Finally Booked!

[Browneyedhunni85]

Today our cruising group got together to finalize our cruise for March. We decided on the Carnival Victory sailing out of Miami, FL on March 2, 2008. We will be visiting the Eastern Carrbean:

 

- San Juan, PR

- St. Maarten

-St. Thomas

 

We have never been to the Eastern Carribean so we are soo excited. We all usually get an inside cabin but were able to get an ocean view cabin for just a little more. If anyone has ever been on this ship or these ports, I would love to hear your experience. I am so happy and I cannot wait until March!

[Browneyedhunni85]

Ah, I know you people are out there!

[bubbles1209]

I'm gonna copy & paste my review of each port. The review of San Juan & St.Thomas reflect our experience while there on our very 1st cruise on Elation in June of 2006. The review of St.Maarten and St. Thomas is from our 3rd cruise when we went this past summer (June 07) on Valor. St. Thomas is my favorite port.........so far.:)

St. Thomas/St. John-Happy Birthday to Me!! We had booked the Ultimate Island Experience through Carnival and had to meet on the pier early that morning. Our port time here was from 7-3:30. We were up by 7, because everyone had to meet at 8 am to go through immigration. We went to the Cole Porter Lounge, where they had lines set up by which deck you were on. They moved fairly quick, we showed immigration all of our documentation, and received a sticker we had to wear to show we had been through immigration. Fairly quick and painless. From everything I've read before, I was extremely surprised. We took the documentation back to the room after getting our stickers, went to Tiffany's for breakfast, and got ready for our day. We got out to the pier, and were told 2 different places from people of where our group was supposed to meet. That could have been organized a little better, we were just afraid of missing the excursion. We didn't, we finally found where we were supposed to be. We got on the tour bus, which was an open tour bus, no windows, and started the excursion. We headed to Magen's Bay but not before we stopped for a photo opp along the way. Gorgeous view, and a shop there for souvenirs, as well as a little refreshment stand. Magen's Bay Beach.....simply beautiful. We were there 2 hours, and then taken to Blackbeard's Castle. That's where the tour ended. We went through some historical homes and down the famous 99 steps, although my daughter thought she had found a quicker way out, when we got to the bottom the gate was locked, and we had to climb all the way back up the steps, and go out a different way. Sore muscles for almost the rest of the week, but we had a great time. After we got back into town, I believe the name of the shopping mall there is Havensight, we did a little shopping, and headed to ride the tram at Paradise Point. That is what I was most excited about. I had wanted to do that when we booked the trip, and was truly my favorite part. It had rained before the tram ride, even rained while we were walking from Havensight to the tram station, but not enough to stop us. By the time we got up to the top, it had stopped raining. We stayed there, had a drink, got some beautiful pictures, then headed back for the ship.

San Juan Puerto Rico- No excursions booked for this one, when had already decided to just shop and look around on our own. We had to go through immigration, and once again, it was quick and painless. When we got off of the ship, we got a taxi to take us to Fort El Morrow. Beautiful, just beautiful. A long walk to the fort from the road, but the history and scenery is well worth the walk. We got some great pics, great video, and beautiful memories. After we got done seeing Fort El Morrow, we headed into Old San Juan to do some shopping. We shopped, and shopped. Got some great pics of the cobblestone streets, which are very narrow, and some great pics of the colorful buildings on each side of the road. Their streets is almost equal to our sidewalks, truly amazing. After we had spent most of the afternoon shopping, we found Senor Frogs. That was also one of the must see things on my list, from cruising the boards on Cruise Critic. We then got back on the ship, had something to eat, and did our daily routine of naps for them and exploring for me.

St. Thomas

Our time in port was 9 a.m.-8 p.m. We didn't arrive into port until around 10-10:30 because of us having to

turn around the night before. (After speaking to someone in guest relations today, I found out they never did

find the person, and that it was all over the news) Anyway, we got into port and they started immigration.

Immigration for U.S. citizens was held in One Small Step, and immigration for Non- U.S. Citizens was held

in the Ivanhoe. They made it a point to say those with excursions come 1st & were very good about keeping us

informed with how the lines were moving, saying take your time, the lines are long, and the lines are thinning,

make your way there, followed by all that haven't been, come now. Immigration was done & over for the

entire ship within an hour and a half. After immigration, we took our passports back to the room, & locked

them back up in the safe. They tell you at the immigration talk to only take a picture I.D. and your sail & sign with

you into port. They encourage you to leave your passport locked up onboard. We went to Rosie's and grabbed

a bite to eat, and headed off to our 11:45 parasailing excursion that we had pre-booked with Carnival. We walked

all the way to the end of the pier & got in the boat. (Was told by shore excursions dept. in an e-mail that we would

be taken to Coki beach area, but we walked to the end of the pier, unless that's coki beach, we were told wrong)

We headed out, about 6 couples including ourselves. They do allow you to take an underwater camera with you

up in the air but they won't allow digital cameras or camcorders to go up in the air. They do offer to take pics of you,

$20.00 for 12 shots while you are up in the air. It was awesome. They dipped everyone down in the ocean and

took us back up before bringing us in. We were up about 700 feet or so for about 10-15 minutes. It was awesome.

We got the photo package from them, still have to get them developed, and also had pictures taken with our

camera while we were up from someone sitting beside us in the boat that was nice enough to offer to do it.

We were done by 1 and headed back to the ship for some dryer clothes. We changed & headed back out. We

got a cab over to Paradise Point for $4.00 each to take the tram ride. The tram ride was $18 pp. We rode up

grabbed a bite, don't get the steak sandwich it's way greasy and tough and not worth the $8.00 it cost. It's a good

thing it comes with fries, because that's what I wound up eating. There's a pic of it in my pictures. Guess we should

have grabbed a bite on the ship. We hung out, got some pics & video. I drank a shot, a BJ something or another,

that was advertised as coming with a souvenier glass. Well let's just say I drank an $8.00 shot just for them to tell

me that they were out of the souvenier glasses. They only charged $5.00 for the shot. Had I have know that they

were out of the glasses beforehand, I wouldn't have gotten it. It was good though, had a butterscotch taste to it.

