happybeachbum

We are booked for July 4. I have a gut feeling the virus will be gone by then. We got such a good price, we'll be laughing all the way to the ship. I would never get a vaccine and hope it is never mandatory.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and pointers. Much appreciated! Disappointed about CK. Maybe it was an isolated bad night in the kitchen...looking forward to trying a few different restaurants, especially 150 Central Park. Appreciate the luggage valet tip...how great is that not to be bothered with the walk-off luggage! The agent didn't mention any restrictions regarding the # of occupants in this particular suite category when I was booking. We cruise Sept. 2. I will try not to procrastinate and get a review written! Again, thank you. <3

Thanks so much CruisngHusker! Wow, sounds really great!

Not a big deal, but I think I may opt for another deck. I watched some Youtube videos and think the round table with chairs better suits 3 people rather than the tight fitting rectangular table on deck 12. Love that we don't have to worry about prebooking shows. I want to make sure we see the comedy acts, but it sound like having the Sky amenities does not help with that. Should we book this as soon as we get on the ship, and can we book all the comedy shows at once? Also, I was wondering about the suites sun deck. I see that's one of our amenities, but I couldn't find anything about it. Also, will we be happy eating all the meals in the Coastal Kitchen, or do you suggest one or two specialty dinners?

Thanks again...so happy you saw my post. :)

I just booked this for me and 2 adult sons. They think we are booking an 8-night Carnival on Horizon in a Havana Cabana suite. However, after reading reviews I decided against it. I read others try and succeed in getting access to the Havana pool and that more Havana rooms have been added increasing the number of people at the pool. If I apply hotel points to this cruise, it's actually less than the Horizon cruise. I have 24 hours to cancel/change this. I booked on deck 12. It's the only deck that has a hot tub on balcony. Has anyone stayed in one of these? Wondering if I should opt for another deck without the tub, allowing for more space...or another deck for others reasons? I'm looking for cruising suggestions, tips, opinions, etc, from others who have stayed in this type of suite with the Sky amenities. Thank you!!

You're so right! Too many variables that may come into play. We still haven't booked any flights. I'm too busy working on excursions and perusing menus and dailies ...sorting it all out. Probably will end up with a nonstop out of FLL in the afternoon or evening. I appreciate all the help steering me in the right direction. Thank you!

Haven't called airline yet... but one more thing, we have some bids in for a Haven suite. If we're awarded a suite, isn't there a crew staircase we'll be whisked down so that we'll be able to bypass the crowds.

Thanks for the latest responses ... and POA1, I'm following your cruise, just on page 17, can't wait till I get spare time to read on. You are a hoot! Love those laugh-out-loud names - Mr. Hugh Jass :') Thank you so much for all the helpful info - really helping me plan my cruise days!

Regarding the early am flight...this just dawned on me... I am going to call the airline to see what their policy is on a missed flight. (I guess I'm still willing to live a little dangerously.) Also, there are 2 non stops out of FLL. One is around 7 pm and is only $88! Would have to get a day room.

I really depends on the day. We were off Getaway and in the car by 7:15. Our escape experience is not applicable because it was an unusual case. BUT this last week were were on Oasis (which has generally the same amount of people) and they only had 3 agents working that morning. We were in line at 6:15 and did not leave the port door until after 8:15. That could absolutely happen at ANY time.

Three agents for a mega ship? Awful!

I guess it could go either in our favor or not. Just not worth the risk and frustration if it doesn't. Well...., it's back to flight searches... Thanks, all, I think I knew the answer all along I just needed a little push toward reality. ;)

My wife and I only use carry on luggage. We have never sailed a mega ship, and we always walk off once the ship is cleared by customs. With that said, the earliest flight we have taken was 11:10, with no problems, but it wasn't on a weekend, nor were there 4-5 ships in port. Hope this helps! :D

Thanks, good point!

Thanks for the responses. I guess with some things I'm willing to take some risks. Especially when the goal is a non-stop and getting home early! But, yeah, it probably is not worth the all the stress and doubt that will that hang over me that week :confused:. Thanks again.

I am considering booking a 9:20am flight from MIA debarkation day. It's nonstop. Does the Escape generally arrive early? We would try to be first in line, say 7am-ish...

Thanks!

I was looking at travel advisories in the Caribbean and came across a warning for chikungunya virus which is spread by mosquitoes.

I've cruised a couple dozen times and HAVE been bitten by mosquitoes but cannot remember the islands where this occurred.

Many on this thread are recommending DEET. I personally would never put a drop of that on my body and would advise against it if pregnant. Please research it. If pregnant, I'd also research what is embedded in the fabric of bug repellent clothing.

I buy bug repellents that have ingredients of naturally derived oils. I might strengthen it a little by adding a little tea tree oil, lemon oil, etc., depending on the ingredient list. You just have to be careful not to get it close to the eyes.

I love ships, cruising, and the sea. We've been loving cruising for about 35 years. Our first HAL experience was on the Eurodam in 2010. We thought that perhaps it was the best cruise experience we had had (entertainment wasn't the best though). Food was wonderful. MDR filets & lobster were as good as what was served in Pinnacle.

