Just returned from Victory Cruise!

[momsbusy]

It was great! Let me know if you have any questions! Amy

[falkcor]

welcome back, and my condolences! (who ever wants to come back?) :D

 

so, how was it? ;)

 

what'd you think about this most port intensive itinerary? :)

[momsbusy]

Did not want to get off the boat! Boo hoo. Our favorites were Antigua - Jolly Beach Resort, the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen in my life, and I've been on a lot of beaches, and Barbados - swam with enormous turtles and snorkeled a shipwreck. I've still got sea legs, or whatever you call it, feels like we are still on the boat! There is so much to write about, I don't even know where to begin!

[falkcor]

Did not want to get off the boat! Boo hoo.

 

a common feeling ;)

 

Our favorites were Antigua - Jolly Beach Resort, the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen in my life, and I've been on a lot of beaches, and Barbados - swam with enormous turtles and snorkeled a shipwreck.

 

sounds like some great excursions...

 

I've still got sea legs, or whatever you call it, feels like we are still on the boat! There is so much to write about, I don't even know where to begin!

 

you could start... ya know - the pre-cruise stuff... or embarkation at san juan... how was the duty free liquor store (in terminal) set up / free samples, etc? for your cruise? people always wanna know about that :D

 

and i am interested in your opinion of a port-a-day. i've thought of this cruise as the perfect itinerary - but, i think we all need or want some 'down' days... i'd have to schedule a few low impact days on such a port intensive cruise, i think. :cool:

[momsbusy]

The port a day was fun, every morning a gorgeous new view. Some days we were only on the island in the morning and then spent the rest of the day on the boat, it was perfect. Yes, the San Juan terminal was excellent. They have liquor stores and the clerks put it in your carryons for you!

[cruiseawaits]

Our favorites were Antigua - Jolly Beach Resort, the most gorgeous beach I've ever seen in my life....

 

Does Jolly Beach Resort offer day passes? If so, the cost per person? Also, how far from where ship docked is Jolly Beach and what type of transportation(cost) did you use to get to and from?

[southern cruising couple]

I would like to do that port focused cruise! Such a great itinerary...if only flights weren't so high :mad:

 

Please share pics!

[breezy1200]

I would like to do that port focused cruise! Such a great itinerary...if only flights weren't so high :mad:

 

Please share pics!

 

Yes I know! We are scheduled on the 10/4 sailing and are very fortunate to have enough AA miles to fly for free and Marriott points to stay the night before sailing for free. Otherwise, this would be a quite expensive trip and I don't think we would do it if we had to pay for airfare from Dallas. Having the miles means more money to spend in the casino. :D

 

Momsbusy -- Welcome home and congratulations on what sounds like a fabulous cruise! I'm anxious to hear about your cruise. Tell me about the dining room service, food, etc.

 

Thanks,

 

Patti

[tiggerman101]

Glad to hear you had a good time and that everything at Jolly Beach worked out for you. I am looking forward to hearing more about your trip. I would love to do that itinerary again someday.

[IslandToIsland]

Welcome back, I'm glad you had a nice time and I am glad to keep seeing good reviews for Jolly Beach Resort. Do you have any pics you can share with us?

[Skywench]

Glad you enjoyed this cruise. I did the same itinerary last year on the Destiny. It has been my favorite cruise so far. I loved it so much that I am doing it again next month. Loved not having any sea days and a new port each morning. I wish Carnival had more itineraries like this one.

[momsbusy]

Ok, regarding the Jolly Beach Resort. I emailed Joyce beforehand and "asked" if my brood of six could come for the day. She was extremely friendly and accomodating. She said she would meet us at the door, and what do you know, when we pulled up in the cab, there she was, smiling, welcoming us. First, we caught a cab at the cruise ship terminal, maybe we could have gotten it cheaper had we walked around town a bit, I don't know. We paid $6 a person. It was "Carnival" in Antigua! Apparently, their biggest weekend of the year, celebrating the end of slavery some said, others were talking about Independance, all I know is it was an awesome site for us and our kids. We couldn't have picked a more exciting time to come to Antigua, I think. Our cab driver was very very friendly, drove us to the Jolly Beach Resort, which is guard gated so you really shouldn't just show up there. Joyce told us to hang out in the gorgeous lobby while we got our All Inclusive Passes. $54 per adult, $36 per kid 11 and younger. We had 2 adults, 2 teens and 2 11 year old twins. It was all you could eat, all you could drink, sailboats and kayaks, pool, beach, everything. Everyone at the resort wears wristbands, as we did. To my delight, their was a destination wedding going on, so I was watching all the melee from the pool. Hubby was very happy with the bar and the grill at the pool, kids loved everything. An activities director had everyone dancing, doing water aerobics, and then playing water volleyball. It was an awesome day and I highly recommend it. Thanks to you all on this Board for telling me about it. BTW, the beach was breathtaking, very beautiful and we will definitely be going back to Antigua one day.

