Carnival Destiny Review; B2B 20th Anniversary Cruise

[Luanne21]

I am enjoying your review. It looks like you had a great time.

[Capette]

guilty as charged sir! lol.. I am enjoying the review and we were there! I was going to contact you about getting the jpg format for your pics at Half Moon Cay. I am planning on surprising Steve for Christmas by getting them framed. It is cold and miserable here and I thnk we are both suffering from vacation blues. We are still working on our Spring vacation plans. Keep the fingers typing big fella!

[PaulMedik]

I am enjoying your review. It looks like you had a great time.

 

 

Luanne21,

 

Thank you. We sure did! :)

 

 

guilty as charged sir! lol.. I am enjoying the review and we were there! I was going to contact you about getting the jpg format for your pics at Half Moon Cay. I am planning on surprising Steve for Christmas by getting them framed. It is cold and miserable here and I thnk we are both suffering from vacation blues. We are still working on our Spring vacation plans. Keep the fingers typing big fella!

 

Liz,

 

Contact me via the link in my signature with your email and I'll get them to you ASAP. Make sure your email server is able to receive large files because each file is ~3MB plus. If you have a google mail address (gmail) it will handle large files. If you don't have one I will send you a link to get a gmail account.

[papanh]

Paul really enjoying your review, keep up the good work

Really loved your your comments about the graffiti of the seas and the ports they go to):

Papanh

[Blissed Out]

Paul, you said you chose cabana 15. Is this the same cabana you had with your boys? We're planning on getting a cabana in February when we cruise with our boys, would you suggest this particular cabana? ( the boys will be ages 18, 16, and 13 at the time of cruising if this makes a difference in your opinion).

 

Thanks for the info, and thanks again for the review!

trece

[Missmypomswhencruising]

we have spa balcony room 1015 in april, how did you like the balcony, did people above you bother you because there is no roof on the balcony? Thanks!

[PaulMedik]

Paul really enjoying your review, keep up the good work

Really loved your your comments about the graffiti of the seas and the ports they go to):

Papanh

 

Papanh,

 

Thank you.

 

Paul, you said you chose cabana 15. Is this the same cabana you had with your boys? We're planning on getting a cabana in February when we cruise with our boys, would you suggest this particular cabana? ( the boys will be ages 18, 16, and 13 at the time of cruising if this makes a difference in your opinion).

 

Thanks for the info, and thanks again for the review!

trece

 

 

Blissed Out,

 

We had Cabana #5 when we went with our boys last summer. We chose that Cabana based on location in between the water toys / water sports area and the more quiet areas further down.

 

For boys the ages of your boys I would suggest cabanas 6 - 10. Your boys will be close enough to water toys / water sports area to enjoy them and you will be close enough to see them as well as relax.

 

 

we have spa balcony room 1015 in april, how did you like the balcony, did people above you bother you because there is no roof on the balcony? Thanks!

 

Missmypomswhencruising,

 

The balcony was perfect for us. We were able to hear the people standing at the rail above us, but their conversations were sometimes hillarious as opposed to annoying. We did have a few cigarette butts show up from time to time, but none while we were out there.

 

One of the best features is the amount of sun possible on the balcony, but if raining that feature would also be one of the worst. The saving grace about the lack of overhang is the exterior wall space is all glass similar to what the rooms were before conversion to balcony.

 

If the opportunity presents itself again and 9A aft wraps are not available, I would chose one of the Spa balconies again. Their location is the BEST on the entire ship in terms of easy access to everything on the ship.

 

 

 

We spent most of our Fun Day at Sea enjoying the sun up on the Sun Deck; chair hogs had beaten us to the Spa Deck chairs we had planned on using, but they were unsanctioned generic chair hogs so no pics of them.

 

On our way to lunch we watched the hairy chest contest;

 

 

My light lunch;

 

 

Karen's light lunch;

 

 

A quick check of our wake to make sure the ship was actually moving;

 

 

And then come ice cream on the way back to the sun;

 

 

Ice cream, hot sun, and wind on the jogging track don't go real well together;

 

[PaulMedik]

The Carnival photogs were out and about on the Fun Day at Sea;

 

 

They also got one of Karen;

 

 

Karen exiting the spa deck;

 

 

Reverse view from the spa deck looking out;

 

 

The Fun Day at Sea was also the evening of the Cruise Elegant dinner. This pic was taken by our room steward Jan near the Spa Deck elevators;

