newcruiser1956

On 9/12/2018 at 8:38 AM, ricew001 said:

 

Our goal was Cuba. When we first started looking, Paradise and Sensation were our only choices. So I took Sensation. The more I read the worse it got. So I changed it to Victory which we've sailed twice and loved. I am generally of the opinion it's what you make of it but those Sensation reviews just had me unsettled.

 

Good luck!

1

I did the Sensation in January.. It was not bad.. it is an older ship but was clean etc..

I used Blexie,  They have a "standard" tour if you don't know where you want to go.. tell your guide if you prefer walking or riding if you want to see more museums versus the real Cuba and they will take you to great things to see..    We did lots of walking and I got to see where they really live, work etc. Grocery stores etc...  Also, the cemetery was fascinating... Over 2 million souls in that place, never seen anything like it. 

Regarding what you take off the ship. I am sure foods are not allowed.  I did take a few bottles of water.

I tipped all the extra Cuban money I had because I was going to stay on the ship and didn't want to take it home with me :)  I tipped around $50. 

Make sure when you exchange your money to get a few $1. coins for the bathroom and take some tissues or toilet paper with you.  Some bathrooms do not have attendants nor toilet paper.

Get out there early before your guides show up,   You are meeting across the street from the port building .  Go to your left and walk through the church garden... Some amazing artwork in the little park :)

I went to Cuba on the sky earlier this year,  I was one of the first ones off of the ship and had more than an hour before meeting the guide..  You really should not have much problems so long as you get an early ticket.   We were lucky Oceania was in port with us but they did not start getting off ship until after us so clearing customs and the money exchange did not take much time at all.    After you get your cash exchanged etc you will come out of the building and walk across the street to a huge courtyard,  you will see lots of guides holding up signs.  If you have time to wait for your guide, go to the church to your left of the guides .  They have some really cool artwork and a plaque to Princess Di.  

You are allowed your opinion...  I am a vegan and there are not many choices that are not dead animal or full of oil.

And their veggie burger is pretty good.

Always,  they never gave me a problem at all,  I would order, they would ask if I wanted cheese, I would smile and say no,  and then stand over to the side out of the way so they can continue with the line.   You just have to ask for them :)

On 10/30/2018 at 12:43 PM, coevan said:

There are no veggie burgers at the deli. There are veggie options, not burgers. Last 2 B2B with Guys, no veggie burger offered. 

At Guys, you have to ask for it,  it is not on the menu.  I live on them when I am on Carnival. I now only book Carnival because they have Guys :)

On 10/30/2018 at 8:12 AM, Melissalcsw said:

Aww I was looking forward to trying the veggie burger at Guys...Guess i'll look at the deli instead.

 

Thanks for the info

I love Guys veggie burgers,  you just have to ask for them,  5-10 minutes later they will give it to you :)  I live on them when I am on carnival.

When you come out of the ship you will be inside a secure area with lots of booths with things to buy.  No one will bother you inside the port area.   You may go outside the port area (make sure you have your ship card,  you will NOT get back inside without it)  Outside the area you will have more shops, places to eat that you can walk to.  You will also see lots of cabs etc that may or may not bother you trying to get your business.  Depends on the police presence.  The police waved them away from me so no one bothered me.  I went in and out of a few of the shops and then went back into the port area.   Remember that crime is high in Jamacia so be very aware of your surroundings.  Stay close to the port and you should be fine.   Or go on an excursion  :)  The float trip was fun :)  It takes around 30 minutes to get there,  you will get to see what the area looks like.  

I am up very early also,  I always grab extra fruit and take it back to the room so I have a banana or 2 to eat the next morning.  Also early in the morning, it is nice to walk around when it is not crowded.  Great time to take pictures.  The continental breakfasts are typically ready around 6 am.    I enjoy the quiet of the mornings, although I do so wish the hot tubs were available, would be beautiful to watch sun rise from the hot tub :)

I went to Cuba in NCL... no one asked me if I had a tour or anything.  There were LOTS of people that had set up private tours.. (the tour people wait across the street from the terminal)  They are all standing there with name signs  :)

And I did have a private tour set up... but again,  no one asked me. 

I can feel your pain,  Relaxing is a totally foreign concept to me.  I have been known to go on land vacations and come back early because I am bored.  That is another reason I am now a cruiser,  can't come back home early,  must take the time off :)

Download lots of videos to watch on an ipad  OR pay for the good internet.  On my last cruise, I could actually watch Youtube.

