Pugster4

Thanks for the input everybody! If we went to Costa Maya I was thinking we would get away from port and go to Mahahual like Tapi said. Looks like a good beach day there

I was also wondering if anyone had a preference for either PC or Miami as well? Thanks again everyone!

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I am just looking for opinions on what port people prefer as part of the western Caribbean itinerary. My wife and I are looking at a western Caribbean cruise and I am trying to decide if Costa Maya is worth $80pp more thanGrand Cayman since it is only on western itineraries and Grand Cayman is on several. Thanks!

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My wife and I were originally looking at a western Caribbean cruise on the Magic out of PC but now we are looking later in the year and the Magic will be in Miami and going to Grand Cayman instead of Costa Maya. The Breeze is taking the Magics place in PC and will be doing the same itinerary but is $80pp more than going on the Magic around the same time. I am but looking on input for how the Magic and Breeze are different and which one everyone prefers and also which departure port everyone prefers? If anyone has input on Costa Maya vs Grand Cayman that would be awesome too since I originally wanted to visit Costa Maya but I do want to visit Grand Cayman at some point but I know it is on a lot more itineraries. Thanks for all the help!

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I'm mostly wondering if carnivals tour would leave early so we finish the excursion earlier and would have more time to go to the malecon

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Thanks for your reply! I'm not really concerned about making it back to the ship on time, just curious if we would be back sooner to have a little bit of time to relax or do something else before going on the ship instead of losing that hour before. Really appreciate your help!

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Hi we will be on the magic in January and be in port from 7-2 and I was just wondering if carnival had any advantages over native choice. One example would be if the bus leaves any earlier since with native choice you meet 1 hour after docking time or anything else. And if anyone know, would they give me the best price guarantee and match the price of the native choice excursion? Thanks for your help!

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JT1962 thank you. Good to know. I will just have to talk to them and see how it is something possible to work out. They do have just the ruins but the village would be cool to see. Thanks again!

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Thanks everyone. I was thinking a long the lines of all of you but was hoping someone would tell me they did it and it all worked out. That's a bummer since the ship doesn't offer a similar experience that goes to the ruins and a village. Thank you all!

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I am looking at do an excursion with Native Choice in Costa Maya called the Mayan Experience. E would be in port from 7-2. The excursion says it leaves one hour after ship arrival and the tour is 5.5 hours. I know I'm supposed to be back on the ship a half hour early. Do you think I would be ok to book that excursion and be safe? They say trip insurance comes with booking the excursion. Thanks in advance!

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Sorry just realized my last post said July when I meant to put January

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Like Wilmingtech, Cabo was our least favorite port but we did have an awesome luck by getting away from the resorts and eating at a little place off of a small street. Sorry could tell you how to get there.

We absolutely loved Mazatlan and it was our favorite city. I would second following the blue line and going to town and seeing the church and Mercado. I also suggest going to stone island afterwards and to relax. Lettys over there has some amazing food.

The highlight of our cruise was probably zip lining in the sierra madre in puerto Vallarta. We book the excursion through carnival and it was done through Vallarta adventures. They were awesome and we would do it again without a doubt. They offer other zip line tours as well but we think this is the best one even though it's only available through the ship because of contracts. Repelled down a couple waterfalls and everything. It was amazing.

It's an awesome cruise. Hope you have a blast!

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The Miracle offers a beach resort excursion in Cabo but doesn't specify which resort they take you to, and I'm wondering if anyone knows which one it is? I'd like to do a day at a resort and have thought about one called Riu. Is that the Carnival excursion destination. Does it make more sense to do that on our own than go on an excursion that might be rushed?

Honestly Cabo is so touristy and there is so many resorts I would just do it yourself unless you are worried about making it back to the shop in time or want to ensure you get off fast. It would be cheaper to do it on your own than through the ship. Probably could use the money you save and purchase FTTF and still make sure you get off early or just make sure to be one of the first to meet for tenders in the morning

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While I have never been to Cabo I have been to real Mexico and from what I can tell Cabo is just too touristy (kinda like being back home). So my question is having never been there would you recommend doing Medrano and that experience? It really does not sound like we will miss much by skipping the typical tourist stuff and just relaxing at the RIU. I used to spend my summers in Mexico as a kid so no big deal for me I just dont want the family to miss out on anything (although my kids would love that pool). We will still have PV and Mazatlan

 

 

 

Thanks for any advice

I think your best shot of real Mexico will be Mazatlan. Smallest town on itinerary. It is just a small fishing town. It is one of the shrimp capitals of the world so you better try some there. Just make sure to stay in safe areas. I would follow the blue line and check out the cathedral and go to the market. Very neat and real experience. Order some Mexican ice cream and then maybe go see the cliff divers. After that I recommend going to stone island and going to Lettys for some shrimp. They have a good shrimp platter we got when we went there

