QLUVS2CRUZ

We've done a few guaranty bookings, and it varies. One cruise we didn't get the assignment until we showed up at the port...good news is we were upgraded! I know that doesn't help...but just keep checking online.

All of GC beaches are public...you don't need a "pass" to go to any beach. All have lounger/umbrella rentals...restrooms, food/drink are near by.

Some people look for different things at ports,including a hotel day pass. It's not everyone's choice, but these boards are for information. Yes, we know you can find a free beach, but that wasn't the point of this post.

Unfortunately I've read several of your replies to posts, and they don't add much.

Thanks to the original poster...I had been searching for this option in Grand Cayman, and now I know the Marriott is out. I appreciate the information.

I've been on both lines and like both. There are pros and cons to each, and I really think it depends on the ship. I've been on a couple of the small Carnival ships...they weren't my favorite. I loved Freedom and Valor. I also liked Pride. In my opinion, I think the staterooms and food are better on Carnival. But if you do your research on the ships and itineraries, you will have a great time on either.

If you want a cabana close to all the action, pick 1-5. There is some talk of people randomly trying to use the shower at times being so close to a lot of people. I don't know if this is true or not. 6-10 are in the middle...far enough from a lot of people, but close enough to get back to the food and activities easy enough. I have heard the new villas sit closer to the water than the cabanas, so your view is slightly blocked if you are near one. Then 11-15 are the farthest away. I think we had number 9, and it was perfect. This was in August, before the villas were built. If you really want a particular one, be sure to go to the excursion desk right when you get onboard.

LOL...I just looked it up and its formerly known as many things including the Westin and the Radisson!

Hmmm...I've always known it to be the old Radisson, not the Westin. Pass used to be $10 but may have gone up to $15. It is right by the Lucaya market, and there are some food options there.

Definitely would not pay for that...and it does look like they block the views for some of the other cabanas. I have rented the regular cabana and probably will again.

We want a quiet place, so the Hilton is the better option for us. You have to do what you want and consider a good vacation spot.

I remembered the credit card part! Wasn't sure which hotel I looked at with the swim up bar...might be the one in Freeport.

Thank you for the menu and pics! We will be there in two weeks.

Can you walk to the Hilton? The food voucher can be used for alcohol? Saw where the Shearaton went up to 30 dollars and then the taxi ride the Hilton's looking better.

 

Thanks Carrie

Yes, you can walk, and the food voucher can be used for food and drinks, so you should be able to get a meal, drink, and maybe something extra. Also I understand there is a swim up pool bar. If you run out of voucher funds, I think the bar only takes credit cards, but I might be confused with another place. I've been researching a lot of places lately. :D

I've heard some good ones and really bad ones on CCL...thankfully haven't had a repeat, but even when they are on board they repeat their shows within just a few days, which is disappointing, since the comedy show is a huge draw.

Thanks for the info. We picked the Hilton, and from your description, I'm glad we did.

Apparently the Carnival travel protection price has gone down...got a call to add it for our upcoming cruise and it was much less than when we initially booked a year ago. Supposedly they "reworked the policies" and now offer them at lower rates. We actually purchased insurance from someone else (which Carnival wouldn't have record of), so we didn't need it, but it definitely was a much better price than has been offered to us before. Maybe they just didn't have enough takers and had to make some changes.

Great review! I might have to go on the Legend now:D Thanks for all the details and pictures. It is great you are so positive, even about the changes. I don't think I've ever seen as many complainers as I do now on Cruise Critic, about the very things you mentioned.

Hope you get that Platinum cruise in soon!

I found the shampoo to be fine. Would I use it everyday at home? No. But for a week it was perfectly OK.

There are so many different types of hair that no one can tell you what will happen to your hair if you use it, just because it had a certain effect on their hair, so it really depends. For my hair, conditioner is more important, so I'm good with the shampoo provided.

Thankfully there are many sizes of ships! I like the Spirit class and don't find it crowded at all. I recommend trying one of those. I've been on the Freedom and the Valor (Conquest class), and while I didn't necessarily find them overly crowded, I like the space and number of people on the Spirit class better.

I've never had extra charges, but on my last cruise, while traveling with a friend, we had gotten a $40pp price drop from booking early saver. On the day we got the S&S bill, the full $80 had been applied to my account, and my friend was stuck with all her charges. I had to go to guest services and ask them to change it. Not a huge deal, but I would rather have not had to stand in line with everyone else to get it changed.

