sungifts

Thank you so much for this report!! I have enjoyed your pictures and posts each day. My parents will be boarding tomorrow for a B2B (their 5th week this year on Liberty) and we will join them next week. :D

Sorry if these questions have already been asked!

 

If we are planning on Parasailing, do we need to make reservations ahead of time or can we just arrange it while on site at Mr. Sanchos? Also, are there umbrellas that I can use, to avoid looking like a lobster at the end of the day? :p

 

Also, what is the difference (outside of saving $5/person) is there between booking directly with Mr. Sanchos and using one of their partners, like Raccoon tours or Shore Excursioneer? Is it safe to book with them and how does that work??

 

Thanks!

We have booked directly with Sanchos and also thru Shore Excursioneer. I will book with SE from now on just to save the $5. lol You book online - pay a $4.95 deposit per person then print papers to take with you. Once you get there - you pay the balance.

There are plenty of umbrellas and shade. If you want an umbrella by the layout chairs close to the beach you can get one there also. I think they charge a deposit for those.

We tried parasailing on one of our visits and they didn't have any spots available. So if it's something you have set your heart on, you may want to prebook.

We love Sanchos!! Their food and drinks are great and waiters are good also. Have fun!

Was the debarkation process smooth and easy with the new terminal?

My parents just got off this morning. They said it was very smooth and quick. Grabbed their luggage and went thru customs in no time!

Thank you for the replies! It seems like it would be a nice peaceful beach day.

Carnival's Beach House Exclusive Getaway in Roatan

Has anyone done this excursion? There was only 1 review and I'm trying to decide if this would be a good fit for us. We are a party of 7 - ages ranging 12-46.

On Magic (with a 12 yr and 11 yr)- we were told the 12 year old could go down an age but the 11 yr could not go up an age group. I'm sure it depends on the staff on each ship.

We were just there in May. We booked thru their website but saw others doing it at the entrance. We also were told by our cab driver that you can get a deal through them. I can't remember the exact pricing but it was a few dollars less than what we paid in advance. I will say that we opted against the buffet because we had read it wasn't that great. We ordered right on the beach from a menu. If you search on here, mitsugirly has a review and pic of their menu. Prices weren't bad. When we went there were only 2 ships in port so it wasn't crowded at all. The water park was closed for some reason so that was a disappointment for my son but we still had fun. They play various games on the beach for free shirts, drinks, etc. My son had lots of fun playing on the water toys! Get there early as possible if there are lots of ships in port when you are going.

First hand experience - it is 1 point for every $2.50 spent in a slot machine. (Not a point for every dollar)

I do not play tables so I am not familiar with the point conversion there but do know you must ask to be rated for play.

After 1,500 points, you are eligible for drinks on us in the casino. If you have enough points on your last cruise (I think 5000??) you will be eligible for the drinks on us card at the beginning of your current cruise.

A high point number does not mean that you have spent hours and hours of time or tons of your own money. If you are playing a $5 machine, points add up fast! If you find a machine that is paying and you continue to play off what it has paid, you are still racking up points (and not actually spending "out of pocket" money).

Not sure about the amount of points needed for the free cruise offers but we have received them twice - once I had over over 8,000 points - husband had about 3,000 - and we both got the offer on the last night of cruise. I don't remember our points on the other cruise but I got the offer and he did not.

The last time they did the $50 book/$50 OBC offer, my husband got the offer but I did not (and I gamble way more than he does).

I will say that we just cruised in May and I had well over 5,000 points (stopped paying attention at that point), had the drink card waiting on me on day 1, hit a $1920 jackpot and did NOT get a free offer at the end - I did have another cruise already booked for November so maybe there is truth in no free offers if you already have another booked???

I also received a premier invitation several months ago that expired in May and could not take any of the dates offered - since then I have received 2 more offers - so obviously those keep coming.

I've never had to cancel but wanted to say we've been a few times when it was 80-100% rain and it either didn't rain when we were in port or it was a quick light shower. We loved Sanchos!! Best food and great drinks!

From Carnival's FAQ page:

http://www.carnival.com/CMS/FAQs/Medical_Services.aspx

Medication

Motion Sickness: complimentary Meclizine (Bonine) is available from the Medical Center, Room Service or the Information Desk, free of charge. A motion sickness shot can be administered to those who are actively vomiting, but not as preventive medicine; there is a fee for the shot. The Medical Center does not have motion sickness patches nor wristbands.

Is this no longer offered? We just got off Freedom last weekend and I saw something on board (can't remember where or what) that said they give free Bonine. I remember commenting to my husband that I never knew they offered that. (We've never needed it but it was nice to see it was offered for those that do)

Thank you for the video! We leave on her in 30 days!

Wow thanks OP!! I just got mine. Seems like a good deal to me!