 

 

We also visited the Carnival photogs for a pic;

 

[Blissed Out]

Thank you for the info about the cabana numbers Paul. :D

[PaulMedik]

Our Fun Day at Sea ended with capers for Grand Turk, invitations for the past guest party as well as the customary chocolate mints;

 

 

And a rabbit;

 

 

After Karen was tucked away in bed I went to the Fun Shops to purchase a diamond necklace with a dolphin that I had seen on the previous cruise. The significance was we were returning on this sailing to the island we first visited twenty years ago called Salt Cay which is now referred to as Dolphin Cove or Blue Lagoon. I planned to give it to her on the day we were at Dolphin Cove, but our anniversary was the day we were in Grand Turk. Perhaps I should have waited until dinner that evening, but I opted to give it to her the morning we arrived in Grand Turk I guess since it was our actual anniversary;

 

 

We were docked in Grand Turk and people were beginning to exit the ship so we gathered our beach items and headed for the gangway;

 

 

We met the Carnival photogs on the gangway;

 

 

By the time we made our way down the pier to the Captain's Wheel, we needed our sunglasses;

 

[PaulMedik]

Karen checking out the Grand Turk cruise terminal / beach area from the pier;

 

 

I chose an appropriate drink for a place who's motto is It's Five O'Clock Somewhere;

 

 

 

Karen chose her customary Strawberry drink;

 

 

While walking around checking out the pool area, we took advantage of the photo ops;

 

 

 

We knew we disembarked early, but we didn't realize how early until we noticed there was still very few fellow passengers in the terminal area yet and we had already relaxed a while and had drinks;

 

[PaulMedik]

We went shopping for gifts for the boys as well as lotions and finally our fellow passengers rolled out of bed and got off the ship;

 

 

Checking out the beach area;

 

 

Conch Fritters for lunch? Something similar was what they told me and they were;

 

 

Karen had a Nacho Volcano and it erupted quite nicely;

 

 

While watching the surfers in the background Karen enjoyed another Strawberry concoction;

 

 

This one came with a test tube of extra potency;

 

[Nunu]

Paul we also had horrible luck with room service on Destiny in August. (I was reading back a bit)

[PaulMedik]

When we first arrived the FlowRider still had a few hours to go before it opened;

 

 

While at Margaritaville I called a friend of mine from back home and had them dedicate a song for him; It's Five O'Clock Somewhere. He has the song as a ringtone on his cell for whenever I call him. I had told him I'd call from Margaritaville when they played the song. They also dedicated it to him and he got to listen live and via the internet from Margaritaville;

 

 

Karen and I at the swim up bar;

 

 

Can we get a picture of Karen surfing up there? No was the answer. OK, don't look;

 

 

Beach chairs were abundant throughout the day;

 

 

Did the people all leave or what?

 

[PaulMedik]

Paul we also had horrible luck with room service on Destiny in August. (I was reading back a bit)

 

 

Nunu,

 

Room service was definately not up to par. I chalked the first instance up to bad luck or a bad day for the staff, but each time we called they either didn't answer or took a while then they'd call us. Apparently their caller ID works, but I don't feel comfortable ordering when they call us; if they are that busy, then I don't want to add to their overload. Even though I gave up on them, I would still call from time to time just to see if they would answer promptly and it never happened. Oh well, the casino luck made up for the bad room service luck!

 

Whenever we ordered from the Rise and Shine Stateroom Continental Breakfast menu the order arrived within the time frame specified and was always accurate.

 

 

 

 

 

I was unable to sneak up on Karen while she had the underwater camera;

 

 

This may be my all time favorite Caribbean activity;

 

 

Karen was more impressed with my shadow on the sea floor as I dozed;

 

 

We had a couple of people still in the water with us;

 

 

Washing the sand off;

 

 

See that Life Preserver I'm wearing around my waist? I promise not to be wearing it by the time we cruise again next April! That thing is heavy and just kept getting heavier;

 

[PaulMedik]

As we made our way back to the pier we came across a couple speaking with the pier security folks and inquiring as to whether their family member who was traveling with them would be allowed back on board without his S&S card and passport. I asked what had happened and they said that while on their excursion the boat they were on capsized and they lost everything overboard. Their family member had lost his bag containing his S&S and passport so he was waiting at the excursion launch area to see if they could find it.

