You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Second time Ive had access to this area. Many river lines will include many drinks, including beer and wine, with lunches and dinners. Like a well-conceived city at sea, Carnival Celebration has a little something for everyone, starting on top with the wet and dry thrills of the Ultimate Playground Zone (which includes the BOLT rollercoaster, a trio of serpentine WaterWorks slides and a dunker, mini-golf, a ropes course, a running track and a Games Court for Hoops) surrounding the funnel on Decks 18 and 19. However, what they sometimes leave out is that theyll often charge you for the privilege of being in a kids-free zone. A growing number of cruise ships have luxurious spa complexes that go well beyond treatment rooms. It offers Bahamas and Caribbean voyages of three to five nights. Mardi Gras and Carnival Celebration actually feature two restaurants that are considered specialty and have an upcharge on other ships, but are free on these two vessels. Cloud 9 Spa Thermal Suite - Cruise Spa Onboard Carnival Thank you ninjacat123 for that information. With that in mind, one ship that offers slightly more exclusive options is Carnival Horizon the second vessel in Carnival's three-ship Vista class. Deck 9? Are masks required in this area? Limited Time Offer: Earn 125,000 Bonus Marriott Bonvoy Points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of Card Membership. To me, $314 seems kinda steep for a balcony to Later in my cruise, I talked to another couple that had the same issue. This was my initial question when I learned that MSC Cruises has inside cabins in their Yacht Club section. Those accommodations offer 1,120 square feet of space with 600-square-foot balconies and separate living and sleeping areas. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. All but the smallest vessels usually feature a main dining room that is included in the fare, as well as a buffet eatery where you can count on getting complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner. For digs that include pampering, try a Cloud 9 Spa cabin to receive extras like complimentary thermal suite access and two free yoga or Pilates classes. Comfortable, high-end furnishings and artwork, some of which came from from past Carnival ships, give the Carnival Celebration a more upscale vibe than most would expect from a giant mass market mega ship. External site which may or may not meet This booking number and last name combination could not be found. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. The prices range from around $17 to well over $30 a plate. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Princess levy corkage fees for passengers opening their own bottles in restaurants, bars, lounges and other onboard venues. Her favorite cities include London; Amsterdam; Krakow, Poland; Phnom Penh, Cambodia; Dawson City, Yukon; and anywhere known for outstanding pizza and theater. Or consider a trip with Viking or Virgin Voyages. The fastest service on Carnival vessels, for instance, was recently priced at $16 per person, per day. The premium cabin offers guests complimentary Italian water, a stocked mini-bar, and a coffee machine, as well as comfy robes and slippers. The area featured other events, like a private white party, with DJ, where we danced and had fun, and, on our last sea day, we were treated to a seafood buffet. Finally, the free night award certificate with a redemption level of 35,000 points or less can get you hundreds of dollars in potential value each year. They have fruit infused water (I think it was orange, lemon, cucumber on the Dream) in large cooler jugs one of the rooms. I don't think you can br Carnival If anyone on our team wouldnt recommend it to a friend or a family member, we wouldnt recommend it on The Points Guy either. accessibility guidelines, Pinterest. Combine that with short, affordable voyages from Miami, and you can sail to the Bahamas or Caribbean for four or five nights from as little as $94 per night if you're solo. And finally, despite the ships newness and size, throughout our week on board, staff and crew impressively provided a welcoming, efficient and friendly guest experience. Carnival Related: The best cruise ships for solo travelers. Carnival Luminosa boasts 10 Grand Vista suites, six extended balcony grand suites, two grand suites and 36 other suites, including junior, ocean and spa suites. They do offer it for two devices per person, which is nice since you can't switch between devices on MSC. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. Typical of most cruise ships, every morning there was a queue for the specialty coffee venue, JavaBlue but all said, those clusters tended to move quickly and for the most part, the traffic flow on the more traveled upper decks and in the heart of the ship was impressively smooth. It also and this could really drive you nuts adds an 18% gratuity fee on top of the service charge for good measure. Today, she loves cruising with her husband and two daughters to new places and aspires one day to do a world cruise. External site which may or may not meet I think for the Yacht Club interior room, they could have dedicated a little more space to make a slightly bigger bathroom, including the shower. Daniel Kline. Think of it this way: The shorter the cruise, the less expensive it will be. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. The way around these fees is simple: Dont order room service. It may be all you need. Although I love having my own private deck space, I spent lots of time in the quiet outside deck area of the lounge, which was just a three minute walk away. Although you can rent cabanas, I personally dont think you need to, as there is plenty of shade and chairs. