How does the food compare to RCCL (my last cruise - almost 10 years ago ).

Will I have to wear a suit to dinner? If so, I will eat at the casual venues - I HATE dressing for dinner!!

I have an outside cabin w/portholes...are the Maritime Provinces nice?

I saw the Carnival Victory in NY Harbor docked next to the Pacific Princess. She made the PP look like a ferry.

Greyhound/Trailways on the 00 hour has express service to Manhattan from Philly for $20 one way. From Port Authority to the cruise terminal is a 10 block cab ride north.

Take 2nd seating on first day, you do not want to miss being on deck for sailing out of NY Harbor

I wear warm weather business casual on formal nights.

A dress shirt and tie will be fine

If you go 2 Bar Harbor, forget the organized tour to Acadia National Park. There is a local free shuttle bus that takes you on the loop, and the stops are every 1/2 hour. It runs on Natural gas so not to pollute.

Check out the Halifax Maritime Museum, the Citadel, city park next door, and the district of painted lady Victorian houses.

Quebec City is stunning. If not for the American cars, you would think you were in Brussels.

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Originally posted by Rex:
fellow Philadelphian. I wanted to take the Philly-Trenton rail line, and then take the train from Trenton to NYC, is the bus ride cheaper? Will definitely do the Titanic exhibit and the Black Nova Scotia Museum (I feel SO ignorant - did not even know black people lived in Nova Scotia!!). Don't know anything about St. John. Then a post-cruise stay in NYC
My main concern is the type of passenger Carnival attracts. I have read all the horror stories at this BB, so I hope I don't run into the "gold chain" crowd that has been discussed here...we will have to see...regardless...I am SO PUMPED!

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Rex, Trailways-Greyhound is on Filbert St. behind Market East station. Buy your bus ticket the day b4 and avoid any lines. It is a faster trip than Jersey transit, the 00 buses have no stops, and the seats are more comfortable than the commuter trains. The price is about the same.

In NYC, the Metropolitan Museum of NY has the Dupas panels from the Normandie in the cafeteria. Bronze doors from Normandie are on the doors of our Lady of Lebanon church in Brooklyn Heights.

The Halifax museum has some interesting ships
from both world wars and you can walk thru them.

I have never been on a Carnival cruise, so I can't make any judgements, you fill us in.

Re-read the 'Ethnic Diversity' thread, and my review on the Norway posted mid-April

I've cruised on the Victory and can share some about the ship. I've been on the QE2, Norway, and 4 Carnival ships -- you shouldn't have any trouble with the "gold chain" crowd, as you put it. Carnival doesn't deserve the image it has on this board.
You will have to wear a suit for dinner on the formal night, or go to the "seaview bistro," as they call it. Or, you could have dinner in your cabin -- room service offers the dinner menu.

Be sure and check out the afternoon tea in the Ionian Room -- a wonderful room, with live classical music. Also, the Victory has a great outdoor promenade on Lobby Deck, which should be perfect for viewing the coastline if you don't have a balcony. My favorite lounge was the piano bar -- great singalongs, if you like that. But, be sure to get there about 10 minutes before it opens, or you won't get a seat at the piano, as it fills up fast.

My experience on all Carnival ships is that they are overwhelming the first day, but by the end of the cruise you will think they're great.