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We went back in July so it was almost a year ago but I will still share some thoughts. For seaday breakfast I would highly recommend going to the seaday brunch in the dining room. Port days I recommend the omelet station. Best omelets I have had. Definitely go to the mad hatter lounge and see some comedy shows. Hopefully you have some good comedians. In the fountainhead cafe try the taste bar. Also in the fountainhead during seadays they have all sorts of trivia. The little coffee stand there has some good sweets for a small price as well. If Chloe is the CD like another poster mentioned, there will be a Disney trivia in the promenade as she is a huge Disney fan. Study your Disney songs!!

For other foods I would definitely say if you like sandwiches the deli is awesome. In the dining room try the bisque ( cold soups, strawberry is the best!) if you get a chance to have bacon mac and cheese do it! You won't regret it. I think the chocolate melting cake was awesome as well. Also remember in the dining room you can order as much as you want. Don't forget that there is 24/7 ice cream, frozen yogurt, lemonade, and hot chocolate that we thought were amazing. Think there is tea and coffee too. One thing I didn't get to try that I heard was awesome was sea day tea time. Also for anyone new to Pacific Ocean cruising, water can be a little more rough. Anyways have an awesome cruise!!

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We are trying to schedule dinner times in the specialty resraunts on Pride of America & would like to know what time they have the night shows. Do they have just one show nightly or two?

Thank you

My wife and I ate going on our first cruise. This is her first and I haven't been for 12 years. I was just wondering what all I could take on board from ports. We want to get some Mexican vanilla and maybe some candy or something. I know they won't let you bring on open drinks. Anything else?

Also are you allowed to take on some snacks and candy of embarkation day if you want? Thanks!

For our cruise it was the morning of the first sea day (11:30ish if I remember correctly). It is listed in the fun times but wasn't listed as one of the top 10. There was not a lot of people there either.

Good to know. That would be fun to go to. Thanks!

I went to a couple of other trivia events in the Atrium Lobby so be sure to check the location of trivia before you go.

 

Definitely do Nick and Nora's sampling day. They do a cooking demonstration and you are given small plates of what they made. Very good stuff, took about 45 minutes or so.

 

The late night 18+ comedy shows fill up fast with barely any standing room so if you want to go to that one, you may want to get there early.

 

There is tea time every sea day at 3pm in the dining room. Definitely worth going one time, it was pretty neat and we met some new people.

 

You can get free decks of cards at the lobby desk, just ask.

 

There are TWO lines for the buffet on the lido (outside) - the one with hamburgers and fries. Most people gather in the port side line only, make sure to check the starboard line, there's almost never any waiting.

 

Pizza for us was...1/2 pizza until about 6pm. After 6pm you get the whole thing. It all depended on how many people were waiting.

 

Don't trust the signs. At breakfast, the sign at the pizza place will say "omelets" but you can still get pizza. In fact, you can get almost anything you want at any time (cereal, desserts etc) you jsut have to ask.

Hey thanks so much for all that info. Really appreciate it! When was the Nick and Nora's sampling?

JLee thanks. I will have to try some frog balls. I'm always willing to try something new.

Spaniel lover thanks for the info and I will definitely be reading your review! I'm always looking for things to read waiting for the cruise. I'm excited and can't wait. I'm not going to let anything like late boarding or anything ruin my cruise. Just excited to have a week at sea and all the food I can eat! I'm not a picky eater and usually love the food on the ship. Yep, even the buffet :)

Thanks again for the help!

JLEE what are frog balls?

Thanks for all the help. Really like to enjoy everything I can when I go on vacation. Hate to miss out on anything. Thanks for letting me know where trivia, we enjoy trivia. We like shows too and want to make sure we can see all the ones we want. Good to know they have a couple of times to see it

You have to find Gatsby's Garden. It's quite possibly the most beautiful area on the whole ship.

I have heard that and have made sure to remember how awesome people say it is. Thank you

No MDR lunch on port days.

That makes sense. I was going to be surprised that they would do that but thought I read that somewhere. Thanks

My wife and I leave on the Mexican riveria in a few weeks and I was just looking for some cool tips and extra things we should know about the Miracle. Like what's all free to use at the spa and other little perks throughout the ship , little things not to miss out on, where trivia and stuff is, and if shows are offered multiple times and on the port days. Also, what time is the taste bar usually and stuff like that. Oh and I forgot, so if I'm right there is sea day brunch for breakfast and lunch on Sea days but on port days they still have breakfast and lunch in the MDR? Is that correct? Thanks for all the help!