Just Booked A Cruise

[BobbyFK]

I got one of those “free cruise” vouchers from the Rio Hotel & Casino a while back, and after looking into it, I finally pulled the trigger on a sailing! I’m booked for February 15–22, 2026 aboard the Carnival Liberty, and I’m pretty pumped to get back out to sea.

The itinerary is sounds pretty good, we’ll be hitting Key West, Celebration Key, and Nassau.

I’ve never been to Key West before, so I’m really looking forward to exploring that area.

Celebration Key is brand-new—Carnival’s private island that’s built with all kinds of amenities like beach clubs, swim-up bars, and water activities.

I’ve been to Nassau once or twice many years ago, but it’ll be cool to revisit and see what’s changed.

This will be my first cruise since my Alaska trip back in October 2024, so I’m definitely ready to be back on the water. And while I say “free,” of course there are still costs—taxes and port fees alone were about $500 for a 7-day cruise for two people in an interior cabin, which honestly isn’t bad considering all the included food, entertainment, and destinations.

I ended up upgrading to an ocean view cabin and added my stepdaughter to the booking, so for all three of us it came out to around $1,300 total without hotel or airfare.

I'm also excited to be sailing out of New Orleans as I've never been there either but I'm excited to try the food and visit bourbon street.

 

[Archie]

nice!

Brock is gonna request you to visit about 6 New Orleans restaurants

 

[BobbyFK]

nice!

Brock is gonna request you to visit about 6 New Orleans restaurants

That wouldn't surprise me although not sure how long I'll be there for. I haven't booked flights or hotel yet

 

[Archie]

traveling is so important for our brains and souls and keep us from stagnating as humans. glad you get to have some new adventures in novel places.

 

[BigJay]

Pretty eager to get back out to sea

 

[BMR Genie]

Something to look forward to until February, Bob. Congrats.

 

[BigJay]

Yes have fun Bobby. My buddy and his wife go on these now about three times a year

 

[Brock Landers]

I'm a New Orleans expert.

If you want to know the best places to go within the quarter, I'll let you know. So many great ones in the city in total

 

[KingKolzig]

Casino on board?

 

[BigJay]

Casino on board?

Always I’m pretty sure

 

[BigJay]

Casino on board?

KK set some @BobbyFK cruise props

 

[KingKolzig]

KK set some @BobbyFK cruise props

Bobby jump off the side and make a scene

 

[djefferis]

Nice

I can sum up all 3 for you based on experience:

- Key West overpriced tourist trap you only want to visit via cruise. Driving down there is a pain in the ass and everyplace charged like $65 a day to park. It’s not a bad cruise port - but eat on the ship. Places like Hogs Breath are going to be $45+ per person for a mediocre sandwich. Trolley is reasonably cheap (for KW) and best way to get around from place to place - it’s just hop on - hop off.

Celebration Key is nice - again, it’s a cruise tourist trap and not much is “free” - think someone said they rented out pool noodles for like $19 a day there to give you an idea of the stupid charges. Don’t think drink packages work off the ship and I’m sure no free meals - but as far as a beach to just lie around on - it’s nice.

Nassau - stay on the ship. If you’ve been on a cruise before to the Caribbean - you’ve seen Nassau. Strip malls of Diamonds International, Del Sol and other tourist gift shops. Liquor prices tend to be high I thought - but find it online or another island and they will match. With tariffs that may be softening though.

If your into Bourbon - visit Sazerac House in NO. It’s owned by Buffalo Trace and you can get the same allocated bottles daily there as the distillery (Blantons, Eagle Rare and the other I forget now) at MSRP. Again - neat place to visit and if you’ve live in a controlled state - easiest and most cost effective way to get a bottle of Blantons for $80 vs the $150 it is marked up secondary.

Was supposed to do the Liberty years ago before it got canceled (COVID) - thinking that was the one that stopped in CR at the time and took you right up to the Panama Canal (but not through it - just stopped at Limon briefly). Carnival can be party ships - but still pretty family friendly.

Need to start pushing for a freebie - usually I get then constantly from Holland via Casinos At Sea - same deal though “free” room and they try to upsell you to a nicer cabin/meal plan and drinks package. Last one they gave me OBC and casino cash too though.

 

[phillyflyers]

I got one of those “free cruise” vouchers from the Rio Hotel & Casino a while back, and after looking into it, I finally pulled the trigger on a sailing! I’m booked for February 15–22, 2026 aboard the Carnival Liberty, and I’m pretty pumped to get back out to sea.

The itinerary is sounds pretty good, we’ll be hitting Key West, Celebration Key, and Nassau.

I’ve never been to Key West before, so I’m really looking forward to exploring that area.

Celebration Key is brand-new—Carnival’s private island that’s built with all kinds of amenities like beach clubs, swim-up bars, and water activities.

I’ve been to Nassau once or twice many years ago, but it’ll be cool to revisit and see what’s changed.

This will be my first cruise since my Alaska trip back in October 2024, so I’m definitely ready to be back on the water. And while I say “free,” of course there are still costs—taxes and port fees alone were about $500 for a 7-day cruise for two people in an interior cabin, which honestly isn’t bad considering all the included food, entertainment, and destinations.

