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New York to anywhere except Nassau, Port Canaveral or Freeport.

I thought I would have used the spa more but I didn't. I would only take a spa cabin if it was an inexpensive upgrade. Having been in a spa cabin and realizing that I didn't spend as much time as I thought I would in the therapy pool and heated lounger, I found that, for me, it is just not worth the price tag for a weekly pass.

Absolutely NOT worth it!! If it were an NCL suite with all the bells and whistles, then sure, but this is Carnival and there is nothing sweet about their suites!! Stay in your Lido balcony! You did good! For $580 you can go on another cruise!

I loved my spa interior on the Splendor. We too received the plush robes, slippers, upgraded interior cabins, bed spray, pretty yellow beach towels and Elemis Shampoo and Conditioner, Shower Gel, Body Lotion, and one hand and one body Elemis Soap Disk.

 

We also received Two Pathway to Yoga or Pathway to Pilates fitness classes per guest and discounts on treatments in the spa.

After a full day in port on the Splendor, the thallo pool and the heated loungers were a welcome retreat. After that experience, I wouldn't pay for a spa room or pass if the ship didn't have the thallo pool. I didn't care for the steam room or the aromatherapy room.

Wow I am so glad I posted the question! Thanks for the tips!

 

I had not even really thought about being worried about the balcony, now I agree I should probably nix it-

 

Also good tips about booking on a higher deck-

 

I am now going with either the Glory or Vision but leaning more towards the Glory. It is about $80 cheaper per person and I found plenty of shuttles between Ft Lauderdale and Miami cruise ports.

 

You are probably better off starting with an interior room and watch prices, sometimes you can get a balcony as you get closer to sail date for alot less than you would be paying now. It's not guaranteed, but it could happen. Also, remember with Carnival that if you book a balcony you cannot change it later to an interior (you can't downgrade) but you can always upgrade. :)

 

When I book interiors I also look at the Lido deck first, I like getting the interiors closest to the doors leading out to the pool. It would be a short walk back to your cabin if you are at the pool all day, or a few steps from your cabin to the lido buffet for a quick bite to eat or something to drink.

Wow I am so glad I posted the question! Thanks for the tips!

 

I had not even really thought about being worried about the balcony, now I agree I should probably nix it-

 

Also good tips about booking on a higher deck-

 

I am now going with either the Glory or Vision but leaning more towards the Glory. It is about $80 cheaper per person and I found plenty of shuttles between Ft Lauderdale and Miami cruise ports.

 

We flew in to Fort Lauderdale the night before and stayed the night somewhere near the airport (with free shuttle from the airport) and free breakfast in the morning. Later that morning, we had SAS http://www.ridesas.com/ pick us up and take us to the Miami port, I think it was about $15 per person. They will also do the same upon return, very reliable. If you decide to fly in the day of, they will also have pickups at the airport in FLL.

Thanks for all the replies!

 

I made a mistake in my first post but can't figure out how to edit...

 

I can afford a balcony on the Victory, not the Glory.

 

I would prefer to leave out of Tampa as well because I'm flying SW so I can only fly into Tampa, or else fly into Ft Lauderdale and then get to Miami from there-

 

If I do the Glory or Vision of the Seas I'll also get to see the Super Bowl on the ship which would be awesome

 

Also, the ports in Belize & Roatan interest me slightly more than Bahamas

 

but I'm torn because of that balcony :)

 

Don't worry about the balcony! If you want to be outside (or close to it), book an interior cabin on Lido or Panorama deck. You'll be steps to outside, rather than various flights of stairs and/or elevator ride to the outside.

 

That's what we did on our last cruise. I didn't miss the balcony (and the added expense) one bit and I was steps to being outside. Belize and Roatan ARE more interesting than the Bahamas. Roatan has private Mahogany Bay beach, you are right there and don't even have to leave the area and can go back to the ship for lunch. Belize is fascinating, if you don't want to do cave tubing or climb ruins, Carnival usually has a beach excursion on a private island or a snorkel tour (best snorkeling anywhere).

 

Good luck!!! :D

The spa elevator wasn't working when we were on the Splendor so we took the stairs.

 

We had a spa cabin and also received 2 free pilates or yoga classes. I don't know if this comes with a spa pass for the week or not.

I totally agree.....LOVE the Spa pool and the heated loungers. I wasn't a big fan on the aromatherapy room on the Dream either. Had a hard time breathing and it had a funcky smell to it. Will have a hard time going on a ship without a cloud 9

 

I was not a fan of the heated chair room or the aromatherapy rooms but LOVED LOVED LOVED the thallasotherapy pool and the heated loungers room on the Splendor - HEAVEN!!!! I did this every evening after dinner or in the afternoon on sea days! My skin was sooo soft and shiny after the thallasotherapy pool dip. I wish I were back!

IMHO, San Juan is the highlight of any Eastern Caribbean itinerary. There's not a single port in the Caribbean with the same cultural diversity, history, architecture, attractions and amazing vibe. The problem with San Juan is that there's not enough time on an average stop to enjoy, even a minuscule fraction, of what this port has to offer. Which is why so many people don't explore beyond Señor Frog's a few feet from the cruise terminal, and then they say that San Juan is eh. :rolleyes:

 

 

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We spent the weekend pre-cruise in Old San Juan. That's why I say, Eh. I didn't step foot in Senor Frogs.

Great upgrade!!!

