Snorkel2Much

You are most welcome.. I was out there today, saw myself 17 squid all in a nice little row.. I have no idea that the behavior is about but it was sure good fun watching them.

I swam through the kidney and down to the wall on Tuesday last week. Saw several squid in the channel between the inner and outer reefs, along with the usual assortment of reef residents.

Thanks for the review. We will be on Oceania Marina in a few weeks. I think Oceania is part of the Carnival family, so I looked up which docking location it would be using. It turns out it is Mahogany Bay. You can check the port's web site to see if you're scheduled to dock there, and how many other ships will be there with you. I think the site is www.roatanisland.net/mahoganybay.htm or else portofroatan.com but I forget which. Just make sure you're looking at the correct port (M Bay or Coxen Hole). It looks like Holland America, Costa, Oceania, and of course, Carnival use M Bay, but as with most ports, there are sometimes surprises if the port authority needs to move ships around!

 

Oh, just googled a bit and here's link (though it looks like you'll have to cut and paste) to the port schedule: http://www.mahoganybaycc.com/port-schedule.aspx

 

Hi des07 - I used to live in Oklahoma City! (NW 74th St.)

 

Susi - from what I've seen, Princess docks at both Coxen Hole and M Bay, though perhaps that's just if things at MBay are filled up! In any case, if you're going anywhere by taxi, I hear that taxi drivers charge more to pick you up in Coxen Hole, so it isn't a bad place to come into. I don't know if there's a beach near by, though - don't think so. There are public buses, though, if you're adventuresome. They go to West End. I found the info on them from the Ports section of cruise critic.

This review is a couple of years old, so the people you are responding to may not be around CC now. ;)

In the MDR do kids have to order off the Childrens Menu? Or do they have more choices?

My DD has ordered from the adult menu since she was a 4 or 5 yo. I have seen adults order from the kids menu too (for desserts). :D

We got hit with a Costa Maya for Belize port swap today, so I booked Maya Chan. I've been to a few places on the malecon and I'm ready to see what I've been missing at MCB.

Several years ago when my daughter graduated high school DW suggested that I take DD on a cruise... a little father / daughter bonding time. Sounded great! So we went. We got on the ship and DD made some friends really fast (naturally). So she spent nearly all of her time with them. I saw her at dinner and our excursions. I being the dutiful father did not wish to stop her from having fun and insist that she spend time with me. And her so being wrapped up in having the time of her life did not think about dear old Dad - as kids are wont to do.

To get to the point... I never felt so alone among 2000+ people in my life. You can only spend so much time in the casino or reading a book! When we got back home I told DW that will never happen again! When DS graduated we BOTH took him on a cruise. :cool:

I was worried that scenario would happen to me, but we met up with several great folks from the RollCall and did a lot of activities together as a group.

Not exactly answering your question as written here, but I just came back from a Destiny cruise that was just myself and my DD. Mrs. S2M had to stay home and work due to a job change. No guilt here, is that bad?

But the person has to be in the car. I dropped my dad off at the front door, because he has trouble walking (why he has a placard!!!!). They made me go get him even though I had my funpass with his name and the permit that allows him to have handicap parking. I told them he had trouble walking, hence I dropped him off at the front door. I had to go get him and made him walk all the way to the terminal!! Just a little backwards if you ask me!!

Sandgnat,

In Florida's jurisdiction, the permit in your fathers name allows him to use a designated handicapped spot for the vehicle he is parking (or a passenger in as it's parked). If someone else is driving my car (I have a blue hangtag) and drops me off at the door of the place I am visiting, then parks my car for me, they are not allowed to use a designated handicapped spot. Not flaming, just explaining the rules as they were given to me when I was given my HC placard.

The 4 HC cabins that are 1A on this class really are bunk beds :(

 

There are 4 HC 1As on upper decks .... those near the spa.

 

Im going to be on Magic next month and fully intend to get out and about and check out any cabins that are not occupied.

I've been in one of those Deck 11 1A's on Dream. Two bunks, no other seating other than the vanity stool. Extremely large bathroom.

Great thread!

