EZ4

They better get it together. BC9 will be on Freedom next year.

Anyone remember the Sunshine debacle? Granted, that wasn't a new ship, but Carnival DID try to pass it off as "new". It sailed at least 3 cruises before everything was completed, including, but not limited to the main pool being closed for a number of cruises. To this day it continues to experience the curse of the name change, most recently the last sailing where cabin 3143 suffered from horrific sewer gas smells that exposed Carnival's inept response to serious guest issues.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2167632

???? Dredging affects beaches? The beaches along the coast in this area constantly have to have dredging to restore the beach. Why, because NATURE doesn't want the sand there, the Chamber of Commerce does.

 

If they were to build jetties out that would stop the erosion by NATURE. But can't do that say the environmentalists, so we spend hundreds of millions of dollars restoring the beach after a storm season to put the sand back where NATURE doesn't want it.

 

But to build a new cruise port that would bring hundreds of jobs, and help the economy, can't do it.

That's very specifically because you evidently don't have natural beaches. Actions always have a reaction. And it costs a lot of money to fix it.

No, there are many places, bridges, piers, dredged waterways that would be impossible to permit and build today. There are homes in Tampa sitting on the dredged spoils removed to cut a shipping channel into the heart of Tampa. Tampa would not be a port today without that past dredging. We enjoy and profit by those past transgressions that one could never build today.

 

The St. Petersburg Pier for example could not be built today but was no problem in the 1920s; today it is marketed as an iconic destination. I'm involved with one of the architectural firms in competition for the revised Pier design. We know for a fact that the footprint of the existing pier cannot be increased and many tree huggers would like to see it go away completely.

 

Building a port facility West of the skyway bridge would not affect beaches 10 miles up the coast. That's just fear mongering by the environmentalists IMO. Especially after they build their home on the beach first.

Beaches are there because the tides and currents deposit sand there. Dredging elsewhere can and will adversely affect the beaches by causing beach erosion and sand starvation, because it redirects the natural flow of sand. The beaches of Dauphin Island and Gulf Shores AL are constantly having to have sand brought in to rebuild the beaches because of the dredging of the Mobile ship channel, at a cost of tens of millions of dollars every few years. That's why permits will be difficult to obtain, if not impossible. My guess, Tampa will be out of the cruise business within the next 10-15 years, for all intents and purposes.

Yes, as another viable cruise port that many lines use. As for Tampa's offerings...I agree that the entire Channelside area be torn down and redesigned, which is in fact currently being undertaken but will take a few years from start to finish but certainly a step in the right direction. There's always room for improvement (in any cruise port) and Tampa can and will bring more to their table.

 

As for the bridge, it's not going away, however it seems that for some (on this thread) they just seemed to be Tampa haters for some odd reason. Oh well.

Not haters. Just realistic, non rose colored glasses wearers. The cruise lines are not in the business of building ships that cater to Tampa's port. They're in the business of seeking out ports that fit their model. It will be up to Tampa to entice them to continue to sail from there by providing the facilities that meet the cruise lines needs. Will Tampa step up? We'll see.

It has nothing to do with what Tampa, as a city, has to offer, or not. It's purely an engineering issue, having to do with the height of the bridge. When ships can no longer pass under the bridge, it's game over for Tampa.

Tampa's days as a major cruise port can be counted in less than 10 years. The bridge limits the size of ships that can pass under it and cruise ships are only getting larger. Carnival seems to like Australia and the West Coast for the Spirit class, and the Fantasy class will be retired over the next 10 years. It will be up to Tampa to step up and build a new port on the other side of the bridge.

They know exactly what they are doing. IMO I don't think Charleston is S.O.L.. The Fantasy has filled up every week at higher prices then some other ports. I see a bigger ship heading there. Don't know about itineraries though.

As long as Cruise Control is still active in Charleston, I wouldn't count on anything larger than another Fantasy class. You know any rocking of the boat will set off another round of lawsuits, no matter how frivolous and unjustified. Not only that, but it will be years before Charleston gets a new terminal built.

The Port of Miami spilled the beans last week. Carnival can never keep a secret with their loose lipped partners. LOL. Mobile found out that Carnival was pulling out by a leaked announcement from an over anxious port. Carnival never told them that they were leaving.

So you never booked the Carnival Breeze that you are "changing" as you stated above? Confused.

