Navigating the Madness of a Carnival Celebration Cruise - A Middle-Aged British Couple's Adventure!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 พ.ค. 2023
- We had heard so many different opinions about cruising with Carnival. It is loud, chaotic and brash and that we would definitely have to leave our British inhibitions at home. We decided that there was only one way to find out and that was to try it for ourselves. So we booked a 7 night cruise sailing out of Miami on the Carnival Celebration. Our itinerary included Amber Cove Dominian Republic, San Juan Puerto Rico, and St Maarten.
In this vlog series we cover all the entertainment, food, and facilities on board. We discuss the service, passenger mix, and let you know what is included in your cruise fare and also what is going to cost you extra!
Watch our vlog series to find out if it all just proved too much!
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About Paul and Carole Love to Travel
We are a married middle aged couple from Gloucester, England who share our tips, advice and experience on how you can choose the right cruise line, cruise ship snd cabin. Cruising is expensive so we use all our experiences to give the best tips and advice so you can make the right choice too!
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You both are delightful and so much fun to watch! Thank you for sharing❤️
Thanks Rana!
I plan on decorating our door. For fun...but it makes it easier to find your cabin. I love watching you both.
Thanks! Yes, does make finding your cabin easier!
Ya'll are hilarious 😂 so glad you enjoyed us "bonkers" Americans.
Lol we did! 🤣
Love Blakeney. Love Norfolk. Lived in Norwich for 3 years. Beautiful part of my country.
Forest of Dean Blakeney ?
I'm not going to say we'd never go on one of these large ships but just seeing the large amount of people, in the shot by the pool, has me yearning for the small ship experience.
We thought the same , but there were so many quieter areas you could go to to avoid the madness. We would definitely do another one.
Most brits’ll know what “gubbins” is. Your dynamic is lovely!
Aw thanks.
Absolutely bonkers ha ha. You two are the best cruise bloggers love your accent and content. Should have a million subscribers 👏👏👏👏😀😀😀
Lol thank you so much! 😍
Beautiful view from balcony
It was fabulous!
As I am watching this I am reminded of why I decided to never go back on a carnival ship. I like the quite places to sit and enjoy a glass of wine and enjoy the view. Soft piano, or romantic blues, or discreet orchestral is what I prefer. On my last cruise I spent it mostly in my stateroom to get away from the noise. But to each his own. Glad you had a good time. But the food and service Is good. I found Carnival cabins mediocre... but I haven't been on the new ships, so there's that. Love your videos! Keep 'em coming. ❤
It is hard to find quiet on Carnival for sure! We enjoyed the mad week but wouldn't want to do it every time! Great to hear you enjoy our videos!
Well, that looks absolutely terrifying to me 🎉 😂🎉 But can't wait for the rest of the series 😍
Lol! 🤣🤣🤣 just editing episode 2!
You said on the live that Carole was laughing as she edited this series. I can tell you that I was always either laughing or had a huge silly grin on my face all through the video. Well done!
LOL it was so much fun to edit! So glad you enjoyed it too. 😁
Agree....very comical vlog!! Just as well we've got these to watch....TV rubbish!
Wow, I have never seen you two so animated about a cruise! Your enjoyment is jumping out of the screen. Fabulous to watch, and realised I had a constant smile on my face! The view from the aft cabin looks amazing. One question: was there any vibration from the propellers? I have been on smaller ships and spoken to people in aft cabins who always mentioned this as an irritating factor. Cannot wait for the next instalment. 😍
Thanks Betty is was so much fun! We didn't have any vibration on this ship as it is so big, we did on Azamara. Editing episode 2 now!
Great video! I feel exhausted just watching it all. Well done to the both of you for embracing all things bonkers.😂
Lol it was mad! We definitely needed our afternoon naps! 🤣🤣
So fun to see your excitement!
Glad you enjoyed it! It was so much fun!
I have only ever cruised Carnival and, being from Texas, I am used to all the hubub of their Fun Cruises. I love it! I am glad y'all kept an open mind and weren't turned off by the loud and boisterous Americans! Of course, this was just the first day so there is still time. LOL
No we weren’t put off at all, it’s definitely not what we are used to but we really enjoyed it!
Looks like lots of fun..
It really was!
So happy that you enjoyed “the crazy”❤️
LOL it was so much fun!