We'll be there in January with our two teenage daughters (17 &14) on our first cruise. They are both good swimmers - I'm the weakest of the four of us. This is our first time in this part of the Caribbean and our kids first time snorkelling.

 

Can you tell me if these spots that are shown in the pictures above are spots that you just walk in from shore and swim to?

 

Also, how deep is the water in the kidney and beyond the first wall? Just wondering if we (or I) should be wearing lifejackets or not. I know I wouldn't be able to dive down but does anyone wear a life preserver when they snorkel in these areas or would that just be stupid.

 

We are there from 9-6 - is this enough time to do a zip line and then come here to snorkel too?

It's never stupid to use a floatation aid when snorkeling. You should have plenty of time for both ziplining and snorkeling.

Glad I found this thread. It has been very useful as I plan to visit Tabyana Beach for snorkelling in December.

 

As LuvSnorkeling said, be careful of the reef. Most live reef will be very pretty colours and shapes; the broken off grey/brown stuff has been destroyed.

 

Happy snorkelling and swimming everyone! :D

[TMI] Actually brown is a naturally occurring color in many corals, and the browner those are the healthier they might be. Coloring can vary and depends on the species, alkalinity, and amount of light they get. The living coral animal itself acts like a farmer, keeping living zooxanthellae inside it's body. The zooxanthellae are naturally brown. They act like a plant absorbing light and giving off oxygen and nutrients to the coral. If the coral is stressed it expels all the zooxanthellae, which makes the coral all white or bleached. If the coral can't quickly recover and start farming zooxanthellae again it starves and dies. Brown coloring can also be a sign that algae have taken over a nearly dead reef, so you never know. [/TMI]

I see the "I snorkeled the reef at X but much of it was brown and dead" comments a lot. I only bring this up because some people(not meaning anyone in particular) may step on brown coral incorrectly thinking it's dead and no harm done.

Monkey LaLa http://www.caribbeantravelmag.com/articles/monkey-la-la-cocktail

I think your number 3 is the "3" in the "13" I show here:

For all those people who think I am so dumb for not knowing the rules to this, I have a 6a riviera deck ov. This is the lowest category for the ov cabins so why cant they honor the price differance. I cant get any lower category so why not give me the credit. As for punishing my self trust me I will still have a good time aboard the ship I will bring my own soda and 2 bottles of wine so I will not have to spend a dime til I get to the ports where I will spend and spend alot. Whats fair is fair if I had waited and booked pack and go at worst I would have gotten the same category on the same level. Its the principal of the whole matter.

I am not calling you dumb, but your original booking allowed you to pick your specific cabin within the 6A category, the rate you are trying to match with does not allow you to pick your exact cabin location.

The difference is slight, but it is indeed a difference that Carnival spells out in the ES rules in advance. As you've said, fair is fair.

I thought we where on a cruise website, where you just cruise and stay a Day at a Port. :) But I found an AI for the Day at the Sandos Playacar. It's a bit pricey but the Place looks great.

We are, but I've found some great places to stay for a land vacation by first visiting as a cruise stop. PDC for example (Calica stop)

Another vote for Royal. It's in town, has a great beach, and is a nice resort.

Do you have to make in advance reservations or do you just show up?

I don't think the folks on this thread are discussing day passes, just good AI's for land based vacations.

Does anybody have any good tips on where I can hide a travel iron in my luggage for the cruise??? We've always traveled with an iron in our luggage and have never in the past had any problems with taking the iron onboard. Our last cruise, they took away the iron and left it at the port for us to pick up on our way out/home. Can I wrap it good in something? pack it in the middle of some stuff good enough to hide it?!?!

If your upcoming cruise is on Royal Carib, why ask this question in the Carnival forum? For the ultimate hiding place I suggest you stuff it in a body cavity.

Tip: If you really want to visit Roatan, book a smaller ship. The current Dream Captain will skip that port if the wind is up at all while smaller ships pass by on their way to the dock. You've been warned.

Deck - 9

Cabin # - 1243

Class – Concierge C2

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Bath

Quiet Cabin – Mostly quiet, but the cabin door is near the elevator (a big plus) . There are no automatic sliding doors to isolate that area like there were on other decks. Balcony View - Last balcony on the angle before the hump, next to a large suite. Great views. Small life boat below.

