Live on Horizon 9/4

[helene109]

2 hours ago, EngIceDave said:

Aruba is more open, like St Maarten. 
Curacao is as well

 

Both stops in DR are more compound-like.

 

I wouldn’t go wandering off.

Thanks our other island is Bonaire. Would you suggest an excursion in Aruba and Curaçao?

[EngIceDave]

Depends on your goals.

 

Adventure, shopping or chilling

 

[EngIceDave]

Off by 9am in Miami

 

Home at Port Canaveral by 11:30am

 

Disembark was stupid fast. I coulda been smuggling a few kilos and no one would've been the wiser

 

I'll whip up a disembark post and then an overall evaluation and report

[mondello]

1 hour ago, EngIceDave said:

 

Disembark was stupid fast. I coulda been smuggling a few kilos and no one would've been the wiser

 

After the post about the mirror, I figure they're on to you by now!

[EngIceDave]

Disembark could not be easier or faster (if you're smart).

 

Day before they have the debark briefing which you can watch later, but if even a little experienced you can figure it out.

 

Day before after the briefing, they hand out (pick your own) debark luggage tags.

 

There's early and late with numbers.

 

Early was like 8:30 - 9:30

Late was 9:30+

 

I chose #18, a low number in late disembark.

 

8:15 was self disembark

and a little after 8:30 they called #'s 1-14

 

We went with that group, I figured "close enough"

 

You follow the leader to deck 3 and they dink your card one last time then you walk into the terminal, in there they do the facial recognition and THAT'S IT!!

 

No customs, no customs forms, nothing. Just walk out, grab your bag and leave.

 

We left the cabin after 8:30 (8:40?) and were down, out and in car in the terminal parking by 9am

 

Parking for the entire time was like $175 or something like that

 

 

[EngIceDave]

Now that I am back home, going to kind of do a new review, but from memory and cover things I may have missed or cover it again.

 

Boarding was fast and easy, really no different. You show up at your time, show your vax card, test, boarding doc and you're in your way to check in.

 

Other than masking, none of that really changed.

 

Was on by 11 and able to wander about, cabins were closed off but ours was available at about 1pm.

 

We were a Spa Balcony, deck 14, #14224

Two cabins forward of the elevator area, port side.

We love these little decks because they feel more private. Less busy. 

From 14 you can walk right out the back onto an upper outside deck (no masking) and make your way down a couple flights of stairs and you're at the Lido buffet....then you put mask on.

Point is, being on a deck like 14, you can really minimize your interior time, thus mask time.

 

Good time to mention, those exterior decks can be slick AF when wet. Wear good shoes.

 

Took spa tour before cabins opened and I booked a man's facial/shave/haircut for $109....no matter where you go, that's a bargain. It was very nice. Very skilled barber from Serbia. 

Wife got a nice "Fire and ice" pedicure for $79....wifey-poo said they really massage legs and feet and use hot stones and stuff. She said was well done and an hour long.

 

We don't drink (as mentioned) but I did have a Cheers package from my casino offer (Balcony, $500 freeplay, Cheers for one) and we basically shared it. Got a bottle or water anytime we needed and I drank a lot of the mango smoothies. She got a few virgin pina coladas. 

Later in the week they stopped having me sign for beverages.

Since I had a Cheers package, I tipped a dollar for each beverage....seemed fair.

[EngIceDave]

Spa balcony cabin is just a regular cabin. We did have special shower soap and shampoo from Elemis in the dispenser. We could also get small body scrubs from the spa. The spa robes were nice and comfy.

 

[deanman02]

Thank you very much!  Great review (and funny)!

[EngIceDave]

8 hours ago, deanman02 said:

Thank you very much!  Great review (and funny)!

 Thanks!

[JaniceB]

On 9/10/2021 at 5:13 PM, EngIceDave said:

I find it interesting that late in the week many servers and bartenders just stop handing you receipts to sign for your beverages (I am cheers)

 

Christopher (Chris) is the jewelry shopping ashore guy, really nice guy and if you are looking for something for your significant other, he’ll help you find it. 

One more complaint for the lack of some kind of munchie or fruit out on lido between meals. 
 

This ship just doesn’t feel that big….actually feels a little cramped. There is no big wide open inside space. All the inside spaces feel low and small. No really huge grand plaza. The lobby where customer service is really just a bar open up to a few decks above.

Another tip, if you have ATT, you can opt for an international plan and then it’s on $10 per day in the ports and that’s unlimited call, text, data.

 

 

Agree that the ship has a different feel.  This is one reason why I like the Havana cabins.  It is a great area outside that isn't too crowded and close to dining and the ocean plaza with entertainment.  I only went to a the Lido a few times. 

Thanks for all the pictures and sharing your cruise.

Edited September 13, 2021 by JaniceB

[EngIceDave]

FOOD

This is where we were the most disappointed.

 

Please bear in mind a few things. My wife and I have typically complimented CCL's buffet and MDR food. And while not "foodies" we do enjoy good food and have eaten at some of the finer restaurants in the world.

 

We were disappointed in the MDR. Night one was just ok and slow. Night two was wildly slow and we planned to go to a movie. How and a half and we hadn't even gotten to the entrees. We quit and walked out, never to return.

 

Sea day brunch was fast and good...did that once.

 

Lido food was very hit or miss, but the bigger issue was the lack of trays of food out. Always seemed a game of "musical buffets" never knowing which would be open. 

 

Serving sizes (it was self serve) were small. Almost all the food, even the fruit seemed small in size. May be a farming supply due to covid, I understand.

 

You'll see in the photo below how small the fruit was on the room service fruit plate.

 

BTW....ON SINGLE GRAPE AND 1/4 OF A STRAWBERRY...that's it, other than the melon.

 

Guy Burgers and the Burritos place were good. Burritos need more meat....it ain't Chipotle.

 

Teppanyaki was fun. Casino set that up for us. Had the fliet and lobster combo. The chef was fun, but felt new and a little timid. Food was excellent.

 

As was both the Italian and the JiJI Asian places.....both were really good. In the Italian place, forget trying to know who your server is. They're all dark brunettes, dark eyes, same dark clothes and black masks....my God they all even seemed to have the same butts!

 

Never ate BBQ or sushi

 

My food complaints are primarily in Lido, where choices are very limited and it seemed closed a lot or I have really bad timing.

 

When closed, there is NO SNACK....no cookies, no fruit, nothing.

If you want a munchie or something to nosh on and they're closed.....oh well, pizza or nothing.

 

Seafood shack is a pleasant surprise and really good. All made to order, so it's hot and fresh.

 

I want to be clear, it IS NOT that lido or MDR is horrible, it's not. But it isn't to the standard it was, in our opinion. It's edible. It's decent.

 

MDR service was something else. Needs help. They sat, served and finished at 6 top before my wife and I got to entrees.

 

Look how small the melon is next to my finger

 

[EngIceDave]

In  the afternoons on the aft lido buffet is the sweet selections and they have really nice cakes

Lot of selections and changes daily