Pyrate13

You must be pulling our collective legs, you're terrified? Really???:eek: :rolleyes:

I only use that as an example because at least in "The Happiest Place on Earth" people can manage to tip their servers even after pre-paying for the meal.

Not necessarily so, having worked in one of their restaurants and knowing many others that did and still do, I can tell you that there are plenty of people that do not tip at all or under tip.

After having our first cruise with a balcony we won't cruise any other way, love it! Besides seeing the sunrises or sunsets, the stars at night and entering and leaving port, I always bring a pair of binoculars, you never know what you might see, other ships, sea creatures, land features, etc. We've seen small sailboats well away from land, a surfaced submarine, refugees on a raft (yes, we stopped to assist them), sea turtles, whales, dolphins.

For some reason I also get a kick out of watching the flying fish.:p

Another vote for Fishlips. The food is good and you can be inside or out when eating or drinking. We go there to watch the ships depart and wish we were on them. :(:D

I like the idea of a quiet bar overlooking the bow some have this but most is buffet area

I'm all for this. :) We loved the Crows Nest on HAL's Zaandam & Veendam when they had the loungers that lined the front facing windows.

Everybody's tastes are different. I hope the pizza on Pride is better than what we had on our last couple of Valor trips, that stuff was awful in my opinion. I felt the same about the pizza on the Legend. But again, that's just my taste.;)

Please tell me what is personal in my post? You don't seem to be able to supply the answers to my questions for research to back up your supposed facts.

And from another of your posts, as if this isn't personal,

Just some clarification for those struggling with The English language .]

Which is apparently you, do you not understand what documented research is? Do you have any? Oh sorry, that might be a personal question.

There is nothing in your posts to prove that they are anything more than PERSONAL supposition and conjecture on your part. Sorry, you don't win the point.

Heck, I didn't even know there was a contest.:rolleyes:

Not one single point that I have made can be disputed.

Really? Not one single thing you have stated has been backed up by documented research to prove it as fact (even when another poster asked for such documentation a while back). You even stated that it is YOUR perception of the risk

When we became ill on our last cruise (both Norovirus and respiratory which lasted for months ) it changed our perception of the risks involved in cruising .

We therefore decided to post in an attempt to counsel others to alleviate our feelings .

Wow, you feel it is necessary to counsel others in order to alleviate YOUR feelings. Well, thank you very much for the counseling but, in my opinion, it doesn't appear that your fellow posters want it, need it or asked for it. Are you a schooled and licensed counselor?

Yeah, I think I'll keep cruising and take my chances, it's definately worth it.

In my opinion, which the OP says is what he wants and is allowed, I think he got just what he was after, stirred the pot. :rolleyes:

It sound to be as if the trainer was experssing his personal bias rather than fact.

Could be, but he was a licensed and certified by the state of FL as an instructer, don't know if you are. I'll take his word for it.

A while ago while working in the recreation department at a large resort I had to take training to be state certified for pool operation. I never forgot what the trainer said about hot tubs and the difficulty in keeping them sanitary. He absolutely refused to get into any hot tub as he said you couldn't treat them enough to keep them up to par if they were being used at all. I've never been in one since.

His words, "90% of the people in the hot tub pee involuntarily, the other 10% do it on purpose." :eek::p

Maybe they need one of those signs, "I won't swim in your toilet if you don't pee in my pool." :D

Just sayin'

No biggie, just wanted to let it know that it can happen, probably not often however.

I've not heard of "can't be relocated

Not interested in getting into a debate on the subject, you're free believe it or not, I don't much care either way as I know what happened. I know we were told nothing else was available so...

Not disagreeing with others experiences but we (grandparent age) were placed at a ten top that was all families with young children (I think 6 was the oldest child). None of the parents at the table could understand why we were seated there. Top it off it was late seating so all the youngsters were tired and out of sorts most nights. Most nights at least one child fell asleep at the table. We felt bad for them.

