imaboo

We met in lobby at 6:15 pm for Chef's table where we were greeted with champagne, once everyone was present we proceeded to the galley. Everyone was prompt on our cruise and started on time. We finished dinner at 9:15.

That gives me a good idea of the time. Thanks!

Hello fellow cruisers :)

What time is the Chef's table scheduled for? I did a quick search but nothing readily popped up. The keywords Table and Time turned up too many results ;)

Thanks for the review! We sailed the same itinerary the week before Christmas. The pics brought back some great memories. We had YTD, but had the same waiters you did one evening. I agree, they were a very entertaining team.

Our cabin was an aft extended balcony on deck 9. It (also) rained both days we were in Roatan and Belize. We were very happy to have a balcony on that deck though. We were able to sit outside while it was raining and watch the clouds go by and a rainbow come out. All the aft balconies below us got rained on, but the ones on deck 9 are protected by an overhang. We could hear the chair scraping in the morning when they set up the deck above us, but it was worth it being able to sit outside while it was raining. :D

Thanks again for your review :)

Thanks for the review. It reflected my experiences on the 3-day cruises out of LA as well. I had to laugh when I read your description of dinner in the MDR. Last 3-day cruise, I had YTD as well and my tablemates were exactly as you described the table next to yours. I think I am going to eat earlier next time before the rowdies show up.

The 7+ day Carnival cruises out of LA are not nearly as riotous as the shorter ones. Nonetheless, as you discovered, its fairly easy to avoid the craziness. When I want to be outside, I hang out on the Serenity deck and avoid the Lido altogether.

I just booked online two days ago (a "Pack and go" rate). It was 9 days out from sail date. I think you can book right up to two days before online, as long as there are cabins available of course. Who knows, maybe she'll get a great last minute deal ;)

All of the meat served in the steakhouse is prime, so anyway you go you will get a great steak. The filet has very little fat and no connective tissue, so it is one cohesive piece of tender meat. It is also a smaller cut. The ribeye is a larger cut and has some fat and connective tissue. It is also tender, not as tender as a filet, but has a *ton* of flavor comparatively. If you were to ask a chef which cut to choose, 90% would say ribeye. When I grill steaks at home, I always choose a ribeye - however - at the steakhouse on a ship, I prefer to order the surf and turf because I want the lobster too. :D

If you are not a seafood person, go for the ribeye. If not, go for the surf and turf.

Oh and in the MDR, the filet with braised short ribs is the bomb.

Love it. Thanks! :)

They sell some fairly nice lanyards in the onboard gift shop, if you can wait until after they open to buy one. They have pouches on them if you want that feature. You can take the pouch off if you don't. There are lots of colors and styles available. I use the one I got from a Behind the Fun tour a few cruises back, so didn't buy one in the shop. I was tempted though!

We'll be arriving in Santa Barbara next Thursday on the Sapphire Princess. How far is it to walk to the Mission form the tender pier? Thank you in advance. Also where is the Courthouse in relation to the Mission and the tender pier?

Hi There TM.

It is too far to walk to the Mission from the tender pier (~ 4 miles). Your best bet is to take a taxi. ;)

This photo is kind of unique, anyone notice anything wrong with it?

 

 

The ship has been photoshopped onto the image. It's wayyy too big! Also, its a HAL ship :p

We will be in SB on the Golden in a few days. The 2 DH's are playing golf at the SB Golf Club-- t-off at 9:53.

How far from the pier is it ? I'm assuming taxi is the best way to go. Any idea of the cost ?

Thanks.... :)

Pat

The SB Golf Club is a tiny bit more than 5 miles from Stearns Wharf. If you take the 101 freeway, you should be there in about 10 minutes.

For a more scenic view, you could have the taxi driver take you up State St, past the Old Mission and then over to the Golf Club. That should take about 30-40 minutes depending on whether or not you get out of the cab to look around ;-)

I'm afraid I don't know what the cab fare will be, I've never taken one in all the years I've lived here - lol. I did a search however and found this article from a local paper dated last year -> http://www.independent.com/news/2012/aug/01/taxi-tips/

Love it. What time of the day was this taken?

Thanks! It was around 7 am. The sun had just come up about 15-20 minutes before.

I just returned home from a weekend on the Inspiration, and I discovered something. These cute creatures protect our lounge chairs from early morning hogg-ification....

But, they have a sinister side. They will steal your dessert if left unattended!

Hi all. I just discovered this thread while poking around in the Ports of Call Forums. I'm willing to offer assistance as well if anyone is looking for info on the Solvang/Santa Ynez area. :)

I really enjoy getting "gussied up" for dinner. I don't have many opportunities outside of cruising. DH on the other hand, not so much. *sigh*

I will tell you though, one of the things that I find interesting on elegant night is sitting on the promenade and watching all the people go by in various interpretations of "gussied up". Now that's entertainment :)

I wonder if CC has ever done a poll on this topic...

Great review and great pictures. Very well done. Thank you. :)

OK, I'm confused.

 

After a much-too-long hiatus from cruising I found what I considered a great deal and posted it here (post #1567). I must have been the only one who considered it a great deal as no one excitedly commented on my find.

 

While on my cruise I went to the office where they book future cruises (whatever it's called). I said (without mentioning any figures) that I had gotten what I thought was a great rate and asked "what would you consider to be a great rate on this cruise sailing solo in a balcony cabin?" Without hesitation the reply was "$400-500."

 

I thought my $800 rate was the find of the decade! Am I missing something? :confused:

 

PS If I can find single, balcony cabins for under $500 it will not be another twelve years until my next cruise!!

That would most definitely be a great rate for a balcony cabin - solo. However, I think $500 is totally unrealistic - unless you were on a 2-day cruise to nowhere (I am being intentionally facetious). Your $800 rate for a solo balcony was definitely a great rate. Did you enjoy the cruise?

+1 !! I agree

+1 Me too! Awesome job :)

Weekend rush hour in Miami.

Decided to take a trip back through this thread again. This one made me giggle.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Hee! Very cute :)

Thanks to whoever resurrected this thread, awesome pics.:D

You're welcome *grin*

Just how fresh do they think their chicken needs to be?

 

 

Grand Cayman

Roflmao - too funny! :D

Well, lets see, I have a couple from my last cruise that might fit here ...

 

From Antigua (March 2012) ...

 

 

Love the Rainbow - Pretty!

I bet this is a familiar sight to anyone who has ever sailed into Cabo. Apparently the owner of this property is tired of being asked if he wants to sell :D

Here is another great "photo" thread from a while back. Now we have two threads to keep bumped up :)