LIVE from Celebration Jan 29 w/Rolex 24 Photos

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

13 minutes ago, bar10der421 said:

What did you think of the stuffed lobster? We were a bit disappointed.

 

Mine, a couple of years ago, was better than sliced bread!

[Hogladyrider]

41 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

It's the same with elevator etiquette. I can't even count how many times I've arrived at my floor, ready at the door as it opens, and someone (all ages, but mostly younger) just plow right in before I can even step forward. In the recent past, I'm basically over that - and will stand my ground, look them in the eye, and say something along the lines of "I'm getting off first", as I step out.

 

People...

 

Tom

Tom it is a whole different world out there than what we grew up in.......and I am not overly fond of this new world!

[EngIceDave]

2 hours ago, bar10der421 said:

What did you think of the stuffed lobster? We were a bit disappointed.

 

That was Wifey-poo's, she said it was good, but a little tough for lobster (that means over cooked).

 

I did the ropes course, that's fun.

[EngIceDave]

 

Dear Carnival,

 

Please add more trash cans on the decks and elevator areas.

 

Thank you,

 

Dave

[EngIceDave]

Slow rollin' it home....

 

 

[EngIceDave]

Look closely, I think they're circling for an attack...I think we can take 'em.

[Elaine5715]

On 2/3/2023 at 6:49 PM, EngIceDave said:

Well, logic dictates that the more spins on a machine the more wins. Less spins, less wins.

 

My thinking on the wager thing is something I have followed for a while, again, works for me, not a scheme or plan, is that the lowest possible wager is the sucker bet, they give enough to keep you going, but never enough to make you walk away happy (long play or winner). Playing a level or two up, seems to pay a little more, while going max or high limit burns money faster than a flame. I have also noticed, "second money in" makes it wake up. Ever play $20 to zero, then put in a second $20 and then it wins? 

 

Just little things I have noticed.

I am down $ in the casino, but not by a large amount (subjective).  I failed to mention that a host found me and offered us dinner tonight at Rudi's on them. This surprises me, as there are way more people with higher point totals, but maybe because they're part of the Ultra cruise and I'm not.

 

BTW, two "People in the casino" complaints.

DO NOT bang on the machines or the buttons. It changes nothing other than breaking it so no one else can play. You do not need to beat the button. Maybe if they had a hammer to beat the button, they'd win? I like to believe if you're nice to the machines, they'll be nice too.

 

Don't drive your scooter drunk in the casino, it's small enough as it is. Hammering through people in their seats, near toppling them all over isn't funny or cool.

It really happened. His backing out was even worse, if you can imagine.

 

 

 

 

Correct-the ship hosts take care on non Ultra guests while the special Executive Hosts deal with Ultra/Elite/Premier guests 

[EngIceDave]

57 minutes ago, Elaine5715 said:

Correct-the ship hosts take care on non Ultra guests while the special Executive Hosts deal with Ultra/Elite/Premier guests 

Makes sense and I do know they get other perks we're not privy to

 

Finished out casino just under 10,000 points (9500)...not bad.

Yes, I lost money.

But I paid basically nothing upfront for our cruise or beverages anywhere, I just paid for it in the casino.

Likely paid more than the normal rate.

 

Went to ChiBang for dinner, it was good, and as some mentioned prior, they are smaller portions but we both thought they were fine if we did two appetizers, an entree/side and dessert. More than enough.

 

We both really enjoyed the ship, and there are little tricks and tweaks it takes a few days to get the hang of for optimum planning and service.

For example, just plan in advance that the specialty restaurants will be an hour wait. Just plan on it, right off. So, if you think you'll be hungry by 7:00, don't start looking to make a reservation then, start looking at the app times at least an hour prior.

 

Tonight is the first time we feel any rocking, or a more side to side sway.

 

Watched a movie out by the pool tonight....When did they make a Black Panther vs Avatar?

Wakanda forever!

