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I agree, unfortunately we've had a tough time with air travel lately too. Although our flight last Monday into LAX was on time, we sat on the runway for 50 minutes waiting for a gate (people with connections were starting to get pretty irritated). Hope your flights go well and you have a great trip!

No, it's fine, but I think it does depend on the terminal. Last Monday we arrived like 2 hours late to Long Beach (plane was late). Although people were lined up outside the terminal (based on signs with arrive appointment times) they allowed us to bypass the line and enter the terminal (as our sign "10:30 - 11:00" was long gone). But then we got stuck in a huge line for initial check-in (the little round tables). Our line would get stopped and a whole group of people (I'm assuming from the covid testing area, but I'm not sure) would get merged in front of us. When we finally got through the initial check-in/security portion, we could proceed to the Diamond/Platinum/Suites check-in area and it was quick after that.

Yes - my favorite! Not a vegetarian either, It's just very consistently good,

We have been on 8 cruises since they changed the muster process, and Miracle is the only ship that funneled us right to muster upon boarding - Brilliant! The rest of Carnival's ships need to do this.

Thanks for the great review so far (following). We are boarding Miracle (although not for Alaska) next Thursday and also staying at RIU Fisherman’s Wharf. One question - would you say that RIU is within walking distance of the port for adults with minimal luggage?

It appears this is fixed now - I see lots of spa options that were not there yesterday.

I agree - I apply right away after booking.

I agree that they are having technical difficulties or something. We are on the Miracle over the 4th of July and I just tried to do a mock booking of a spa treatment. Initially, I could some type of massage to come up, but as soon as I click "select day and time" I get an error message saying "sorry, this product is not available for your sailing". Now when I go back to the spa and salon category, zero results come up.

We have used the EMed tests 7 times in the last year (most recently 10 days ago) and never had a problem at all (approximately 20 tests taken in total). I used to buy spare tests, but in hopes that they will quit requiring them, I'm not buying extra anymore. If one of our tests are faulty, I guess we will have to beg them to test us at the port.

I agree. Unfortunately Carnival is taking advantage of the summer season and filling up their ships without enough crew to handle it. We really like Carnival and are willing to deal with the current issues (and hope they are temporary).

We just returned from our 8th cruise since cruising resumed about a year ago. Each cruise has steadily had more and more passengers (and doesn't seem to matter which port, we've been east coast, Texas, and west coast). We just got off Radiance Friday, and it was super crowded with a ton of kids (3100 total passengers according to the cruise director) and when I google the Radiance Capacity, it is 2,764, so definitely a full ship.

Sorry, I missed one other question - Yes, the Sea Day Brunch Steak & Eggs had the Filet Mignon and it was very good.

Unfortunately I did not make it for the drink special (but I will keep trying, we are booked again next Feb). 🙂 Our plane was late, well technically, our plane was right on time but we sat on the runway at LAX for 50 minutes waiting for a gate (the airports are so much busier now!). So then it was a chain reaction, harder to get an Uber (the later it got), we got to the terminal around 12:45 (which seems to be the worst time to arrive). Lines were very long outside the terminal. So everything just took a bit longer. Fortunately once we got through security, we were able to get in the Diamond/Platinum/Suites line (which was empty) and then proceeded right onto the ship.

Glad to hear your husband is doing better. Yes, they did use both dining rooms. A couple of other things I noticed... I was on this ship back in February and I think we had about 1,000 less passengers then. I don't know if it was due to our cabin location, or the higher number of people (3100 this time according to the CD) but I noticed a sewage smell off and on this time, whereas I didn't last time (and I have heard that can also be a supply chain issue - availability of odor control chemicals for the treatment process). Not a big deal, but something I took note of. The staffing shortage is more apparent (hopefully it will be better by August). I felt so bad for the crew working the pizza place. They were so busy all the time and seemed to usually only have 1 person working there. We only tired to get on the ropes course once - it was supposed to open at 2:00 and by 2:45 when tons of people had lined up but nobody showed up to staff/open it, we finally gave up. Ice machines were frequently out of order (usually only one at a time though) and when two near each other went down, I notice they quickly roped off and fixed one of them. I don't think the one on the back of the ship (by the ice cream) ever worked the entire cruise though. As I mentioned earlier, we had no evening shows (singers/dancers) in the theater (apparently due to a mechanical failure according to the CD). Sometimes they moved the comedian into the theater (which was nice, plenty of room) and also still had things like Love & Marriage show, Welcome Aboard show, etc. Overall it was a very good cruise. Our dining room staff were excellent (really quick service).

