bdever

I’m a virgin so go easy on me. This is my very first cruise review and doing it on my phone. 

Sailed on Panorama on 12/31/21 for my birthday on 1/1. Because I book by cabana # and because this was an 8 day NYE cruise at that I had to book this cruise over a year in advance (8/20). I’m so glad I did! Out of my 11 cruises it was my favorite. Not perfect but sure close to it all things considered. 
Sailed solo for all the right reasons: been dating myself for 18 months now, avoiding a dance with Covid (never had that dance so knock ✊🏼 on wood 🪵 ), it was my birthday gift to myself, I started a new job a week prior so this was the perfect way to hit the reset button.

This was my 3rd sailing on Panorama in a Havana Cabana with the previous sailing on 9/18/21. Same cabana, same crew! I love ❤️ my Havana crew. If La Casa de Papel was on a cruise ship 🛳 my name is Havana and my gang of misfits, thick as thieves would no doubt be mi familia de Havana. 
The things that made this cruise so special to me:

1. My friends Eschalon & her mom Joyce that I met on my first Panorama cruise booked this one ☝️ To join me in a cabana down the ways from mine!!!!! We boarded together and are rooms were ready together as soon as we boarded at 12:30! 
2. As soon as I boarded Nader at Alchemy Bar recognized me and said “Hi Bethany, we will have fresh ground pepper for you to make your cocktail 🍸 don’t worry! (I was amazed he remembered Pump & Glory was my drink, he remembered me too!) Stopped by Pig & Anchor and Tijana was bartending there and she was so excited to see me! She assured me that the Alchemy bar staff would be coming to her for instructions on the Pump & Glory and to get the pepper grinder. Then when I walked the brides walk to Havana Bar (love that walk) Israel saw me and gave me the tightest hug 🤗 in the world and I didn’t realize how much I needed that hug until I melted in his arms. Mikol was also still working Havana bar but Victor was moved to Serenity bar and Louiza reassigned to Java Blue.

Eschalon said “Wow Bethany you’re famous.” I said “This coming from the girl who gets recognized by random passengers while I’m famous for being a lush???” Israel gave me 4 cans of grapefruit bubly on my first day to keep in my cabana fridge! They all know I invite flavored sparkling water to the party 🎉 & I have cheers so always always double fisted with grapefruit bubly! They stock extra cases when I’m on board. I also got reintroduced to the bar staff supervisor who remembered me from the last cruises so that was cool 😎 that their boss remembered me! 
3. Islah - my room attendant. He is somewhat of a serious demeanor. Friendly but serious 🧐. He was my attendant on 9/18 and I am intrigued by him! He remembered I am crazy for slippers and brought them to me as soon as I checked into the cabana. He is so serious but has a soft heart. So funny, he knocked at my door with the slippers while I was changing but who cares, we’re family so I open the door anyway. He also wrote Happy Birthday on my mirror 🪞 on 1/1. He knows I like my room refreshed around 11 - 12ish too (not morning, not night) and works with me there. Islah also knows I’m late debarking and let’s me finish up in my cabana on last day until like 10:30ish. I tip him generous and give him cute straws on the last day. I use his towel animals to hold the money and straws before leaving the cabana.

