Yes I have been watching the Tropical weather and I am praying that this will disappear before we set sail on Monday

 Not to alarm anyone, but to inform those who have a cruise planned to this region. Check with Carnival for tropical updates and information concerning your cruise. Hope TD 11 fizzles out.

Forecast courtesy of  Dr. Jeff Masters @ Weather Underground

The forecast for TD 11
The forecast for TD 11 is highly complex with high uncertainty. Steering currents are weak in the Southwest Caribbean, and TD 11 will move slowly over the next two days. The future steering of TD 11 will strongly depend upon the development and track of the Invest 96E disturbance 500 miles to its west. If 96E develops and tracks northwards towards Guatemala, as suggested by the GFDL model, TD 11 would likely be steered northwards later this week, remaining over water as it approaches the Cayman Islands on Monday. If, on the other hand, 96E moves due west away from 97E, as suggested by the NOGAPS model, 97E might also move due west, over Nicaragua, and emerge over the Eastern Pacific early next week. Another complicating influence might be the development of an extratropical or subtropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico's Bay of Campeche on Saturday or Sunday. The GFS and ECMWF models are predicting the formation of a low pressure system over the Bay of Campeche this weekend, along the remains of an old cold front. This low is expected to track northwards towards Louisiana, and might act to also pull TD 11 northwards. The exact amount of steering influence this extratropical low and 96E might have on TD 11 depends strongly on how large and intense TD 11 becomes. At present, TD 11 is a very small system, and so is only being affecting by steering influences in its immediate vicinity.

If TD 11 intensifies into a tropical storm in the next three days, as seems likely, the storm will probably tap into moisture from the Pacific Ocean. This moisture will flow over Costa Rica, western Panama, and southern Nicaragua into TD 11's circulation, bringing 3 - 6 inches of rain today through Friday. Heavier rains are likely along the east coast of Nicaragua, where an intense spiral band of rainfall has formed this morning. An Air Force Hurricane Hunter mission is scheduled to investigate TD 11 this afternoon to see if it has become Tropical Storm Ida.
 

Yes, I have.  And getting a little bummed.  My first cruise ever (celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary) and it's supposed to rain every day!

I investigated the storm and what will happen to our trip etc and it looks like if the storm hits the yucantan peninsula we would probably be rerouted and normally the alternative itinerary for this particular ship/ cruise is to increase to a 7 day and stop in Montego Bay and Grand Cayman.  So now instead of being upset I am a little bit excited because I think I would rather visit these places anyhow.  I have also heard of making it a cruise to nowhere which would be a little disappointing because I would get stir crazy on the ship.  I just hope we don't try to cruise into rough rainy waters because that would be a bummer!!!  I am trying to be positive.  I am just ready for a break from real life at this point and think I could be happy sitting at the cruise bar or in my room or in the shade on the cruise deck if it means not having to listen to kiddos in the background or go to work or do the laundry!  I guess all we can do is keep hoping for the best.  

Hate to disappoint you but the Ecstacy cannot extend to a 7 day cruise.  It would totally screw up the schedule for all later cruises.  I know that it did following the swine flu drama but it won't happen on this cruise.  I was on the first cruise that was 'cruising to nowhere' back in April due to the flu scare and now we might cruise to nowhere because of a storm. UGH!

I am going on that cruise! Hi Everyone, I am Claudia. I am taking my mother on her first cruise! I am excited although worried about that new hurricane. By the way, I live in Galveston, so I am not traveling from anywhere exciting.

Clau

 Hi, Peaches here and not tooooo worried about the storm. We have been on other 'hurricane cruises' that were diverted, once to New Orleans and once to Vera Cruise. It doesn't matter to me where we go, it's all good. But if it were my first time, I would be disappointed. Fingers crossed for Coz and Progreso. By the way, Progreso is what Cozumel was 30 years ago.I prefer it to all the commercialism of Grand Caymen and it's safer that Jamaica. Nice people, I love the beach area and the flea market area. The town itself is very interesting....

