Buckett

No I didn't go up there. I thought about a pass, but after seeing a video on it, I wasn't impressed. One of the guys in our group did and said he didn't like the fact that the whirlpool was in the same area as the heated loungers. It wasn't as relaxing as other ships.

I can agree with that assessment! I bought the week pass, as it was 20% off if you bought it online ahead of time. I enjoyed the Thermal Suite on the Splendor much more than this one, for the above reason. It just wasn't as relaxing, having the whirlpool in the same area as the loungers. A lot of times people in the whirlpool would be having loud conversations (of course, you have to speak up to be heard over the bubbles lol) and it was distracting if you were trying to chill out.

Grand Cayman we stayed on the ship. That's when I got a bunch of pics of the Vista.

 

Cozumel - Mr Sanchos. Excellent time! Even with 6 or 7 ships in port, it didn't seem crowded, and we had no issues with taxis. We had reservations and good thing. They sold out and were only letting people in that had one. The pay as you go side was opened as all inclusive and they didn't accept any pay as you go customers. Everyone raved about it. I had been there like 3 other times and love it.

I thought Mr. Sancho's was awesome! Niece said it was her favorite thing we did all cruise. I would go there again without hesitation, and highly recommend it. :D

Bartenders were great. The only one we didn't care for was Ivan. He hardly smiled and didn't like to talk much.

I agree 100%. All of them were nice, smiling, friendly..except Ivan. Not so much!

I just returned from a cruise on the Carnival Vista, and one of our stops was Ocho Rios. We did a private tour through Courtney Taylor tours and one of the stops was Konoko Falls, which I honestly had never heard of, but am so glad we went! The grounds are beautiful, and you will have a guide there who will take you on a nice tour of the grounds, pointing out the different plants and even insects along the way! haha Once you finish touring the grounds you walk through a small zoo where they have different birds and lizards, and then down some wooden stairs to the bottom of the waterfall, which you can climb back to the top if you wish. I did it barefoot, which was fine, but I would use water shoes next time. There are lots of nice photo ops here. I was the only one climbing up the falls when we went, maybe not that many people know about Konoko Falls? I'm not sure, I just know it wasn't nearly as crowded as when I went to Dunns River Falls many years ago. I had a great time at Konoko and would recommend it without hesitation. Hope this helps! :)

Thanks for your informative review! I will be on the Vista on March so am getting really excited and reading all the reviews I can!

I always buy the thermal suite pass on board (I don't recall it ever being available ahead of time online in the past) but it seems that buying it ahead of time gives you a little discount? This time I'll just be buying it for myself as my niece isn't old enough yet. $109 for 6 days sounds like a pretty good price!

Thank you so much for the live review! Really enjoying your pictures too. I will be on her in March and your review is getting me even more excited! :D

Thanks for your review! I will be on her in less than 3 weeks and can't wait! :D

I have tried google but no success. I don't have a TA. Any sites you can give me?

 

First time cruiser

12/2016

Carnival Liberty

OP, I believe the poster meant the website "trip advisor" not, travel agent. :)

Lots of good info there.

Thanks for your review! I'll be on the Inspiration in less than a month and am really looking forward to it. Have been on her many times, but this will be the first since she got Alchemy Bar and the other upgrades, which of course I can't remember at the moment. :rolleyes:

Hello Kazu, we just booked the Oosterdam 8/20/17 for a 7 night cruise to Alaska out of Seattle. :D

Yay! I had been hoping this would be the case! Now just have to wait for them to release the 2018 dates so I can book. :D

Welcome to Cruise Critic! You will find so much helpful information poking around here. :)

I recommend checking out the ports of call boards here. I do tons of research in that section and have been really happy with advice and suggestions there.

I agree with the previous poster about White Sands Snorkel on Grand Turk. Just did an excursion with them in January of this year and I can't recommend it enough. It was amazing. There is also a Margaritaville right there at the pier which looked really busy when we walked by.