 

 

They were very distraught over the thought of their family member being either late or denied boarding. After determining they were on a Carnival official excursion I assured him the ship would wait and that they would be able to check security photos on board, and would allow him to reboard. Only from reading here on CC was I so confident in what I was telling them. Disembarking in Miami might be an issue, but I was sure he would be allowed on board. I advised them to come with us to speak with security on the ship and advise them of the situation.

 

As we neared the ship, the couple spotted a boat speeding toward shore that was with their excursion. They yelled and got the boat operators attention and he approached the pier holding up a wet bag indicating he had found the lost items;

 

 

At this point I was alert for indications of approaching security since we had passed through the clearance area I was expecting an issue with the exchange they made on the pier;

 

 

A crowd gathered to veiw the search of personal items by the family and Karen stepped in to help;

 

 

The man was very relieved to find that all of the personal items were wet, but intact including money, passports, and S&S cards. His wife went back to the excursion area to let her family know they could reboard. As you can tell the man was still quite excited and recounted his story many times to people walking by;

 

 

We left him standing on the pier waiting for his family and assured him we would advise security on board of the situation.

 

[PaulMedik]

Once back on board security advised us they had already been contacted about the situation and that they had monitored the exchange on the pier. Security was very polite and professional about the situation when we spoke with them.

 

When we got back to our room there was just a wet spot on the pier remaining;

 

 

Sailaway from Grand Turk was on time;

 

 

As we pulled away I enjoyed a cool drink on our balcony;

 

 

The past guest party was the evening after Grand Turk;

 

 

The party featured the Carnival historical video with Gerry Cahill and others;

 

 

Past Guest party drinks and treats;

 

[Lgarth]

Great review and awesome pictures paul:D Wow, that must have been a pretty rough excursion for them to capsize....do you know what they were doing?

[PaulMedik]

After dinner we found Capers for Half Moon Cay as well as another animal waiting for us;

 

 

Our approach to Half Moon Cay;

 

 

As we approached Half Moon Cay, the deck above us was lined with spectators watching the approaching tenders. We about died laughing as a gentleman explained to everyone around him that the approaching boats job was to catch the anchor and stretch the chain out and lower it in an appropriate location. He went in to great detail and explained how critical it was for the anchor to be lowered slowly and in the precise spot;

 

 

Once the anchor dropped we headed straight down to the gangway and boarded a tender for shore;

 

 

We made the first tender, but we didn't make it off first;

 

 

The Carnival photogs arrived with us and were just setting up;

 

[PaulMedik]

Karen would about beat me later that evening when she saw this photo, but the boys weren't with us so somebody had to misbehave;

 

 

We knew a shuttle was scheduled to take us to our cabana, but we also knew the shuttle would be a while so we headed down the path on our own;

 

 

Photo Ops are everywhere on Half Moon Cay, but we were in a hurry to get to our cabana so we shot pics as we passed them by;

 

 

The path down to our cabana;

 

 

Karen beat me to it;

 

 

[PaulMedik]

Great review and awesome pictures paul:D Wow, that must have been a pretty rough excursion for them to capsize....do you know what they were doing?

 

 

Lgarth,

 

As best I could tell they were on a snorkel excursion. They said they just hit a wave wrong on the way back in and it capsized immediately. Based on the water bag they had, I would guess they are experienced snorkel enthusiests. Lesser prepared cruisers would not have water bags and would likely have lost their possessions.

[ABeeCDP]

I just read all about the time leading up to your cruise. I don't understand your review. You didn't say anything about your cruise! Am I missing something here???

[rhorhorho]

Keep reading ABeeCPD - Paul gives a VERY detailed reveiw and adds great pics. And welcome to CC.

 

Paul LOVE IT. Leaving in the am for the Destiny - your reveiw has me ready to go. Thank you.

[fredman]

I was reading Host Mach's cruise reveiw and someone mentioned that you also write great cruise reviews they were right! I am looking forward to the rest of the cruise. My wife and I are doing our second and third cruise ever as a B2B on the Carnival Freedom January 30th and were quite interested in the "debarkation and embarkation" of your cruise. I too was thinking it will be fun to watch the new cruisers coming on board. :)

[gaylensgigi]

Paul,still loving your review and the pictures are great.I am looking at buying a waterproof for our upcoming Dream cruise and havnt a clue.I am a novice,just need something to use while snorkleing? Any reasonable user friendly models come to mind? And I love the cabanas in HMC,is that just not the best beach day ever?Glad you had fun and thanks for sharing.