Sarge6870

Thankfully, We have ALWAYS been back well in advance of the posted debarkation time. We too have fun watching folks run FULL SPEED down the dock in the hopes of not missing it. Especially in Cozumel where the dock is SOOO long, you could have a heart attack running to catch the ship! One situation does come to mind. We were leaving Bermuda on the Norwegian Dreamward (Now called the "Dream"). About 1/2 mile from dock, the ship slowed to almost a stop. We thought something was wrong with the vessel. 5 minutes later, a tug boat came along the Portside where 2 passengers that missed the sail away boarded the ship. Reminded me of the "I Love Lucy" episode where Lucy missed the sailing of the S.S. Constellation and had to hire a helicopter to take her to the ship!!!

Good pointers Dan. For us, it has never really been a big deal. It's kinda like when you fly, you MUST endure the Emergency plan performed by the flight attendant. It has just become part of the cruise to us. One story that does come to mind about a muster drill, was when we had taken our then 12 yr. old niece with us on the Carnival Pride. Our niece was a tiny thing and needed a child's life-jacket. We called the pursers desk numerous times as well as asking our cabin steward for one. We never got one for her. She had to wear an adult jacket for the drill. When she put it on, her head disappeared. After the drill, I went directly to the pursers desk to complain and explained to them that it is a Coast Guard REGULATION that we be supplied with a child's life-vest for her. I followed that up with a written complaint to Carnival. We finally received the life vest 2 day's into the cruise.

Fans of "Free Bird" and "Sweet Home Alabama", make a note: The next Southern Rock-themed cruise starring Lynyrd Skynyrd has been set for October 2013. The seventh annual Simple Man Cruise, as the voyages are called, will take place Oct. 20-24 on Norwegian Cruise Line's 2,394-passenger Norwegian Pearl. The four-night voyage out of Miami will feature stops in Key West, Fla. and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian's private island in the Bahamas. Designed by music cruise organizer Sixthman, the Southern Rock festival at sea will include a Lynyrd Skynyrd sail-away concert on the Norwegian Pearl's pool deck and a main theater performance by the band, as well as performances by other groups. A full lineup of performers for the voyage has yet to be set, but in past years the event has included appearances by .38 Special, Molly Hatchet and Blackberry Smoke. Fares for the sailing start at $700 per person, not including taxes and fees. More information is available online at simplemancruise.com/presale. SOURCE: USAToday

"Cove balconies a great addition" Click here to view the cruise review

My (or should I say OUR) 1st cruise was on the Carnival Celebration from Miami to the Eastern Carib. When we arrived at the port, I remember staring at the HUGE vessel like a kid on Christmas!!! We had a burp in the cruise though. Even though the ship was only 2 years old at the time, the turbochargers broke down and we were only able to sail at half speed. The crew had to scramble to make last minute plans for excursions at other ports because of the itinerary change due to the problem. But we had a great time still. My idea of a bad cruise is when the ship sinks!!! Anything other can be dealt with :)

After my 3rd cruise, I was SOOOO happy to see that designers were actually installing elastic in their waistbands!! I have 4 suits in my closet just for cruises. ALL 4 have elastic built into the waistband!! No more worries :)

In all seriousness, I have had this happen to me on various cruises...MANY times. And it wasn't just centered around a dessert table. I've had people that had already eaten, jump in front of me to grab more of an item they already had. Guess they had the attitude that "I've already stood in line"!! I usually try to blow off rudeness and stupidity on a cruise, but nobody should come between me and my food!! ESPECIALLY on a cruise!!! You have more patience than I sir!! Good story. :)

Thanks Mike & Amy. I watched a few vids on YouTube when a ship was passing under the Skyway bridge. Kinda reminded me of when we sailed to Bermuda from N.Y. and passed under the Verrazano narrows bridge leaving N.Y. Looking forward to RCCL...it was a LONG time coming!!! :)

Country music fans, your ship has come in.....Again. Norwegian Cruise Line this week announced plans for a second country music-themed cruise with performances by Trace Adkins, Montgomery Gentry, Wynonna, Neal McCoy, Lonestar and more than a dozen other bands. The seven-night "Best Country Cruise Ever," as it's being called, will kick off Jan. 12, 2014 in Miami on the Norwegian Pearl and feature stops at Ocho Rios, Jamaica; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico. The around-the-clock music fest will include two live concerts per performer in the ship's indoor Stardust Theater as well as additional live music every night at multiple venues around the ship. The lineup of country music performers also includes Love and Theft, Craig Morgan, Steel Magnolia, Brett Eldredge, Maggie Rose, Frankie Ballard, Chris Cavanaugh, Brandon and Leah, JJ Lawhorn, James Wesley, JT Hodges, Ray Scott, McKenna Faith, Her and Kings County, The Mantz Brothers, Clayton Anderson and Bryan Edwards. Other on-board activities planned for the week include songwriter workshops, a karaoke contest judged by the pros, question and answer sessions with the artists, and late night dance parties. Fares for the voyage start at $979 per person, based on double occupancy. More information is available at countrycruising.com. Source: USATODAY.com

And we'll be cruising her from Tampa in November 2013 Rose!!!

