The Fun Researcher

re. Nassau, did you go to Junkanoo beach? That's what we're planning to do while in Nassau next month (same ship and itinerary as you). Great review by the way, thank you. We're interested to see how it goes driving to port (from Michigan). We've always flown to Florida or Galveston TX. We're driving most of the way Saturday and have a hotel in Allentown. How much extra time should we add to account for traffic in the morning? Google maps says it's a 1 hour 30 minute drive, should I plan 2 hours instead? We have an 11am embarkation time and a 12pm Jamie's Italian reservation for lunch (not fond of the Windjammer madhouse for lumch on embarkation day)

That’s super cool. Way to go!

The rear entrance to Labadee is guarded and the entire area is fenced. so only “approved” Haitians are allowed to enter like the vendors.

Yeah some of the ways they name the food make them sound particularly unappetizing. Tomato water? 🤮 Probably tastes great though

Same with my parents. Can't imagine. I lost my taste and smell for only a few days when I got covid in 2020 and it was terrible. Still feeling hungry, but not tasting the food when taking care of the hunger. Sad

Maybe the next time we’re there I’ll have to give it a try. Sounds fun. We’ve done the zip line over and over again and it does not disappoint. “ the longest zip line overwater in the world “. We absolutely love Labadee for its relaxed, tropical paradise feel. I remember our very first cruise in 2012 (which included Labadee), I think our first port was Grand Cayman and as I woke up and found ourselves in port, I was like “it feels like we just pulled up to a City. Where is the tropical paradise? I have since learned of course that you have to go find those nice beaches and remote locations when you get to an island, but in my mind, I was expecting remote, tropical islands. Yeah, I was ignorant. 😄… but I will tell you what, Labadee absolutely was what I had pictured in my mind. ….and still is. I remember saying, after our first cruise, that I could circle back to Labadee for all the ports, and be perfectly happy

Thank you for this. I might give it another try. I do love the lamb chops but I’m willing to give the shank another try. Not everyone likes lamb, but those that do really enjoy it and I am one of them. I don’t mind the stronger, richer taste, but I’m also one that loves liver pate and such (maybe it’s the pronounced iron taste that I like ?) I’m willing to try any dish once.

It’s the same

Not sure it's much different. Nothing has changed as far as I recall since our first cruise 11 years ago. Still love to chill at Columbus Cove, grab lunch, sleep, swim, and have the beautiful ship as the backdrop. There is a nice walking dock now. Did you ever have to tender?

Yeah no doubt. I used to hit the gym every day on a cruise but I gave that up after 3-4 cruises. I can do that at home. I want to maximize my cruise days. My normal daily run is 5k so it takes a little while to cool down from that and shower so it takes a chunk of time from the day. Would rather lounge by the pool with a drink in hand or something else. 😉

Cruise ankles? What about cruise belly? I work hard before cruises to get in bathing suit shape only to feel like I look like a beer chugging champion by day 4 or 5. 🙂 Dan

Based on multiple feedbacks from folks actually in this situation recently, no. You need to have it booked originally (or rebooked) with the solo passenger paying the solo supplement (in a cabin for 2).

rockmom addressed it above didn't she?

IMO the indoor pool and Two70 (awesome outdoor views from the comfort of inside) are key features of the Quantum class ships that make them perfectly suitable for the Bayonne port during cold seasons. To keep the indoor pool you would need to scale all the way back to vision class. (not knocking them, but a lot less amenities to offer, good or bad) We've sailed on Freedom class (essentially same as Voyager class) one time with cold weather out of Galveston and not being about to use the pool deck was a major detraction. This is just me, but I need some place to chill out in my bathing suit on on a cruise at lease a few days. 🙂 I suppose an Oasis class with an enclosed Solarium would work but it must get SLAMMED during cold weather.

I paid a little extra for our upcoming March cruise to go solo (in a 2 person cabin) connected to my wife and son. My wife and I are both 68 points, so my double points (7 night cruise) will get me to 82. This will get my wife and 15 yr old son to Diamond after our cruise. Reason being we have an Alaskan cruise in July and want to be Diamond prior to that. After the Alaskan cruise my wife will have 82 points (so Diamond in her own right) and my son will be 60 points. Our daughters are both 18+ so they missed out on the Diamond grandfathering but will be at 53 points on their own after Alaska so well on their way on their own.

OP, that's a big ask. 2nd cruise on the same ship and you're bored? I wouldn't expect anything to change, it takes a lot of work to setup and prepare for all the shows, prepare cruise compasses, etc... Maybe a couple of versions of "name that tune" could exist but to continually reworking shows and compasses is a no go. Headlines change all the time, so that's a constant change. Singers, comedians, jugglers, cover bands...

Bummer we don't have apples to apples comparison of the MDR between those two ships. Don't get me wrong though, I'm very thankful for your review of the two ships' MDR and Windjammer. I hope that those complaining about the new MDR menus are just from particular ships struggling with the change. We'll be on the Anthem next month and I'll make sure to make a thread specific to our MDR experience, which is where we pretty much exclusively eat for dinner. Dan

I hope you're right. We'll find out next month on the Anthem, then again in July on the Quantum

Yes. They are Canadian cold water tails now rather than warm water tails, but I agree they don’t look much bigger. I’ll survive.

Liberty is a great ship and I would choose it every time. I would say the only benefit I can think of for the Enchantment is the indoor pool if you are cruising in colder weather. Other than that Liberty wins for us in EVERY other aspect. More to do, the Royal Promenade, Ice skating show, etc...

From all the reports I've seen regarding the new menus, you can still order as many Starters, Main entrée's and desserts as you want with the following caveats: Lobster night can only order one lobster tail before paying ~$17 for another. (or like a previous poster said, if someone at your table doesn't want one, have them order it anyway and get the second one from that person) On at least one ship, if you order more than one entrée they bring them out one at a time, only bringing the second when you are done with the first

Wow, learn something new everyday. I had no idea there were two different Giovanni's. Good info, thanks!

I do sorely miss the lamb chops. My second favorite entree in the MDR behind the beef tenderloin

It’s fleet wide now as far as I understand

I just looked up paradise beach, and man that does look nice. Very nice. Nachi Cocum has never let us down though. It has some nostalgia for us too. We really enjoy the hot tub at Nachi as well. It kind of seems like you can’t go wrong with any of those three options. It just depends on your style.