WindsorFred

Yes,they usually have a martini tasting during the cruise.

It will be announced in the Fun Times activity book.

Last time they had it in the main atrium .

Yes, $17 pp and you select 4 of the 8 available to sample.

I have not been on a Carnival ship in over 20 years. Do you need to arrive with life vest on or with you? (yes, I would be that fool thinking you still had to). How long does it take approx? We will be on the Pride if that helps as far as ship size/pax.

You don't need to bring your life vest any longer.

Thank's for the memories. Been on the Freedom twice now and did this cruise once. Looking at a B2B on her next year after the upgrades. Great ship with a great crew.

I'd definitely go with the Aruba itinerary. Both itineraries are to beautiful places, but I have to admit I enjoyed my time in Aruba and Curacao. I've been to so many ports multiple times, I usually just stay on the ship these days. But, I'm on a cruise to Aruba in a couple of weeks and I WILL get off to enjoy the beach.

 

Regardless of what your choose, I hope you have a fabulous cruise.:D

Agree.

Very "balanced" review, thanks.

Mazatlan was, imo, a terrible port. That is one of the reasons I chose Carnival for my upcoming cruise over NCL, I had no desire to go back to Mazatlan. There is definitely a safety concern there, much more so than PV. I vacation in PV a lot, for 7-10 days at a time, and have never had an issue. Quite frankly, I wish they spent 2 days in PV over Cabo.

Granted it's been a few years but we were there with our friends, who used to winter vacation there from 2-3 weeks every year for a number of years, and had a great time and never felt unsafe. There was a program on the Travel Channel not to long ago that pointed out all the changes and improvements Mazatlan has made in the last 2 years to get back the lost tourism. It stressed that it was not really a safety concern as much as they were stale and outdated.

Have never noticed them on any of our cruises. On a side note my BIL bought us a set for our first cruise, we always have cruised with our best friends. They sat in the cabin, unused, for the first 3 cruises. Starting on the fourth we quit packing them, they still come in handy at home etc.

The ships are basically the same.

 

The Valor Southern itinerary outshines the Freedom's Western/Bahamas.

 

Valor

The southern stops of Barbados, St Lucia, St Thomas, St Martin and St Kitts would be considered more scenic/exotic. Plus you have San Juan. Regardless of the date it will always be warm there - basically 6 stops

 

Freedom

Key West, Bahamas, Grand Cayman are flatter and more "party" type stops.

4 stops - more ship time.

 

Either one is great, but IMO if you have the chance to go Southern - go for it!

I agree on the Southern, great cruise.

Charges are pp x number of "nights" onboard and are billed on the 2nd day.

Happens to us every year. Normally we have booked another cruise by now but still undecided which ones so far. After Hawaii we are looking at a B2B.

Watching the arrival at port from the balcony is our favorite way to start the day. I want to add that you should order room service. The balcony, in the robe, a hot cup of coffee and a Danish = great experience

Oh yah. Than upper deck to get a look at the entire port before leaving the ship.

The Southern Caribbean trip on the Valor ...

 

 

*le sigh*

 

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Southern also but on the Freedom.

Did that cruise also. It was great staying at the Holiday Inn right across the street from the port waking up and seeing the Spirit right in front of our room.

Wow we did also. Spent a couple days pre cruise seeing the sights.

DH and I enjoyed the Carnival Spirit to Acapulco a few years back. It was great sailing out of San Diego.

Did the same itin in 2009. Also on the Splendor out of Long Beach in 2010 to different ports. Both were great cruises with perfect weather.

It can be cool or even cold in Miami in January, but once you get down into the Caribbean it will be warm. it will probably be cool on deck at night, though.

Agree. Although we have only sailed out of Ft Lauderdale in Florida and only had cool weather there once, was normally 80+. Western Caribe was mid 80's during the day and high 60's - low 70's at night. Can get cool with the ship moving once the sun goes down. Have a great cruise.

We cruise only once a year, for now. Have always gone with a balcony. We enjoy the quiet time in both the morning and evening out there. Breakfast, cocktails, reading etc. Also sail-away after port calls. Spend most of the day on Lido people watching but a balcony is your own Serenity area when wanted.

Be prepared to not want to do shorter cruises ever again.:)

Second this. Our next is a B2B.

Yes

Do the ships matter to you??

 

We would definitely choose Southern.

 

 

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Agreed. Great cruise on the Freedom.

Yes the Miracle uses a magnetic strip card. I use an old casino card

The Paradise also uses them

 

Same here, don't like carrying my DL around the ship only when ashore.

I've been on both out of NYC. If I had to pick, I prefer the Miracle. It's more liner if you could ever compare it to one. The Miracle has real teak decks, beautifully maintained. I prefer the Serenity on Miracle with the view over the stern. On Spendor, the mineature golf course is one deck above and is a big distraction at times. Miracle is much easier to move about the ship with the one main dining room and not having to go up and over the dining room in the Splendor. We were used to it, but still would forget. Both have forward decks over the bridge for viewing too, but no one seemed to know how to get to it on the Splendor. I also found the Farcus decor on the Splendor harder to adjust to. Miracle is purple while Splendor is pink. I like both ships and would sail on either again though.

Agree.

You will get different menus for each of the 11 days. The 1st 7 days will not necessarily be day 1 to 7 menus and then new ones you may not have seen on the 7 day cruises. They will insert new ones throughout the 11 days.

 

One thing I have noticed when I have been on 11, 15 and 16 cruises is that even though there are different menus, the choices are not necessarily new or different from the 7 days menus. They just mix the items up and the menus looks different. Of course there will be courses/ items that you will not have seen on the 7 days cruises.:)

That's the way it was on our 15 day to Hawaii cruise. Because we had a total of 8 sea days it was the most we ever visited the MDR.

All of the Spirit class ships have a retractable dome for 1 of the Ludo deck pools. Hopefully it will be closed for our crossing to Hawaii in April and on the return voyage to Vancouver!

 

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It was closed both to and from when we cruised in January. Was chillier than it will probably be in April.

can't wait to sail in alittle over 4 weeks to Hawaii!! 16 nights -WOO HOO!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marsha

Did that in January. One really rough day @ sea caused us to be late into Hilo. Also missed Kona (tender port) due to high seas. Was a fun trip though.