IntrepidFromDC

There's a cruise out of Baltimore that hits St. Maarten, St. Kitts, St. Thomas, Aruba and Curacao. I don't know if it's a one-time thing or repeated itinerary but we're on it November '23 and super-excited, as St. Maarten is my fave Caribbean island.

What about Shaq's Chicken and Shawarma. And the faster debarkation processing?

What I meant was not that I bought tickets ahead of time, but rather that (ahead of time) I read about how easy it is to buy tickets once you're there. I can't remember if it was the express train website (I'm not sure but I think it's called Leonard Express or something like that?) but I googled it and found something that showed photos of each step (e.g., walking out of FCO with an arrow pointing at the express train station, buying the ticket showing the ticket machine, etc.). It's easy, but easier if you know the steps and what the ticket machine looks like ahead of time. The attendant at the ticket machines spoke English.

I retraced my path and found it, but even on Google maps the name is not in English: "Μπαρμπουνάκι Μητροπόλεως". Have fun, I can't wait to hear about your experience!

Thanks for sharing your FUN week with us! All the comments, humor and pics made my week more fun too!

In other news, it was reported today that Carnival Cruise Lines could not explain its' longest line ever, in Nassau. A local reporter queried passengers who seemed to be giggling with delight for no apparent reason. The reporter could only gather there was some event going on onboard based on fractious comments about some "Lobster Boy" and noting everyone had $2 in hand... Stay tuned for more at 11.

I'll take the horse.

Just imagine all the $2 tips

I got $2.

Wasn't that one of the first warnings in Langoliers? I'm sure you have nothing to worry about. 😁 🏴‍☠️

Here's the view from the intersection of 48th St. and 12th Ave. Straight ahead of you, ground level, is the tunnel you'll come out of when you disembark. Embarkation is directly above on second level, behind the "88". There are a few good budget/slightly-better-than-budget hotels a five-minute walk down 48th.

Look at Google maps, where 48th St. hits the Hudson. That's the exact embarkation/debarkation entry.

I agree with and FEEL what lots of replies are saying, for me Latina's is one of the best at capturing the FUN atmosphere I LOVE on Carnival. It's not for everyone but I love it. Note you're on the Venezia which is a little bit different than standard FUN Carnival - it's "FUN Italian Style" and on my TA cruise on Venezia the fun was still there, but it did seem dialed back a bit. So if you cruise Venezia and don't see what we're all talking about, try Mardi Gras.

I haven't looked at the 2Q financials yet since I'm no insider, but it looks from the whispers like the price increases coupled with continued capacity and other changes is working to assure the market the debt plan is working. I'm riiiiich biaatt...

I ate there once on the TA. World of difference between food quality here and Steakhouse, yet the price difference ($42 vs $48) is miniscule. Mussels in the seafood stew were disgusting. Everything else was ok or better - the concept and execution all worked, but the food quality was lacking. Not MDR-lacking, but not a good experience.

I was on the Venezia TA and met her and her husband briefly. You could not tell there was any ankle trouble as they were dancing like they were in their 20's. My debarkation experience was about a half hour later and the same as TravelBlueBird's. You just kept moving the whole time. The terminal exit dumps you at 48th Street and there are a few good "slightly-above-budget" hotels within one block of the terminal exit right on 48th Street, which is just a few blocks to Broadway and 7th Avenue. I tacked on two days in Manhattan after the cruise and am so happy I did (I love NYC).

Sounds like Ping's except I've always accessed Ping's by walking up the narrow, steep steps. Never saw an escalator.

No carts but the dim sum was great. The vegetable spring rolls were amazing for crispness and flavor. Both the crystal shrimp dumplings and the pan-fried pork dumplings were sooo much better than what we have in DC. That said, this (Shanghai 21) was not my intended dim sum target, but my emergency plan B - when I arrived at Ping's the doors were locked and a renovation sign promised no reopening date. Ping's does serve via roaming carts and is an event all in itself with the roaming servers sometime not speaking English. As authentic and delicious as a dim sum experience can be, I think (I've been to China and Hong Kong twice). There's also an awesome dim sum place in Hell's Kitchen, near the Theater District - walking distance from the Cruise Terminal.

Hi. I had read on cruisecritic and elsewhere that many Carnival ships allow cruisers to bring alcohol on board in Europe. I tried it and it worked. I also noticed there was no table/station with Carnival crew ready to take alcohol from people - you just went through the detector and to the elevators with no other Carnival crew after going through the detector. Of course, my experience doesn't make me an expert on it, but it adds to the number of people who say they were successful, unlike with US ports. Good luck! Also FYI, I didn't visit any of the specialty bars, but in the casino we could call for Woodford Reserve or Buffalo Trace (sorry, don't know about scotch).

Should have read: "Christine Duffy just announced Jay Leno will be a comedian performing on the Venezia June 14 sailing".

Cardex, vanislandcruisers and bunnyette (anyone else? ), thanks so much for recommending Bicycle Thief and Digby Scallops! SUBPERB meal!

New skyscrapers in the Bryant Park area.

Central Park. The pic of the building is 71st Street in West Central Park, where John Lennon lived and where he was gunned down.

Chinatown