judyzoo

Is this worth going to, especially for someone who volunteers at a large, well run zoo? Is it dingy? Are the animals healthy and well cared for? Is it a long ride from the pier?

Is the Outameni Experience worth going to? It sounds something like the Garifuna Experience in Roatan, which I'd describe as touristy but still rather informative.

Does MSC (Divina) do a barbecue on Great Stirrup Cay? Or is it just beach and water sports?

Thanks for the fascinating review! Now I'm really eager to begin my upcoming Divina cruise.

I received an email today from MSC containing my boarding ticket and printable luggage tags, for my Feb. 22 sailing.

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Breakfast had the normal selection in the restaurants and buffet. What I found that could be improved is to have an eggs to order counter. No sunny side up or whites only. Everything was prepared in the back and brought out to the buffet. If you did not get the eggs right away it got cold.

 

Thanks for the review! Did they not have a omelet station for the breakfast buffet?

There wouldn't likely be taxis waiting at Camana Bay, but you could get the folks at the Discovery Centre (info desk) to call one, or you could get a business card from the driver on the way there and call him/her back yourself.

 

The walk from Royal Palms to Camana Bay is only one slightly long block, and there's an okay amount of shade. You would find lots of taxis at Royal Palms, so it might be easier just to walk back there...

That sounds like a plan -- thanks!

It is not really walkable, IMO. I'd recommend taking a taxi directly there (not sure how much) or a public bus or taxi to Royal Palms ($4pp) and then walk down the tree-lined pathway from Royal Palms to Camana Bay.

 

Camana Bay is about the same distance from the port as Royal Palms, but it's on the next main street further from the water.

Thanks, again! I think I'd like to follow your suggestion and walk from Royal Palms.

Do you think that I could get a taxi at Camana Bay to get back to the pier if I'm feeling lazy?

If you're at Camana Bay for the shopping or a movie, there's some nice fountains and parks, as well as the observation tower. I would not recommend to someone that they make a special trip there for those things unless they also wanted to shop and/or see a movie.

 

The Camana Bay website has info on the tower, and a webcam, so you can see if it's something you're interested in enough to make the trek.

http://www.camanabay.com/the-town/play/observation-tower/

Thanks.

Just remember, keeping your balcony door open keeps your AC from working properly as well as creating a huge draft into the hallway..

I know.

And I know not to open my door to the hall while the balcony door is open.

Is the tower worth going to? I read somewhere that there are also some gardens around there -- is this true?

How far is it from the pier to Camana Bay? Is it walkable? Or would I be better off to take a bus or taxi?

Yes the balcony doors are sliders...

Good; thank you. That means that I won't have to use a bungee cord to prop my door open.

The cabin seemed to be just right in size for us Big Al.....now I did take the time to get the actual measurements of the cabin....I used a piece of paper that measures 8.5 x 11 inches...and these are the measurements I came up with....The length is 16.91 ft and the width is 8.75 ft. the balcony runs 8.75 x 3.88 So the balcony was almost 4 feet deep.... I said earlier and I will say again, being on deck 13 was awesome as the overhang shielded us from the rain and we could continue to use our balcony while others had to retreat to their cabins...we also had our room steward open the door between our balconies to make one long one http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131125_151008_798_zpsceb6ec3b.jpg

Is that a sliding glass door to the balcony?

We did lunch up in the buffet again , and it was really good. I knew I wanted to see if the MYTH of the "same thing served for Lunch Everyday" was true so I set my eyes upon finding out....and this where I was able to de-bunk 2 myths at the same time, the lunch myth and the juice being watered down myth, To end the confusion on the lunch myth,yes the signage above the buffet sections stay the same in that they will say pasta , meat, daily specials... but it's whats under the signs that changes, also MSC does serve real juice from concentrate during the breakfast hours then they switch over to flavored water so this may be where the watered down thoughts come from.... the grab and go section of the buffet was always changing with wrapped burgers ,hot dogs, sandwiches, sweet potato fries , waffle fries, everyday they switched it up. They also had a fresh cut meat and cheese Italian deli that had some of the best Italian meats not to mention the cheeses http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/IMG_20131125_124930_686_zpsf61e90d8.jpg

The buffet was so good that we actually only ate in the dining room for lunch 1 day and that's because I wanted to try it out. We all agreed that MSC had the best buffet of any of the lines we have sailed.

