happychippy

Just saw that the British Colonial in Nassau is offering Day Passes again.  Loved being able to walk to that property and relax on their small private beach. I've done their Day Pass at least 5x in the past, last time it was just beach access but it was still perfect way to escape the crowds.

https://www.resortforaday.com/british-colonial-nassau/ 

You can check on  Resortforaday dot com  they have the Marriott Curacao Day Pass that includes roundtrip transportation.   Very nice upscale luxury resort with minimum crowds. I see they increased their rates for 2024,  now at $160.00 USD per each adult, but you do get back $65.00 each for food/drink credit.    

Breezes is also for guest ages 14+ so not an option if traveling with younger children.   Margaritaville Resort is a good option as it's close to the port and it's a smaller size property, as well as access to the resorts private beach area.   Also a possibility may be the British Colonial that recently had a soft opening in October 2023, so hopefully things are going smooth that they will be able to offer Day Passes again.  But, yes above mentioned link Resort for a Day is a great website to follow and subscribe to their updates so if British Colonial starts their Day Passes again you'll get notification.   

A friend is looking to take her husband on a cruise, and I never realized how challenging it would be to find an accessible wheelchair friendly room.  Do they hide them online so you have to call and request?  here are the Carnival Sunshine Cabins that I have found that are accessible, but I have checked 4 sailings so far in March 2025 and none of these cabins show available.

Inside
4D  5310, 5311, 6314, and 6341.
4C  3101, 3102, and 3103
4E  7118, 7119, and 7294.
4F   8304 and 8305.
4G   9130, 9132, 9117, 9119, 9136, and 9137.
4J   6105, 6106, 7103, 7104, 7105, and 7106.

Oceanview
6B   2340 and 2341.

Balcony
8A   6107 and 6108.
8M   5344 and 5345.
8T   11032.

18 hours ago, Tyskie said:

Our kids and grandkids will be on the 10/31 Halloween cruise NYC

Because they booked late a lot of the activities are booked.

 

***Do they have openings once onboard?  If so, where are additional reservations made? (ie. Customer Services or ???)

 

Not familiar with Disney and looking to help them out.  Thank You!

Openings did open up for events a couple days before sailing as many people cancelled the last day they could cancel without charge, and even on board a few events opened up. There are A LOT of events that do not require advance reservations, and it's just show up Early and patiently wait in line.  Most events open the doors 30 minutes before, so I highly encourage someone to arrive 30 minute before to get the space you needed.   When we did the Halloween cruise with the kids, my husband and I often split up where he'd be with the kids getting photos with characters and I'd go to the theatre early to get our seats.    Did you sign up for the Fish Extenders?   We didn't take kids this time so didn't sign up, but still hung a small gift bag outside our door and we would get some small gifts of "pixie dust" from other cruisers,  also Duck Hunting/hiding is a big fun thing going on.   There is also a fun scavenger hunt that starts down on deck 2 by the Enchanted Garden, my kids loved that.  

Found some ducks this morning, played Bingo again and lost again, this was the $5,000 jackpot Bingo, no one won the jackpot as you had to fill your card in less than 46 calls.  Still entertaining and full room each game.   Husband attended a Spider Cake Demonstration and then we met back up for lunch in Cabanas.  I’m not a “foodie” and you will not ever hear me complain about any food that I myself did not have to prepare or clean up after.  I think Cabanas Buffet is very large, plenty of seating although we do go early to get our table where we want before the buffet time starts so that helps, a lot of variety of different foods.  Although many people stand in long line by door I think it’s okay to go around to the station you want as there are plate stations beside each food choice area.  I’m also big on Washing hands Before going in, AND an after going through buffet and getting to table Sanitize hands again before touching anything. Same theory in dining room, washy before, and sanitizing after handing back menu.  

Spent the morning walking the ship to

look at all the decorated doors and do some pin trading. We did not decorate our door, just a magnet to recognize the door.  Our goal was pack as lightly as possible.  We did hang a gift bag outside our door and was treated with a few “pixie dust gifts”. That was nice. 

The 5pm early dining seemed too early that with getting ready for dinner at 4pm that you miss some activities.  I do think the later dining works out very well with the schedules.  Early theatre show ended about 40 min before dinner so no rush to get there and still plenty of activities after dinner so it works out well. Less kids in dining room in evening as many stay in the kids club for the activities.  Food in dining room has been great. No complaints on anything. Breakfast and lunch in Dining room are fabulous and very filing 

Last night we enjoyed the early theater show Beauty and the Beast.  Amazing performance then watched Mickey pirate show up on pool deck before dinner, Dinner was in Animators Palate last night. Pirate Night so a few spicy menu items, I like Spivey food options so it was good and the dessert Rum Cake was heavenly.  Finished up the day watching Pirates of the Caribbean poolside.  

Cruised many times and never played Bingo.  Today we crossed that off the list.  $40 for 28 digital cards.  Loved the digital cards that did all the work for me.  Didn’t win anything but I’ll cross that off my list.  We arrived 30 minutes before and there was 2 lines out in the hall and room was filled to the max.   

Attended a Lobster cooking demonstration that was nice. Then lunch in Royal Palace.  

Time change forward this morning. Breakfast in Cabanas starts at 7:00am but more of just continental style until 7:30am. Royal Palace had sit down dining breakfast.  We also found unused area called The Outlook on deck 14. Very nice quiet secluded areas.  No pictures but we saw dolphins this morning on deck 4 walking track that was cool 

Dinner in Royal Palace was nice, we had a table to ourself but room was a bit loud so it was hard to hear waitstaff when they asked questions.  

