kronfidenced

Yes, best martini maker in the world, does origami and never forgets your name.

Time to start planning the next cruise. Anyone know what ship Tommy is now on? For a long time it was the Fascination out of Jacksonville.

Time to start booking the next cruise and it's been a couple of years since we've seen Tommy and enjoyed his company. Anyone know the ship he's presently on, if any?

Can't tell from the deckplans whether the ship has a wrap-around promenade. Not referring to the jogging track. I like my multi-mile walks at 20 knots.

Sound level of music in Spice?

Also any recommendations for a particularly good bartender to socialize with?

Thanks.

Thanks. Couldn't find a legend for that square but NCL's site said those 4 didn't have a bathtub, now I understand why.

The deckplans on 5 show four forward staterooms that appear very much larger than the rest and have no handicapped or special accessibility symbols attached to them. Has anyone stayed in rooms 5138, 5140, 5738, or 5740 and can confirm or deny their "spaciousness"?

Dolphin encounter on Paradise Island (Nassau) was quite a bit cheaper than Atlantis, although they don't do the long-term encounter or dive/deep water swim like Atlantis does. At least I don't recall if they do based on last year's cruise. They also have Sea Lions which is on our punch list. The Grand Turk stop is only good for some snorkeling and the Margaritaville pool (which is worse than dealing with onboard chair hogs); the beach is not very nice either. Also any Cozumel dolphin encounter voids the ability to do anything in that very exciting and many optioned port.

So I would recommend Nassau highly and Cozumel itinerary only as a last resort. Also reserve any dolphin excursion way in advance, they sell out quickly especially those not offered through the ship.

Cruise directors have come to mean for me and mine an irritant and an example of adults who behave like children. The morning talk show on the outdoor TV is a prime example of narcisistic camera luv. If there are to be two "CD's" on each ship as one possibility suggests, Carnival may need to be voided as a future line option for us. We'll see in our fall cruise.

I also would like to propose my opinion that the other commonly voiced possibility of a more interactive CD is a fine idea in principle, but the poor souls placed in this position will quickly hate it. I can predictably foresee the whining, complaining, invoking of the vacation guarantee, bartendering/waiting/bussing ("are you having a good cruise?" "No because I don't have any silverware, the drink prices are too high, can you clear this table???") etc.

I like Mr. Heald and his role for Carnival but even he can get quickly annoying and believe it's because he's acting "American" rather than his charming and witty "British self".

Personal preferences aside, I think you could do much better than 5g for either ship even with a balcony room. Then that would leave more money for either Johnny Rockets or whatever. Just don't like to see people ripped off or don't know there are so many options to competitively price cruises -- then you can take more of them!!!

Best thing is hitting the soft-serve on the way to pick up the younguns from Camp and then getting more on the way back to the room.

$5,000 for the Breeze? For a week? For four people in the same room??? I thought I read the OP and threads carefully but maybe not...

We've been on the Breeze our last two cruises and really enjoyed it. I think the RCCL nickle-and-diming would offset anything that Oasis or Allure was superior in.

The reason Carnival should keep the tablecloths is that people eat like animals on these boats -- self included. One waiter or assistant can gather up all four corners and clean up the offal table remains in no time flat.

I'll happily sign under many aliases if you don't have them setting up before noon and I can get reciprocal signatures to stop the stupid asinine "morning show" with the cruise director and Carnival underling. Anything to get in front of a camera. None of the Carnival cruise directors (Mr. Heald included) is/are entertaining first thing in the morning. Give me my few hours of lovely morning sun and gentle rolling, followed by some not-too-loud calypso & reggae.

A petty thing for most but not to my two kids and me...

Aside from a few particulars, I totally endorse the OP's comparison between the two ships. We did a B2B in November, although reversed. We did not partake of any entertainment on either ship (except the comedy on the Breeze) and did not frequent either casino. Food much much better on the Epic but not bad at all on the Breeze -- still missed the Guy's Burger, Tandoori and 24-hr soft serve. Carnival is known for pizza but Epic's was much better, plentiful and hot (no waiting). Agree totally re the cabin steward comparison although the room on the Epic was better -- I like the split toilet/shower combination. Kids camp better on the Epic although we had an issue with rowdy children -- not NCL's fault. We found the Epic difficult at first to get to know the layout but we had been on 5 straight Carnival's Conquest/Dream class ships previously. Negatives about the Epic are the pool locations and sizes, reservations needed for entertainment, and service in the Manhattan dining room; the very opposite in Taste. Also the art guy on Epic was beyond uppity, even when I relayed a friendly message from his counterpart on the Breeze. A shame because the Epic's selection was better and we were in the mood to buy. For those on the fence, I'll confuse you further by saying we're planning our next cruise and honestly can't decide between the two because there's no external factors (air, dates, itinerary, etc.) pushing us towards one or the other. Unless you're older or want a more sophisticated cruise, both ships are an excellent choice.

Who cares if it is three or six shrimp? Are they shrimp or are they really...

PRAWNS!!!

Dunno. We were on in November and had perhaps our best cruise out of the 14 we've taken so far. The only negative was the food in the Manhattan being cold. We must be part of the silent majority that had a great time and enjoyed the ship.

Washy, washy -- happy, happy -- smiley, smiley. Those recently on Epic will get it!

Thanks oldrail. Looking forward to hearing how he is doing.

BTW, someone sure does like Fascination based on that list...

With 23 Carnival ships currently active, we are rolling the dice, going on the Breeze this Sunday and hoping, miracle of miracles, that Tommy will be our bartender and we can see him again.

After seven pages and a full town hall haranguing over three Asian, not Gulf, shrimp, next we'll hear from the OP that she's allergic to shellfish but it's the principle of the thang.

G#$ DAMM1+, I gots to have my three shrimp (to paraphrase one fellow cruiser who was two seconds too late from getting her omelet when the station shut down).

We sailed on the Freedom two years ago and there was the nicest bartender we've ever met. He was from southeast asia somewhere and went by the name of Tommy. Always singing, smiling, telling jokes, great mixologist and could remember your name after hearing it only once. He was going to take a short break in late 2010 then re-up with Carnival. Anyone encounter him and/or know his whereabouts?