Solo female Celebration 01-21-24

[Marylovescruising]

Hey all! Wanting to meet up with others this cruise. Maybe share a trip into downtown in Cozumel. I'm Mary, a single and fun RN. Go Steelers😀

[euroguy]

@Marylovescruising sorry to say won't be on that cruise. I'm on the Mardi Gras Feb 24th out of Orlando.  I'll be on the Italian fun ship Firenze out of Long Beach Sept 7. Who know maybe we'll be on the same ship.  🤣 hope you have grand trip.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@Marylovescruising I love cruising to Cozumel! I'm sure you will have a grand trip. Let us know you enjoy Carnival Celebration!

Also, I would like to add I think @euroguy would be an awesome cruise buddy! He knows his CCL stuff for sure. 

Have you cruised on board Carnival Celebration in the past @euroguy? It's a lovely Excel-class ship. Mardi Gras will likely be a pretty similar experience! 

[3Sisters]

@Marylovescruising You sound like a great time! I wish I was joining you on a cruise to Cozumel. How did you enjoy this cruise? Did you make any friends onboard? What did you think of the ship? Carnival Celebration holds many guests, and I can only assume you had a blast! Did you get to enjoy Guy's Burger Joint? My mouth is watering juts thinking about it!

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas no I have not been on the celebration. Maybe some time soon, but will depend on its destinations as i am on a journey to visit different locations 1st which is becoming harder and harder as ive been to so many hmmm, did like your idea about canada out of ny. 

Have you taken one to canada?

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy I have a feeling you will make it on all of CCL's ships. Is that a goal of yours? I have been to Canada but not cruised there yet! After visiting Canada, I know I want to return. I loved everything about it and wish I stayed longer. You have been to quite a few destinations! I'm pretty certain you will be visiting even more post-retirement when you have more flexibility for travel. I am loving the new CCL private island details. It's so exciting! 

[euroguy]

I'm not sure about being on all of CCL ships but certainly a lot of them...lol

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy With the rate you cruise, I wouldn't be surprised if you were able to attain cruising onboard the entire fleet at some point. How many of CCL's fleet have you cruised to date? I'm going to guess 15! It may not be attainable for some time, but I have no doubt you will end up hopping on most (if not all) of the fleet. It can be hard to keep up at the rate the line is expanding! New ships are being built left and right.

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas I think that I've been on 10-12 different ships but have been on more cruises than that as ive been on the some of the same ships multiple times. 

Yeah CCL is on a mission with new ships and currently at 27... yikes!!! Perhaps I might get to most but not sure about all. Certainly ly would be a blast trying.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy I have been on a few ships multiple times as well. In fact, I'm doing that again for this upcoming cruise coming up so very soon. It's starting to feel more and more tangible now that it isn't so far out. If you made it your goal for do two differing CCL ships a year you could reach it eventually. Some of CCL itineraries are very far away from us though. That could be a burden in achieving this "cruise on every Carnival ship" goal. I have a feeling, as the year rounds to a close, I will ask you which ship has been your favorite thus far and you will say Carnival Firenze. I could be wrong; it's just a guess. I just think it's going to be such a perfect cruise for you. Certainly Mardi Gras will be amazing, but it going to be large. From what I remember you saying, the mega ships aren't particularly your favorite. Is that right? 

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas well yeah the goal could be somewhat difficult to sail every CCL and being majority of the ship are in Florida so after I retire in few years I would probably ly fly to Florida sail for 1 week the try and book another cruise that departs day or two later so that way get the biggest bang for the air flight. But when I retire I'll have more time and so would be able to do a lot of back to backs if I keep getting the amazing prices like I am currently.

Like you I'm looking at the calendar and starting g to feel the time crunch, making sure all my documents are printed, Tux to cleaners thinking I need more shorts and summer shirts etc... because you know I only had 6 months to get everything together 😆 why be in a hurry and do it months ago. FRIDAY THE 9TH I check in online...oh boy it's getting close !!!!

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas I think you heard from someone else that mega ships aren't for them.  The Mardi Gras will be the 1st real "Mega" ship for me. i think the Panorama was the largest ive been on but i will need to look in my ship history and see.

Im kinda thinking im gonna really like the Firenze, simply because its so different from the normal ccl ships and it looks more up scale. But we will see, rwgardless if it turns out to be my favorite ship or not i know i will enjoy being on it regardless as i can always find the positives.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy The idea of a back to back itinerary is genius! I love the idea of capitalizing on that flight purchase. The flights are half the cost of the entire experience, not to mention the headache of it all! You have the awesome perk of laundry onboard. That means you can get off of the ship with clean clothes, ready to hop on your next cruise adventure. Would you be able to cruise back to back on the same ship? Have you done that in the past?

