All4fun&fun4all

I really miss writing them.  :(

I haven't written a good picture heavy review in eons.

We are booked for September of next year so it should be a while before we hear what our new itinerary will be.  Part of me is hoping they keep Key West and maybe add Freeport.  I have been wanting to go to Dead Man's Reef in Freeport.  I love Key West.  Although we are just going to keep our sailing date/ship/cabin.  We picked the cabin because it is unique on the Sunshine (Cabin 10107).  The sailing date falls on our anniversary and the ship leaves from here at home.  Waiting to see what other folks on the Sunshine get rerouted to.

My writing style is very similar to yours except I have a tendency to "tense shift" consistently. :)

Loving your review.  I am thinking about getting back into writing them for my next sailing.
LOVE the sloths!  I need to snuggle one!

On ‎3‎/‎30‎/‎2019 at 9:26 PM, desiree741 said:

I use small mesh bags with the tie string and fill it with laundry sprinkles,,,, (untouchables) amazing!

THIS IS A GREAT HACK!  I am most definitely doing this for our next sailing.

Additionally, just for reference, we were going on a 5 day cruise to Nassau and Little Stirrup Cay.  The coordinates where the ashes were scattered as noted by the captain were 28°15.2.°N   077°29.6.°W

If you type those coordinates in online you can see where that is located in relation to the trip we took from Charleston

I did this with Carnival in 2014.  I spoke with guest services prior to sailing and once onboard to find out how this would work.  They set us up with a couple of officers on the first sea day and brought us down to the lowest deck above the water line and apparently they slowed the ship down.  They tested the air movement and then gave me the ok to scatter the ashes.  I had Andrew's ashes in a small ziplock baggie (I didn't scatter all of his ashes, just a few) and I dumped them over the side when the officers said the condition was right.

I was allowed to bring my son and 4 friends with me.

I received a letter from the captain regarding the loss of my loved one and the exact coordinates of the area that I scattered the ashes.  I had them tattooed on my wrists.

On ‎1‎/‎6‎/‎2019 at 8:36 AM, mom2oneXY said:

We're on the Sunshine in August with our 8 year old, too!  Which sailing will you be on?  It will be his 5th cruise and his favorite mode of vacation!  All good tips above. 

We are sailing on August 5th!  Right before school starts back.  :)

Thank you everyone for the wonderful ideas and advice.  I have taken notes and will be packing a few things I hadn't thought of before.  You guys rock!

Husband and I will be sailing on Carnival Sunshine with our kiddos (age 6 and 8) in August.  While this will be my 13th cruise, it will be my first cruise with kids in tow.  Please share all of your best cruise hacks that were helpful for you when sailing with your little ones.  And if you know of any reviewers with children that have some stellar reviews with kid friendly hacks, please point me in that direction as well.

Heck, I may just start doing reviews again myself after this adventure!

What a wonderful review! We will be sailing this itinerary on Magic in September and you have given some great tips.

Any recommendations for a lively and tasty restaurant for the night before our cruise in September? We are thinking about Fishlips but there are so many people going there before our sailing that we would like to eat somewhere a little less crowded and then maybe stop by Fishlips for drinks after.

All of these are freaking hilarious.

I have been pretty lucky in 10 cruises to not have anything too terribly bad. But this one qualifies as entitlement I would think.

There was an older woman on one of my cruises who would turn her lounger on serenity deck completely sideways to face the sun. Now, as a person who used to sunbathe, I get it. However, when there are people on walkers attempting to get around your chair and you don't get up to move and continue reading your kindle, it comes off as entitled.

I think perhaps she could have chosen a chair out of the main row of "traffic" where it would not impede the forward motion of passengers moving through.

Also curious about Amber Cove.

Are there any nice beaches close by?

I have been on ten cruises (most recent one in Sept of 2016) and have never been asked for documentation of name change from my first marriage. (The last name on my birth certificate and last name on drivers license are different). When you get married and you present your marriage license to the DMV to get your name changed it is considered a bridging document.

I have travelled out of Miami, Port Canaveral, Jacksonville and Charleston and have never been asked for a marriage license to prove the name change. In 2012, someone made me a little worried about it so I started bringing my divorce decree because I have no idea where that marriage license from 1991 would be. LOL. I have even called the port to find out what their procedure is and they have an expectation that the name will be different with regard to marriage.

With all that said...my husband just said that I am getting a passport going forward to avoid all of the worry. But of course, that is a different story for a different day. :)

2 Questions.

 

Can you get the social media plan on the Valor? I think it's $5 per day and $25/for a 7 day? Can anyone confirm?

 

If so, can you use F B messenger?

 

Trying to find a way to be able to text one another on the ship. We were on the breeze last year and could do it thru the Carnival Hub app. But I dont think the Valor supports that app.

 

Thx

Yes they have the social media plan on the Valor and it was on a 7 day for $25.00. I just cruised in November 2015 and used it.

You can definitely use FB messenger. That's how I stayed in contact with my fiance who was at home.

Valor did not have the Carnival Hub app when I sailed.

So very sorry to hear about Andrew.

 

Thank you so much for your info! I especially appreciate knowing the prices. I am trying to vacation on my limited budget, which takes lots of planning ahead.

 

 

Diann

Thank you. Andrew was a very troubled soul but most just knew him as the crazy fun guy. Life is good now though. :)

I am glad the info helped.

I am so sorry to hear about Andrew!

 

I've been reading this thread as we'll be on The Fantasy in July.

 

I am truly sorry.

