mel-b

14 hours ago, dandee2 said:

Us too, the Private Island dinner was on the second night. Just in case, we planned our Motu lunch on the first day so not to interfere if WS had a change of plan. We were covered both ways. We had lunch at Bloody Marys on the second day (had to try this place). We had fun, did not spend big $$$ (had burger and a few drinks). We enjoyed it. I would put pictures up but it would spoils all the fun.

have a great time.

Dandee, did you take a taxi to Bloody Mary's or rent a vehicle? I've thought about, for the second day in BB, making our way to Matira Beach for a bit and stopping at Bloody Mary's on the way to or back. Just wasn't sure if it was worth it and if we should just hang on the private island until the Windstar dinner..

On 9/16/2019 at 8:30 PM, Petoonya said:

We did the 17 day in December and had TWO of the two day stays in Bora Bora so there were two dinners. Both took place on the second night. They will bring you to the motu early like 4:30-5pm dinner starts about 5:45-6pm and the show about 7:00pm. The show is over about 8:30pm and back to the ship for a 9pm departure. Be sure to have your camera for the dock at the motu. The photo shot of the ship with all it's lights against the night sky is unforgettable.

Great advice about having our camera for the dock at the motu. I can't wait! Thanks, Petoonya! And thanks for recommending Tohora, at least I believe it was a post you made somewhere on this board recommending them. I just booked their afternoon whale watching/swim for the first afternoon. 

On 9/16/2019 at 8:05 AM, Howellmc said:

We did this last July. The dinner is the second night. We had a nice full day in Bora Bora and the next day we spent over on the island where they have the dinner while they set up for the evening. We went back to the boat to change in the afternoon and returned for the dinner and show. 

This sounds exactly right up our alley and the direction I'm leaning.. though I'd love for the private motu dinner to be held on the first night (my hubby's 50th birthday), I like the idea of a full day in Bora Bora on the first day and a relaxing day on the island on the second day. 

Hi all, my DH and I will be on the Wind Spirit for the Sept. 26th sailing. We are super excited to experience not only FP for the first time, but Windstar as well. I want to obtain solid confirmation of which night in Bora Bora the private island dinner will occur. My TA asked Windstar and they said it would be the first night. However, from what I could gather on here and various reviews, previous cruisers have said it was on the second night. I'd like to lock this info down as I'm trying to arrange plans for the first day in Bora Bora (which happens to be my DH's actual 50th birthday). I'm looking into a sunset cruise and don't want to miss the private island dinner. Thanks!

We've been to Curacao once on a past cruise and enjoyed our day at Mambo beach. Has all you're looking for. We return in July and plan to go back to that beach after exploring a bit more of the island.

Great review! Helping me get exited for the AoS July 8th!

Hi Carmel,

Forgive my confusion.. we're booked on the July 8th Adventure of the Seas as well, and the itinerary does not have St. Lucia nor Martinique. The itinerary is Bonaire, Curacao, Aruba, and St. Martin

Our first time to Curacao was last spring with our then 7 year old son. We took a taxi to the Sea Aquarium immediately after disembarking the ship. Taxi ride was super easy to aquire right after walking off and though I don't recall exact cost, it was reasonable. The driver was super friendly and she gave us her info to call and arrange to be picked up later in the day.

The aquarium was worth it. It was a nice way to spend a couple of hours. It's not a super large place, but it's interactive and a good kid activity.

It was easy to walk from the aquarium down to Mambo Beach, which is where we spent the rest of our day. The facilities were nice to change into our suits. There's an ice cream shop and in fact, several restaurants and shops and a bar. Nice chairs to rent, and there's an inflatable obstacle course which my DH and DS paid to play on for an hour. Nice beach, kid friendly. Was a great day.

We'll be back in July and it's hard not to go back to that area! But, I think we'll attempt a private tour to see more of the island.

If all else fails, get drunk and welcome sweet oblivion as you pass out...hopefully in your own bed and not on the casino floor.

Best advice!! Haha Hairy chest competition is driving me to drink...

