arf2005

I’m on the Sensation out of Miami on July 29th and they’ve replaced Cuba with Ocho Rios, Jamaica.  Jamaica isn’t one of my favorite places but I guess if we decide to go a beach is a beach.  The problem as many of you are finding, is the lack of other cruises to switch to!

We got off the ship today. I really liked the decor compared to most Carnival ships and it’s a lot more spacious. I did not like the new elevator system. For smart elevators they aren’t so smart! BTW, from KC here. Also, be prepared for the waters of Grand Turk to not be as beautiful as they are most of the year. There was a ton of seaweed close to the shoreline last week.

The key is getting to the port early, getting an early boarding group and then going immediately to guest services to buy the pass once you are onboard.

We took the Seavis tour last week and were very pleased with it. The price and what you get (lunch, drinks) compared to the ships price and what you get (no lunch, no drinks for about $40 more pp) was a bargain. The island was beautiful and the area with the starfish was just amazing.

Still looking for input?

Looks like you may have already taken your cruise, but we did this excursion through Carnival last week and were not pleased with it at all. The majority of the excursion was off road though an area that the locals used as a dump. We didn't get to see any of Curacao as the description suggested. We spent over 45 minutes waiting for the group ahead of us to return so our group may have been cut short - I've read of others going to the Ostrich Farm (it was closed the day we were there due to a holiday), caves (we never saw any), etc. All we saw was a suburban neighborhood and the north coast - which was a bust because the low tide was in and therefore there wasn't much to see. We ended with a walk across the street from the business to a beach for about 45 minutes - 1 hour. Not worth the cost of the excursion especially when we paid less for one in Aruba the next day that was fantastic!

I didn't think it was hard but if you have issues of any kind it might be. You have to step up to get in. We spent about an hour at the beach - maybe a little less. I can't remember the name of the beach but it was down the coast a little from all the hotels. Very pretty and not very crowded. It wasn't the main stop on the tour but I didn't mind that at all and I'm most definitely a beach person!

We just got back and did this excursion in Aruba - loved it! Would highly recommend it to anyone considering it. It is however a very rough ride so be prepared, but we found that to be a huge part of the fun.

If you cancel this cruise please check your credit card because they tried charging us a penalty of $350 pp! Had to call again to get this straightened out! Frustrating!

So sorry about your MIL. I read recently where a couple had the exact same thing happen and Carnival let them switch to a cruise a month out from the one they were originally scheduled for and it cost them very little to do so. However, as more and more people begin to request this (and it's going to happen as the baby boom generation ages) and more and more don't take out insurance - Carnival will probably stop being quite so generous with this "favor" - and I use the word favor because it does state very plainly in all of our contracts that we won't get a refund after a certain date for any reason. That being said I once again would like to offer my sympathies for what you are going through. What a difficult position both emotionally and financially.

Because I amortize the cost if appliances that us why. And many parts are covered for 5 years My dishwasher for example had some problems before the 5 year manufacturers warranty was up and it was covered. So a $600 dishwasher lasted me 5 years and then it was covered anyway. Also I know full well that the warranty is basically the salesmanship commission. An warranties are widely know to be unneeded as it is a $600 item!!!! Not a $5000 plus trip that carries lots of what ifs. It should also be widely known by now that buying extra insurance on a car rental is crazy. Just call your credit card company or car I durance company about that little tidbit

 

Had the dishwasher been 7 years old I would have either opted to call my guy who charges $95 to diagnose or just buy a new one

 

Point is I got USE of the dishwasher.

 

A trip is much different

 

Anything could happen

 

A hurricaine could flood my basement. I won't leave home

 

A kid could take ill and the doc says no cruise. I stay home

 

An immediate non traveling family member could take ill or worse. I don't leave home

 

The car breaks down on the way to the airport or ship. I miss the cruise

 

And lets not even bother to rehash the emergency evac and medical benefits of trAvel insurance and it is best to see travel insurance as catastrophic insurance similar to an umbrella policy.

