poppadevan

Will be cruising out of San Juan for the 4th time. However, every other time was in March and we were able to snag a great deal on hotels thru bidding on priceline.

 

But this time we are cruising in prime spring break season and need a room 3/21-3/22/15.

 

Haven't had any luck bidding on anything. Any suggestions?? Have only been bidding on 4* as I'm afraid to bid 3 1/2 and end up at the Raddison which doesn't get the best reviews.

 

Tried the Casablanca which someone on another thread suggested, however they have a two night minimum stay.

 

Has anyone gotten anything in March for under $200???

 

Am I bidding to early? should I wait a couple months?

I paid $169 in June for the Sheraton Old San Juan. This is right across the street from where Carnival Docks.

I was wondering if you can take a taxi up there instead of the tram.

if so does any one know how much it would cost from downtown shopping area?

If so is there taxies' available there to take you back to the ships Havensight.

If so how much would that be

For standard taxi fares in St. Thomas go to this website

http://www.**********/stthomas/getting_around_stt/taxi_stt/

I'm another who will say "go for the balcony". Yes, as others have said, it's a port heavy itinerary, but one of the most scenic. I really enjoyed sitting on the balcony enjoying coffee in the morning when sailing into the islands and was able to get some pretty decent pictures. We had a balcony on the right (starboard) side of Valor and had great views coming into St. Lucia and St. Kitts. We got up at 5:30AM the morning we arrived in St. Lucia and were able to see the Pitons. We got up at 6:00AM the morning we arrived in St. Kitts and had great views of Nevis, then St. Kitts. If we'd have gotten up a half hour earlier, we probably would have been able to see Montserrat and the small island of Redonda before Nevis. I only knew about those two because I read a review where they had some great pictures of those two as well, so I was kind of kicking myself for not getting up earlier. Next time I'll be sure to. It was also nice late at night to see islands lit up as we passed. You should be passing St. Thomas around midnight on the last night before arrival back in San Juan. I hope you get that balcony and hope you have a wonderful cruise on Valor. It was one of our favorite cruises.

Steelers fan. I was on the valor in June. Before I sailed I read your review of your earlier trip on the Valor. I must say that I have read thousands of reviews on Cruise Critic and other websites, and your review of your Southern Caribbean cruise on the Valor last year was the most thorough, well written, and enjoyable review I have ever read. And, oh, your photography was unbelievable.

That having been said, I am from Maryland and an avid Ravens fan.

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As a solo cruiser (and I too am one), stick with your original plan. Save the breezes, watching stars, room service etc till there's a WE cruising. Most people are pushing balcony, because they aren't solo. I'm not denying balconies are great, but I think it's a waste of money when you go solo, unless it's something you really really want.[/QUOT

 

Sorry, you are wrong. I, too, am a solo cruiser. This is the right itinerary to get a balcony. The views and photo opportunities are worth the extra money.

 

 

 

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I've gotten a bit of extra $$$ from work, and am considering upgrading to a balcony from an inside porthole cabin. I'm traveling solo- I don't care so much about the space, just have always wanted a balcony. It's about $400 more than what I paid. So, is it worth it or should I stick with the porthole and spend money elsewhere? I'm not planning on any major excursions in port other than St Lucia.

 

 

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If you've always wanted to try a balcony, then this itinerary would be the perfect one to do just that. Try to get one on the Starboard Side of the ship and make sure you get up early to see the Pitons from your balcony when arriving in St Lucia. All of these islands are beautiful, and seeing the sunrise while entering each port from your balcony will be worth the additional cost.

I wonder if she is also getting Dive in Movies? I don't care for the loud news/concerts, but we do like watching movies on the deck under the stars after a day in port. :)

There is no outside movie screen on the Pride, and don't believe they are adding one.

Ok so this is how the story goes..... hubby is getting bored with cruising, said he wants to try something different. He suggests an All Inclusive. I dont really want to do one. Dont know why, because we have never tried one.

