ATLCruiseJunkie

You may want to try posting this in the Bahamas boards in Ports of Call.

Anytime Dining is in the Crimson Dining Room (mid-ship). The only difference is that the Scarlet Dining Room is bigger and has ocean view windows. That being said, if you want a table for two I would switch to assigned dining and email DRMAITRED@carnival.com two weeks before you sail and request a table for two. Follow up onboard. Staying on your time dining will not guarantee a table for two.

Not quite true. You are not guaranteed a table for two with assigned dining. You can certainly request it, but it depends on availability whether or not you can be accommodated. However, with YTD you can request a table for two when you check in at the hosts' station. You may have to wait longer for one to become available, but they will definitely accommodate you. Also, in my experience they remember your preference for subsequent nights. You can even request certain waiters' areas if you find someone you really enjoy.

Also, depending on who comes up with the schedule, they may show movies in one of the lounges, and there will likely be some sort of trivia somewhere. As others have said, pool and slides are open, unless undergoing some sort of maintenance.

We stayed on this level a number of years back on a different ship before they were all converted into balconies across the fleet. I can't speak to the cabin as they have since changed, but I can speak to the level. We did not notice any additional noise or traffic being on this level. In fact, it was one of the quietest rooms we've stayed in, because there are so few cabins. Also, there is easy access to the lido . There is a door that leads to the open deck near the elevators, so you can just go out, walk down a few steps to the main pool level on lido, and then go straight into the buffet area.

We have done self assist debarkation a number of times because we usually drive at least 6-8 hours to the port, and prefer to get on the road as soon as possible. We were on the Dream in NOLA a year ago, and I'm pretty sure we were off the ship and on the road by 9:30 or 10, if I remember correctly. However, keep in mind that this all depends on how long it takes customs to clear the ship. After the ship has been cleared, they will call priority (Diamond, Platinum, FTTF), then those with disabilities, then self assist by deck. You will have to carry/pull/lift your own luggage possibly down stairs, up and down ramps, and other obstacles.

All that said, with a 1:30 pm flight, as long as there are no problems with the ship getting into port on time and customs clearing the ship, you would have no problems getting to the airport on time. I would suggest you check in online beforehand to ease your mind some. You could either purchase a few minutes of internet time to do it 24 hours in advance, or use your smartphone. There is a very long journey up the mouth of the Mississippi that takes a few hours, during which you can usually get regular phone service from towers on shore.

I would say that a bad cruise director doesn't ruin my cruise, but a good cruise director does add to it. Sometimes I pay attention to who the cruise director is before I go, but it's not something that would be a deciding factor for me.

Yes! We did that on our cruise almost a year ago on the Dream. Not the best of wines, but it was a nice touch. But, as we discovered, there is a danger to eating in the steakhouse on your first night; nothing will measure up after that!

I have been in San Juan on a late night port, and yes, the seating in the MDR was more relaxed. They weren't as strict about the times and tables were mixed up a bit from what I remember. This was at least 5 years ago, however, so I can't remember the details.

I was on the Paradise in September of last year. The cabins do not have hair dryers, so I would suggest bringing your own.

Neither of us has motion issues, so we prefer to stay either far aft or far forward, because it cuts down on the amount of traffic in the hallways.