 

So please don't compare a $600 dishwasher that is not a crisis to fix to the real possibilities we all face when spending $5000 plus to travel

 

Remember penny wise. Pound foolish

 

I also think that the posters who are so fast to write off $5000 are well I don't know how to describe them

Well said.

You're absolutely correct.

 

I'm not a novice traveler, though fairly new to cruising. I've suffered close to a million flight miles for work (domestic), and have traveled quite a bit off the beaten path worldwide for pleasure. I have a good sense for what can, and does, go wrong during travel. The travel insurance concept is new to me. It just seems like a racket aimed at an older demographic. (I'm not sure exactly how to say that without causing further offense).

 

My basic rule of thumb? If somebody is pushing some sort of insurance/warrantee (new car dealer, travel agent, Jiffy Lube professional, Best Buy salesman) it's most certinaly a big money maker for them. Or, stated another way, it's a bad deal for you.

I've seen/heard of quite a few younger individuals being medevaced off ships through the years along with the middle aged and older victims of heart attacks, etc. so don't assume it's just for the older crowd. In fact the younger ones who are doing the extreme sports (including excessive drinking) probably need it more!

That being said, those who have coverage through work probably don't need additional coverage so why pay double? I certainly wouldn't if I had the coverage already.

I'm sure a number of people can afford to "lose" a $5,000 trip - perhaps I could too, but apparently not with the kind of "oh well" attitude expressed here. I would be pissed! Rather than be pissed I chose to be ready (and I'm one who use to NOT take out the insurance - until I saw multiple individuals medevaced off one of our cruises last year). This appears to be one of those issues in which we will never all agree - but hey, if you have the money and you're a gambler…it's your money.

Insurance options can be very complicated. Even a good TA can not offer them all, or explain them all. Not a slam against a Travel Agent at all. Just a reality.

 

Some will just sell whatever is easiest. Some will sell the most profitable. Some will sell... whatever they think is best. Just the way it is.

 

If you go to insuremytrip, you will see such a wide range of policies. If you were a TA - it would be hard to decide which one you would carry in your "regular day to to day business".

I don't disagree with your statement at all. My point was - if your are trying to do your job to the best of your ability, you would try to taylor the policy to the needs of the client. That being said, of course not all TA's are created equal - but that's true in any position, any where. I'm sure the site you speak of is a good one as many use it. Again - it's a matter of how much you want to do yourself - many on the boards here prefer to do a lot of the work themselves - it's in their nature to not let go of that control. They want to know all about the trip - that's why they are on here to begin with.

So does this thread indicate that we need to add 'insurance ' to the following list ...

 

tipping

smoking

price drops after final payment

brands of beer

 

... all being topics that we ought best just leave alone? :)

 

(Am I leaving anything out?)

I am never for limiting freedom of expression - even if I am in total opposition to what is being said. I realize you may be saying this tongue in cheek but that's a slippery slope….

Wrong. My ta got me an upgrade and a reduction of $2000 last cruise.

 

I am just fully capable of researching insurance myself and do not need it to be spoon fed to me by a ta or a cruise line or the new thing having the airline offer it for purchase when you but the tix

 

Really don't get so bothered by the fact that my excellent ta just happens to offer a more expensive policy than I want or need.

 

Fwiw you had no cause to question how good my ta is or isn't.

 

The reality is his BOSS and the big online agency are the ones offering the policy and jack up the price

 

I am smart enough to know this

 

But the best cruise prices and the best Obc also come from this agency so I'm sticking with them

I'm not bothered at all. Just don't quite understand why, if you are using a TA, they can't offer you a policy that is geared to your needs and wants. To me that is part of their job. However, if you are happy far be if for me to suggest you should do anything differently. There are thousands of opinions on here and thousands of ways people chose to go about doing things. Isn't it wonderful that we can all chose the way we like best?!

