tea4ular
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Posts posted by tea4ular
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8 hours ago, caribill said:
Thank you - not for an Alaskan cruise I think...
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I've not sailed on Princess, so I am clueless about The Sanctuary. Can someone provide details? It's an outdoor space? Not very appealing for an Alaska cruise? I'm booked for Alaska Sept 2019.
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1 hour ago, tioalmsp said:
The Enclave at the Spa on the Regal was $149.00 per person for the 7 days on our cruise last month. You have to purchase it on the ship at the spa and you should but it shortly after boarding. We loved it and used it twice a day. Very relaxing. Have a great cruise.
Would you mind describing the Enclave - amenities, hours, etc. Whatever you might know about it. Thanks!
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We recently booked a Los Angeles (our home port) round trip Alaska sailing on Princess (12 night, Sept 2019) - we've never sailed Princess, although we have sailed almost all the major lines. I expect it to be "different" from Carnival (our favorite), not better, not worse, just "different" - but Alaska is a "different" cruise anyway. What swayed us to this sailing were several things, Glacier Bay, round trip from our home port (no flying!), and they had an accessible balcony available (my husband is a quadriplegic and uses an electric wheelchair, the accessible cabin is a requirement). The cost is quite high, but they tossed in pre-paid gratuities and $300 OBC (in addition to our shareholder credit). The price also dropped 18% since we booked and have been price matched quickly and easily - I expect the price may drop again...we'll see.
When I read the boards I really notice that there is a lot of brand loyalty, but also a lot of folks (like myself) really dissect the itinerary and logistics - getting to/from port, ports of call, perks, etc. -
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Looking at this information page that iriecruising provided it looks like Carnival is very sensitive to those that board in Barbados...they've even set up an e-mail account specifically for those passengers to contact them.
This is listed on my cruise shore excursion page for San Juan. It provides some contact information when it comes to excursions for those boarding in barbados. -
I know this is old, but did the tour give enough time to enjoy the pool at the port at all?
Not really, it was an all day sail and snorkel - we were fine with that.
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Another reason we make payments monthly from the time we book until final payment. We aren't needing to come up with a large sum in one fell swoop.
I hope you are able to make arrangements.
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Impressive! Did that cost extra?
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We did it with cavetubing.bz and LOVED it! Not having to carry your own tubes was great. Pick up and drop off were easy and timely. Our guides were great, and they were generous with the rum punch on the ride home!
Same here, cavetubing.bz - wonderful excursion, includes homemade lunch at the owner's home. Great company, great all around.
We booked independently online (direct with .bz) - and we wore water shoes - they were fine. No flip flops for sure!
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The 8 (or maybe it was 9) day out of SD that included Acapulco was wonderful (Carnival Spirit). I would do that again in a heartbeat.
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There's a head count to the muster drill (which is why folks who try to "hide" or avoid it, hold the rest of us up) as well as crew in those stations. A kiosk type experience would not provide the average passenger enough detail on where and how to find their muster station.
As much as I dislike the process, the end also signifies we are "officially" on vacation.
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Ok, I need a little help understanding the Thermal Suite and T-Pool. I like quiet rooms, so I'm hoping this was a good choice. If you like the quiet cabins, then Cloud 9 is your friend! Almost no foot traffic to speak of (just your neighbors), and in the 6 Cloud 9 sailings we've done, we've never encountered kids in the "neighborhood" - very serene. I would like to know exactly what the Thalassotherapy pool is. Is it like a hot tub? Warm or cool? The "T-Pool" is a very large "jacuzzi" (fits about 20, but there are never even more than maybe 6 at a time) - it is much warmer than any of the hot tubs on deck, they say there are minerals for health, blah, blah, blah...I don't know, but I adore it! Also, are the Thermal Suites like saunas? The "Thermal Suites" are a series of steam rooms and saunas that range in temperature, going from hottest to coolest with the grand finale being a room with heated tile loungers (like these: http://lh4.ggpht.com/HUg9rFIeFDm_NCN5c7BC06ALl9mwAm_auhK3LlwMbPb9zDtUz8uyXSj8HAvgVinIfkVivgYb-IFhTgBGibc9mZsYbg=s750
) - the room itself is not hot, but as we've done the entire suite (starting at the t-pool, working our way from steam to less hot thermal suite rooms (about 12 minutes per room) by the time we get to the loungers they simply melt our bodies! Also, most of the thermal rooms (not all) have floor to ceiling windows to the sea, and if your fellow suite users understand "spa" includes being very quiet, the entire experience is sublime. Take note, it is a co-ed space, so a bathing suit is required.
