Pika8347

On 4/23/2023 at 5:54 PM, c-leg5 said:

 

Thanks, after years and years of never seeing a review that is the second recommendation for that location in the last month!  I thought you might have gone to that location as it is convenient for the chocolate factory.
 

I am wondering if they are new owners and advertising more.

Could be! We also did the Chocolate tour. It's probably the same owners, lol!

1 hour ago, Pika8347 said:

It was called "Mayan Adventures" for $60 (cash only!) each and my boys loved it! We could've added ATV's for another $40 but they weren't interested. There are other zip lining locations in Cozumel and I'm pretty sure our guy got a kick back for taking us there, which was fine with us.

 

The facility could use a little TLC, but for the price, I have zero complaints! 

 

I mentioned the 'cash only' because I really preferred to use a card. However, they said it would be an additional 16% to use a credit card because of the 'taxes' they had to pay?!?! I didn't argue and just paid cash (USD). 

CORRECTION: it was called "Mayan Adventures Cozumel"

1 hour ago, Pika8347 said:

 

3 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

Where did you go zip lining and how was it?

It was called "Mayan Adventures" for $60 (cash only!) each and my boys loved it! We could've added ATV's for another $40 but they weren't interested. There are other zip lining locations in Cozumel and I'm pretty sure our guy got a kick back for taking us there, which was fine with us.

The facility could use a little TLC, but for the price, I have zero complaints! 

I mentioned the 'cash only' because I really preferred to use a card. However, they said it would be an additional 16% to use a credit card because of the 'taxes' they had to pay?!?! I didn't argue and just paid cash (USD). 

On 4/12/2023 at 10:25 AM, ninjacat123 said:

I love our Dream Studio pics but I have to say the photographer at the photo viewing started out with a "package" over $1,000 for a large number of pics and a CD with pics.  We eventually agreed to 6 prints for $200.  Pricey but worth it IMO.

Definitely worth it, but damn it's pricey. Nonetheless, Carnival won, and we have a bound book of beautiful photos. 6 for $200 is very fair!

Fresh off the Vista and I have to give a shout to my private tour guide "Chris" at Blackhat Tours! Chris (Cresencio Lopez) was suggested on another thread here and I'm so glad we hired him. Communication was great via what's app and he was there waiting for exactly at our requested time. He gave us suggestions on where to go and what to see, but ultimately let us decide. Private van for just the four of us! We chose the chocolate factory and zip lining and had a blast. He even played foosball with my boys just to keep them entertained.  I just wish we had more time with him! Feel free to ask me more; you won't be disappointed. https://blackhattours.com

4 hours ago, BlerkOne said:

I have said for years now that cruising will never be as it was is 2019. There is a new normal for all cruise lines.

Truth!

I remember on an 8 day a medium sized paper bag with 'everything you can stuff' for $15. Trust me, it wasn't much, but it was nice to come back to a nice folded stack. You could always DIY it on sea days for $3.50 wash/dry. 

4 hours ago, ontheweb said:

Yes, simple economics. It is called the law of supply and demand.

Exactly!

1 hour ago, foggyphils said:

I booked a last minute casino cruise yesterday for this Saturday out of Galveston on the Vista with a free inside cabin promo. The cruise has been sold out for 3 weeks. My assumption is if someone cancels last minute, they throw it over to the casino promo? The code FLC is almost impossible to book online because it's usually for 1 last minute cabin. I had to get my PVP to check daily, sometimes more than once per day so she could grab the cabin once someone let it expire in their cart. She called me yesterday to tell me she had the one cabin left on hold and I had to make a decision in 15 minutes. (I was basically open to any Galveston cruise in March or beginning of April.)

Lucky you! I'd love to hear your casino review when you return. 

Wait. The vacation guarantee is gone?!? When did that happen?

2 hours ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

Here's what I find "funny" about this thread...

 

Last year, I posted the "contract" that we had the teens (two 18yo and two 16yo) that we were taking on the cruise agree to.  It was basically, "behave", gave examples like don't push all the buttons in an elevator, dont make noise in the cabin hallways, don't accept drinks from others, attend dinner with us in the MDR, among others.

 

I was told it was too strict and I should "lighten up".  I don't think one poster backed me.  

Can you PLEASE share this????

3 minutes ago, Susan in Maine said:

If I bring my own wine on the ship, and wish to drink it in the MDR, will I be charged a corkage fee? If so, how much? This will be a 5 day on Carnival Freedom.

 

Thank you!