Peach

I probably wouldn't mind Veracruz. I hear it is pretty over there.

 We liked Vera Cruz, it's authentic and the people were delightful. They were so happy to see us and the two ships that came in that they brought children, grandparents, well everyone in town made sure that they said 'hola' and no, they were not selling anything. Just pleased that we were all there..would go back again in a minute

so did anyone else log into Carnival this morning to see "you cruise in 1 day".  Love it!!!  But I have sooooo much packing to do and no time to do it.  If only it really was as simple as sun screen, a good book, and a bathing suit.

Well, did everyone make the cruise?  We did, and boy was my wife sick Monday night and Tuesday!  I was really bummed that my beginner scuba excursion was canceled on Cozumel.  They never said why other than "safety" that all water sport excursions were canceled.  I was afraid that after Tuesday, my wife would nix any idea of ever taking another cruise.  But, coming home was so much nicer!  And she actually said to me that "if we ever take another cruise, we need to get..."  So, she is willing to do it again sometime.  We'll just have to save up for a couple of years hopefully.

 I do have a question, and I'll probably make a general post about this, but I'll put here first then as a new thread.  I know that Carnival bills themselves as the "Fun Ship" and are pushing for the family clientele.  But are all Carnival ships more of the "party" style cruising?  I am not a drinker or "party goer".  I was expecting more, shall we say, elegant style cruising, not shorts-for-dinner casual.  I dressed in a tux and my wife an evening gown on Formal Night, not slacks and a polo shirt as some others.  I admit the polo shirts were minority but  have we lost all dressing standards when guys can't wear a coat and tie on formal night?  I would be all for at least a tie for ALL dinners and require at minimum a coat and tie for formal night. 

At least because it was during school there weren't a lot of children onboard.  But there were enough parents that haven't stressed behavior and consideration in their chilren's upbringing.  I have 4 at home and that is always stressed in our household.  I know there are those that WANT the party atmosphere and casualness.  Would RC be more my style or are they all the same?

Yes we made the cruise and had a blast! I didnt get sea sick but my boyfriend and his whole family did at least monday night and tuesday morning... I thought the same thing about my boyfriend that after that cruise he wouldn't want to take another but I was dead wrong he and his family are already thinking about the Bahamas for next year lol...

 As far as dinner for the formal night I didnt see anyone in shorts we had the early dinning at 6:00 pm and everyone I saw at least had on a nice suite and or a nice dress... I so had a blast with my Head waiter and team waiter everynight at dinner. They catered to our every need to make sure the food was to our liking and to make sure we were overall just happy... Now a few nights I did dress casual but not too relaxed. More like a sun dress or something but I didnt really see too many people in shorts at all or maybe I just didnt pay attention Lol...

 As far as the exscursions we didnt really choose water exscursions in either port we wanted to do more touring of the Ruins and the city so I didnt really get a complete awnser as to what happened either. But I do know there where a lot of unhappy people with the last minute changes with the exscursions...

 Overall I had a blast and I really enjoyed the total experience and cant wait to do it again! From the Lido deck to the towel animals to things just as simple as cleaning behind me when I left my room. My room stewart Fernando was the Greatest and I made sure he knew that. I would and have been recommending carnival to everyone.. Not too many cruises you can go on and make friends with some of the workers because they were just that friendly and customer service oriented! I hope everyone had just as good as a time as I did!

Brianmu:

Carnival is a lot of fun, even for those who don't drink.  I know from personal experience.  Sometimes I just want to relax and not worry about getting too dressed up.  For example, my next cruise is this week and I'll take a dress or dressy pantsuit for formal night, but no cocktail dress or formal wear.

When you enjoy a little more formal atmosphere, I recommend Princess, Holland America or Celebrity.  They are all fun, but people do tend to dress a bit nicer for dinner and the evening.

Carol