Just off Horizon - First B2B Cruise

[Terab85]

9 minutes ago, JaniceB said:

Thank you for doing a review on the Horizon.  It is helping me pass the time until I board her on Oct 30th.

I'm so jealous.  We loved the Horizon.  Such an easy layout.  

[Terab85]

October 1, 2021 - Sea Day 

 

Hard to believe it's our last day.  14 days went by so fast.   Woke up to our last sunrise at sea.

 

  

 

Today we went up to Serenity early (like 8:30am early).  I wanted to make sure we got a clamshell since I was still a little red from HMC.  Didn't look like many people were there until after noon and still saw plenty of lounge chairs after that.  Had a salad from their salad bar again and hit the chocolate extravaganza (which was basically different types of chocolate cakes). 

 

 

 

Unfortunately I had to do some packing.  After 14 days, I seemed to have more stuff than what we came with.  Was really looking forward to our last dinner in the dining room.

 

 

We had the BEST team of waiters.  

 

 

After dinner, we were able to catch our last sunset 😞 

 

 

 

Back to cabin to finish packing.

 

 

 

Tomorrow - Miami 😞 

 

Edited October 5, 2021 by Terab85

[Terab85]

October 2, 2021

 

We were up by 6:00am to finish getting our stuff together.  We were doing self disembarkation and wanted to try and get on the road early.

 

 

Went out to Blue Iguana and got a breakfast burrito and waited until we were called.  For self debarkation, we were muster A5 so we would be called first.  About 7:10am, we were called and headed to the elevators which of course were packed.  We got down to Lobby and there was a line to get off the ship but was moving pretty good.  Once they scanned us, we were heading off the ship 😞  Once back in the terminal, they did the face recognition and that was it.  Walked right out and DH went to get the car in the garage.

 

Our drive home was tough.  About an hour after being on the road, I tweaked my back somehow and spend the next 9 hours laying flat in the backseat with my legs up.  Not the way I wanted to end a vacation but at least it didn't happen while cruising.

 

 

So my quick feedback on the Horizon.  Definitely love the size of the ship.  Just big enough but not too big.  Our wait staff was great and wish we could take them with us on the Magic next year.  Our room steward the first half was great and saw him every day.  Our room steward the second half was great, but she had cabins split up so we didn't see her every day.  We left treats for both every day and they seem to really appreciate it, especially the chocolate.  The ship staff was awesome.  Always said hello and asked how we were doing.  We gave out about 50 envelopes with $2 each throughout to the people cleaning.  We had no problems wearing the masks inside and most people seemed to have no problem with them.  Casino, even the "non smoking" side still smelled and we spent as little time there as possible.  We only did the comedy the second half and out of the 3 comedians, only 1 I would see again.  The ONE NIGHT ONLY show we saw on both legs and definitely our favorite.  The other shows were good but not great.  We went to Ocean Plaza most nights to hear the Horizon Rock Band.  We definitely could tell the ship was not at full capacity except the pools on at sea days.  It was hot, so really not surprised.  We got spots early and enjoyed our days outside as much as possible.

 

Didn't eat much in the lido except to make a salad or get dessert.  The food in the dining room was great as far as we're concerned.  We're not fancy eating out people and just were so happy to be back on board.

 

We have the Magic booked next year and Mardi Gras the year after (both b2b) but would book the Horizon again in a heartbeat.

 

Happy Cruisin'  

[Jamman54]

Bravo!!! Great review and pictures. Thanks for taking the time to share it with us! 🤗

[IloveOrchids]

 Great review!  Fantastic photos! 

Enjoyed every segment.   I am sure I will enjoy the Horizon on December 31st this year from your great review.  

S. 

[princess76021]

Thanks for taking me along! I've had a wonderful time!!

 

Again thanks for doing this!

 

Hugs

[luvcruzing]

Thank you for taking the time to share your cruise with us. Much appreciated.

[GaHawkeye]

Thanks for the memories, Terab85. It was a pleasure, once again to cruise with you and Nick. Can’t wait to do it again. 
Hank

[hurricane0226]

Thanks for your review, can't wait for B2B on Mardi Gras April 2022

[KmomChicago]

On 10/4/2021 at 3:51 PM, urbanhawk said:

No  problem for me seeing the duplicates! Enjoying your  photos, and stories.  The chocolate martini looks good. I'd try it. I don't know if 007 would, as  he likes his martinis "shaken, not stirred"!😁

 

In a martini making class on (of course) a cruise ship, DH and I were taught never to shake a martini or listen to silly 007 and his silly preferences.  Apparently a good gin is gently carrying around its juniper flavors in little molecules that are destroyed by all that turbulence, and thus stirring gently (I think he said exactly 27 stirs) is the way to to. 

 

Thank you @Terab85 for bringing us with you. I love the light tower thingy with its changing scenes. 

 

Also, a general question for OP and others who have visited any or all of the ABC's.  Why are these apparently well known to be much better than the rest of the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and the Mexican ports?  Why would it be worth it to get a Southern itinerary, which neither Carnival or RCI run a whole lot of (plus usually out of Miami which is inconvenient or San Juan which is moreso)?  

