RebelAthena

Our final port day was at Grand Turk. I know, I know that some folks think of this as nothing more than a tourist trap with palm trees, but it is the reason that I booked this itinerary. We sailed into port about noon, and the views from the boat were simply spectacular. Yes, the interior of the island is in a bit of a rough shape (think Fiji beaches meet the industrial feel of the Bahamas), but I was not put off at all.

From my research, I’d learned that renting a golf cart and exploring the island was affordable, low risk, and offered the opportunity to visit where others would not.

It was the absolute right call.

I know that there are threads devoted to golf cart rental on Grand Turk, and I’ll add my thought here: I used WetMoney rentals, and I have no regrets. I made a reservation for two golf carts via email, and, when we arrived, the golf cart keys were being stowed in his pocket for safe keeping (i.e., not being rented to others). There was no “confusion” about price or extras; there was no hassle. It all seemed completely above board and painless (the wait in the sun was a bit much, but really, I was on GRAND TURK, guys!). I was pleased with the quality of the golf carts, though the one I was driving had very little “umph.”

First, you must know that, as far as I can tell, the island was mined for salt for centuries and, as a result, the interior of the island looks very bad; the island is also home to a substantial population of wild donkeys. My research revealed that these animals could be a little aggressive (kicking and biting), but we actually encountered donkeys would wanted to be petted (we also observed a donkey in his “amorous” state, and, whoooo boy, let me tell you that was an education for the kids and adults alike); as a result of these roaming donkeys, there is donkey poop everywhere, so just be prepared.

Second, you will drive on the left side of the car and the left side of the street; the traffic was not bad at all, and it was an adventure driving all over the island. I will say that you will share the roads with other golf carts, tourist buses, trucks, and roving bands of ATVs . . . so, just stay in your lane, get passed when needed, and keep trucking along. The island felt friendly, and I felt safe the entire time.

Third, the island has some really, really spectacular views and beaches. We first visited the lighthouse – which wasn’t much to see – but it was a great place for pictures, to watch folks zip line, and to get refreshments/use the restrooms.

We then headed to Pillory Beach. **Note here, I encourage you to use a GPS map to find the beach, because the standard paper maps that were readily provided didn’t include the sandy road that one must traverse to get to the beach.** So, we did have a bit of excitement when we got separated from the second golf cart (I had the map and they did not . . . and they weren’t following very well), but we found each other, though we ended up losing about 30 minutes of time in the process.

Y’all. Y’all. Pillory beach. There are no words. When you drive over the sandy road (next to really yucky ponds of water and the school (we saw school children – it was so cool!)), you’ll be dubious, and you’ll be dubious when you see the trash where you park the golf cart . . . but then you will turn the corner and see one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The sand was soft, the water was clear, and, though there was a beach club there, the beach population was very sparse. The snorkeling wasn’t great – though we saw lots sea life, coral, and shells – but it was just an incredible place. YOU NEED TO WEAR WATER SHOES (there are shells and broken coral that will cut your feet). Though there was no covered pavilion like in USVI, there were restrooms, a spigot to rinse feet, and a bar associated with the beach club (reasonably priced and they will run a tab). The couple of hours we spent at the beach were simply marvelous, and it was very sad to leave.

Our drive back was uneventful, and we used our remaining time to eat and drink at Margaritaville. It was expensive, but it was a nice way to end the day (though it was SO LOUD). We returned to the ship right at back-on-board time, and we were sad that the cruise was coming to an end.

On our next day, we docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and this was, by far, my least favorite port, but not for the reasons you’re probably thinking. At our three other stops, we were the only ship in port; however, we learned the night before arriving in PR that we would be one of THREE ships docking in San Juan. As such, we ended up docking at 6:30AM and had to be back on board by 3:30. While San Juan is beautiful and historic, NOTHING IS OPEN at 6:30AM (and really, who wants to be up, fed, and ready to get off the ship at 6:30 AM?) We ended up leaving the ship around 8AM and were greeted with rush-hour traffic; to make things worse, there was a scheduled visit by a high-ranking governmental official that day and traffic was in gridlock. Feeling a bit at a loss, we ended up strolling into Old Town San Juan and visiting a Starbucks (WHICH HAD AWESOME MAPS!). After meeting up with the rest of my family, we took an uber XL to Castillo San Felipe del Morro; it was worth the $7 (yes, only $7) to get everyone there without griping and without being in a puddle of sweat (I’m from the south, but good gosh the humidity in San Juan was oppressive). We enjoyed our time at del Morro; it is gorgeous, shady, breezy, and historical. We all got in plenty of walking! We then ubered to Castille de San Cristobal (yes, it is walkable, but when you have kids in bad footwear (not my children!), you make accommodations). NOTE HERE: the entrance fee to one will get you into both locations, so save your receipt! I was less impressed with this second location, but it put us in a great spot to wander around Old San Juan and return to the ship on time. Evidently there is a taco truck that hangs out close to the port, and the food is cheap and FANTASTIC. My nephew – a picky eater for sure – ate three different tacos. So, we returned to the ship, and I wanted a pre-dinner nap ...

