? AussieCruiser-Mexican Riviera on Carnival?

[oysterfiend]

Hey to all cruisers who have been on Carnival or the Mexican Riviera -

we are booked 9 day cruise on Dawn Aug 2008

but are looking to book 7 night Mexican Riviera cruise 26 April 2009.

I wanted to do 12 night European cruise with Carnival but we are building new ablutions in our accommodation business and won't be able to afford to save for all the Euros for spends etc.

The Carnival cruise Goes from LA--Puerto Vallarta- Mazaltan, Cabo san Lucas,- LA. And will be on Brand new ship Splendor:) Afterwards we can get a timeshare week or 2 somewhere- Maybe Acapulco

Bit concerned about comments about Carnival and the American Mass market-

Anybody done Carnival cruises- I would really like to hear from some Aussies and kiwis- that is why I am asking here

[AuzzieCruiser]

Haven't sailed Carnival.....Sarah in Townsville has though. I think she has cruised with them 3 times.

What are your concerns about Carnival?

The itinerary is the standard 7 night, 3 Port cruise from LA. Nice itinerary.:)

[oysterfiend]

When we were in Cozumel and holidaying independently ourselves the people coming of the cruise ships looked like easy tragets for the picking and it was the huge mass of it - with onboard and off etc.

I am a bit paranoid about taking shore tours other than the ships in case we get left behind but also want an experience that is not solely commercialised and feeling swamped by large crowds at same time.

We are looking at Carnival because

1 It is very competitive and about all we can afford

and

2 The Splendor will be brand new!

[kaseyoz]

we sailed on carnival fantasy 5 nights, nassau, half moon cay and grand turk.

 

yes we were probably the only aussies on board, quite a few english. but we had a fantastic time.every one we met wantd to know why we were there and about steve irwin(was a month after he died)

I would cruise with them again.

It was about a grade above the pacific sun

[oysterfiend]

When we were in Cozumel, Player Del Carmen annd Cancun 2006 we saw next to no one from our Pacific region.

We did not like how some (only some - were really rude and demanding)Americans spoke to the Mexicans staff in the hotels and timeshare.

That kind of put us off and we went to Thailand and Bali this year.

But Carnival seems to offer such good value and i'd love to go back to Mexico on timeshare after the cruise.

[Star-Man]

we sailed on carnival fantasy 5 nights, nassau, half moon cay and grand turk.

 

It was about a grade above the pacific sun

 

I know i have always said id never sail carnival, but i would be tempted to cruise on one of the fantasy class ships now that they have all had their refits. The interiors dont look so neon and cheesy any more.

[oysterfiend]

And there is something about being on a ship that only first sailed in 2008- that is pretty damn exciting - no matter where you go!

[Star-Man]

And there is something about being on a ship that only first sailed in 2008- that is pretty damn exciting - no matter where you go!

 

Im still of the belief that anything the size of carnivals and RCIs new builds are just floating apartment blocks. I still prefer a smaller, more intimate ship but thats just me

[AuzzieCruiser]

Oops...I forgot about your 'Fantasy' Cruise!!:p

[AuzzieCruiser]

I still prefer a smaller, more intimate ship but thats just me

 

You pay more for that these days. Enjoy it while it lasts!!;)

[oysterfiend]

Yes but smaller is more expensive and if it means difference between going/ and not going - I'd rather go big and cruise

[Star-Man]

You pay more for that these days. Enjoy it while it lasts!!;)

 

May just move to the med and cruise pulmantur etc. Smaller and cheaper (and i would get to cruise on the Star again and the Sky as well :rolleyes: )

[oysterfiend]

If we didn't live so far under everything would be cheaper-

Can cross the tunnel now to France in 2 hours:rolleyes:

[aussiedisneyfan]

Keepcruising did the dolphin swim in Puerto Vallerta and loved it. We liked the sound of the Pirate ship tour but ours was cancelled as it had been double booked with another cruise ship.

[AuzzieCruiser]

They had trouble filling the Pirate ship on our cruise. I think they combined it with the other cruiselines.:)

[aussiedisneyfan]

My theory on our disaster was that our cruise was originally 10 nights we were due in PV 2 days later and Celebrity had forgotten to tell the operator or something. So they had booked it out with the Diamond.

 

We were offered our money back and some other tour which was basically 5 hours at a resort including lunch for 1/2 price. We stayed "home"

[oysterfiend]

With Govt Taxes included and Fuel surcharge it is costing us NEW ZEALAND $2684 ( 2 of us together) for a Balcony Cabin.

LA, Puerto Vallarta, Mazaltan, Cabo San Lucas, LA

Inside cabins start at $549 US

Outside $669 US

and Balcony $839 US note - this equates to $1130 p.p. NZ and taxes on top.

 

The week following the prices climb up and the Outside cabin goes up to $839 -:eek: the same price as we are are getting the balcony cabin a week earlier.

 

You can get all the American prices off the Carnival website-

I printed them off and took them into the travel agent

[NSWP]

I can tell you that Carnival in most cases demands gratuities to be paid in advance from Aussies only. You know why..the knock off the auto tip business, will not start that again. We got caught with prepaid non removal tips in 05 on Carnival Spirit, had to pay the tips with fare. Apart from that discrimination, Carnival were OK.

 

So before you book a Carnival Cruise check on the above.:)

[oysterfiend]

Tips are $10 Us a day- you just have to go with it when travelling in the States (2 people x 7 nights US $140)