eastnorri

Hello Jeanne, We did self-assist and walked off the ship at 8:30am with no problem. It seemed like there were many people who started getting off sometime around 8am or earlier, I am not sure.

November 2014 we took a 7 day Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Glory. When the weather is perfect, and it was for us, the Caribbean is spectacular! We flew from Philadelphia to Ft Lauderdale the day of the cruise on Saturday at 7am, took a bus transfer through Carnival for $30 per person one-way, and arrived at the port of Miami at around 11:30am. The check-in process was very fast and easy due to online check-in. We left our bags with the porters outside and tipped them $3 per bag. Got on the ship, had lunch at the buffet, hung out on the lido deck for the sail away. Perfect and no problems.

Our cabin was inside on a quiet hallway. Sometimes we could hear some sort of machinery making noise almost like the sound of an anchor going up or down but the noise only lasted about 30 seconds then would stop. Late in the evening, around 10-11pm the disco would open and the first song was always the loudest then it would quiet down. None of these noises bothered us ever. Before entering our room we met the room steward who introduced himself and never forgot our names the entire trip, he was the best. The cabin was very clean, somewhat small, had a safe, a hair dryer, a fridge, lots of storage, two new bathrobes, a great overhead flat screen TV, and every night chocolates and towel animals. The only issue was square footage which I believe is a money issue, if we had spent more we would have gotten more. My GF and I are still in love so no complaints here.

Food quality and selection at the buffet on the lido deck was sometimes good and sometimes mediocre, but never bad. IMO and my GF we thought the food in the main dining room was great both in selection and quality. They had salmon some nights, lobster tails one night, and a very good selection. We never pay for the specialty restaurants because we are on a budget. We also thought the service was great everywhere on the ship.

Entertainment was ok or mediocre at best. We saw a few comedians they were ok, they had a dance and music show it was good nothing exciting, there were two or three music bands/groups on the ship that were very good, but nothing really outstanding. Again I guess you get what you pay for. Not much to do except play in casino, have a drink, sit on the lido deck, go for a swim, they have a nice spa, library, and shopping, etc. The ship is very clean and we could see no major issues. My only complaint with all ships is too much cigarette smoke. We stayed away from the casino due to smoke.

Ports (Half Moon Cay, Puerto Rico, St Thomas, and Grand Turk) were great.

At Half Moon Cay we did the bike tour, all excursions on this island are through Carnival, Carnival either owns, leases, or manages the island or both, it is a very nice island. We loved the bike ride, they took us around the island and we stopped at most excursions and got to watch them which I thought was fun. Half way through we go off the bikes and hiked up a small hill with a great view of a bay and saw the jet ski excursion (bring bug dope for the hike only – no bugs anywhere else only on the hike). For $39.00 plus tip we thought it was a bargain. Afterwards there was a free barbeque which had the usual chicken, burgers, hot dogs, salads, etc. free and very good. Then we walked along the beach and went swimming, the weather was perfect.

At Puerto Rico, we took a free shuttle bus that goes around the old city for free. Got off at the fort, walked in and around the fort, walked around the city, had arroz con pollo at a little diner then went back to the ship.

At St. Thomas, I went scuba diving with a great outfit called underwater safaris they are great and top notch, but pricey but worth it. My GF went shopping at the stores and the outdoor market via small bus for a few bucks. On another cruise we went up the gondola which is fun, at the top is shopping and food/restaurants/bar/great views well worth the $20. And you can walk from the ship port/dock.

At Grand Turk I went scuba diving with oasis divers, these guys are super nice but the boats/pontoon boats and gear is mediocre at best. Also, we dove late in the afternoon so it was dark at depth and not a lot of wildlife. My GF did stand up paddle boarding and said the water was too ruff/high waves to enjoy.

Disembarkation on the Glory was very easy with no problems, we did self-assist and were the first ones off. FYI you have to fill out a form for anything you declare/bought while on the cruise. They did not ask us or look at the forms only collected them.

Would be happy to answer any questions

Overall our cruise was great…for the money…a GREAT VALUE.

May 2015 we took a 7 day Caribbean cruise aboard the NCL Norwegian Getaway. We flew from Philadelphia to Miami the day of the cruise on Saturday at 7am, the pilot did not show up, the flight was delayed two hours, luckily the airline US Airways got an alternate pilot and we got to the port with time to spare. We took a bus transfer through NCL for $15 per person one-way, and arrived at the port of Miami at around 1pm. We normally arrive early. I never saw so much luggage in my life. And the check in line was very long but moved very fast. The check-in process was very fast and easy due to online check-in. We left our bags with the porters outside and tipped them $3 per bag. Got on the ship, had lunch at the buffet, hung out on the lido deck for the sail away…needless to say we were hi fiving each other because if we had missed the ship….well you get it….lesson learned.

Our cabin was inside on a quiet hallway and there were never any issues with noise. Our cabin was hard to find because it was an inside cabin and the hallway is in the center of the ship so you need to read the ship map well. The cabin was very clean, very small, had a safe, a hair dryer, a fridge, lots of storage, you have to ask for bathrobes, a small overhead flat screen TV, and every night towel animals. The only issue was square footage which I believe is a money issue, if we had spent more we would have gotten more. My GF and I are still in love so no complaints here…we like it cozy…wink.

Food quality and selection at the buffet was excellent. We thought the main dining room had food that was hit or miss, sometimes good and sometimes not good/mediocre always with great service though. We ate in the Tropicana dining room every night, they usually have live music which can get loud. Do they make the food poor in the complimentary dining rooms so you will go to the specialty restaurants? If they do, we can’t, we are on a budget.

Entertainment was excellent. We saw Burn the Floor a ballroom/Latin dance and music show, Legally Blonde the musical, comedians, live music, various activities on sea days, rock climbing wall, ropes course, swimming, various games shows, all were great. Too much cigarette smoke for me to go into the casino. There is a very high staircase/foyer in the middle of the casino and some cigarette smoke drifts to other locations but it was not too bad. I wish all ships were smoke free but may not happen.

Ports (Tortola, St Thomas, and Nassau) were great.

At Tortola, we went snorkeling on a NCL excursion. They pick you up at the dock and take you to two spots, one reef and one beach. I highly recommend this, we loved it, the provider was top notch as well as the spots they picked. It was called Norman Island snorkel for $79 per person.

At St. Thomas, I went scuba diving with a great outfit called underwater safaris they are great and top notch, but pricey but worth it. My GF went shopping at the stores and the outdoor market via small bus for a few bucks. We met at the ship at noon, had lunch on the ship, then got off the ship again and took the gondola which is fun, at the top is shopping and food/restaurant/bar/great views well worth the $20. And you can walk from the ship port/dock.

At Nassau, we took a combo bus tour to a tiny fort and outdoor market, a narrated harbor boat tour, and a narrated glass bottom boat tour all three for one price $69. We loved it. It is not great but fun and easy.

Disembarkation off the Getaway was very easy with no problems, we did self-assist and were some of the first ones off the ship. FYI you have to fill out a form for anything you declare/bought while on the cruise.

Would be happy to answer any questions

Overall our cruise was great, crew was great, food was ok, and ship is HUGE!