gizmo911

Go to carnival's website, under "manage" click on "my booking" - this will take you to the "my cruise manager page." To the right there is "cruise details" - click on that. There it has your dining time - next to that it says "edit" If it won't change for you because early is already booked, call your TA or PVP at carnival to ask them to waitlist you for early.

Thanks!

Will be on Valor 3/27 - 4/4. I have my port itineraries all set but would like to know a little about on board such as:

1- Ship Tour: cost and is it worth it

2- Does Valor have cooking demonstration

3- Bingo: do you need a doper or is it the same as usual

4- Are there $2 blackjack tables

5- What movies are they showing now

6- How are the shows and comedy club performers

Thanks for any info you can provide

I was assigned late and prefer early. How do you go about switching or at least requesting change. I will be traveling in the next 3 weeks.

Thanks

I plan to book, how much would be an appropriate tip?

For about 8 cruises I have been solo. I don't mind traveling alone but I hate eating alone. So far I have had really nice table mates but on a couple of occasions have gotten a few that were not very friendly or you felt like the 3rd wheel. On those few occasions, I would as for a table change if I was uncomfortable. As far as dressing up, I always wear nice casual clothes and on formal nights I bump it up a bit because I don't get to dress up much. Enjoying your review.

No, not really. First off, most of the planes are fairly small. You tend to only see pictures and videos posted of the big planes... because those are the most impressive. But the big planes are rare. Most of the traffic is much smaller planes.

 

Second, you can easily go 30 minutes or more between planes... especially before noon. It gets a little busier in the afternoon. So, imagine a nice quiet beach and then about twice an hour a small plane flies overhead. It's not a big disturbance to the peace and quiet.

 

I think it's just a fantastic little beach, and lots of fun!

Thanks you so much for your feedback. We do want to stay together so we will take your suggestion and try this beach.

Can someone please tell me where I can read about and purchase this offer. Thanks.

Does anyone know if the free trolley stops at El Yunque Rain Forest/ National Park location?

Really enjoying your review and getting some great ideas. I will be on Valor in March and one of the ports will be San Juan. I have always wanted to tour El Yunque Rain Forest. Are there tours offered at pier or transportation available that will take me to them and back to ship. On a budget and trying not to have to book any excisions with cruise line.

Thanks

Mullet Bay is VERY nearby. It's the next beach over from Maho Bay. I don't know for sure that taxis are readily available, though.

 

There's no reason that the folks who just want a relaxing beach day couldn't get that at Maho Bay. It's a very nice beach... and you can rent loungers and umbrellas. There are bathrooms, and a restaurant and bar. I'd suggest you all just stick together.

I wanted to be somewhere quiet and thought with planes coming in and going out would make it noisy. Is this the case?

AWWWW I know this is going to be good. Nice start

Our 1st Port Of Call: St Maarten

 

From the very first time I saw YouTube videos of the planes landing above the beach at Princess Juliana airport in St Maarten... I've wanted to go there and see it for myself.

 

 

I actually made it to St Maarten last year during a cruise on the Norwegian Getaway. I chickened out about seeing the planes land at Maho Beach, however, because I would have had to venture out on my own and take a taxi all the way across the island to get there. Even though I'm an experienced cruiser, I still prefer to do a ship-sponsored shore excursion rather than heading out on my own.

 

But this year, on Carnival Freedom, I was determined to finally see Maho Beach and the famous low-flying planes. I got my courage up and took that taxi ride that I had been worrying about. It turns out that I had nothing to worry about at all. It couldn't have been much easier. All we had to do when we got off the ship was head out to the front of the terminal, where there's a taxi stand full of many other people that -- just like me -- wanted to venture off to somewhere at the other end of the island. The taxis were all lined up in a big line, just waiting for passengers. Now when you say "taxi" on St Maarten... that could mean anything from a four-person sedan all the way up to a 15-passenger van. And they don't use meters! Everything is a fixed rate, based on where you want to go. The more people that the taxi can take at one time, the lower the rate per person.

 

We were lucky enough, when we got to the front of the line, to get matched up with a bunch of other people who all wanted to go to the same place... and so we all piled in to a 15-person van and we all got the benefit of a lower per-person rate. Kellyn and I were in the far back seat of this big 15-passenger van... and I have to admit that I had a little bit of a claustrophobia panic attack when I started imagining the van getting in to an accident and I was stuck in the far back seat. But I got over it, put on my vacation smile, and soon enough we were at the world-famous Sunset Bar & Grill at Maho Beach.

 

 

We had a wonderful day at Maho Beach. The weather was absolutely perfect, and I got to swim and snorkel as well as have a lot of fun watching the planes land! It was mostly small planes in the morning, and that gave me the opportunity to practice and refine my technique. Shooting pictures of the planes landing is way harder than I imagined! Those things move fast, so it takes some practice to get the framing and the focus just right. Also, I had to experiment with finding the right location to shoot from. Would it look more dramatic if I shot from the height of the restaurant's deck... or from down at water level.

 

A test shot from beach level, with a small private plane making a fairly high and un-dramatic approach.

 

During one attempt at shooting while standing in the surf, I was paying so much attention to the planes that I stopped thinking about the surf... and promptly got knocked down by a wave, barely keeping my camera dry by holding it up above the water line as I tried to regain my composure.

 

Eventually, I figured out that it was not only safer to shoot from the restaurant's deck, but it also provided a more dramatic angle to the photos. Here's the best picture I got that day, after much practice:

 

 

There's more to a day at Maho Beach than just watching the planes land. There's food and drink at the Sunset Bar & Grill. Also, the beach itself is really nice... with warm water and nice sand. You can rent a pair of loungers under an umbrella for $20... a good way to prevent a sunburn. We saw a LOT of people get burned on that beach that day! Also, bring some snorkeling gear. There's some rocks near the restaurant and the fish hang out there.