This was brilliant! I love, love, love their Chocolate Melting Cake. Nice to know you can get it outside of the MDR.
Yes it was so good!
Hi guys! Haven’t got to watch any of your blogs as ages, so took time out to watch this one. As always very entertaining, thank you. X
Glad you enjoyed it!
Looks such fun.
It was!
Hi Carole and Paul.looking forward to the vlogs..Nice to see you xx
Thanks Pearly!
Great vlog. The entertainment looked fab! The hidden costs not so much. We also chill out in the afternoon on a cruise 😴 .
Entertainment was first class. Those taxes were frustrating. We do love a Nana Nap! Thanks for watching guys! 😂😂
Well, how lucky am I...I found your channel today, and this vlog was one of the very best!! You two were made for the cameras and story telling!! Being from and living in Miami, I get a chance to sail on Carnival quite a bit...I love their fun squad, attitudes and friendliness. I also think their food is really good:-))) Yes, we love to decorate our doors, and we love to see and read what others put up! We also hide ducks, too... Anyway, I am ready for the next part of your cruise, and look forward to following you. Take care!
Thanks for finding us! We wish we could cruise with Carnival more often it was so much fun!
This sounds like such a fun Cruise!! ❤
It was!
Loved the review and your humor. Sincerely, adventures of David and Aaron. ⚓️ ⚓️ ⚓️
Thanks so much! 😃
I’ve been binge watching your videos. U guys are sooooo cute! Love the laughter & when u call your husband “ Paulie”.
Oh thanks for binging! Great to hear you enjoy our videos too!
Love the effort y’all put into your videos
Thanks so much James!
Your hair looks lovely Carol, it looks very shiny today. This cruise looks a bit busy for me.
Thanks Marecia! It was a busy one!
I'm going on a epic cruise next year to celebrate my registration as a nurse . In honour of the couple who put their cruises on their door I will be putting my first weeks rota up on my door as a nqn.
Oh fabulous! Congratulations 🎊
😁
Your highlights look great :) the mirror in the stateroom is lovely and nice balcony too!
Thanks!
In our house, we wash and reuse our plastic straws. There are pipe cleaners one can use to assure proper cleaning, so plastic straws don't have to be thrown out if one is willing. I hate paper straws.
Oh ok!
Me too !!!
Oh how fun to see you two on the next ship I'm getting on!
It was great fun!
Lovely cabin and balcony look like you had a fab time
We did have a great time!
As always you both produced a great Vedic.
Thank you!
Great video thank you. I’m exhausted just watching…….x
LOL! 😂😂😂
I'm not half way thru and I had to subscribe just for yall humor and personality. I'm going on my first cruise at 47 with my two teen kids M15F18 in one week and am binging Carnival cruise
experience content.
Thanks for watching and subscribing, we appreciate that! Enjoy your first cruise!
Hi Carole and Paul. lovely to see you both.. Not been on TH-cam for some time.. Love the vlogs, so informative and as always, with a great sense of humour.. love it. I know when I was in Florida 1989!!! Even then, I said that, you need extra cash, just to tip everyone..They expect it.. Even just serving you a drink they want a tip.. Now it's tax added on.. crazy.. 😮
Thanks Pearly, glad you liked it! It is very frustrating, us Brits are just not used to it!
Great review of the Celebration! I enjoy Carnival, I don't buy into all those extras, because of the extras they add to it... Glad you had a great time...
Thanks so much!
Ahh bless you…we are all the same from the West Country ❤️….I gotta go for a wee wee 🤣😊
Lol when you have got to go, you have got to go! 🤣🤣
Nice video. Great info. Nice room and balcony. Just subscribed. Thanks and take care Karen from Canada.
Thanks Karen appreciate that!
Looks like a great start to your cruise. The ship is amazing and having a aft balcony means you have awesome views.
I completely agree about adding on the ‘tax’, it’s both annoying and a con.
It was a great start! Yes very annoying!
Voted for you on the wave awards. Good luck ☘️
Thanks so much Amanda!
Welcome to the fun ships! It sounds like you're enjoying Carnival more than Azimara. My wife and I love Carnival. We've logged more than 20 cruises and over 200 nights on Carnival ships. We've done 14 nights already this year and have 21 coming up in Carnival Pride sailing out of Dover and 30 days on the Carnival Luminosa from Seattle to Brisbane, Australia later this year. We have traveled extensively on one other cruise line, but every time we think of branching out, we go back to Carnival. Their cruises are truly fun. I do hate the mandatory gratuities on drinks and the lack of a kettle in the cabin, but that's life.