2 hours later, I wake up and . . . we were still in port. What the what? Turns out a Carnival excursion ran exceptionally late, and we were obliged to wait for the group of 16 passengers. I think had our hours been different and traffic not so terrible, I would have ventured downtown or to the Bacardi factory; we were concerned, however, that we would get caught in traffic returning to the port, and the ship would have sailed without us.

Before I get to Grand Turk – WHICH WAS THE BESTEST – I want to mention our dining experience (late dining). To be sure, we really loved our servers, the food was good enough, and the entertainment was fun . . . but our table was never set properly. We were ALWAYS missing glasses or plates or something; when I finally asked (because none of the other tables seemed to be shorted), I was told by our server that they were “short” on whatever it was that was missing . . . but I never understood why it was _our_ table that was never set properly. Just a thought.

We are on this same itinerary end of October on the Breeze. We have booked Ocean World also and I was wondering if there is food available for purchase there. I have read conflicting answers and so I am hoping you can help. Loving your review btw!

Hi! I’m sorry that I can’t help you with this. There was a snack/drink hut (and what looked like a small place to eat), but I can’t say for sure. There is, however, a little store and a gift a shop, both of which sell snacks and drinks.

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Excited to finish reading your review and we sail soon! What cabin/deck were you guys on?

Hi! I was in 8284, my parents were in 8263, and my Bro/SIL were 9263. We loved being mid-forward, close to the elevators (though it was a haul to get to 4Aft for dinner).

Thank you for posting your review.:)

 

 

 

Sailing on the Magic in January and we're on the Lido Deck.

 

 

 

Do you mind sharing, What was your cabin number?

Hi! I was in 8284, my parents were in 8263, and my Bro/SIL were 9263. We loved being mid-forward, close to the elevators (though it was a haul to get to 4Aft for dinner).

Waiting to hear more about the fight among the group of 120+ pax during their "private" party.......

I didn’t hear about this!! OMG!

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Tuesday was spent in the USVI, and it was so beautiful pulling into port! Unlike DR, it felt like we had docked right in the middle of things. I cannot strongly enough emphasize that we were so, so fortunate to have amazing weather throughout the entire trip! Our interest in this sailing was to get some sun and beach time, so we booked the Magens Bay Beach Trip; while there were Magens Bay excursions with shopping and the tram ride, we had two kids (and an adult with a fear of heights), so the simple beach trip with a stop at Drake’s Seat was plenty for us. The open-air bus was spacious and comfortable (I’m plus-size and over 6-foot tall), and I felt safe the entire time. The drive around the island gave us a flavor of the place (it was so odd to see American stores while driving on the opposite side of the road!). The view from Drake’s Seat was lovely, but it wasn’t my favorite. As you would expect at a tourist stop, there was a cadre of locals at the spot who would “help” you take pictures and offer their assistance in surveying the island (one even had a cow with sunglasses for pictures); these folks, working for tips, could be a bit aggressive and, though I was a bit overwhelmed with them, I am certain that they were harmless. I was a bit mystified when my sister-in-law mindlessly handed one local her phone for a family picture, seemingly unaware that, at best, this person would expect payment in return for his services, or, at worse, this person could just walk off with the phone (the phone was returned to me, and I took the picture). So, just be aware that you are going to be hassled at Drake’s seat if you visit. Now, Magens Bay Beach . . . that is another story entirely.

