bakechef

I had the same experience and had the top shelf package. I tried "what's my speed" and never got over one GB, usually less. Dinner time had speeds like AOL dial up.

 

Capricorn, iMessage is iMessage, don't know what you mean, it's an app. Yes there is a video connection.

For things like voice and video, speed is only one part of the equation. Ping (latency) is the biggest issue, latency is the amount of time it takes for the info to travel from one place to another. With a wired connection like most have at home, it takes literally a fraction of a second, but on a ship the info goes to a satellite and bounces back to earth to a wired connection, this can take seconds.

Speed is the most important for downloads, it may take a few seconds to start (latency) but once it does, it's a steady stream. Voice sends chunks and it takes a few seconds to get there and a few seconds to hear their response.

Hope this makes sense. Satellite is terrible for voice or video on a cruise ship.

While I agree with the OP, this was a crappy situation, did they do anything to remedy the situation while on the actual cruise?

Maybe explain the situation to the room steward and see if they could get you a small pair of scissors? Maybe go to guest services and explain the issue, maybe they could get a small pair of scissors.

A cruise is a lot of money to spend only to stew over a small problem at the beginning of a cruise. After the rude security I have a feeling that nothing could save this cruise for the OP.

I'm not completely blaming the OP here, but there are times when you have to pull yourself up and salvage the vacation the best you can.

OK, let me see if there are any I-pad/Sprint people out there. If I bring my own I-pad (which right now does NOT have it's own internet plan, but I know can purchase one for it month by month I think for $29.00 and then cancel the month later via sprint) do I STILL have to purchase internet from the ship??? This whole thing really confuses me! LOL I KNOW that I put my I-phone on Airplane mode so I am not charged and roaming fees or texting fees and that sort of thing (even though I have the Anytime/Anywhere ALL data plan from sprint) but I don't want to take ANY Chances.

 

So My question is if I bring my own I-Pad on the ship that will have it's own wireless internet plan do I STILL have to purchase the ships plan as well. Because if that is the case I am better off NOT purchasing a month's plan from Sprint before I leave for my cruise and just pay Carnival for their internet plan.

 

Any clarification would be greatly appreciated! I am so in the dark on this subject!

Sprint's plans aren't "anytime, anywhere". They are for use anywhere in the US without roaming. Cruise ships use satellites for connections and these are not owned by the cell phone companies they are a third party and charge whatever they want. You are doing the right thing by putting your phone in airplane mode. Your sprint plan doesn't apply on a cruise ship and calls would be $2.49 per minute, texts would also cost extra whether you send or receive. Data can be $20 per megabyte (iPhone or cellular equipped iPad), which means one photo from the average digital camera would cost between $40-60 to send, that's not an exaggeration. This is on the CELLULAR network on the ship that is painfully slow.

The ship has its own WIFI that they own and sell service for, so you would need to purchase this service. This is different from the cellular service data service. So if you bought a plan from Sprint for your iPad, it would do you no good on a cruise ship, since sprint has no towers out at sea;)

1988, Sovereign of the Seas RCI $1500 per person 7 day cruise inside (very tiny cabin)

No dinner buffet (all dinners in dining room with dress code)

no 24 hour pizza

no specialty stations at buffet

no sushi

etc..

We loved it and had a blast

We can now cruise 7 days for as little as $500

3 meal buffets with specialty stations

24 hour pizza

24 hour ice cream

brunch

upgraded bedding and linens

sushi

ships offer MUCH more in the way of activities, water slides, mini golf, serenity areas, etc...

I for one enjoy having a low base fare and the option to decide what I want to pay for. There isn't much that I did in the past, that I have to pay for now.

Well, a clean and shiny funnel is important! :p

 

You're supposed to be able to access the "secret" decks from the main lounge, but when I looked last time, all the doors said "employees" or something similar and I wasn't going to barge through. You can go all the way forward way up on the Sun deck. That's a good spot for sailaway.

 

I'll be sure to request Gerald's section when I first board and see if that helps. Don't know if Platinum will have any impact, but I'll try. If not, I'll just go down about 30 minutes earlier than I really want to eat, get a pager, and sit at the bar and have a drink. ;)

 

I asked in the Charleston thread on the East Coast Departures board, but no response yet. Are they still doing road construction in front of the pier (Concord Street?)?

There didn't seem to be any construction on the street approaching the parking, all clear!