If driving to port, I have a really thin towel with a pocket on the side I take with me for excursions. It fits much better into my small beach bag. If flying, I just use the ship towels, so I don't take up the space in my bag with towels.

For my upcoming cruise, I've packed a rolling carry on bag and that's it...don't need a bunch of the other stuff...it's only a week or less. (This is JUST ME, I'm not saying it's wrong to take everything including the kitchen sink.)

I am actually booked in a PH cabin for my upcoming cruise, but I'm not sure if it is the size of an inside or an OV. An inside is usually a bit smaller than an OV, but for some reason I'm thinking that the location of the PH cabins sometimes makes them an odd size. I'm sure someone on here will be able to say for sure. I was just happy to find an inside price for a cabin with some windows!

Ditto - under the bed, and maybe one in the closet that holds dirty clothes.

Straw market is filled with junk from china.. not a place to buy anything authentic.

If you want authentic basketware, try the Plait Lady..

We also have androsian batik - ready to wear shirts, shorts and dress, or by the yard.

Lots of Jams, jellies, sauces and hot sauce.

Steel drums

Nassau Royal Rum as well as some flavored rums made in Nassau.

Bacardi Rum Cake ( tortuga rum cake is here as well, but not made in the bahamas)

Ceramics and tiles, pottery etc.

Coins (coins of the realm)

Soaps and natural oils

Authentic jewelry (pearl, conch, shell, stones, beach glass etc.).

Artwork and Photographs

 

Bay Street is the spot to shop..just one block from the port exit.

There are also a few vendors in Festival place with authentic goods.

 

On Saturdays and sundays, Baystreet is filled with local sidewalk vendors selling authentic goods. Check them out.

What are general directions to get to Bay Street? Is it the same direction as the Straw Market? I've been to Nassau once, but it was a while back...

On the Fasination alot of the younger kids were asleep by midnight, including my child, at the late night sitting party. It's really late for small kids. We won't do use it again, although we really love Camp Carnival.

I agree...my kids would be asleep long before 3am...we didn't do any of the parties but we did use the after 10pm service one night and were only charged for part of the hour, since we weren't there the whole time. I'm OK with adding a 15% tip to this service since it's about a dollar (for one hour) but adding it to the party fee automatically is a little questionable to me.

We have not missed, but on our cruise from San Juan, we went the day before and took the last flight of the day (not sure that is the greatest option either:rolleyes:) and there were mechanical issues...we were supposed to connect in Philadelphia then fly down to San Juan...we ended up getting to Philly, spending the night, then on the first flight the next day to San Juan. It ended up working out, but even going the day before and that happening, I was sweating it a bit. That being said, if you are on the first flight out in the morning and it's non-stop, I think you have a better chance of making it OK...I actually resorted to begging the gate agent, because there was a problem with how our reservation got switched while we were trying to get to Philly, and I told him we were going on a cruise and we HAD to get to Philly...they ended up telling us to just get on the plane...no boarding passes or anything! We got on and didn't ask questions. Next cruise...we're driving to the port:D

That sounds like a very good idea. I didn't know I could do that. We are flying American. So..can you please explain what we do specifically? You said we call 12 hours prior to see if we can get on standby of a particular flight we're interested in. Then I assume we get to the airport in the appropriate amount of time for that flight. What happens next at the check in counter and where would we be instructed to go...do we wait at that gate and see what happens and find out last minute? Where is the boarding pass issued..right at the gate? But then if we don't get on that flight..where do we go to get the boarding pass of our original flight..do we need to go all the way back to the check in counter? I'm just trying to find out how it all pans out ..step by step. Thanks

Go to the AA site and see what they say...a lot of airlines charge these days for standby...here is a brief explanation from the AA site, but there is more detailed info if you want to go and read it...

You can get a confirmed seat for same-day flight changes for domestic travel† on all fares for a $50 charge*. Passengers can call Reservations or handle the transaction at the airport ticket counter or Self-Service Check-In machines. The alternate flights must be for your same itinerary and your flight change can only be confirmed within 12 hours of departure of the desired flight. This option is subject to availability of eligible seats. Also, American continues to offer the same-day option of standing by for an earlier or later domestic flight for select customers at no charge. †Available for flights in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Canada and the Caribbean on American Airlines, American Eagle® and AmericanConnection®.