eh24fan

On 11/4/2023 at 11:35 PM, NJ CRUISE said:

I was on this sailing. There was a quick power outage. Shortly after, the Captain came on the speaker and described the incident just as stated in the article. He did sound upset / concerned about the issue. We did leave late, but all the activities went on as planned as the crew addressed the situation.   

 

I was playing a slot machine when the power went out. I happened to be in the middle of the bonus round on Dragon Link. There was a concern I would lose that game, but the machine did re-set just where I left off. So, no harm no foul.

 

The Captain kept us informed and the crew handled the situation well.

 

 

The casino was open while you were in port??

On 10/20/2023 at 12:06 PM, carohs said:

Carnival does allow you to bring a limited amount of beer and wine onboard, too, to consume in your room/balcony. Factor that into whether to get cheers or not. 

I don't believe beer is allowed to be brough on, but I believe a bottle of wine per adult 21+ is allowed.  

The article I read mentioned he was having the time of his life, drinking, gambling and socializing.  As sad as it is, I'm willing to bet this gentleman wasn't simply "leaning over" the balcony railing as it was written in the article.  The whole "passenger fell off the ship" headline is ridiculous.  You don't just fall off a ship willy nilly.  You are doing something you shouldn't, you jump or you are pushed.  

I would always choose 8 days over 5.  We've cruised the Miracle, Pride and Legend - my kids ages were 10/3, 17/11, 21/15 - never were they bored.  But, my kids don't require constant stimulation/entertainment either.  Neither of them spent time in the kids clubs on any of those cruises because they just preferred to hang out with us or other family members.  There are pools, slides, games, etc.  

We were on the Legend in May.  The parking lot process was bogged down by people who did not have their luggage tags on their luggage.  We only waited about 20-30 mins, but quickly found out the issue when the gentleman directing cars told us what was going on.  He asked if we had our luggage tags on already and thanked us when we said yes.  As far as getting through the embarkation, that was slightly chaotic at the point where you show your VeriFly or paper documents, then it was quickly through security and we waited about 2 minutes for a check in to open up.  We were on the ship within 15 minutes after entering the building.  One thing that stood out to us was how kind people were in the terminal!  

As for the cruise itself, we noticed the food portions weren't as large as in the paste and the menu wasn't super exciting.  We never went hungry though!  We did the steakhouse one night and it was really good.  We had never been before, so it was a new experience for our family.

The Playlist cast was awful.  There were 2 people that could carry a tune, the others - yikes.  We agreed the ship is showing her age and given the "pause" had expected they would have taken that time to do much needed work and upgrades.  We cruise because we enjoy cruising and don't need all the new bells & whistles, but the Legend definitely could use some love.  

The debarkation process is just inefficient.  The hurry up and wait drives us bonkers.  However, once we were off the ship, we were on the road home within 20 minutes.  

We like cruising from Baltimore because it's so convenient for us.  The itineraries are boring though.  We can't decide what to do next because the idea of flying in this current travel situation is unappealing and expensive.  We aren't interested in sailing out of NYC for a number of reasons.  So we've talked about Bayonne, but again, crappy itinerary unless you want to go for 2 weeks, which we can't do with our vacation time allotments.  Driving to Florida - again, wasted days off.  LOL  So...we have nothing booked right now.  

Baltimore is incredibly easy to embark/disembark!  Waiting to drop off luggage/park was the longest and that was only about 20 mins when we sailed May 15.  We had a 12:30 check in time, arrive around 11ish to park?  Once we went to check in, they were holding people who were early, but we walked in, they scanned our Verifly, sent us through the scanners, then waited about 5 minutes for a check in person and then walked on the ship.  We were onboard by 1pm.  So easy!

Getting off, we did have a wait, but that's because we weren't carrying off our luggage, but once they called our number, we walked off and were in the car in less than 30mins.  

On 6/28/2022 at 12:48 PM, Yankeegirl49 said:

I am a lifelong New Yorker and I have never seen the rudeness en masse like it was on this cruise. "Gruff" is one thing, but some of what I observed went way past gruff and way past the typical new York attitude. 

On our 2 cruises out of New York, we encountered the most insanely rude, entitled people.  It was ridiculous.  Rude people are everywhere, but WOW!  