Not sure about your ship, but we just sailed the Magic out of Galveston last week - We arrived at the port about 11 and were in our room by 11:45.

I'm sure it will depend on wedding parties and VIPs ahead of FTTF guests. I prefer to get there and start my vacation as early as possible!

We were there in October and had an excellent waiter. I asked him if he preferred to be tipped with each delivery or at the end. He said the end was fine. It was my hubby, me and our son. We tipped $40 at the end. He was a great waiter and kept bringing the drinks without us even asking. When it was time to leave he even brought us bottled water to go (we didn't ask for it- he just brought it)!

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Thanks for the review! We leave January 18th! This will be our first time with FTTF. Glad to see you were able to board so early!

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We had an ocean suite in October on the Dream. We received a letter the night before debarking saying we had priority debark and would be called after the self assist. I think we had #3 tags.

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Booked this two years ago and it was nice, but did not use the cabana much-thought I would never book this way again. We are booked again for the next cruise in Feb. 2015 fro the romance package-it was only 20.00 more then booking the AI and the massages. It also was they only way to book that allowed to order off the menu if there was a buffet offered. Buffets are okay-would rather have the option of the menu. The massage was excellent the last time.

We had the option of ordering off the menu (and did so in addition to the buffet) on the AI side just a couple weeks ago and we didn't have a cabana. I have heard others talk of not being able to order off the menu. I wonder what the deal is with that :confused:

If you get there early enough you can probably get one for nothing. When we went we got there pretty early and non that I saw were reserved.

You will be put at a table with an umbrella. You can also "rent" ($15 refundable deposit) an umbrella to put over one of the beach layout chairs and use that for a nap place if you don't get a cabana.

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You can rent a "cabana" thru their website. It's $200 and comes with a massage.

We were there a couple weeks ago. The cabanas are covered, 4 posts with a mattress and curtains you can close. If they are not rented they are free if you can snag one. I did think it was good for people with children that may want to nap.

Here is a pic - not the best but gives you an idea. We were on the AI side. I did see some on the pay side that were palapa covered and seemed nicer.

Keep in mind that in front of them are 2 rows of tables with umbrellas or palapa roofs then 2-3 rows of beach chairs so your beach/ocean view is limited.

We loved it there and plan to go back in January!

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Hubby and I just did the hot stone couples massage on the Dream. It was in the room with the jacuzzi but did not include the jacuzzi. I think you have to book a specific treatment for that. Massage was great- I just hate the sales pitch they do after it!

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do you know how old the kids have to be to ride the atvs? did you do the all inclusive. We will be on Oasis leaving nov. 16

I'm not sure what age the kids have to be to ride the atvs. I looked and didn't see any ages listed on their website. You may try emailing them.

mrsanchosbeachclub@gmail.com

We did the all inclusive side and felt it was a good value for the amount of food and drinks we had. The food was good and the drinks not watered down. We plan to go back in January!

I got the same call and email before my Dream cruise on the 19th. We were on board by noon.

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Was there last week. They do have umbrellas you can "rent" for the layout beach chairs. If on the AI side it's a $15 refundable deposit. Not sure what it is on the other side.

We loved it there and plan to go back in January!

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According to their packages on the website the $55 does not include kayaks. We were just there last week. We did the $88 package with food and 2 drinks. They gave us a wristband so I'm guessing that's how they know which package you got.

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We just returned yesterday from the Dream. Before leaving we reserved Mr. Sanchos for Cozumel and were really happy with it! My son turned 11 on this cruise. He really enjoyed the water toys. We did the AI side and the water toys are $12 extra.

The food was really good as were the drinks - not at all watered down. We took a cab ($20 including tip) from Punta Lagosta (sp?). When we got there it was a little hectic as there were so many checking in. We paid the remaining balance, got our wrist bands, a quick show of where the bathrooms, lockers, buffet, etc were and were escorted to a table right on the beach. Our waiter was perfect! He kept checking in with us to see what we needed. You can order food from the menu or get it from the buffet. We did both. For us I feel the cost of AI was well worth it as we ate and drank plenty! He even handed us bottled waters when we were leaving.

The water toys are closer to the PAYG side but we were still able to see our son from where we were sitting (closer to the other end of the AI side). We did not use the kayaks or lockers or snorkel equipment, but they are included with a refundable deposit. We also didn't use the pool but it looked nice. There is a pool on the PAYG side also.

My husband and son snorkeled and saw some fish and lobsters. They have some type of concrete blocks under water inside the roped off area -and that's about as far as my son went - but it kept him busy for quite a while.

As for crowds - I have heard they only allow so many people. When we were there I think there were 5 ships in port but it did not seem crowded at all. Of course it's October and not a lot of kids were sailing either. I would imagine that August may be a bit different.

I was very happy that we chose Sanchos and would definitely go again!

I can't comment on the ruins as we stayed at Sanchos until time to re-board the ship.