We tried to get out to that deck as well and saw the sign as well, and didn't barge through. The quiet front decks are something that we missed on this class of ship.

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I'll say that it looks like they painted the funnel!;). My friend commented how clean and shiny it was compared to the Sensation when we were docked in Nassau!

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You are so awesome for doing this!

We are leaving next Monday for Charleston and then the Bahamas! We will be staying at the Quality Inn in Mount Pleasant, which I hear is a nice area. We are thinking of getting there on Monday and checking in at the hotel, then going to the Maritime museum to tour the Yorktown.

 

Has anyone ever done this tour? Is it worthwhile? Can you actually tour the little submarine that is there too? Is it within walking distance of the hotel? I thought we could drive, but if it is a nice walk, that would be even better.

 

After we do the tour, we are planning to go back to the hotel to clean up, head over to Charleston, walk around and find a good place to eat...but not too expensive.

 

Are there plenty of parking garages in the Historic district? Do they cost, and how much? Where would you recommend we eat?

 

Sorry for the many questions. I usually plan a cruise a year out, so I am panicking as I try to cram a year of research into a week. :rolleyes: I think we are all set in the Bahamas...Sheraton resort at Nassau and Deadman's Reef at Freeport.

 

Thanks all.

We stayed at the Quality Inn and Suites Patriot point in '07 before a cruise. It was indeed in a nice area and very convenient, right at the end of the bridge.

It was a pretty decent place to stay as well, nice size room, clean and they had a better than average breakfast at the time. The staff, especially the breakfast lady were all very warm and welcoming.

If this place is still as good, we will consider it before our cruise in March.

I remember when parking at the pier in Charleston (NCL Majesty), it was a confusing looking mess, but everything actually went quite smoothly. I remember driving through an unpaved area full of potholes and mud puddles to get to luggage drop off.

The strangest process that I've ever gone through for a cruise, but we arrived and were some of the first in line, so it was quick and easy.

I had a 4J on Victory when the itinerary was a port every day. Unfortunately, I picked on of the end cabins, just because I wanted something different (yes, I knew it was HC modified and had my PVP note that I would be quite willing to move if the cabin were needed).

 

The door slamming out to the not-so-secret deck was very annoying, since my bed was against that hull wall and the head of it was against the little bit of hallway right by the door. All anyone has to do is close one of the doors before opening the other and that wind-tunnel effect goes away. Given that we were out touring every day, all day, it was a pretty exhausting cruise and having my sleep interrupted several times every night/very early morning wasn't nice. I'd take one of the center cabins, but never again on the end.

 

OK, rant over! :D

 

I've pretty much settled on the Hyatt Place Convention Center by the airport. Just have to book the rooms and see how much extra they want to charge me for the extra couple of nights (park-n-cruise rate incudes 10 nights parking and I'm on a 12-night b2b). No port shuttle, but I'd just need a 1-way taxi for boarding.

We had the end one (splendor), HC, didn't realize that it was an accessable room until we boarded, we enjoyed the space, and didn't mind the weird bed configuration. We were lucky that many didn't discover the "secret door" but those that did, we really felt the "thump" of the door slamming! On the dream, we went more toward the middle and it was much better!

Yes, bobsfamily posted that taxi-fare link thanks to me begging for info. :p

 

The 5+7 night B2B is costing the same as the 5+4 on Ecstasy because we can drive to the port. I love sailing out of Port Canaveral, but there is a lot more involved if you fly - transportation to and from the airport being the biggest headache. Cocoa Beach is a fun place to visit, but Charleston is simply wonderful.

 

I'm serously thinking about looking for a job in that area.

 

When I was last on Fantasy, I thought she looked great for her age. I hadn't seen her since they'd done her makeover.

 

The Spirit-class ships are my favorites (only been on Miracle twice) just because the layout is simply wonderful compared to Carnival's other variations-on-a-floating-shoebox designs.

 

But boarding Fantasy and her sister ships truly feels like coming home. I have all my favorite places and know which areas to avoid. I don't need a supper club (although a Fish & Chips would be nice!). Having only one small pool doesn't affect me because I've never, ever been in a Lido pool on any ship. The only pool I've been in is the spa pool on Glory.

 

I love the outdoor Lido eating areas, the Serenity Deck, the library (if you can find it open) and the piano bar (when nothing's going on).

We have sailed out of PC twice, staying at the Residence Inn Marriott. We love this port. It's a fairly easy drive too.

