Back from Victory 3/25

[SugarStar00]

I will be writing a review but if anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer them. We stayed in Old San Juan after for a day and a half after the cruise so I can try to answer questions about that too. :D

[slewiss1]

Did the MDR serve smaller portions?

Will your review have food porn pictures?

Was there any construction going on?

What excursions did you take?

Can't wait to see your review!

[Herfnerd]

Looking forward to the review - we're cruising on her for our honeymoon in September!

 

When did you fly into SJU? We are planning on flying in early Sunday morning, dropping off our stuff and then hopefully doing a bit of sightseeing. We are planning on flying home the Monday after to do a little more sightseeing ......

[sandy point]

I will be writing a review but if anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer them. We stayed in Old San Juan after for a day and a half after the cruise so I can try to answer questions about that too. :D

Hi my wife and i will be sailing later this month on the Victory for our first cruise...we are very excited and so looking forward to this trip. we will be flying in midday on the start of the cruise.

1) should we take a cab or use carnival transfer from the airport?

2)early vs late dining...which is better?

3)any suggestions for excursions in Barbados?

4) what time was your room available?

5)what surprised you the most on this cruise? (anything you think worth mentioning).

Looking forward to read your review.

Packed and ready to go!

[Dolfinsfan]

Going on the Victory in June. I second all the questions/issues raised above as well as what would you do or not do if you had to go over again?

Thanks and looking forward to your review!

[April-in-NC]

Do you have any information on the spa specials? My Dad wants a few massages and we are trying to get current spa pricing, especially for port day specials.

 

Thanks!

[SugarStar00]

Did the MDR serve smaller portions?

Will your review have food porn pictures?

Was there any construction going on?

What excursions did you take?

Can't wait to see your review!

 

 

I did think the portions were a bit smaller, but I usually ordered 2 or even 3 starters so by the time I got my meal I was full anyway!

 

I did not take many food pics this time, so no food porn! :(

 

Not sure if you mean construction on the ship or the port. Sailaway day the aft pool was drained and they were working on it, but the following day I noticed it was up and running. (think they might have been changing lights?) As far as San Juan, there was construction everywhere you looked. It was nice to see all the rehabilition going on there, must create lots of jobs etc.

 

Excursions: St. Thomas- We just took a cab to Sapphire Beach

Barbados- Bolador Catamaran Sea Turtle Snorkle

St. Lucia- Gros Piton CLIMB with Spencer Ambrose

St. Kitts- Took a van with fellow CC'ers to Cockleshell Beach

St. Martin- Cab to Orient Beach

 

Details to follow!

[SugarStar00]

Looking forward to the review - we're cruising on her for our honeymoon in September!

 

When did you fly into SJU? We are planning on flying in early Sunday morning, dropping off our stuff and then hopefully doing a bit of sightseeing. We are planning on flying home the Monday after to do a little more sightseeing ......

 

We flew in from Hartford Sunday morning arrived around 11. POURING rain...

[SugarStar00]

Hi my wife and i will be sailing later this month on the Victory for our first cruise...we are very excited and so looking forward to this trip. we will be flying in midday on the start of the cruise.

1) should we take a cab or use carnival transfer from the airport?

2)early vs late dining...which is better?

3)any suggestions for excursions in Barbados?

4) what time was your room available?

5)what surprised you the most on this cruise? (anything you think worth mentioning).

Looking forward to read your review.

Packed and ready to go!

 

 

1. We took a cab, I'm not sure the cost of a transfer and I've never used a cruise line transfer before so I can't say which is better, however the cab system was orgainized outside SJU. You wait in one line, and the prices are set. It's $21.00 to the pier plus $1.00 per bag. We had 4 so the ride cost us $25.00 and we tipped $5. Same thing for the ride back.

 

2. I prefer Anytime dining, however since we booked last minute (original cruise on Princess was cancelled) we had to take assigned dining, so we opted for late. I prefer late because I like to nap on deck after sailaway and then have plenty of time to shower and stuff. I do think that if you want to do all the shows, you might be better off with early dining due to the way they schedule things. I like to eat then go to shows, but they had the shows for the late seating BEFORE dinner, which rushed my nap (or I missed the show!).

 

3. We got on board around 1:45 and were soaking wet due to the pouring rain in San Juan so we headed straight to the room and it was available. They tell you 2:30 and last year didn't open it a minute sooner...but we got lucky this year I guess.