 

A $15 USD corkage fee, per 750 ml bottle, will be charged should guests wish to consume their wine or champagne in the main dining room, specialty restaurant or bar.

A corkage fee is a charge assessed at time of service at a restaurant for every bottle served that is not bought on the premises. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5125/~/corkage-fee

36 minutes ago, gtouch said:

My wife and I always ask for a table for two when we travel with our kids.

Meh, I disagree on this one. Maybe it's just me, but I enjoy having dinner with my boys and another family.  Do you mean, you and wife are at a two top next to your kids are next to you at another two top? This just seems awkward like you're at BW3's to watch the game.  

2 hours ago, windsor26 said:

If you cruise a lot and use all Carnival companies  it is worth buying stock just the `100 shares  Since 2009 I have had my money back (1400 sterling pounds) about 7 times and still have the shares  which - of course have lost value at present - but will bounce back eventually and I still have the value of th4e shares whenever I need to sell them  it is a win win  situation and at present the cost is half the normal one prior to covid losses

Smart Man!

22 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

oooh, yes! It’s $15 per bag flat rate 

Thank you sir!

1 hour ago, TxTeach79 said:

Load two, back in business

 

 

Did you figure out the fee for the non platinum card members? I'm sailing with my 12 & 14 year old boys and I refuse to be stifled by sweaty basketball shorts. 

3 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

WE DID IT, Y’ALL! The Blantons has been hiding here the whole time 

 

 

 

Ha! I knew they had it! Will they give you topper if you finish the bottle?

6 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Looks like my man Fitzroy is on a different schedule today 

 

I thought as a Platinum card, they gave 'slightly' better service?

21 hours ago, TxTeach79 said:

Whoa. This is a first. Same day service! 
 

Just curious... is it still $10 wash & fold?

Is there a 'meet & greet' on the first night for all ages? Or is this just for the younger kids? My boys are 12 & 14 and I think it would be good if they met other kids their ages early in the cruise. 

8 hours ago, StephPS79 said:

Yes, kind of.  Cheers will be charged to Sign & Sail card, and any OBC will be deducted from the total spending on the account.

There's an incremental savings if you purchase it before you board. 

On 2/28/2023 at 11:30 AM, connie dutreil said:

I was on the Carnival Valor on Feb 20-25. it was the worse experience i ever had. First day a guy on deck 6 tried to set the ship on fire with too many things plugged in and overloaded the circuit . The last day they busted someone on Deck 2 for drugs. Everywhere you turned , someone was smoking weed throughout the whole ship. I  was charged for a wash and fold 30.00 and I am Platinum so I get 2  wash and folds. My daughter ordered a surf and tur from the dinning room and it was burnt. They were suppose to credit it and did not. Dinning was super slow. Waited over 2 hours for dinner. I hated to entire cruise. Kids everywhere unsupervised. Running around like caged animals. I will never ever go back on a Carnival ship when kids have vacation. Maybe if the hire up people would cruise on some of the ships, you might change some of the rules. Fun ship my ass. Nightmare ship more like it. I am not a first time cruiser, I know what a relaxing cruise feels like. Older people go to relax and enjoy. Teenagers make it a nightmare. I want $ 57.14 credited back on my card for the 2 things that were charged and make some changes on the Carnival Valor. 

Just curious, who cruises with their kids 2/20-2/25? Are you sure this is accurate? 

11 hours ago, bookbabe said:

Buses are mini-buses, and I personally wouldn’t take them to points outside of town when visiting by cruise ship.  They do not necessarily operate on a fixed and rigid schedule, and can be much less frequent outside of town, and might be full so you’d have to wait for the next one.  “Soon come” as is frequently said actually means exactly the opposite most times, and you can’t risk being on Island Time when visiting by cruise ship.

 

They are a great option for heading to the beach, maybe even Hell or the Turtle Farm, where you’d have good access to taxis as a backup for a speedy return to the ship.

 

Then again, your comfort level with the risk factor might be higher than mine.  So yes, those really are the one-way rates, no hidden extra costs.

Excellent points! There's only two ship in port that day, so my logic was that it would easy to get back and forth. However, 'soon come' makes me very hesitant. Thank you for your insight!

So I've read that there is a very affordable bus service 'outside' the cruise port -see attached. Is there any 'catch' to these fares? To me, this seems like an excellent option for the four of us to see the major attractions contained on the island. Yes, I know there's there's a slight wait time and there's still and admission fee. 

Edit: prices are from 2021.

Wonderful review! Thank you so much!