We were also told we couldn't be relocated. Can't say it was fun but we survived.;)

Living in central FL for many years and dealing with traffic challenges that can occur, especially between Port C and the attractions areas, I have to agree with several of the other posters and recommend you use a ship excursion or you could face a very costly flight to the next port of call.

There are some ways around certain sections of the Beach Line but if an accident should happen in other sections you can easily be stuck sitting still for long periods of time.

Being forewarned, do what you feel comfortable with, but don't cry when the worst happens. It can, and does.

Like some of the other posters, I wouldn't even get off the ship in Montego Bay if we went there again, but that's just me. Could not care less about the place.

Is that all there is???:confused:

when you compare something as simple as the cost of diesel fuel several years ago ($0.89 cents a gallon) vs now ($3.50 a gallon), that is huge from a cost perspective. Yet, they have kept fares to where most people can still afford to sail. Carnival is a business and they have to make money somehow. They have managed to keep fares low by introducing some other options that you have to pay for to help boost the experience. If you "refuse" to patronize any of the specialty restaurants, you do not know what you are missing....for what you get, they are simply the best bargain at sea. Go to any restaurant on land...they have raised prices over the years to keep up with costs. Do you refuse to patronize those? How about a car...do you refuse to buy a car because the prices have gone up over the years? Do you fly? What about that...they charge an extra fuel surcharge because of the price of jet fuel. Do you refuse to fly because of that? It doesn't matter where you go. The cost of stuff has gone way up and as such, companies have to raise the prices for the services that we use. Yes, everyone can decide to "boycot" the specialty restaurants, fttf, etc...but that will not have the desired effect that you are searching for...i.e. Carnival will just get rid of those and go back to everything for free....what carnival will be forced to do at that point is raise the cruise fare for everyone so they can meet their margins...then everyone will complain that it is too expensive to cruise......my $.02

like!

The law in Florida states if a hotel has a specific number of rooms or greater and a pool they must have a life guard on duty during pool hours.

What law, even Disney does not have lifegards at all pools in large resorts. Old Key West Resort, 4 pools, only one with lifeguards, Saratoga Springs, 4 pools, one with lifeguards. Just sayin'.

Many resorts in Fl do not have lifeguards. Check in Daytona, Cocoa, Clearwater, etc.

Twice I have had porters tell me I couldn't do that (Tampa & Miami) but one time (Port Canaveral) they just made me take the water out of the wrapper and put it in a large beach bag, which arrived at my cabin just fine.:confused:

[Mick, I think the DVC issue was caused by Disney themselves, as they have in the past offered anything from free passes to heavily discounted passes to lightly discounted passes to DVC members./QUOTE]

 

True, but it has always been with the codicil that they were not permanant offers and are not guaranteed by having DVC ownership.

Park at port, or off site, hum .....

 

:D

:D

 

This created all kinds of local flack. See comments.

I don't see anything in the comments about the off site guy that took a parking patrons Corvette that was parked at an off site lot and drove it around, even putting the covertable top down and loading lumber in it. That was all over the news too. Just saying...

Just my opinion but I never us those off site parking places anymore. Did it at the Orlando airport area once and when I went to pick up my car they had given the keys to someone else. Wasn't that fun? I'll always pay the higher fee at the port parking (and keep my keys with me) for peace of mind.

Yes, I know that break-ins could happen at the port parking too but I find it to be more secure, so less likely.

Like I said, just my opinion.

Actually tips are included in the gratuity

From the CCL web site-

Room Service staff may be tipped as service is rendered.

They also list how the grats are distributed, they do not state room service is included.

I've never seen it but that doesn't mean they don't. I wish they did on every ship, my favorite breakfast by far.

I can't speak for anyone else's experience but we used Tyrone just this past Tuesday and everyone in our group felt this was the best tour of our entire cruise., Tyrone was friendly, personable and made very sure we enjoyed every part of our tour. He stopped for photos when and where ever we wished and allowed us plenty of time to snap all we wanted. He also provided plenty of beverages through out the day.

I would have no problem recommending him to a friend and certainly would use him again myself.