The light will come on eventually. Don't give up on it.

Great video!!

At this point, whats the point of blue red and gold cards?

Why should blue, red and gold get the same perks as platinum and diamond? What would be the point of being platinum and diamond, then?

I use a Nikon AW 120 for work everyday. I take about 700-1000 pics daily and it has been flawless. I used a Nikon AW 100 for 2 year before that and it was bulletproof. It actually still works great, but I bought the new one just to buy it. Battery life on the AW 120 is much better than the AW 100 and the zoom toggle switch on the AW 120 is a big improvement over the rocker switch on the AW 100.

My old local news station spilled the beans early [ATTACH]339062[/ATTACH]

 

 

Carnival Liberty - 4/14/12 - 4/21/12 (Eastern Caribbean)

 

Carnival Breeze - 3/16/13 - 3/24/13 (Eastern Caribbean)

 

Carnival Ecstasy - 3/31/14 - 4/4/14 (Key West & Cozumel)

 

Carnival Sunshine - 4/17/14 - 4/19/14 (Freeport, BS)

 

Carnival Liberty - 4/19/15 - 4/26/15 (Southern Caribbean from San Juan)

 

NCL Getaway - 9/26/15 - 10/3/15 (Eastern Caribbean)

FL news outlets are good about that. That's how Mobile found out that Carnival was pulling out. LOL :D

Carnival won't put another ship in the land of 1800s alcohol regulated Texas.

So it's just fiction that Freedom is moving there now to make it three ships?

John Heald recently reported that the tablecloths are not going away!!

Word is that the new tables without the tablecloths were taking a beating and looking pretty worn very quickly.

We are a family of 5 the kids being 14, 9 & 9

Booking in the UK deposits are non refundable

We booked Vista specifically for the Havana staterooms and the associate facilities and the ship not the itinerary

We booked a Havana Cabana Suite for my wife and the twins and an Havana interior for me and the eldest

We spoke to Carnival UK several times confirming information about the rooms and facilities before we booked and they had full knowledge of the ages of the kids

After reading on here that the Havana area can only be booked with kids over the age of 12 we contacted Carnival.

4 days later we received this email

 

This is in reference to your sailing on the Carnival Vista August 26, 2016, we have been informed that the Havana cabins on the Vista cannot have anyone booked in them that is 11 years old or under, regardless if they are with their parents in the same cabin or not for the following reason, “this is because we are creating more tailored accommodation options specific to the needs of our guests. The Havana cabins and experience is designed to be a place where guests can relax and recharge in a more intimate and private setting and the 12 years and older age requirement will enable us to sustain the desired atmosphere.”

 

For this reason we are contacting you to let you know that we have upgraded your cabins to two of our Ocean Suite cabins 7375 & 7377 as complimentary upgrade. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to you and your family.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

 

I understand they have got to move us. This is not a rant at Carnival they made a mistake and are working to rectify it but considering this as a package comparing what we booked with all the facilities the Havana area offers to 2 suites with no extra facilities do you consider this an upgrade and why?

Not an upgrade. You got screwed.

This has absolutely nothing to do with the OP's question so what was the point of bringing it up? :confused:

Good to see you Cam.

Richard

As expected, Vista is a fourth generation evolution of the Destiny.

I imagine that these cabins and courtyards will be a lot like booking a beachfront condo or hotel room. Great views, no privacy.

There's a difference??? :confused:

Yes.

Until they are confiscated for "obstructing an exit." :D

LOL. I'm short, and it could be argued that even I could jump that fence. I think a bigger concern might be a small child getting their arm or head stuck in that fencing and being injured.

A chain and padlock will become suggested carry on hardware in the near future, to keep your gate locked, and the riff raff out. ;)

I just got home from the Take in the Vista. Lots of fun! At the 3pm cruise giveaway they said the cruise was for an 11day cruise out of NYC. Obviously I have no confirmation but I wonder if that's the repo. I was there for the 1pm and 2pm drawings and there was no mention of whet ppl were winning. I was hoping the 11 day was the inaugural but I see someone already posted its a 2day and then 8 day.

 

Does anybody know if only the 2 day will get inaugural perks, whatever those are. Thanks

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

Someone in a FB group that I'm in won an 11 day on Vista. Nice!!

For some people, the magic never dies. ;)

And my dad slept through the Tiki Room at Disneyland. :D