the Liberty April 4, 14 the band Music Boardwalk played in the casino bar and they were great. I did read on John Heald's blog that the beard's are picking up on the complaints concerning the lack of entertainment or just bad entertainment on the ships but John did not was going to be done about it. Has anyone heard the same ?

Gary

I was on the Liberty April 4, 14. The band that played at the casino bar was Music Boardwalk and they were very good and played songs that are not heard often. The leader of the band was concerned about the 2.0 program and their contract not being renewed, hopefully it will be. CCL should the kept the good bands. I did read on John Heald' s Blog that the beard's have been paying attention to the complaints concerning the lack of live bands on the ships. We will just have to wait and see what happens.

Gary

I went to Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan I saw the Northern lights in Sept/Oct. Like one of the posts said it has to be very dark in order to see them, June would be still to light to see them but when you do they are beautiful.

Gary

I did read on John Heald's Blog that the beard's are starting to pick up on all the complaints

about the entertainment or lack of so guess we'll have to wait to see if anything changes, has anybody been hearing the same thing?

Gary

I will be on the Conquest the week of October 26 but it is hurricane season, however according to the weather channel if a hurricane does develops it is usually in the Western Caribbean. I've bad weather, great weather and cloudy weather during October.

Gary

We were on the Sensation in July and just got off of the Sunshine yesterday. We definitely agree that the food is not as good as it used to be. We've been cruising with Carnival since 2006 and have noticed the cutbacks. If you want better food you have to pay an up charge in the specialty restaurants. We ate at the Asian restaurant on the Sunshine, JiJi, and it was worth the $15 per person extra. We tried to get a reservation at the steakhouse but they were booked every night. We were willing to pay for better food. The food doesn't stop you from enjoying your cruise. But I will say that we are going to try a different cruise line on our next cruise so that we have something to compare it to since we've only ever cruised Carnival.

I think paying for food is going to the norm rather than the exception in the future with all the cruises lines ,right now NCL is heading the way and it will be a matter of time before other cruise lines will follow including carnival.

Gary

I am not complaining about the cut backs I still cruise with CCL because they do provide the best bang for the buck however I do notice the changes which can happen in all the cruise lines.

CCL have made changes positively like the food it was horrible when I first started cruising now it has greatly improved IMO. The debarkation process has improved it use to take hours to get off the ship sometimes I would not get to FLL until 11:30 am now I'm off the ship by 8:00am..

Gary

Personally I would not buy any type of medication in Mexico you must remember there are no FDA regulations in Mexico you are taking a chance on what you are getting. I bought my medications in St. Thomas or Grand Cayman if needed. You could always buy what you need on the ship.

Gary

I've been cruising with CCL since 1992 and the biggest change I see is the entertainment section, Carnival use to have the best bands at sea IMO not just on one ship but all the ships. I have not been to the shows in the past several years but I know there use to be a nine piece band now there are none and I here they reduced the number of dancers. At one time there was a five man calypso band on the lido deck. Now a DJ.

Gary

We want to sail on the Oct. 19th Dream Cruise and the ship is currently full. We have been added to a wait list, and are currently number 5 on the list. We have agreed to any cabin that comes available. What do you think our chances are of getting a cabin? Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

 

 

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When did you try to book it? If it was too close to the sail date that may be the reason.

Gary

While this may be good for the guests it just another way for CCL to make $$$$$ but lets face it CCL is a business so more power to them if revues go up per ship that offers the 'pay for food'program.

Gary

Can you purchase re-fillable cups for drinks at the bars on board the Glory and/or Conquest? If so, what size are they and how much do they cost? Also, what are you allowed to get refills of? How much do the refills cost?

 

Sorry for all the drink cup questions. Have been on many cruises but have never paid attention to be aware of those offers. I'm trying to decide if I would be better off to just get one of the drinks in the re-fillable cups and then pay for refills if that is possible, rather than buying the Cheers program if I'm only going to have 3 to 4 drinks per day.

 

Your advice is appreciated in advance.

 

Thanks! :)

I think if you order a drink with the souvenir glass and get a refill it's a dollar off. I believe Carnival lowered the cost of the Cheers program on 7 day cruises the new price is about $301.00 Including 15% gratuity for 7 days or about 43.00 dollars per day, this what Carnival told me.

Gary

I have been to all the ports mentioned, since the liberty has the 2.0 upgrades and the Splendor does not I would go on the Liberty, because I am single the red frog bar on the Liberty's Lido Deck to a cool place to hang out to meet and watch people. If the 2.0 up grades do not make a difference to you than choose the ports you like or go to CCL web site and explore all the ports both ships visit.

Gary

My cruise rate dropped for the Conquest on Oct. 26 so an OBC of 249.00 Dollars will be credited to my S&S card. The cruise rate including taxes is $815.00 for a 7 day Cruise which is the least I have paid in a long time.

Gary

Deck 7 is usually the best deck because all cabins on this floor have rooms directly above and below. We never stay in a cabin that has a public venue above or below. Of course you could have noisy folks on either side, but that could happen anywhere.

On my October 26 cruise on the Conquest I am staying on Deck 7 mid-ship for the reasons mentioned above personally I think this location is the best on the ship. Deck 8 below the lido deck IMO is the worst.

Gary

Anthem OTS, her sister ship is being built now and I am sure it will have all of the same.

According to the GEO of RCI the Quantum is going have interesting technologies such as wrist band to gain entrance to your cabin. Maybe the same wrist band's bar code will be used to by drinks, etc. which will be very interesting if it works. Since the ships have not be built yet these technologies could be installed easier than existing ships.

Gary

If you sailed during that week what was the average age and since I am single the W/M ratio ?

Thanks

Gary.

What are the age groups during this week thinking about booking. Since I'm single what is the ratio M/W.

Never cruised this late on CCL in April.

Thanks

Gary