RoyalVisit

[quote name='Chief93']You're right. It was an unfair thing to say based on my limited time there. I really, really want to have the same experience you have had. Maybe I'm just not doing the right things there.[/QUOTE]

Jamaica should re-evaluate their tourism sector and how it is viewed by visitors. They seem to be so focused on making a dollar, that some visitors end up disappointed by the lack of general cleanliness and pushy vendors. I have been there 3 times, once on a resort, twice as cruise ports. Never again.

For St. Thomas, did you book the national park tour?

 

We want to go to St. John, but aren't sure if we want to just go over on a ferry and hit the beach, or do something more involved.

 

Yup we booked the National Park Tour, I thought it would be easier and I've read various posts about the ferries being inconsistent so that makes me a little nervous. Apparently the tour boat to the island leaves near where the cruise ship is but that's just what I've read in posts.

For elegant night, I'm bringing shirts/ties, khakis, dress pants, and a sport coat. I guess technically you could consider one combination a full suit, but that's not really how I bought it... Apparently on this cruise there are two elegant nights and one 'formal' night, which is the Captain's Celebration.

 

I'm definitely an over-packer, even though every time I try not to be. I did manage to get all of my own clothes and shoes into one piece of luggage with room to spare. We don't fit into each other's clothes, so that's not an option for us. It definitely would make things easier!

 

45cm is crazy - I hope you don't have to do too much work to clear yourself out. That amount of snow will just make you appreciate the cruise more!

 

Sounds like you guys are much better packers than we are! I think we will likely skip the Captain's dinner. I dress up a lot as a requirement for work so I'd rather dress down on vacation. We can share most clothes except pants but I like prints and colours so he usually leaves those for me!

 

Driveway is cleared out now, I think we got about 30 cms rather than 45cms.

we are also currently going through a storm of rain, wind, freezing rain and 45 centimetres of snow!

Any word yet??

 

We started packing today - definitely getting in the cruise mood![/Quote]

 

Not yet :( so I suspect we will be sleeping with the chef! ;) I have a feeling we will only find out at the pier and then end up with a obstructed ocean view! :p

 

We have also started packing, always the same issues of taking too much or not enough. He hates shopping so he ends up wearing my clothes! What do you guys wear for elegant night? I think we are going to go with dress pants, shirt and tie rather than suits as that takes up more room in the suitcase and I only like to travel with carry-on.

Has anyone been on the Discover Martinique excursion through Carnival? I booked it for our upcoming cruise, first time in Martinique. Thoughts??

Non-boozer here :D, so gratuities mostly.

Any free or unexpected surprises you found cruising with carnival, that you think others shouldn't miss out on?

 

Veggie burgers from Guys Burgers...not on menu so you have to ask, takes a little longer but worth the wait. :)

So DH and I have cruised a fair bit- and no they are not all listed on here;-). But I was wondering for repeat cruisers with a cruise coming up- is there anything that will be a first for you?

 

For example- this is the first time we are traveling with just carry on bags. This is the first time we are using faster to the fun.

 

Cruising in less than two weeks...

4 new ports for us (booked excursions for 2 of them so we could see the sights)

First time booking a guarantee cabin

First time flying out of San Juan

 

We always travel with only carry-on bags...makes it difficult for the elegant nights but we have yet to decide if we will eat in the dining room on those nights.

FWIW, I have never had bad service with YTD.

 

Service aside, I have read many reviews in the review section as well as many posts on the boards here where people did not like set dining times. The most common reasons were not liking the people they were sat with and not liking the location of their table. With set seating (unless you are platinum or up) you are pretty much "stuck" with the table you are first assigned. These two reasons and not wanting a set time when to dine are the 3 main reasons people choose YTD.

 

OP - with YTD all that is assigned is the dining room (most Carnival ships have 2 main dining rooms) and this is where you must go to eat if choosing to eat in the MDR for dinner. Of course there are other options: buffet, room service, steak house...

 

I disagree on the "stuck" point regarding table assignment. The MDR's always have solutions depending on your request and flexibility. My better half prefers a table for 2, and we have never had an issue with getting a table for 2 - the key is to go to the MDR on day 1 when others are switching too.

yippee!! hope it's a good location!

