mpcaruth

So we typically cruise Carnival and Royal. Our first NCL on the Jewel was ok, but not nearly one of our better cruises. We have decided to try NCL again and have our second NCL cruise booked on the Getaway this winter. We booked a balcony for the first time. We never get room service, because without a balcony, why would you want to eat in your cabin? So with this cruise, I thought, "Yay! We will use room service and enjoy a snack on the balcony". Then NCL announced a fee for room service, and I thought, "Oh well, the walk to the buffet to get food to bring back to cabin will do me good". And today, NCL announces no food can leave buffet area. What??? This reminds me of the Soup **** episode on Seinfeld, only cruise **** style. Too many rules and you have to do it their way. Where is the Freestyle in this?

Thank you for responding. After I posted the question, I did go back and read all 12 pages of the thread and saw where you had answered that question. I should have done that first! But I was so excited to see your description of 4Js...there is very little written about them. I do wonder whether the port side is different though because the deck plan shows an empty spot where there COULD be a door. That really would make it feel like your own balcony if you didn't have to go through the lobby to get to it. Maybe someone who is sailing soon can check on that☺.

 

And I also should have started my post with a huge THANK YOU for this review. It is absolutely awesome. It really gives an objective view of the ship and answered so many of my questions (like whether you could get a deck chair out on the walkway.) You have a beautiful family.

Thanks! Glad I could help. I agree, if there is a door on the port side, that would be wonderful. Also, keep in mind the port side deck is a smoking area. You may or may not want that.

Mpcaruth, can you tell me how you access the walkway outside? Do you have to go through the lobby or is there a door forward of the cabins? I am most interested in the port side and I know you stayed on the starboard side but was hoping you knew. Thanks so much! Looking at booking these cabins for a group.

See post #197 where I draw in red the path from our cabin to the deck area outside of our cabin where I put the deck chairs. It is a mirror image for the port side. The deck plan also shows a hallway all the way forward on the port side, but I don't know if it leads to an outside deck access or not. I suspect no, and that it leads to a crew area, but could be wrong.

Thank you so much for your review. We love visiting Majahual (old spelling). Our first trip was before the Cat 5 hurricane in 2007. Back then, the Malecon (or boardwalk) was dirt. After they rebuilt the little village, they put in a concrete Malecon. That is the path you referred to. Csota Maya is one of our favorite ports as you said -- relaxing day of beach, food, and drinks and inexpensive transportation. :D

You're welcome. The Malecon is a very nice amenity and makes the area more unique and inviting than other beach ports.

Do you mind my asking what you booked and what you got? I've never gone the GTY route, and I'm starting to second guess giving up our BA mid-ship balcony for an MB mid-ship mini suite GTY. Paid a little more, but hoping to get lucky.

Sure: We booked a Balcony BX and received a category BD on deck 10 forward. Our cabin is on the port side (can view the fireworks show from balcony) and we have cabins below and above our cabin. We have cruise many times in forward cabins and they are fine by us.

Great review so far. Looking forward to the rest!

I don't have one personally, but I have seen numerous posts on Cruise Critic about the Kyss bags. They can be locked closed and anchored to a beach chair, umbrella pole, cabana railing or other stationary object.

Had you paid in full before your assignment?

No, final payment is not due until October. We just got an unbelievable good deal, and don't see me changing my booking to lose the deal.

We booked our Getaway cruise for January 2016 at 11 months out. We got our cabin assignment at 10 months out. The cabin location is fine with us and we have no intention of rebooking. The cabin price has gone up $450 for an unassigned cabin since we booked.

I had to check out the site and I tell you I laughed so hard at the reviews that not only were tears streaming down my face, but I started coughing from laughing so hard. I wouldn't have the nerve to buy it or the need, but thanks for posting it.:)

Glad you got a great laugh. My 14 year old son was given this as a gift. He sprayed his cousin... needless to say, the bottle has been hidden.

Do you bring a small fan with you or do you request one from the cabin steward?

