Destiny Review: 02/09/09: Nassau, HMC, GT

[KenMo]

I booked this cruise on the sly to surprise the DH for his birthday which was the 10th. The surprise came off without a hitch! He had no clue until the night before we left!

 

This was our first winter cruise and I was really worried about airport problems in the midwest. So we flew two days before the cruise. Turns out I didn't have to worry.....it was 70 degrees the day before we left. Oh well, I figured the worst thing that could happen was we'd spend two days lounging around the hotel pool before the cruise. Why didn't anyone tell me it was so chilly in Miami in the winter??? LOL People did say it was unseasonably cool for Miami.

 

We stayed at the Intercontinental Hotel downtown. It's a pretty nice hotel and I got a really good deal on Hotwire.

 

 

 

 

[Steve-N-Steph]

KenMo - I am looking forward to the rest of your review! We will be on the Destiny in April, and though we are doing a different itinerary I love all the ship information. Where are you in MO, I am also in MO via Portland. I grew up in Portland area and moved to the Kansas City area after getting married.

[KenMo]

We took a cab to the port and arrived around 10:30am. We went to the VIP lounge and we checked in right away. We were on board around 11:15am. Fastest and easiest embarkation we've ever had.

 

We hung out around the Excursion desk until it opened....had to try to snag a cabana!! While we were waiting, we met up with other CCer's who were waiting to book a cabana also.

 

We also had a meet and greet where we met more people from our roll call. Pretty good turn out! It's fun to at least meet once so you see familiar faces around the ship.

 

We had cabin 1109. This cabin has the portholes. It was a really good price and I thought, what the heck, I've never had this category cabin before....let's try it. The cabin was waaayy forward. We could really feel the ship moving, more than we've ever felt being aft. Also, it seemed like we could hear the waves hitting the ship. None of this bothered us, in fact, I kind of liked it.

 

The bathroom seemed smaller than we've had before. But, the shower was bigger....almost twice the size because it was longer. And you practically had to be a contortionist to reach the toilet paper, the holder is behind you when you're sitting. And there were no shelves in the bathroom. That kinda sucked, but we made do.

 

The portholes had doors (for lack of a better word) so you could shut them. We really liked this because it made it very dark in the cabin. I imagine it would be like having an inside cabin.

 

 

Our towel animals for the week, with the portholes shut:

 

[KenMo]

Where are you in MO, I am also in MO via Portland. I grew up in Portland area and moved to the Kansas City area after getting married.

 

We're in St. Joe! I also moved to MO after getting married....funny!

 

Okay....I have to ask. What HS did you go to? I went to Clackamas.

[cuppycakemom]

Hi Mona!! So much fun to read a review of the cruise that we were on! Maybe you'll get through yours faster than I'm getting through mine :) With 2 birthdays and a sick kid since we've returned, I'm not getting anywhere fast on my computer!

 

Glad to have met you guys......and to hear that you had a fun time!

[JohninDC]

Great stuff - keep it coming!:)

[Steve-N-Steph]

We're in St. Joe! I also moved to MO after getting married....funny!

 

Okay....I have to ask. What HS did you go to? I went to Clackamas.

 

You aren't to far from us, we are south of KC about 30 minutes. (Harrisonville area) I went my first to years to Canby High School, and my Junior and Senior years at Lake Oswego High.

[KenMo]

We had no problems with the cabin. Well.....there were a few little things...lol!

 

First thing we do is put our wallets, cell phones, cameras, etc in the safe. It wouldn't lock with the first card I tried. No problem....just try another card. That didn't work either. After the third card didn't work, I called the purser. "Oh yes", she said. "That's one of the cabins where the safe doesn't work!" She informed me that they would not be fixing it during this sailing, but I was welcome to use one of the safes at the purser's. Great.

 

I went to the purser's and put our stuff in there. I let her know how utterly inconvenient this was going to be and how I couldn't believe they weren't going to fix it. Funny thing....the next day they installed a brand new safe. That worked really well until the next day, when I went to get my camera for dinner. It wouldn't open. Someone came down with the secret cards and fixed it for me. No more safe problems after that.

 

The first or second night, I pushed the button on the light above the bed to turn it off. Oooops.....the end fell off.

 

 

One day I pushed the button to turn on the main cabin light. The switchplate fell off. (Didn't get a picture of that.)

