Kelane

Today at 4pm we went to the cigar and rum event at Sunset Bar. The price was $35 pp which included three different rums and refills plus a cigar. The rum was very good, especially the young white rum which paired so well with the cigar. We sat at a circular table with 7 people and had wonderful conversation. One gentleman worked as a trucker hauling very hazardous materials in northern Canada and he had incredible stories. What a treat. Milton of course took care of us and made sure we didn't need or want for anything.

 

In total it appeared that 15/16 people signed up for the rum and cigar tasting.

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We were in this cruise with you and I am JUST NOW seeing this! Grrr...would have been fun to follow along...see what all we missed! ;)

Question. Were there any females at this event? I'd love to do this! :)

Thanks so much for the quick reply!

I think $20 is about what they charged us to go to Atlantis...and we had to wait for a full van.

Hubby still says he's gonna go to Atlantis to see if his "lucky machine" is still lucky! ;)

I'm hoping we have time for both! I love new casinos...especially if they are a bit lose to draw good reviews! :

Thanks again! Karen

 

 

BAHA MAR – TRIP REPORT – MAY 26,2017

 

 

We took a cab around 11 am to Baha Mar. You can also take a bus for $1.25 fromdowntown Nassau near the straw market. The appearance of the complexis spectacular with luscious landscaping, ponds, pools and fountains. As atourist you have free access to their pools and beach, which I foundfascinating. I’m sure this won’t lastforever.

 

Dicenator

Hi!

We are in Nassau next month and were thinking about trying the new Baha Mar. Hubby loves Atlantis VP area, but I thought it would be nice to finally be able to try Baha Mar! Do you by chance remember about what the taxi from the port cost for 2 & how long it took to/from? I don't like surprises and was hoping you might remember!

I assume no issues getting a taxi back?

Thanks in advance,

Karen

Well the frozen drinks are $8.25 before gratuity. I'll just post the most recent menus here. Sorry there's a crease in them. That's what was by my table.

 

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for.

I think we'll be able to make up our minds now.

It's just a daunting amount on a 14 day for 2...AS IF it isn't as ugly when we get those pages slipped under our door on disembarkation!

Thanks again!

Kelane

4/28 12:58...Carnival Gift Cards are available on AARP.

I just finally got one!

You don't have to have a paid membership to buy the cards, just be registered on their site.

 

 

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Thanks!

When I booked our NCL cruise for next fall, they asked if I was an AARP member. Nope. Then they told me that if I joined ($16/yr) it would save me 5% on my cruise (since it was 9 mos out)...twas a no brainer! Otherwise I've been ignoring AARP for ...er..."several" years now! :rolleyes:

I think I'll start paying attention to the other perks!

Bummer...Sold Out!

New to AARP and didn't even know to look!

Thanks for the heads up. Maybe next time. :)

The advantage to buying them at a grocery store such as Kroger, Giant Eagle, etc. is for the fuel points. Just a heads up. Gift cards purchased at Kroger on Valentine's weekend will be worth 4 times the fuel points. And no, Carnival gift cards are not sold at a reduced price.

Read the promo careful.

I bought gift cards yesterday (2/11)at Krogers (the 4x promo) and did NOT get 4x points. I bought Amazon; not CCL...but either way, when I got home and noticed it was only 2x points I went back to the ad and found out the 4x (at our store in TN, at least) only applied to Music, Gaming, Restaurants, Theater gift cards. First time I've even seen them exclude stores and travel.

Small print. Disappointed.

Still...ANY fuel points are a nice perk to buying CCL gift cards.

Have never seen discounted cards at Krogers.

;) we are on the equinox jan 11th and overnight in cartagena..we are thinking of rosario islands on day 2....looking for feedback first....anybody done this...gracias

I am on the same cruise and was just here looking for a Cartagena Day 2 activity! If you find out anything, would you mind sharing on the Roll Call (if you haven't already!)?