3. Midnight Project Band in Havana / every. single. night. Going to cut the floor like a flamenco dancer but salsa 💃🏻 instead! 
4. My cabana, my home / Improvements made - metal scraping against a chalkboard all night long from upper decks is no longer a thing!!!! Slept like a rocked baby! Bed still hard but softening! Linens and pillows seem upgraded even more! Fridge now works and so does the safe. Love ❤️ the soft water 🚿 and Elemis products in the shower. Love my sliding glass door and keeping it open especially in the morning when I’m thinking about maybe getting out of bed. My swing that I sit in at all hours of the day and night but I especially love the swing at night! The lanai outside of my cabana balcony / some people hate it but when you love to dance and drink at the same time and have taken ballet classes as an adult the best experience in the world is to go out to that lanai at 2 AM to dance on the bannister and look directly down to the water being cut below with the moon 🌙 and the stars above ☝️ reaggeton of course but I throw in a few ballet 🩰 positions for good measure. 
Havana Bar - I have a table especially for me. Love ❤️ my table and I bring my decorative cabana pillows from my room to the bar at night to support my back. Feels so comfy! I love ❤️ how the Havana bar has an outdoor side and indoor side. I move to the outside at night when the band takes a break in between sets just to relax and enjoy the calmness in the outdoor Havana area. My Havana crew that I get to party with every night. 
Lanai / deck 5 - al fresco dining and drinking is an LA staple so the lanai for me is a no brainer. The lounge chairs are too deep so it’s nice that you can take the back cushions from other loungers and stack them to support your back better. 
Deck 11 aft / wow 🤩 wow 🤩 wow 🤩 on a cold day this is the spot! Plush loungers with extra plush ottomans so your legs are actually elevated to chest level for good circulation and your protected from all the elements since it’s designed like a grotto with a crescent enclave and you have vents that blow hot air behind you so the temperature is very mild. Smokers a few feet away but you can’t smell the smoke at all with all the wind blowing. Even if I did, who cares, I’m comfy, I’m cozy. I noticed it’s also a nice birds eye view of the Tides Pool and hot tubs so you could time dips for when it’s not so crowded. If I wasn’t staying in Havana you bet your ass I’d be hanging here all day. 
Lido Buffet - they have a charcuterie spread like no other. I eat like a bird because given a choice on a cruise I prefer to wet my whistle rather than waste time chewing and I had weight loss surgery like over a decade ago that just recently started to kick in. So the magic of the charcuterie spread on lido is make yourself a beautiful plate with salami, pita bread, olives, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, drizzle with fresh pesto they have in a big jar, top with cheese cubes then carry the plate to deck 5 pig & anchor to get a small glass filled with blue cheese stuffed olives 🫒 then take it back to your cabana and fridge it until sunset or until your hunger kicks in so you can enjoy it with a cocktail 🍹 and watch the sunset. The zucchini and cheese tarts, empanadas and coconut lime cake are also highly recommended from the buffet! Loved that the gelato station had butterscotch sauce and white chocolate shavings for toppings- forget the gelato 🍨 give me a gallon of butterscotch sauce and white chocolate shavings to go please (note to self / use as toppings on coconut lime cake next time) 

Havana Outdoor Area / no party crashers this time! Empty for most part. I use the outdoor area I think the way it was traditionally conceptualized: your cabana is for partying and relaxing and pool and hot tubs are for dipping like a potato chip. The loungers and beds out there are for people who don’t have cabanas IMO. So I get crazy lit 🔥 on my cabana, walk out to the outdoor area to get wet for maybe 20 minutes then back to my cabana to dry off and get lit some more/ repeat. This is also when I make trips to outside Havana bar to re/up. 
Ports / Always get off the ship, Mazatlán is my favorite hands down. Every city in the world needs a blue line. Just follow the blue line, just follow fallow fallow the blue line and you are led to the emerald city aka machado plaza the center of the universe! This time I found a gem 💎 of a cafe on the blue line that is my new spot!!!!

PV - John Huston gifted us Las Caletas and it’s literally heaven on earth 🌍 Thank you 🙏🏻 so much John! Give my dad a hug for me! 
Cabo is my least favorite but I still get off and buy my hand blown stemware because I insist on the beauty and craftsmanship of Cabo hand  blown stemware for my watermelon 🍉 cucumber 🥒 coolers I make at home. Plus I’ve been known to need to buy replacement pieces 😬

Art of Tea 🫖 OMG 😳 this tea though! I now order it at brunch & dinner in addition to tea time!!! White coconut creme is my fav but not going to lie, that French lemon ginger is to die for!!! I only drink Art of Tea when I cruise so it’s a very special treat for me! 
Java Blue Cafe / since my cabana is so close to ocean plaza, I put my Havana robe and slippers on and freestyle it to the cafe half asleep in the morning and get a chai tea latte instead of room service coffee and take it back to my cabana to enjoy on the swing while I think about taking a shower. 
Alchemy bar / go there once a night before dinner & dancing 💃🏻 in Havana. I get my Pump & Glory or modified cucumber 🥒 sunrise (heavy on cucumber heavy on watermelon 🍉 light on the sunrise). 
 

On 1/2/2022 at 7:42 PM, smellywax said:

Another way we could have gotten it is from the room steward my mom and sister had who was no longer around after introducing himself the first night. Our lady took over their cabins and said they are not told anything. I would hope if a crew member is positive and has been in contact with guests, Carnival would let them know…but from this I am guessing that is not the case. Just double mask

and have fun on your terms 😊

No this is not the case. I was a close contact (hugs and all because he’s my friend) of a bartender onboard the Panorama during the NYE cruise after yours and he tested positive but I was never notified. I have tested negative as of yesterday. I think my defense may have been the 4th dose of vaccination I got on 12/18 but who knows, maybe he was exposed after our initial closeness. 