Balcony Size? Huge for this category. Sun near the rail when you needed, shade closer to door if you don't.

Was wind a problem? No

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? n/a

Any specific problems with this cabin? None

Any other comments? Entering cabin door, the bathroom is on the right. Bed is close to bathroom, couch is next to balcony, no pullman. Cabin location was perfect for us.

The latest update to the spreadsheet is attached. Please email or post if you discover errors.

Thanks to those posters who have included the SHIP NAME along with cabin information.

1243 is (now) a C2 cabin, not a C1 as noted in two places. Great job!

Ship: Solstice

Deck - 10

Cabin # - 1009

Class – C3

Starboard or Port Side - Port

Bed near?(balcony or bath) – Bath

Quiet Cabin (With comments on problems. Note if connecting. ) – Very quiet, very little hallway traffic

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – If you stand at the rail, you can look into the port bridge wing and vice-versa. The bridge wing only slightly obstructs the view forward

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Normal

Was wind a problem? No problem at all

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? No

Any other comments? Verandah equipped with recliner chairs, footstools, and full sized table suitable for meals. Had full privacy when seated, you can be seen when near the rail. Cabin has trundle bed under couch to accomodate a 3rd passenger.

Hi. I have eaten gluten free on celebrity on numerous occassions. some of it has been great, some not so great. The waiter came by each night for me to pre-order, which was nice. I would not always get what I ordered and some was tasteless and inedible, some was scrumptious and wonderful. One cruise the waiter always surprised me with a dessert, one cruise the waiter never asked me about dessert and I would rarely get one. Often I was served 20-30 minutes after everyone else ( I always told people not to wait). I always asked for bread toasted, as it often came out cold and icee. I know this sounds bad, but I have also had some wonderful dishes, found the lamb to be great and I usually dont like lamb. Also, you often need to specifiy if you want a starch, (ie rice, potatoes) as the descriptions from the menu may include it but they do not when they make it.

 

Alot of it depended on the particular waiter. I have come to believe that next time I eat in MDR I will order 2 entrees (not because of hunger, but because I want to make sure there is something I like that I can eat despite asking for it). The waiter said that gf food is made with the specialty diets (ie. low sodium) and are done individually. I often found the beef overcooked. On the buffet when I had questions they would often get someone to help guide my choices. I have not asked for gf bread on the buffet but have read there is some for sandwhiches etc.

 

At the formal tea, there was little for me to eat. But the tea was good. I did not starve by any streach of the imagination, but at times was not satisfied. Next cruise I am going to try Blu to see if that is better. I was able to get a bunless burger, hot dog, tacos, nachos, grilled chicken at the grill which was nice. Hope this helps. It takes some people (like me) to figure this thing out ( the gf diet) but it is coming along. Good luck. It really was not as bad as it sounds, except for having all the other diners at the table served 20 to 30 minutes before me, that was awkward. It happened more often than not on a couple of my cruises (but have not cruise for over 1 year, shucks)

If you tried both options, have you noticed a service difference between fixed dining and select dining? Mrs. S2M is on a gluten free diet and we have chosen the fixed-time dining in the hopes that it will minimize service issues. Thanks.

Can't passengers use the stairs?

If you're mobility impaired, probably not.

Am I losing my mind here ? Deck 8, two decks down from the lido.

You will see the door then two windows with lights on, that is the 9A, now to me that is a divider cutting across the balcony, though I will say, it is 3.20am here, so I could just be going crazy :rolleyes:

I see what you refer to, but it is not what you think. Go to your 2nd photo. Look at the last (farthest aft) Stbd side Deck 6&7 balconies, the last ones before you get to the 9A's. You can clearly see the divider placement there. The Deck 8 divider above it is hanging open, but is still in the same relative position. This makes the 9a on deck 8 stbd side still a wrap, the port side can be assumed to be symmetrical (but who knows), so the port cabin shrinkage may just be an illusion due to the angles, like holding a fish at arms length to make it look bigger. ;)