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Listen to this article 3 min. If you're into wellness, relaxation and self-care, check out the spa and fitness center's manicures, pedicures, facials, massages, teeth whitening treatments, acupuncture, anti-wrinkle procedures, state-of-the-art cycling classes, thermal suite, hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms for a fee. Check out this little tour we put together. Since 2009, Cruise Radio has provided the latest cruise news and industry analysis through informative articles, videos, and weekly podcasts. They were also quite impressed, with many of them booking future MSC cruises. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. has written about cruising for more than 25 years and for many years oversaw USA Todays award-winning cruise site. Good morning . It will levy the charge the moment you walk on board with a bottle. However, you can go into the booking process wide-eyed by searching the fine print on booking sites for such fees before you commit to a particular sailing. Get expert advice, insider tips and more. While meals are generally included on cruise ships (at least in some onboard eateries), youll pay extra for most drinks and not just alcoholic drinks. 12 Differences between big and small MSC cruise ships, I took my first Norwegian cruise after more than a decade. accessibility guidelines. For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter. Best Carnival cruise ships: Here's which ship you should sail - The We'll run a soft credit check to find special offers, but it wont affect your credit score. *Taxes, fees and port expenses are additional. Mardi Gras: Best Carnival cruise ship for families. When is the best time to book flights for the cheapest airfare in 2023? The lunch and dinner menu changes daily, but it also has everyday classics such as filet mignon, fish, and pasta, to name just a few. My wife does get motion sickness once in a while so that is definitely something that needs to be considered. The best US national parks you should visit at least once (or twice), British Airways subscription plan: Purchase Avios for under 1.3 cent each. Plus, it sails from Miami, one of the world's largest cruise hubs. Norwegian charges $199 per week for a thermal suite pass at its spas, and lines such as Cunard and Carnival have daily fees for access to thermal suites, too. The most obvious example of this is Celebration Central, the three-deck side atrium with no less than 1,400 fiberoptic celebratory confetti fixtures that emanate from the proscenium and burst into the ceiling, changing colors throughout the day. Although the room is warm, the the lasso therapy pool will be comfortable. Carnival Magic Cruise Thermal Suite And Spa Tour - YouTube Front and back-facing staterooms are in high demand and tend to have larger balconies than the average side-facing staterooms, although there are side-facing Extended Balcony rooms, as well. If a traditional suite is more your style, consider a Grand Suite, which includes priority embarkation, disembarkation and dining times, as well as access to the Havana pool area. I had a spa cabin that included unlimited access to the thermal suite. For the ultimate escape, there is also the for-fee Loft 19 enclaves on Deck 19, which is lined with cabanas that can be rented for an extra charge. Apr 30, 2023 10:11 AM EDT. It was for us (also interior). The bathroom looked to be the same size as a standard interior cabin, which has a compact shower, but everything you need, including upgraded bath products such as shampoo, conditioner, and bath gel. Start with these stories: The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. It might be more economical to upgrade to a spa cabin than paying for both people in the cabin to have a week pass. Cruise-long pass to Thermal Suites: Dry Heat Chambers (Lanconium and Tepidarium) Steam Chambers (Oriental Steam Bath and Aromatic Steam) Hydrotherapy Pool Complimentary scrub kit to use in our Thermal Suites (one per guest) Complimentary Pathway to Yoga or Pathway to Pilates fitness classes (two per guest) The best US national parks you should visit at least once (or twice), British Airways subscription plan: Purchase Avios for under 1.3 cent each. What did you like about it, and what did you dislike about it? Carnival charges $59 for a two-hour class in the kitchen classroom on one of its newest ships, Carnival Panorama. If you do so, be careful where you drink it. All Contents Copyright 2022 Cruise Radio, Inc. | Website Designed by Insider Perks, Inc. Get the real facts delivered straight to your inbox, with trustworthy cruise related news. The spas SEA Thermal Suite is the apex of relaxation; new jazz club. The thermal suite is free for passengers in a spa cabin, but you can also choose to pay by the day or duration of the cruise to have access to this little slice of relaxation. Here at TPG, we call this the nickel-and-diming-ization of the cruise world, and were not happy about it. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPGs editors and is not influenced by the card issuer. Is it even worth the upgrade ? Norwegian has an adult lounge area called Vibe Beach Club on some of its ships that can cost a whopping $99 per person for a day pass (or $278 for two if you want a cabana). The Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex is a stacked card with a rewards rate that will help you earn bonus points on everyday and business-related purchases. Dining on any Carnival ship is a highlight, thanks to quality ingredients, a wide variety of cuisine and the overall energetic, warm and friendly service. Powered by Invision Community. #3 I anticipate a little bit cooler weather on the first/last day of this cruise so thought this could be a great place to be. Within the lounge area is a crystal staircase that leads up to the Yacht Club dining room, which looks out over the lounge/ outdoor patios with equally impressive views. and our So the true starting price of the cruise is 124% more than what you see in big print on the lines website. 9B Premium Balcony