Drazil65

I believe on MG (we were last on MG this past December) the quarter push machines were relocated to the arcade and some sort of token replaced actual quarters (obviously due to venue). Our last cruise on Sunshine (8 or 9 months ago) they still had the machines in the casino. We will be back on Sunshine later this year and hopefully they will still be in casino using quarters.

We might be used to boarding (platinum) in Charleston I guess as we sail from there at least once or twice a year (for many years since it is only a little over 3 hr drive from home). We know what to expect and never really have any issues with embarkation (it is different than any other embark for sure). We dont feel it is any more crowded than most other ships but we do not use any of the pools or hot tubs for a reason when cruising, also on Sunshine we mostly use serenity if we want to be out and about. We use our balcony a lot when we dont feel like being in the mix of people but it is like anything else, manage expectations as much as possible for what the situation is. Being that it is the first day it may take some extra patience to get things done. Enjoy your cruise and hopefully everything will settle into place.

On the Excel Class, it was relegated to the starboard side of deck 8, We had a Havana cabin on port side (its not just starboard side) of MG twice now, you have a full patio (with lounger, chair and chair hammock) and a step down to a balcony type pathway (port side can walk this all the way around to the Havana outside bar (only for Havana cabins) and plunge pool area) or go right around the corner thru the inside Havana bar portion to get to the outside. We had loungers on the patio as well as the balcony portion (that area is wide enough for full loungers and a private pathway all the way around to outside bar). On our side (port) there were hardly any people walking by (if there were it was only Havana people near their patios) if at all. We enjoyed the patio part, the step down balcony like portion with loungers and the outside Havana bar area immensely and spent a lot of time there (never even went to serenity becasue we had all the loungers and privacy we needed). We cannot stay aft due to DH motion sickness issues so always need to stay mid ship or a little forward at most, the Havana cabins and area on the Excel ships have the best of both worlds for us (and no kids under 12 allowed in those cabins). Great bar service outside and always loungers in that area as well as shaded area with couches and chairs, DH enjoyed just hanging out in the plunge pool (cant swim laps but hanging out talking was great). Being on deck 8 was perfect on MG as most of the restaurants/venues we frequent were on same deck or one up or below.

Love, love, love your reviews! I just need to remember to not be drinking anything or eating as I will be spitting it out with laughter at some point! It happens every time...

I am curious, should any of you decided to share, are you fully vaccinated against Covid, including boosters? The vax is not "against" or a preventative, it lessens the degree of the symptoms for some people if they do get it. Especially for people that may have other contributing factors with their health (ie: cancer treatments, COPD issues, immune disorders, obesity, and many other issues that can alter your health).

I agree with leaving the option open this far out if possible. As covid affects everyone differently (some may not have any symptoms and others are in bed and dragging for an extended period) it may be too soon to really access how you will be feeling a month from now. Take a step back and rest, feel better and then take another look at the whole picture from beginning to end. Feel better soon!

I have not noticed a difference but it may depend on the ship as well. On MG there was at least 1 PG show a night and 1 or 2 rated R shows. They rotated the comedians out after the first 3 days with new ones for the last half of cruise on a 7 day. We have had a great variety of choices on excel class ships. We will still catch a PG show a couple of times on a 7 or 8 day cruise but mostly catch the later shows. You are right about doing YTD, we purposely do this to leave most of the evening free for shows and such.

Your pix are great and bringing back some great memories for us as well! Love Trunk Bay and its been a few years since our last trip but you are certainly giving off "gotta go" vibes with these pix. Hmmmm...

Only if you are interested in the spa stuff that goes along with those cabins but that being said, I would not pay anymore for an inside to another inside cabin.

Heros lounge on MG was the best place when we watched, its crowded and you need to claim your seat(s) way ahead BUT what a great time! Did I mention its crowded? Like previous posted it will be on just about every tv on ship except in cabin.

Change is the constant THIS...like it or not...

We have done the Havana balcony on MG, loved it! We cannot cruise in back of ship due to DH motion sickness (not good even with patch) so the Havana on MG worked out great (not aft of ship). Still has the "balcony/patio" for the cabin with a gate that leads down to a bigger balcony/walk way (ours had loungers in front of our patio). We never went to serenity becasue it was nice to enjoy our own patio or lounger with a bar right down the walk way just for our area. The Havana bar was near the plunge pool (I do not use public pools or hot tubs but DH loved the pool for just hanging out) and a nice outside bar setup with couches, chairs and loungers for Havana passengers only. No kids under 12 allowed in these cabins. We spent a lot of time in this area and it was never packed, got drinks very quick and had as many loungers as we wanted. Plus on MG the Havana area is on deck 8 and that is where most of what we needed or wanted was for most part (restaurants etc). The excel ships are our favs by far.

