wanttoBcruising

On 4/9/2019 at 9:53 AM, TNCruzer56 said:

We are back now and it is San Pedro Express Water Taxi. We used them and it worked out fine. The return times are a little funky as we had to catch the 12:00 return to assure that we got back to the tender port on time (2 hour difference) I would have liked to spend at least one more hour on the caye.  

didn't think about the DST, will have to watch the times and make sure we make it back to ship on time .. sailing September. thx. 

On 3/28/2019 at 10:44 PM, OCruisers said:

We very much enjoyed taking a catamaran/ boat tour out to their Barrier Reef which is the 2nd largest in the world. Amazing and not to be missed!  

was that booked thru the cruise line or private? We're looking for more of a beach day - BFF doesn't want ruins, snorkel, anything w/ a lot of activity. Can't find a good beach spot so maybe just a nice sail? How crowded was it? Thanks. 

21 hours ago, fdthird said:

3 Saturday’s ago, we did a Lyft XL, and the cost was $156 plus tip.       

was that one way or round trip? just curious for future reference (we're on budget this time, doing shared shuttle bus). 

Also curious about Starfish island reviews, it's our back up plan. Thanks. 

On 6/4/2018 at 11:02 AM, Kitty9453 said:

I found this: Belize Exclusive Secluded Island Beach Day Pass Excursion through Shore Excursioneer dot com.

 

Looks like a great place to spend a beach day but kinda pricey and requires a minimum of 4 people. I contacted Shore Excursioneer about a party of 2 and received a response that the minimum was 4. I then contacted the resort through their website (royal palm island dot com) and received a very nice reply that they could possibly link a party of two to another party (if there were others booked on the day we were going to be there). Trip Advisor has very good reviews and great pictures of the resort.

 

Has anyone been on this excursion?

have the same question. going w/ BFF in September, she wants beach w/ more amenities (so not Goff's) and this came up in search. We're only 2 ppl, so we'd be trying to book direct or find others to go with. Curious if others thought it was worth the $$. thanks. 

Ok I’ll keep looking. We have found a few other beach options but there’s either no chairs/facilities (Goff’s) or they have a 4 person minimum (we’re just 2). Thx for the info, it’ll be our first time porting in Belize. 

Doing a Carnival in September, trying to compare the various 'beach day pass' options, so I'll be following to see which Caye this is. thanks. 

What are the facilities like on CC - restrooms, bars, chairs and shade? It'll be our first trip, trying to compare the various beach excursion options. Thanks. 

yeah that's tough. parking is what it is. Halloween and city events, plus it's the weekend which is always more. maybe try finding some PL or Hotwire codes to take a little off.

 

Or from where are you driving? Maybe a place a couple hours out like, if from that side, Mobile or Biloxi? might find better deal there, then drive over morning of sail. That said keep looking and maybe you find something .. NOLA is great city, worth exploring. Good luck.

Checked a few other boards, the CVB.. think right now January is considered high season why the rates are so high. Not worried about a shuttle just looking to save on hotel/parking. Big thing is occupancy and hotel room - 4 ppl is hard, so many rooms show 1 k/q bed which of course, will not sleep 4 adults. FWIW may end up doing 2 less expensive rooms, any ideas appreciated.

been thinking of jumping ship so to speak, came close to trying NWG last year (only done Carnival). From your 1st experience, a lot sounds like cruising (big ship, small pools, lots of people, too many unwatched kids, etc.). glad to see you liked your dining options - it's the 'freestyle' that's concerned me, used to that set dining time every night. Anyway, thanks for posting.. someday I'd love to try. :-)

thanks for the review Len. Also on that cruise and goes to show, mileage will always vary LOL.

 

Marsha is right, some of the live music was very good. agree about the comedy, the stage show, really all the so-called entertainment. bad and lacking to put it mildly. IDK if it was the length of cruise, or all the ports, but the sea days.. seemed everything on the ship was geared towards selling - booze, art, spa, etc. And what little they did do was poorly organized, managed.

