Bluemoon319

You get the status if it occurs while you are on the cruise, so you should get a gold card.

 

The hotels I've used, the shuttles didn't pick us up until around noon. We didn't have an option to go earlier or I would've, since I'm platinum.

 

I may have to try the pizza again. I'm just pretty particular about my pizza and there are so many options that I know I like that I tend to stick with them (like my turkey & swiss on roll for lunch; love them!).

 

Of course, it's not like I'd have to pay for pizza and then pay for something else if I don't like it, right? I just see so much waste on cruises that I hate to add to it by getting something and not eating it.

 

Next cruise, I'll have more options anyway. I am looking forward to having a Guy's Burger! :D

If you like thin crust pizza, you will probably like the new recipe, many people do. I am personally along with many others am very disappointed with it. They have also stopped the calzones. :(

So it looks like you have sailed already. What did you think about Almaplena? I'm interested in knowing. :)

I thought Almaplena was very nice & just as you described. It was a cloudy day with rain off/on. We ended up being the only ones from the ship to go there. A lot of people didn't even leave the ship that day due to the weather. I'm glad we did though. Service at Almaplena was rather laid back, but no complaints. I loved the privacy of the setting & the sandy bottom ocean. We were also able to find some rather cool beach-combing treasures including some decent size pieces of sponge. BTW, the sideways palm tree that was about 5 ft off the ground when you were there is now only 2-3 feet of the ground. Still very nice though. Now you can just walk up & sit on it.

We did hear of numerous linofish sitings closer to port so I am especially happy we changed our minds & went here. I'm no wimp,but not stupid either & have no problem with cutting down on risks of nasty encounters.

It did surprise me how desolate the road to Almaplena was. We only came upon one other vehicle on the way (we were also the only ship in port that day). Our cab pick-up was arranged as soon as we arrived. I had no issues with this place being further away. In fact, I think that added to the attraction of it for me. Certainly on one could equate this place with commercialism. in spite of the weather. I think we won the prize for the best excursion that day.

I'm very grateful that I had come upon your review when I did. Thanks again.

Whatever you decide, report back and let me know how it goes. I would love to hear.

Surprisingly with such short notice, there was availability at Almaplena. I am just waiting to hear back from them with their PayPal link. I spotted your review in Tripadvisor & sent you a note there. I really feel like we dodged a bullet at the last minute on this one. I've certainly had my share of excursions that weren't the greatest, & just chalk it up to guess we just won't do that again, but Costa Maya is our last port for this cruise. Otherwise I would feel differently. It would have been such a shame to end our port days with an anticlimax. Thanks again!

She is adorable, her cute round face....So cute....

We're not suppose to either, but since I have a desk job as a registrar I sometime sneak in between...LOL....

Your daughter is such a cutey, & OMG, I have those exact black shoes! I love them & wear them all the time. Like I said, you seem to think along the same vein as I do. LOL

(Oops. Sorry I quoted the wrong post. This was supposed to be in response to mitsugirly.)

Awww, thanks. She cleans up rather nicely when needed. :D

I know this isn't really the place to ask the following, but I am trying to catch up to a thread where I think you will return......

First, let me thank you for your very thorough & personal reviews.

I just finished reading your reviews of Almaplena & Nonoch Kay & I'm so glad I did. I am leaving on the Dream in a week & 1/2 & was fully convinced after reading so many reviews & looking at food pics that Nohoch Kay was the place to go in Costa Maya.

You gave a complete 180 of what I had read & seen. Even the food pics didn't look appetizing which was a main reason we had settled on Nohoch. After reading your review, it seems that Nohoch is not the place for us. As you pointed out, different strokes for different folks. However, I have read quite a number of your posts & you seem to see things along the same vein as I do.

Just to be clear, do you think the $ was worth going to Almaplena? We were able to get an old rate for Nohoch, making Almaplena twice the price, but, after reading your review & seeing your pics of Nohoch, if you don't think Almaplena is worth it, I'm thinking we just may up going to see some ruins instead. I am just not into ankle-high, cloudy, potentially dangerous turtle grass for our last port day of our cruise.

Also, what camera did you use at Nohoch? Your pics came out amazing.

BTW, your daughter is a real cutey!

Thanks in advance.

LOL!! You read my mind... this is what concerns me... there seems to be confusion among passengers, varying experiences and our PVP was also not 100% sure either since Triumph just came out of dry dock.

 

BUT, if is $49 and we can get to our room faster and get priority treatment elsewhere then I might be willing to risk the money and try it for this one trip.

 

Now to ease my mind about the Triumph... ;)

 

This confusion on Carnival is why we (me, DH and DS) are sailing a Suite on NCL next year. There are tons of perks included with their suite prices and its very clear on the website and folks seem to have very similar experiences. One of our main reasons for going is the private Haven area and priority access everywhere on the ship and in the ports.

Is your PVP a Carnival PVP? Any Carnival PVP should certainly be able to answer your question. It is a very simple question with a clear answer. (This is not a dig against you, but rather the PVP.) If your PVP can't answer the question directly, I would suggest asking for someone else. Not being able to answer a simple question always makes me leery about what else is this person unclear or unaware of?

All that being said, since you're springing the bucks for a suite for your much needed vaca, I would not hesitate to get the FTTF if it is available. Just be aware that they go fast once they go on sale.

Thanks bunches for the great review! :cool:

We made it through the hordes of people trying to get us to take their tour or ride their taxi, etc. It's easy to be turned off but we all have to make a living.

 

Bryon and I are not big beach people. We do like to swim but we would rather look at historic sites and government buildings. We are nerds like that. I was a history major in college. What can I say?

 

Bryon had found a walking tour on Frommers.com. So off we went. Almost immediately was Houses of Parliament.

 

 

 

Court. It's a culture shock to see how different their government buildings are to the United States. Hardly any security. We had gone in and asked if court was in session and the gentleman working said 10 am but we never made our way back. I know...who likes to watch court while on vacation? The attorney and the history geek do.

 

 

National museum.

 

 

A Nassau street

 

What an interesting day you must have had.

I may live in New York now but I am a New England girl (born in Boston, moved to Maine as a kid) and since US Route 1 is a major road in Maine, I wanted to get my picture by the beginning of US Route 1. I have been to the end of US Route 1 in Fort Kent, ME and I was so excited to see the beginning.

 

 

We then walked to Mallory Square and saw the sunset.

 

 

After we had dinner at Amigo's Tortilla Bar. It was so good. I could not finish my food. My eyes were bigger than my belly! Bryon was smart and only got three tacos but the platter was only a dollar or two more. I should have just had the tree tacos!

 

 

We then went to a few bars until we wound up at a Red Sox bar! My kind of place.

 

Have this tanktop, it's one of my faves. :D I came upon that place totally by accident as I was heading back to my car to drive back home.

The "family" your daughter was so interested in are noni fruits. They have a wide variety of health benefits for all kinds of things including high blood pressure and arthritis pain, and helps with the digestive system.

This looks like a beautiful place to spend a day!

Wow! Kind of reminds me of Escher.