 

I can stream some video, it's touchy. I was able to watch to Houston Supercross on Peacock (NBC Streaming app) tonight outside while watching the movie (Multi-tasking).

 

We drive back in the morning and I'll think about what to submit in the final report.

 

[EngIceDave]

Welcome home to rainy Miami. 
 

Food pics are last night in ChiBang

 

Clock was at the door as we exited. So that’s our exact exit time from the ship. 
 

Some poor dude rolled his truck on I95 near SR84 in Lauderdale. 

[irun5k]

Thanks for taking the time to make all these posts.  I followed along since we'll be on the Celebration next month.  Appreciate your approach of just calling everything as you saw it with some rational commentary sprinkled in.  

Looking forward to any final thoughts you might have for future cruisers. Given the speciality dining lead time (reservation wait + usual time being seated, ordering, etc.) we will definitely take your advice and start thinking about dinner long before the first stomach growl.

I am still not sure how we'll approach the shows, we are a family of four and everyone enjoys a good show but Celebration Central sounds like it has issues.  We also enjoy live music so I'm sure we'll stay entertained.

[EngIceDave]

Drive home was brutally slow. Wet, rainy and crashes galore. Looked like a local Saturday night demolition derby.

 

OK, wrap up essay.....

 

Let's start with the knee, and this goes to "How physical is this huge ship?" I'm a lean 6' tall guy. I like to think I am wimpy when it comes to pain, but I gut through the pain when I have too. If I can do it, you can do it. The ship has pretty level floors, no weird slopes, ramps or little "hidden curbs" that catch you. It is a well handicapped appointed ship. Elevators work, and as much as you'll complain about them, they still do a decent job, just be patient. No tricks to the elevator, works like a normal elevator. You can only fit one (1) wheelchair or scooter on an elevator at a time. Max is like a scooter and 3 people on each side unless thin and friendly. I did about 2 miles a day total on board. I did climb down more stairs than up. Sucks on the knee, but easier.

 

Cabin was fine, we had a regular balcony on 14 forward. #14228

Numbering is a bit strange, pay attention at first. Like I said, cabin was fine. The nightlight in the bathroom is TOO BRIGHT and you cannot control it. 2am light blinding pee isn't cool. I built the threshold up with two hand towels and that slows the big light leak from the 1" gap at the door bottom for ventilation

 

The shower is bigger feeling than the old curtain showers, but when sitting on the toilet is when the "it's a small bathroom" hits you. It is small, but, it's on a ship....Remember, you are on a ship, not at the Four Season. IMO, the supplied bath products are TERRIBLE. The blue body wash is a knock off of Axe Phoenix Body Wash (I know, my son used it) and no woman should even bathe in it. Shampoo is orange in color and alas, smells orangy. Ehhh....pack a few travel bottles from CVS instead.

 

In the bed's headboard is the MOST USEFUL SPACE.....this lighted notch

 

As you can see, it's a great space to stash your stuff in the evening at bedtime. Glasses, remote, ipad/iphone, and you can balance/set a bottle/glass on it and it stays. If really rough, of course not.

 

Everyone knows about the closets, baskets and so on. 

 

and I believe that's where I am going to go on my review, a more of a "look out for" and how to help folks in the future. Everyone's seen the usual stuff on the ship, so i hope mine is a little different.

 

The day of boarding was the NFL Championship Weekend, the AFC/NFC Divisional Championships. The games was on the big pool screen and all the bar and casino screens. There was no "tailgate snacks" or theming. Just the game was on.