Actually in my experience buying thru insuremytrip has given me much better prices than the insurance the ta offered. I don't book directly thru the cruise line

 

 

Also I like having choices. The cruise lines and most ta offer 1 or 2

Maybe you need a better TA…

Most TA's that are worth their weight aren't there to nickel and dime it for you. They are there for those who want/enjoy a service they can provide. Many don't want/need that and that's fine. However, there are some awesome TA's out there who can save those who are interested a lot of time and yes, even money when used. That being said, don't want to highjack this thread over TA's.

Good move! Just an FYI for the future insuremytrip.com is better priced and you can tailor your policy to what your specific needs are. Many more choices than what your ta offered as he/she probably only has one or two types of policies for sale.

 

Also no ta commission on the sale.

 

Which is what you essentially gave your ta by getting insurance through them

 

 

 

I buy travel guard policies. Usually the silver policy. You buy in $500 increments. Buy within 14 days of initial trip deposit and pre existing are covered.

Just as your cruise cost the same through a TA as it would through the cruise line so does the insurance. You are only allowing the insurance company to keep the commissionable portion for themselves. TA's may have more options then you realize. There are always exceptions but few.

Wheee are you getting these commission numbers??

 

 

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I'd like to know that as well - LOL!

Many use a TA because they like to have things taken care of for them. All of my clients use me, not because of perks, but because of service. I actually offer very few, if any perks, don't need to. ;)

Same here. I can't compete with what some of the large internet agencies offer, but no one can beat the service we provide. If you are wanting to nickel and dime it then we aren't for you, but if you want service we definitely are!

Yes I actually kept all the dailies but I think I saw them posted from someone recently, If they dont show up I will attempt to upload them.

I posted them from this cruise along with some other info on the spa, Vibe, etc., right after the cruise. I'm sure if you search using my name it will pop up.

Just guessing here, but the port is a considerable distance from George Bush AND hasn't been operating at full speed with cruise ships, so finding a hotel that provides transportation from the airport to the hotel may be impossible. You are going to want to look at the towns of La Porte, Kemah and Clear Lake for hotels. La Porte is going to be the closest to the port - although Kemah may be of equal distance. If you are wanting things to do around the hotel, definitely stay in Kemah - there's a boardwalk there. You're going to pay more however. As for transportation to the port - a taxi won't cost much - from any of those locations you are looking at maybe 5 miles max - depending upon where you get your hotel.

Hope this helps.

Port side is the left side of the ship. (Left is four letter word, so is port, easy way to remember). Starboard is the right side of the ship. "Right" is the longer word between the words "port" and "starboard" . That may help you to remember the correct sides of any boat or ship.

Thanks - that might actually work!

We got to Maho about 1:30 and had no problem finding a spot - the crowd is ever moving….

Do Bernard's tour! His company is great. Request the MILKMAN!!! I did a private one with the roll call. Free drinks and nice ac bus. Loved the island!

 

 

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And the rum punch delivers a PUNCH!

I was on same sailing also in Vibe (we got a cabana) and no, no need to wear wristband all week. I attach mine and DH's to the beach bag I carry. Your key card opens the door and after day one the bartenders will know who you are.

 

BTW, the Vibe bartenders are the best! I was on Breakaway with Vibe in October and had so much fun with Sean as our bartender. When we walked into Vibe on Getaway last week we were so happy and surprised to see that Sean had moved to Getaway. Kervin was equally awesome and those guys made the week so much fun.

 

So nice to NEVER have to wait in line at a pool bar and to have bartenders who know your name/ favorite drink and are always smiling and giving a happy welcome when you walk in or a "see ya later" when you leave.

I agree - they were wonderful!!

Is the vibe open the first day and what time does it close at night?

Will we be able to see fireworks from vibe?

Thank you

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app maria

I just read in another thread (in case you didn't see it) that the hours were (they thought) 8am - 11 pm.