Fabulous time on the destiny!!!

[mouche]

We just got back from the March 14th sailing on the Destiny, I first want to say to everyone who has this cruise coming up, get ready to have a BLAST!!!. Set your minds at ease the Destiny is a wonderful ship and she's in great shape. We got into Miami the day before the cruise and we stayed at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami, nothing fancy but very clean and great staff. Thanks to Rosa at the front desk for all you help, you were wonderful. We also really enjoyed the bayside market across the street lot of stores and places to eat. I bought a very nice watch and a shirt to take on the cruise. We also needed our supplies for our cruise such as water, sodas, wine and booze, so as we came out of the hotel we took a right and walked two blocks to Flagger st made a right and we were in a different world, there were so many places to shop, walgreens, Marshalls, liquor stores, speciality shops. We ended up getting a case of water, 12pack of soda, two big bottles of wine and my friend got a half of gallon of gin. When we got back to the hotel we pack those item in there own suit case and they made it on board and to our stateroom, no problem at all. Then we decided we wanted to go to South Beach we check the cabs and they were a bit pricey for just a drop off at the beach, now my friend thinks I am crazy, and thought I had lost my mind when I said let's take the city bus. Well it was so much fun to see more of Miami that way and I met the sweetest old lady while riding the bus, she help us with where the best place to get off the bus would be, and where we needed to go for our return to the hotel. South Beach was very nice, it was spring break so the beach was full of kids and it seemed anything goes. We walk the shore line and took pictures be fore returning to the hotel, and did I forget to say it was only $2.00. That night we ate at Bubba Gumps for dinner very good food and service I wish we had one here in N.C. Then we walked around and listen to the local band before returning to the hotel for the night. I couldn't sleep as I was so excited and ready to start our cruise I ended up waking early just in time to see our ship coming in as well as the victory and one other ship already in port. We were on the 8th floor so we had a great view of the port.

[mouche]

The morning of the cruise we got up went across to Bayside and had a wonderful breakfast, shopped a little more and then headed to the hotel for our luggage and it was off to the port. This was smooth we were on the ship by 11:45 and already eating. Our stateroom was not ready until around 1:30. The cabin was nice very spacious we had an OV #1193 the bathroom was much smaller than on the Fascination but over all I like the layout of this cabin better even though the Fascination decor was a little more up to date and the window was much much bigger. No big deal did not take away from my good time. Our cabin stewart was Dean and he was wonderful did a great job at keeping our room clean and our drinks cold, he even brought in a bigger container to keep all of that wine, soda, and water on ice at all times. The staff we met in the halls always greeted us with a smile and a hello madam. they were great at keeping the tables cleared as people finish their meals, nothing sat messy for long and I mean nothing. I also want to put peoples minds as ease about the food, pizza was great always hot, New York Deli was good I only had one sandwich from there, and Happy Valley was good only one meal from there too. Lido Deck food was always hot and great when we ate there also. Now where I give my raves to, is the Galaxy Dining room, OMG!!! the FOOD!!! everything I mean everything I ordered was simply wonderful, the crab cakes a must try, the stuff mushrooms don't miss out and the Braised short ribs, okay I'm drooling into this key board, let me stop. Truly my hat off to the chef on this ship, there was nothing in the dining room that i could complain about. Food was always hot, cooked perfectly and served with a smile. I finally got Chocolate melting cake baked right and served hot. I can't rave enough about the food in the dining room. My traveling partner is a chef with a degree and she thought the same as I did. Okay enough about the food. It was so nice to have the adult hot tubs and pool area, I love kids but it was great to enjoy this with out them for a change, this spot was my favorite place to hang out. I found it a bit to noisy and busy for me on the main Lido deck with the big screen and games and kids, but every time I walked through it seems everyone was having a great time and the band sounded great. We only took in one show and that was the last night, I thought they did a great job and it was very entertaining. The Casino was great, a little on the small side I thought and the disco was fun, we love to dance and one night they had Motown and I love Motown music. There was so much we did, that my head is spinning right now and I can't remember it all.:eek: Grand Cayman was simply beautiful we caught a cab to the seven mile beach and we just laid out and enjoyed the water, I did walk about a mile down the beach and back very relaxing. Jamaica was a different story, we had been to Jamaica before, so we decided to do the Bamboo Beach Club, now let me say when we first arrived I was a little Leary at first, but it was early and things got better as the music and entertainment started and the rum punch started to kick in:D The food was not that great actually the only thing that was half way edible in my opinion was the chicken, but people didn't seem to care and I believe it was due to the rum punch, and red stripe and also the coconut drinks for $6.00 which consist of a coconut fill with 151 proof Jamaican rum:eek: Needless to say the ladies in front of us could not drink theirs so we gave it a shot, well we couldn't do it either and pass it only to some spring breakers before we left. But before we left we ended up dancing in the sand and having the best time. We all were so quiet that morning on the bus, but when we left the Bamboo Beach Club you couldn't hear yourself talk, mostly everyone was buzzed. So if you like to drink yourself silly this is the place for you, if you want to relax by a quiet beach then go elsewhere. But don't get me wrong I had a blast!!! To sum it all up we had a great time and now we're already planning our next one and I am really considering the Destiny again, I wish I knew if the same crew and chef would be on her this time next year:confused: oh well if you have booked the Destiny get ready for a great time guys:)

[David148]

Sounds good so far! i cant wait to read more.. are you going to post pictures? I would love to see some. I am on the Destiny in SEPT. CANNOT WAIT! :eek: What part of NC are you from? I live in NC also.