Thanks!

Every other cruise line I've been on throws a party for CC roll call passengers, but I hear Carnival does not do this. Is this true? If not, does anyone know how to call and reach the right person? We're on the Magic, January 10th, and I have collected all our roll call information and am ready to let them know, if I knew who to call. Since I booked through a TA, I don't have a PVP.

We were on the Sunshine in Sept and Legend in Oct. On both, we had Roll Call parties. Someone contacted John Heald (I think) and arranged for it.

They went all out on Sunshine. We had a private room; officers came by and mingled, they served LOTS of appetizers and gave some door prizes (Champagne/ship on a stick/medals). We had several bar servers. I was stunned. I'd been on many Carnival Cruises & never knew they would do this. This was only the 3rd cruise for the lady who arranged it; so you don't have to be anyone special to make it happen.

Oh...and we received a printed invite in our cabin.

On Legend, it was a huge group and we had some officers and door prizes; but no appetizers. They also furnished a private room and microphone set up. It was nice. I don't remember getting written invite to this one.

Evidently, if you contact the right person (John Heald?? ), you might get a nice official meet and greet.

same thing on the victory, I found out.

 

Triumph and Victory are sister ships I believe.

 

I have grown accustomed to having them on Conquest class ships. I will survive on the Victory, but I also hope that I get a good room steward who will give me an ice bucket with ice in it, on the evening turn down service (if in fact Carnival still gives that service), will see how it goes next month. Either way, I know I will survive without a fridge for 5 days this time.

 

In the case that someone needs one for medicines/insulin etc; let Carnival know about the need and they will provide.

Sunshine: We left a sticky note on our cooler day 1 that said simply "Ice please"...and it was always full. We did slip her a little extra end of trip for seeing to our needs.

I DID see another steward pulling a rolling cooler down the hall and filling it for another cabin...thought that was pretty amazing considering how busy they were.

We had turndown service every night and a towel animal. No chocolates; but we don't eat them anyway.

Service was excellent.

I surely hope that Triumph staff is as accommodating as they were on the Sunshine! On her 10/24 for 11 days.

Yes no frig on the Triumph and no nightstands on the Sunshine..Dennis

Just off the Sunshine and was glad to find out ahead of time that there were no fridges. (We took a cooler).

Our nightstand on Sunshine was under the desk and we moved it over to the bedside. Thought it a bit odd; but guessed it was because of the type cabin? (Pull down bed)

Easy fix.

I guess we bring our cooler back on the Triumph?

Thanks for the heads up!

Here's a link I got in the email with a list of the affected itineraries (which have not been updated). I think they're just replacing a sea day. Maybe they'll get to the port in mid-day so you'll have one and a half days there if they can't get there early enough for a full day.

 

Link

 

The email I received lists these:

 

14-Night Exotic Southern Caribbean Cruise

Celebrity Eclipse on 1/24/2016

Overnight in Curacao

 

10-Night Ultimate Caribbean Cruise

Celebrity Equinox on 1/22/2016

Overnight in St. Maarten

 

11-Night Ultimate Caribbean Cruise

Celebrity Equinox on 2/1/2016

Overnight in Cartagena, Colombia

Also Equinox 11 day Jan 11,16. They dropped Belize and are overnighting in Cartagena, Columbia instead. Reversed the itinerary. Got my notification this morning.

A bit of scrambling today to change tours I already had booked...

Don't mind losing Belize...just curious if Cartagena has 2 days of things I want to do!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153305093048151&set=a.10152725068358151.1073741831.500473150&type=3&theater

LOVE that cabin/balcony.

Can I ask which ship/cabin # that is, please?

I "call myself" looking back, but didn't find where you listed it.

Thanks!!!

Is anyone back from this party bus tour yet?

It says they have to have a minimum of 10, so I wrote to see if they had a "waiting list" of others who don't have 8 pals to bring with.

Curious if they pick up at the cruise port, also?