Yes, we always pack our own small fan, even for hotel rooms.

Even though those 4j cabins came up when I searched online for 2 people, when I called, she said it was restricted to 4 so I'll stick to the one I have.

Don't give up. I noticed they were restricted to 4 in a cabin until about 2 months prior to sailing. Then they opened up for double occupancy.

Thanks for the wealth of information. I will be sailing on the Sunshine in 11 short (but too long) days.

I am jealous. Have a great trip!!!!

Really enjoyed your review, and your pics. Were debating cruising the Sunshine next year,so I appreciate you sharing your time with us. Btw what type of waterproof camera do you have, ours is for the birds. So I am looking to get a new one. Yours takes great pics.

Thanks!

I use an Aquapac waterproof camera bag over my super-zoom point and shoot camera. I inserted a link to a YouTube video of the waterproof bag in a previous post. I have been using an Aquapac successfully for over 6 years. For $50 or less, you can turn any camera into an underwater camera. My point and shoot camera has a built in setting for underwater. The manufacturer sells a underwater hard case for $250. The Aquapac can be a little awkward to use at times, but it works and is much cheaper.

Did the cabin forward of you also look out under a small tender boat? There is a cruise in February that is allowing ,2 people in those cabins, but 3127 is taken. We were going in March in a 4j walkway view on deck 6 but it us a very small cabin. I'm seriously considering switching to get the larger cabin since it will be an 8 day cruise. I am a little concerned about the noise though. Thank you for your excellent review.

Yes, there were at least two (if not 3) additional cabins forward of ours that had windows looking out onto the deck/tenders. If you are really concerned about the noise and absolutely cannot handle any, then you may not want this cabin. It was not real loud, and it was brief and sporadic. I thought the cabin price, location, convenience, and refrigerator trumped the slight noise issue. And maybe, the cabin just forward or behind does not have the rolling noise overhead.

Thanks for your great review! I am considering the Sunshine for March 2016 for my family (we have 2 sons ages 6 and 9). Do you think the Sunshine would be a good pick? I can also get the Independence of the Seas for approximately the same price. Would love your input as we have only ever cruised once before and that was with Disney Cruise Line. Also, did you get any noise from the lobby bar in this room 3127?

Both the Sunshine and the Independence of the Seas would be good choices for those ages. The Independence is a Freedom Class ship and offers a Flowrider, rock climbing wall, smaller water "park", and ice skating rink. Honestly, if the prices were comparable and the same itineraries, I would sail the Independence of the Seas. However, the Independence of the Seas was in the running for us, but it was only a 6 day cruise, the cabins would have been much smaller and we would have had to go with 2 interiors, which would have made the Independence more expensive with one less day of cruising.

Also, if a Disney cruise is your baseline, you may come in with too high of expectations for the Sunshine. Think of Disneyland compared to Kings Dominion/Six Flags. One costs $100 per day while the other is $60. I love both, but I expect more from Disneyland. The Sunshine is Six Flags, while the Independence is inbetween Six Flags and Disneyland (but much closer to Six Flags).

There was absolutely no lobby noise heard in our cabin.

Whichever has the best itinerary and best price. They are all great ships!

By the way, Carnival DOES NOT automatically sit your family of 4 with others. We have sailed 7 times with Carnival as a family of 4 and have NEVER sat with others at our table, except at lunch once. Carnival offers the option of Anytime dining (as opposed to assigned dining times and tables), which is basically the same as Freestyle dining in the main dining rooms.

And if Thanksgiving week falls on one of the Breeze's 8-day itineraries, that may be a plus over the 7-day cruises.

Our next cruise was going to be the Breeze, but we switched to the Getaway for a great 4-port itinerary and super low price (3rd thru 8th guests sail free). In our case, the Getaway cruise is cheaper than the Breeze. I am really looking forward to our Getaway cruise!

Carnival's Dream, Magic and Breeze ships have Deluxe Ocean View Cabins. These are great for a family of 5 on a budget, especially when cruising during the off season.

