Tom-n-Cheryl

I was really looking forward to JiJi's on the Mardi Gras, until they pulled a fast one and melded it in with Mexican, and significantly trimmed JiJi's menu at the same time. I have basically no interest in Mexican cuisine, save some guacamole and salsa with my chips and beer/margarita ! Tom

Yes, thanks - I eventually figured that out (as "non-traditional" as it is)... perhaps it's a European thing! Tom

In my opinion, they're tightening up big time. Others experiences may vary. Tom

Perhaps I was looking at an old menu/review... or even another line ! Tom

I understand they offer Prime Rib on the menu? I'd almost go there just for that. 🙂 Tom

Thanks ! One of the MOST fascinating things I could think of would be adding a second specialty dining option. That would almost seal the deal on its own. I already have all 7-nights booked in the steakhouse, but that's a lot with the same menu over and over, a little variety would be appreciated. 🙂 Tom

We have the Pride booked for Thanksgiving this year. Even though we have one of our favorite aft corner cabins booked (deck 4), we might still pull the plug on this one - if only due to the age and condition of this ship. I really hope that the dry dock is "fascinating", as I'm not too keen on trying to ignore rust, stains, outdated décor, and general disrepair. Even though we got a great casino deal on this, I'm not going to knowingly sail on a tired ship (never again on Fantasy class for us either)! So... to sum it up, when is the dry dock and for how many weeks? I'll keep a watch on this thread 🙂 Tom

Testing the waters w/MSC on this short sailing ( 3-nt Seaside later next month) and we upgraded to the YC. On pretty much every cruise we've been on in the last 15-20 years (depends on ship) we opt for specialty dining options. Not being familiar at all with the YC dining experience (have dined in Luminae, Haven Restaurant, and Coastal Kitchen many times), nor having any experience with the specialty dining options onboard I'd like to see what you folks might recommend given the short nature of the cruise (not many nights to play the field!) and the fact that we're cruising with a friend (not in YC) and would like to enjoy a dinner or two with him. Yes, that's a tall order for such a quick trip ... but we'll be back (most likely!) THANKS, Tom

We have someone on one of our roll calls who posts every couple/few days: Only 246 days left Only 241 days left Only 239 days left .. and that's pretty much all they ever say... I finally clicked IGNORE (or something along those lines). All of a sudden I started getting way fewer notifications for that roll call. However now I'm left wondering, if they ever post something useful, that I might miss it, darn it! This might be a good use for AI one day - "intelligent" IGNORE. Tom

That's kind of what I'm doing now, having 3 Yacht Club balcony sailings booked on MSC. Despite all the less than stellar reviews regarding that line, it's almost a polar opposite with regard to their Yacht Club (ship within a ship, similar to NCL Haven). At this point, the fares are still pretty reasonable - compared to NCL and, especially Celebrity. Tom

And higher floors cost more, floor by floor. And middle of the ship is generally more than aft or forward. It used to be very simple, but the bean counters (like at the airlines) have progressively managed to squeeze more and more from people. 🙂 Tom

OH - we love the front views as well. On an Excel class ship, the only front view we'd go for is to book the presidential suite again. 🙂 Tom

Yep - the specialty dining perk of the upper suites on X are nice. We've had a RS perhaps 4 times, and a PH 3 times. And, now you get that "fancy" ship card so everyone you hand it to will know you're in an upper suite, LOL. I have also not been impressed with meals in Luminae. Great service, but just lacking otherwise. I've enjoyed the Haven restaurant much more. Looking forward to our quick trip next month. I went ahead and booked a B2B (4+3) in the YC for our office cruise next year (well, my staff will only be on 1 leg 🙂 ). We opted for the RS there. I was a tad disappointed when they said you could not enjoy the 10% military discount on a YC3 cabin. Oh well, we'll have a great time nonetheless. I was considering a longer sailing for the fall of '24 with MSC, but most of what I could put together would be screwy B2B's, or B2B2B's. I'd rather not come back to the homeport and then revisit some ports of call. Oh well, it's a work in progress I'm sure! Tom

