happylittlefamily

I really want to do this, but the reviews are all for making conch stew and grits.  I'm not a seafood person, so really wish they had another lesson option.  It looks like so much fun!

Frog Island iced tea from Red Frog bar.  

Strawberry ice cream all the time!

Extra pizza oven to reduce to line waiting for pizza

The last couple cruises we have taken, they no longer allow the food to be taken out of the dining room.  I used to always order the fruit plate for dessert a night or two on my past cruises and been able to take back to my cabin.  Apparently, people were spilling the covered plates of food on the way out of the dining room so they aren't allowing it anymore.  At least that's what we were told by the wait staff on the last 2 cruises.  

4 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

What cruise line has MDR menus on a ship by ship basis?

 

Brisket is typically on the first night. The short ribs are better.

After posting, I remembered it was served in opposite order, but didn't think it mattered enough to edit.  Point is, they are nearly identical.  

I didn't state there are any cruise lines that have MDR menus that differ by ship.  I just said it would be great if each ship could offer unique menus.  It would make trying different ships more fun/exciting.  Certainly, we can just sail different cruise lines to obtain some diversity.

Yeah.  I am getting ready to go on my 3rd cruise of the year and I'm honestly not looking forward to MDR.  Only so many times you can eat the braised short ribs that is renamed brisket later in the week.  I do wish there was more variety.  It would be great if ships had their own unique menu.  Was on the Pride in Feb and Liberty in March and was kinda bummed to see they had the same menu.  

Frankie was the Pride cruise director about 5 weeks ago when we were on it.  Hope that helps!

58 minutes ago, DAllenTCY said:

My experience on the last two Carnival cruises as a Platinum guest.

 

           The fire doors were locked until about 1:20 pm 

 

           Deck 2 forward staircase

 

           Horizon and Panorama

 

David

I was on the Pride 3 weeks ago and that was our experience as well.  All fire doors were closed and were not open until just before 1:30.

My additional tips posted separately from the original charge.

My family and I are not getting the vaccine, so I would be bummed if a vaccination was required.  We love cruising, but we will not get the vaccine just to be able to cruise again.  I do love living in a free country and while I have missed cruising, there are lots of vacation options that don't/won't require a vaccine.  Personally, having to take a test at port would keep me from booking as well, simply because we are a large family.  I think a negative test at port is silly since the vaccine doesn't prevent becoming infected.  It reduces symptoms if infected.  So my negative result at port may become positive by the lovely vaccinated passengers who were able to board without being tested.  Yeah, at this point, we just took a refund because it's not worth the stress of the unknown.  Hopefully, in the coming months, we will transition back into a less panicked process.  

CD Cam Chavez on Carnival Ecstasy!  He is amazing.  So much energy, but humble hearted too.  Amazingly and seamlessly relates to and brings together all guests no matter age or ability.  I do wonder how big his closet is because I think he wears 12 different outfits a day.  Lol

Frog Island Iced Tea and 12 hour French Toast!  Not together!  Lol

18 hours ago, ncovert said:

The first thing I am going to do on our upcoming Alaskan cruise is request the dividers be opened between our two extended balconies at guest services so our balcony viewing will be optimized.  From there I plan on going straight up and ordering a "Frog" Island Iced Tea.  Oh I cannot wait!!!

The Frog Island Iced Tea is my favorite!  

36 minutes ago, princess76021 said:

Thank you!! I wasn't waiting I called the doctor's office an got an appointment for next week! She said that we had to go in so she could try to talk us out of it!!! Fat chance!!!! 

However, she did seem to know what I was talking about when I said fit to cruise statement.

Thanks again

 

 

 

I imagine most doctors will actually attempt to talk patients out of taking the cruise.   I foresee cruise lines voluntarily canceling cruises to avoid the chaotic response.  

28 minutes ago, UrbishN said:

I don’t understand why all the complaints. I do understand the short notice for the new restrictions on cruises gr dskng this weekend . I’m sure getting turned away at port is no fun . But  I’m sure the cruise lines are only trying to protect people from getting seriously sick .. those that are comprised already , young and old . Everything will go back to normal once this is over and the restrictions will be history . I sail in June and if this is still spreading , I would cancel vs bringing anything home to my husband, who is a type 2 diabetic 

Exactly!  It costs the company more to have to deny boarding than to just let everyone board.  They are just trying to do what's best to keep people safe.   Sad that some think they are entitled and refuse to appreciate the gesture of goodwill being extended.   I will definitely cruise again with Carnival and hope the entire industry rebounds quickly. 

