OceansOfTravels

I have been on the Seaview, and unless they have a different policy on the American cruises (I cruised through Europe), there is a charge for the zipline.

Rereading your review and I have a strange question ... Are there lots of wifi spots in Havana? I assume there are very few free spots, as with most places, but in the coffee shops, stores and restaurants, are there some hotspots one could access if they purchase an item? I've heard mixed reviews and I know I would like to check up on things since I know I won't purchase an internet package onboard. Thank you!

On 4/23/2019 at 11:14 AM, roothy123 said:

Fellow Marylander, I'm from Silver Spring.  We're tentatively planning to spendi our first night in Sanur.  December is not exactly beach weather in Bali, but I don't want to travel far when we arrive, and it looked like a decent place to spend a night. Would you mind sharing the name or description of your airbnb?  I've found a  Sanur hotel I'm interested in (Kejora Suites) but am always looking for a place.  Southern Bali and Ubud have enough resorts, hotels and guest houses to drive me completely crazy when picking a hotel - but I actually enjoy doing it.  

Here is where I stayed in Sanur: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/20778126?guests=1&adults=1

I highly recommend where I stayed! It was in a great location, with a beach 15 minutes walking distance away, as well as a convenience store and many little restaurants just down the way, plus a really good driver that would take us wherever we wanted to go for cheap. I would even sggest staying for three-four nights here, as you can visit some of the nicer places in South Bali (mostly the beaches), and return home to a nice Airbnb with a refreshing pool. If you're traveling with a group, this place is great because it's actually a mirrored house, so you have two separate bedrooms and bathrooms (I thought there was only one bathroom, but I was happy to find two).

I am with you there -- I LOVE searching for hotels, flights and cruises, so much so that my friends and family have me find prices and itineraries for them! I completely understand. I will say, though, Bali has the best diversity of Airbnb of any place I've ever traveled to, of which I mean there really is everything you could think of listed somewhere on Airbnb on the island. You can surely find an affordable accomodation that is just as nice as any hotel, so much so you could likely add on more days to your trip or more excursions. Let me know if I can provide my Ubud villa (which I found on Airbnb even though it's really a hotel) or some activity suggestions!

I'd be curious to see what they'd replace the two days in Havana with. I'm on the 7 night to Roatan, Costa Maya and Cozumel with two days in Havana, so maybe they'll add Belize and a sea day, or Grand Cayman and a sea day, or maybe Key West? 

I will be very disappointed if Cuba is cancelled, as I did book the cruise solely because it was going to Havana, but it is to celebrate my graduation with a friend. I know I would take about any cruise at this point in time as I study for finals, so it will be nice to get away and relax regardless. It'll just be a bummer if Cuba isn't included!

We are considering a cruise on the Costa Fortuna that docks in Port Klang, and we would definitely like to get over to Kuala Lumpur. We would like to see the towers and the Batu caves, of course, but we would also like to see the different neighborhoods of the city, the parts that aren't massive high-rises, and what's left before modernization. Many of the excursions the cruise line offers either just visits the main attractions, or is extremely expensive. I figured I would ask on here if anyone knows of a company or group that we could get an affordable day tour of Kuala Lumpur from! It's just two of us by the way, no need for a massive van. Thank you in advance to anyone that can help!

Hello fellow Marylander - I'm from Annapolis!

I spent two weeks in Bali this past August. I did not get "Bali Belly" at all, and I even ate fresh fruit from the grocery store. I was careful not to drink the water though. I cannot answer about the drivers, as we did one week at an Airbnb in Sanur and another at a small hotel in Ubud, and each provided a transportation service that we paid for to get around. We did not pay for lodging or food for any driver that we had, though, we just paid them for their services.

No visa either, you get 30 days free! It will be in your passport on the stamp that they give you.