My notes in blue
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Not specifically the Dream, but anytime we've had 3 to a balcony cabin, we've asked the cabin steward for a 3rd chair, and have received it (a nice $10 bill goes a long way). There's "just" enough room for the 3rd one. Not enough for loungers.
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OP I truly adore the violin picture with your son! That's one I would have framed. To me, it epitomizes what Carnival staff is known for, sincere caring and kindness.
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There are no chairs or loungers on that "balcony" - and be sure to close the first set of doors fully before opening the next - there's some mighty vortex that happens there! It's a nice place to hang out and stargaze or watch as you sail into port.
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Take into consideration that the port side has an outdoor smoking area (granted several floors below deck 11) - I have heard that sensitive folks catch whiffs of cigarette smell even up on 11. We have exclusively booked starboard side because of that. 11229 has been very good to us. :)
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Our Roatan snorkel highlight was due to Hebert at Roatan Ocean Adventures: http://roatanoceanadventures.com/
Our Belize cave tubing highlight was due to cavetubing.bz
We love both of these!
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Midnight buffet.
Ah yes! The incredible midnight buffet. I remember waking my daughter up (she was 8 on our first cruise together) to go to this. I loved how they would let us all line up to go around to take pictures, and ooh and aah, before anyone touched a single thing. They really were awe-inspiring.
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So, my best friend and I tried the Cloud 9 spa cabin when the Splendor first set sail in 2009 (first ship to have Cloud 9). At that time, I had a long-term professional relationship with my TA and he upgraded us as a "gift" - we were hooked from day 1 and find it difficult to even consider a ship without something similar (really!).
The location of the cabins is wonderful for us. we aren't big partiers, and the location of the spa cabins are pretty remote, and have very little foot traffic (pretty much only those who "live" in the neighborhood). The decor was serene, and much more zen than any cabin we'd ever had before. The big comfy terrycloth robes were divine. The spa products were lovely (at that time they even included a lavender pillow spray that was heavenly).
And then there was the spa itself! We created a daily ritual for ourselves, where we would head to the spa around 4:00 when many were heading "home" to get ready for the evening. We would start in the thalassotherapy spa "pool" (a warmer and much larger jacuzzi type "pool"), and then make our way from steam room (with citrus or eucalyptus essential oils), to the less and less "hot" rooms, until we finally made our way to the heated loungers where we would just melt. Overall our "ritual" would last about 90 minutes. We'd bob and weave back "home" (I say bob and weave, because we were quite relaxed by this time), and take turns showering and hanging out on our balcony in those big comfy terrycloth robes, watching the sun set and coming back to life. For as long as it's been offered we've had "any time dining" and this allowed us to make our way to dinner, when we wanted (or I should say if we wanted!).
When we cruised with Celebrity to Alaska we were on the Mercury (she is now retired) and that ship had a similar spa (complete with the thelassotherapy pool and all) - let me tell you, it added an additional level of delight to that Alaska sailing! We now impatiently wait for another ship with a Cloud 9 or similar spa to sail to Alaska again.
I'm pretty sure I mentioned already that we're hooked on Cloud 9.
For the record, we never spend $ on the ship for massages or other treatments. The Cloud 9 alone is all the relaxation we need.
It's not for everyone, but if you enjoy a good steam/sauna, Cloud 9 is your place, and it cannot be beat.
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They're reputable, and use many of the same vendors as the cruise lines do.
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How is it possible that someone isn't aware that folks "behind the scenes" are part of the tip-pool? Even on land, in a restaurant, part of the tip you leave for your server is shared among those you never see.
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
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We love the organizer. On our Alaska cruise it provided massive storage for things we wanted close at hand, gloves, scarves, hats, umbrella (the small kind), binoculars, as well as cameras, chargers, and of course toiletries. In the Caribbean it holds sunscreen, umbrella (parasol), along with the other usual items.
Of course it's not "necessary" but it certainly makes the space tidier and far easier to find (smaller) things.
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Worth the wait (in our opinion) for freshly prepared food with ingredients that we choose.
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I love the price point, and have always (ALWAYS) had positive experiences with Carnival.
For the record I've sailed all the majors except Princess (a Carnival company) and Disney.
REWARD OFFERED !
in Carnival Cruise Lines
Posted
This won't help the OP find their camera, but a while back I read a suggestion for the first picture on your camera to be of your cabin # (or other identifying information).
OP, I really hope your camera shows up.