Vigorosity

I love portholes! They are a great value for the price of an inside. You can see out of the windows, however is a much smaller view than an oceanview cabin. There is also room to put things on the ledge in front of the portholes! They are set up like an oceanview, so typically a bit larger than an inside cabin. 

The downsides to having one are definitely the fact that its at the very front of the ship. It's not a big issue, but it can be a pain depending on where you're going. 

https://saintgregtravel.com/menus/

This is not my website, but it's very useful! 

A mixed drink will not average $6, for the most part! Typically around $8-10 plus an 18% gratuity. The drink package will also have a gratuity...which will be included when you buy it. So your $52/day drink package just became $61/day. You have to figure out it if is worth it for you. The drink package will cover 15 alcoholic drinks per day plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks a day (bottled water, fancy coffees, sodas, virgin drinks..etc) 

It's really up to you to decide how much you will drink and if it's worth it to you. 

For me, it's totally worth it. Just because I like knowing upfront what I pay for all drinks. I like not worrying what my bill will be at the end of the cruise. I also like trying new drinks without feeling guilty if I don't finish them! I get an iced latte in the mornings, a couple mimosas at breakfast, a frozen drink by the pool, a glass of wine and bottle of pelligrino at dinner, and a drink or two at night. And I never have to think about the cost when I order them!

The breeze sounds like less work for cheaper. And $400 for one extra day seems like a lot. 

Hey! Here's a couple menus from Nov 2018. You have to remember that an 18% gratuity is added to each drink. For example your $9.25 margarita becomes $10.91. Cheers is a one time gratuity (however, you can tip additionally either way)

I don't think the check in time matters, you can get to the port pretty early. I think I arrived around 10:45ish? Just make sure you print the documents/luggage tags/boarding passes AFTER you buy FTTF. Make sure they are marked correctly. 

I just had FTTF on the Paradise in November. Boarding the ship was easy! I got on probably around 11:30, right after Diamond/Platnium cruisers. I went straight to my room to sit down my luggage! You also can use the Diamond/Platnium Guest Services which is a MUCH shorter line should you need any help. (Sometimes the general line can be a 30+ minute wait)

The night before I got to Grand Cayman, a letter arrived in my room with where to meet (a lounge on the promenade) the next morning. I waited for maybe ten minutes before our group was guided down and put on the very first tender to leave. Very simple process! 

The night before debarkation, another letter arrived explaining that I could also be one of the first off the ship. However, I chose to leisurely sit around for a while. I do think that you have to carry all of your luggage off if you want to be very first. But you also get the number one  tags if you don't want to carry your luggage off.

11 hours ago, Daphne'sMom said:

Thank-you for coming back to give an update!  I wonder if the original plan had been to go on a solo cruise if you would have enjoyed it better?  I love to plan vacations and would have been so disappointed if all of my/our plans were changed last minute.  Kudos to you for going and making the best of it.  I have a large family cruise coming very soon and after it is over I hope to start planning my first solo cruise.  I am actually looking forward to the freedom 🙂

Yeah! I’m the planner. I had planned everything months before. All of our pre-cruise stuff changed. We didn’t stop to see my family in Destin. We didn’t go to this cool beach hotel in south Tampa. We didn’t get to stay at the Airbnb that was inside an antique store. 

Maybe if I had planned to go solo, it would have been better. But I don’t see myself planning one of those for a long, long time!

Update! Just got off this cruise and definitely had to go solo. There were pros and cons. I loved having the freedom to do as I wish, loved having my own room. I liked that I got to fly instead of drive. But at the end of the day....I would not do this again on my own! I missed my best friend. I made tons of new friends on the boat...but they just weren’t the same. 

This is the only cruise where I have been happy to go home!

3 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

You realize any answer here is irrelevant to what GS says...

I understand that.  But I’ve also heard stories of people getting charged because their cabinmate didn’t show up. So I thought someone would have experience. Thanks for your answer. 