I agree with spirit class ships, so far that is My favorite Carnival design. I do love the Conquest/Dream/Splendor classes for their front facing cabins. Great price, picture window, and deck access right outside your door, next best thing to a balcony, but much cheaper!

I've been in a Carnival pool once, and that was on the Glory in the aft adult pool, so I couldn't care less about pool access. Some friends love the water slides though.

On the east coast departures section, someone posted a link where you could figure out cab fares for Charleston, that might come in handy!

I'm glad I found this thread, I am excited to sail the Fantasy! I've wanted to sail a Fantasy class ship for some time, but didn't want to do less than 7 days. We were considering a b2b, but saw this 7 day sailing and jumped on it! Charleston is such an easy drive from here, we are trying to recruit friends to join us and with such a close departure port, we're hoping that that will do the trick. If not our group of 4 friends will have a blast anyway!

As someone else said, this is a Carnival (and sister lines) stop. You can use the beach for free, just walk over from the ship, very safe, very clean.

This is almost like the private island experience and a regular port stop rolled in to one. When we were there, it was our ship and a Princess ship. There were plenty of lounge chairs. It was a nice relaxing day, and an inexpensive one at that (we're not big shoppers or drinkers).

Ok it has been over 4 years since I have shopped at walmart, but now I am curious, maybe I'll go there if I need to kill some time, LOL. Since it is a foreign country, it isn't compromising my principles right!:D

I think that after my first experience with priceline, I may be hooked.

I am a frugal traveler, but I hate cheap hotels, I am OK if it is clean and for a one night stay, but would really prefer something nice with nice bedding, toiletries, and attractive decor, but I don't like paying a lot of money for it. I was a bit nervous not having control over my hotel and having to prepay, but after researching the area I knew that the 3 1/2 star upscale hotels, any of them, would suit me just fine. Since I am renting a car, location is less of an issue.

I got the Hilton Long Beach & executive meeting center for $70, about $90 less than their unrestricted rate and $30 less than their non-refundable rate. I feel that I did well for such a beautiful hotel, considering that 1&2 star places are going for this rate.

I have booked a room for a 2 night trip in Oct. at a good rate, but I will try priceline just before the trip to see if I can upgrade for the same money, since I can cancel the first reservation.

I have never seen vegan options on any cruise that I have been on, vegetarian yes, but vegan no, not as prepared dishes anyway.

Other than the items that you mentioned, I don't know of any other options.

Bar Harbor, Maine

One of my favorite places. I grew up going there every summer, it wasn't until a few years ago I went back as a tourist after moving away, I was blown away by the scenery around Mt. Desert Island, it was just breathtaking.

MAC

Beautiful! Where is this?

Sorry I forgot to add. This is Divi Little Bay Beach St. Maarten. It is a cheap taxi drive from the pier, you can actually see the pier and the ship from this area. I almost always do a ship excursion, but went on our own with this. When you go on your own you can get one of these thatch umbrellas that are spread far apart giving nice space, when you book a ship excursion, you are clumped together in a little section of the beach with much smaller umbrellas, the chairs very close together.

MAC

This is one my favorite pictures from my last cruise, it just sums up the experience for me. Just when you think life can't get any better, you land in a place like this with perfect weather and the perfect traveling companion.

MAC

Here are a couple pics of Divi beach.

This shows in the distance the colored umbrellas where the ship's excursions passengers go, the thatch umbrellas are for rent for those going on their own

this is the money shot, facing the other direction

MAC

I am almost always an advocate of doing ship excursions, but we did this beach on our own and feel that it is only way to go.

When you do the excursion, you will be grouped in a cluster of beach chairs. When you do it on your own, you can rent a beach chair under a great thatch umbrella, and come and go as you wish.

Getting a cab is easy, they have built a nice area at the pier for the taxis and just tell one of the people where you want to go, and they will find you a taxi that will accommodate the number of people you have.

We were offered a time share presentation, but we declined, it wasn't a pushy situation, just some American guy that worked for the resort.

MAC

The roasted pumpkin was fantastic!

The french onion in the supper club was outstanding as well, very rich and full bodied, it can be tough to find onion soup done right, and this was awsome.

MAC

NCL Majesty funnel. My Konica Minolta Z10 hates low light conditions, but it worked out for a really "moody" shot, a larger view of my avatar. I really like it.

double sorry

Thanks I am trying dave's workaround. Thanks This is Key West

MAC