 

We will be going for my 50th, so our one daughter and her boyfriend are coming for sure, not sure about the other daughter and her boyfriend.

 

Hubby saw some pictures of the Breeze today and said he would cruise if we went on a ship with different stuff than our usual choice of ships ( see my past cruises)

 

So I am looking for a newer ship with the 2.0 just not sure which to choose. I would love to do the 8 day Breeze to Aruba, Caracau, La Ramona and Grand Turk. But dd and her bf wont be able to fit that in with their budget.

 

Any suggestions :confused: Thanks

Looks like you've always sailed Carnival. While I personally like Carnival myself, perhaps your DH would enjoy some variety. Perhaps one of the Mega Ships with unique entertainment. I have sailed twice on the Epic and really enjoyed their Legends, Cirque, and Blue Man shows. They were very, very Las Vegas type. Also, I would like to try the Oasis or Allure because of their unique venues. Just a thought.

Me and the wife are doing the 9 day / 4 island Gem cruise in October.

 

We have been to St. Maarten before, but in looking at the shore excursions, they have a beach trip to Maho Beach, which seems like is right next to an airport and the planes fly right over head. The picture on the website makes it seem pretty cool, so we're thinking of doing it, but my wife is wondering if it is going to be insanely loud and dirty.

 

Has anyone been?

If you haven't been to Maho, then do it. It is on many peoples Bucket List. Spend a few hours at Sunset Bar and Grill. Go to Youtube.com and look at the videos. This will give you a good idea of what you are missing.

Sounds great. Was the jerk chicken very spicy or only moderately? I've been eager to try it but can't eat very, very spicy food.

 

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

I did not find the jerk chicken spicy at all. Try it and enjoy.

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Thanks!!! Hoping to hear from someone who has been there..food review??

We were in Grand Turk for the 4th of July last year. Went on a snorkelling junket to the WALL in the morning and did a Beach Bar Crawl in the afternoon.

Walked down to Jack's Shack to check out all of the hype that this bar has received. We were not impressed. Couldn't find a seat and couldn't get waited on. It was lunch time so we decided to have lunch at the Local Village Bar. The people and service was great. Eight of us had Jerk Chicken, Burgers and Dogs of various kinds. Everyone had drinks and our total was $115 including tip. Food was great, especially the Jerk Chicken. Also stopped at two more bars on the way back to Margaritaville. Was a wonderful day in Grand Turk.

Yes I took luggage with me and had FTTF.

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I left the Carnival Valor on Sunday, June 29 at 7:00 AM. Was at the Airport before 8. We had a 10:10 flight out. No Problem with plenty of time to spare.

If you are on the Carnival Valor, you should not have a problem. The ship docks before 6:00 AM. In June, I was off the ship by 7 and at the airport before 8. We had a 10:10 flight and made it through Agricultural scan and Customs and at our flight area before 8:30. Still had time to have breakfast and read a few chapters before boarding.

If you are into snorkelling or diving then a must would be to take the Carnival Excursion to The Wall. Grand Turk is one of the absolute best diving sites in all of the Caribbean. A short distance off shore there is a 7,000 ft dropoff. The excursion will take you to The Wall for snorkelling over the dropoff. It is an amazing experience to snorkel over the edge of the wall. This excursion then takes you to a second spot for more shallow snorkelling where they will coax out a few nurf sharks and feed them for your picture taking. This excursion is really worth the money. It leaves and drops you off right at the end of the docking pier.

After the Snorkelling. I would walk up to Jack's Shack for a free drink (coupon on his web site). He is about a 15 minute walk up the beach. Then walk back and do a beach/bar crawl back to Margaritaville. You will pass three other bars between Jack's Shack and Margaritaville.

