wxguyinms

Jamie Dee and Big Tex are, without a doubt, at the top of my list. Brandon Kovshoff ranks pretty high as well. Least favorite, hands down, is Steve Knisley.

PSA: They're tablecloths. Tables would look pretty silly with clothes.

My mother has a Pack & Play casino offer, and we are considering booking. However, there is a slight possibility she would not be able to go on the cruise, and we won't know for a couple of weeks. Does anyone have experience with a similar situation? What would happen if she did not show up for the cruise? Would I be allowed on board? Would Carnival charge me the difference between the Pack & Play offer and the full cruise fare?

I'm loving your review, Jamman. I did the Baltimore-to-Tampa repositioning on the Pride in January, so I'm enjoying reliving it in reverse (kind of, at least)! :D

Thanks for the advice. I'll see what I can find there. :)

Thanks, John! I'll check that link out.

I'm hoping someone who has been on both a U.S.-based Carnival cruise and an Australia-based one can compare the experiences. Is the "fun ship" vibe typical on Carnival's U.S.-based cruises the same in Australia? What is the typical daytime and nighttime dress onboard? Does the menu change significantly? What should someone who's an experienced Carnival cruiser expect to be different when cruising on the Legend or Spirit from Australia?

I'm hoping someone who has been on both a U.S.-based Carnival cruise and an Australia-based one can compare the experiences. Is the "fun ship" vibe typical on Carnival's U.S.-based cruises the same in Australia? What is the typical daytime and nighttime dress onboard? Does the menu change significantly? What should someone who's an experienced Carnival cruiser expect to be different when cruising on the Legend or Spirit from Australia?

Favorites, hands down, are Jaime Dee, John Heald and Brandon Kovshoff. Least favorites are Steve Knisely and Jess (from the U.S.).

Sail date: Jan. 2, 2017 Ship: Carnival Pride Inside guarantee Cabin *first* assigned date: Dec. 7, 2016 Cabin *first* assigned: 6104 (port forward, 4C) Cabin reassigned date: Dec. 8, 2016 Cabin reassigned: 4202 (port aft, 4K) I just happened to notice today that my assigned cabin is different from what it was yesterday. The new room is a handicap-accessible room. I suppose it could be taken from me and reassigned yet again if someone needs it.

I'm at 30 in the last 12 months: 11 on the Dream, 8 on the Splendor, 7 on the Legend and 4 on the Triumph. And I have another 13 coming up in January on the Pride. Is it time to slow down?

Two weeks ago on the Triumph, I received a Tervis tumbler.

Enjoy your cruise, JMKreno. I can empathize with you. I was also laid off Tuesday but plan to enjoy my cruise later this week and come back refreshed and ready for the next chapter. Hang in there!

Their "job" is what Carnival instructs them to do. Please do not punish the stewards for performing to the standards of their employer.

I've had two rooms where noise was an issue, but I could have avoided both by checking in advance where my room was in relation to other spaces on the ship. On the Legend, my room was right above the piano bar, and the music continued well into the wee hours. Usually that wouldn't have bothered me because I'm usually out and about on the ship late myself, but with an Alaska itinerary and early excursions, I went to bed unusually early all week. The second and by far worse location was under the weightlifting area in the gym on the Dream. People would drop weights from early morning to late at night, rattling my walls and ceiling. Even after the gym closed to guests, staff would use the gym for several hours, so the noise continued. After several complaints to guest services, the after hours noise was curtailed, though, so I wasn't too upset.