First off, congrats on your upcoming graduation. I have been on 8 cruises so far, 5 on Carnival. I would recommend a Carnival cruise to the Western Carib. Not sure where your from but the Carnival Dream out of Port Canaveral was a BLAST for us!! And the more cabins you book, the better the pricing. A cruise aboard the Dream doing a Western Carib. Itinerary would offer a LOT of stuff to do in the various ports. Just my thoughts

Hi Julie....Welcome aboard the M/S Cruisecrazies!!!! Look forward to seeing ya up on the decks!!!

Just somethings I would like to add to your post Brian. The importance of knowing where the stairs are closest to your cabin as well as an alternate staircase in the event the closest is unusable, the location of your muster station along with the necessity to attend AND pay attention to the muster drill and the location of your life vests. Even after 8 cruises, I have realized that not all vessels are the same. Cruise lines do not hold the muster drills for entertainment but for your safety. It is also Coast Guard regulation that you attend the drills. I always hear of passengers trying to come up with ways to avoid the drills. As mentioned in your post, vessels today are WELL equipped with electronics but all the safety features are in no way infallible (like passengers on the Titanic realized after being told she was "unsinkable"). Much like the spare tire in your car, you hope to never have to use it but you will be glad if you do and you know HOW to use it!!!

I remember back in the early days of cruising, boarding the ship with envelopes for the staff that directly assisted us and handing them out on the last night of the cruise. Back then, if you felt that one of those staff members weren't up to par during your cruise, you could withhold or reduce the amount in their envelope. We based the tip on the TOTAL cruise and not just one bad day. Everyone has a bad day once in awhile!! If a member went above and beyond, we were able to increase their tip. I do know how hard these crew members work, but so do I. And I wait a long time for my vacation. Keep something in mind folks, it is just as important to write a letter of praise (not just complaint) to the cruise line after your cruise. In most cases this will allot you a future cruise concession and will help in the promotion of that crew member that went beyond their requirements to make your cruise special. So I guess you can say now, that tips are included in your cabin fees, I am a generous tipper since I am not one to wait in line at the Pursers desk to remove a tip from my cabin charges.

Hi Karen and WELCOME to the BEST cruise site on the net!!!

BrillianceOfTheSeas Click here to view the cruise

Well, it's been almost 3 years since our last cruise on the Carnival Dream. It will also be our 9th cruise, yet our 1st on RCCL. Were leaving from Tampa (about 30 minutes from home) which is a port we have yet to sail from. Looking forward to hearing from anyone sailing this cruise as well as some RCCL insight.

I have a couple of friends that are cruising on the Sensation in June. I "believe" the ship was drydocked/upgraded in 2009. Can someone tell me what they upgraded or added and removed? One of them is the addition of waterworks I know. My friends have been on the Sensation before but prior to 2009 so they are interested in the changes.

Thanks Kieth & Rita!! I always write a review the way "I" experienced it. But after ALL the negative posts to this BEAUTIFUL vessel, I felt it was only right to give a post of how WE (and the 200 in our group) felt about this ship!! We have reached a time in our cruise history where we to go back to our "roots" and look at downgrading to smaller vessels. It just seems to us the Mega or Superliners are just getting out of control of what a "CRUISE EXPERIENCE" originally was. We want to get back to the more personal side of cruising again. And away from the "McDonalds Drive-Thru" version of cruising!! We have found that the "Personal" side of cruising that used to exist on the smaller ships have given way to "you pay, You Go" booking and cruising experience. No more "Assigned seating" is an example of that. People want the "Your Time Cruising(Carnival), or the "Anytime Dining(RCL)" and I'm sorry, but what used to be a GREAT cruise experience, is becoming a source of conversation ( I dont want to eat when THEY tell me, I want to eat when I WANT)!! Which is fine, but your not at a trailer park...your on a CRUISE!!! Time to revert back to "Old School" and remember what a CRUISE is supposed to be all about!!

You guys are leaving on the Monarch in 5 days!!! Good for you, enjoy and be safe!! Bon Voyage, -Tim :)

Greetings All!! We have returned from our cruise aboard the WONDERFUL Carnival Dream and it looks like I have been the 1st to post a review of this ship on the site. If your thinking about cruising the "Dream", had some general interest in the ship or wanted to read some contrary information about the ship then what you have read on other forums (even though this is the only Cruise Forum you need), then check out my review of the Carnival Dream in the Reviews section on the CC site. Now, down to work looking for next cruise, we are considering going back to Bermuda on a smaller vessel. Want to get back to our "Roots" and the mega-liners are getting just too "Mega" for us!!

A new Cruise Review is now available: Ship Name: Carnival Dream Sailing date: 4/17/10 Author: Sarge6870 View Review

Click here to view the cruise review