Krisco

24 minutes ago, aviators99 said:

Sailing when you guys get back on Sunday, and very eager to know how the Haloween-themed stuff goes, particularly the Grog Walk tonight. Not really into Halloween, but normally love the Grog Walk. Need to know if I should still book it on Sunday. Sailing with some first-timers . 

Us too on Sunday and we are first-timers. Thank goodness no blue cards.

Have a great cruise. We will be boarding "The Lady" right after you on Sunday.  First Virgin Voyages cruise and I have learned a lot from your previous reviews. Have a great time.

1 hour ago, Saint Greg said:

Natural bat caves

 

Not to be confused with "hey check a mirror, you have a natural bat in the cave"

We love taking the shuttles and local busses. You just have to do a little research. That’s how you learn things from the locals. Met a nice group of medical students last time there riding the shuttle. 

Turned down twice also with casino rates, but as other said the rate was super low.

1 hour ago, nybumpkin said:

Apparently Albany wasn't even regional, despite son the Mets Fanatic.

Tv station gal here. There is local commercial inventory so Albany is a different tv market so that was probably local commercial inventory spot that Jamman saw. 

We were just there last week with only 2 ships in and we were first ship to arrive.  We left very early and we’re able to get chairs and umbrella at Public beach in front row of water but it filled up fast. It was very crowded but not enough to be annoying. If you get there early you will be fine then can be on your own schedule. There was a food truck in the parking lot and it was the best fried snapper sandwich I’ve ever eaten. We also took the public bus which was very easy and a little cheaper. 

2 hours ago, 80sGal said:

Agree that Havana makes for a very relaxing trip.   We've only had it the one time on the ABC trip on Horizon, too, and it came with the GS upsell we had (which was reasonable imo).   But I'm wondering how it was in the Aft balcony?   Did you feel much movement or vibration at the back?  Did any noise from the Havana area filter up to the balcony?   Did you have any issues with soot as others have reported on aft balconies fleetwide?   This would help us decide if we want to splurge for the Havana area again, because we definitely are not GS people as a usual thing -- although I wish we were!     Thanks!    

I will answer also. We had an aft balcony on the Panorama which is the same class of ship and were on deck 9.  Agree the shading helped a lot and no one was looking down on us - just the opposite. you are tucked away in the back and the balconies next to the premion ones on the back are larger.  Pays to look at deck plans.  I don't think I could ever go back to non-Havana either. Doing the Celebration but see the XL ship havana area is much smaller and small pool and no hot tubs.

On 9/12/2022 at 10:31 AM, nascartim said:

I have 4 future cruises booked, all under a casino rate deal. I tried 2 different times to get my credit, but was turned down both times. Oh well. 

I finally received a response today after about 3 weeks and I too was denied as under a casino deal.  The letter said although it may have been granted in the past they are really looking at the offers with reduced rates.  I will keep trying each and every cruise. I have never been denied before on a casino rate, but this one maybe since both of us are getting $1000 casino cash.  

We think Havana is worth the extra money for sure. Especially during spring break or during time with a lot of kids. Lounges available. Not hundreds of people packed at a pool. Own bar and servers.   

18 hours ago, Thenagers said:

I have Drinks everywhere offer and 500 Funplay. We booked  1 cabin under my offer but my son had the same offer. I have sent an inquiry to the following. My understanding is that they  will honor his offer as long as it is the same rate code? 
https://oceanplayersclub.com/contact/

I have same situation where both me and my husband have same casino offer. I booked under mine as had a little more free play but both had drinks everywhere. Just to be safe I email oceans player club as noted above and they replied both would same perks. I’m bringing email with me. I also was told by my PVP for another offer where cabin companion does not have drink package you can order for the other cabin mate but have to go to guest services and book after onboard and not get discount. 

I reached out to Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa asking if they offered Day Passes. They responded promptly, but said they do not.  I haven't found any other resorts offering Day Passes for our October cruise.  

On 8/14/2022 at 6:20 AM, WheresWalter said:

I will say booking a Havana cabin on Mardi Gras puts you mere steps from the best coffee on the entire ship. The Cuban coffee in the Havana bar was my go-to spot for coffee every morning, with the Bar Della Rosa for cappuccinos right behind. After one disappointing cup of cappuccino at Java Blue I never went back there.

 

As for the Havana section itself, we did notice just how small it was looking down from our extended balcony on Deck 12 with that little plunge pool. As these ships were originally slated for AIDA, a Havana section was probably never part of the original plans. Looks like Carnival simply detached the exterior walkway that would have gone around Grand Central (you can see the walkway on P&O IONA) and made the front section 'Havana.' 