Welcome to Carnival...my only "tip" would be to be open to experiencing whatever your interests are and have a blast doing it! Vacation is what you make of it and being that you are with a large group, it is sure to be subjective.

Mardi Gras hands down. Even the itinerary in this case would not sway the other way. We have been to HMC many times as well as Nassau but we are kind of over the tender thing for HMC (even with first ferry over if we want it no longer appeals to us) and it is 50/50 now if we get off the ship for HMC. I think it mattered more when DS was little and it was a beach day.

There have been a couple of other posts recently regarding same. There apparently have been checks issued, do a search on the site for subject matter and you should get the recent posts.

We drive to PC at least once or twice a year and have used the port parking garage for years. Its easy and efficient for boarding and then a breeze when leaving at the end. We always self debark early to get on the road home. We did a shuttle from a hotel once (one and done) many years ago but we knew immediately it was not for us. We have been parking at PC port parking ever since.

While unused balances on gift cards are sent back via a gift card, you can still cash out. When I have balances left I go to the casino and load what I have left on my account into my players bank. I then go to the cashier and cash out to receive the cash for my unused portion. Exactly!

On sunshine last May there were board games in library area and on Mardi Gras in December they were on shelves in Heros lounge area (near exit doors in back). Both of those ships (as well as most/all others we have sailed with CCL there is a giant chess board outside somewhere (try sports deck) on the ship. DS has been playing chess since he was 5 (21 now) and has played many chess games on board, once he starts playing there always seem to be several chess players (young and adult) that hang around looking to play. We do pack some of our own board/card games when we cruise so we always have them.

Love Magic, have sailed a few times, was one of our fav ships until we sailed excel class ships. Although we have new favs now and its been a couple yrs since our last cruise on Magic, the newest/ most recent reviews seem to be positive for the most part. Do your research and look at the deck plans online and I am sure you will have a great trip.

You have a really good list started. I guess where as you are having them check in via phone we had DS check in every hour in person (just while not in a ship sponsored activity) with at least one of us. We would agree to a meeting place and all be there. If they are just hanging out with the friends they meet on the ship then they are doing nothing important that they cannot stop to check in with parent(s). Many times DS did not want to go back to the group he was with (for many reasons) and opted to stay with us or go on to another activity. We always had our meals together. If he was in a ship sponsored activity then we would just have him check in after activity over. We have seen way too many kids that age running the ship, unchecked as if the ship was a giant playpen and the parents were off just living their best life. We were lucky in the DS wasn't the follow the crowd kind of kid BUT you really dont know how other kids were raised. Bullying can be a real thing on a ship especially out of sight of parents. Maybe have that conversation with your kids so they know they should leave the group if they witness that behavior.

The initial booking page might still show availability (and a price) when in fact there are no cabins left in that category This...and also the category may only be sold out for the amount of people you want to have in the cabin. There are many times when I search for future cruises the category I search is still open for 2 passengers but when I change the travelers to 3 it will then show sold out.

I like Royal’s, where you can choose three or seven nights. We like that about RCCL dinner plans too, we would also like to see a coffee type plan for specialty coffees (more than just the punch card).

I personally would locate the deck and a bunch of cabin numbers (with cabin type) and have each book their own cabin. Speaking from experience (one time and done, not again). It could involve many issues as you go along and can get way too complicated with all the different likes and dislikes. During and after the cruise was just as bad, any all complaints or opinions on cruising in general and Carnival came my way because I took charge in the beginning to book the cabins (big mistake as I became the go to through out the process). It all sounds good up front but I would not book everything for everyone, let everyone join in on the process once the deck location is decided. That way they cannot blame anyone else for most of the decisions and if they are truly interested in going they will jump on booking asap. If you decide to go forward with booking yourself, I wish you luck and a great cruise!

We love the Havana cabins and the outside Havana bar area as well as deck 8 being so close to a lot of the inside action. MG is currently our favorite ship and that would be our choice every time if available.

Hands down if the money agrees with you take it. We always did balcony cabins when DS was young and still took naps. Whether it was my turn or DH turn to do the nap time in the cabin the balcony was great for a glass a wine and a good book while DS slept. Also, good place to sit and wait for all of us to get ready for dinner. Once we started with balconies (regular, extended, Havana or suites) there was no turning back after that.