 

As I was drying my hair one evening, the hose fell out of the blow dryer:

 

 

About midweek, I heard the neighbors across the hall talking about how their toilet wouldn't flush. I thought to myself....poor schmucks....at least that hasn't happened to us yet. But, of course, it did happen. Kenny comes out of the bathroom, saying it wouldn't flush. So I went in there and tried to flush it. No luck. Our cabin steward was right outside, so he came in and tried to flush it. No flush. While we were standing there looking at it, willing it to flush, it just magically flushed. Never did find out what the problem was, but it worked from then on.

 

By the end of the week, cabin 1109 was as good as new...lol!

 

Here's Budy, our cabin steward. He was awesome....kept our collapseable cooler filled all week! Greeted us everytime we saw him and knew our names from day one.

 

[MzOhioLady]

Mona Your review is really good. I love the sense of humor. I was laughing out loud about the mysterious toilet. LOL

[cjkumbaya]

Looking forward to the rest of your review - I really enjoy reviews with photos! Thanks!

[KenMo]

Since most people want to know where smoking is allowed (or not), smoking is allowed in these places:

 

Onyx Bar

All Star Bar

Casino (although I did see a non-smoking area in the casino proper, and half of the bar was non-smoking)

Point After Dance Club

Lido Deck, Starboard (But there is a bar by the main pool on the starboard side. One end of this bar is non-smoking.)

Cigar smoking is only permitted in the Onyx Bar

 

A couple of observations about smoking/non-smoking areas.....

 

When we first got on the ship, we were at the bar by the main pool. This is on the starboard side. It's kind of silly, but one end of this bar was non-smoking. The smoking end of the bar was packed and I couldn't get to the bartender to ask for an ashtray. So I go to the non-smoking end, where there were several empty seats. I ask the bartender for an ashtray. Since there was a sign at that end of the bar, and I can read, I had no intention of smoking right there.

 

As soon as I asked for an ashtray, some busybody took it upon herself to inform me there was no smoking there. Yes, but they're smoking down there, I say. But this end is no smoking, she says. Well, then I'll go down there, I say. Then it occurred to me....I don't have to have a conversation with this woman. So I tell her, unless you actually see me lighting up in a non-smoking area, you don't need to concern yourself about what I do. Sheesh.

 

Also, the machines used for the slot tournament are non-smoking. I didn't see a sign there, but unless I see other people smoking, I don't smoke if I'm not sure. Well, one of the contestants took his spot with a cigarette in his mouth. The gal running the tournament told him this was a non-smoking area. That should have been enough. But no....she goes on to tell him how he looks really good for someone who is dying. Sheesh again.

[KenMo]

We've been to Nassau before and now we like to use it as a Sea Day. We like to hang out at the aft pool and just lounge around. So....off to the pool we go.

 

Turns out, the crew was having some kind of drill and the pool could not be used.

 

 

No problem....we'll just go to the main pool. Well, the new big screen TV casts a shadow over the pool and it was freezing!

 

 

Okay....Plan C. We'll go down the slide. I've yet to do that on a cruise and I keep saying I'm going to do it. Now's the time. After one look at the end of the slide, I decided against it. I don't know what all the foam was, but I didn't want to be in it.

 

 

 

Not to worry....there's another pool by the slide. We'll just take a dip in there. I don't think so....the water was really green and some kind of crud was floating in the corners.

 

 

 

We ended up just exploring around the ship and taking pictures. Also, eating and drinking, of course!

[mom2girls]

Thank you so much for posting your review. I can't wait to read more!

[KenMo]

Now it's Half Moon Cay.....the reason I booked this itinerary!!!

 

We were able to get a cabana. We wanted to be far away from the action and we got the second to the last one on the far end. Number 14.

 

 

This beach is beautiful. And just like everyone says, the sand is like talcum powder.

 

 

With the cabana, you get a fruit tray, veggie tray, a large bag of chips, a tray with salsa, guacamole, sour cream and ranch, about 8 oranges, soda and water.

 

 

There is a buffet starting at 11:30am. They have hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, cole slaw, desserts, and a couple other types of salads.

 

 

Here's another picture showing the inside of the cabana:

 

 

We really enjoyed just hanging out in the cabana. I didn't go in the water, but Kenny said it was too cold for him.