Hope to hear back and will post if I do.

Sounds like a good alternative to the beach or rays...both of which we've done several times.

Has anyone every used a pre-paid gift card (visa, MC, Amex) on the ship at GS to put money on their S&S account? I have used them to purchase cruise cash, but would like the option of using them on the ship....

My daughter and her friends all got ccl gift cards for Christmas to help with their Jan cruise. They went to GS and had them applied to the S & S account. One would "think" that you could certainly do the same with prepd Visa, etc.

Note...when you buy one of those prepaid cards; you have to pay a fee (usually $3.95 each). If you purchase a CCL gift card (they sell them at Krogers in TN and I've heard some Lowes have them); there is NO fee. That's 1/2 a beer in cruise lingo. :)

Are these towels different from the ones you get in your stateroom? Same size, etc? (love their big towels!)

Just curious if we get them, do we use them on board or just have them to bring home as souvenirs? Looks like they would get lost in the laundry shuffle?

Looks like a great deal...pondering it. Just need to decide if, as someone suggested, I "need all that stuff"! ;)

Thanks in advance!

Can someone please tell me where I can read about and purchase this offer. Thanks.

http://www.carnival.com/FunShops/item/y56/high-seas-deluxe-tote-package

We have a "Platinum VIFP Club – Early Saver C. Vista Offer" in our VIFP Club online...but can't access any details.

Will be watching for the itinerary online and the offer! Would love to do the TA.

Thanks for the info!

We're on the Legend and purchased the cheers programme for $37.50 but the paperwork said there were no gratuities included. We're adding the $1.00 per drink and it seems to be very appreciated, but it seems a lot of people are not. If Carnival have taken the tips off they are really screwing their crew.

Great! Can't wait to hear your review of the new pricing when you get back. Sounds almost too good to be true!

Was almost 100% positive gratuity is included in that price? Might be worth quizzing guest services; if for no other reason then to NOT think CCL is "screwing their crew".

Have an amazing adventure & give the lovely bride a hug from your jealous TN pals!:D

K & R

I'm not Vida, but I'll chime in to add that any outdoor activity such as the Freedom Trail can be very iffy in October. The high temperature could easily be anywhere from the 50s to the 80s and blustery cold wind is not uncommon. Have a backup activity in mind.

 

I usually recommend the duck tours to out of town guests. They're normally open-air vehicles, but they do have windows they can roll up in bad weather.

Thanks! Middle TN is still hot in September so I appreciate the advice re: weather. Looking at HOHO Trolley. Saw the duck tour. If that is what you recommend to your out of town friends; then perhaps that is the route we should choose. A good taste of Boston...then go back on our own for a couple of days. :)

Just want to see the town and eat some good food/drink good beer. ;)

Thanks again!

Google for a map of Stellwagen Bank. It is a shallower area of the sea floor off New England where the majority of whales congregate to feed and where the sand eels proliferate. All the whale watch boats from Massachusetts go to various spots on Stellwagen, usually nearest their own port, but the Gloucester boats might even go all the way to the waters off Provincetown if that's where the whales are on a given day. The longer the travel time to where the whales are, usually the shorter the time you have to look for whales, unless the duration of the cruise is extended. (The usual balance is an hour out, two hours to watch, and an hour back.)

 

Can't help you with where Maine boats go to find whales or how many would be left in that area in September.

Thanks! I actually, after posting that realized I needed to ask you about Boston. We are still up in the air about Boston...thinking the Freedom Trail will be our best best to get an overall feel of Boston. (1st trip).

Thank you for the reply! I would hope I could see some whales from the deck somewhere along the cruise route; but thought I'd ask...appreciate your answer!

The whale watching boats in Maine typically run into mid-October. I've done whale watching from Boothbay Harbor, Maine (about 60 miles northeast of Portland) in late September and seen Minke and Finback whales. (Missed a pod of humpbacks the week before.) You may see individual whales, not pods.