We were going to go to St. John's but decided it might be a push for time so we decided to go the next time we visit.

We left the tram ride, did some shopping, and were back on the ship around 6-6:30. DH took a nap, I went out on the

balcony to relax. We ate dinner, went to the Ivanhoe after dinner to see Marcus Anthony's Motown Show.

We were called up onstage to dance while he sang, it was fun, we got a free bottle of champagne. It was kind of like

history repeating itself, we saw him entertain on the Elation on our first cruise, and were called up onstage to dance then also.

Afterwards, we hit the casino for a bit, and went on to bed.

St.Maarten

Our time in port was 7a.m. -8p.m. We had pre-booked an excursion for the Horseback Riding in the Ocean excursion

through Carnival for 10:45. We met them on the pier and headed out for about a 20 minute ride to the stables. We wore

long pants like suggested and for everyone who may try this excursion, don't wear shorts. We got off the bus for a quick how

to lesson. We had to wear riding hats that they had. I didn't like that too much, ya never know who's had the hat before you.

They also had a flotation thing you wear around the small of your back that fastens in the front. They took us out to the horses.

I got on mine and prayed. I'm definitely a city girl with no horse experience at all. I was good until the horse moved. We started

out on the road-smooth flat surface, ok, so far so good. Then we went behind some businesses to a trail. On this trail, the

path was just wide enough for the horses to walk. It was rocky, and the path winds this way, then the other way. Then, there

was 1 of 2 or 3 steep hills. We were told to lean forward going uphill, and to lean back going downhill. So, here I am leaning

forward, ok, not so bad, but boy when I got to the top & saw the downhill part-boy baby, I was leaning back saying easy boy,

easy girl, easy horse, easy whatever you are with my eyes closed. You know going downhill speeds up the horse, they can't

help that, downhill was definitely the hardest part for me. Made it down that one then before too long, there was another.

DH's horse kept wanting to stop & eat. He's had experience on horses before, so it wasn't so bad for him. We made it

to the ocean & before we went in, we were told to take our shoes off if we didn't want them to get wet, and tie the shoe-

strings together and wear them hung around our neck. We were also told if we had any cameras/camcorders we didn't

want to get wet to hold them up in the air while in the ocean. It was only a small strip of beach, the horses went right on in,

sitting on the horse, I was knee-deep in water. DH went in waist deep. If you want pictures of this excursion, take your own

camera, they do not offer photos but will take them for you using your own camera. After the ocean we headed back to the

stables. Getting off of the horse was fun. The gude said, you can go ahead and get off now, I said, not until you come beside

me and help me off. Getting down wasn't so bad, it was trying to walk that got me. We left there, and thought for a minute

we were stuck there. After we got on the bus, the driver went cross-ways in the road to back up and turn around. Well, the

reverse decided not to work. He kept inching up and trying to back up. This went on for about 5 minutes. Here we are,

sitting cross-ways in the road, with this little tree in front of the bus he kept pushing down a little, every time he would go

forward, and the guy in the seat next to us says "OK, what's going on here?" Ok, I'm not Einstein, but surely it didn't take

a rocket scientist to figure this one out. After a few more trys, reverse finally kicked in, and we were on our way.

We stopped at a shop for a free drink & headed back to the ship. We put on dry clothes & headed back to the pier to

grab a cab to Orient beach. We wanted to go to Orient beach, Maho beach, and back to the ship. We were told

place to place we would spend around $85.00 between all of the cabs. We got a cab & the driver took us from

the ship to Orient Beach, waited for us--DH wanted to go skinny dipping in the Caribbean . He did, I held his clothes

while the full moon rose on Orient Beach in the day time. He swam about for a few minutes, came back, got

dressed, and we left. Orient is beautiful, we're going back in Feb. We headed to Maho beach, about a 30

minute drive. Got us a drink, got pics & video of the planes coming in while the cab driver waited. Spent 30 minutes

or so there. We left at 4:00 to avoid the traffic rush, We shared our cab with a couple that we met at our CC meet &

greet. Got back to the pier around 4:30. For the whole day the ship to orient, orient to maho, and maho to the ship,

the driver who waited for us while we did what we wanted charged $70 for the day. We did some shopping, and

was back on board before 5:30. We did everything we wanted to do at this port. Got all we could out of it.

We were exhausted, but it was well worth it.

Hope this helps some:)

[Rirruto]

I am going on this exact cruise 2 weeks from now! I will be sure to post a review.

[Browneyedhunni85]

Have fun on your cruise! You definetly gotta post a review when you get back.

[Bunkie103]

Check the ports of call board for St. Thomas. We did Godfrey Tours privately and he was wonderful. These are beautiful islands and I'm sure you will love them. Loved the shopping in St. Thomas and St. Maarten.

[Browneyedhunni85]

It seems like there is a lot to do in St. Thomas & St. Maarten. I've been looking on the ports of call boards to get suggestions.

[TennisLover]

Victory to Eastern Caribbean was my first cruise (April 03). I have been hooked since then! It was way before I found Cruise Critic so I hardly had any information, but it was a fabulous cruise. Have fun!

[Browneyedhunni85]

I havent read a lot of extra special things about San Juan. What would you suggest? We definetly want to do the beach thing at the other 2 ports. We will be in San Juan from like 5 until 12 am. So I was thinking maybe a night of partying. Any hot spots that you know about?