I’m currently on the boat and my friend can’t make it. Can I buy cheers for just myself on the boat?

Thanks for everyone’s responses! I’m coming around to the idea of being solo on this vacation. I’m still disappointed....but I have always loved adventures and this is definitely one. 

Looking on the bright side...I’ll get my own cabin and a bigger bed. I can decide whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it. I can meet new people easily and have done so in the past. And now I have an hour and a half flight instead of driving 13 hours! Trying to be as positive as possible. 

3 hours ago, schazzy said:

If y'all have insurance, illness is usually one of the reasons that qualifies for a full reimbursement of the covered cruise costs. Y'all could cancel and get your money back and re-book for a later date after she's recovered from her illness.

 

I've never cruised solo before, so I can understand that it's daunting to think about spending a week with a few thousand strangers all by yourself. If you do go it alone, one thing I can suggest is to ask to be seated with a group table at meals in the MDR, at least then you wouldn't have to dine alone, and it would give you a chance to meet and chat with some of your fellow passengers, and maybe even make a few cruise buddies (we've always made a few on our cruises) and that could make it feel a little less lonesome.

 

Whatever you decide, I wish you well, and I hope your friend gets well soon! 

We don’t have insurance. But even if I did, I already have the time off work. I’m not worried about the money as much as just going alone. I know I can have fun...it’s just so crazy to think about. I never thought this situation would arise. 

Thankfully, I have fttf. And have pre booked as much as possible. I’ve traveled quite a bit...but being a young woman alone means I’m gonna have to be way more cautious. I’ll definitely check on the dining assignments. I guess that’s might be the most difficult part!

Thanks for your kind words!

So my cruise leaves on Saturday and I’m supposed to go with my friend. She’s sick and it’s to the point of her possibly not going. We were supposed to already be in Florida. I know that I’ll make the boat, either by driving last minute or booking a flight tomorrow. But going on vacation alone would be a totally new experience that I’m not sure I’m comfortable. I’m just freaking out....so if you have any advice or experience on cruising solo or something!

Thanks for your replies! I don’t mind the charge, I’ll probably spend the $100 anyway. 

Hey! So I have already linked my card to my sail and sign account for my upcoming cruise. I am going to see my mom on the way down to port and she is giving me some cash as a gift. Can I deposit cash onto my account even though it’s linked to my card? 

We leave on the 10th! I’ve already bought fttf, water, social media, and cruise cash! Not to mention new shoes, lol. I usually spend more than getting on the boat itself. Hope you have the best birthday! 

This summer I will be on a birthday cruise for the third time. It's the best. Enjoy!

Thank you! Mine is at the end of summer! My birthday falls on formal night, so I am thinking about buying a birthday crown! :cool:

I'm super excited and just wanted to share. I've always wanted to be on a cruise on my birthday...so my 25th seemed like a great idea to do so! Plus, it's leaving from new orleans...and where better to celebrate than the french quarter!!! The countdown is on!

I don't think I'll ever go on vacation without the floating waterproof phone cases I bought on Amazon. I got two for $11 and they easily fit any phone...plus your card or some money, whatever. They also have a lanyard that attaches if you want.

I just got off the Fantasy I don't recall seeing it on there! However, they have root beer. :)

Longest was 4 months in advance and shortest was 2 weeks in advance!

I think it depends on which port you sail from. There will be a lot more of both types of kids but the ships are large enough so that if you aren't a real strict prude, it doesn't really matter what others are doing.

That's true! I'm probably just worrying too much, but I want it to be perfect for my mom. I usually cruise off season only and there are never too many children and it's never crowded. But my mom hasn't been on a real vacation in years and years!

Woah! If Carnival doesn't ask you to make commercials for them, they dont know what they are doing!

My mom's birthday is in mid-April...but she only has the last week of March and first of April off. We were looking at a short cruise that leaves on March 30th and gets back April 3rd.

Would there be more college kids or younger kids on the boat? Has anyone ever cruised this week? Was it too crowded?