Oh yes, real cheese! You're making me hungry.

On voyages departing from a US port, there is no charge for menu items; however, a small late delivery charge usually applies after 11:00pm

 

Regards,

Thank you for clarifying.

So I try to take pictures that others don't take, an example would be if you have ever had a wedding and left those little disposable cameras on the tables for people to take pics....I'm the guy who will take a picture of the urinal in the mens room or a picture of everyones feet under the table....to me it's just as interesting if not more than the 30 or so pictures that you get of your wedding cake not to mention the fun you have explain it years later to your kids when they go thru your wedding album.... here are some of my favorite pictures from a slightly different angle...

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/DSCF1981_zps18db0665.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/DSCF1978_zps21fbf2b7.jpg

http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad159/steelersn01/DSCF1976_zpscf321782.jpg

Nicely done. I'm really enjoying your unusual review!

Room service for breakfast is free wherever you sail but you will not get bacon and eggs on it, just continental. The room service menu is very limited. It has a few salads, sandwiches, soup, fruit and a few desserts. It is more for a light meal/snack than a replacement for dinner. On sailings not out of the US, you pay per item ordered. On US sailings I believe it is free, but carries a delivery charge during very late hours. You can also have pizza delivered. I don't know if that is free or chargeable on US sailings.

This makes more sense.

We have packed a bottle in our suitcase and do did our friends. When we got to our cabin our suitcase had nothing on but our friends had a sticker saying bottle in bag...nothing happened.

Was that in Miami?

I have trouble believing that, on the same cruise, Europeans would have to pay for room service but Americans wouldn't. Perhaps I'm reading the article wrong. Or perhaps the article is wrong.

There is a copy of the room service menu on here I did look for it but can't seem to find it. I think you can have a light breakfast in the cabin which is free but all other room service there is a fee. I have had the steak sandwich from RCCL and it was lovely.

 

Judith

Really? A fee for room service?

I walked on about 12:30:)

 

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What was your departure time?

As far as I'm aware it's only things like champagne or Prosecco you can pre order to have in your cabin, not bottles of spirits.

 

There is the mini bar which is not as bad as some hotel prices. You could also take a bottle onboard in your luggage.

I stopped trying to smuggle liquor on board several years ago, when I discovered that I could (legally) order a bottle for delivery to my cabin, although at an exorbitant price. But if I can't do that on MSC I may need to revert to my old ways. Or, perhaps your mini bar suggestion might do.

Some lines allow you to order a bottle from room service for consumption in the cabin. Any chance that MSC does that?

Hi everyone, I have been on a few cruises through Carnival. I am looking to book a cruise sometime in February or March 2014 (although with the weather I am getting I really would like to go sooner!). I have never cruised solo before as I have been fortunate enough to find someone to come along usually at the last minute (but it has usually been stressful trying to get people to come or they say they will then change their mind..it is always something..lol) so I have decided this time that I am going to just go by myself and skip the hassle of trying to find someone to go. I am 38 y/o with no kids and I have lots of vacation time and it is always difficult for me to find people that can actually go on a vacation! Anyone going on a cruise in Feb or March on a Carnival Ship? I have been to most places in the Caribbean except Jamaica and Grand Turk so I was thinking about that cruise....

You are so right. Sometimes the hassle of finding someone to go with you -- although it cuts down on the cost -- just isn't worth it. They want to go, they don't want to go, they can't get off work, they can't afford it, they're afraid to be on the water, ..... So much easier to just go solo and enjoy.

When you go to the site, click on "On Board Services" on the menu bar at the top of the page.

I tried that, but all I found were beverage packages, no bottles. Any other ideas?