And I cannot attest to Hong Kong, when we did it, we had an 11 hour layover in Singapore, so we left the airport and toured the city. We are thinking of doing a cruise from Singapore next year because we loved it so much, and doing our stopover day in Shanghai.

On the June 17th sailing of the MSC Armonia ... I'll be really upset if it affects our trip 😞

Very excited for this review! I love MSC and I can't wait to hear about and see more of your experience!

Hello,

I am considering a cruise on the Carnival Panorama for January 2020. I am interested in getting a Cloud 9 Spa stateroom, as I enjoyed the one I had on the Splendor in November 2015. Can anyone tell me what the facilities are onboard the Panorama? I'm aware of the in-room products, but am I wrong in interpreting that the Panorama and Horizon do not offer the thlassotherapy pools like the Splendor did? If the new class does not offer them, what are the amenities of the Cloud 9 staterooms aside from the in-room products and spa/gym treatment discounts?

Thanks so much in advance!

Thanks for your review! I wanted to see how the Paradise looked given it's new updates, I wanted to see if it was at all similar to the Fascination after sailing on it recently. You had some beautiful shots and it looked like you had a lot of fun!

I am considering a cruise on the Joy from LA, the one random 7 night it has from LA in transition before heading back through the canal. As you can see from my signature, I'm new to NCL, and this would be my first cruise.

Can someone explain to me why the ship is being Westernized, like why it wasn't successful in Asia? And, what are some of the new features that are going to be coming to the Joy as it transitions back to what I assume is the general focus of all new NCL ships and 'Westernized" vessels?

Thank you so much in advance, sorry for being the annoying newbie 😄

On 3/28/2019 at 1:55 PM, teabags2 said:

We were there in November, 2018 and it looked like the huricane happened a couple of days ealier instead of 14 months prior.  Very little rebuilding.  We won't be going back there for a couple of years,  So sad because we always loved stopping there.

This right here is the problem though ... Like I get you have the freedom to spend your money the way you wish, and I don't think you should have to go to an island that is struggling while others are thriving, but the more people that say 'I'm not going back until the damage is fixed" will significantly delay the rebuilding!

I mean, think about it. Many of these Caribbean islands have houses and buildings with missing roofs or damaged sidings from storms that occurred decades ago. Many of the people haven;t fixed them because there was simply no reason to. It's likely that some of the homes currently damaged in SXM will never be rebuilt because people vacated after the storm and started a new life elsewhere, not seeing the need to return. This storm is going to haunt the island for decades and decades and decades. Hell, remains and effects of Katrina and Sandy can still be seen ...

But SXM relies on tourism to stimulate its economy.  I just visited in December and while the damage is visible, it was still gorgeous and is still considered my favorite island. What SXM truly needs are people to go there on cruises, spend some money in the stores, ride the public buses, take the tours, buy some beach chair rentals and drinks, and enjoy it like you enjoy every other island to help rebuild itself. I can assure you you will still enjoy a trip to SXM like you used to. Beaches like Orient are getting back to their usual number of vendors, and hotels like the Grand Case Beach Club and both Sonestas are reopening. Now, more than ever, SXM needs some tourists. I can assure anyone that is going soon though that a good day can still be had!

I sailed the Seaview for a week in August from Barcelona and I absolutely loved it. I loved that it was so new and modern, so many beautiful fixtures onboard. The lounges were so beautiful and welcoming, and I found the ship to have good entertainment. Lots of good food options, but I was fine with the MDR and Buffet (plus eating a lot in those ports!). Our stateroom was the most spacious interior room I have ever had, and everything was so new and clean. I experienced good service on this ship, but I am also mindful of the fact that the European definition is different than that of the American, but I actually prefer the European style of service (ie more hands off). So, for me, I enjoyed it. Easily my favorite ship to date! WOuld love to sail on her again soon, I guess I'll have to do the Seaside first though since that is likely the easier option (although I am dying to get to Brazil ....)