I do not do auctions, or casino,  I am not a party animal, I travel solo, I am not into trivia (although I do typically go)  I am an early to bed early to rise so I do not stay up at night for all the wild parties..  I am dull, I admit it.  I like the excursions.

I sit in the hot tub alot,  drink some,  watch videos in my room,  read,  look around the ship,   There are lots of things to do, I try to force myself to try something new that I have never done before.  I did karaoke,  it was fun :) 

Try it, you might enjoy it,  just do not go with unrealistic expectations,  That was my mistake for my first cruise.

Thank you all so much. I really appreciate all the info.

I had a feeling I was going to need the birth certificate after all. I have what the army gave my parents and it used to be fine for everything before. But since 9/11 rules changed. I’m off to wade thru the red tape and try to track mine down.

 

Thankfully I don’t sail till next August so I have a year to get this fixed.

 

 

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Army brat here born in Germany. I did not use my German birth certificate to get my passport, I used the papers my parents had to register my birth abroad. That actually shows I am an American citizen. Make an appointment with your passport off and see what happens. They will tell you if it won't work.

Ate at one of the local restaurants picked by our guide, he ate too :) Food was excellent, prices were excellent and had no problem.

Check Geoblue you have to have regular insurance, but they say on their webpage they do cover preexisting

Send him another letter, their internet is very expensive and very unreliable. I did a tour with Bill and was very happy with it. It took him several days to get back with me. I recommend him highly :)

Was there an incident that led to Viking changing their policy? Was it just a general feeling the older passengers don’t want to be around children or did something happen to make them realize that children shouldn’t be on Viking?

I suspect it is a port intensive cruise line, ports that kids might not enjoy, and we are willing to pay the price to not have to deal with someone else's kids on a cruise. I am thrilled! I wish I could afford to be on them more. No screaming kids in the hot tubs, actually being able to get into the pool, etc etc etc.

There are plenty that caters to families, why not one that caters to adults?

They also do not have casinos, art auctions, heavy duty nickel and diming you to death either.

I'm surprised by some of the answers. These tough folks, "I'd put him in his place, etc.". Really? At dinner on a ship? Who cares. It's not that important. There's a time and place for everything. Sometimes the adult thing is to just look the other way - you don't always have to tell people when they are behaving badly.

 

Remember, when he wakes up, he's still himself. He can't get away from being a jerk. We have a choice.......

I agree, will it make a difference to you 20 years from now? Does it change your paycheck or anything else? If not, walk way, it is not worth it. Pick your battles, That was not important enough.

I didn't have that experience at all, Went on a ship excursion, no one bothered us.

Carved meats were replaced by potato bar? Wow that is a downgrade.

As a vegetarian I would be thrilled with this and consider it a great upgrade. Guess it all depends on how you look at it.

I care about where we are going. I would pick the older ships because I do not want to be on a ship with 5000 people, older is ok with me, I am older too :)

I know Havana wants those ships coming in, They need the money. We overnighted there in Jan. There was a ship in port when we arrived, they left and Oceania arrived during the evening. When we were leaving there was another ship coming in to port.

I loved it and will use it again if I am on Carnival at MIA

Head towards ground transportation, you will run into it at the bottom of the stairs.

They take your picture and get you checked in, there was no one in line when I got there, I was done in 5 or 10 minutes. I also caught the ride to the ship there.

When you get to the ship you do get to go into the security lines verses the check in lines.

Check in the airport group goes on the ship after the special groups, VIP and FFTF, so you are in the first group after that.

I was on the sky to Cuba... My 2 complaints, the bed was the most uncomfortable thing I had I had ever slept on. (They added 2 egg crates and my back was still screaming!)

No adult free hot tub (or one that I found)

The alcohol all included was nice. I tried drinks I would have never paid for. :)

Mine was not stamped in Jamica, it was stamped in Cuba

I think "Walmart of the Seas" is a really great way to give an idea of Carnival. I love both Walmart and Carnival. If you don't think they are both "fun" and "low cost providers", I imagine you don't think of Walmart as fun?

 

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

 

Looks a lot like a lot of people on the Carnival cruises, don't even try to deny it!

I have to agree, was thinking, they must never go to Walmart. That describes it perfectly.