Hotel

Does anyone know of a Hotel I can stay at and leave my car there until we get back from the cruise? 

There is the Hotel Maya, which has a special Carnival rate from $99 to $115, depending on the room.  It includes leaving your car parked there for the week, and free shuttle to-and-from the cruise ship.  I don't remember the number you need to enter for the discount online (it's on one of the boards) but you should be able to call the hotel and ask for the Carnival park/cruise special.  Considering it is $15/day to park at the pier, this is a GREAT deal!  And it is very close to the cruise terminal.

Another place is the Hotel Current.  I think their park and cruise package is $109.  The are farther away, but offer the same benefits (leaving your car for the week and free shuttle to-and-from cruise ship).  However, they also offer a free continental breakfast, including waffles.

Have a great cruise!

We'll be staying at the Hotel Current, for the reasons mentioned above and we had some friends stay there a couple of years who recommended it (and who will be staying there again this year with us).  So if it's not as good as they say, we know where they'll be!!!   haha!  Hope you have a great cruise!!!!!........and good luck on picking a hotel!

Looks like we'll be on the Splendor 2 weeks before you.  I'll try to leave enough lobster for you!

evil elf:

Looks like we'll be on the Splendor 2 weeks before you.  I'll try to leave enough lobster for you!

Hahahahahahahaha!  We would appreciate that!    I see you have been on the Splendor before?  This will be our first time on the Splendor.  Two years ago we cruised on the Paradise (our 1st cruise ever).......where we meet the friends we will be sailing with this time.  It will be interesting to see what the differences will be.

I think you will love the Splendor.  I've been on both the Splendor and the Paradise (and a few other ships) and the Splendor was probably my favorite.  If you have more than 2 in your cabin (we have 4, plus my wife's service dog), the layout of the outside cabins is much better.  Many more choices for food in the buffet areas (Tandoori, Burrito Bar, etc.).  And it's a much newer ship.  We will be on the Paradise Oct. 7 for a 3-day getaway (without the kids this time), and then on the Splendor April 22 next year for a week.  And you should try the Steakhouse 1 day (not on the formal day when the main dining room serves lobster, of course!).  The food and service was great, and well worth the $30 surcharge (which includes the tip).

We loved the Paradise!!!!  We were celebrating our 30th anniversary with that cruise so we booked a balcony and turned out to be a suite.  It was awesome!!!  We spent a lot of time looking around the cabin going "WOW!!!!"  haha!  But it was a lot more room than we really needed.  Our biggest mistake was only booking a 4 day cruise, because we weren't sure if we would like it or not...........wish it had been a 9 day one because we were hooked!!!!!  But the side effect of that is that now my husband won't cruise without a balcony.........which means less cruises for us because of the cost.  But he's the type that doesn't care where we're going (except maybe Alaska) as long as he is on a ship, at sea, with a balcony!!!  So a balcony plays a big part of his cruise experience.

But we are really looking forward to and are sooooo excited about going on the Splendor!!!  First off because we'll be on a ship, at sea, with a balcony!  haha!............secondly, we're going with our son this time, his first cruise.  So we're really excited about that and it will be his 25th birthday to boot, so we're hoping he will enjoy cruising as much as we do.............and it will be our 32nd anniversary,  also a reunion of sorts with our friends from our first cruise that we have kept in touch with (they live in Wyoming).  So we have a lot to look forward to.  I just wish that countdown clock would move faster!!!!   As for the Steakhouse, I've been going back and forth about it.  I've heard so many good thing about it and how good the service and food is and I would love to try it, but on the other hand, with soooo much good food everywhere else on the ship that's free do we really want to spend all that extra to eat somewhere???  It does help that they will allow jeans and polo shirts in there now though.......my guys don't want to dress up........they say "We're on vacation!!!!"  haha!

Anyway, we can't wait!!!  So, if you think of anything that would be good to know about the Splendor, please let us know!  I hope you have a wonderful solo cruise and say hi to the Paradise for us!

To those of you who recently stayed at Hotel Current, how was it?  I've researched online and it is the best value, free shuttle to cruise, free parking, newly remodeled rooms, and free continental breakfast.  It is listed as #10 out of 47 hotels in Long Beach on tripadvisor.  Now, I'd like to hear from cruisers who've recently stayed there.  Any problems leaving your car?  Thank you!