 

4. What surprised me the most....tough one since I was on the Glory same time last year and most things we the same. I guess our room actually did, but unfortunately not in a good way. This ship is very much like the Glory but smaller, and you do notice it in the rooms. My balcony room was much tighter, bed up against wall/window so only one nightstand. (seems like a small detail but not!) Shower was an odd arrangment and very challenging...and the hairdryer. Oh boy,they have some wierd looking thing that looks like its from 1925. thank GOD I realized I forgot mine and turned around to get it sunday morning at 5am!! anyway, after the inital disappointment that is wasnt our Glory room...it was obviously not going to affect our good time at all!

[SugarStar00]

Going on the Victory in June. I second all the questions/issues raised above as well as what would you do or not do if you had to go over again?

Thanks and looking forward to your review!

 

 

 

Do or not do? Haha well I'm not sure I'd do the Piton Climb again in St. Lucia...its not for the weary, or even the strong! I was prepared for a challenge, but this was near impossible. But we did it and can say we did...so maybe I would do it again for bragging rights. ;)

 

I wish we had skipped the Magician, he was a HUGE waste of time and not entertaining at all. I'm sorry but its true. Very little magic and a lot of nothing going on. I do wish I was able to stay up past midnight to go the to dance club, never was anyone in there until after the last comedy show, but I was so tired by then!

[SugarStar00]

Do or not do? Haha well I'm not sure I'd do the Piton Climb again in St. Lucia...its not for the weary, or even the strong! I was prepared for a challenge, but this was near impossible. But we did it and can say we did...so maybe I would do it again for bragging rights. ;)

 

I wish we had skipped the Magician, he was a HUGE waste of time and not entertaining at all. I'm sorry but its true. Very little magic and a lot of nothing going on. I do wish I was able to stay up past midnight to go the to dance club, never was anyone in there until after the last comedy show, but I was so tired by then!

 

 

oh and I wish I got to the free Sushi before it closed...never remembered until it was too late every night!

[SugarStar00]

Do you have any information on the spa specials? My Dad wants a few massages and we are trying to get current spa pricing, especially for port day specials.

 

Thanks!

 

 

Just about everyday you got an insert with your Funtimes for specials, and I didnt pay much attention because they are so over priced. I do remember something about picking any 3 (foot, back, head/neck etc) for $119 (regular $145), but can't be sure of the duration, my guess is 60min?? Sorry, it really wasn't on my radar. There's a few islands that offer aloe massages that I didnt have time for but wanted so bad. $30 for 30min seemed like the going price, but I think they'd take less. St. Kitts at cockleshell beach and orient beach in St. Martin had them for sure.

[HolySpearit]

YAY looking forward to it!

[funinthesun1964]

We had friends who used the Carnival Transfers and they said it was $15 pp. I believe you tip this driver too. We took a cab to our hotel and we had other friends to split the total bill with.

 

Just FYI.

[sandy point]

1. We took a cab, I'm not sure the cost of a transfer and I've never used a cruise line transfer before so I can't say which is better, however the cab system was orgainized outside SJU. You wait in one line, and the prices are set. It's $21.00 to the pier plus $1.00 per bag. We had 4 so the ride cost us $25.00 and we tipped $5. Same thing for the ride back.

 

2. I prefer Anytime dining, however since we booked last minute (original cruise on Princess was cancelled) we had to take assigned dining, so we opted for late. I prefer late because I like to nap on deck after sailaway and then have plenty of time to shower and stuff. I do think that if you want to do all the shows, you might be better off with early dining due to the way they schedule things. I like to eat then go to shows, but they had the shows for the late seating BEFORE dinner, which rushed my nap (or I missed the show!).

 

3. We got on board around 1:45 and were soaking wet due to the pouring rain in San Juan so we headed straight to the room and it was available. They tell you 2:30 and last year didn't open it a minute sooner...but we got lucky this year I guess.

 

4. What surprised me the most....tough one since I was on the Glory same time last year and most things we the same. I guess our room actually did, but unfortunately not in a good way. This ship is very much like the Glory but smaller, and you do notice it in the rooms. My balcony room was much tighter, bed up against wall/window so only one nightstand. (seems like a small detail but not!) Shower was an odd arrangment and very challenging...and the hairdryer. Oh boy,they have some wierd looking thing that looks like its from 1925. thank GOD I realized I forgot mine and turned around to get it sunday morning at 5am!! anyway, after the inital disappointment that is wasnt our Glory room...it was obviously not going to affect our good time at all!