 

But the other cool thing besides watching plane landings is watching planes takeoff! The end of the runway is right next to the beach, and the big jets sit there at the end of the runway and power up their engines before they finally take off the brakes and head down the runway. Those jet engines send a powerful blast of wind on to the beach... blowing sand everywhere, as well as blowing away all lightweight items such as hats, papers, and empty plastic bottles. It's crazy to watch! I didn't catch it on video, but I found this next video on YouTube and it shows it very well... although the beach was certainly less crowded in the video than on the day I visited!

 

[YOUTUBE]IIPIWtwef_g[/YOUTUBE]

 

I experienced something very unusual that day at Maho Beach. Kellyn and I were sitting up at the Sunset Bar & Grill having a very nice lunch and watching the planes land. It had been mostly small planes up until that point. Finally, there was a fairly large commercial jet that was ready to take off. From our perch up on the patio of the restaurant, we had a really nice view of it. It was a spectacular takeoff, with the big jet engines blowing all sorts of stuff from the crowded beach in to the water. I had seen it a whole bunch of times in YouTube videos, but seeing the real thing was so much more intense. I became overwhelmed by it all as this unusual experience unfolded in front of me... not overwhelmed by jet blast or sand or anything like that... I was way out of the line of fire. I was emotionally overwhelmed by it all. I had wanted to come to this place for so many years. It was so much more spectacular in person than it was on YouTube. I literally just started to cry. Really! It was so overwhelming. Who cries at the sight of a plane taking off?!?! So, it's confirmed... I'm officially weird!

 

After a wonderful day on on Maho Beach, we took a taxi back to the cruise ship. One of the things that worried me about venturing off on our own rather than being on a ship-sponsored shore excursion was the concern that we might get ourselves over to Maho Beach and then not be able to find a taxi to take us back to the ship. It turns out I was worried over nothing. Look at those pictures of Maho Beach, and all the people there. About half of them came from the cruise ships, and all eventually needed a ride back. There were taxis EVERYWHERE. We lucked out and found a taxi driver that was driving a nearly-new Toyota Highlander. Most comfortable taxi ride, ever... and a vacation day that I will not soon forget!

I know that there is another beach close to Maho. Did you by any chance know how close and if taxi's will pick up there. We have a few who want to see planes but the rest of us don't and just want a relaxing beach day. Thanks. PS. I love your reviews. So far my favorite contributor.

Is the Coach discount place near the pier or in walking distance. Were do I find this place, PLEASE

I will be on Valor does this ship offer Chef Table and if so what is the cost.

Also as a non-drinker I was wondering if the dinning experience alone would be worth the cost. Thanks.

I wanted to check-in early to avail myself of one of the Vibe Beach Club passes that are limited in numbers and sold on a first-come first-served basis. My plan was to be at the pier for 9.30am but there was a delay waiting for a taxi, so it was just before 10am. The taxi showed $14 on the meter and took 10-15 minutes. Getaway uses two terminals so be aware you need to go to the correct one. Mine was Terminal C, presumably because my cabin was in the forward part of the ship. There were already 30 or 40 passengers waiting for security to open prior to checking in.

 

 

 

 

My Boarding Group was number 5 but I think the groups are quite small, so I was aboard very shortly after the boarding process started. First stop was reception for the Vibe Beach Club pass. It costs $79 per person or $299 for a large private cabana for two, of which there are only five and that price includes $100 in onboard credit; so in effect only $20 per person more. They are an absolute bargain and I recommend couples snap one up if they get to reception quickly enough.

 

Next on the list was a visit to Le Bistro where I was able to book the Chef’s Table. It only takes place once and is normally limited to the first 12 passengers and usually sells out on the first day. It is $99 and, as it transpired, probably the biggest bargain I have ever had on a cruise.

 

Then a visit to the Booking Office to check availability for the Illusionarium for the first night, second show, which was showing as full before I came away. They were able to book me in and there is a 20% discount on the first night only. For those who take the Ultimate Dining Package, the Illusionarium is free on the first night. I decided against the UDP on this trip for two main reasons. I planned to dine at Ocean Blue once or twice and it is not included and similarly the Chef’s Table. So it would be less expensive for me to just pay as I went along.

Quick question about chef's table. Being a non=drinker do you think that this dining experience alone would be worth the $99?

Great Review

Silly question, but what email address did you use?

Maybe you can help with this. I am going on Valor March 27 and I originally requested late dinning. I realize that eating after 8 might not be the best idea. Is it to late to request a change (early)? Do you know or can tell me where to find e-mail for Valor Maitre'd. Thanks

How was Coki Beach. Was it very crowded, looks a little small from a pic someone posted.

Just started reading you wonderful review (only up to page 2) and looking forward to the rest. My last cruise HMC was one of the ports. Sorry you missed it as it was one of the best private islands I'd ever been to. Perhaps next time.

Enjoying review

waiting for more

I love, love, love HMC. Best private island ever. Can't wait to be there again. What were your ports of call?

Wonderful pics, you all clean up nice (lol)

Show us how well you clean up after that long, hot day in port or lazy afternoon around the pool (lol). Post your elegant/formal night pictures yourself, family and friends.

Note: I would like to post a couple of my own but not sure how. My pictures were e-mailed to me and I down loaded them onto my computer.

Enjoying your review so far, keep it coming.