This is awesome news, thanks Steph!! I'm doing a B2B on Vista (the Transatlantic and the 1st cruise out of NYC) and for the TA we have an Aft Havana Balcony on Deck 6 (6467). Can't wait!! :D

I will be in that same cabin for our Spring Break cruise next March! Please come back and let us all know how you liked it. :D

Awesome! I always enjoy your reviews. Looking forward to this one. :D

go to the tent between the pier and Jacks.. you will see a sign for white sands snorkel charters. Take the 3 stop tour with Capt. Donovan (Who owns the place) and your life will be changed forever. You will likely touch a very tame shark...snorkel over the Grand Turk wall... see the most fish ever ....taste fresh conch...and......... kiss the barb of a sting ray.... then come back and go to Jacks for a couple of Turks Heads.... tell Topher hi. Once again, your life will be changed forever....:)

^^^^this^^^^ :D

Is there really anything to do in GT other than packing in like sardines? Doesn't seem to be much to that port as far as beaches go unless you like the bar/party scene or chair to chair crowds. I'll be there with DH a 16yr old and a 17 yr old and everything I read about the port is how over crowded it is. I checked for a pool side cabana as soon as we rented the cruise for next march thinking that would at least give us a bit of a reprieve from the crowds but of course they were already sold out. Even the private beach reviews say they are over booked and crowded. We haven't been there before so don't want to stay on the ship.

Poobears we were just there this past January, and if you like snorkeling, it is awesome in Grand Turk! We booked through White Sands Charters and Tours, who I found recommended here on the Ports of Call boards. We really enjoyed it. It was about 3 hours and then after that we walked down to Jack's Shack and had some jerked chicken and a cocktail.

We did find out that the Miracle is no longer going to China! Yay!!

No kidding? That's great! Did they say if she was staying in Long Beach? :D

Thanks for your detailed review! I love the Miracle too, and have always had a great time on her. I have found in my experience that embarkation time seems to be busy for all the staff, so I usually do like your DH did and go get my own ice! :D After that, once I get to meet my room steward, I've never lacked for ice.

Stone Island is fun! That's what I like to do, water taxi over to Stone Island and just hang out. Sorry you missed Las Caletas, I've done that several times and always thoroughly enjoyed it. Sounds like you guys had a great day anyway!

Thanks again for the review. I am curious to see which ship Carnival puts in Long Beach for 2018 to take over the 7 day itinerary. I understand the Miracle is going to China. :(

OP thanks for coming back and letting us know how it went! Glad it all worked out for you and hope you get your refund from Allegiant quickly.

Thanks for your review! Glad to hear about Mr. Sanchos. I have booked it for when we visit Cozumel next March on the Vista. :D

She recently wrote a review of her cruise with Amber Cove being one of the ports. Gave Iguana Mama great reviews, pictures too. Don't know how to post the link but she was on the Splendor. Hope this helps. :)

Thanks for your review! I enjoyed it for several reasons. Splendor was the first Carnival ship my niece sailed on with me, back in 2012. It remains her favorite Carnival ship although I think in March 2017 when we sail the Vista she might change her mind haha. So your pictures reminded me of the fun we had on that ship.

Also, I have a cruise booked for January 2018 (I like to plan ahead, can you tell?) and one of the stops is Amber Cove. I haven't been finding much while doing my research. Your review and pix of Iguana Mama sound exactly like what my bf and I would like to do! I went to the website and saw they also have a Puerto Plata highlights tour, and that sounds interesting too.

And Grand Turk! Went there for the first time this past January and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to get back there again!

Thanks again for the review and pix!! :D

OP thanks for your research, and sharing your results! :D I did the same thing in January but on Holland America. The beverage package was part of a promo we booked, and I was just curious how much we would have spent if we didn't have it, so I kept all my receipts and did a daily breakdown like yours. I don't still have it, but it was fun to do and I know we saved some $.

I think my sis and I are going to try Cheers for the first time in January when we do our yearly short cruise to Ensenada. The addition of the other stuff like specialty coffees, energy drinks, etc. was what made it more attractive to me. Plus as others have said, I will be more inclined to to sit at the Alchemy Bar with Cheers. :D On the Miracle this past March I glanced at the menu and was like hmmm, naaahhh I don't think I want to spring for $12 cocktails so I passed. Same with coffee, I usually just order room service coffee but now I will indulge in some double shot vanilla lattes every morning! Followed shortly thereafter by a Bloody Mary. :)

Enjoying your review! Magic is one of the ships I'm considering for Spring Break 2018 with my niece. Sounds like a nice ship.

Thanks for the question and resulting info, OP! I too am researching excursions on GC as I will be there with my 13 year old niece next year in March. It will be her first time to the Caribbean and I really want her to experience snorkeling there. I went to GC for the first time back in 1999 with my sis (her mom) and was blown away by the snorkeling. (that my first time snorkeling too). I think it would be so much fun to experience that with my niece. :)

Thanks to all the info here I sent an email to Native Way. Looking forward to hearing back from them.