 

As mentioned prior, this was a "Premier Cruise" for casino guests. Casino seemed to be a total mixed bag of really heavy slot players and light players, I think you know what I mean. I saw some good wins and heard a couple hand pay announcements. I actually felt the gaming played fair. As mentioned prior, the busier the games the better they do, which is normal. I also found, IMO, middle wage play is best. Don't play minimum or maximum. Casino spaceissotightthisistheonlywayicaneexplainhowtightthecasinois....Get it? Anyone next to you moves to get up, you pretty much have to move too. Drink service was typical casino slow. Better to just go to the casino bar, get what you want and then play. If you're trying to game the system with the "drinks in the casino" package, they'll leave you hanging for a while. Tables were busy as was craps. Casino is three parts, two side by side and one room aft, best way to explain it. I didn't like the room aft, no idea why. This area is where TxTeach was playing VP and looking down a deck to the bar below. 

As for no smoking in the casino, when I walked aboard the first time and walked through, I could smell the difference. Once at sea and I guess more used to it and "nose blind" the whole casino, it all smelled the same, but not "smokey." Only on one occasion can I think of where it was smokey, and maybe that's because I walked through a could. Seemed very nice and wife said she never smelled smoke and smoke pizzes her off. They also AC the place through many of the slot machine stand boxes. You'll sit down and feel a draft from your ankles up

 

Food was good overall. Nothing was inedible. Portions overall may be considered small, but they're actually more normal. Cheesecake Factory size portions are not normal. If you do maybe two apps and an entree with side and dessert, that's a good sized meal. If you need more, no judgement. 

When it comes to booking your dinner in the app, plan it out. Most every restaurant had 45-55 minute waits. This was common. So if you want to eat at 7pm, start looking at the app at about 6pm to book your slot. 

 

Celebration Central - This is a love hate relationship. I love the space, how it works and what they can do with it. What I hate is once a show starts, there's very little decent seating, couple hundred, max. It's only during this time I feel the space is wasted. It's odd. BTW, the white things on the ceiling I initially thought were to absorb sound, but they're multi-color LED lights to represent confetti, it's a running theme if you look for it...."hidden confetti"

 

Grand Spectrum Theatre, this is what would've been the traditional theater all the way forward, just smaller. It's very tight in the aisles for fluffy folks. The seat backs all have vents right in your face, so no stuffy feeling even though it's tight.

 

You can hear everything going on in the bathroom, in the cabin....every pee, fart, poop....paper thin walls inside the cabin. 

 

Also, if your neighbors sing in their shower, you can hear it in yours.

 

Use any plastic card in the electric thing in your cabin by the door.

 

Carnival Kitchen

 

This was fun. I went solo and was paired up each time with another solo. Each station is two person. I did pizza making and cake decorating.

In pizza making, it was all 100% from scratch, dough and sauce. Took about 2 hours

In cake decorating, the cake was premade. You sliced it down to three layers and then shown how to decorate using piping bags and three different tips.

One cool trick, between each layer, using a squirt bottle (like a ketchup bottle) to squirt a sugar water solution (3:1 water/sugar) onto each layer before icing, makes cake more moist.

None of the food may leave the kitchen, none. It is not delivered later. 

 

 

Complaints?

Small bathrooms in public areas. Just stupid. Poor planing.

No trash cans. How can there be no trash cans at the elevator, in casino or even outside. They're hard to find and you carry your garbage a long way if you try to do the right thing.

Dogs? Do you really have to sail with your dog? I don't want to risk the wrath of the interweb bearing down, but if you can't live a week without Spike, your Min-Pin, maybe you should try a driving vacation, not one at sea. Bad enough they have to clean up after you, but now they have to clean up your dog's "business," even if in the back crew areas. Some poor schmo has to clean it up. IMO, I think it's wrong.

 

 

FYI

AT&T Mobile service outside of the US 

 

 

 

Let me think and I'll come up with more, if you have questions, fire away

[LaRue1975]

On 1/29/2023 at 5:54 PM, EngIceDave said:

Oh, speaking of casino….

 

I figured it out and it’s 2.50 per point, half of most land casinos who do $5 pp on slots and 2.50 on VP….no idea how they rate VP

 

The slots are, for the most part, cashless. You put in your door key card, give your birthday info and you’re logged in. Then, download money off S&S account or any free play and you’re off. When you’re done, you cash out by pushing the red button on your personal screen to download it back to your account..

