SnowshoeCat

The wheat stalk indicates gluten free

The milk carton indicates lactose free

The V indicates vegetarian

And a triangular "thing" indicates a vitality dish.

 

Are those symbols industry standards? It's confusing. If I saw a wheat stalk, I would take that as a warning that the product contains wheat. Same with the milk carton. Now if it had a red slash through it, I would think the product would be free of those ingredients.

As far as the "fake meat" dishes. Maybe they should label it as "chicken" (with quotes) then say what it really is. Some people can't have wheat, soy etc, so the vegetarian option may not be a good choice for them.

I do believe people need to be proactive with respect to their own needs, but a few accurate signs and preparations would save some hassle. Vacations should be relaxing, and meals are a big part of vacation (cruises, anyway ;))

 

One option would be to drive some of it on Friday night (maybe 3-4 hours) and leave the last 2 for the morning. That would be my choice with your time frame.

Exactly what I was thinking. Break the trip up somewhere in the middle, get a good night's rest and then a leisurely drive in the morning.

Safe travels!

The article says the contract won't be renewed after the end of 2013. That's next week. Does anyone know how long the current contract is good through? It can't just end next week, can it, unless something else is already lined up? I'm just wondering if how/if this impacts January's cruises.

. The ship's decor is still definitely old school Carnival, certain areas looking as if they were festooned by a lunatic with a kaleidoscope fetish.

Thank you for the pictures! I was on the same sailing as you (we must have passed in the gym). I was trying to explain the decor to some friends, how the carpet and walls in the stairways clashed horribly. Kaleidoscope is a good description (although kaleidoscopes have more complementary colors). As the decorators would say, "there's no place for the eye to 'rest'". Now I can show them your photos.

I look forward to the rest of your review. It's always fun to read someone else's experiences of the same trip!

ETA: AAACK! I'm in your Serenity deck photo :D

The Westjet video is great!

 

Here's an amusing one from SNL: http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/airport/n41324/ I think we can all relate in some way.

It took me a while to answer my ringing phone because I was laughing so hard!

ATTENTION ALL POSTERS TO THIS THREAD!! :p

 

I am organizing a protest rally too.

 

I want to protest the fact that I am NOT on the Connie in Key West right now!!!! :(:(

 

It's 20 below Fahrenheit right now where I am, (-29 C ) wind chill included... (I am not kidding!!)

I just got off a ship in Florida this morning, and returned home to central NY (just south of Ottawa) and 15 degrees (F) and snow this afternoon. Next month I'm sailing on Connie, and as I'm reading this thread, I realize I'm kind of hoping I can get stuck in Key West, too :D

I just noticed this the other day. I had to check my own profile for something and there was a "notification". I have no idea how long it's been there. It was a friends request from a screen name I barely recognized, and someone whose opinions are unknown to me. Some names (and their beliefs) show up frequently on the message board, but this one was pretty much a stranger. I ignored it simply because I don't do social media with strangers, not because of anything personal. I hope the sender doesn't take offense.

It is a pretty good "optical illusion". It all becomes crystal clear if you cover up (yes, put your finger on your screen) the legs with the long blue pants.

 

It's clear that the two people are facing each other (kind of), and the rider with the yellow shirt is properly attached to his standard-adult-sized legs wearing jean shorts.

 

The "legs" underneath the yellow-shirt torso is actually just one leg (belonging to the white shirt torso).

 

Again, just cover up the "short legs" on the right - your eyes will be opened :D

Yup - you're right! I see it now. I still have no idea what's going on in the picture, but at least I can see who's who :)

For more help: the person on the left is facing right - check out the bend in the arms. What looks like a dark harness around an arched back is actually pants/shorts (and a rounded back) that extend "under" the yellow shirt.

Thanks Todd!

 

It all led to the airport but when we left the port I saw a sign that said "airport" and it pointed straight ahead. Our fare was a little over $14 which was no big deal but going down the road he told me there was a $10 "tax" in addition to the fare. I told him I knew this was not true because I had cruised out of FLL several times and no driver ever made mention of a "tax." I got mixed up about the flat charge vs. the meter charge (flat rate is in Miami) but he did use the meter.

What did he say when you questioned the $10 "tax"? I want to be ready if someone tries to pull that on me.

Thanks for whetting my appetite! I'm going in three weeks :D Your pictures and last night's snowfall are adding to my anticipation!

So that could be an advantage or a disadvantage. :) I guess I like to be a little farther from the waves.

Honestly, if I weren't worried about motion sickness, I'd probably prefer to be up a few levels, but not all the way up. Main or Upper, to see over the waves ;)

 

The disadvantage if you have an oceanview cabin is that you are really close to the water. But since you're in an inside cabin, that won't be an issue. :)

 

That's interesting. I like being close to the water (sometimes under it ;)) I really feel like I'm on the ocean.