We got off the Noordam April 10, 2015. After this cruise, I was actually entertaining a river cruise for our next cruise! I eat quality food at home and the Noordam did not deliver on that point. My filet did not resemble in any way a filet and certainly did not taste like a filet. My next beef order was not edible. Some nights, there weren't any entrees that appealed to me. One night I was surprised to see liver offered as an entree. That's a first. I did have some good meals though.

Ours was an 11 night Caribbean cruise. The ports were great - except Nassau. Wished it had been Half Moon Cay.

Ok, like I said, CARIBBEAN CRUISE. No music at the pool for a Caribbean Cruise?! There was a lady who played a steel drum for one hour but she didn't interact at all with the audience. We still remember the name of the steel drum band that played on our honeymoon cruise - Pan Vibes :)

However, on this Caribbean cruise --not Art Collectors cruise--there was no shortage of annoying announcements. Art auctions, showings, etc., Bingo, etc. -- all the money makers for the cruiseline. In addition to the constant art announcements, our mailbox was inundated with art flyers all day long. On quality paper. What a WASTE!!

We like attending the shows. The singers seemed talented but the PA system made everything sound way too loud, shrill and harsh. So the songs were different each night but the way the sound got delivered made it all sound alike. The CD was pleasant enough but basically an announcer for the shows.

By the end of the cruise, my stomach and esophagus felt weird. I thought maybe it was the ship's desalinated water?

In closing, here are my thoughts on the current standards regarding price and value:

The mainstream lines have built too many ships with too many cabins to fill. Some of these cruises are discounted like crazy. I think the lines are slowly slitting their own throats: Getting rid of live music; building tiny pools that cannot accommodate all the pax wishing to use the pools -- some lines like NCL no longer have the space for decent sized main pools because their extensive suite area takes up so much precious space; purchasing substandard beef, etc.;cutting back on employees making for slow and mediocre service in the MDR. HAL installed 20 new cabins on Noordam's Deck 11 in recent years. Instead, why not add Tamarind restaurant or a comedy club, etc. that everyone can benefit from? However, I do commend HAL for keeping their aft pools and the outside aft area for alfresco dining. One cannot find aft open space on Royal Caribbean for just sitting and enjoying watching the wake.

Also deplorable was all the smoke on this cruise. For that reason alone, I would go with Celebrity. Think about it HAL: not all gamblers smoke! I perhaps would have spent a few bucks in the casino had I been able to open my eyes in there without getting a film on my contacts. Also much of the aft pool area was filled with wafting smoke.

So, in closing, it wasn't an awful cruise, but it could have been so much nicer. I love the sea, but the rivers are look'n a lot better.

We are booked on the Christmas cruise. Is Ken Rush funny? I just read about Richard Spacey (I think that's his name) on the Oasis. People really seem to enjoy him. I wonder if he'll be moving to the Allure....

Hmm...I have checked that website against the Celebrity website many times, and have never, ever run up against a discrepancy, but it is always possible.

 

At least it will save you some time and reduce the number of cabins that you have to check individually with Celebrity.

If there are lots of open staterooms, seascan will NOT show all. Same with X's website. On X's website, an empty little box appears at the top, and a few cabins for the particular type of cabin for which you searched will appear at the bottom. If you don't see the cabin you want from the list at the bottom, type in desired cabin in the box at the top. If it's not avail, a message will appear telling you that. If it's open, you can put a hold on it until your ta/celebrity opens in the am.

Tell Zak "Greenspan" that Brian and Sheri said hello. He's the main environmentalist at Maya Chan.

 

This is him. He'll be hard to miss him:

Cool. I've written it on my confirmation so I don't forget!

Tell Zak "Greenspan" that Brian and Sheri said hello. He's the main environmentalist at Maya Chan.

 

This is him. He'll be hard to miss him:

Cool. I've written it on my confirmation so I don't forget!

Thanks for posting the photos. We are going to book. Glad the mangroves are on their way back!. . . Important for the environment.

Thanks for posting the photos. We are going to book. Glad the mangroves are on their way back!. . . Important for the environment.

Thank you, Brian for your gift to all of us. A gift is even more meaningful when so much time and effort have been sacrificed.:)

I hope you don't feel like you have to "babysit" this thread because of all the questions we now have! But I'm hoping you won't mind one about Maya Chan. Are there telltale signs/devastation of the hurricane(s) that had occurred a few years back? Also, is their beach naturally occurring? I've been to a couple of resorts that have added sand to a bay area & when you step into the water, the bottom is slimy. The pictures on their web site made me wonder. But maybe the beach looks that way because of the hurricanes? Many, many thanks!

Thank you, Brian for your gift to all of us. A gift is even more meaningful when so much time and effort have been sacrificed.:)

I hope you don't feel like you have to "babysit" this thread because of all the questions we now have! But I'm hoping you won't mind one about Maya Chan. Are there telltale signs/devastation of the hurricane(s) that had occurred a few years back? Also, is their beach naturally occurring? I've been to a couple of resorts that have added sand to a bay area & when you step into the water, the bottom is slimy. The pictures on their web site made me wonder. But maybe the beach looks that way because of the hurricanes? Many, many thanks!