Our excursion included the minimal cost of the beach ticket and two hours on the beach. The beach was not particularly busy, and so we did not need to rent a chair or umbrella; we simply camped out at picnic table under a covered pavilion and played in the ocean (someone stayed with our stuff, though I think it would have been fine either way, there were guards and bus drivers everywhere). The beach and area was clean, and the area was magnificent; we were not hassled or bothered at all. The bar and quick-service food were a little pricey ($3 for a slice of pizza and $6 for nuggets), but we thought it was reasonable for a tourist place. After our two glorious hours (which was plenty for us), we were returned to the shops right out of the port, which provided an opportunity to pick up a souvenir or necessities (or buy cheap rum and have a quick drink!). NOTE HERE: There was kettle corn being popped right outside the ship; my mother, a connoisseur of popcorn, thought it was FANTASTIC. Its not cheap, but it was plentiful and tasty!

We left USVI at dusk, and the views of the harbor with the light on shore was just stunning!

San Juan up next!

On our Sea Day, we played in WaterWorks, ate at the Italian Place for lunch (thanks for the idea, fellow cruisers), and visited the casino. We had late dining, so my favorite part of that day was sitting far forward on Serenity during the sunset. It was GLORIOUS. Our first “elegant” night was so much fun – and I thought the food was good enough. Our waiter, Kalvin, was great, and the little “showtimes” by the wait staff were a hit with my family. What I learned that first night – I don’t care for the melting cake! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the room service chocolate cake (I can’t find a recipe), but the melting cake wasn’t for me.

The next day we were in Amber Cove. It is a lovely port – tucked away in a cove surrounded by mountains – but it feels very much in the middle of nowhere. We choose the Ocean World Day Pass, which we felt was a decent value, but we ended up spending most of our time at the pool drinking the VERY affordable drinks (some of which come in a COCONUT!). We only had a few hours at Ocean World, which was enough. We did not care for the “beach” (there wasn’t really one) but it was delightful to see the dolphins, sea lions, sharks and tropical birds (though my bleeding heart for animals was a little saddened by their captivity); also, the views of the ocean from the park are spectacular. Our favorite part – which made the excursion worth it for us – was the opportunity to snorkel in the large salt-water aquarium. There wasn’t much to see, fishes and coral, but it was PERFECT for the kids to practice snorkeling in calm and friendly waters. I wouldn’t repeat my trip to Ocean World, but I would recommend it if you have children and want an affordable excursion.

Next up: USVI and San Juan!

Some notes about the Magic (and something that I’ve seen discussed here) – I found that, for the most part, it felt like a very crowded ship. The Lido deck (pool and buffet), the casino, Ocean Plaza (on sea days), and other locations always felt very busy; there were almost always lines for food or a crowd waiting for the MDR.

Here’s the other thing – I was not a fan of the condition of the ship. Generally speaking, the ship smelled strongly of damp and mildew (or smoke in the Casino). I’ve read that comment before, and I’ve discounted it as someone being overly sensitive – NO. Seriously. You can smell the awful wetness from outside the ship, you can see the damp carpets (see picture), and the smell lingered with my clothing when I opened my suitcase back home. Worse yet, the ship just seemed dingy, and my room was in the condition that I would expect at a 2-star hotel: there were stains on the walls, in the drapes, and on the couch; the mirror in the bathroom showed wear; and, my balcony and the outside furniture were covered in while specs (presumably paint chips from the pressure washing?). To be clear – it all seem clean, and I was not at all uncomfortable (though the smell was unpleasant), but I was surprised by the condition of the ship.

That being said, it was an AWESOME cruise. We had an early dinner the first night, and I was in bed VERY early that night ... next up, Sea Day and Amber Cover, DR.

Our rooms at the Residence Inn included parking and a cruise shuttle. Though we loved the service (we had so much luggage!), the lone shuttle ran at 10:30 am, but our embarkation “appointment window” was 1:30pm – 2:00pm, so we were a little nervous about waiting for hours in the cruise terminal (especially because this was our first sailing without FTTF); nevertheless, we decided to head over early instead of paying for a couple of Ubers. It turns out that we had nothing to fear. Though we were asked to show our boarding passes when we arrived at the cruise terminal, no one questioned our appointment time; likewise, though we arrived with busloads of other passengers, the lines for check in and security were SMOOTH and FAST. Our passports were scanned, our carry-on luggage was checked, and we were given a boarding zone; as best as I can recall, we boarded within the hour. Note here about FTTF: on our first cruise out of Port Canaveral, we had FTTF and were able to bypass the obvious crowds and lines. It seems, though, with the new key-at-stateroom process, there were simply no crowds or onerous lines. It was a breeze, and a perfect start to our cruise! I did miss FTTF when we boarded and had nowhere to put our carry-on luggage, but it wasn’t too terrible; we parked ourselves inside on the Lido Deck and enjoyed lunch and dessert until the rooms were ready. Following a nap and muster (which was INSIDE, WOOOT!), we stayed on the deck for the sail away party.