The apps for android and iphone both work great. I use the ipod version at home on a docking station so no earplugs needed as they are painful for me to sleep in. They now sell those little speakers that can attach just like earplugs to your phone and put it next to your pillow. I've done that too with my android phone.

 

Now adays I carry a small sound spa machine that works on batteries of electric. It's the first thing in my suitcase for cruising.

 

OP I know these suggestions may not work now, but I hope you get things sorted out.

These are good suggestions for devices. I think I should get serious in bringing things like these, especially as I get older, and my husband snores more and more! LOL

Thanks for your response. I'm sure even if we self sooth, it'll work out fine

I don't have anything to add. I just hope everything works out for you and that you enjoy your cruise.

Thank you! You're so kind. It would take so much to ruin a vacation for us. Haven't once had a bad time on any trip because, well, it's vacation! I'll sleep when I'm home I suppose! LOL

If you have a phone, tablet or ipod you can download white noise loop and even a box fan loop - my favorite is a thunderstorm. (I use amazon music but I am sure itunes has ambient music) Get a pair of earphones and you will be good to go. Hubby can be a LOUD snorer and this works for me :)

The box fan loop sounds great. That's what I use at home (actual box fan). We're definitely going the earphone route if we don't find plugs. Thank you!

I've not been in that situation. What I do find though that if I hear noises, they bother me much more when I don't know the source, relax more when I do know. Try living near Disney where fireworks nightly are a given:eek: Being you know there will be noise, try to psyche yourself up to know it will continue and try to accept it instead of fretting over it, you might relax a bit. I don't blame you for not wanting to move, I'm a cove lover too. Wouldn't it be wonderful if there happened to be another cove available?

Cove lovers unite! Ok, fireworks would get to me. But Disney makes it forgivable?!

Thanks, Ruthless. We'll talk with customer service after we're finished with the hairy chest competition!! LOL

Go to guest services and see what they can do. Your not the only one to have had this cabin. Also buy a pair of ear plugs if you cannot move.

Thank you, Grandad. I appreciate your advice.

We were just on the Breeze in a cove balcony and were very careful not to be under the galley etc. There were 2 nights where the noise was like someone was dragging furniture above us and it went on the entire night. Nothing the other nights. The only suggestion I have that's different form others is to turn on the TV on low. There are channels that just have music. That might drown out some of the noise.

Thank you. Yeah, the cove on the Magic was a fine experience. I can't recall which cabin we had. Honestly, when I booked the Breeze last minute, there were only a few cove balconies left. No aft balconies of course. A few spa balconies. So I went with it. If the best solution is ear plugs/white noise, I will be more than happy to do that. I will file away for the future to book early enough to have the proper cove location or forgo a cove for another deck. Thanks again

So far you have one helpful post and one that was not at all helpful. Okgirl has some really good ideas. I would suggest ear plugs, download a sound machine app on your phone and ask for a fan. Leaving the balcony door open lets the cold out and might affect your neighbors air as well so I would not suggest that. Good luck. One year Carnival upgraded us to under the Lido. OMG it was horrible. The best sleep we had was one night we went up and slept by the pool. Seriously, the sound machine app should help.

Thank you, cruising maniac. I totally agree, especially about the balcony door. As optimal as that sounds, it really isn't. Not just for our room, but for the others. Now, the pool deck and a hammock I could get behind! LOL

I'll check out the sound machine app. Good idea

First off whether you knew or not is not the issue here, finding a solution to this problem is. I recommend going to guest services and speaking to them and by all means throw out suggestions like " do you have a fan so we can try the white noise" or do you have earplugs? Kindly give them the opportunity to fix the issue. WORK WITH them. They can't do a thing until you go down and speak with them.

THANK YOU! I'm right there with you on this. I think once I get my coffee down and a shower, this is what we'll do. I'm fully prepared for whatever comes our way. At the end of the day, I refuse to have this be a damper on our vacation. We generally roll with the punches!

I would suggest earplugs, I never travel without them. You might open your balcony door just a bit to hear the waves. There is a music channel on the TV, keep that on all night. And, you might see if there is still a fan available.