 

Keep up the review , i am excited to hear more!

 

-David

[gizzie]

Kool, I will be on the Destiny very soon....give us more details.

[mouche]

Sounds good so far! i cant wait to read more.. are you going to post pictures? I would love to see some. I am on the Destiny in SEPT. CANNOT WAIT! :eek: What part of NC are you from? I live in NC also.

 

Keep up the review , i am excited to hear more!

 

-David

David I live in Greensboro, and you?

[David148]

David I live in Greensboro, and you?

 

 

Cool Cool, The last time i was in Greensboro was like 10 yrs ago and went to Emerald Pointe, is that still there? I am from the east coast, Jacksonville. :)

[tess2cruz]

WOO HOO!! Just 4 weeks and we will be on her, having a blast!!! We are doing the other side, GT, HMC and Nassau. I was on this same cruise just last Nov and she is a great ship. Thanks for getting me all excited for my Destiny cruise.

[mouche]

Cool Cool, The last time i was in Greensboro was like 10 yrs ago and went to Emerald Pointe, is that still there? I am from the east coast, Jacksonville. :)

Alright David, Jacksonville is cool , I've seen you on the boards asking about the Destiny, don't worry about the negatives you are going to have a blast!!! I just wish I could go with you guys:D

[merocket59]

Thanks for the review, my mouth is watering!!

[WAcruisers]

Thanks for the review! I will be on her in September :D

[jetexpress]

Can 't wait to get on the girl June 15th.

[cwmcaa]

Thank you so much for the review!!!! It's great to hear that you had so much fun. We can't wait for our turn!

[mouche]

I forgot to tell you guys that when we got our sail and sign card they had us on the early seating for dinner and we had requested the late when we booked. Well they informed us that we had to see the Maitre D between 1:30 and 3:00 only to request a change. The Maitre D was Desmond and he was so nice, even though he said he may not be able to change it, since Car Quest had booked the whole dinning room. But he would do his best, well that night we ate at early seating and enjoyed the company of the two other ladies at our table. Then the next day we received a note saying that they were able to change our seating. I've shared this only to say that when we went to the late seating that night we were pleasantly surprise that we had a table for two, and I've heard how hard these are to get. Other passengers who had anniversaries, or who were on their honeymoon wanted to know how we managed to get a table for two. Now I don't mind sitting with others and I really enjoy meeting and talking to new people. But I also really liked that experience of just me and my best friend having the space all to ourselves. I guess we just lucked out ha?;) I may post little things like this as they come to mind, as I said before we did so much and had such a good time it's hard to remember it all at one time.

[mom2girls]

Thanks for posting! I can't wait until June! :)

[David148]

What dinning room did you have? We requested late, but think we want to request early now because we have a 3.5 yr old traveling with us.

[clgcrusier]

Glad to hear you had a great time on the Destiny-our group was on there last fall and had a wonderful time as well! We had heard a lot of negative things about her prior to sailing. I was rather disappointed with our room-things seemed a bit shabby and there were a lot of mechanical problems going on, plus a bad smell from time to time, but we were also in the "basement" and the Destiny has just come off a drydock that had been interrupted by a hurricane. So I think they were still in the middle of fixing things up, and our deck probably wasn't finished yet. . .didn't matter anyway as the staff was fantastic, the ship was clean, and we had a fabulous time!

[Sgtsmoke54]

Thanks for all the info...We are hoping to sail on it the 4th of July weekend! I can't wait, I just want to get my MWD Handler class outta the way so I can be on VACATION!!!

[mouche]

What dinning room did you have? We requested late, but think we want to request early now because we have a 3.5 yr old traveling with us.

David we had the late seating in Galaxy dinning room.

[mouche]

Glad to hear you had a great time on the Destiny-our group was on there last fall and had a wonderful time as well! We had heard a lot of negative things about her prior to sailing. I was rather disappointed with our room-things seemed a bit shabby and there were a lot of mechanical problems going on, plus a bad smell from time to time, but we were also in the "basement" and the Destiny has just come off a drydock that had been interrupted by a hurricane. So I think they were still in the middle of fixing things up, and our deck probably wasn't finished yet. . .didn't matter anyway as the staff was fantastic, the ship was clean, and we had a fabulous time!

Well I can tell you, they really got things together now, I also was in the basement:D I thought the rooms were a little dated, but not shabby by any means, bedding was new, carpet clean, as well as the whole stateroom, never did we ever encounter any bad smells and no maintenance problems. I talked with a lot of my co-passengers through out the cruise and everyone was very please with how their cruise was going. So I guess they got it together.;)