brookeq

Here is the first sea day fun times

5 hours ago, 1lizette1 said:

I loved this review. I especially liked that you included pictures. Refreshing to read that other families have the same struggles.

Thank you for taking time to record the events you participated in. I know it takes time to do that and it's tempting to just have fun not take time to write stuff down.

We're sailing on the Magic in January 2020 in a cove balcony. I'm stoked already lol

Thanks.  I actually really enjoyed writing this review.  It helped take away the post cruise blues. 

I have never done a cove balcony.  They look nice.  

We wanted to go to Bananarama resort since it was the cheapest and not too far from the beach snorkeling.   I don't think you can book ahead of time.  Infinity resort used to take reservations ahead of time but I am not sure if they do anymore.   That was our 2nd choice and they were full.  They are close to the snorkeling also.  

We weren't rushed for snorkeling but we definitely wanted more time at the beach.   

1 hour ago, amyjoy202697 said:

This was a great review, thank you so much for taking the time to put it together.  We are cruising Fathers Day on the Magic and it can't come soon enough.  Hope you decide to book another cruise so I can follow along again!

Thanks. I  keep trying to plan a girls only cruise with my sisters and mom.  But so far only my mom has committed.  Have fun on your cruise!

9 hours ago, sshhllcruise said:

Thanks brookeq. I went with the other tour provider has top rated in TA. Rony didn't reply for over a week so, I went with other.

No problem.  Come back and tell us about it.  🙂

I have seen post about the Lamanai Ruins tour but not many on Xunantunich.   So here is short review for those considering it.

We had to get up early and be ready to be off the boat by 7:30.   You tender in and then there are plenty of people to direct you to the appropriate tour.  We found our tour guide and he took us to the bus.  Its a regular tour bus with AC.   The drive is 2 hours.   We used the time to relax after two busy port days.

We arrived and you have to get off the bus and take a one minute hand cranked ferry ride across.  Then you get in vans and ride up the extremely steep hill to the ruins. 

We arrived and added more guides to our tour.  They gave us lots of information.  They took us around the main grounds and then to the main pyramid.  We got to climb the pyramid.  Its not a straight climb for those who were worried.  You climb the stairs in the front.  Then go around the the side to the back.  So there is some more gradual climbing.  I think most people can do it.  My son is afraid of heights and he did it.  The view from top was cool.  You can see Guatemala.   We climbed down and saw the ball court.  The kids loved hearing about the games to the death.   There was an area in the back that we didn't get too.  We just didn't have time.   That was the downside to the tour it was just a bit too short.  But we did enjoy it. 

We got back to the bus and headed to town for our lunch.   It was actually really good.  Chicken, rice and beans, and coleslaw.  they had bottled beverages for purchase and a small spot for souvenirs (since you don't have time when you get back).  There were also bathrooms. You are given 30 minutes here.  Then its back on the bus for the ride home.  

Overall it was a good day and I am glad we did it.  We booked thru Carnival since it was so far away from port.  Usually we book tours on our own.  We were able to get the low price match guarantee from Carnival.  we found a cheaper tour that was similar on line and submitted a claim.  It was accepted.   So we got back $75 in on board credit.  

Here are some of our pictures.   

We were in Roatan a couple week ago.  We used Rony's Tour Company.  We decided to do the private tour.  There were four of us so it was $25 a person.  Brian was our driver.  He arrived in a nice clean Toyota Camry.  (with working AC thankfully).  Brian was an awesome guide.   

He took us to an overlook.  There was store there and helped us to get a few things (drink and some first aid stuff we didn't want to get on the ship).   

Our first stop was to see the sloths.  Ronys has a few options to choose from on his site.  After some research I chose Manawakie.  It looked the least crowded and the reviews so far were good.   It did not disappoint.   We arrived and there was only one other small family there.  We were immediately taken to see a sloth.   

We all got to hold it several time and were never rushed.   

Then we went to see the monkeys.  they really do climb all over you so make sure your pockets are empty. 

They went down my shirt and down my husbands pants!

The kids got to hold a rabbit.  I don't have a picture of that.  My son held a bird.

They give you lots of info about all of their plants and what they use them for.  It was a good tour.  It was $15 a person.    After talking to friends on the boat when we got back, our time with the sloths sounded much more enjoyable than other places.  No waiting in lines and not rushed at all.  I would definitely recommend Manawakie.

After the sloths we went to donate some school supplies to children.  We emailed back and forth with rony and he told us what they needed. so we collected everything and dropped them off to kids at a local church.  

Then we headed to West Bay Beach. 

