Morebeer

Was just in Martinique May 20th on the Carnival Sunshine. The town is easily reached from where the ship tied up. However wish Carnival would substitute a different stop then Martinique. Found very little of interest while going thru the shops in town, plus very limited shore excursions available. Everyone I spoke to on the ship treated it as a mainly stay on board stop and spent very little time exploring the island itself.

Hello again. Spent the 13th and 14th of May in North Charleston. Although it's received many negative reviews on trip advisor and elsewhere the wife and I stayed at the Hawthorne Suites just off Ashley Phosphate Rd and had no problems with it whatsoever. The per night rate we got was just over $100 per night tax included. With all the negative reviews received I was quite worried what would happen but having no issue come up at all other then a complete downpour of rain that we don't see in Phoenix found it to be quite reasonably priced with what I found else where in the Charleston area. On Mothers day May 14th we took a 1 hour carriage ride with Old South Carriage Co as well as a 90 minute harbor tour on the Carolina Belle. Received discounts for both with my AAA membership and would recommend both tours. Lastly on that same Mothers Day although it was quite busy we did not have to wait that long and had dinner at the Fleet Landing restaurant. Seemed really popular but the food and service were both outstanding. Lots to see in the Charleston area we definitely were somewhat rushed only having the 1 full day to sight see prior to our 10 day cruise on the Carnival Sunshine. Would without hesitation recommend visiting there and hope to return for more then just the 1 day someday.

Thanks so much for the detailed honest review. The wife and I sail the Sunshine in just under 2 weeks out of Charleston SC 5/15/17 on a 10 day E Carribbean itenary. I booked a interior room when I called to try to upgrade was told the ship is sailing at capacity so great to read your review as to what we can expect on a full ship.

Hi. Don't know how much it matters. But curious who was the cruise director on the Sunshine that u just disembarked from did they do a good job? Thanks.

Hi. Just wanted to say a huge Thank You to Chucktown Steve, Waterbug123, and Medtech2 for all there posts and suggestions to help me with my first ever visit to Charleston SC next month 5/13-14/2017. For the three of them I have taken down all there idea's as to where to possibly eat rather then Hyman's that I had looked at. I will have a rental car so can get anywhere needed for dinner on Sunday 5/14/17. I have my carriage ride scheduled for 11am with Old South Carriage and then the 90 minute harbor tour at 1:30 so not exactly sure what time I'd b getting to dinner not knowing the area but still likely after brunch will have already passed.

Hi. Thanks Medtech for your response. Got a rate of right around $200 plus tax at the Hawthorne Suites there in N Charleston. Did quite a bit of researching looked to be a pretty good price for 2 nights stay. Have read good and bad about Hymans restaurant but will certainly keep the name you provided as a option. Being Mothers Day Sunday 5/14/17 that the wife and I will be downtown Charleston if anything like out here in Arizona every restaurant will likely be crowded. Thanks again.

Hi. Thanks so much for the info on the area I'm staying in Charleston 5/13-14/17. Do I need to wait until that 8:30 9am time frame even on a Sunday 5/14/17 to avoid rush hour? Secondly would you recomend Uber as the best way to get to the cruise terminal from the airport after dropping my rental car off at the airport the morning of 5/15/17. Really appreciate all the feedback you've provided. Looking forward to visiting South Carolina and Charleston for the first time. Thanks.

Hi. Flying into Charleston Sat 5/13/17 arriving late afternoon. Have a room booked at the Hawthorne Suites in N Charleston Northwoods Blvd for 2 nights prior to my cruise departure date on the 15th. Have read staying in N Charleston may not be the best idea for just that 1 arrival night plus 1 other full day thought I would just stick with it? Ended up booking a 1 hour carriage ride with Old South Carriage Co plus the 90 minute harbor tour on Mothers Day 5/14/17. Likely most restaurants extremely busy that day. Was looking at Hyman's restaurants website claims to be really popular with tourists I fall into that category. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Thanks for the info on the parking at Palmetto's Carriage tours location. Yes I saw where they also offered the 2 hour parking option rather then the all day parking for the $14. Per your answer about the long walk to the harbor tour from there sounds like I'd go with that option instead. Thanks again.

Hi. Thinking of booking a carriage tour with Palmetto Tours on 5/14/17 . They offer all day parking at their check in location on Guignard St in Charleston SC for $14 per day. Can anyone tell me if that's a good location to park for the Harbor Tour plus any other sightseeing in downtown Charleston after the 1 hour carriage tour? Don't want to pay for all day parking there if have to move the rental car to other locations to see the other sights? Thanks.

Chucktown Steve: Hi. I'm way early. But will be in Charleston 2 nights prior to my cruise sailing 5/15/17. Staying near the airport due to such a short stay but will have a rental car. Didn't notice but Sunday 5/14/17 is Mothers Day. Do most of the tours run regular schedules on Sundays and being Mothers Day will everything likely be really busy? If yes can you make suggestions on where to park what to do on a day that could be quite busy? Thanks.

Stayed there last summer for 1 night pre cruise. The motel gets a lot of negative comments but for a 1 nights stay I had no problems. Ended up paying the $50 fee to leave my vehicle parked at the motel while on the cruise which worked out just fine. Took the free shuttle to the San Pedro pier, it only runs the one direction. Post cruise we took a taxi back to the motel where the car was parked. I'd guess it's much less then 5 miles from the pier think even with tip the cab back to the hotel was less then $15. There's also a Rite-Aid store within walking distance of the motel for any wine, soda, water. food, or other needs you need to pick up to take to the ship.

