My View: I See a Cruise on the Horizon! (Semi-Live)

[APDMOM]

Some Views on our Tour:

 

Motorcycles were everywhere - often with 2 school kids as passengers - they were so friendly!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Recycle Art:

 

 

Some fun playground equipment I remember having as a child - back when we learned to be responsible for our own safety… 😉!

 

 

On the way back to the ship:

 

[APDMOM]

The Port Area:

 

TIP:  If you just want to stay in the port, just go through the duty free store and walk toward the lighthouse.  There are plenty of free loungers by a pool.  You can rent an umbrella for $20, rent a locker for $10, and climb the lighthouse for $5.   I would say the lighthouse is worth closer to $2 for the view, but I did it anyway.  It has 51 or 52 stairs, and you can’t go all the way to the top.  Only to the platform indicated on this picture:

 

                                                                                                                                         

[dlphn501]

49 minutes ago, APDMOM said:

The Port Area:

 

TIP:  If you just want to stay in the port, just go through the duty free store and walk toward the lighthouse.  There are plenty of free loungers by a pool.  You can rent an umbrella for $20, rent a locker for $10, and climb the lighthouse for $5.   I would say the lighthouse is worth closer to $2 for the view, but I did it anyway.  It has 51 or 52 stairs, and you can’t go all the way to the top.  Only to the platform indicated on this picture:

 

                                                                                                                                         

That's a lot of empty chairs by the pool!  Doesn't look like we will have any trouble getting some.  We intend to have a pool day when we are here because all the excursions are far away.  Even the Carnival ones.  And even though the ship will wait for us, I don't consider it a good time to sit on a bus for 3 hours round trip for a 2 hour excursion.

[APDMOM]

Port Views from the Lighthouse:

 

 

[APDMOM]

Port Views back on land:

 

TIP:  Get off the ship as early as you can.  Even if there is a line, it goes very quickly.  That way you can choose your lounger early, if that is your plan for the day.  Take your pictures of the name of the port right away.  Most people rush by to get to their excursions, so it is less busy right after the ‘all clear’ than when you return to the ship:

 

 

 

The pool right after docking:

 

 

Just to give you an idea of the prices of food in port.

 

[APDMOM]

4 hours ago, dlphn501 said:

Are you able to see in the app how late the bars are open?  I know the casino bar is typically the only one open past 11pm, but I know Horizon doesn't have a bar in the casino anymore.

 

Are there any free group fitness classes?  Do you have a schedule and the prices of the "for a fee" group fitness classes?  I know I can prepurchase a class pass for the duration of my cruise, but I'm looking more for "per class".

 

How much is the brewery tour at Pig & Anchor?

 

Hi @dlphn501

The app does show the open times for bars.  Usually until about midnight, although Alchemy bar only says “4 PM until late”.  

 

I did not even find the fitness center until you asked 😂 I could not find any handouts about the cost of classes and nothing was listed in the app.  

 

The Brewery Tour is $30 per person.

[pe4all]

I find it so funny that there is a Nathans there - just as there is one by the pool in Amber Cove.  We still travel to Coney Island for the "original" Nathans.  I think their fries are still made in the same oil from when they opened in 1916- lol.

[dlphn501]

4 hours ago, APDMOM said:

 

Hi @dlphn501

The app does show the open times for bars.  Usually until about midnight, although Alchemy bar only says “4 PM until late”.  

 

I did not even find the fitness center until you asked 😂 I could not find any handouts about the cost of classes and nothing was listed in the app.  

 

The Brewery Tour is $30 per person.

Thank you for checking!!

[dlphn501]

4 hours ago, pe4all said:

I find it so funny that there is a Nathans there - just as there is one by the pool in Amber Cove.  We still travel to Coney Island for the "original" Nathans.  I think their fries are still made in the same oil from when they opened in 1916- lol.

