cravingacruise

Just booked a Sail Away last-minute guarantee oceanview room on the 14-day Jan 5-19 Breakaway sailing from NYC. We set sail in a week!

We are experienced cruisers on multiple cruise lines (one NCL Star cruise in 2014 to the Baltic Sea). I am wondering if anyone can share, based on their experiences, when they have received their stateroom assignment. I understand we could get it one day before we leave, but I am hoping it will be sooner.

Also, being we got such a great deal, we are not getting any of the free specialty dining, etc. I know NCL has freestyle cruising, but will we still have an assigned dining time each evening? Which dining options are included in our cruise fare besides the buffet? Thank you for your feedback!

Update: I had originally posted this question on the Carnival Board as I knew they had resumed stops in San Juan. Although this cruise was with Disney, we are huge Carnival fans so I wanted to provide a post-hurricane ziplining update for any of you Carnival cruisers who may be curious.

We ziplined with Ecoquest in Puerto Rico on Friday, Dec 1, and it was amazing! Although the Campo Rico Tour is a bit modified from the original description (no transportation and no Puerto Rican meal at the end of the tour), we were fine with that. They had a great special of $99 per person.

Because we had a large group, Luigi picked us up from our hotel (Best Western Plus Condado Palms) at 8:20 am and dropped us off at the hotel at around 12:30 pm. We were able to keep one room with late check out to store our luggage. After we got back to the hotel, we called a taxi and went to the Pan American Pier to board the Disney Magic. The whole morning was fun-filled and flawless!

We had 12 in our group between the ages of 10-44. There was also another couple in our group that would be boarding RCI Adventure of the Seas the next day. Fernando and Darwin were the best guides ever! Extremely knowledgeable, professional and funny! We felt very safe the entire time. We did a total of 5 zips and 6 bridges. It was an absolute blast! We did not see any visible signs from the hurricane.

If you are considering ziplining with Ecoquest, I highly recommend it! We are so glad we did it!

Update: We ziplined with Ecoquest in Puerto Rico on Friday, Dec 1, and it was amazing! Although the Campo Rico Tour is a bit modified from the original description (no transportation and no Puerto Rican meal at the end of the tour), we were fine with that. They had a great special of $99 per person.

Because we had a large group, Luigi picked us up from our hotel (Best Western Plus Condado Palms) at 8:20 am and dropped us off at the hotel at around 12:30 pm. We were able to keep one room with late check out to store our luggage. After we got back to the hotel, we called a taxi and went to the Pan American Pier to board the Disney Magic. The whole morning was fun-filled and flawless!

We had 12 in our group between the ages of 10-44. There was also another couple in our group that would be boarding RCI Adventure of the Seas the next day. Fernando and Darwin were the best guides ever! Extremely knowledgeable, professional and funny! We felt very safe the entire time. We did a total of 5 zips and 6 bridges. It was an absolute blast! We did not see any visible signs from the hurricane.

If you are considering ziplining with Ecoquest, I highly recommend it! We are so glad we did it!

We are interested in ziplining in Puerto Rico through Ecoquest (Campo Rico Adventure). They opened early November and indicate all lines and bridges have been inspected and are deemed safe. Cruise ships that have stopped in San Juan this month have had ship-sponsored ziplining excursions through Ecoquest. I am wondering if anyone has done this post-hurricane. If so, how was it? Thank you!

We are interested in ziplining in Puerto Rico through Ecoquest (Campo Rico Adventure). They opened early November and indicate all lines and bridges have been inspected and are deemed safe. Cruise ships that have stopped in San Juan this month have had ship-sponsored ziplining excursions through Ecoquest. I am wondering if anyone has done this post-hurricane. If so, how was it? Thank you!

We did the 9 night Baltic cruise a few years ago on the NCL Star and loved it! It is so port intensive that I hardly remember the ship. Prepare to be wowed by the ports! One of my all-time favorites!

My husband and I, along with another couple, snagged a fantastic VGT (Guarantee Verandah with Restrictions) rate on the Disney Dream a couple years ago. I've cruised mostly Carnival but also RCI and NCL. I must say I was blown away by Disney. I am an average middle-class person and to me, Disney felt like a premium cruise line. The entire feel was very different from the rest, from the service to the food to the rotational dining to the Broadway-quality shows. And Castsway Cay, Disney's private island, was the most beautiful island I've ever visited.

I truly enjoy Carnival and find them to provide a great value. However, as much as I've been trying to convince myself Carnival is a better value than Disney, I truly believe it's subjective. I find myself gravitating to the DCL site trying to find reasonable rates for my family of 6. I would like our 4 children (ages 10-15) to experience DCL just once. They love Carnival and my husband and I love Carnival and I think we'll have many CCL cruises ahead. But I am in the camp right now that believes one Disney cruise for my family will be worth the splurge. Please, no judgment. It's a personal decision based on having experienced both cruise lines.

Thank you for the feedback. I probably should have mentioned we are a beach-loving family. Because of this, we are leaning towards the Southern itinerary. Aruba and Curaçao would be new ports for us. Loved reading all of the responses and reasons why. Thanks again! 🌴

Which itinerary for a multi-family cruise and why? 10 kids ages 2-17 and several adults. Both are 8 nights on the Carnival Vista. SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN: Grand Turk, La Romana (Dominican), Aruba, Curaçao, and 3 sea days or EASTERN CARIBBEAN: Grand Turk, San Juan (Puerto Rico), St Kitts, St Maarten and 3 sea days. Thank you for your feedback!