Can see why you keep going back, they are a lot of fun! We would definitely do another Carnival Cruise!
i agree, the straws on Carnival ships are nasty. Having learned my lesson, I now bring my own reusable straws when I sail with them. We had to stop at a port and pick some up, they were so bad.
Yes they are terrible!
Great stuff . I’ve fond Royal Caribbean , Celebrity and Princess so are quite used to the American theme , which we enjoy . However we were warned off Carnival by other Americans because it’s so noisy and boisterous . So your experiences are very useful . Looking forward to seeing more
We love RC, Celebrity and Princess but this was a little madder, but we loved it!
We did a cruise on the Carnival Dream a few years ago from New Orleans, we had the drinks package and were charged tax after every drink. After a couple of days the ship refunded the tax back to our onboard account and we didn’t have to pay anymore throughout the cruise. It was mentioned on the onboard account next to the refund we were from the UK. We never requested this, it just happened. Love your Vlogs by the way. We never miss one.
It is so confusing! Thanks for watching!
those doors all look alike! door decorations (within reason) can be helpful when your brain decides it's on vacation too!
Lol true! 🤣
Loved your video. American here! All specialty restaurants on Carnival will charge an 18% gratuity on top of the price of the meal. Also even with Cheers, you will be charged a small tax while in US waters. That tax goes to the US county you were currently in when the drink was rung up. Once you hit INTL waters that goes away. There shouldn’t be any other unexpected charges.
Thanks for the explanation!
Social comedy and night club is on Norwegian Bliss. We saw a really good comedy act there
Oh really, that's good to know thanks! 😍
Great video. Interesting about the casino. UK cruise ships have much smaller casino areas. The biggest contrast was ex RCL ships now with Marella - the casinos are tiny compared to Royal Caribbean ships.
Yes they are small in Marella as part of a lounge! Yes RC do have bigger ones 😀
Just got off NCL Breakaway & we were 5 doors down from my son& family so we put pics of peppa pig on both our doors so our 3 yr granddaughter could find both our cabins, our first time of doing this but so many Americans on our ship decorated their doors
Oh that's lovely, now makes sense 😀
We have been on a lot of Princess cruises out of Ft Lauderdale and have never paid tax when we have a drinks package or if we did not have a drinks package as Princess belong to carnival you would think they have the same charges, the drinks package on Princess service charge is included in the drinks package price. I don't like paper straws either as they go soggy I have bought some metal ones and take my own with me now as like you Carol I like to keep stirring my drink.
Exactly, you would have thought it would have been the same! Yes need to get one of those straws!
Tax charged on all drinks when in Port Miami...with or without the drinks package. Can't believe after all is paid it's yet another charge. Looks great I'm even thinking about doing Carnival after your Vlog and NCL have a standup club that becomes a night club.
It was happening after we left Miami too! Good to. know other lines do comedy clubs as we really enjoy them!
It certainly looks very different from the harpist or alternatively the string trio performing on Queen Victoria
Lol just a bit! 🤣🤣
You're used to VAT added to the price before you buy. In the U.S. you have state tax, county tax, city tax, and sales tax (on land). It's insane. We're all used to figuring out, approx.
an extra 8% - 15% on the tab. It changes at any location without warning.
It is insane!
18:55 Your observations are so interesting re: american service culture!
😂 the look you gave him! Excellent vlog. I just love watching you two, makes me miss 🇬🇧 my home country 20:17
Thanks Claire! I am.goid at giving him the look, as done it so many times! 🤣🤣
Enjoyed your video 🎉
There is a comedy club room on all Royal Caribbean Oasis class ships
Get yourself on one of the big sisters
Wonder out of Port Canaveral 🚢
Oh really, we have only done Quantum class. Yes need to do an Oasis class now!
@@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel You can get some real good deals on the older sisters, Oasis & Allure especially, regardless I know you two would enjoy the entertainment and speciality dining on the biggies. Happy Days! and keep posting great content, we love watching up your channel. 🍻
Sure we would love it! Thanks Graham appreciate that, more content coming very soon!
IMO NCL has the best entertainment. Other cruise lines have comedy clubs. I'm not really a Carnival fan but they hands down have the best cruise directors.