Thank you so much...if i need any more information I would not hesitate to ask before we join the cruise...just have to ask one more.lol

Tell me one thing you would recommend doing on this cruise....keep it clean now.lol

[BenjiRodney]

We used the transfers last year, you tip the porters at the airport who work with Carnival as your bags are placed In a big truck and taken to the pier and then you are directed to the buses. You do not see your luggage again until it is deliver to your cabin. this year we are flying in a day early so we can just walk over to the pier and hand them the bags ourselves.

[funinthesun1964]

I will be writing a review but if anyone has any questions I'll do my best to answer them. We stayed in Old San Juan after for a day and a half after the cruise so I can try to answer questions about that too. :D

 

 

I am looking forward to reading your review. I loved my cruise on Victory, we had a great time. Would love to see your photos too! :D

[vlwalker]

Going on the Victory in June. I second all the questions/issues raised above as well as what would you do or not do if you had to go over again?

Thanks and looking forward to your review!

 

I third all the questions, 29 of us will be on her August 5th.:)

[SugarStar00]

Thank you so much...if i need any more information I would not hesitate to ask before we join the cruise...just have to ask one more.lol

Tell me one thing you would recommend doing on this cruise....keep it clean now.lol

 

 

Well, if you are doing assigned dining I don't know if this is allowed (i'm sure it doesnt hurt to ask) ask the Maiter'd if you can be sat in Guillermo's section (he's was in the Pacific dining room). He really was fantastic, upbeat, had tricks and stuff everynight to show us and really wanted to give you great service and seemed happy to be there. I'm sure there's a lot of other great servers too, but he was the first I've ever tipped at the end.

 

If that's not possible, then I'd say don't miss snorkling with the sea turtles in Barbados. Bolador was a FANTASTIC tour with only a dozen people on the catamaran, we had tons of beer and rum punch available, they served a delicious lunch (I cleaned my plate and had seconds!) and were just really nice guys.

 

sorry thats two, but the first one might not be an option for everyone :)

[sooner33]

will be sailing in October :)

 

Cant wait to read your full review :)

[Newbie41]

Hi,

I'm sailing on the victory on 4/22, so I'm looking forward to your review.

[SugarStar00]

Still working on the review....i'm up to 5 pages in Word and havn't even gotten to the port days! :eek: Its going to be long....

[ibcnusoon]

Looking forward to your review, we will be sailing the Victory for Thanksgiving week.

[SunshineOnTheBrain]

Just about everyday you got an insert with your Funtimes for specials, and I didnt pay much attention because they are so over priced. I do remember something about picking any 3 (foot, back, head/neck etc) for $119 (regular $145), but can't be sure of the duration, my guess is 60min?? Sorry, it really wasn't on my radar. There's a few islands that offer aloe massages that I didnt have time for but wanted so bad. $30 for 30min seemed like the going price, but I think they'd take less. St. Kitts at cockleshell beach and orient beach in St. Martin had them for sure.

We were on the March 4th sailing. On the St Kitts day I took advantage of a $99 Hot Stone full body massage for 50 minutes which I would do again. The hot stones were awesome and the massage it self was a very strong one!

[SunshineOnTheBrain]

Well, if you are doing assigned dining I don't know if this is allowed (i'm sure it doesnt hurt to ask) ask the Maiter'd if you can be sat in Guillermo's section (he's was in the Pacific dining room). He really was fantastic, upbeat, had tricks and stuff everynight to show us and really wanted to give you great service and seemed happy to be there. I'm sure there's a lot of other great servers too, but he was the first I've ever tipped at the end.

 

If that's not possible, then I'd say don't miss snorkling with the sea turtles in Barbados. Bolador was a FANTASTIC tour with only a dozen people on the catamaran, we had tons of beer and rum punch available, they served a delicious lunch (I cleaned my plate and had seconds!) and were just really nice guys.

 

sorry thats two, but the first one might not be an option for everyone :)

 

If the Bolador is full I can verify that the Silver Moon does the same. We had 12 people on our boat...got to the turtles first...rum punch flowing from the time we left the turtles...awesome lunch on board... If we go to Barbados again we will do them for sure. So there are two solid options for Barbados.