Looks like lots of views on my post but very little comment. Let me just add there is a Rite Aid drug store less then 2 blocks from the Vagabond hotel in San Pedro for those wishing to pick up a bottle of wine on board your ship of choice. I made the easy walk to that fully stocked store with no fear of any trouble from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Know there have been numerous negative comments about the Vagabond Hotel in San Pedro however my wife and I stayed there 1 night pre cruise Friday Oct 10th and had no issues whats so ever. The staff was courteous, and helpful and the morning continental breakfast while nothing special included enough of the basics to make it to lunchtime on the ship anyway. The nightly rate was much lower then I found at either the Crowne Plaza or the Doubletree which I found the hotels of choice for the most part pre cruise. For a one night stay pre cruise stay I saw no reason to pay more then double the rate, experienced a comfortable bed and had no problems with noise. In addition ended up parking my vehicle in the regular Vagabond hotel lot for $50 for the 7 day cruise, and also took advantage of there free shuttle service to the ship Sat. Oct 11th. That $50 plus the $8 taxi fare back to the hotel at the end of the cruise obviously totaled right around $65 with tips included versus the $84 price it would have cost to park at the port 7 days times $12 per day plus whatever tips ended up being. Sure others will disagree but from a recent traveler the wife and I had no negative issue staying at the Vagabond Hotel San Pedro for a much less costly 1 night pre cruise stay.

Took the California coastal cruise right after the 1 the OP started this thread about departing Oct 11th. Overall I guess I was fairly satisfied if only because Princess is the only line offering this itinerary that I could find. Had early assigned evening dining although they say it's 6pm when you get your ship card for the week the time listed on the card is 5:30 not 6 a little early. I also found the service in the Bottecelli dining room to be quite slow. Also found the deserts both in the dining room as well as up in Horizon Court the buffet to be constantly repetitive and not very good. Thought the singers and dancers as well as the comedian to be quite good, however as mentioned previously the theatre ofter filled totally up at least 30 minutes to the the start of every show so if you wanted a seat at the earlier show you needed to arrive quite early. Lastly although I'm in my early 60's I would say the average age of the passengers on our cruise was well past my age. Although my energy level is not what it once was on this cruise I felt like one of the younger guests on the ship. Many to many wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, and people walking with canes made it feel like a retirement home setting rather then a fun vacation.

Anyone know if the san diego red trolley system goes near the zoo from the cruise terminal. Know the Santa Fe Amtrak train station is within walking distance of the cruise terminal, believe the trolley system has a major stopping point across the street from the train station but don't know if u can catch a trolley from there that goes close to the zoo. Thanks for any responses.

Hello All.

Saw these 11 and 12 day Carnival itineraries out of Galveston Tx on the Carnival Trimuph early in 2015. Does anyone know if these are a permanment addition to Carnival's itineraries out of Galveston. Looks like one of them may be a repositioning cruise to get the Trimuph to San Juan PR but didn't know if these longer itineraries would still be offered on any of the other Carnival ships sailing out of Galveston going forward. Thanks in advance for any replies.

Any more comments on my Vagabond Inn post in San Pedro for 1 night pre cruise? Thanks.

Hello. Driving over from Phoenix the day before our California coastal cruise on the Crown Princess departing San Pedro Sat. Oct 11th. Have read lots about the Crown Plaza and Doubletree as the two places to stay the night before our cruise. However due to not leaving here in Scottsdale until some time mid afternoon on Oct 10th so not arriving in the LA area until mid evening anyway I booked the Vagabond Inn in San Pedro for the 1 night pre cruise. It was quite a bit cheaper then the Crown Plaza or Doubletree but is able to be cancelled if need be. Is it really that bad for such a short term stay or should the wife and I be able to stick it out for just the one night? Thanks in advance for all responses.

So appreciate all the feedback everyone shared with the differences between Carnival and Princess. Not unhappy with Carnival they just don't offer a California coastal itinerary. Never have written a review on any of my Carnival past cruises but will try and comment on what I noticed as the differences after our October Princess cruise on board the Crown. Thanks again.

Hello All. Am a platinum cruiser on Carnival after our 10th strait Carnival cruise under the grandfathering program in 2013. However since Carnival has such a small prescense on the West Coast anymore booked a 7day Pacific Coastal cruise in October on the Crown Princess.

Departs Oct 11th from San Pedro with stops at San Francisco, Santa Barbara, San Diego and Ensenada Mexico along with 2 sea days. Any comments or opinions that the wife and I will find on Princess vs Carnival are most appreciated. Thank You in advance.

It's not a Carnival sponsored excursion. But 2 years ago when we visitied La Romana on the Carnival Freedom, we signed up for the Carnival Samoa special with a private excursion company named Seavis Tours. We've been on 10 Carnival cruises and always like the piece of mind in booking those Carnival excursions. However this time due to all the great reviews we took a chance and went with Seavis Tours. Far and away the best excursion we've ever done. From the speedboat ride out to Samoa island, the lunch, and the starfish beds on the way back. Highly recomended.

Matthew19 I would just like to know if Carnival contacted you at all in regards to this video u posted. I as all the other posters have mentioned find it amazing and would think the Carnival marketing dept. would contact you for some type of permission to use this video u created in either there advertising or marketing campaigns. It certainly puts a tremendous positive spin on Carnival cruises and family vactioning with them. Thank You for posting.

531 Morebeer Scottsdale, AZ