Do you have any questions in particular? Maybe that way I can help you a little more with what you need/want to know

Makes me so sad to see such a great ship get such negative press - she is easily my favorite ship to date! I went on an RT from Barcelona this past August and had an amazing time. I had a Bella interior on Deck 11 and it was so new and quiet, I loved the modern fixtures and also being away from the noise. Having so many elevators made it easy to travel around the ship as well. While the top half of the ship is closed off to only those in the YC, I never found it hard to snag a chair to sunbathe in in any of the other areas. The aft pool is very nice as well, I loved spending time back there, especially at the disco at night. 

Like others have said, take the reviews with a grain of salt. It was my first time ever on a new ship and I absolutely LOVED it! I enjoyed all of my ports and the entertainment. There are some great shows onboard. So many restaurants as well, although I was perfectly fine with the MDR and Buffet for my meal options that I did not have off the ship in port. If you have any specific questions about the ship or my experience, let me know and I'll get back to you. But, generally speaking, the reviews can be pretty low for unresolved kinks as well as people just ahving astronomical expectations of what a new ship should be. I think it's all about mindset and attitude, and if you go wanting to have a great time, I think you'll be in for a great week!

Taking in the nice Caribbean sun! Like above posters said, many take this cruise specifically for the itinerary, and being a small ship as is, don't expect many to be hanging around onboard. I would suggest sleeping in a little to avoid the port day breakfast rush of people trying to eat before getting off around 9-9:30, then relaxing by the main pool or down at Serenity - whichever is more your speed. Sometimes they have good drink specials at the bar if you stay onboard, so grab a nice drink and relax. Have a good trip!

I cruised the Fascination this past December for my birthday, and after stepping off of the third-ever voyage of the brand new MSC Seaview, I was nervous. I wasn't nervous about the ship being too small to enjoy, but I was nervous that all the glitz of the Seaview would stop me from enjoying the Fascination. I had just gotten off of a ship with two lido buffets, so I was scared that just one would be crowded. These boards can sometimes make you feel as though your upcoming cruise is going to be a letdown before you even step onboard, which can be a sad thought when you really want a fun vacation.

But, I thoroughly enjoyed the Fascination because I got exactly what I wanted; relaxation away from the cold, and fun in some of my favorite ports. I actually ended up enjoying the actual ship as well, I loved that it was so small and I could walk everywhere. I didn't take an elevator once, and rarely waited in line for food (except for the breakfast rush). You can see the ship's age in some places, like in the bathrooms, some furniture, and in lounges, but I don't feel like that got in the way of my trip whatsoever. I just loved being away on having the comforts of a small ship. I will definitely be looking into the Fascination again for the future since they have it at such great prices and it provides a beautiful vacation for its value. Enjoy!

Considering a cruise on the Panorama so I'll be looking at your photos to get a good idea of the ship. Thanks a ton for taking the time to write all of this!

2 hours ago, PTC DAWG said:

Restaurant recommendations welcomed...any noteable bars also....

I loooooooove Tropical Taste, it's a small restaurant buried behind a souvenir shop in OSJ on Calle del Santo Cristo. They have very good, authentic food, and I really enjoy the ambiance. I always make a stop there whenever I have a cruise that stops in Old San Juan. The Asopo con Pollo is my FAVE!

I just did the Grandiosa itinerary on the Seaview 😉

Seaview is easily my favorite ship to date, so I'm going to have to go with that. Very large, very modern, and lots to do onboard. Plus, that itinerary has some better stops, and if you're looking to save money, better places to do it, since at least for me, I found that the itinerary the Grandiosa is on is muuuuuuch better if you are putting out money for expensive excursions. The itinerary that you would take on the Seaview has ports where the beach is the draw, which will likely be much cheaper than a long tour to something like Pompeii, Sorrento, Taormina, Avignon, etc. Plus, you mention better weather is a draw, so take advantage! The Cinque Terre is gorgeous, and you could use your Genoa day as an impromtu "sea day" and splurge while in La Spezia for the gorgeous italian coast. Def another vote for the Seaview option

Okay, so just to make sure I have done everything right ...

