ryansmith18

Thanks for the heads up about the food and service at Mahogany beach. I wasn't sure what we were going to do for our upcoming trip, but we'll definitely be getting back on the ship for lunch now.

Also - holy crap Anthony's Key looks incredible!

The general consensus from what I've gathered while researching my own cruise is that Belize is great if you have a plan, but it's not really a great port for just winging it like you can with Cozumel or the Bahamas.

I suppose I'm in the minority then. Our second cruise we booked a cabin all the way forward and absolutely loved it. I enjoy the sway of the ship.

Yeah, there's really no logical explanation for it that I can see. Seems like they just wanted to ensure that people weren't allowed to bring hard liquor, and they didn't put much thought into other things like special craft beers.

1) Pack like this:

2) Pack just a few days worth of clothing and be willing to do some laundry on board.

That's pretty generous of you. Might get some bites on the roll call for that cruise.

Oh here we go. Maybe I'm internet challenged.

https://secure.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/509082/Booking/3541617039707371396B68346D4A3133582B553862513D3D

If that link doesn't work, here's the details:

EXCURSION OVERVIEW

Enjoy the family friendly Starfish Island created exclusively for Carnival guests. A short boat transfer will bring you to your own private retreat for the day. Lunch included.

EXCURSION DESCRIPTION

Enjoy the family friendly Starfish Island created exclusively for Carnival guests. A short boat transfer will bring you to your own private retreat for the day. Swim, relax or stretch out your towel and sunbathe. Enjoy great music, kayaking or volleyball. Sit in the shade beneath the main thatched bar or at the terrace restaurant and enjoy your Belize buffet style lunch, the local rice 'n' beans together with a complimentary water and fruit punch. There is a full bar where you can purchase the drink of your choice. The island souvenir store will ensure you take away a memory of your relaxing day in Belize!

NOTES

- Lunch is Included.

- Please bring suntan lotion, bug repellent, a beach towel and water shoes to walk around the island.

- Children under 5 years are free.

$59.99 per adult

$49.99 per child

Duration: 4 hours

0 reviews so far

Heh, that's wierd. I noticed this morning that the Starfish Private Island excursion was available for my upcoming Dream cruise in January, and it hadn't been there previously. Pictures didn't make it look all that appealing so I skipped past it.

However, since your post I went back to copy/paste the info about it in this thread, and now that excursion isn't showing up anymore.

From memory, it was $60pp, I think it included lunch, 4 or 5 hours on a private island, bar near by. Water looked okay, but nothing like Goff's Caye from the pictures.

Can it be purchased ahead of time or do we have to wait until we are on the island? Also..what site did you look on??

I'm just referencing what others have said on the Roatan forums here at CruiseCritic.

But like others have said, you definitely don't want it if you are planning on a doing a beach excursion that goes to Tabyana / West Bay. The ski lift, which they stupidly refer to as a magical flying chair, is for the beach right in Mahogany Bay where the ship docks. The beach is free, the ski lift is $12. Don't know if you can book it ahead of time.

$12 per person.

Oh duh, of course that's how they knew. Thanks! Great review so far by the way! Very much looking forward to the rest of it.

"Since we had FTTF, our luggage had a special orange sticker added to the luggage tags. Be sure you mention that you have FTTF so that they mark your bags. Our porter already knew, but it is better to be safe than sorry!"

Curious, how did the porter know ahead of time that you had FTTF?

We leave Saturday out of Miami on the Glory but flying from Dallas. Since we have to pay for luggage I am trying to pack a little lighter. I am not taking shampoo but bringing conditioner, packing 1 dress to use on both elegant night, not so many shoes, 2 bathing suites. Any other suggestions would be welcomed. TIA

I generally work with one carry-on sized suitcase (though I don't carry it on).

- Take advantage of the self service laundry on board. Will cost you a few bucks, but you can pack 3 days worth of clothing for the first half of the trip, wash clothes mid way through, and then wear them again but mix-and-match shirts & pants so you aren't wearing the same outfits. Unless of course you're Platinum/Diamond in which case just make somebody else do it.

- Don't bring laptops or large cameras. Bring a camera you can fit in your pocket and extra storage cards if you feel you'll need it.