 

Ours is still TBA (just checked). I check every morning but nothing so far!

 

All I can think about is the cruise!!! :):):)

 

Still no assignment for us :( but 16 days away from the cruise and 15 days until we fly to Miami so I'm counting every minute! :D

Also, see section 6 of the Carnival Ticket Contract:

 

http://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/ticket-contract.aspx

 

It appears that as far as Carnival is concerned, they just don't offer a refund.

 

and read section 7b too

I would tell Carnival the truth, all arrangements were made, and at the last minute your husband's firm denied him his vacation time so you traveled alone.

 

Most airlines provide a credit if the flight is cancelled before take off...so if it is definite that he cannot go, I would cancel them the night before you leave, you may have to pay a change fee when you go to use the credit, but a small credit is better than nothing.

 

Is there any chance the firm your husband works for may change their decision between now and then?

 

Also, see section 6 of the Carnival Ticket Contract:

 

http://www.carnival.com/about-carnival/legal-notice/ticket-contract.aspx

 

It appears that as far as Carnival is concerned, they just don't offer a refund.

Ya I figured we wouldn't have much luck with the flights, he put his vacation in at the beginning of Nov, he didn't hear anything so he figured there was no problem, yesterday they told him it was denied!! What do I say to Carnival? He didn't get on the plane?

 

 

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I would tell Carnival the truth, all arrangements were made, and at the last minute your husband's firm denied him his vacation time so you traveled alone.

 

Most airlines provide a credit if the flight is cancelled before take off...so if it is definite that he cannot go, I would cancel them the night before you leave, you may have to pay a change fee when you go to use the credit, but a small credit is better than nothing.

 

Is there any chance the firm your husband works for may change their decision between now and then?

After our first cruise together as a couple (in 1989), we swore to never book another one that stopped in Jamaica. Our feeling unsafe, though, didn't have anything to do with our being a gay couple. I talked with others on our ship who had experienced similar concerns for their safety. If you do get off the ship, I'd recommend sticking to the ship's excursions and not booking anything independently or going off on your own.

 

We managed to stick by our pledge to avoid Jamaica until we finally took a Panama Canal cruise that included a stop in Ocho Rios. We stayed on the ship and had a great time.

 

We feel basically the same. I have stayed in Jamaica twice on resorts for a week at a time and I visited it once as a cruise port. I pledged last time which was several years ago to avoid Jamaica completely. Jamaicans have done little to be more welcoming towards tourists in general, not just LGBT visitors.

 

The Jamaican government is not showing leadership in demonstrating tolerance for their own LGBT citizens let alone visitors.

 

The staff on the resorts are usually perfectly ok, but venture out to explore and you are pestered or harassed. I won't consider any itinerary that includes Jamaica as a port now. I spend my hard earned dollars on places that are either welcoming or at the very least tolerant or indifferent.

 

The other issue I have with Jamaica is the general lack of pride in their environment. Jamaicans have a beautiful country but some of their citizens treat their properties like a garbage dump. I don't expect extreme wealth every where I go, let's face it, many of the countries in the Caribbean are far from financially wealthy but general cleanliness and demonstrating pride in your environment costs nothing.

 

Grand Cayman - never had an issue, always feel safe and I would absolutely return again.

You could talk to the Hotel director. Demand a solution to the safety of your cabin.

 

I agree, while I understand Carnival is trying to resolve the problem, they should not expect you to leave your belongings in your cabin with the door wide open. If they cannot provide you with a habitable and secure room, they are not living up to the vacation experience they offer.

 

I also agree with others who said to try to make the best of it, but you also have rights and letting this dwell will not make it a pleasant experience, try to resolve it to YOUR satisfaction.

We sail Carnival mainly when "the younger generation" goes with us because they truly like the activities that are geared to them. Otherwise we tend to choose other Cruiselines when our group is "adult".

 

Personally I would rather limit my number of cruises, even on Carnival, and choose more expensive options: balcony rooms, money for the steak house, money for food and drink extras, more exotic shore excursions, longer cruises, interesting departure ports where we can extend our vacation.