[CARIBBEAN01]

WE just cruised the Liberty 2 weeks ago and loved it we have also been on the Freedom..would it be a big difference cruising on the Victory considering it is a bit smaller and older. We have looked at this itinerary because we would love to precruise in SAN JUAN...What was the condition of the ship thanks...

[Cigar Dude]

Just keep going momsbusy...I can't hear enough!

 

We're on this cruise in 4 weeks! :)

[HiiPocket]

Thanks for all the good information. DW and I sail on the Victory at the end of the month. Cant wait.

[yogimax]

Victory is a great ship!

[momsbusy]

A couple more points about Jolly Beach before I move on to another port. The beach is packed with seashells. Beautiful seashells, so if you are a sea shell hunter, you will be in heaven. Walk into the water about a couple feet and you will be standing on them, everywhere. The water is the most gorgeous color of aquamarine, and calm like a sheet of glass. You can pay to go out far and ride jetskis, or have a boat pull you on a big tube. An old guy on the beach had a big piece of aloe from a tree or whatever, cracked it open and rubbed it all over my sons arms and back and he claims his sunburn was completely gone. The jerk chicken fresh off the grill was excellent!

[cruiseawaits]

Would you then suggest water shoes for the beach at Jolly Beach?

[momsbusy]

No, you really don't need watershoes.

[momsbusy]

Regarding the ship, it was very similar to the Valor which we sailed last year. We loved it. We had a great cabin set up this time around. The cabins were much roomier than we expected, with lots of storage. Cabin steward was very efficient, worked for Carnival for 20 some years. The crowd of people on this boat was a very fun loving, active bunch, which we fit in well with. Lots and lots going on and it truly lived up to the funship name. Food was very good. My favorite dinner items were the lobster, chateaubriand, fried oysters (we're orginally from Baltimore), barbeque cornish hen, lots of different steak dishes, grilled salmon, escargot ofcourse. As I said, this was a party ship. So high time ( ie lines) at the breakfast buffet was a bit later then I remember. So if you are getting offboard early, get to breakfast early, before 8:30, to avoid lines. Sushi every night at 5 was very good. Clean ship, clean pools, very good service overall.

[winewanderer]

Ok, regarding the Jolly Beach Resort. I emailed Joyce beforehand and "asked" if my brood of six could come for the day. She was extremely friendly and accomodating. She said she would meet us at the door, and what do you know, when we pulled up in the cab, there she was, smiling, welcoming us. First, we caught a cab at the cruise ship terminal, maybe we could have gotten it cheaper had we walked around town a bit, I don't know. We paid $6 a person. It was "Carnival" in Antigua! Apparently, their biggest weekend of the year, celebrating the end of slavery some said, others were talking about Independance, all I know is it was an awesome site for us and our kids. We couldn't have picked a more exciting time to come to Antigua, I think. Our cab driver was very very friendly, drove us to the Jolly Beach Resort, which is guard gated so you really shouldn't just show up there. Joyce told us to hang out in the gorgeous lobby while we got our All Inclusive Passes. $54 per adult, $36 per kid 11 and younger. We had 2 adults, 2 teens and 2 11 year old twins. It was all you could eat, all you could drink, sailboats and kayaks, pool, beach, everything. Everyone at the resort wears wristbands, as we did. To my delight, their was a destination wedding going on, so I was watching all the melee from the pool. Hubby was very happy with the bar and the grill at the pool, kids loved everything. An activities director had everyone dancing, doing water aerobics, and then playing water volleyball. It was an awesome day and I highly recommend it. Thanks to you all on this Board for telling me about it. BTW, the beach was breathtaking, very beautiful and we will definitely be going back to Antigua one day.

 

Could you tell if there were enough sailboats and kayaks for the number of people vsisitng the resort?

 

Thanks, Diana

[Haysiedaze]

Our family will be taking our first cruise on the Victory In February. We have a 10 (DD) and 11 (DS) year old. Any suggestions on activities at the various ports that the 2 - 11 year olds especially enjoyed?

 

Both our children enjoy water activities and sight seeing. My daughter loves collecting shells at our local Mass and NH beaches. I told her to wait until she sees the shells in the Carribean :) .

 

Thanks, Steve

[momsbusy]

Winewanderer, There were always kayaks and sails available on the beach, yes.

[momsbusy]

Haysiedaze, Yours kids will have a blast, mine did. I very highly recommend the excursion in Barbados called Seaturtle Swim and Shipwreck Snorkel. I organized that one through Carnival, because I didn't want to leave anything to chance, and I promised turtles to the kids. I have pictures of my 11 year olds within inches of turtles almost as big as them, there are no words. They loved the shipwreck too, because there were fish swimming literally all over us. Then they took us to the beach, it was beautiful. I'll be back with more ideas. Definitely Antigua for your seashell gal.

[romansluv]

We will be doing this cruise in two and half weeks and I had a question about Jolly Resort. Can we go on the beach w/o having to purchase the wristbands? We just wanna hang out and probably do a few water sports. TIA!