There is no TITO. You put cash in, but cash that out onto your card, meaning the final night must be a pain in the butt to cash out.

There are tv screens over the table games and the bar showing the game.

Wait, people have cash left on their account on the last night they need to cash out? Are you sure, have you actually seen this? You definitely don’t have “degenerate” gambler credibility, good for you! :)) I thoroughly enjoyed your review, thank you for taking the time and effort to put it together. I recently booked a B2B on the Celebration for May 2024, used a casino free balcony offer for both cruises and our first is the same itinerary as yours so very helpful. I had the same extended balcony booked for both but after reading Jimbo5544’s review I upgraded the second leg to a 15th deck Exel Aft Wrap Suite, got a great price too I think, whoo-hoo! 
 

Thanks for all your gambling tips, the hubby and I returned to cruising last April after a 14 year break so we are newbies to the casino, they didn’t track play back then. In the meantime we were in Vegas a lot, main reason we stopped cruising so are familiar with the comp game. I have stuck with the lower to mid level bets mainly because we are retired now with a smaller bankroll and it’s worked out well, very happy with the comps so far. I am sure it won’t last so I am booking as many as I can, seven in 2023, good thing we are retired! Thanks again for the informative and fun review, I like your style! 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

6 hours ago, LaRue1975 said:

... I recently booked a B2B on the Celebration for May 2024, used a casino free balcony offer for both cruises and our first is the same itinerary as yours so very helpful. I had the same extended balcony booked for both but after reading Jimbo5544’s review I upgraded the second leg to a 15th deck Exel Aft Wrap Suite, got a great price too I think, whoo-hoo! 
 

...

 

Much better having your second leg be the upgrade sailing - you probably would not have enjoyed the move from an Excel suite to a balcony cabin!

 

What's strange, to me at least, is that on many sailings I'm seeing the forward corners at a higher price point than the aft. I can't quite figure that one out, but if it helps the aft corners be a few $'s less expensive, then that's a good thing!

 

Tom

[LaRue1975]

3 hours ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

Much better having your second leg be the upgrade sailing - you probably would not have enjoyed the move from an Excel suite to a balcony cabin!

 

What's strange, to me at least, is that on many sailings I'm seeing the forward corners at a higher price point than the aft. I can't quite figure that one out, but if it helps the aft corners be a few $'s less expensive, then that's a good thing!

 

Tom

I totally agree, it’s the only way I would I would do it plus the second cruise is a 6 night which makes the upgrade even more affordable. I’m paying $3600 for the suite which is about $3000 off the non casino rate plus free Cheers comes with all my offers now. I have had my eye on the Exel Aft Suites since the Mardi Gras came out but I didn’t think we would ever be able to afford one. This is most likely our best chance so I grabbed it! I’m with you on the forward corner suites, no way, it would be like cruising in a wind tunnel, lol! 

[Tom-n-Cheryl]

11 minutes ago, LaRue1975 said:

I totally agree, it’s the only way I would I would do it plus the second cruise is a 6 night which makes the upgrade even more affordable. I’m paying $3600 for the suite which is about $3000 off the non casino rate plus free Cheers comes with all my offers now. I have had my eye on the Exel Aft Suites since the Mardi Gras came out but I didn’t think we would ever be able to afford one. This is most likely our best chance so I grabbed it! I’m with you on the forward corner suites, no way, it would be like cruising in a wind tunnel, lol! 

 

I think the only thing the forward Excel suites have, that the aft suites don't, is the wet bar. Other than that, their balconies are spartan. No tub, no daybed, no real estate to speak of.

 

Enjoy !

 

Tom

[Funsince1983]

On 2/5/2023 at 10:48 AM, EngIceDave said:

Welcome home to rainy Miami. 
 

Food pics are last night in ChiBang

 

Clock was at the door as we exited. So that’s our exact exit time from the ship. 
 