 

I enjoy balconies! I thought I would hate from spa interior on our last cruise on the Splendor but it wasn't too bad, I was just a few steps from being outside. I don't think I could handle an interior on a very low deck, far from an elevator or stairs but a higher up interior is fine with me. One sea day I slept until Noon, I haven't done that in 20 years! lol.

I'd choose the Glory (and you get a balcony!) WHOO HOO!

 

I love the Glory's itinerary. We did that same itinerary on the Liberty and would do it again!!

 

I would've suggested the Vision out of Tampa (because of the ease of flying in and out) with the same itinerary but that only gets you an interior. For the same price, ghaving a balcony on the Glory is just as good, if not better. This itinerary is great with a balcony, loved sipping coffee on my balcony every morning, especially when we pulled into Roatan's port.

I sailed Splendor out of New York. It's a fine ship, nothing to worry about there.

 

BUT, that itinerary compared to Explorer is less desirable. If I were to chose I would definately pick Explorer. Labadeee is a RC exclusive and not many ships sail to St. Croix so that's a plus too! We loved St. Maarten and I would do a land vacation there anytime! San Juan is eh, but definitely not a deal breaker!

This room was on floor six, right above the lounge , which we did hear from time to time.

 

 

 

We had a deck 6 starboard side aft-wrap on the Victory (same as Splendor) and did not hear any music from the lounge below. Port side gets noise, starboard side does not. HTH in the future! Love the deck 6 starboard wraps though, no noise and the balconies are the largest of all 3 decks!

We have gone to GT 4 times. I did feel sorry for the first time cruisers and the people who booked it just to go to GT though.

 

We missed Great Stirrup Cay on our cruise with NCL. They replaced it with an extra day in Nassau. I would take an extra day in Nassau over a stop in Port Canaveral. I would have been disappointed too, even though I've been to GT and wasn't really that impressed with it. Give me Half Moon Cay any day though!

Looking forward to your review, we sailed this itinerary (but made it to Grand Turk) in June. Great cruise!

Thanks so much for your reply!

 

Were going to...

 

Half Moon Cay

San Juan Puerto Rico

US Virgin Islands

Grand Turks

 

The stingray excursion at HMC is pretty reasonable.

 

If you are thinking of booking the horses here, read the reviews. There is no saddle when the horses go into the water and people (those of us out of shape) have complained that their thighs were very sore for days afterwards.

 

San Juan doesn't have much so you could use this day to see the city, go to the forts and/or shop since if leaves you right there in town.

 

St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands) has a lot of fun things to do and see.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5

 

 

check the port of calls boards for cheaper alternatives.

 

Google San Juan walking tour you can do it on your own for free

 

If you don't wan to walk, you can also take the Trolley around Old San Juan for free.

We were in Grand Turk in June and they had horses there that you could ride (while being guided) on the beach. I saw a small child on one with his parent next to him so I don't think it cost that much. I didn't do it but I assume it will be much cheaper than Carnival's excursion at HMC or GT and $99-$110.

Took us more than an hour to drive from Miami to Tampa. I was saying it will take you an hour to get from Port Canaveral to Orlando Int'l once the bus leaves. So you are pretty much stuck with whatever flight that day is out of MCO. If you cruise out of Miami, you have choices other than Miami, including Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, and Tampa (Tampa only if you have a very late afternoon or night flight). I found flights in and out of Tampa MUCH cheaper than other cities in Florida.

I've been to Florida in December/January and it's about 10 degrees warmer in South Florida (Fort Myers over to Fort Lauderdale and south) than it was in Orlando. We could swim in South Florida but it was much colder in Orlando.

$500 MORE for the same exact cruise? I'd pick Splendor for sure! There's nothing wrong with the Splendor and I love sailing away from Miami and less of a hassle to/from the airport and you can price check both Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports. Flying to/from Orlando during peak holiday travel will be both crazy busy and EXPENSIVE because of DisneyWorld! Once, I rented a car from Miami and flew out of Tampa (you can also fly out of Fort Myers), cost MUCH less but it was easy because we weren't over an hour away from the airport like you would if you were coming back into Port Canaveral. Besides, Miami will be much WARMER than Orlando/Port Canaveral for a little pre- or post-cruise fun!

I was in Nassau this past June and felt safe. DD got her hair braided right outside the gates to the port and then we walked the main street for shopping. There were plenty of other tourists around so we never felt unsafe.

The Straw Market is the best place to get any type of knockoff anything. Every time I go there I get offered (obviously) fake glasses, purses, and watches. You can also get some bootlegged DVD's if you are into that just watch out coming home. The straw market is located in downtown Nassau maybe a 2 or 3 minute walk from where the cruise ships dock.

 

I was there in June and did not see ANY knockoffs in the straw market. We walked across the street and found a bag store on a side street where they had an excellent selection of top quality knockoffs.

I always check our account daily, have only found 1 questionable charge which GS reversed. I always keep my final statement and compare it to my CC statement. Checking daily keeps me in the know as to what we owe so we know if we need to slow down or whatever. A good way to stay on budget and no sudden surprises on the last day.

 

I agree, I do the same thing. It's just so easy to look it up on the TV screen every so often. Gives me peace of mind knowing that my family is not going crazy charging their card. I don't like to put limits on them, they are almost adults and I have yet to have a problem with them spending.

 

This could be why I don't bother with F&F, I don't need to stand in a long line the last day with GS trying to adjust my invoice.