I was on the Valor in June. We got off the ship at 7:00 AM on Sunday June 29. We were at the Airport before 8:00 AM. I booked a connecting flight at 10:10 through Orlando, FL. Then on to BWI. We were home by 4:30 in the Baltimore area. Do not be afraid to book an early flight out of San Juan. And, Orlando is a great connecting airport because of the popularity of Disney World. You should be able to make a convenient connection to most anywhere in the US. Hope this helps.

I have been Solo on the Epic twice. I have never seen the Studio Lounge area crowded. I would, as others have said, just bang on the door. Everyone who has entered the Lounge is there to interact and meet other singles. They will gladly let you in and welcome you with open arms. You will not be thrown out or treated with ill-will unless, of course, you were to offend someone or act in a crude manner. As for NCL staff, they are in the Lounge area to facilitate fellow passengers in making group arrangements. I am sure their attitude is, the more the merrier. Have Fun, you will enjoy your trip.

John Heald

4 hrs ·

Good morning

CARNIVAL PRIDE TO OPERATE SPECIAL 10- TO 14-DAY CARIBBEAN SAILINGS,

FIVE-DAY BERMUDA CRUISES FROM BALTIMORE AND SAN JUAN IN 2015-16

MIAMI (August 20, 2014) – For the first time, Carnival Pride will operate a series of 10- to 14-day Caribbean cruises round-trip from Baltimore and one-way between Baltimore and San Juan featuring some of the region’s most breathtaking destinations, as well as new five-day Bermuda cruises and unique six- and eight-day Caribbean/Bahamas voyages, beginning in October 2015.

“Our guests and travel agent partners have been seeking more varied options from the Northeast – particularly longer length voyages – and we’re delighted to expand our schedules from Baltimore and San Juan to provide these attractive ‘Fun Ship’ cruise offerings from these ports,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “These new voyages not only provide vacationers with an abundance of five- to 14-day cruise choices but also feature a wide range of spectacular island destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda,” he added.

One-of-a-Kind 10- to 14-Day Caribbean Cruises

Carnival Pride will operate a series of 10-, 11- and 14-day cruises either round-trip from Baltimore or one-way between Baltimore and San Juan in 2015 and 2016. The voyages include an 11-day exotic southern Caribbean cruise from Baltimore to San Juan departing Jan. 17, 2016, with stops at Grand Turk, Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, and St. Croix; a 10-day exotic eastern Caribbean cruise from San Juan to Baltimore departing Jan. 28, 2016, calling at St. Thomas, Antigua, Dominica, St. Lucia; St. Kitts and St. Maarten; and a 14-day eastern Caribbean cruise round-trip from Baltimore March 13, 2016, featuring eight different island destinations: Grand Turk, San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique, Antigua and St. Maarten.

During these voyages, guests can relax on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, enjoy a host of shopping, dining and sightseeing opportunities, experience unique Caribbean cultures and visit centuries-old landmarks and attractions.

New Five-Day Bermuda Cruises, Six- and Eight-Day Sailings

Carnival Pride will also offer two five-day Bermuda cruises in 2015-16 – one departing Oct. 26, 2015, and another April 10, 2016. These cruises spend two full days at Heritage Wharf, where guests can marvel at the island’s legendary pink sand beaches, enjoy a variety of watersports and visit historic sites such as the Royal Naval Dockyard and Gibb’s Hill Lighthouse, the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the Western Hemisphere.

Additionally, three six-day Bahamas cruises operating round-trip from Baltimore and featuring visits to Freeport and Nassau will be offered. These value-packed cruises, which depart Nov. 30 and Dec. 20, 2015, and Feb. 14, 2016, provide consumers with a new short duration cruise option from Baltimore at an incredible value.

Carnival Pride will also offer a new series of eight-day exotic eastern Caribbean voyages departing from Baltimore and featuring Grand Turk, the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau, each offering gorgeous beaches and excellent watersports. Departure dates for these voyages include Oct. 18 and 31, and Dec. 26, 2015, and Feb. 20, and April 15 and 23, 2016.