- Avoid the other threads about all the neat little gizmos you can bring to enhance your cruise. Yes, including the over the door shoerack. Just forget about all that stuff. Everytime I browse through one of those threads I find dozens of absolutely bizarre suggestions. You're not moving in, people. It's seven freakin' days.

- Planning on buying a souvenir t-shirt while you're in port? Then pack one less shirt.

- As you mentioned, wear the same outfit for both elegant nights.

- I think you ladies have it easier in this regard, but pack thin clothing. My biggest problem when packing is that I typically wear jeans and khaki cargo shorts, and both of those items are kinda bulky.

- Finally, pack like this:

Another vote for the Money Bar!

Bingo.

OP - it'll cost you a taxi ride, so maybe $15 or so for a couple of people, and the same on the way back to the ship. So it's a bit over the $10 target you're looking for, but it's the closest thing that comes to mind in terms of what you're looking for. No entry fee or anything like that. Just show up and get in the water. Not much of a beach, but it offers very good snorkeling. Lockers, snorkeling gear, etc. for rent. The bar itself has pretty good food and reasonably priced beers.

Out of curiosity, are they paid some sort of wage as well as the tips? or are their earnings solely tipped positions?

They get a competitive wage.

Port days are the best days to enjoy the ship. There's usually at least one port on the itinerary that I'm not terribly interested in. Might get off the ship and explore right around the port area for an hour or so, but then get right back on the ship. The pools are pretty much empty, the bartenders are bored, you have your choice of what lounge or chair you want to just zone out in.

I leave the auto tip of $11.50 pp per day. I discussed this in an earlier thread and to me that is a fair tip. This is what I stated on the earlier thread:

 

I asked on our last three cruises on Carnival this past Dec. and was told by three different stewards that they now have 27 rooms each to take care of.

 

So if they get $3.70pp per cabin and there are two people in a cabin, that is $199.80 per day or $5994 per month. $3.70 x 27 cabins x 2 people in each cabin = $199.80 per day or $199.80 x 30 days = $5994. The steward then has to give a portion to his/her assistant.

 

Honestly, if the steward gives half to his/her assistant they would each get $2997 per 30 days which is good money IMHO and way more than what people make cleaning rooms in the US at most motels or hotels.

 

I really see no reason for extra tipping a steward for doing their job. I do tip extra if they go above and beyond but rarely do I see that.

Ugh, I'm in the wrong business.

How much do you leave at the end of your 7 day cruise for your cabin steward and wait staff? Per person?

Typically I don't tip any extra than the standard pre-pay amount, but we're quite low maintenance cruisers to begin with. If I had been asking my steward for miscellaneous things each day that are atypical of what he/she normally has to do then I'd consider leaving $20 or so.

The OP is not on a closed loop cruise, so a DL/BC combination will not work. An EDL will work for these types of sailings (as will a passport card).

Ah, thanks for the clarification. Wasn't aware that that would be an issue.

I checked Carnival's website FAQ's on the issue but if you read their information it makes it sound like you only need a regular driver's license and birth certificate which I know isn't right.

I'm sorry, what's wrong with a regular driver's license and birth certificate? Pretty sure that's exactly what my friend used in March.

How much to rent the HMC cabanas?

$230 total, not pp. http://www.carnival.com/Activities/Excursion/420026

you know what curiosity did...

Yeah - it caused the cat to book the most optimal cabin for it's family.

Yes, it's one of the options during checkout when you're booking online.

Well the Magic and Dream are sister ships, with the Magic being the newer one. So out of the Carnival options, I'd lean towards that one. It's got some features that the Dream doesn't (yet).

The Navigator has inside cabins with wall to wall TV screens that give you a "virtual balcony." Personally, I'm super interested in trying one of those out. Sounds a bit gimmicky, but I'm intrigued none the less.

But if you're interested in getting a balcony, the Dream and Magic (and Breeze) are the only ships that offer Cove Balconies.

Edit: I think I'm a sucker for "exclusive" things, such as virtual balconies and cove balconies. Whichever you pick, I'd lean towards trying something out that you can't get elsewhere.

Im skeptical on the Cove ones...not fond of the idea of being that close to water....but maybe its because I'm a rookie and have no idea how the boat moves that close to the water.

 

Yes I do not want to be watched! NOPE not gonna do it.

I feel just the opposite. I've got my first cove balcony booked for this January because I absolutely LOVE the idea of being that close to the water.