The plan was to go to Bananarama.  But there were a few ships here today and everything was packed.  Bananarama  and our other choices were all full and closed.   Brian was great he drove to other places and made calls.  We ended up getting a day pass at Henry Morgan.  It was more than we originally planned to spend but we really didn't have many choices.  (my husband wanted chairs, not just put our towels down).   It was a nice place with a pool.  If we had more time it would have been a great place to stay for the day.  But we were on limited time and wanted to snorkel.  Its a bit far from the beach snorkeling. (esp with 2 kids and not much time).  so we paid to be taken out on a boat to the reef.  It was awesome.   We loved it.  Brian watched our stuff for us.   

We were sad to head back.  Brian got us back with plenty of time.  Definitely use rony's tours and ask for Brian.  I have a more detailed review or our entire cruise on the Carnival forum.   

Here are just a few of our snorkel pictures:

He responded pretty quick.  they also have a page on social network site (not allowed to name it here).  

Here is the email:  ronystours@gmail.com

the internet is spotty so he says sometimes it take a bit for him to get back to you.   

I have the fun times and kids clubs schedule I will try to get them on here soon.  

Getting off the ship:

Getting of the ship wasn't the greatest.   We got our luggage tags the night before on deck 5.   We were zone 3 or 4 I can't remember.   

We went to the dining room for breakfast.   We were not in a rush since we had a late flight home.   I know I had the avocado toast.   It was good.  Mike and Amelia had the pancakes.  

After dinner we met up with my MIL and her friend. and one SIL  Our other SIL was doing self assist.  They had to get to Orlando for their flight.

They kept announcing that the line was cut off and no one should come down.  I don't know what was going on but they kept announcing this.   We sat for a long time.  Hayden and the cousins played some cards and shuffleboard in the pub.  The area was pretty full.

Finally they called down are zone and we headed down.   It didn't take very long once we got our luggage.  But overall this was the longest it took to get off the ship.  And that includes being in the last groups called.  

We rented a car from the enterprise at the miami airport.  I will never rent from the cruise rental car companies.  They run out of cars constantly and the line can take hours.   So we had to get an Uber.   That was quick.   

While waiting for our car at the airport we talked to my SIL who was on the way to Orlando.   She was in line to get off the ship with self assist as early as possible.  She said it was ridiculous there were only 2 customs agents to let people off the ship so it was taking forever.   

We got our rental car.  So did MIL and SIL.  We decided to meet up at Hollywood Beach and just walk around and have lunch. 

We ate at pizza place.  The pizza was huge.   

We walked around and got ice cream.  None of the shops were that interesting and they were spread out   My mother in law got bored and just left when we were in a store.  Didn't even say goodbye to us.  Took her car went to the airport (different from us) and was gone.  I do not have the best relationship with her.  She doesn't make any effort with my kids.  But I never say anything.  But to not say goodbye to my kids or her own son when you wont see them for a year was just rude.     

My SIL had an earlier flight that us so we DID say goodbye to them.

We stayed a bit longer.  FLL airport is not my favorite.  We rented bikes for an hour. 

My son wanted one of these. 

The rest of us rode around on this.

We checked out the beach.  After the beaches in the Caribbean this one seemed blah.  We are so spoiled. 

Finally we headed to the Fort Lauderdale Airport.  I hate the southwest wing.  There is nothing to eat there for our family.  JUst an expensive hamburger place and a mexican restaraunt with terrible service.   But we made do.  

The flight home was not fun.  My son didn't do any of his homework and now was mad he had to do it on the flight. 

He cried and was miserable.   

Amelia thankfully slept  

WE didn't get home until after midnight.  The kids had to go to school the next day because they have already been written up for too many days missed. (we had an out of town funeral and the flu this year.. bad year).  And we both had to go to work so we couldn't even take them in late.   

So it was a rough way to get back to reality.   

3 hours ago, Shamrock73 said:

 

Is this done to garner sympathy?

Ha  nope.  But it isn't as fun to wear them now when we aren't doing as good.   

3 hours ago, JaniceB said:

I found a private excursion in Grand Caymen that takes you to Sting Ray City.  We only have 4 of us and it is $500 for the boat but I am hoping to have an awesome experience like you did in Cozumel.  I also have had not desire to see the sting ray's but others do so I am going.  My sister experienced a sting ray barb in the Keys.  It was very rough that day and she was wading out into the water.  She stepped on it and the barb got her in the ankle.  It was very bad because it got infected and she spend 10 days in hospital on antibiotics.  They say you should shuffle your feet when walking out into the water because they like to lay on bottom and cover themselves with sand.  The Australian Steve was swimming and the barb got him in the chest.  I chose the small excursion because I don't want to be with 50 of my closest friends in the water with them. 🙂

I  agree.  All those people and all of those sting rays freak me out!   I like that there were only a couple of them..   If they came nearby I swam.  No standing.  i didn't like them at my feet.   🙂

I hope you have a great time on your trip.   