 

Mixed on the service; having my name remembered is nice but I'd prefer them to remembering drinks or what I ordered, or paying closer attention to the 'cruising' signs etc. Really mixed on food; some things were good (steakhouse, some MDR fish, a few others) but even the tacos, burgers, desserts, left a lot to be desired. More than a tablecloth, I'd like food w/ flavor that's not overcooked, under seasoned that matches the menu description. I'm going out to eat every meal and very few lived up to even a casual 'restaurant' standard IME.

 

That typed, I really like the ship, sailed it in 2104, plenty of spaces to hang, big fan of the Alchemy Bar. though one surprise when I first started cruising that holds, the wish for larger pools. always so small and crowded, I never bother.

 

anyways, the Journey to the different ports was absolutely the best part, along w/ the nice relaxing 12 nights. FWIW.

on a Journey Liberty cruise, they started w/ the plain Lipton but then the Earl Grey, Dargeeling, etc. were offered, no charge. IDK if they ran out of their other 'upcharge' teas or had complaints, but that's how it happened. didn't do them all but IIRC tea was every sea day afternoon.

IIRC there's no guarantee. that typed, I've done it once last minute when we saw that all the u/l cabins were sold. we ended up very bottom, very front and were fine w/ it. Is it that much $ to make sure you get an interior, may be worth it to not have to worry. FWIW.

it's always going to vary, per ship, time of year, CD and ED, # of sea days, etc. When I did the Dream out of Orlando a few years ago it seemed there was a lot going on (including yes trivia). last few cruises on other ships.. not so much. either way, it's a nice ship and NOLA is always fun, so enjoy.

another tip: pay as you go w/ your S&S. any leftover $ does not go back to you as cash or gift card credit, so watch your account and make sure you don't overpay w/ the gift cards. FWIW.

Like DisneyDatknee, ITA on the Entertainment. Last few cruises, it was kinda like 'work' to find things good to do, juggle the schedule, stay up late for certain things yet have nothing going on other times of the day. Could not agree more on points 2, 3 and 5. I can eat so so warm food at home, that's something I always think can and should be improved. Ditto the lack of rule enforcement, which speaks to point 3 - the obvious lack of management and leadership. Totally apparent my last cruise, it seemed the only priorities were selling - drinks, gambling, shop souvenirs and spa; nothing else mattered.

 

FWIW if you're a craft cocktail drinker, there's one great IMO Carnival feature the Breeze doesn't have, it's the Alchemy Bar. That said, the Breeze is a lovely ship, glad you had a good time.

No tablecloth its a big downgrade for me. plus menu look like cheap american mass market restaurant food not like cruise ship food.

It's basically the same stuff as the last menu. And what did you think of the old one with the "Didja Ever" section? Sorry, but that's about as tacky and cheap looking as you can get in my book.

IMO the ATM gives "more" choices than the old, but then.. more isn't necessarily better. Old way had a side of the day: about 2-3 soups, a few starters, 5-6 entrees w/ 1 pasta, 1 seafood, 1 beef, 1 chicken or pork.. that kind of thing. And an always there side, w/ salads and shrimp cocktail and flat iron steak and roasted chicken IIRC. The ATM has a 'port inspired' side that offers the more flavorful options, the Didja item is just a different name w/ apps. w/ the entrees there's always that selection of 'always there' w/ either salmon or pork chop, etc. plus the option to upgrade SH selections. Per other comments, the ATM does leave off a good number of older - and better - items like soups, desserts in effort to change things up.

 

My issue isn't the menu or the changes- it's the food, and that it hasn't been improved or upgraded. IDK kinda think mass market restaurant food would be an improvement in terms of flavor, temp, consistency etc. I mean, we all go out to Cheesecake Factory, to Carrabbas, to Outback etc. b/c we like them. Per my last cruise, so many dishes on the menu had a great description, but I'd never go back to that 'restaurant' to try them again. YMMV.