They really should add a disclaimer to the form that if you knowingly do not disclose accurate information and you get sick, they are not held liable for providing treatment.   Also, if you cause others to get sick because you cruised and put others at risk because you lied on the form, you are personally responsible for the fallout.  If you get the virus,  it will be discovered that you lied on the form since it's being tracked by the CDC, and therefore,  the burden rests with the traveler.

That's jumping to conclusions.   Carnival has 2 options: 1) place restrictions on travelers who are most likely to develop severe complications to the unprecedented virus, placing undue burden on the cruise ship to provide care or interruption for all passengers; 2) cancel all cruises until further notice.  The restricted passengers will not be cruising either way, so why be difficult?  Think about someone other than yourself and sit this one out.  I'm sure you don't appreciate my response,  but the fact of the matter is that getting my way isn't more important than other people and if I was in a position that could impact other people negatively, AND I'm even being compensated to do so, I would do it.  When my kids would cry in church..I left.  Nobody brought the sermon to the lobby.  When my kids threw a tantrum in a restaurant...I left.  The staff didn't bring dinner to my car.  When my kids get overwhelmed standing in lines at a theme park, I leave.  I don't expect a refund or a separate line for parents.  2 of my children are autistic, so technically, I could justify that they have as much right to be in those places as others.  But then, I try to be decent and think of everyone affected,  not just myself. 

2 minutes ago, Maraprince said:

Our TA, along with lots of others, was unable to get through to Carnival the last few days to cancel our May sailing and book a new sail date at the end of June.  Now, according to what was posted on Carnival's website we lose out on the $100 OBC because we did not book by 3/10!  Our new reservation was booked yesterday. This is on top of losing the money paid for insurance through Carnival and paying almost $500 more per person for the same number of days, same ports, but a different ship!  It seems unfair that due to their inability to handle the volume of calls, we are being penalized. We are staying with them and giving them our monies.  We did not cancel and not our fault that we could not get through to them. 😬

 

MARAPRINCE

Give them a chance to breathe and I am sure they will revise the issues to the new plan.  Things are changing rapidly and I can only imagine they just don't have the time to thoroughly digest the implications to the each and every cruise being altered. 

I can understand them making this call for Princess.  The average age of cruiser on Princess vs Carnival is older, which puts the ships at greater risk of being affected.  I am very impressed with the generosity of their offer and can only pray the industry recovers.

Just got back 3/9.  Everything's open as usual. 

I get land sick when we return.   I have to take Dramamine for the first couple days after getting back.  Have you tried taking cruises through the Gulf? Those are much less choppy.

The Night Owl pajama party is $15/hr per kid.  Every other night, it is $6.75 + 18% gratuity per hour per child. 

Just back on 3/9 and our ship was full.

On 2/24/2020 at 2:29 PM, odaisydukeo said:

I booked this for my 11 year old son and I. I just looked at there are SIX ships in port that day. Ugh. I booked the Stingray encounter, and am frustrated because I don't think lunch is included anyway. Now thinking of cancelling after reading these reviews.

Most reviews are positive and I think KimPossible and I just had a really bad experience.   I will say that Carnival followed up with a "sorry, but too bad email."  I have not yet heard back from Blue Lagoon.   As far as I'm concerned, the total disregard for guest service if nothing else helps me to cross this off the 2nd chance list.  I do hope you have a FANTASTIC experience on the day you go and that the encounter is amazing. 

32 minutes ago, Organized Chaos said:

 

Some of the ships have signs telling passengers to do just that, but not everyone sees the signage and there are those who do it anyway.

 

I'll follow their rule, but it's not completely necessary, in my opinion. When I refill my cup at a fast food place, for example, I'm not touching the mouth of my used cup to the spout where the drink is dispensed from. Only the side of my cup is touching, and it's only touching the dispensing lever. It's similar on the ship...my travel mug wouldn't touch the spout. But I can see why they don't want anyone doing it at all. Not everyone will take as much care as the rest of us.

Not to be difficult,  but it's about more than the lid.  If you had a drink and refill your cup, whatever germs inside your cup from drinking will splash onto the ice and beverage dispenser.   Those germs then spew into the next cup that dispenses ice or beverage.  Have you never experienced splattering from your cup when refilling?  I can't imagine Carnival just enjoys insane amounts of dishes just for the heck of it.  They are trying to keep people safe and healthy and the only inconvenience we are expected to deal with is drinking out of a clean cup.  I don't understand why people are insistent to break or fight the rule.  Their house...their rules.  McDonald's,  Taco Bell, etc can do as they please.  But when you have that many people in close proximity for multiple days in a row, I appreciate the protective measures.