I booked my cruise in November, and I have not done anything regarding a visa since. Is that bad? Do I need to apply through the US State Department to get the visa, or will the one I can buy for $75 cover me for my two days in Havana? Because if I need to get a whole other visa, I should start that process, like, now 😄

Further, if the $75 shipboard visa is good enough, then will I still be able to just walk on and off freely to either walk around on my own or book a tour with a local company? I have found some local guides and companies I would much rather go through than MSC. If I am going to book with a local guide, will I need to provide that verification when I leave? Will I have to indicate something different on my visa when I get it, either from the state department here or from the ship? 

Sorry about the questions and I'm sorry if you answered this to someone else after your cruise thread - I read through it and then just asked without reading the comments! Thank you in advance!

I was in SJ recently when the Seaside pulled in, it passed the castle around 4:30PM so the passengers were likely walking off the gangway a little before 5PM. My suggestion is just to go out for a good authentic dinner in SJ (I can recommend a place I love if you'd like), or just eat onboard and go out drinking or partying until midnight in OSJ. Not much else you can do in that time, and if it's the winter, it'll be dark. 

Manhattan! I'm not sure when your sailaway is and if you have early dinner, but if there is anything that could stop you from seeing the departure from New York -- cancel it! 😄 Departing from Manhattan is one of the most scenic cruise ship departures in the world, you will pass by uptown, midtown and downtown, plus all of the small crafts and the Staten Island Ferries, the skyscrapers in Jersey City and Newark, the Statue of Liberty, and then of course, you will go under the Verazzannos. Easily my favorite sailaway in the world. Don't miss it! 

4 hours ago, tenpin said:

Like most things it is a matter of personal choice.

 

There is very little between both lines I think Costa wins on price & by staying loyal to them you get great perks.

MSC wins on food choices in our opinion, but apart from those two things there is very little between them if you like one then almost certainly you will enjoy the other.

Regardless of numbers you will always get  announcements in English & the lowest number we have had of English speakers was 27 when we were on a part world itinerary if fact it was better as English host held lots of get togethers and quizzes for us.

We also have never had a fully English tour but normally just two language's.

The number of sea days is a concern for most English speaking guests as unless you like those type of get togethers it can get a little boring not talking to any one but the waiters/cabin staff.

 

I would be guided by Itinerary & value for your buck.

 

 

Thank you so much for your detailed response! It only has one sea day and 6 ports I think, so the itinerary is very port-intensive. Not much time really on the ship at all really.

I'm glad you brought up loyalty because I have a question about that if you don't mind. I am likely going to book a guarantee inside, which says that I "cannot collect Costa points" (I forgot the exact wording, I'm sure you know) when I went to do a mock booking. Does that mean I cannot get any loyalty points for the cruise? If that's the case, then I may look at NCL's cruise option, because it's relatively similar and I would be upset not collecting any sort of loyalty benefits for a cruise that was over a week and involved over 24 hours of travel to reach.

9 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

Check Native Choice.  Probably their Chacchoben ruins tour is the cheapest, as it's the closest and you can get the ruins with out the blue lagoon or Maya lunch.  And it will be way better than anything the ship will offer.

https://thenativechoice.com/

 

I bellieve shoreexcursioner offers tours as well, but no idea if cheaper or better.

Thank you so much for your fast reply and for your help! I'll definitely look into it!

Hello,

I will be in Costa Maya in about two months and I'm looking for the cheapest option to go to some Mayan ruins. What are some cheap tour companies I could use? If there is no way around dropping some money in this port, we will likely just go to the beach here, despite having already planned that in Roatan. We justed wanted to try something new! So, if any of you can, please let me know some good options for spending the day in Costa Maya at some local Mayan ruins. Thank you in advance!