LIVE- The World's Longest Trip Report (Luminosa 4/13 - 5/4)

[EngIceDave]

[EngIceDave]

There's been quite a few handpay wins. Tonight, I personally saw a $2K+ handpay and another woman hit a $3500 handpay

 

I HAVE CRAPS TABLE NEWS!!!

Right now, there's a digital Texas Hold 'em table, that is going bye-bye and a craps table is going in. Still unclear if Hawaii or Seattle for that installation.

 

My play is going good. I am negative on their money, on my own money I am about even, down a little.

 

I have seen a switch in entertainment. Some different singers in Atrium, and a few new comedians/show folks.

 

 

 

[EngIceDave]

BTW, went into the Altair Nightclub.....11pm on a saturday night

 

Empty, closed

Matter of fact, I can't remember that room being used for anything on this cruise so far.

[Tobleronebar]

On 4/9/2023 at 11:03 AM, balcony bound said:

Fellow Floridian here... laughing my butt off.  We could use these guys

Loving this report!
We use cupcakes instead of tacos 🤪

We have a plumbing company and I just had to ask my hubby about toilet water flow! Now I understand the difference between Cyclones and Tornados, too.

[EngIceDave]

MORE BIG NEWS!!

 

Tuesday at 10am, King Neptune arrives

 

[Oakman58]

Just a guess on my part, since gambling is illegal in Hawaii I would think the craps table will be installed in Seattle.  I'm really enjoying all the photos you've been posting.

[lesters]

11 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

 

I HAVE CRAPS TABLE NEWS!!!

Right now, there's a digital Texas Hold 'em table, that is going bye-bye and a craps table is going in. Still unclear if Hawaii or Seattle for that installation.

Fantastic news!

[EngIceDave]

Time for a little mid-cruise complaining....

 

Lido indoors is warm AF and so much so, there's towels and stuff all over to sop up condensation. 

Since we departed, we've had no strawberries, blueberries, bananas. Only fruits has basically been melon.

If you want a beverage on lido, you literally have to walk to either end to the bar by pool (Red Frog) or the end at Serenity 

Believe it or not, cannot find a deck of cards to purchase. Casino has none. Customer service has none and gift shop has none.

 

and then, there's the food....leaves much to be desired.

Now, so we all know where Im coming from, I am a home cook. I cook it all, wife can't cook. I take pride and care in my food. We have also eaten at Michelin restaurants and at dive bars and gotten good food. I'm not a food snob, but I call balls and strikes fairly.

 

On a 1-5 scale

 

MDR is a low 3 - Pastas seem to be held too long, get sticky and overcooked. For example one night was a mushroom ragu linguine.....sticky wall paste. One night they had "blackened pork tartlets"....Dude, it was a scrap of pork on a premade hors d'oeuvre quiche. Blah. None of it have we come away with "That was actually good." Service is still a mess. Think they're still training.

 

Steakhouse is a 4 - The food was sort of prepared correctly, but on the smaller side. Not a ton of flavor in any of it.

 

Lido is a 2-3 - At dinner, it's mostly the MDR food in warming trays. How to make ok food bad.

 

Chopsticks on Lido - Give it a low 4 - It's not bad. 

The Mexican place - Same, a low 4 - I prefer a bowl and that confuses them.....rice on top?? Flavors are there. Meats are a little dry, but it's being held in trays, so expected.

Burger place - A 3 - Weird Aussie bacon, nothing special. One day my cheeseburger had a vinegary-mustardy taste within it, made me suspicious and I left it only half eaten. Chili powder fries.

BBQ Place - No idea - Have to get back to you. I passed by and it was self service and dry looking. Salad bar seemed a little more.

 

Seafood place - I'd give a 5. It's made to order, so you are getting it hot and fresh. Old bay on the fries instead of chili powder

JavaBlue - Good and fast. Big fat 5. Pinpanna is the young lady there and she has it all dialed in.

 

The piano bar (if you wanna call it that) is in an awkward position, out in the hall where everyone must pass for access to MDR, so you have to walk in front of them.

 

 

< /RANT >

 

[balcony bound]

That's a long time to be on a ship with food that is only tolerable.

[kwokpot]

52 minutes ago, balcony bound said:

That's a long time to be on a ship with food that is only tolerable.

We had a similar experience last summer on the Pride in Europe for 31 days. The MDR at times was barely edible (what was supposed to be lasagna looked like meat loaf with a layer of dried up cheese). The saving grace was the guys,deli, Pizza and steakhouse. The buffet was also mediocre. 

[EngIceDave]

The pizza is actually damn good pie.

 

Tried the BBQ after posting, it's not bad, is a bit dry, but add in fome extra sauce and toss a little, its not bad. They also had a white cheese shell pasta (mac & cheese) that wasn't bad, and I got the bottom of the pan.