Hello fellow cruisers! This was my third cruise in about a year and my second sailing on Carnival. We (my parents, bro/sis-in-law with their children, and myself) sail in mid-September -- yes, the height of hurricane season -- because many school children in Georgia (including my niece and nephew) are on fall break during that time; in the absence of a hurricane, the weather can be spectacular and the prices are lovely, too. Our family cruise planned for last September -- a short trip to the Bahamas on the Liberty -- did not go as expected because, shortly before cruising, my sweet little nephew landed in the ICU after going undiagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. My brother and his family missed the sailing, but Carnival worked with us (thankfully), and we learned our lesson -- travel insurance for ALL.

Our cruise this year also had some drama, with four-five tropical systems rolling around the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic (Florence, Isaac, Helene, Joyce, and TD Eleven), but our luck held, and our sailing was unaffected. Our itinerary was as follows:

Sat., Sept. 15: Embark at Port Canaveral, FL, USA

Sun., Sept. 16: Sea Day

Mon., Sept. 17: Amber Cove, DR

Tues., Sept. 18: St. Thomas, USVI

Wed., Sept. 19: San Juan, PR

Thurs., Sept. 20: Grand Turk, T&C

Fri., Sept. 21: Sea Day

Sat., Sept. 22: Disembark at Port Canaveral, FL, USA

Because we live in Georgia, the drive to Port Canaveral is not terrible. Last year, when we didn't know if we were cruising or staying with my nephew, we left SUPER LATE (after we knew my nephew was going to be okay), and arrived in Port Canaveral about 4AM. Of course, we said never again.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Joke is on us.

This time, we could. not. get. our. stuff. together. to. leave. on. time. My parents and I were supposed to leave the house about 6pm; we left at nearly 8pm. We finally picked up my brother and sis-in-law with kids about 9PM (they were standing in front of their house with ALL their belongings looking like a traveling show) and grabbed dinner on the road. Driving at 2am was no fun, but I was wide awake after discovering that our house/dog sitter was a no show; thankfully she responded promptly (to communications sent by a family member), and we learned she was just out doing things on a Friday night as young folks do (she had visited the dogs earlier before going out (thanks home-camera technology)). We arrived at the Residence Inn at Port Canaveral/Cocoa Beach at 4AM, and the place was heavenly (maybe because of my level of exhaustion?). The clerk was a bit of a smartass, but I guess I, too, would entertain myself with weary travelers at 4AM if I worked the night shift, and he gave us toothpaste (all that extra time certainly didn't help my packing skills).

We all slept a few hours -- my parents made a Publix run before we were shuttled to port -- and we arrived at the cruise terminal.

Just looked at your cruise it goes from $1665.00 for IX to over $3000 I would hope no one drinks enough to make that pay off in 10 days

 

 

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Yeah — it’s twice as much for a non sail-away room with associated promotions; I just don’t think I can justify it.

OP, come join us on Norwegian Epic 10 Day December 5, 2018

Very good pricing. single rate as low as $729 for a studio

Awww, thanks! I can’t cruise in an inside cabin 🤢

Commenting because I want to learn more about these sail away themes. I do the drink packages for convenience but am starting to think twice. My Bride is doing the Escape this weekend with her Sister, Niece and another Woman in the Haven. She couldn't get the drink package but we believe it isn't worth it to her because she spends a significant amount of time in the casino, hence her party drinking will be cheaper in the long run by single purchase.

 

 

 

Hoping your post answers many questions.

My thoughts as well — I just sailed on Carnival without a drink package, and I spent FAR less on drinks than the cost of the drink package, even when buying wine by the bottle.

Hey gang!

I have some time off in December, and I was considering a 10-day sailing on the Breakaway in early December. I’ll be sailing solo, and it looks as if that specifc sailing offers a solo-cruiser discount ... making the rate for a balcony or mini-suite SOOOOPER cheap. That being said, it’s a “sail-away” rate without any promotions or room selection. The price feels too good to pass up, but part of me remembers that you get what you pay for. If I pay the double-occupancy, I’ll get OBC plus two free-at-sea promotions (I’d do the drinks and shore-excursion credit).

