smurfm69

You always do great reviews and I was happy and excited to read this one. We are doing this itinerary in May 2019 out of Miami on the Horizon. ( Having serious cruise withdrawls but have to plan and pay for our daughter's wedding in 2018.)

We normally eat dinner around 6pm at home but prefer the late dining time on a cruise. It's nice not having to leave the pool area early to get ready for dinner. Also when getting back on board from the ports we like to grab a Guy's burger and take a short nap before dinner so that we can stay up late and party!

From the cruise ship terminal it will take about 30-45 minutes to get to the airport depending on traffic. If you can be off the ship by 8am, you can definitely make it to the airport by 9am.

Yeah it has gone up over the last few years but that amount gets divided among quite a few people and they do work hard for it. We always pre pay our gratuities.

I have never sailed on a ship right after coming out of dry dock so can't answer that question. I do know it is a short stay to add Guy's Burger Joint which is awesome, and a few other things. Nothing major being done so I would think it would be smooth.

We also have had cabana #10 and thought it was worth the money and the perfect location. HMC is one of our favorite ports and one of the best beaches I have ever seen!

We love the category 4J cabins in the front of the ship and have had them several times. Obviously nothing beats a balcony, but these cabins are up to $500 cheaper for a 7 day cruise and just a few steps outside your door puts you out on the large open deck in front of the ship. Great place to watch the ship sail in and out of the ports!

The Triumph and Victory are the same size. Although slightly smaller than the Conquest class, the layout is about the same.

As for the weather down here, Jan and Feb are usually the coldest months of the year, but I'm sure it won't be bad out in the Gulf for the sea days.

My advice would be to do your research here on Cruise Critic on the port of call boards. You will see reviews, pictures, and recommendations for certain independent tour operators. These operators rely on positive, word of mouth reviews to keep them in business;Therefore, they will make sure to give you great service and get you back to your ship on time.

Funship Special! Have to have a few of these on the first day!

Another option to consider is ordering a bottle of alcohol from the Bon Voyage dept. They have 1 liter bottles that will be delivered to your room. You are allowed to bring a 12 pack of soda per person on board so you can make your own mixed drinks. The prices of these bottles are inflated of course but still a cheaper option than the cheers program.

We love the history and the architecture of San Juan, Puerto Rico as it reminds us of the French Quarter here at home. Half Moon Cay is the perfect beach!(agree on the tip about renting a cabana) Our favorite port is St. Maarten by far! There is one main road that circles the island so we rent a jeep and explore on our own stopping for shopping and beaches.

We always bring our travel fan and pack it in our checked luggage. Never had any problems.

Hey, as a couple in our 50s (when did that happen?) are we too old for the Disco? Not that my husband likes to dance, but ya never know!:D

We are in our late 40's and on our cruise last year, we partied and danced in the disco very late! Had all age groups in there and it was kicking!

Very nice job with the review and pics. I really enjoyed the brief history tidbits you threw in from time to time.

HMC is the perfect beach! The cabana is worth the cost! One of our favorite ports for sure!

Ok so for how much cash to bring with you, what I always do is first figure out how much the shore excursions cost.(I never use a credit/debit card in the ports. Just my personal preference.) With some excursions you put down a deposit and then pay the remaining balance when you get there. Then, allow a little extra money for tipping the tour operator/guide or taxi driver.(This is why I always bring some smaller bills like 1's and 5's.) Also have to take into consideration food and beverage expenses while in port if it's not part of the excursion you are doing. Finally spending money for souvenirs which you seem to already have budgeted for. Hope this helps a little. Have a great cruise!

Looks like a great time! We are doing this itinerary next year.

We always try to avoid the excursions from the cruise line but the Tabyana Beach Break from Carnival is an exception. It's not very expensive and you can snorkel just a few yards from the beach. Best snorkeling we have ever done!

St Maarten hands down! Love renting a jeep and driving around the island at our own pace.

Nice pics! A cabana is the perfect way to enjoy the perfect beach.

We always pre pay our tips and add a little extra to staff members that have done an exceptional job.

You can check the "Private Islands" board and you will find posts with cabana maps for HMC that show the colors. We had #10 and it is Green.

How do you get them?

I think there was a hammock in between all of the cabanas and I'm guessing they are available for anyone to use. I have read reviews on here that having people enter the cabanas and try to use the floats is a problem. That is another reason we chose to be further down the beach.