 

Maybe I should start working some food hacks/mixes to make the food pop

 

A pod of dolphin (porpoise) was seen off the starboard side at about 2:00 our time (2 hours ago)

 

Got a 70 minute bamboo massage with wife, girl beat the tar out of my calves. I wonder if they go back downstairs later, giggle and trade stories of how badly they beat some guy or woman.

Some Karen goes in there, acting all high and mighty and they just beat the snot out of her and laugh later "Oh yeah, gave her a good massage, all the way to bone, I bet she can't walk tomorrow....Hahaha"

 

Edited April 24, 2023 by EngIceDave

[EngIceDave]

Getting a spa treatment on a Carnival Cruise is like a time share presentation. You're going to enjoy it, but you'll have to sit through the damn sales presentation for a bit.

[EngIceDave]

Oh yeah....there is some small little teeny tiny "bar" that has a racing theme, I have no idea what it is or was for, but it too is unused.

 

Also, thoughts from the casino....Your drinks may be free, but when you're asking for "Grey Goose and soda," I LOL at you.....they're pouring you well drinks for free drinks, and Goose isn't a well brand. Don't care what they tell you

 

 

One other thing on food, namely the MDR

To use that app properly, you have to PREDICT when you'll want to eat. It's almost always an hour+ wait. 

So if you want to eat about 7pm, go to the app before 6pm and start planning from there. It was the same on Celebration. 

 

Tonight's menu is below.....sorry I'm not consistent on it, but not like it'll be done over for anyone else.

 

 

[EngIceDave]

[EngIceDave]

BIG GIANT NEWS (for us)

 

We're arriving in Honolulu A DAY EARLY!!!

We're now arriving on the 27th (instead of 28th) at 3pm and disembark about 4pm. Doing border patrol in Hawaii.

 

So we'll have a free evening in Hawaii.

[EngIceDave]

Y'all ain't sick of me yet?

[EngIceDave]

SHARED FROM THIS CRUISE FB GROUP

This is regarding our new extra day in Hawaii

 

===========

B.J. Guillot

The immigration process in Hawaii is probably going to be crazy and take several hours. I recently did a cruise that left from Panama and it's final destination was a New York. We stopped in Puerto Rico before New York. Because Puerto Rico was the first US stop for that ship's itinerary, everyone (including every single crew member too!) had to debark the ship until passenger/crew count goes to zero. No one can re-board the ship until the count goes to zero. This took from about 8 am to 1 pm because some passengers were refusing to get off (claimed they were wearing headphones and could not hear the 27 announcements to get off the ship). I assume Hawaii will be similar for us, so that first day may be a bit stressful. Immigration lines took a long time too but at least that killed some of the time while waiting to get back on the ship.

=================

 

I can't vouch for the validity, but seems plausible.

[EngIceDave]

[EngIceDave]

Note the time......6:07pm

70-80 minute wait

 

It is now 6:49 and app says 40-50 minutes

 

This is why you check in to eat BEFORE you're hungry.

 

[JCrewz]

EnglceDave and Friends:

 

This is the most informative, best written and overall entertaining thread I have seen on Cruise Critic over the years....and that includes a lot of legendary contributors.

 

Thanks for going to such an effort for us and thanks for your sparkling good nature!

[EngIceDave]

Horse racing tomorrow, and that means…..80’s Day!!

 

saw lots of 80’s trivia and stuff too, but nothing stating it. 
I’ll ask at GS

[EngIceDave]

[EngIceDave]

It's now totally official, I have become "old"

 

The music in the MDR is all "my music" with Led Zeppellin, Tom Petty, The Ramones, Madonna, Rick James, Devo and B-52's....

 

We found a banana....well, half a banana

 

 

[EngIceDave]

Misc pics.

 

Then you see a photo of M/Y Formosa

I saved you the trouble of looking her up for your next charter, she's only $470,000 per week + expenses.

Pocket change, bro....

 

Like that Tahitian nickel I found....It's a start, don't laugh

 

https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-yacht-25653/formosa.htm

 

"The 60m/196'10" 'Formosa' motor yacht built by the Italian shipyard Benetti is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 6 cabins. This yacht features interior styling by Dutch designer Sinot Yacht Design."

 

BTW, apparently she got into trouble a few years back, anchoring onto and damaging some coral reefs off Hawaii. She was fined $100,000 for that boo-boo

 

[jimbo5544]

8 hours ago, kwokpot said:

We had a similar experience last summer on the Pride in Europe for 31 days. The MDR at times was barely edible (what was supposed to be lasagna looked like meat loaf with a layer of dried up cheese). The saving grace was the guys,deli, Pizza and steakhouse. The buffet was also mediocre. 

I always love barely edible comments.