 

Here's a list of whale watch boats in Maine, including Portland:

 

http://www.discovernewengland.org/new-england-activities/whale-watching/

Thanks! You both were extremely helpful.:)

We did a Canada/New England Cruise on Brilliance of the Seas in September, 2013.

 

Portland, Maine- We booked the Portland Discovery Land & Sea Combination Tour online and picked the trolley tour at 9:30 and the harbor cruise at 1:30. That gave us time to have lunch and check out a few of the shops nearby between the two tours. It was a 15 minute walk from the cruise terminal to the Portland Discovery office on the waterfront.

Check out their website for a few different tours that they offer: www.portlanddiscovery.com

 

 

St. John, New Brunswick- We rented a car through Enterprise and went to St. Martin. We drove through the Fundy Trail Parkway, saw the St. Martin Caves, and ate at the restaurant right at the St. Martin Caves. You can find further information about the Fundy Trail Parkway at their website: www.fundytrailparkway.com

 

It was great to rent the car and travel at our leisure. We made arrangements for Enterprise to pick us up and drop us off right near the cruise ship.

 

Enjoy your cruise,

 

Mary

Just booked Portland Discovery Land & Sea tour for September. Thanks so much for the information, Mary!

By early October, the number of whales left in the area may not be large. It is also likely to be pretty cold; the best visibility is out on the open deck for a couple of hours.

 

This is predicted to be a banner year for whales though, because there are a lot of their favorite food, the sand lance. We've already been out once from Plymouth, MA (majority are currently off Provincetown, MA) and the trip was spectacular. Many whales, close to the boat, breaching, diving and cruising.

 

You should be in touch by phone with the boat/company you intend to use, just before you start your trip, to see what conditions (weather, number of whales seen on recent trips) are. They do want your ticket money, but they are usually pretty honest, as it is in their own best interest for further business.

We will be in Portland Sept 9. Will whales still be plentiful at that time of year? If so, any recommendations on who to contact for a tour?

TIA

That is the Belkin power adapter with 3x 3 prong, polarized outlet and 2 x usb charger and I've traveled the world by air, land and sea with it for close to 10 years with it, to protect delicate electronics - and it comes with insurance protection in the unlikely case of damages caused by the failure of the Belkin. It rotate or turn to fit the outlet and make it easy to connect the adapter and plugs - disconnect it from the cabin/stateroom's single 110V wall when not in use.

 

The newer one has a higher rating (10W) so it can handle a bigger load, including USB output (newer smartphones & tablets including the iPad2+'s requiring at least 1A if not 2A) vs. the "original" Belkin at 500 mA (fine for digital camera, older mobile devices & iPods, etc.) and cost a bit more. I have no reasons to upgrade mine but for anyone thinking of getting one (on xBay, xMazon and at your local Target/Walmart, Bestbuy or Microcenter, etc. - I recommend spending a more, a tiny investment that will pay for itself for many times over.

 

 

Extension cord, when short ones, always pose a safety & tripping hazard across the floor and make sure you keep liquid away to avoid getting shocked.

 

On CCL ships, as in NCL and RCI - there is usually a 2nd. power outlet for 220-240 volt appliance - most folks do not take advantage of it and do not realize that "most" laptop or netbook computers, iPad, iPhone and smartphone power charger/adapter will work (and, auto-switch) on 220 power. You will need an inexpensive round-adapter plug, so that it will securely plug in and connect safely to use it - and, always disconnect it when unattended.

I have one similar and have taken it on several cruises. It has only been "confiscated" once and that was on the Freedom last September. It was packed in my suitcases and I opened my bag to find a note about it. Left my $1 extension cord; but took my expensive Belkin outlet. No amount of persuasion got it back (until the cruise was over).

I've had no problem on every other Carnival ship I've taken it on. I guess it depends on who is in security and what kind of day he's having or who is watching over his shoulder.