nyo1011

We leave on the Horizon this sat and had a trip to Saona Island scheduled. We just cancelled. I was the only one in my group that still wanted to go....I wish were still were....I feel horrible for the families that lost loved ones but I don't think it is an epidemic and I think cruisers are completely safe as long as you are aware of your surroundings as always.

I am sure in a month or so the media will find a new topic to latch onto....probably shark attacks...another thing that is rare and heartbreaking but not an epidemic...the sharks are not out to get us

I think i paid $99 each for my two cabins on the Horizon....sail June 29 8 days...My concern is that they keep raising the cost but I also read comments of how people who don't have priority status or FTTF and they embark hours before their assigned check in time of 1:00 pm.....how can they raise the rate but not enforce the rewards that are purchased

I might have one sea day where i hit 10....my Husband and BIL see 15 as a goal. You only need 5-6 to equal cost of package. Early In the cruise I will drink more which makes up for the end of the cruise when I barely drink. Also specialty coffees, bottle water , bottled tea

Value is subjective with cheers many arguments for and against......definitely a painful button to hit in cruise manager....my upcoming cruise works out to $980....ouch...but all is forgotten when you step on the ship and grab your first drink!

We do have FTTF and I have to go to guest services to get additional keys for our rooms so i figure i will just ask then. I do understand that they probably won't be able to do anything about it but I just think this is info that should be available when you choose your cabin.

I wish they would note the muster station when you choose your cabin. I have 2 cabins book on the 7th floor 5 doors apart. One for my husband and I and one for by boys (19 and 16). On the booking I am listed with our 16yr old and My husband is listed with our 19 yr old. Paid off cruise and printed boarding passes and only then did I find out that we are in different muster areas. I am not concerned with the muster drill but what if there is a real emergency? My little family will be separated! I would not have chosen these rooms if I had known and now there is no availability to move. I called and was told the same thing...."check with guest services after you board"

Two yrs ago on the Vista I ordered a Mimosa after breakfast. I typically make mine 50/50....not Red Frog...It was a glass of sparkling wine and barely enough OJ splashed on top to change the color. I looked at the bartender and said.."you know its 9am"...all she said was "but it's a sea day!"

12 minutes ago, Tracey.kinney425 said:

Are you able to print them out before boarding?  I'm weird like you lol.

Our cruise is June 29th and I've already printed out the fun times I will also print out the menus. I find them in reviews people are nice enough to post here. recently the only way I have seen the menu is screen shots of the hub app....harder to print so I have been looking and waiting for a pdf file.

I was on the Vista in 2017  western Caribbean route...this summer we are going on the horizon southern Caribbean. I looked at the current menu and except for the specific port specials the menu is basically the same in the same order from our 2017 cruise. looks like they added a few deserts ( pot de crème). I am not complaining I am really looking forward to the root vegetable pie but I did think it would be slightly different. I am one of those weird people who prints out all the menus, fun times, 5 tab spread sheet. My teenagers on the other hand don't even want to know what the pre stay hotel looks like till we get there.  

Might want to check to the cabins muster locations if possible....I have a similar scenario booked on the Horizon in June. When I paid off the cruise and printed boarding passes I noticed they had two different muster drills.....not cool...I do not want my family separated in the extreme chance of an emergency. I called carnival and they said they can not switch locations. Now I am looking to move our interior cabin. we are only four cabins apart but must be on the division line

I think it is great that a teenager wants to help research for his families upcoming cruise. I have two teenage boys. They don't want to know anything about our cruise this summer. They like to be surprised. Won't even look at pictures of the hotel we are staying at before the cruise. Meanwhile I am like cruise director Julie printing out fun times and menus and editing a spreadsheet with 5 tabs.

I also think that the transportation transfer companies cause some of the mass exodus off the ship. We are using Jiffy Jeff and they need me to turn my phone on at 7am when we arrive back in port even though we aren't flying out till the next day. They said they need to get everyone out of the port area and then start bringing new people in.

I actually bring them for the kids. the only place for them to get a soda with the bubbles package is at one of the bars. much easier for them to get one from the fridge in the room.

I heard the corn hole boards are now on the sports square

thanks for the replies...good to know we can still hang here. I am looking forward to their bloody Mary's....I saw a pic somewhere of the vodka they use...its in a big glass container full of vegetables to infuse it....