So this was kind of strange. As it turned out we had no shows this cruise. Well, to clarify, no shows with singers/dancers in the Theater. I went to guest services to ask why and they insisted there were shows (I probably just missed them on the app). So I took screen shots of every evening schedule (with no theater shows listed) and went to the "Question/Answer with the Cruise Director". But I didn't need my screen shots, 🙂 he immediately agreed that there were no shows this week. He said it was due to technical difficulties/a broken LED screen at the back of the stage. I can take or leave the shows since we cruise so often, we have seen most of them. As an aside, I asked him what our capacity was - 3100.

We just got on the ship yesterday. Yes, about 48 hrs prior this was available to complete in our planner. But then i kept getting email reminders to fill it out (even though I'd submitted it) and finally they said to just complete it at the terminal. They never asked us about it the terminal (so maybe some issues with their system).

To be fair I don't think you can compare symphony to sunrise at all. Completely different class of ship. But I will say, I'm on Radiance right now and it's hit or miss. On embarkation day when the buffet shut down after lunch, the lines for Guys & pizza were the longest I have seen (out of many carnival cruises). We boarded around 2:00 (plane was late) and there were no (or minimal) lines at Guys, pizza, buffet. Dinner in the MDR around 6 had hardly anyone. Quickest service ever. Then today no wait at all for water taxi to Catalina (but then again we weren't trying to be the very first ones off either). Sometimes its just timing. Please forgive typos...I'm walking around catalina.

I really like both ships. In regard to the things you mentioned, I think the Dream has 2 casinos (one completely smoke-free) which I think is nice.

Actually, your situation is the only time we have chosen a later arrival appointment (when we can drive to port). We usually fly/stay in a hotel the day before the cruise, so we prefer an early arrival appointment (since we don't have a car and are sitting in a hotel with our luggage, we might as well head to the port). But like you said, on the rare occasion we can drive to the port, we build in extra time for traffic, unintentional stops, (we actually got stuck behind a parade once), etc. It's just so nice not to be rushed, not arrive when the huge crowd in the waiting area. Those are my best memories of walking into a fairly quiet terminal and moving quickly through the process and onto the ship. Have a great trip - I'll be watching for your thoughts afterwards. We are doing Valor/New Orleans for the first time in November.

Oh no, I'm SO sorry to hear that! There are a total of 5 of us going tomorrow and I literally could not sleep (was up every hour Friday night) worried about testing yesterday. Thankfully we all tested negative (tons of people in our area have covid right now, so I was really worried). Well darn, I hope you still have a happy anniversary (37 years? So impressive!).

Thank you (the Cruiser it is) - I will go with your recommendation!

My thoughts exactly - you are traveling a long way, make the most of it with a 7 or 8 day cruise. All of those are are really great options for what you are looking for. It's just personal preference, but I would probably choose Mardi Gras over Horizon (it's really a close call though... we have been on both and love them both). We have been on Mardi Gras twice (once at about 50% capacity and once fully booked) and we loved it both times. If you like to stay busy, there is a ton to do on this ship, but if you prefer to relax in the sun and/or read a book, I could always find spot for that too. But than again, after 20+ cruises, maybe we just favored a new unique ship. They are both great. Enjoy your trip!

I understand the point. Things change. You have a choice when you travel, don't choose Carnival if they aren't up to your service standards (and then complain about it).

I think it's all in what you like/expect. I like Carnival because its a low-key, laidback, affordable vacation. I like decent service, but I don't need cabin service twice a day. I don't care if I ever see a table cloth (if it saves them time and money especially). I typically don't wash my bedding every 3 days at home, so I don't need that done on vacation either. On any land-based vacation I take, I easily meet or exceed the daily tip amount Carnival charges me (and don't even get me started on resort fees). I guess I don't understand why people choose to travel on Carnival when they clearly prefer the service on the other lines?

I agree... that is the worst. And I just don't get it?! Why do people congregate in their rooms when there are so many public places on the ship open late, where you don't have to worry about disturbing your neighbors. Our worst experience was in an inside cabin with a connecting door (will absolutely never book a connecting cabin again). Not only was the noise level unbearable (yelling/laughing, etc) but all night long it sounded like people were trying to open the connecting door (it would thump and rattle) jarring me from sleep. I also just don't understand the people who loudly yell their goodbyes/goodnights to friends down the cabin hallways at 2:30 am as they return to their cabins. Again... why do people have to so completely inconsiderate?! I taught my kids from a young age, that they are to assume there are children sleeping anytime from early evening on, and they are to be quiet and courteous in the hallways of ships, hotels, etc.