Some poor dude rolled his truck on I95 near SR84 in Lauderdale. 

Nailed the landing. 

[EngIceDave]

2 hours ago, Funsince1983 said:

Nailed the landing. 

Notice the blood on the bald guy?

[EngIceDave]

My cake partner sent me her photos 

 

[Hogladyrider]

@EngIceDave...that is a LOT of sugar frosting!

[Funsince1983]

3 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

Notice the blood on the bald guy?

Yikes. I had not. Even upon zooming in I thought it was the arm of his glasses at first. 😬

[ruru107]

On 2/5/2023 at 8:09 PM, EngIceDave said:

Drive home was brutally slow. Wet, rainy and crashes galore. Looked like a local Saturday night demolition derby.

 

OK, wrap up essay.....

 

Let's start with the knee, and this goes to "How physical is this huge ship?" I'm a lean 6' tall guy. I like to think I am wimpy when it comes to pain, but I gut through the pain when I have too. If I can do it, you can do it. The ship has pretty level floors, no weird slopes, ramps or little "hidden curbs" that catch you. It is a well handicapped appointed ship. Elevators work, and as much as you'll complain about them, they still do a decent job, just be patient. No tricks to the elevator, works like a normal elevator. You can only fit one (1) wheelchair or scooter on an elevator at a time. Max is like a scooter and 3 people on each side unless thin and friendly. I did about 2 miles a day total on board. I did climb down more stairs than up. Sucks on the knee, but easier.

 

Cabin was fine, we had a regular balcony on 14 forward. #14228

Numbering is a bit strange, pay attention at first. Like I said, cabin was fine. The nightlight in the bathroom is TOO BRIGHT and you cannot control it. 2am light blinding pee isn't cool. I built the threshold up with two hand towels and that slows the big light leak from the 1" gap at the door bottom for ventilation

 

The shower is bigger feeling than the old curtain showers, but when sitting on the toilet is when the "it's a small bathroom" hits you. It is small, but, it's on a ship....Remember, you are on a ship, not at the Four Season. IMO, the supplied bath products are TERRIBLE. The blue body wash is a knock off of Axe Phoenix Body Wash (I know, my son used it) and no woman should even bathe in it. Shampoo is orange in color and alas, smells orangy. Ehhh....pack a few travel bottles from CVS instead.

 

In the bed's headboard is the MOST USEFUL SPACE.....this lighted notch

 

As you can see, it's a great space to stash your stuff in the evening at bedtime. Glasses, remote, ipad/iphone, and you can balance/set a bottle/glass on it and it stays. If really rough, of course not.

 

Everyone knows about the closets, baskets and so on. 

 

and I believe that's where I am going to go on my review, a more of a "look out for" and how to help folks in the future. Everyone's seen the usual stuff on the ship, so i hope mine is a little different.

 

The day of boarding was the NFL Championship Weekend, the AFC/NFC Divisional Championships. The games was on the big pool screen and all the bar and casino screens. There was no "tailgate snacks" or theming. Just the game was on.

 

As mentioned prior, this was a "Premier Cruise" for casino guests. Casino seemed to be a total mixed bag of really heavy slot players and light players, I think you know what I mean. I saw some good wins and heard a couple hand pay announcements. I actually felt the gaming played fair. As mentioned prior, the busier the games the better they do, which is normal. I also found, IMO, middle wage play is best. Don't play minimum or maximum. Casino spaceissotightthisistheonlywayicaneexplainhowtightthecasinois....Get it? Anyone next to you moves to get up, you pretty much have to move too. Drink service was typical casino slow. Better to just go to the casino bar, get what you want and then play. If you're trying to game the system with the "drinks in the casino" package, they'll leave you hanging for a while. Tables were busy as was craps. Casino is three parts, two side by side and one room aft, best way to explain it. I didn't like the room aft, no idea why. This area is where TxTeach was playing VP and looking down a deck to the bar below. 