I ended up upgrading to an ocean view cabin and added my stepdaughter to the booking, so for all three of us it came out to around $1,300 total without hotel or airfare.

I'm also excited to be sailing out of New Orleans as I've never been there either but I'm excited to try the food and visit bourbon street.

Bobby be warned.

There's so many faggots in Key West they should call it Key Fruit.

 

[BobbyFK]

Nice

I can sum up all 3 for you based on experience:

- Key West overpriced tourist trap you only want to visit via cruise. Driving down there is a pain in the ass and everyplace charged like $65 a day to park. It’s not a bad cruise port - but eat on the ship. Places like Hogs Breath are going to be $45+ per person for a mediocre sandwich. Trolley is reasonably cheap (for KW) and best way to get around from place to place - it’s just hop on - hop off.

Celebration Key is nice - again, it’s a cruise tourist trap and not much is “free” - think someone said they rented out pool noodles for like $19 a day there to give you an idea of the stupid charges. Don’t think drink packages work off the ship and I’m sure no free meals - but as far as a beach to just lie around on - it’s nice.

Nassau - stay on the ship. If you’ve been on a cruise before to the Caribbean - you’ve seen Nassau. Strip malls of Diamonds International, Del Sol and other tourist gift shops. Liquor prices tend to be high I thought - but find it online or another island and they will match. With tariffs that may be softening though.

If your into Bourbon - visit Sazerac House in NO. It’s owned by Buffalo Trace and you can get the same allocated bottles daily there as the distillery (Blantons, Eagle Rare and the other I forget now) at MSRP. Again - neat place to visit and if you’ve live in a controlled state - easiest and most cost effective way to get a bottle of Blantons for $80 vs the $150 it is marked up secondary.

Was supposed to do the Liberty years ago before it got canceled (COVID) - thinking that was the one that stopped in CR at the time and took you right up to the Panama Canal (but not through it - just stopped at Limon briefly). Carnival can be party ships - but still pretty family friendly.

Need to start pushing for a freebie - usually I get then constantly from Holland via Casinos At Sea - same deal though “free” room and they try to upsell you to a nicer cabin/meal plan and drinks package. Last one they gave me OBC and casino cash too though.

Thanks for all the great information! You do get one free meal at Celebration Key from any of the food trucks off of limited menu. Everything else you have to pay for and I read somebody got two Margaritas and a mocktail and it was like $57. Carnival is definitely in the business of making money and it's apparent with their own private island. Why have people go off to Nassau or St. Thomas and spend money in their local economy when they could keep it within the Carnival ecosystem.

I at least want to try some key lime pie from Key West and walk around. I don't think there's much of a point of spending much on real food down there since I can eat for free on the ship.

Not a big bourbon guy, but I'll probably shop for bottles of tequila, Kahlua and Malibu while down there. Not sure if I'll save much compared to the states and I still have to fly home with it so it might not even be worth it

 

[BobbyFK]

Casino on board?

Not only a casino but they just renovated it to add in more machines! Lots of advantage play opportunities according to the videos I've seen

 

[KingKolzig]

Rich hoemos

 

[jamesy2422]

Not only a casino but they just renovated it to add in more machines! Lots of advantage play opportunities according to the videos I've seen

that is the best news of this thread

 

[djefferis]

Just remember to check in with casino host / introduce yourself and ask about any “comps” available. Doesn’t hurt if you discreetly slide a $50 bill to them during this conversation either.

Worst case - you’ll hopefully never find yourself paying for a drink while sitting at a machine. Hell, drinks are like $16-18 with the auto gratuity.

Casinos are not Carnival operated directly - don’t know who does. Similar to the spa/shops/art gallery - operator pays to lease space on the ship. Host are similar to any land based casino - some are nice and willing to help out even low rollers who show a propensity to tip - some are the tightest with comps and act like it’s their cash they are spending.

Don’t know how Liberty is - obviously the Florida based sailings have much more competition - don’t think anyone other than Carnival sails out of NO.

If you haven’t done so already - check into the carnival shareholder benefit as well. It’s a nice little perk for people who own CCL stock. Get $50 for cruises under 7 days and $100 for 7-10 days if you hold a 100 shares of CCL or CUK stock. Right now it’s around $30 a share - put 3k into a discount broker like Robinhood - buy 100 shares and send in a copy of statement showing you own the 100 shares via their website to get $100 of onboard credit. Set a limit order to sell the shares at what you paid and it’s a free $100. This was better when CCL was getting crushed post COVID - at one point it was $6 a share - so only had to spend 600 to get the free $100.

Liquor prices I actually found cheaper in Florida than Nassau. Just DoorDash or UberEats an order to a location just off the ship and buy there. Ship pricing on booze never that great - usually like $20 a bottle or 3/$55 for call brands. It’s funny stuff like Crown Royal was like $25 or 3 for $60 a few years ago and I was like meh - not worth saving $5 to have to pack and fly with this stuff - but a lot of people are in states where prices are more like $45-50 a bottle so they were stocking up. Not a bourbon drinker anymore - but allocated bottles make a nice Christmas gift for those that are.

 

[Leisure]

Carnival is soooo ghetto