 

Does Carnival pull you in because of its price points? And are the number of cruises more enjoyable than a cruise where you can "frill up" your vacation?

 

Our upcoming cruise is only our second with Carnival but we've had the chance to sail on other lines.

 

My opinions - in comparison to other lines:

 

Service - about the same, more than adequate

Entertainment - about the same, a bit repetitive

Cabins - for what we require, more than adequate

Ports - similar, like the new "journey" itineraries

Excursions - similar

 

I think the difference for us is, for what we typically utilize, we are more than pleased overall with Carnival.

Question for all..

 

do you think with the low Canadian dollar you will see less and less Canadians on a cruise..Even thought Carnival has the lowest pricing, it is still way too much to be paying ...

I know I will have to sit and really think...do I want to spend the price and almost half again for the same cruise...I don't think so..I work hard enough for my money to give it away..

 

I think some Canadians may select a different vacation but even with the low Canadian dollar, you can still find buys on the various lines. If you normally book a balcony or suite, then clearly the exchange rate would be a significant increase but on a guarantee, inside or oceanview rate, the low dollar isn't enough to persuade me from booking. I went to the UK in August and that conversion was worse but I went anyway and had a wonderful time.

 

I booked our upcoming cruise back in August for a cruise this month and the exchange rate then was around 0.75 and I still got a great deal (I think). I picked up $55US at the bank yesterday and the conversion was almost $80.

 

Resort vacations don't interest me anymore and the taxes on the resort packages are ridiculously high.

 

As long as I get to escape the cold Canadian winter even temporarily, I am going!

Just happened to check at lunch, and our cabin has been assigned!:)

 

yippee!! hope it's a good location!

 

Ours is still TBA (just checked). I check every morning but nothing so far!

 

All I can think about is the cruise!!! :):):)

FYI

 

http://******************/blog/2015/12/missing-the-mark-gay-social-gatherings-on-cruise-ships/

 

(are URLs blocked?)

 

Interesting read...I Googled the "missing-the-mark-gay-social-gatherings-on-cruise-ships" - from the ************* blog.

 

:)

I think that can be part of the problem. Some people will only ever walk by and if they don't see enough going on, they don't stop. That means if no one stops, the group will never build! We learned this a few cruises ago and now always make sure we sit down for at least a drink, and without fail others always stop by. Someone needs to break the ice! :)

 

I think scattering the meet-up times a bit may help - i.e. LGBT meet-up for breakfast, or LGBT coffee club in the afternoon etc. - rather than just late evening when we for example are usually exhausted and ready for bed! :p

 

Not all of us are late nighters :)

Not yet - I've been checking everyday. We have a guaranteed interior, so I'm not expecting much. We plan on spending as little time in the cabin as possible.

 

Same for except we have booked oceanview. I check everyday as well but no assignment so far. I'm anxious to get on the ship already! :)

Hi there - no cabin assignment for us yet, have you received yours?

 

Scott

We booked Carnival's tour of St. John for St. Thomas. We have been there twice before and I thought it would be easier to just do this tour than trying to figure it out on our own.

 

48 days! :):D

 

That looks like a good tour to see the most popular spots in St. Kitts.

 

We figured out Antigua - we'll be doing an eco tour with Adventure Antigua.

 

I think all we have to figure out now is St. Thomas. We're thinking of just finding a beach to go to since it's the last port day and we'll need some rest.

Thanks! I'm having a hard time on making up my mind for St. Lucia. Some of the tours are longer (6 hours), or have multiple shopping stops... and my "better half" isn't keen on those pieces nor on the idea of catamaran portion (he's worried we will get stuck on a party boat). I checked into a leisurely trail tour which sounds nice but it's pricey. Less than 70 days now so I am getting extra excited but also want to wrap up the excursions.

 

 

We didn't book through Carnival the first time we went - we did a tour with Spencer Ambrose. The one who did was called West Coast Island Delight. We stopped at a lot of places and had time to snorkel between the Pitons. The lunch was really good especially if you like spicy food.

 

The only difference from the description on the website was that we took a boat back from Jalousie beach all the way to the port. There has been a bad storm system that hit the island a few weeks before we got there and I think we took more time driving south due to roads being closed from downed trees and mudslides.