"Two twin beds (convert to king), two upper pullmans and single sofa bed. Privacy curtain. Sofa and coffee table. Desk and seat. Full bathroom with shower plus separate washroom with sink and junior tub. 3 closets. Picture window." The cabins are a large 220 s.f.

I did a quick search and here are photos of a Deluxe OV cabin: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2196233

I also know a few of the NCL ships have Lage OV cabins that sleep 5. If you can get the Kids Sail Free (3-8 guests sail free), that would be very economical.

In my experience, all the other cruise lines have been much more expensive for a family. We are a family of 4 and I book a cruise based on itinerary and price. I am all about getting the biggest bang for my buck.

You are awarded AFTER the cruise. Even if you only need one point for the next level, you are awarded after the cruise.

Thanks. Every cruise line program is different. We moved up during the cruise on Carnival.

Are you awarded points the first day of the cruise or are the points added following the cruise? For example, we have 14 points now, and have a 7-day cruise booked. When we board the ship for the 7-day cruise, will we be bronze (14 points) or silver (21 points)?

Thanks!

MISCELLANEOUS:

 

 

Casino:

I used my free OBC credit to upload money to the slot machine. I always have a limit and allow myself $30 for the slots for the week (yep, that's why I have never got a free cruise offer from the casino). Every time I walked through the casino (which is along the main path on Deck 5) I would say that I wanted to play that Michael Jackson machine. Well, on the last sea day, the machine was empty. I uploaded $10 and hit a $0.50 bet. I immediately won $47, and put my earnings back on my Sail & Sign card. Yippee! That would offset the $50 I wasted on FTTF! Except one problem... I forgot to cash out my money that night. I had always wondered what would happen if you forgot, well, I found out. I went the final morning to Guest Services to ask, and they said I would get a check in the mail in about 6 weeks. It has been 4 weeks and I have not seen it yet. But when I get it, I will put the money in my kitty for our next cruise.

 

 

 

Remember I had said that I forgot to cash out my casino winnings from my Sign & Sail account on the last night... Well, I got it in the mail today, 11 weeks later. Lesson learned.

This is just frugal me, but there is no way I could justify paying $7500 just for the cruise (you will then have to add travel, excursions, and spending money). You could take at least two cruises for that price.

If the kids were older, I would consider an interior cabin across the hall for the kids and an OV or BL for the parents. But since they are young, you will definitely want the cabin connecting. Are there OV categories with connecting cabins? If so, then that is what I would recommend.

We have kids and have sailed the Victory and Royal's Grandeur of the Seas (same class of ship as Enchantment). I definitely recommend the Victory over the Enchantment of the Seas. We were actually bored a few times on the Grandeur; it was a lovely ship, but just not a whole lot going on.

We've been to NYC numerous times and I think a few must see/must do's are:

-Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island

-Broadway show (you can get discount tickets the day of the show at the Red Booth in Times Square TKTS)

-Sunset Harbor Cruise (We LOVED this, cruise by the Statue of Liberty and then under the Brooklyn Bridge with amazing sunset view of the city)

-Today show at Rockefeller Plaza (free concerts Friday mornings from late spring through early fall)

-Macy's (my daughter loves getting free makeup facials here)

-Experience Grand Central Terminal

-St. Patricks Cathedral (the most beautiful building I have ever been in - no I have not been to Europe yet)

-A night time stroll through Times Square (just to say you did it)

We have been to Bermuda and LOVED it!!! We were on RCI's Explorer of the Seas, and not a NCL ship though. EVERYONE NEEDS TO EXPERIENCE BERMUDA AT LEAST ONCE!

We docked 3 days on the island and packed so much stuff into our stay:

Horseshoe Bay, Warwick Bay, Church Bay, Hamilton, St. George, Nighttime shipwreck/cocktail cruise, Sea Glass Beach, and snorkeling at Tobacco Bay.

I wrote a picture review of the cruise which includes details of our days in Bermuda beginning at post 17: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1728780