As for no smoking in the casino, when I walked aboard the first time and walked through, I could smell the difference. Once at sea and I guess more used to it and "nose blind" the whole casino, it all smelled the same, but not "smokey." Only on one occasion can I think of where it was smokey, and maybe that's because I walked through a could. Seemed very nice and wife said she never smelled smoke and smoke pizzes her off. They also AC the place through many of the slot machine stand boxes. You'll sit down and feel a draft from your ankles up

 

Food was good overall. Nothing was inedible. Portions overall may be considered small, but they're actually more normal. Cheesecake Factory size portions are not normal. If you do maybe two apps and an entree with side and dessert, that's a good sized meal. If you need more, no judgement. 

When it comes to booking your dinner in the app, plan it out. Most every restaurant had 45-55 minute waits. This was common. So if you want to eat at 7pm, start looking at the app at about 6pm to book your slot. 

 

Celebration Central - This is a love hate relationship. I love the space, how it works and what they can do with it. What I hate is once a show starts, there's very little decent seating, couple hundred, max. It's only during this time I feel the space is wasted. It's odd. BTW, the white things on the ceiling I initially thought were to absorb sound, but they're multi-color LED lights to represent confetti, it's a running theme if you look for it...."hidden confetti"

 

Grand Spectrum Theatre, this is what would've been the traditional theater all the way forward, just smaller. It's very tight in the aisles for fluffy folks. The seat backs all have vents right in your face, so no stuffy feeling even though it's tight.

 

You can hear everything going on in the bathroom, in the cabin....every pee, fart, poop....paper thin walls inside the cabin. 

 

Also, if your neighbors sing in their shower, you can hear it in yours.

 

Use any plastic card in the electric thing in your cabin by the door.

 

Carnival Kitchen

 

This was fun. I went solo and was paired up each time with another solo. Each station is two person. I did pizza making and cake decorating.

In pizza making, it was all 100% from scratch, dough and sauce. Took about 2 hours

In cake decorating, the cake was premade. You sliced it down to three layers and then shown how to decorate using piping bags and three different tips.

One cool trick, between each layer, using a squirt bottle (like a ketchup bottle) to squirt a sugar water solution (3:1 water/sugar) onto each layer before icing, makes cake more moist.

None of the food may leave the kitchen, none. It is not delivered later. 

 

 

Complaints?

Small bathrooms in public areas. Just stupid. Poor planing.

No trash cans. How can there be no trash cans at the elevator, in casino or even outside. They're hard to find and you carry your garbage a long way if you try to do the right thing.

Dogs? Do you really have to sail with your dog? I don't want to risk the wrath of the interweb bearing down, but if you can't live a week without Spike, your Min-Pin, maybe you should try a driving vacation, not one at sea. Bad enough they have to clean up after you, but now they have to clean up your dog's "business," even if in the back crew areas. Some poor schmo has to clean it up. IMO, I think it's wrong.

 

 

FYI

AT&T Mobile service outside of the US 

 

 

 

Let me think and I'll come up with more, if you have questions, fire away

Very sad to hear about the paper thin bathroom walls and the Axe body wash 😩

[EngIceDave]

I just was wondering, maybe there's no public trash cans to keep people from throwing away bar glasses?

[mistycruiser]

I think the reason there are no trashcans around is because they actually have to sort the trash.  For example separate food from paper and plastic etc.  They instead have the crew bus the tables and pick up dishes etc. so that it's all sorted correctly and then it's either incinerated (paper), reclycled,  and the food is ground up into fish food.  Even in your cabin the steward has to sort the trash when they clean your room. 

[WhiteOptima]

Did you get to keep your apron?

[EngIceDave]

1 hour ago, WhiteOptima said:

Did you get to keep your apron?

Negative

 

and BTW, the spatula is terrible. Cheap and the rubber easily slides off the clear plastic handle