Interesting - that speaks volumes. I have not yet tried the Edge class, and have been looking at the Edge Villas on the Beyond (though they're several thousand more than I've ever paid for a cruise). Tom

I've been scratching my head on this one, but for almost all sailings I've searched, Carnival is getting almost $200 more for the forward Excel suites over the Aft ones. There's a HUGE difference in the balcony on those two (the size, what's provided on them) with my vote going for the Aft. The ONLY thing I see that the forward cabins have over the aft is that they have a "wet bar" (a small sink)! I mean, I'd take an expansive balcony over a sink any day. I'd think that the balcony up front is less user friendly too (wind), as well as being rather narrow. About the only thing I see as a drawback to the aft corners is the factor of noise from deck 8 below - pool area, which diminishes as you get up towards deck 15. Thoughts.. and your preferences ?? Tom

It did for my 50th. Cheryl utilized hers on a charter sailing - VH1 Best Cruise Ever II. I was thrilled (and shocked) that they would allow it to be applied to a charter sailing. I'm a little confused now, as below I see I captured an image of the notice I received in our cabin upon embarkation for her OBC, but I also see that I had a Milestone S&S card that trip - those cards stood out, owing to the color - this was about a year before the current VIFP program was rolled out (with the white Diamond card, for example). Perhaps we, since Cheryl is ahead of my cruise count, opted to delay my rewards OBC for a more expensive sailing. BTW - I highly recommend going on a music chartered sailing, at least once. Check out my REVIEW of that cruise as well as PHOTOS. I still remember that sailing well. Literally "best cruise ever"! At any rate, yes, I'm told that it will be applied for both of us for our 5/20/23 Celebration cruise in the week prior to sailing. I'll be keeping a close eye on that, and probably touch base with them a couple days before the cruise if it hasn't yet shown up. Tom

The 75-Diamond-Milestone on my card temporarily (on the Milestone sailing) replaces the VIFP Club/Funnel image. Well, it's supposed to be temporary,-- lol to @DGP1111 Cheryl is actually 4 sailings ahead of me, so she received the "regular" Diamond card. She has sailed a few times with girlfriends. I, on the other hand, have never sailed with girlfriends... Tom

OK ... found another, but this one is under my control 😄 Tom

Well, in this image there is but one. I'm ok with where it's angled in this photo (I doubt the field of view would include me), unless it starts rotating. Now that would be cause for a meeting with the Captain ! Tom

Although I've never purchased them there, I assume that they're all the same. So, yes - those are good for virtually anything "Carnival". I purchased 20 of the $500's through AARP (@$450 each - a $50 savings!), and have paid towards cruises, excursions, dining, etc. 🙂 In the past I've used my 3% (for travel charges) cash back card for all things cruising. However, with the gift cards, getting 10% instead of 3% is an easy call, all day long ! Tom

Toilets flush, (jetted) tubs recirculate. Though, at the same time, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger... right? lol Tom

Same logic, same ship, same sailing 🙂

Yep - here's a shot from the outside. Cheryl's on the balcony (small/over lifeboat, but still!). The 6 windows next to her are in the living room area, the next 5 are for the bedroom. On the emergency info plate on the door, they even had the location of the furnishings in there. 🙂 Back in the day (pre-high speed WiFi) I brought along my Sirius Starmate, and had to find a good place for the antenna. What better place than run it up onto the railing of the jogging track above? lol 😄

We've been in those suites perhaps 10 times (before and after renovations) never tried the tubs! Though, the tubs were even less inviting in their original version - and had probably hosted more than one "tub event" over the years. Over the years, we've witnessed plenty of crazy things looking out from the cabin. 🙂 Tom

Interesting read HERE as to how the Goo Goo Dolls got their name, and then decided they'd better stick with it. 🙂 Tom