I like the low decks because there is less side-to-side swaying motion, and well, I can usually get a good rate. As other people have mentioned, the biggest disadvantage is you're about as far away from the buffet as you can get. The elevators aren't usually an issue for me because I like to walk.

If I just wanted to walk around town, where should I ask the driver to drop me off? And how do I find one going back? Are there taxi stands?

delete - wrong thread!

Thanks for the photos, boogs. I admit I "oohed" and "aahed" a bit at the Fascination atrium (I thought it was a night time photo), then cringed at the dining room. Why are the tables so big in the Constellations bar/lounge? It looks like a dining room.

It looks like I'll be on the Constellation. That was my original plan, and that's usually the right choice.

It's a good thing we're slow here at work today. I've been doing lots of number crunching. I can chip away at the price difference if I get an interior cabin on Celebrity. But, darn - I like the oceanview! And I do want to try something different.

I realize it's my decision. I appreciate everyone's input and the opportunity to bounce ideas around. I think my friends are ready to kill me, so thanks for listening!

I have to go to work now, so I just held a cabin on both sailings and I'll think about it some more. Leaning towards Celebrity...

Thanks again!

If you're younger and you want more of a livelier atmosphere, Celebrity might not fit. Celebrity tends to attract an older crowd and they don't have the hopping nightlife of Carnival. But if you want a more upscale cruise with better food and service, then Celebrity is the better choice.

You know, I don't think I really "fit in" with any demographic. That's why I'm having trouble deciding. I don't party or stay up late, but I do find some of the liveliness somewhat entertaining.

My first cruise was on Carnival. It turns out it was spring break. I didn't play any of the games. I went to the gym, the spa, afternoon tea, and just had my own relaxing time. My second cruise was on Norwegian in the middle of January. It was... sedate. I almost missed the drunken idiots from the spring break cruise.

I'm wondering if because my day-to-day life is generally low-key, I appreciate a little stimulation on vacation? Ugh. Back to square one.

You will not find the passenger demographic much different on the five day cruises. Especially if the Fascination is the Monday departure. I find the frenetic atmosphere stronger on the 3 day cruises of Carnival. Interestingly, if you sail on a five day Celebrity cruise, and follow it with the four day cruise, you will notice a marked difference in the mix...Was surprised when I saw shorts and wifebeater shirts in the evening. EM

Both cruises Sat-Thurs.

Thank you for the replies. I'm waiting for the call back from my agent to book Celebrity. There are a couple of OBC promotions that I can apply to the martini fund. Cheers!

Oh, right - ships! Celebrity Constellation or Carnival Fascination. I don't care that the Fascination is an "older" ship, so that's not a concern. Both cruises are 5 nights, Celebrity stopping at Key West and Cozumel, Carnival stopping at Key West and, of course, Nassau ;) Celebrity has more time in Key West, which is really the only port I care about.

The other thing is I'll be sailing on the Carnival Ecstasy 6 weeks prior, so maybe I need to shake things up a bit?

At the suggestion of some friends of mine, I would like to try Celebrity. I found a 5-night sailing that fit the bill during my vacation week, although it's a bit of a splurge. That same week, Carnival is offering the same itinerary, but without the single supplement. Even with changing my plane tickets, it will still be about $400 less than the Celebrity cruise.

On the one hand, I like to get a bargain, but on the other, I'd like to treat myself to something special. Do you think the extra money will be worth it for just a 5-nighter, or save the splurge for something else?

I'm driving myself a little crazy trying to decide ;) Thank you for any input.

Just don't wear your snowshoes and you will be fine.:D

 

No? But they're so.... "strappy" :D Alas, they don't fit in my carry-on.

Thank you to the OP for asking this. I admit I was getting a little concerned for my upcoming cruise (which I haven't decided on yet). I was hoping I would "fit in" okay.

Sorry that you're getting such snotty responses to the Carnival comparison. Cruise Critic should be the place you can get such advice, because all the people shown in all cruise brochures are professional models and have nothing to do with what the ships actually look like on real cruises.

I was trying to convince myself of this last night. I don't look like them, I don't dress like them (I do know how to behave myself, though ;)) and I kept saying to myself "they're just models, they're just models".

I had an ocean view once. We could see just fine... Yes, we could see the dead fish on the window ledge just fine. It was there all week.

Left over room service? Poor fishy.

I like aquarium cabins, not just to reduce the movement, but it makes me really feel "on" the water. The higher decks will give a more panoramic view, and more motion (and probably cleaner windows ;))