I was also just looking for this info....from the pictures the space/decor is exactly the same but sounds like completely different atmosphere. huge let down but it's a big ship I am sure we will find a new place to hang out and relax

Have a question for those who have cruised Horizon and possibly Vista....Two yrs ago our family/friend group went on our first cruise on the Vista. Our husbands loved it and agreed to another one....along comes the horizon which looks just like the vista so we booked it. The one difference for us is that the pig and anchor is where the red frog used to be. From the pictures the space seems very similar however I understand it is now a "pay" restaurant. Is that just in the evening? On the Vista this is where our men hung out on the boat. There were always groups of people planning board games, there was a foosball table, corn hole, live music in the evening...etc. Can you still hang out here or is it strictly a pay restaurant? Obviously they can find another place on the ship but they tend to be creatures of habit. None of them do any research and I would guess that the first place they go on embarkation day is to where they are expecting the red frog and "rum jumpers", ....I don't have the heart to tell them that their beloved corn hole boards are now on the sports square with no bar in sight.  

keep your room service tray...they don't have trays on lido to carry food

I don't remember how to find it but there was a thread a few yrs ago that had a ton of "hacks" on it

does make you stop and think and remember you are on a ship at sea. my family has only been on one cruise. I have two teenage boys who roamed the ship all day. It was great! Party all day! biggest concern was chair hogs!  We are going on our second cruise on the Horizon in June. Last night we had a conversation about possible scenarios that could happen on a ship and what to do in each case and having a meeting place. I know we have a mustard station but last time ours was the dining room might be difficult to find each other if everyone else is meeting there.

How fast does a ship list? what if you are standing at the railing? Can you be thrown off?    

the reason for this is because swim diapers do not absorb liquid...from the pool or the child. They are only designed to hold in solids. The urine simply flows through them.

I do cheers as well and do not tip extra every drink...I do tip for the staff who go above and beyond the call of duty....The server on lido who takes your order and brings your drink to you then notices when its empty and brings you another....oh and he doesn't need your card again because he already knows the number....or the bartender in the casino who would wait for us on our way to dinner... take our cards...swipe them...make our Scooby snack shot ( that she had recommended on first night...yum!) then pour our moscato's for us to take to dinner and would also make virgin strawberry daiquiris for the three teenagers in our group but never took their cards....she also never gave us a receipt to sign.....I gave her $5 cash every evening and so did my SIL. The one's who make your cruise a special vacation deserve more than the standard tip.....the person on the lido deck bar that is pouring frozen drinks as fast as he can and handing them out without even looking at you is doing his job appropriately but doesn't get anything extra from me  

I second the vegetarian.....amazing even for a non vegetarian....lots of food many plates.....friends you are sitting with will want to try it...smells divine as well

tallest tower of Margarita glasses

towel animals.....staff might appreciate the assistance for the day when they fill the chairs on the lido

Hey, looking forward to your review, both pre and post! We will be on the Vista in February so are very interested in what you share with us. We really enjoyed the Breeze so here's to the Vista being a great addition to Galveston!

 

Questions:

 

1. Would like to know how the wifi is. It was fair at best on the Breeze the last time we sailed, I've read it is better on the Vista.

2. Can you walk around the ship on deck 5? With the Havana area in the aft section didn't know if it was blocked. We like to walk laps.

3. I'll think of others and ask here ~ Thanks!

we were on the Vista last summer out of Miami and could not walk the whole way around the ship on deck 5...needed a key card on both sides where the Havana starts....after 7 you can access the Havana area by going through the bar

my first cruise last summer on the vista I could not get FTTF. I checked for months and it was always sold out. I did have check in at 10:30 at the Miami port....I don't remember our zone number but it feels like we waited forever in that terminal with our back packs and soda cases.....when we finally boarded the ship was FULL...we found a few chairs and took turns watching our stuff and getting food and drinks. it was a stressful way to start my first cruise. Our next cruise is in June on the horizon and we do have FTTF....so excited to just drop off our stuff and wander the ship at our leisure. This is just one of those topics that no one will ever agree on.....and that's ok because there is not enough FTTF's to go around anyway!

my first cruise was last summer on the vista....I had done my research and knew to tip extra and ask for twice a day......so on embarkation day the steward asked if I wanted morning or evening...I said both mostly because we had 4 people in a balcony including 2 teenage boys...I also handed him $20 and apologized in advanced for having teenagers. no towel animals for me...my SIL was a few doors down only asked for evening service did not/does not tip extra....towel animals every night...addressed her in the hallway every time we walked by.....my room was kept decent so I did not complain to guest service...its not their fault he didn't like us!

Next cruise is on Horizon June 2019....teenagers have their own cabin.....hoping for better service

Wondering if I should Tip extra daily or wait till the end. I think tipping bartenders well the first day got me good service but not so much the room steward

Wonderful....thanks for the info!