 

It all just looks like more of the same to me: warm sunny beaches, restaurants and bars, and shopping, maybe a fort or three. 

Edited October 6, 2021 by KmomChicago

[Terab85]

12 hours ago, hurricane0226 said:

Thanks for your review, can't wait for B2B on Mardi Gras April 2022

Your welcome!  Let me know how yours goes.  We have a B2B on the Mardi Gras April 2023.  I heard 7 days isn't enough time to explore, so we are really excited about spending 14 days on her.

[Terab85]

12 hours ago, GaHawkeye said:

Thanks for the memories, Terab85. It was a pleasure, once again to cruise with you and Nick. Can’t wait to do it again. 
Hank

Hope it won't be 2 years before we can do it again.

[Terab85]

16 hours ago, IloveOrchids said:

 Great review!  Fantastic photos! 

Enjoyed every segment.   I am sure I will enjoy the Horizon on December 31st this year from your great review.  

S. 

Thanks!  I had thought about doing more videos but seems there are plenty of them out on YouTube. Enjoy your trip.  She's a great ship with a great crew.

[Shake-n-Bake]

Great review. It was great meeting the both of you. As 49ers fans we saw each other in the Sports Bar during the games. I enjoyed reliving the back to back cruises again. Thank you!

[JaniceB]

On 10/4/2021 at 9:18 AM, Terab85 said:

After we stopped at Arashi Beach, we decided to head back to the ship so we could do some souvenir shopping. 

 

 

 

There was a line to get a picture with the Aruba sign so I just snapped this one.  You can see the ship in the background, so super close. 

 

Was there a charge for chairs/umbrella at Arashi beach?  Also food/beverage and restroom available?

[MzOhioLady]

Thanks for doing the Review. It gave me a chance to Re-Live my own Horizon Cruise. We did the 8 day from September 4th thru the 12th. I truly wish I was back on this Cruise with my Husband. We did it up and had a blast.

 

Your Pictures are Wonderful!!

[GaHawkeye]

4 hours ago, JaniceB said:

Was there a charge for chairs/umbrella at Arashi beach?  Also food/beverage and restroom available?

There is a restaurant and bar along with restrooms at Arashi Beach. We did order some food and it was good. This was just a stop for us and not the destination, so we did not ask about prices for chairs and umbrellas. They were available as well as palapa’s. 
Hank

[Terab85]

On 10/7/2021 at 1:49 AM, Shake-n-Bake said:

Great review. It was great meeting the both of you. As 49ers fans we saw each other in the Sports Bar during the games. I enjoyed reliving the back to back cruises again. Thank you!

Sorry I'm just seeing this.  Haven't been on CC since our next one isn't until April.  It was so great meeting you and looked for you after that Sunday evening game.  Hopefully our Niners will pull this season out.  Any future cruises planned for you?

[Terab85]

On 10/7/2021 at 8:57 AM, JaniceB said:

Was there a charge for chairs/umbrella at Arashi beach?  Also food/beverage and restroom available?

We didn't rent any but there was chairs/umbrellas on the beach. I'm sure there was a charge.  Just stopped for a bit to eat.  They have a small menu (hamburgers/hot dogs), they have a bar, so drinks available.  There is also a restroom but I didn't use it so not sure how it was.

[txgal08]

Thanks for the great review! I’m booked on the Christmas Horizon cruise. I’ve sailed on the Vista which I hear is similar. I think you mentioned the Havana cabins. They are worth every penny! I had a Havana cabin with the patio on Vista. It was awesome!

[Shake-n-Bake]

11 hours ago, Terab85 said:

Sorry I'm just seeing this.  Haven't been on CC since our next one isn't until April.  It was so great meeting you and looked for you after that Sunday evening game.  Hopefully our Niners will pull this season out.  Any future cruises planned for you?

Met someone on the 1st leg of our B2B and we are going back on the Horizon next month on the 21st for Thanksgiving. Also going on the Sunrise for New Year's. Just watched the Niners lose again but hopefully will turn it around. Keeping the faith.

[Terab85]

On 10/25/2021 at 2:08 AM, Shake-n-Bake said:

Met someone on the 1st leg of our B2B and we are going back on the Horizon next month on the 21st for Thanksgiving. Also going on the Sunrise for New Year's. Just watched the Niners lose again but hopefully will turn it around. Keeping the faith.

Enjoy your cruise.  We loved the Horizon and will definitely book on her again.  The Niners are stinking this year but like you said, keep the faith and hope they can pull the rest of the season out.

[K&RCurt]

Thanks for the great review.

 

We were booked for an all inclusive resort near Cancún for January, but after the shootout on the beach at the resort next door we decided to bail and we just booked the Horizon for the ABCs.  Hopefully we do get to Bonaire as we love that Island!

 

Very much looking forward to the Horizon and your great photos and review help us to realize we made a great decision.

[nlktx49]

Really enjoyed your review, and your great photos!

[ILUVPOMS]

Thank you so much for your review. Loved the beautiful pictures with it. We are leaving on the Horizon tomorrow and of course our flight today has been delayed. Guess that just proves it a good idea to fly a day early. Your review kept me entertained, engaged and taught me something while we  wait.