 

The last tender was at 2:15. Around 2 we started heading back to the pier. The line was loooong!! We decided to let the end of the line come to us, so we just sat in the chairs and waited.

 

[KenMo]

Some more HMC pictures. Did I mention how beautiful it was???

 

 

 

[berwyn]

Your pics are great. I can't wait till august.

[KenMo]

At Grand Turk, our plan was to walk down to Jack's Shack. We didn't make it. The pool looked really nice and we just hung out there for the day and did a little shopping.

 

 

 

The drinks here are very expensive!! I bought some Red Stripes for Kenny at $6.75 each....ouch! I bought a Margarita in one of those yard glasses...almost $14 for that one. Bring lots of cash or a CC if you plan on doing any drinking here!

 

But the place is very pretty. It's not a very long walk from the ship to the port area.

 

 

 

One end of the pool is very shallow and slopes down. It's good for the small kids....not deep at all.

 

Which reminds me....there was a lady who decided to wipe the snot from her daughter with her bare hand and then rinse her hand off in the pool. Gross!!!

 

 

I read on the Grand Turk boards that there used to be cabanas here. They were destroyed by Ike. The cabanas haven't been rebuilt yet. I did see what looked like floors (about 6 of them) with steps leading up to the floors. I'm guessing these were the original cabanas with the floors left intact, or they are in the process of rebuilding.

[KenMo]

I should have mentioned in the beginning....we flew to FLL. We used SAS for our transportation from FLL to Miami.

 

Normally, he charges $15pp. But, since there was just the two of us, we paid $45 total. Not bad....and much cheaper than a cab.

 

He also picked us up at the POM and took us back to FLL after the cruise. Since there were more passengers, we paid the $15pp.

 

SAS is very convenient and affordable. I'm sure we'll be using him again.

[letscruisegd]

Here's Budy, our cabin steward. He was awesome....kept our collapseable cooler filled all week! Greeted us everytime we saw him and knew our names from day one.

This is a great review. I had the same cabin steward and I totally agree with you...he was awesome.

[gypsyrose]

If it could go wrong it did go wrong:eek: Wow!! Glad you have a great attitude or this would not be a good review to read. LOVE all your pics and can't wait for the rest of the review. By the way, did I miss how you sprung the suprise on Kenny?

[IResQU]

We sail on the destiny in 2 weeks, and can't wait. My husband booked this on the sly, last night. So I have been scouring the board for pictures! Thanks so much, I saw the water was cold, how about the weather?

What room were you in?

[KenMo]

By the way, did I miss how you sprung the suprise on Kenny?

 

I put the FunPass in a birthday card and put it in his lunch box for work Friday night.

 

I waited for his lunch time for his phone call. He didn't call. Oooops! Maybe he's not happy about it. After worrying about it for an hour, I called him. He answered the phone with "Yes, I got it!" He wanted to know when we were leaving....he was ready to go...lol!

 

He said he hadn't had time to call, he was busy showing someone how to do his job while he was gone.

 

Before he opened the card, one of the guys at work asked him when he was cruising again. After he got the card, he told the guy...looks like I'm leaving tomorrow!

[KenMo]

We sail on the destiny in 2 weeks, and can't wait. My husband booked this on the sly, last night. So I have been scouring the board for pictures! Thanks so much, I saw the water was cold, how about the weather?

What room were you in?

 

The water was cold everywhere we went.

 

It was much cooler in Miami than we expected, but the natives said that was unusual.

 

At the ports, the air temperature was nice...maybe upper 70's/low 80's.

 

We were in cabin 1109. Way forward on Riviera deck. We've always preferred aft, but with this location, it was super easy getting off the ship. Just a few steps to the stairs and down one level.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

[KenMo]

We ate breakfast at the buffet every morning except debark morning we had room service.

 

We ate dinner in the dining room every night.

 

One complaint I have is that there is just not enough time to eat everything that's available!

 

Our waiters were Eva, from Indonesia, and Daniel, from Panama. They were wonderful! And the food was good, too. Not disappointed at all!

 

Daniel and Eva:

 

 

The waiters singing Happy Birthday to Kenny:

 

 

[KenMo]

And some pictures for the foodies:

 

Prime Rib

 

 

BBQ Ribs

 

 

Talapia