We sailed on the Legend in May.  We purchased a brand new box fan, slapped luggage tags on the box and checked it with the rest of our luggage.  The porters didn't bat an eye and the fan was delivered to our room with our luggage.  Not a word was said to us about it not being allowed.  We packed non-surge protected extension cords that allowed us to use the one plug in the room for multiple items.  I'm so glad we had it because our room was warm and stuff the whole week!!  Then on debarkation day, my husband carried it off with our other carry on stuff.  

Our steward was too!  Nelson somehow managed to sneak in there and out when none of us were in the room, despite my 15yr old sleeping later than us. LOL  Cruising is definitely different than it was pre-COVID and the cutbacks were happening even prior to the COVID.  I've tried to explain the "elegance" of cruising in 1992 when I first went, but my husband and younger son can't grasp why you would want to go again knowing the dress up requirements back then LOL  

The ships are understaffed, so they are working hard to keep up.  Once a day room service by the steward was no issue for us - they have too many cabins to take care of and in all honesty, we are adults and perfectly capable of cleaning up after ourselves.  

In the dining room, we saw no issue with using the same utensils - why dirty another fork?  That's just more work for the already limited staff.   If you wanted more bread, just ask for it.  We did a few times, no issues.  With the menu, we either used our phones or asked for the paper menu, which was quickly given to us.  

The workaround for checking in for meals?  Choose set dining times.  Most cruise lines are now relying heavily on their apps as the majority of people have smartphones and it allows them to work more efficiently.  Is it a pain to have to schedule things on your phone?  Sometimes...but we really liked being able to check in for breakfast on our phone and being able to do something else while we waited for the "your table is ready" notification.   

COVID brought on a lot of changes, including lower staffing levels, that have changed cruising.  Some of it, we embrace because it's much easier...like the new muster drills, the app, etc.  Some of it kind of stinks, like fewer activities and the testing stress.  We just roll with the punches and make the best of it.  

We were on the Legend 05/15-05/22 and agree with most of what you've said above!  Embarkation was painless and easy.  It took no time at all to part, go through the embarkation process and board the ship.  We didn't stop the whole time.  LOL  Baltimore has that down!

The singers...wowza they were terrible.  There are 2 that we thought were ok, the rest should stick to dancing.  My son and his girlfriend had gone to the welcome aboard show (we skipped it) and made me go to the show another night just to see my reactions.  I didn't realize that was their goal at the time. It was, something.  

We had early dining, so no issues there for us. Although, we did feel the food wasn't as good as it had been on past cruises, pre-COVID.  We didn't do the buffet except for breakfast one day and that was enough.  Breakfast is weak on the ship overall.  

We love sailing from Baltimore because it's an easy drive for us (Sussex County, Delaware), the port is easy to navigate and efficient.  However, we do wish there were better itineraries.  That's the problem with trying to do 7 days out of the mid-Atlantic.  I think they could make St. Thomas or something happen but choose not to in favor of Freeport.  They've GOT to drop that port.  Even the staff was making fun of it as port stop.  Everyone we spoke to was either not getting off at all, getting off for a quick walk around the immediate port area or complaining about the lack of excursions and the ridiculous prices for the lackluster excursion options.  

Hello all!  We will be in Grand Turk in May on the Carnival Legend.  In the past we have done a dune buggy tour that was tons of fun, but it seems it isn't being offered either by the ship or my usual source for outside excursions.  Has anyone been to GT lately?  Any suggestions?  

People cancelling means prices should go down and ships should be sailing at reduced capacities.  I'm 100% ok with that right now!  

We are on the 3/28/20 Breeze departure from Port Canaveral.  We are booked in the Country Inn & Suites in Port Canaveral for 03/27/20 and fly in that morning to MCO.  Is Cortrans an option to our hotel from the airport?  Or do we need to rent a car or find other transportation to PC that day?  

While it's not La Romana or Amber Cove, our family's most memorable port stop ever was Samana, DR.  We had a GREAT time and met some wonderful folks on our tour that day.  My parents took my then 13yr old on an NCL cruise in 2013 that stopped in Samana and they all loved it, my son most of all.  In fact, his insistence that we needed to see Samana was the sole reason we booked the same ship, same itinerary the following year.  One of the things we loved the most was that Samana was not ruined by the commercialism that is seen in so many other Caribbean ports these days.  No Diamonds International or Senor Frogs.  We met locals who were eager and happy to share their way of life, their foods, their livelihoods and in one woman's case, her home.  It was an amazing day and one that we would love to have done again, but most mainstream cruises aren't going there anymore. I venture to say that part of the problem would be what has been stated here repeatedly - a fear of something that isn't "pretty." 