Isn't Friday the 9th tomorrow? That's insane. Your cruise really is right around the corner. I guess I am mistaken about your mega ship history! I'm very curious to hear what you think of it! There are definitely many more people to interact with. That's pretty nice when out in the evening time. More people on the dance floor is a great time, but more people at the buffet can be a headache. I love that you always look for the positives in things. That's the best way to be!

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas yes last Friday was the 9th and well since im vip i get to check in before other non vip. Ive got 1st boarding of 11 a.m. another perk is getting to drop my back pack off in cabin so don't have to lug it around and have hands free travel for few hours before sail away. 

Yeah I have those genius moments every once in the while. Never did a back to back before but was talking to someone on my Alaska trip and she was telling me how it works. Basically you get to stay on the ship the whole time. Some times in the cabin and other times out of the cabin, seemed to be different on each ship with no rhym or reason.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy That's just wonderful! I have an early check in time for mine as well but I feel like many cruisers intentionally come early, outside of their check-in timeframe. The lines are always the longest at these early time slots. I know you don't likely experience this because you are a CCL VIP. One thing I won't have is early access to my stateroom, but I'm used to that and bring minimal things in my hand. Do you typically jump right in the pool once you get onboard? I find that basically the best thing to do because no one is at the pools at this time! Sometimes I will pack swimsuit in my tote to change once onboard in the poolside restrooms and get right in! I think you have genius moments more often than you believe you do. You have insight for days! I love your input on the boards. 

[euroguy]

@Kendall James-Vargas yeah I always see the people that show up very early but that only worked in the old days when they would assign your boarding letter or number as you arrived, now days its very different and makes no sense to arrive too early.  The other thing i am seeing is people will have early boarding time and show up 1-2 hours late and are allowed to just walk in v. Having to wait in any lines.

Typically I don't have to wait in line, with that said, March I had to wait for my time along with other vip and non vip guests. When our time came vips went one way and non vip went another. We vips got checked in right away and on the otherwise of the room the non vips had to line up and go through all kinds of stuff and was backed up. Literally took me 5 minutes to check in the went to vip room, v. Everyone else went to a large waiting area and of course vips boarded in advance to others.  Now Sept out of Seattle was very different, I handed the porter my bags a CCL person asked to see my boarding g pass and was directed to walk right in for check in... once again took less than 5 minutes.

I never realized how nice it was to have the early room access until I got it. Not having to lug around anything is nice and if I want to change into shorts and tshirt can do it in my cabin.

My normal routine when 1st getting g on is usually get quick bite as I'm hungry about that time, Guy's burgers, BBQ pig and anchor or something..lines are short and quick still. Then I start exploring g the ship so I can get a lay of the land (ships never been on) this way I know what areas interest me and how things are layed out before to many people are on, then head up to lido for the going away party with drink in hand..now the vacation starts.  Never been to big on the pools and for the first time finally did the jacuzzi last March. Yep true story, something about going into a jacuzzi with a bunch of strangers didn't appeal to me, but in March I stayed on ship for one port and went to serenity area (adults only) which was at the top of ship and enjoyed sitting in the jacuzzi looking out the glass wall over the city. Now if I'm going to do jacuzzi I will try and go when something major is happening were everyone will want to go to, like a stage show or dinner or early morning that way less people thinking about it

Of course on my ship exploration I always stop at the casino to get an idea on its layout and games available... go figure 😆 

I'm always happy to contribute for others so glad I have more moments than I realized.

[Kendall James-Vargas]

@euroguy I don't really know if this method is the best since it's not that efficient but it's really all I know! The older way you described sounds antiquated but honestly more efficient. The thought of a 5 minute check in process just amazes me. I can't wait to get to the loyalty status where I don't have to wait in an hour long line. 

I like your cruise entry style! I typically arrive pretty hungry too. If I check in too late I typically skip the food items and just wait for dinner, but otherwise I'm right there with you. I'm not surprised at all by the casino interest. You have to know the set up before you begin all of your fun! The idea of going to the jacuzzi when the other guests are preoccupied is another great idea. I typically only do the pools/jacuzzis when it's daytime. I love to dress up in the evening for jacuzzi at that hour can be counteractive. I wish you all the best on your casino ventures on Carnival Mardi Gras. I'm sure you will have much success!