We haven't tried NCL yet!
Not for me, great video , i prefer celebrity cruises , love watching your vlogs .
Thanks Nicola, we love Celebrity too!
That should have been video.
US adds about 8% for taxes on things you buy on the ship.
😢
Great vlog...not sure it's for me but ship looks amazing. Paul's best quote of the vlog...."spanking the drinks package". 😂
Thanks, it is a beautiful ship. LOL a lot of people to spank it on the first day! 😂😂
@@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel everyone canes it on first night. Many hangovers down the line and I've still not learned my lesson!!
Yes guilty of that too!
I’d love to try Carnival .. do you know if they have solo traveler’s meet ups at ? Saw quite a few solo traveler’s on Iona and Azura, and would go if they had similar state side? TIA … cabin looks lush !!
We didn't see any on the programme....
Thanks, will have investigate further x
Not for me but nice to see the vastness of a city afloat! Thanks both ❤
Lol no problem, thanks for watching! 😍
Where did it say “this cruise is for you” ?
And why did you feel the need to point out that you felt this was beneath you?
I doubt you understand just how rude your _innocent_ comment comes across as so bloody rude!
As an American, most of us hate those straws too. When I was on a Celebrity cruise the cruise director talked about the many initiatives the cruise line was taking to improve the environment, and most everyone and me included clapped for most of them, but when he talked about the straws, there was a loud round of hissing and boos. 😀
Lol yes don't get that they think flavoured straws would go with most drinks! We would of been booing too! 🤣🤣
I enjoyed the video but I can see that Carnival is not for me. Too crowded and noisy but I know a lot of people like the party atmosphere. I'm a Cunard fan. It's great that you've been able to cruise with so many different cruise companies.
Definitely not for everyone! Cunard is one of our favourites, we like to mix it up!
Carnival is definitely for the fun crowd.
Hi Carole has anyone told you if you suck it for short periods of time it doesn't go slimly in your mouth. I have the same problem with paper straws
LOL tried that.....yes paper straws go soggy too! 😂
Most of the US-based brands (NCL, RCCL, Carnival, etc) have comedians and/or Comedy clubs on them. Hit or miss as to how funny or not they are. For example, when I went on the NCL Escape in 2019, the Comedians had me in stitches. When I went in 2022 on the NCL Prima, the comedian had to resort to a type of jazz hands to indicate he made a joke. It was PAINFULLY awful.
Oh good to know! Oh yes good when they are good but painful when not!
Be interested in costs for that cabin. Or similar
You can check current prices on Carnivals website 😀
Carnival cruises look so fun. I wish I could do this, it is so difficult to navigate all this from India
It was great fun!
I'm still in shock that you had to pay gratuities and TAX on your drinks! TO WHAT country (since you're traveling on the open ocean) are you paying said tax??? WOW. Never been on Carnival... been on quite a few others where there was so much 'sign here' and 'sign there' ... that drove my husband nutso... that we searched for all-inclusive!
All inclusive is so much better, no confusion there!
The tax is only while still in US waters. Once out in international waters there is no tax.
Glad you enjoyed your hols but wouldn’t suit me. Americans are a bit too over the top and loud for my taste and didn’t notice a kettle etc in the cabin which is a must and the added on charge swould drive me batty 😂
We really missed the kettle, us Brits love our tea LOL! The added extras were a right pain!
I get confused with the tax at Costco in England… taken some time to get my head round it…
Oh really, didn't know that added that on there!
@@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravelI think that's because at Costco in the UK they have the tax free price for businesses and then normal people have to add the tax on. I guess Costco traditionally would have been for businesses as its bulk buying, but when the average person needs something, they have to pay tax
Thanks for the explanation!
Carnival is not our cup of tea either. We just got off the Celebration a few weeks ago. Don’t get me wrong we like a drink but that isn’t our primary idea of entertainment. The ship is confusing and there are no signs where things are just the info by the elevators. The food was hit and miss mostly miss, crew was unfriendly except for our cabin steward, entertainment was bad. We have already booked our next cruise back on Royal Caribbean which we prefer.
Carnival is certainly not for everyone. Surprised you said the entertainment was bad as it was excellent on our cruise!