Don't have one but don't think it will help. Did a 12 day Journey last march; my sis has done two others and they've all varied. It will depend as much on the itinerary, the Cruise Director, the Entertainment Director as much as anything else. I'd expect maybe an extra dress up night, so possibly 3 total. And one throw back day w/ Captain party, ice carving, grand buffet at midnight, that kind of thing. Enjoy. :-)

had a very similar experience - and enjoyed it. Would have liked to done a beach as part of our tour, but rain/weather that day didn't allow. Our cab driver was fun, I guess that made it better. Think it's all about what you're looking for, everyone will have a different preference. I liked seeing the more rustic island, a nice change vs. very some commercialized, hard sell tourist spots. MMV.

 

Yes it needs more amenities and drivers, tour operators need better training to show the island for what it is. You're right, it has a ways to go - and I'd happily go back to see how it's going. FWIW.

Looks great, if I ever make it back I'll make the walk further down towards Umbrellas part of the beach. thx.

Also on this cruise and think other posts nailed it: hit or miss, more on the miss side for me.

 

Food you had to work for it, find the best items - and yes Giantfan13 in the MDR the fish dishes were the safest choice to get something not overcooked and under seasoned. The rest you dealt w/ crowds for burgers, tacos, wok b/c those are the best things to eat.

 

The MDR service was terrible no matter when we were there, luck of the draw I guess but - and I emailed this to Carnival - it was obvious they have cut back staff too much when everyone runs around doing side work and prepping for the next meal service instead of taking care of the diners at the tables. This was breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. MMV.

 

Entertainment was lacking and poorly organized. Wish I'd have saved Fun Times to show it was all shopping, casino, spa etc w/ spots of trivia. Shows, we left and didn't go back. Even the Marriage show was a let down - ran too long, the CD kept all the jokes to himself w/ the audience being bored and in the end, no 'winner' was named. Some comedians were good, esp towards end of the cruise. though I was annoyed that the late adult comedy was pushed to 11:30 pm; we had late seating and would rather the 10:30 pm so as not to be out so late.

 

meatloafsfan Re: Journey stuff - did some but IMO it was poorly scheduled, often competing against other things I wanted to do when plenty of other times we were totally bored.

 

FWIW it's about overall value. Like the OP, it wasn't horrible .. just at this point, think I might want something different.

Also on that cruise, talked to many who got sick - but doubt it was anywhere near this '500' business. Think it was a combo of 2 things: 1) maybe some food poisoning, the tuna salad mentioned so many times to make suspect that among others; and 2) yes some Noro. Towards end of the trip, I saw crew w/ black/blue lights examining public walls, corners near elevators looking for hand prints - and scrubbing them clean. FWIW I'm always careful of what I eat, what I touch, always wash hands - did ok this trip.

We have been on Carnival many times, but our last two cruises were NCL and Princess. We want to go to the Caribbean for a 7 day or longer. Just getting feelers on what ship and where to go. We want to go around November 14th. Thanks. Jessica

It really depends on you - where you've been, what style of cruising you prefer, types of activities you want, etc.

 

I've become a 'ship snob' as my F&F call it, won't do a non Fun 2.0 ship unless it's a fab itinerary w/ great price. That's for those bar, dining, activity options - my style of cruising, the ship is part of the vacation. So that means you're looking Breeze, Valor, Liberty, think Magic by then, Vista moves to MIA sometime in fall, Sunshine, Conquest etc.

 

Otherwise it's ports and price and does a Sat-Sat work better for you vs a Sun-Sun, that kind of thing. I've been on Eastern kick lately, so it's probably time to do a Western, try Belize and Roatan and places I've never been.

 

Again, that's up to you. Good luck and happy cruising.

I had a no she once, IIRC it was so late she didn't get her $ refunded and it was just me in cabin, paying only my port fees, tips, etc. Hope that helps.