I love me a good Nathan's hot dog.  I grew up going to Coney Island.  I might have to bite the bullet and buy one when we are there.  

[APDMOM]

Well, I did not get quite as caught up as I had planned.  The ‘live’ part of this cruise review is coming to an end.  I will finish out when we get home.  My goal is to wrap it up completely by Wednesday, despite returning to the reality of my ‘day job’. 😄  

Thanks for all the likes and for following along!  We had a great cruise - at the end of the daily reports, I will give a summary of the good and the ‘not so good’ of our experience.  Overall, it was a memorable family vacation and we continue with the cruise addiction…

[tradewinds traveler]

Safe travels!

[APDMOM]

22 hours ago, tradewinds traveler said:

Safe travels!

Thank you!  We are safe at home... I-95 was surprisingly lighter in traffic than expected, with only one 5-mintue slow down. 🙂

[APDMOM]

Continuing Day 6 - La Romana... back on the ship:

 

TIP:  There is Gelato every day in the buffet during lunch.  It is included - it took us a couple of days to discover it.  

 

[APDMOM]

Fun things you get to see while in a Cove Balcony.  Today, they tested the lifeboats...  Time lapse video of lifting the lifeboat below.

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Views from the Balcony:  A rain shower, A yacht named Diana's Dream, and A Ship Horn announcing our Sailaway from Beautiful, Friendly La Romana:

 

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Dinner Menu: Day 6 - La Romana

(We skipped out again - opting for the deli and buffet)

 

The smoked poblano and corn soup was available in the buffet.  It was very good.

 

 

 

[APDMOM]

Evening Entertainment: Amor Cubano

 

TIP:  If you enjoy confetti or attend with children, sit on deck 4 for this show - they shoot confetti twice and streamers once during the last song.  Or, if you just want a great view of the confetti and streamers, sit on deck 5.

 

This was a very entertaining show, with good dancing.  The singing was much better - I suspect some of it was pre-recorded.  Thankfully, there were virtually no pitch issues. 😄  The band was excellent.  The only negative was that some of the songs were very unfamiliar - it was still a good show to attend one time.  The highlight was the laser light effects!

 

 

 

 

The Streamers, as seen from deck 5:

[APDMOM]

My View: End of day 6 - La Romana (What a Friendly Place with Beautiful People!)

 

[APDMOM]

FUN TIMES: Day 6 - La Romana

 

 

Download PDF here:

Day 6.pdf

[APDMOM]

In case you did not know, I am not only addicted to cruising, but also to taking pictures… I airdropped my pictures from the iPhone to the MacBook for a total of 2,192 pictures taken on this cruise (That does not include the ones taken with my Nikon P900)!

 

I will be sorting through the Amber Cove pics tonight to post tomorrow.  I also have a “shipload of ship pics” 😂🛳️ Those will be coming later this week.

 

Thanks for all the likes and love!❤️ Happy cruise dreams!

[vwgolf2]

On 3/23/2024 at 11:54 AM, APDMOM said:

 

They are good, but we were very disappointed in their Beatles tribute.  They did not sing most of the popular songs. I don’t know why they sang many unknown songs… 

Are Beatles songs as rocky as they get? I imagine a few heavy metal songs is a bit too much to ask!

[APDMOM]

10 hours ago, vwgolf2 said:

Are Beatles songs as rocky as they get? I imagine a few heavy metal songs is a bit too much to ask!

 

I don't know the answer to this, since we typically listened to Buck and Oz or Latin Beat.  😄 ABBA and Country Music are more my style.  I know that must sound boring... However, my first car was a yellow 1984 VW Golf, so that should count for something, right?  😆

 

PS: Someone on our other group posted that the rock band was awesome.

Edited March 25 by APDMOM
add PS

[APDMOM]

My View: Day 7 - Amber Cove, DR

[APDMOM]

Morning Views:

 

Sunrise from our Balcony:

 

Getting Closer:

 

Pilot means we are very close!