Been a long day, but we grabbed a couple of drinks and watched sail away from balcony.  Then enjoyed 6pm theater show of The Golden Mickeys, listened to the Pumpkin Tree story, had 8pm dinner, then a couple more drinks at PINK lounge in the district.  We are totally exhausted and it’s 11pm so back in cabin and husband is already snoring lol.  

Buffet ended at 3:15pm so we went to other side of ice scream station to Mater and Flos cafe.  We have 8pm dining. I will have to find time to figure out the Disney App to see schedule 

We made it!! Last boarding was at 3:15pm we made it at 3:05pm.  That JFK airport was a little chaotic.  Disney still has the Muster Drill where you have to physically go to a station.   So we will do that and then watch the sail away.  

How much fun can two 40+ year old adults have on a Disney Halloween Cruise without the kids?  Hoping to find out! Booked last minute about 30 days before sail date based on the dates. Mr. HappyChippy said he would go on a cruise if I could find one in Oct. or Nov that was only 4 nights and did not include a Sunday or Monday due to work schedule.  Love a good challenge, so Disney 4 night leaving on a Tuesday in October it is J 

A big risk and stress factor that we have is flying in day of. Mr. HappyChippy finishes work at 7A, about a 2 hour ride to airport, booked on an 11:30A nonstop arrive New York at 1:30P.M flight.  Ship departs at 4:00P.M  Oh My Gosh What Are You Thinking? RISKY I KNOW! Just carry-on bags so no waiting to check or retrieve luggage. Our assigned cruise boarding time is 2:45PM so fingers crossed for smooth no hiccup morning travels.  Disney Cruise latest recommended arrival time is 1:30P.M.  I would never encourage or recommend this close of an arrival time. 

We sailed on the Disney Dream years ago with our kids when they were 16, 13, and 12 it was one of ALL of our favorite family vacations. Now that 12 year old is 20 and we are learning to live as empty nesters. Our first time sailing on Disney, we were so busy making sure the kids enjoyed every magical detail that we ourselves forgot to relax and take time to enjoy. We are looking forward to enjoying the cruise without the kids. J 

Booking last minute, we took a GTY Verandah and didn’t get room assigned until about 10 days before.  Looks like a good room Aft on Deck 10.

Halloween on the High Seas sailing is a bonus.  I did pre order the Halloween room décor just to have for my home Disney collection, and that set did sell out about 3 weeks before sailing, so glad I got that as soon as we booked. 

Booking last minute meant that pretty much all on board activities were all booked up, but I have plans to just double check once we get on board to see if any last minute cancellations may have opened some spots.  Would love to do the Mixology class and the Rum Tasting event. Great news though, Saturday the 14^th is the last day to cancel without being charged for events, AND one of those Rum Tasting events became available today, just 1 ticket but one is better than none.  Good to keep checking though out the day today and tomorrow to see if any additional open up. 

The port we are visiting St. John’s did not have many excursions to choose from, so we will just adventure out on our own. 

I do highly recommend buying the Pre Cruise Photo package if you are traveling with kids, you will get hundreds of photos and having the package means no need to make decisions on which ones to buy.   I did not buy it on this cruise, as I am not sure how many photos just the husband and I will have, I may regret that choice later.

We are on the Halloween Disney Dream Oct. 17th...booked a Verandah GTY and received our room assignment on Oct. 6th so 10 days before sailing.  Great cabin/location assigned so no complaints here.

😞 Sonesta Maho Resort currently under renovations and may not be offering Day Pass until after December, but there is still the public beach area directly in front of the airport and some bar/grill at the beach that you can enjoy the beach and unique experience of seeing the airlines take off and land.

Anyone have a new 2023 current Taxi fares from the cruise port?  I understand the taxi fares are government set, but I have been told that the fares have increased significantly this year.   There is normally a sign posted at the cruise port with all the areas of the island and the taxi fare to that location.  

Oh my goodness it just gets better and better. Look at that gorgeous moon! 

After dinner drink at the Explorer lounge, this area has been a little less crowded and the bar staff are very friendly.  Dirty Banana.   Sister had a shot of something lemon because she wanted the shot glass.  

Tonight we dined in the Da Vinci dinning room, shared table early dining.  It was another great experience. Fish and Chips meal was delicious and server even brought around vinegar and ketchup. Perfection!  There is another art auction tonight so some of the art has been changed out.  

The Photography Tour through Princess was great.  3 hour tour, Small group of 8 plus the guide, Adam. Walked us along the Main Street area and gave a nice guided tour and showed us how to capture some great photos.  It was great that we all was using our smart phones, even the guide Adam.  All ages from 40 up to 70+ years.  There was a bit of walking, but it was casual walking nothing too rough. We stopped at the Ketchikan Library, AMAZING.  Tour guides provided coffee, water, fresh baked cookies.  I am completely a newbie to learning about using camera on my phone.  Would highly recommend and I would do again.  We are not big shoppers so after to tour we just picked up a small trinket and back onboard for lunch.  Lunch from Horizon court is always fresh and many stations with different varieties.  We are now back at The Sanctuary to unwind from the busy morning.  

Good Morning from Ketchikan.  It is 7:15am here. Weather is going to be perfect with high of 55 and no rain 🙂  Love the Princess staff member his name was El Mar at the International Cafe remember us from yesterday and knew how we wanted our coffee.  Great service and I will tip him extra before the cruise ends.   We also enjoy hanging out in the Sky Lounge, beautiful quiet lounge in the morning, the afternoon it had more of a crowd and was warmer.