The deaths in DR recently are traumatic and terrible for sure.  But is that a reason to avoid going there?  I mean, there are shootings and killings and deaths in our small town in Delaware, but we certainly don't stop shopping and going to dinner. 

How in the world are you earning enough points quickly enough to take advantage of the cruises??  I've been playing for a year or so and don't even have 100k!!  What am I doing wrong?

I have an issue with the fact that he owes child support and is instead planning on a cruise. My ex owes me over $4k and when he and current whatever she is (girlfriend, live in lover, partner, fake wife) go on vacation, his excuse is always "I'm not paying for it, <insert name here> is paying for it." Ok...but you both pay all the bill etc, so nice try pal. A nice guy doesn't vacation instead of taking care of his obligations first, regardless of whether or not it was years ago or he has the kid now, or whatever.

I wouldn't bother bringing the umbrella onboard. Why haul more stuff than is truly necessary?? You can rent umbrellas if you really need one. With luggage for a family, carry ons and the umbrella stroller we took for our then 3 yr old, I can't imagine adding a beach umbrella to that!

Our youngest was 3 on our first cruise as a family - we just used sunscreen and went about the business of having fun! He wasn't going to sit in the shade or under an umbrella anyway. He was more interested in being in the pool or the ocean than being in the sand. :)

Hello everyone. Yes I am still around. I just got off the Carnival Conquest yesterday to celebrate my best friend getting married onboard. It was a beautiful wedding

Sorry that I don’t do reviews anymore. Maybe I should do one for the Conquest. It’s been a while since I have done one.

Thank you all for your kind words about my reviews. They are a lot of work but they are fun to put together and I have met so many wonderful friends from here because of my reviews

 

 

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Welcome back! Even if it's just a quick hello :) I am one of the many that LOVED your reviews, but I know they are a lot of work and take a lot of time. I'm always super appreciative of anyone that takes the time and effort to put together a day by day, sometimes it seems minute by minute, of their trip. I love reading them, whether I'm planning on that ship or port or not. LOL I live vicariously through the fun of others since we tend to have about 4 years between cruises...only because we have to save up that long LOL We are on a major budget, so little by little we get there.

I love Mitsugirly, Jamman and Gambee! You can find Gambee's reviews on his website as well and he doesn't just stick to on cruiseline, so that's fun too. Wrigley's were always fun to read and who doesn't love a good GAPEARL review? Miss her adventures!

I contacted GAPEARL and told her people on CC were missing her reviews and she told me she is no longer posting reviews and has removed herself from the website :(

Well that makes me sad! I loved following her adventures!

Based on my experience on the Pride in April, bring your hair dryer. The ones in the rooms are WORTHLESS an did nothing but make my hair a huge frizzy mess. I have shoulder length, curly/wavy hair, fine, not a ton of hair on my head and it took ages to dry and in the end it took me FOREVER to tame it with my curling iron and flat iron. After that night, I just wore it curly or let it air dry and then went at it with the hot tools. LOL I will take my own dryer next time for sure.

We use the same online TA every time we book and we just make weekly payments through their website. It's so convenient and a super easy way to pay off the cruise. We don't miss the $25-$35 a week I throw at it and since we book so far out, it works for us. We booked our 2020 cruise in April, a full 2 years in advance. So paying $25-$50/week will get us paid off easily before final payment date.

I can't wait until my husband and I are retired and can cruise whenever we want! We are going without the kids for the first time in 2020, so that will be new. LOL It makes our trip cheaper too!

We were in an extended balcony cabin on the Pride in April, in fact we had 4 in a row between our group. We liked that they were deeper than other balconies, giving us more room to move around. We had the balcony divider opened between our room and our children's room, which made an even nicer situation! We had 4 chairs and 2 little tables and a huge balcony :) The only thing that I didn't really love was the long walk down the hall and the fact that we had life boats below. Not a huge deal either way, but I definitely prefer being closer to stairways and elevators. We were in 7168 and 7166, with my parents and grandparents in 7170 and 7172.

We have a small travel fan that my husband puts right by his head. We bought a 2nd one for our kids' room on our last cruise as well. We just packed them in our luggage, no issue whatsoever. While we were watching them load luggage on the ship, we saw a few 20 inch box fans in with the luggage! There were a couple in boxes and we saw one that was not. We were surprised and my husband said that I should have let him do that. lol We are flying for our next cruise, so I'm not sure that he will get to do it, but if we were driving, I'd tell him go for it.