Thank you so much for your reply. I think we'll give the earplugs a try. I don't mind asking if the Breeze has a fan. I like the idea of soft music too. Thanks again

Looking at deck plans, 2441 is directly below the galley. From what I've read here, cove balconies below the galley are not the cabins to book if you mind noise. It sounds like you knew this as well, but took a risk. You knew ahead of time the galley was a problem and still booked it. Why is that something Carnival should compensate? There's a reason cabins in this area are cheaper than other similar cabins on the ship.

 

 

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And it's people like you who are the reason I prefaced my post the way I did. There's a difference by the way between compensation and solutions. You will notice I never mentioned compensation. I'm fully willing to pay difference in fair to change rooms should that be the best solution. I'm open to that NOT being the best solution. For what it's worth, I booked a cove because I love being close to the waterline. Not because I'm looking to save a few dollars.

Y'all, forgive any typos as I'm writing this at the Hub still half asleep. We have loved Carnival, and are excited to currently be on the Breeze 8 day southern itinerary. We are in cove balcony 2441. We have had a cove before on the Magic and had a wonderful experience (we usually book aft balconies or deck 9). I did know when I booked the Breeze just a short couple of months ago, the risk is always being under the galley in such a place that is not conducive with getting good sleep. 2441 was the best choice I could make for a cove, so I went with it.

Needless to say, my fear of loud noises (banging, scrapes across the floor etc) happening all night from above came true. Not to exaggerate, I believe there was a break in sounds of about 1-2 hours max (around 3am). The thought of this happening every night on my vacation is a bit daunting.

So, short of saying "suck it up buttercup," (which I am prepared to do IF there isn't a solution, I AM a realist and rarely a "complainist") I am looking for people who have been in this similar situation. What did you do? What is Carnival's policy on this? We do NOT want to change rooms (not even sure this can happen, although I find it hard to believe every cabin on this ship is taken). Ear plugs might help. I really really wish I had a box fan to create white noise (perhaps the Breeze has access to one?) The last thing I'd want to do is switch rooms. But honestly, if we were at a land based resort, and this was happening, I would want solutions. We all pay good money to have a relaxing vacation...

Before we talk with someone on the Breeze, I thought I'd put this out on the net. I'm not looking to be berated for my original choice of cabins, so please don't. I'm looking for people who have been in the same boat (pun intended) before. Thank you so much

Thanks for the review!

 

I have just booked POA for our 10 year Anno in October!

 

We will have 2 little munchkins trying to ruin it but all good! Can't wait.

 

I saw that the ship has just had a bit of a refurb too.

 

Happy anniversary! I can only imagine your kiddos will have a blast. That's one thing I didn't check out - the kids activities and areas. But I'd imagine just like with any other cruise, you'd have the option to include them or have them hang with their peers while you get adult time. Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks for your great review mel-b! This was a major factor in convincing my wife and I to book this particular cruise for our 20th wedding anniversary in April 2018.

Well awesome! That's good to know, and I truly hope y'all enjoy this trip for your 20th. Looks like the POA is coming off a refurb too (if she hasn't already?) I look forward to reading more reviews on the POA, and would love to sail her again in my lifetime.

I was so excited to find your review, I'm just a little way through it, but enjoying it so much. Taking notes for our trip. Thank you for sharing, I know that is time consuming.

Thank you for reading! It's nice to know this review is still helpful. Let me know if you have any questions!

This is a good question, and I think you'll find a lot of info on this forum regarding cove balconies. We generally book aft balconies, but tried a cove on the Magic. We loved it. We enjoyed being close to the water line and able to see wildlife (dolphins, flying fish, etc). The balcony also feels more private and enclosed. We liked the 2nd floor location and it was easy to maneuver around the ship. I will say, good advice is to try to get a location that is not directly under the galley. There has been talk of occasional noises and bumps as the kitchen is open nearly 24/7 if I'm not mistaken.

We will be on the Breeze March 12th and have booked a cove balcony. Can't wait!

Going on the Breeze March 12th! What is this American Table I keep reading about? Is it just on the Breeze, or fleet-wide? What are the pros and cons? We really enjoy our evening dinners in the MDR. Thanks!