10 hours ago, chilly1470 said:

Hey homies, tea time around here in the Burgh is a cold iron and a Primanti's haha! Thanks for the review, I hail from Beaver County, but am a Yinzer through and through. We got an upcoming in August on the Sunshine. Our last was the Pride out of Dirty Bird town, Baltimore. There were still a lot of Steeler jerseys, mine included. Everyone was good natured about it and some of my best acquaintances were Raven fans. Great cruise, that one. Talk atcha later n'at.

 

We usually travel in the winter and always wear our Steeler jerseys in the airport.   I am not sure why we didn't wear our Pens gear this time.  Oops.   

Ours have done the kids club in the past.  they used to enjoy eating dinner with the kids club.   

This year They have older cousins that they went with.  They had to stay with them or go back to the room.  (my rule)  Guys burgers is open until 5 i think.  Pizza and deli are open late.  And there was always the buffet.   

Oops I forgot to add that the main deck and the pool closed very early on our last night (maybe at like 4 or 5pm).   The sailing after ours was a chartered cruise.   Janet Jackson was set to perform  and so they were building her stage.  You couldn't access one of the bars and the whole pool deck area.  Lots of people were upset.  It didn't really affect us too bad.  It was annoying that the sail away and 90's party was down in the atrium.  It was just way too crowded down there.

It was sad that our cruise was ending.   

I finished packing and we all went to bed.

Up next -- getting off the ship and our day in Ft. Lauderdale

We used up the last bit of our on board credit and our free drink coupons for being gold status.  I purchased our photos too.

The family got together to play games one last time.  And we took some pictures with the photo booth props i made and forgot about until I was packing!

We peaked in at the lip sync battle.

And went to the balloon drop.  the kids put a ton of balloons in.  But didn't win.  it was packed down there!

We made sure to thank each of waiters and gave each them an extra tip besides the ones we already pre-paid.  They were very good.  

3 minutes ago, Allura_317 said:

OMG...did some of the chair hogs...surrender?  That is almost unheard of, I wish I was on your cruise.  We can only cruise during the summer due to school and work schedules, which also is the time chair hog density is at its highest. 

I know I was shocked.   I have never seen that. 

There was a fight over chairs early in the week.  i did not witness it but many people on our roll call did.   The people on the roll call did say they saw the 40 minute stickers on chairs by the pool.  I wasn't down there.   

The chairs on the upper decks 11/12 seemed to be the ones that were always covered but not used.  I never saw any of the 40 minute stickers up here. 

i didn't get any chance to go on the serenity deck this trip so i can't comment on that.   Chair hogs were bad there our last cruise.  

I got the mango soup.  I really enjoy all of the fruit soups.

I also got a casaer salad.  It was was to fishy for me today.

Mike got the flatbread.

I got the pork.  This was my only main course that I didn’t really like.  

My husband ordered the Indian/vegeterian meal.  He really liked it.  I tried to tell him all week to get that.   But he didn’t listen.  It was a lot of food.

Dessert was baked alaska.  I got a chocolate melting cake. 

Ooops edited because I forgot to add the photos of the food!

Here are the dinner menus:

I made a scavenger hunt list so the cousins did that.  They really enjoyed it.  They liked it so much the at three youngest (my two and one other one) kept making new lists and would  time each other.   My son participated for like an hour!

We did Groove for st. Jude.   No fun line dances like last time on the conquest and breeze. 

Amelia spent the last of her money on a blow fish cup.   She had been eyeing that up all week. 

None of the kids wanted to go to dinner.   We made  sure they ate.  Burgers/pizza I think.   The waiters seemed sad they weren’t there.  

We went to the chocolate extravaganza. 

We had some desserts that were good.   This chocolate cake was probably the best.  

The chocolate mouse thing in the middle of this picture was so gross.   I liked the desserts we had the conquest last year better.   

The guys went and played dodge ball.  Kids did the water slides a few times.   The ropes course was closed all day.

We played some mini golf.

We also played shuffleboard down in the pub on deck 5.  And some fusball.  

Hayden wanted to eat lunch.  He  loves noodles and finally could go to the pasta bar.   He really enjoyed it. 

We watched the hairy chest contest and the ice carving.  I read my book most of the day.  It was a fun but tiring week so I was happy to relax.