Hello there! We will be on the June 19-26 Southern Caribbean sailing on the Carnival Fascination. I have never been on a cruise where the embarkation port (San Juan) is also a full port day for those who embarked in Barbados. What time is disembarkation in San Juan at the end of the cruise? Just wondering if they offer a "window" of time. Our flights are not until later in the afternoon and I am wondering if they might allow us to remain onboard longer. Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Now that I understand ship time vs. shore time in Grand Cayman, I have a question about tendering. According to Carnival Magic's itinerary, the ship is scheduled to be in Grand Cayman from 9:00-5:00. We have a non-Carnival excursion planned and the meeting time on the detailed instructions I received from the company is 9:45 a.m. Cayman Islands Time, which is EST. If the Magic is indeed on CST (time zone of originating port), then it doesn't seem possible for us to make it on time. For those of you who have sailed the Carnival Magic, what time does the tendering process generally start? Unfortunately, we did not purchase FTTF as we booked this cruise very last-minute. Thank you in advance for any info!

THANK YOU for all of the info! Very helpful! This is our first time cruising out of Galveston (and on the Magic), and we are quite excited about it! This cruise was a last-minute decision, and I am a bit fanatical about finding info on these boards. I appreciate you all taking the time to respond! Happy Cruising!

Does anyone know the ship time on Carnival Magic? We have a non-Carnival excursion in Grand Cayman that is listed in Grand Cayman time, which I know can be different than ship time. Thanks in advance for any info.

Just off NOS 6/22 sailing. Family of 5 flying in from Ohio. Since travel to/from Galveston from those of us living outside of Texas seems to be a hot topic, here are my thoughts. We flew into Hobby Saturday evening and stayed at Drury Inn near airport. Hotel was in ok shape. Staff was very friendly. Location is iffy. Not surprised from reading reviews. Best advice from previous posts was to eat before leaving airport. There is nothing much around. Hotel served its purpose as a stopover for main event. After looking around the area, the Doubletree closer to the airport may have been a better choice.

We contracted with Galveston limo for transportation from hotel then back to airport in private van. Cost was 300 round trip plus tip for the 5 of us. Driver arrived 15 minutes before our schedule time on 9:30 and we were on our way to port.

We arrived at port at 10:15 and proceeded to wait in line outside until terminal opened for incoming guests at 10:30. As has been reported, the wait outside is without seats and limited shade. We were under cover and it was fine. We were through check in by 10:40 and seated waiting to board as departing passengers were finishing disembarkment. We were one of the first aboard around 11:15am. All in all very very smooth and easy process with none of the horror stories I have read previously.

Disembarkment was pretty smooth as well. We were group 19 (out of 28 total) and our estimated departure call was 9:45. Our group was called about 9:15. The terminal needs some signage and direction, but once we figured out where to go it was fast and easy. We did not use a porter as they were plentiful but busy. A nice employee (and maybe one of two there to help?) directed us to the "non porter" line and off we went. Through customs by 9:55. Outside the terminal is very hectic and needs a good organizer. No problems though and we were picked up promptly off we went.

Shoot any questions. We also had the drink package on board and can answer those as well!

Just came across your post as I am combing CC for any reviews/info regarding Galveston Limousine. I just spoke with them and am considering booking them for round-trip services from IAH to Galveston Cruise Terminal. Did you use Galveston Limo for your return transportation as well? Would you recommend them? Thank you so much!

Hi there,

The Dec 12 sailing has a reverse itinerary also. On these boards, I learned that Enchantment and Majesty are in CoCo Cay on Dec 13 and in Nassau on Dec 14. This is due to the Explorer being in CoCo Cay on the 14th. The ship is in Nassau from 7-3 instead of the typical noon-midnight.

We are seriously considering booking this cruise for our anniversary (along with another couple, friends who are also celebrating their anniversary and are first-time cruisers). All that to say, I am trying to determine if this reverse itinerary is good, bad, or neither. I really like the traditional time in Nassau from noon-midnight. Although we haven't officially booked yet, we are pretty limited with our schedules, so we will likely book in the next few days. The rates are very low right now being we are past final payment.

What are your thoughts about the reverse itinerary? Has anyone else done this before? If so, how was it? Thanks, everyone!

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Cindy,

Looking forward to hearing about your adventure. Our family was on the Dream 10/15 Western Caribbean sailing (in 2 connecting coves), and I still love to hear about others' experiences. We had such a fabulous time, that we are considering another cruise on the Dream. Have also checked into Disney (would love to do at least one before the kids get older), but the price is almost always at least double---especially for a verandah which I could not do w/out! :-) Curious to hear what your thoughts are between Disney, Carnival, and RCI (I've sailed Carnival and RCI)...

You are sooooo gonna LOVE the Dream! I could go on and on.

 

How about Breakfast on the Cove Balcony? It was wonderful:D

 

 

 

 

I apologize for the sidetrack, but it looks like you have the cove balcony dividers open between 2 cabins...We have 2 adjoining coves in Oct. but were told it is highly unlikely the balcony divider could be opened. Which 2 cabins did you have? We are in 2392 and 2396. THANKS! :-)