crustycrab

My husband and I have taken grandchildren aged 5 to 14 on Disney cruises and RCL Harmony of the seas more than once. There  is much more to do on Harmony of the Seas. Younger kids seem to like greeting characters on Disney. But Harmony has many more activities and less crowded because it is a huge ship.Supervision and security was good on both. I recently booked Harmony instead of Disney again for 2019 with a 7 and 9 year old. Food requests were easy on both. 

We are looking into sailing on valor in April. Could you please tell me which side of ship to book a room for best view of western caribbean ports. I know Belize is tendered. I understand right side is starboard and left side is port (looking toward front from back).thank you for your review.

We were at Blue Kay last week and it was gorgeous. Clear blue water, coconut palms, hammocks, loungers with or without shade,clean bathroom/changing room, good bar and restuarant, white sand on wide beach. Well worth the $3 cab ride for less than 10 mins.

Have not been to Paradise Island in 3 yrs but it was clean and great with plenty of hammocks and good food. Took speedboat, not twister. Manatee swim at Chankanaab is awesome. Did it last December. Water was cool but depends on weather. Swimming with the giant mother and her smaller calf was an experience. You can swim around with them if you dare, which I did. And you feed them. Quite an experience since they are so much larger and slower than dolphins.

British Colonial Hotel has a small cove beach which is about 4 blocks and visible from ship (depending on where tendered at pier). Day pass available at hotel desk for $60 adult which includes a lunch/Drink credit. Children cost much less. We found the walk easy and the beach clean.

Inside the cruise terminal is a smal gift shop selling notecards,art and calendars. The calendars are hand painted water colors and give the weather and recipes and island scenes as the year changes. I have collected them for years. They are made by a special family who call themselves the calendar family and live on Long Island, Bahamas. They are beautiful. I usually buy several for family members. If I miss a trip I order them from thecalendarfamily.com .

Just returned from 8 day Carnival Miracle in 4K cat.room 4197. Took it due to the great price. It has floor to ceiling double glass doors that open inward with a lifeboat hanging in front of them. I suppose if you normally book inside you would love being able to see daylight. But I hated the room for we always had balcony or large oceanview on our past 14 cruises. I am too claustraphobic for inside. Perhaps this info will help others choose. It is a good price value.