Thoughts on sail-away rates without the promotions for a solo cruiser? Am I correct in understanding that I can still participate in the bidding process for upgrades?

I know there are poker table games (where you play against the house), but are there poker tournaments on a standard Carnival cruise?

I just bought 3 cards but it kept declining my card. I use another card and it went through. Weird

Things I didn’t know until I did: you have to use a Citi card to make the purchase.

When we were on Magic a couple years ago, someone gave us this tip and I will be forever thankful for it!!!

 

When you board head straight through the buffet and find the staircase that leads up to the Italian restaurant, unless more people have found this gem, it's quiet and the food is good and made to order. It's nice refuge from the crowds at the buffet below.

Is it free on the first day?

hey gang!

I’m setting sail on the Magic VERY soon, and I wonder whether anyone has tips for my first trip on the Magic (I was on the Liberty last September).

Thinking of getting a thermal suite pass — what else should I look at doing?

The login screen specifically says you can use your Citi Cards login information. But I tried what you suggested and I get the following message: The information entered could not be verified, or you may already be registered. I've never used easy deals before so I'm definitely not already registered.

 

Sigh...

Hi, I’ve been using EasyDeals for years, and I _still_ have this problem. I suspect it has to do with cookies saved to your internet browser.

I’d try three things:

Register for an account

Try to sign in again

IF ALL ELSE FAILS: try signing in using an “InPrivate” (or similar) browsing session.

So when you look at a chart of when hurricanes occur in the Atlantic, the middle of September shows the highest number of hurricanes occurring during the June 1 to Nov. 30 storm season.

 

More hurricanes occur Sept 10 -24 than at any other 2 week period. That's why cruise prices are so low this time of year. Fall break in the South would increase pricing, just as winter or worse, summer school breaks do.

 

If a gambler or a pit boss saw the same high incidence of one arc of a roulette wheel being hit, that wheel section would be hit up by the gambler while the casino would take that wheel out of service.

I completely understood your original post, and I’m quite familiar with the hurricane season ... and my response doesn’t change: so, what? Families are going to vacation when kids are out of school. For us, our family obligations prevent us sailing over Thanksgiving or Christmas; we sail during September (fall break) and have sailed during winter break (February). I have no interest in cruising during spring break or during the height of summer.

But you seemed to miss _my_ point — these cruises are SOLD OUT. Tens of thousands of folks cruise during this time, so I’m not sure why you’re shaming the OP for asking about what to expect.

Terrible weather can happen during any month (see the bomb-cyclone Cruise in January), and, as for us, we purchase trip insurance and bonine and hope for the best.

Did y’all have any issues with the ports? I was worried we wouldn’t have much fun on the beaches if the waves are as bad as they say. Rip tides etc

We did not, but I don’t know where the storms are right now this season.

Cruising with first time cruisers and small children on Sunday. Am wondering if the swell from Florence in the Atlantic will have a major impact to our cruise (Canaveral to the Bahamas 4 nights starting on Sunday). There are some who get seasick deep sea fishing but am hoping the Carnival Liberty is so large that it won't be major impact.

 

Any insight/tips/experience?

Hi! We sailed the Liberty almost _exactly_ a year ago (Sept 16th or 17th), during a terrible hurricane season. It was our first cruise, and I won’t lie, the seas were rough, we could feel the motion of the seas, and my mom and I were sick the first night ...

BUT ... we were mostly fine after the first night with the help of the patch (her) and Bonine (me).

My advice: start the medicine or patch the night before. Drink plenty of water. GO TO BED EARLY on nights it’s bad. I was always better laying down.

But, we sail in a couple of weeks, so our first sailing wasn’t so bad that we aren’t now hooked on cruising :)

You are cruising at the height of hurricane season !!!!!

So what? We are sailing in two weeks and the cruise is sold out for the same reason: it’s fall break in the south.

Hurricane season is half the year.

Unfortunately FTTF for your sailing was most likely sold out around August 2017 with a few slots here and there opening up along the way and selling out quickly as they open. Chances of a slot opening up this close to your sail date is very slim, if any. Not saying a slot or 2 won't open but I wouldn't count on it.

 

As far as doing it over the phone, you have better chances of it showing up online. Everything is done online.

Thanks — I’m now resigned to this fact :(