@@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel I’m not sure what line you usually cruise but we prefer Royal, they have actual shows that are like what you see on the West End or New York. The celestial strings was nice but the circus show was odd. The comedians were ok. We are spoilt and used to a nice stage show. But that’s not everyone’s cup of tea and Carnival has lots of people that love them, it seems to be a bit different people wise, more drinking and more gambling. The only time we are in the casino was to go through it to get to someplace on the other side. Nothing wrong with people liking those things it’s just not people we have lots in common with. It’s good there are different ships for different people that way everyone can enjoy what they prefer on their vacation.
Regardless of what ship you choose next have a great time!!
We like Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity to name but a few lol! We enjoy West End type shows too. Thanks have a great cruise too!
First time watching your videos. Loving your Britishisms and the perspective here at a very American experience: Carnival Cruises. From which part of the UK do you hail? ( My first job out of college was in Dorset UK, though I'm very American.)
Thanks! We live in Gloucestershire!
tax, interesting what is the tax rate? and where is the tax paid to? so odd. I haven't experienced that on Royal, HAL or Celebrity.
Who knows...very strange!
Those straws sound awful. I bet they're made out of gelatine or cellulose 🤢 I have a metal straw I take when I travel. It comes with a little cleaning brush like a mascara wand. Maybe look into getting one of those 💚
Oh they were, good idea!
Glad embarkation was good; cabin & aft balcony look great, but I’m American and have more inhibitions than that! 😂 Probably more quiet at the aft. I The Hub sounds good, different restaurant choices good, but they gave you the wrong order at ChiBang, Paulie! That is a good idea to know you can get things from other restaurants. 6,000 people, a fun button and LOUD is my idea of a nightmare! Plus everything is extra, plus tax and gratuity, which is ridiculous. A drinks package should include EVERYTHING! I like my daily planner delivered the night before. Carnival is known for party ships, and think that’s the crowd they draw. Glad you enjoyed the sail party, welcome party, and the entertainment at the welcome party. If I could stand the HUGENESS, I’d enjoy the entertainment. Nice to have a large and varied entertainment troupe. Not good to have to go through the casino to get out of a restaurant, especially where smoking is allowed. Great for that lady to win $10,000, though! Lovely moonlight shots, and glad you had a lot of enthusiastic staff. “Spanking’ the drink package” - love it! I like a Japanese steakhouse, but wouldn’t like the singing at the tables… Straws sound gross… Disney people go WAY overboard on their cabin doors. They do help you find your cabin on a big ship, though! I’d never sit in the front row of a comedy club or get up during a performance! 😂
It was certainly a very entertaining first couple of days!
Like your vlog, it looks great. However I am now sure it is not for me.
Lol understand that Carnival isn't for everyone!
What does a pineapple mean on your door
Upside down Pineapple means you enjoy Swinging!
I totally about the tax, etc. tell me the price then go away!
Exactly that!
I appreciate your enthusiasm but this sounds like a nightmare to me🙄🤣
It’s definitely not for everyone 😊
I'm sure you only pay tax whilst in port, maybe wrong though
No not the case on this cruise!
@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel wow I've done 2 carnival cruises and only paid on the 1st day
There was no sense to it at all!
It’s not my crowd and I just can’t get past that they are counting drinks so I wouldn’t ever go on carnival again
Most cruise lines do that if you have a package.
@@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel
I mean count your drinks and then stop you after15
Hello Paul & Carole Carnival is not for me I prefer a more refined atmosphere however a lot of fun I like smaller ships too but they maybe a thing of the past.
Definitely not for everyone, but was certainly good fun!
I just giggled when you mentioned "refined."
Bloody Hell
🤣
The pineapple needs to be upside down for swingers.
Wonder why someone would pick a pineapple if they knew? Or maybe they spun it round LOL! 😂😂
@@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel adding Azamara has swingers charters.
Oh didn't know that!
Love your videos, especially the Norwegian Fjords on Sky Princess. I’m assuming cruising around the UK is a bit like here in Australia. P&O Australia, Princess cruises (when sailing in Australia) and Carnival Cruises don’t charge gratuities (the staff here are paid a decent wage, so tipping is optional but is still done by most passengers for great service but on a personal level) and even though Australia has 10% GST, it’s included in the price, so there are no additional taxes or charges added to things onboard or to the fare. The price on the website is inclusive of all port fees etc.
Thanks so much! We much prefer the way it is done in Australia and the UK, no hidden costs which is great!