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Posts
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About Me
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Location
Washington, DC
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Interests
exploring the world, investing, hiking, animals (we have 2 dogs, 6 ferrets and 3 turtles)...
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Favorite Cruise Line(s)
Carnival
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Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
Venice, Rome, Manhattan, Alaska, Curacao, St. Maarten, Ocean Cay, HMC...
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First Carnival Cruise Which One?
IntrepidFromDC replied to tonyfall1's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
I agree with everyone - Celebration for the ship, on-board activities and much better food. Magic for the ports plus one extra day. Magen's Bay Beach is a great excursion on St. Thomas, especially the excursion that also gives you the mountaintop view. Caribbean water temp will be better in February on the Magic trip, but if you appreciate "better" food for both quality and variety, Celebration. Tough choice, good luck... have fun! -
How many points in casino needed for free cruise offers?
IntrepidFromDC replied to RoyalC's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
Then you can add Citi Cashback to your list of "preferred credit cards" because I bet minimum on Heads-Up Hold'Em and that's the only game I play - and all my charges go to my Cashback card. -
How many points in casino needed for free cruise offers?
IntrepidFromDC replied to RoyalC's topic in Carnival Cruise Lines
I've been on about 27 cruises and the last 26 have been free. On lose-money-at-sea days I am usually in the casino twice - afternoon for an hour or two and after dinner for hours and hours (unless I have an early excursion the next morning). On port days I am usually in the casino in the evening for 2 - 4 hours. On a seven-day cruise I only skip the casino one or two days, usually to help ensure I don't go over budget. I just got off my most recent cruise a few weeks ago and the best offer I currently like is a free cruise to Canada and Greenland, leaving from the port I can drive to in 35 minutes, Baltimore. Very tempting... -
As others have said, there is nothing wrong with an inside cabin, just don't spend time there except sleeping, showering, etc. There is so much to see at all times beginning day two on an Inside Passage Alaskan cruise - it's not like a Caribbean or Atlantic cruise where you have lots of sailing in just open water, there's always things to be awed by as the ship sails the Inside Passage. In addition, there's a scientist or naturalist who will board and explain things that you are seeing in an entirely different, "educated" way that makes an Alaskan cruise SOOOO much more interesting than any Caribbean cruise. I never thought I'd cruise Alaska, but we got a casino offer for a free cabin in 2014 so I sorted the available free cruises by most expensive first and it came up Alaska. My daughter agreed to try it, although we both were wondering if we were making a mistake... four Alaska cruises later TRUST ME Alaska cruises are amazing in a different way! I hope you have lots of fun and stay out of the cabin or I'll have ye keel-hauled from bow to stern! 😁 🏴☠️
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I've stayed at the Choice (can't remember if it's branded Quality or Comfort Suites?) and the Holiday Inn Express. Both are right on 48th Street, it's a straight walk less than five minutes to the pier (Carnival sails from 48th & 12th Ave, I think it's pier 88). I haven't stayed at the 56, but I did have a couple drinks at their rooftop bar (pics in my review, on the Manhattan night) and it was not good - hardly any view and distored bass-heavy latino music. The distortion ruined it, and people were either talking really loud or yelling to be heard. I like the Choice hotel the best of them, for the service, it's always no hassle to store your luggage in a locked room, and the free coffee and bagels. And I like their rewards program, seems I get a free night for every third or fourth night I pay for. And the price is amazing for clean, comfortable bed and good shower in Manhattan, walking distance to Times Square.