A special six-day East Coast U.S. and Bahamas cruise from Baltimore featuring the line’s first-ever scheduled in-transit call to Charleston, S.C., as well as Port Canaveral, Fla., Nassau, and Freeport, will be offered Nov. 22, 2015.

Exciting Fun Ship 2.0 Innovations

This fall, Carnival Pride will undergo a multi-million-dollar makeover that will add a variety of dining, bar and entertainment innovations that are part of the line’s Fun Ship 2.0 product enhancement initiative. New features will include Guy’s Burger Joint, developed in tandem with Food Network star Guy Fieri, the cocktail pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar, BlueIguana Cantina serving authentic Mexican fare, EA SPORTS Bar with a 16-monitor video wall and 24/7 sports ticker, and two poolside watering holes – RedFrog Rum Bar and BlueIguana Tequila Bar.

Sure to be a hit with guests of all ages will be WaterWorks featuring Green Thunder, the fastest and steepest slide at sea, as well as the line’s signature Twister slide and a water spray park. Also added will be Bonsai Sushi serving authentic Asian specialties, RedFrog Pub serving Carnival’s own private label draft beer, ThirstyFrog Red, Library Bar with self-service wine dispensers, and Cherry On Top, offering bulk candy, apparel and other items. New entertainment options such as Hasbro, The Game Show with larger-than-life adaptations of the company’s iconic games, and Playlist Productions where talented performers interact with spectacular staging and special effects, will be added, as well.

cheers

Several times in the 1980's. Short Bahamas cruises with kids. Remember NCL's "Dive In" program. This program has been given much credit for the beginning of an American crave for snorkeling in the Caribbean. Many, many good memories.

We stayed at the Sheraton on June 21 and boarded the Valor on June 22. The Sheraton was a great choice. We saw the Valor enter the harbor at about 5:30 Sunday morning from our balcony at the Sheraton. We checked out of the Sheraton at about 11:00 and walked over to the dock (5 min. walk). Went through check in and was in a pre-boarding area by 11:30. They started boarding the ship at 12:00. With FTTF we were among the first to board.

The following week we left the ship at 7:00 and were at the Airport by 8:00. We had a 10:15 flight home. What a great trip. You will have a great time. Enjoy!!!

You can get the Bushwacker at most any bar. However, Paradise Point is supposedly the home where it was concocted or invented. Just as Mountain Top is suppose to be the home of the original Banana Daiquiri. It's just the novelty of getting one where it was invented. I agree with a previous post. Ending my day at Paradise Point has become a very relaxing tradition.

I was on the Valor last month. Before sailing I had received two mailings from Carnival each with a $75 perforated, pull off, Casino Credit. When I took the two of them to the Casino Cash to pick up the cash, the clerk told me that there was a limit of one per cruise. When I asked, "well then why did they send me two mailings", I just received a blank stare as I was handed $75.

When I came home the following week, I received a mailing from Norwegian's CAS for a complimentary cabin with two drink cards good for any one of 5 different ships this Fall. I am sailing on the Norwegian Sun in December.

Norwegian's Casino program is much better.

MT = Home of the Banana Daiquiri

PP = Home of the Bushwacker

How thirsty are you?

I picked my kids up on May 11th, they had FTTF and I told them that I would be waiting outside the gate at 9:15. I arrived at the dock at 9:08 and they were already outside the gate and waiting for me.

Deck 7, all the way forward. But don't tell anyone it's a "SECRET".

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St Thomas we pulled in at 7am, those pics were taken around 6:30am. The other ports we docked around 8. If you know where the secret deck is, go out there at night too. It's pitch black and on a clear night the stars look amazing. Oh yeah, St Maartin was 7am as well.

I am on the Valor June 22nd. Have a balcony on deck 7, forward and am looking forward to the Secret Deck. Were there chairs on this deck? Thank you for your great review. You are intensifying my anticipations.