1 minute ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Is there a lot of crew that tested positive as I find it odd they weren't allowed to dock with only 5 passengers testing positive.     This summer with delta strain plenty of ships had covid onboard with more than 5 positives and were permitted to dock.     Just wondering.

A lot of positive crew - 60+ reported to the PV port authorities. No bueno. 

1 minute ago, beerman2 said:

This is after denying a cruise ship to dock today. Tomorrow (Wednesday) they will allow ships to dock.

 

They changed their mind!

I see what you’re saying but that’s not the way it was written. To top it off the article incorrectly states an alternative port and incorrect mask protocols for Mexico which certainly doesn’t help with the integrity of the reporting.

Moreover the Seattle Times article incorrectly states an alternative port and says Mexico does not require face masks 🤦🏻‍♀️

24 minutes ago, JT1962 said:

Looks like the issue may be resolved. 

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/mexico-says-cruise-ships-with-coronavirus-cases-can-dock/
 

 

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Mexican government said Wednesday it will allow cruise ships carrying people infected with the coronavirus to dock. 

 

The announcement came after two Mexican ports refused to allowed passengers ashore because their ships had coronavirus cases. 

 

The Health Department said passengers or crew who show no symptoms will be allowed to come ashore normally, while those with symptoms or a positive virus test will be quarantined or given medical care. 

 

The department said a cruise ship that was prevented from docking at one Pacific coast port will be allowed to dock farther north, at the port of Guaymas. That was an apparent reference to a ship that was supposed to dock at Puerto Vallarta a few days ago but was not allowed to do so.   

 

Early in the pandemic, some cruise ships wandered the seas for weeks seeking a port that would allow them to dock with coronavirus cases aboard.  
 

Mexico is one of the few countries in the world that has instituted no travel restrictions, no testing requirements and no mandatory face mask wearing for visitors. The government argues such measures would be counterproductive for the economy, for which tourism revenues account for about 8.5% of GDP.

Wednesday???? It’s only Tuesday… hmm these articles are not helping in terms of legitimacy 

6 minutes ago, Calnev1 said:

Here is the link.  Its the Daily Mail, not the Guardian.  Sorry.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10350325/Mexico-allow-non-infected-disembark-cruise-ships-positive-COVID-19-cases-onboard.html

Thanks, the article said passengers let off today at a different port in Sonoras / OP @smellywax can you confirm?

8 minutes ago, Calnev1 said:

Newsreports in the Guardian are stating that the Mexican federal government is interceding to force local mexican ports to allow cruise ships, including the Panorama, to disembark passengers.  Cant post the link.  Google it.

Could not find it 😕

4 minutes ago, smellywax said:

Don’t be set on ports. We are on Panorma right now and have missed 2 out of 3 stops and I’m sure Cabo is going to deny us as well. Only cruise if you are good enjoying the ship only as nothing is guaranteed and they sent out letters stating there would be no compensation. 

Hopefully they disembark those infected crew in Long Beach though as you mentioned so the 12/31/21 voyage can make ports but still not expecting any so I’m not disappointed.

Wow the article in PV Daily News states 100 people in quarantine with 30 infected crew and the Captain announced 5 positive passenger cases so 35 infected with close contacts isolated. I sure hope positive crew are being quarantined in LB on Friday (30+).

On a separate but related note I noticed Carnival removed the Panorama 12/31 cruise for booking on the website although the bookings for Radiance & Miracle NYE cruises are still up. There were still rooms available on Panorama too. 

34 minutes ago, cruisingguy007 said:

 

Hope you have a great trip! I know how you've been looking forward to this trip. 

Thanks love!!  I was on 9/18/21 as well and it was amazing 😻 (the calm before the post Covid storm) but this is the annual birthday cruise since birthday is 1/1. Someone posted something about keeping expectations low and it’s unfortunate that I need to do that for a NYE cruise but I’d rather not be disappointed so spending 8 glorious days on my cabana and if I’m brave at night maybe hitting the Havana bar from the inside instead of choosing to dance by myself and drink at the outside Havana bar… haven’t decided but no plans to leave Havana unless it’s to get food in MDR or to bring back to the cabana. On the 9/18 cruise I already had nixed the idea of shows in the liquid lounge and limelight lounge so that’s not an issue. I don’t wander around too much. I miss the shows and comedy but I need to take responsibility for my own health. Just sticking to Havana for 8 days and staying out of the Havana Bar during the day when it’s super spreader karaoke 🎤 time!