Mach

Thanks so much for the welcome and I agree 100% on the fit!!! We've been 'Cruisin' With the Crazies' for seven years and I don't see a thing on the horizon to change that!!!

23... 17 with Carnival; a couple with NCL (my first cruise was with NCL on the Norway...); a few Bahamas cruises; a Windjammer from way back; and a short cruise in the Med on a line that I can't recall. I've got a sailing coming up on October on Carnival and we're going to be doing a 14 day Princess to Hawaii next spring.

I've given this exact topic a lot of thought in the recent past. Of course, each of the mainstream cruise lines have become known for their focus.. RCCL is focused on things to do... bringing shore side experiences on board (Central Park, merry go 'rounds, rock climbing walls, etc); NCL is focused on the 'Freestyle' experience so much so that the newest ships don't even have main dining rooms; Carnival's emphasis has been, and remains, the experience of being at sea. That's been re-enforced by the recent announcement regarding the new Vista class ships. Sure, Carnival has given a nod to the amusement park thing with the massive water parks, ropes courses and one or two other things but the primary thrust is the sea... the real purpose of a cruise. I recall being on the Carnival Splendor for her inaugural sailing from the US. I was chatting with a wonderfully friendly fellow at one of the bars on the Lido Deck. This was his first cruise on a Carnival ship... had always sailed on RCCL. He commented that there was something different about Carnival but he couldn't put his finger on it. 'Focus' I offered. He looked at me quizzically. 'Carnival wants people to enjoy being at sea... their ships take you outside to enjoy the sea... enjoy that experience. RCCL brings you into the ship to enjoy the items they do so well.' I said. He smiled... nodded and said I was right. I cruise to be at sea. Sure the ports are a big part but for me it's the allure (sorry, RCCL) of the ocean that draws me.

Thanks for the review! Great job! I've sailed on the Dream and the Magic and can't wait to sail on the Breeze. I LOVE the Cove balcony cabins... my favorite on any ship. They're so close to the water that you really feel the sea. Cucina del Capitano is fabulous, isn't it? Great food at a fabulous price. Fortunately, I've not seen the decline in the quality of the entertainment you referred to and I've been thrilled with the addition of the Comedy Club. Thanks again!!! Mach

The answer to that is pretty simple... demand. All Carnival ships sailing from Galveston sail full with few discounts. Galveston is one of Carnival's highest profit homeports. That's why they got the Magic when so many other ports were vying for her. The folks from this area, especially the Texans, are very appreciative of Carnival being here and are willing to pay a bit more to sail from here rather than having to travel further. Please consider that the State is 900 miles east to west and getting to Galveston from some spots in Texas is a major undertaking... why travel further? :)

My wife and I are balcony junkies. Out of my 23 cruises I've only not had a balcony once and there were none available. I had an ocean view cabin in that case and I kept bumpin' my noggin into the window trying to look out! Sure, it's more expensive... often twice the cost of an interior but the ability to sit on the balcony, glory of the beauty of the sea and breath the air is priceless. For me, the ship is the destination. I've been to most of the ports and occasionally prefer to stay on the ship rather than debarking. Cruise without a balcony? Nope... sorry... can't do it. Ciao!!!

I've sailed from Galveston a dozen or more times. We love the Island and crossing the Causeway is always a highpoint at the beginning of our vacation. There's a TON of great places to hang out the night before a cruise... we prefer The Spot on the seawall but there are many just as good. Carnival has invested many millions of dollars in the cruise terminal there and it's really very nice! We're Platinum w/Carnival and on our recent cruises we've been on board with access to our cabin by 11:30 AM. What a great way to start a cruise! Hotels are very fairly priced and there's a huge selection from Super 8 to 5 star hotels like the amazing Hotel Glavez. Look at the price range you're interested in and you'll find a great place to stay! Many offer free transfers to the cruise terminals and free parking for cruise guests. Carnival currently is the only line offering year 'round sailings on two ships, the Magic (the second newest ship the line has) and the Carnival Triumph (the most recently refurbished with fabulous upgrades!!) RCCL will be joining Carnival with year 'round service next year. Even if you're not looking for somewhere to sail from and just some place fora quick getaway Galveston should be at the top of your list of potentials!!! C'mon down!!!

Aloha, y'all!! As the Beatles once said... please allow me to introduce myself!! Call me Mach, 'cause that's who I am. I am a very experienced cruiser with 23 cruises to my name, 17 of those with Carnival. I have MANY friends at Carnival and value them all. Cruising has been a huge part of my life... in fact, I met my vastly better half at a Carnival commercial shoot in Dallas. We were married on March 4, 2012 at Pier 21, directly in front of the Carnival Magic which we boarded moments after the ceremony. In fact, John Heald (Carnival's Senior Cruise Director) was my best man! I was with for 5 years as Host Mach until the administrator of the site demanded I end my friendship with John Heald. I refused and left my position as host of many forums and have never returned. After all, wht kind of friend would I be if I turned my back on a friend at the request of a biased system admin? My entire group left with me and we currently reside at my own forum, CruisinWithTheCrazies.com. We have done many group cruises with more that 300 folk on several of them and a few with only 30 or so but each and every one of them has been fantastic!! Put me on a ship and I'm a happy camper! I've never had a bad cruise... not once... and I expect I never will. Our next voyage will be a Halloween cruise on the Carnival Magic in October. We've already got our costumes selected and we're counting the days. We love meeting new folks and welcoming them into our family of Crazie Cruisers. Hopefully, I'll meet some of y'all in the near future!!! Ciao!! Mach