 

On Loft 19, we really didn't see much of anything going on up there on our March cruise, but the Serenity area is absolutely lovely. Fantastic salad bar for lunch each day next to the bar that so many people onboard didn't know about. Shhhhh, keep it a secret! 😄

Wonder if they have this coffee in Havana bar on the Horizon?  Sure hope so sounds great

5 hours ago, wemjam said:

You do not have to get an extra set of keys to carry. Simply explain to them that two people are swapping rooms and they will REkey the necessary room keys.  We do this with our mom and dad all the time.  It does not mess up any incentives as those are based on the person, not the room.  

 

Note:  You will want to make sure when you set up the on boarding spending accounts that that is handled correctly.  You can give (or not) charging privilege's to people in your party across rooms as needed too.  So when you switch the rooms it all works out.  

 

Example my mom and I are in room together, and hubby and dad in the other.  When I set up my account I include hubby in the other room and exclude mom.  Then set up dads and include mom and exclude hubby.  So when they switch it is all good.

This is what my PVP told me also.  Or when checking in online just push Cash as payment option for everyone and then when you go to guest services to rekey the cards, set up the proper credit cards with each rekeyed guest.

On 8/12/2022 at 8:19 PM, pinto18 said:

Us too! Just got them…oh well

Me too.  I'm a planner so ordered them last week.  Need to be more like my procrastinating husband who is laughing at my wasted $75.

I sent an inquiry to Kimpton Seafire Resort yesterday about day passes and they said they do not offer them.  Very nice and prompt reply and said enjoy your cruise and time in Grand Cayman.  Sounds like from recommendations on here, treck to Public Beach and perhaps walk down there for lunch and drinks.  Thanks all for the information. 

On 7/30/2022 at 2:23 PM, Bostwick girl said:

If you both have the same offer, then you both get it. I would screen shot your husbands offer just to be safe then if any question came up, you have a copy of his offer. We’ve done it several times.

 

Yes. I asked the same question and actually emailed Casino and said my husband has same offer "xyz" and they said yes they would get drinks also. I'm saving the email and bringing onboard just as backup as ours is drinks everywhere.  

26 minutes ago, Jamman54 said:

The FB group was correct about the time changes on the ship. This ensures that ship time and local times are the same at all three ports.😎

So you moved forward another hour for PV as they are on CST?  

@Jamman54 asking a pro from the Mexican Riviera trip with the new reversed itinerary.  I looked at the funtimes pictures in your review but didn't see anything.  Trying to reschedule non-carnival excursions and trying to figure out ship time and local time zones.  A FB group said ship time moves from PST one hour forward on the first sea day.  So changes to MST and then goes back to PST after leaving Cabo on Thursday.   Trying to schedule local tours on local time as compared to when ship arrives.  Thanks. Love your reviews so figured would go to an expert.  

On 1/7/2022 at 11:39 PM, azjim66 said:

We are booked on the 2/19 Panorama and am hoping for the same!

same here. hoping for no crowds.  Seems to be a lot cancelling.  we are in Michigan in February need to get out of here.

22 hours ago, cruisy-suzy said:

Couple questions, I cruise from Port of Miami on 1/20.  I was originally going to try and test local.  The condo I am staying in in FLL has a CVS and Walgreens within 2 blocks.  HOWEVER, I can only get a test there if I remain in my CAR and I won't have a CAR!  So has anyone done a test at CVS/Walgreens in Miami / Ft Lauderdale area where you walked in?  I asked my local store in Missouri and they said they don't want ppl coming in because they probably HAVE Covid.  But we are doing pre-cruise, it's different.

 

So in the meantime I ordered the proctored BINAX NOW test to be delivered to where I am staying.  How long does it usually take to ship?  I got it from Optum online.  

 

Is this testing stuff stressing anyone else out?  I am also cruising solo for the first time so I don't have anyone else to share the stress with!

I ordered from Optum last Monday and it came in 2 days.  I was surprised

The one in PV looks like it starts at a park. Did you just take a taxi to the start and end location from the cruise terminal?

On 11/24/2021 at 5:13 PM, Podie said:

I've gone with Vallarta Food Tours and they were great. Did a Segway tour in Mazatlan, saw people eating lobsters at a restaurant in the old city plaza, and returned after the tour to eat there. I think the lobster meal and margarita were about $24.

LinnieRed thanks for the details. This sounds right up our alley. And anyone from Up North Michigan has to be smart. Heading there on Panorama mid February. 

On 10/31/2021 at 8:56 PM, purpleally said:

Go Green💚

Go White.  Most won’t get it. Great win