Californian

On 4/1/2022 at 2:51 PM, NYHartChapp said:

Hoping to see MDR menus for the rest of the cruise.  Thanks.  

You can see the MDR menus on Buffettfan 225’s March 2 post #39.
Sorry, I don’t know how to link it.

@PattiPB  Thanks for the info!  I like to plan ahead, so I appreciate your feedback!

I faxed mine and OBC was received within 10 days.
 

Bump

Thank you so much @Buffettfan 225 for the putting up handouts and info. It was very helpful.  
 

@PattiPB Sounds like a plan.  How crowded was the dining room when you went down?   Were you on the cruise in February with more than 50% capacity?   We are more inclined to leave our luggage in the cabin since I have an oxygen concentrator and don't want to lose that.

Anyone have experience with the checked luggage option?  How long did you have to wait before getting off the ship?

Ok.  Thanks Melanie H and nyonefivetoo.  
 

if anyone has the debarkation handout, would appreciate seeing it.  Thanks!

I saw some pictures of miso salmon and tempura ice cream on YouTube for the Panorama.  Both looked very tempting.   Are these items offered on the Radiance?   I didn't see it on the menu that was posted.  I would definitely have a meal there if they were offered!

Does anyone have the debarkation information handed out to Radiance passengers?  

We will have checked luggage.  We are thinking of going down to the dining room at 8 and coming back to the cabin by 9 to get our carry-on luggage.  We're not sure where to hang out while we wait for our time to be called.  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks!

Are all the dining room menu items also available at the buffet that same evening?  I was interested in trying the alligator beignets and frog legs since I've never had them.  However, we may be eating at a specialty restaurant on the nights that they are served.  Would I be able to find them at the buffet later in the evening?  Or would it be best to go to the dining room before it closes (we have anytime dining) if I desperately want to try them?  

Also, will you see the appetizers, entrees, and dessert items on the dining room menu in the buffet, too?

42 minutes ago, maluhia87 said:

I use the one under the bed with a converter/adapter so BF's CPAP and any other electronics we want. 

Is it a 220?  Where exactly is this outlet?

I faxed mine last week, too, and got confirmation today.

Some questions on Disembarkation Day for the Radiance:

1.  What are the hours for breakfast in the main dining room on Disembarkation Day?

2.  What time must you vacate your cabin?

3.  We will not be doing express check out and will need wheelchair assistance getting off the ship.  We’re also thinking of taking the last available time to leave the ship to avoid crowded long lines.  Where is the best place to hang out to wait until our time is called? 
4.  Did you experience any problems with leaving parking structure, i.e., bumper to bumper wait times to get out of parking structure, paying for parking, etc.

Any suggestions for a smooth disembarkation would be greatly appreciated.

I really enjoyed reading your trip report and seeing all the beautiful pictures.  Thanks very much for sharing.

8 hours ago, Buffettfan 225 said:

For room snacks: - needing cooling

Just off Radiance and if our “minibar”/ refrig had no condenser so basically a box with a fan. It had no cold at all whatsoever. amy husband pulled it out to check for control, checked with room steward-  no that is normal. 

So we used an ice bucket all the time..)

Next cruise we will be bringing the Carnival approved cooler- we have two that do not leak when ice melts. 
Hint: 1.)  soft side leakproof cooler

          2.) bring ziplocs (cookies or fruit) I also brought from Dollar Tree the box of precut foil. It helped me having a folded sheet in my tote as helped carry food to cabin or another part of ship. 

           3.) I brought a ziploc of sugar packets, salt & pepper.

It came in handy in cabin, at lido as sugar only in large dispensers at beverage station. They rarely had ramekins for putting sugar in, I used a cup. Hard to remember to bring sugar all the time. Put having ziploc in my crossbody came in handy a lot. 

p.s. snacks; I brought to cabin from breakfast : a muffin or banana bread slices, lunch: cookies

Great ideas!  Thanks very much for taking the time to share.  Bringing precut foil should work for the hot sandwiches from the deli at night.  And the pizzas!

8 hours ago, Buffettfan 225 said:

Agree, Just off Radiance early March. Heard many complaining about signal so slow, disconnects etc.

I was able to either catch wifi, or use cell (Verizon offers free Mexico coverage.) 

I spoke on cell on embarkation day., had a signal until just after sailaway.

Day two Catalina- had signal while docked all day

Day 3 Ensenada- “.  “ then lost cell coverage until Long Beach terminal docking. 

 

23 hours ago, groundloop said:

Yes, the internet service pretty much sucks.  You'll be able to read emails and check into message boards with the value plan. 

 

Carnival claims you can stream video with the premium plan but the only time I've been able to do that without getting so frustrated that I wanted  to throw my laptop overboard was early in the morning before most people are up.

 

 

Thanks very much for the info.  I’m now inclined to skip the internet package and save some money!

Thanks very much for your trip report.  I was thinking I might get the fruit plate and cheese plate in the main dining room or fruit from the buffet and take them to our cabin so that we would have snacks for when venues are closed in the afternoon.

2 hours ago, Buffettfan 225 said:

Yes the menus are all posted in the HUB app as soon as you click on board. I did post the four days of menus post #39 March 6. 
If you see something in menu, ask- I can tell you if we tried it. We did skip night 3 though. I can comment that last night ordered steak house lobster option. Do not recommend, lobster broiled/grilled too rubbery, and tasted “too grilled” in a bad way. 

Duh.  I figured out that you posted the menus after a while.  Thanks very much for posting them.   It's too bad that you can't see the menus until you are on board.  We were on Royal recently and could see the daily menus several days before boarding.

@Jayhawk - Thanks for your input.  I guess the menus don't change much from week to week.

2 hours ago, cyntil8ing said:

One difference I noticed was having to order dessert at the same time as appetizers/dinner. No big deal, but we always forgot to order our coffee at the same time, so we always had to wait a few minutes for it. 

Thanks very much for the info regarding YTD.  I also appreciate your reminder to order coffee.

Thank you so much, modello!

Wonderful!  Will the menus be available before the cruise or do we have to wait until we are on board?

It seems that the internet on older Carnival ships is not that reliable.  We are taking the four day cruise out of Long Beach on the Radiance.  We have Verizon for our cell phone plan.  We will use the internet primarily for e-mails, news, you tube, and checking cruise critic.  Would it be worth it for us to get the internet package and which level would you recommend for us (value, premium)?  I can probably do without the package and just use it on days we're in port.  However, DH may want to get the package.  Thanks in advance for your help.

4 hours ago, sparks1093 said:

Menus are on the Carnival Hub App (even for the bars) but I did see paper ones so you can ask for one. The Hub App can be used to make reservations for ATD and for brunch, breakfast or lunch in the MDR and it lets you know when your table is ready. We had to mask up walking to table but it is my understanding that is now optional.

Does the HUB app show the MDR dinner menus for each day beforehand so that one can decide if they want to eat in the MDR or go to a specialty restaurant?

We will be sailing out of Long Beach on the Radiance.  How do we sign up for the $10 test?  

@Buffettfan 225, Thanks so much for all the information and photos.  Really appreciated it.

Does the HUB app list main dining room menus to look at before the cruise?  If not, does it list 

the menus during the cruise?  I would like to see what they are serving to decide whether we want to try another venue for that evening.

Really enjoyed your review and your pictures.  Sounds like we should try the Italian place!