Thank you. Life has a way of throwing a curveball but then out of nowhere something good happens and then it's a home run. I will be getting married this fall to a wonderful man that I once dated in high school. He is truly a godsend and I am lucky to have him.

Looks like it's $13.00 a person for groups at Bahama Kayak. Without a group it's $20.00 per adult and $15.00 per kid.

Check them out on Trip Advisor. Looks like they have some water inflatables and SUPs as well now.

Thank you so much for sharing this post with all of us! I love all of the pictures and the details. I have been trying to get info on Junkanoo Beach, and your post has been the most helpful. Did you see chair rentals when you were there? If so, how much were they? I see that your trip was a few years ago. Have you been there recently?

 

Diann :-)

Hello Diann! I was just randomly on CC and checked for notifications and was pleased to see that people are still enjoying my reviews. Andrew passed away in 2014 (suicide) so I haven't really done very many reviews of late. But I digress.

There was a place called Bahama Kayak when I went there in May of 2014 that offered us a really good group rate to use their loungers, floats and kayaks. Great guys. I want to say it was like $10.00 a person. It was just past all the food vendors as you are walking towards Fish Fry. You can look up their info at this trip advisor link. There may be more updated pricing that you can confirm here. Hope this helps.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147416-d8505874-Reviews-Bahama_Kayak-Nassau_New_Providence_Island_Bahamas.html

Well heck, I would if I could figure out how to do it, but I can't so, no, sorry.. I'm an idiot..

Awwww you're not an idiot. I wouldn't know how to do it either! LOL

I have the Fun Times from the first sailing out of Charleston..

Is there any way that you could post them or a link to a PDF to them here? I would love to see what types of activities they have going on. :)

This is actually the whole reason I came to CC this morning. I haven't been on here in FOREVER it seems!

Let me know if you ever want to book something out of Charleston and need someone to share a cabin. As long as you don't snore. :p

 

For reviews, have a look at any/all of GAPearl's. She's a great writer and does a lot of interesting things in the ports. Not sure if she has a Western itin or not (she has a current review thread that I haven't had a chance to read yet).

Unfortunately I DO snore! :p

I am friends with Kim (GAPearl) on Facebook and of course I immediately asked her if she had been. She hasn't as of yet which I found unbelievable! She definitely has the best reviews. :)

All4fun&fun4all!!! So happy to see you back. I've been thinking of you and was just hoping you were cruising again, even if not writing reviews & frequenting CC.

 

We were actually on a Western Caribbean itinerary last year (April 2014) on Carnival Liberty that went to three of the islands you'll be visiting: Cozumel; Belize; and Roatan. We were supposed to have a final stop in Grand Cayman but that was cancelled due to the weather. No complaints - the weather and water conditions would have been terrible anyway. We loved each one but there are SO many options. I did a review (in my signature) but again, that was over a year ago. We have been in Costa Maya before, in 2006 before the hurricane in 2007 destroyed it. The cruise center has been built back up and it's a nice set up with a lot of shops and a pool. Pretty sure that pool there even has a swim-up bar. We did the Uvero Beach Break when we were there (price included unlimited drinks, alcohol and non-alcohol) but I don't know if that one is still an option or not. Nice beach but if back we'd probably try something else. Some nice beaches just a couple of miles to the south of the cruise center where the restaurants will let you use loungers if you purchase from them.

 

There is a recent Carnival Pride review by Mitsugirly that I'll attach the link to. Totally different itinerary but in her signature she has listed each port of call they've been to and all of the ports you'll be visiting are included. They have done different things. She has links to each section for easy access. Here's the link to her review and reviews of each ports of call/links are in her signature. She normally cruises NCL but has done a couple on Carnival now. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2199226&highlight=pride

 

Hope this helps and so glad to see you back on CC. :)

Thanks for all the info! And it is good to be back. I went on 2 cruises last year. One on Fantasy in May that I was supposed to take with Andrew but of course him passing away in March changed that. I brought my son and we had a ceremony at sea with some of Andrew's ashes. It was beautiful. Dustin is now a total cruise addict like me.

I went again with some friends on Fascination in October. My first balcony experience. I am spoiled now!

Let's see if I can actually get this right this time! :o

I am looking for any picture heavy reviews for the Western Caribbean itinerary that includes Cozumel, Belize, Roatan and Costa Maya.

I haven't been to any of these ports yet and I seem to recall reading a review or two at some point that had this itinerary. Any assistance would be appreciated. And I promise to write a review upon my return. We go in October.

 

Change your cruise to the 11/1 Liberty. I was going to go on that but am going to Bermuda again and then booked the 11-night Sunshine sailing at the end of November. Whole bunch of the folks that sailed the two San Juan-Miami repos are on the Liberty sailing. They're a Wild & Crazy Bunch. You'd have a great time.

I would love to join you again but I am sailing with a group of people that I sailed with on Halloween in 2013. We will be wearing tu tus again and creating chaos wherever we roam.

We shall cruise together again. I hear we are getting Carnival Ecstacy next year. New ship for me....same class but hey, I am all about new to me stuff.

All4fun&fun4all, I'm also glad you are back:) Where ever you cruise Please write a review. We were just on the 7 day Fantasy STYX cruise in June and every time I walked across the Lido deck I thought of you. Please tell all of the Gouldies Pink said hello;) Pink

There was one that was just finished on the Liberty that is picture heavy and really good. It is done by Trippingpara.

PINK!!!! So good to "see" you. I will certainly tell the ladies you said hello.

Peemagg, thanks so much for your efforts but I believe that one is for Southern Caribbean. I blame myself really for being confusing in the first place. I think I will just repost with the proper itinerary. Carry on! :)