Waterloomarc

I feel you. This will be our first time back to Grand Cayman since the pandemic. I can't believe how much harder it is to find info and/or an open beach club anymore. We used to alway just get a cabana at Royal Palms but now I see that almost everything has closed. Curious if they couldn't survive the pandemic travel restrictions or just got bought out for more hotel/condo development. 

We have done Paradise Beach for many many years, usually 2 or 3 times a year. We have not been post pandemic but the last two times we went we were really disappointed in it vs the level of service and experience we'd always historically had. Has the service level improved over the last couple years? We're going to in a couple weeks and was scrambling to find something a new place. 

Yes the lanyards were absolute garbage! We threw them away the first night the first time we got them; assuming that it was something they were giving to everyone now. Never dreamt it was the platinum gift. The last few times we at least left them in the casino - maybe somebody got some use out of them. 
 

The blanket/throw from a few years back was actually pretty decent in my opinion. As for luggage tags - I might actually use those. 

Where might I find this form?

I’m on the June 16th Cruise, evidently with OfficerAggie, as well. How was the ship itself? Did you have any trouble with the temperature? I’ve heard more complaints than normal about hot cabins on the glory. But I’ve also heard many complaints about it in the past on ships I’ve been on where we’ve always been perfectly comfortable. 

Enjoyed the review! Montego Bay is the only port I’ve ever been to where I haven’t been able to decide what to do when we get off the ship. I’ve about decided we’re just going to stay on the ship this time. Don’t really want to since, like you, Cozumel is about as exotic as the neighborhood grocery store at this point. I just can’t decide. 

Anyway, I’m rambling. 

We’ve been to Montego Bay before and it was a bust. Literally got off the ship and got right back on. (We typically the type to just go spur of the moment with whoever has the best sign) 

Does anybody have a good recommendation? Probably just a beach day with the baby but all the carnival ones are sold out already. 

I only cruise in lido or panorama balconies. First cruise was a Lido balcony and I've been spoiled ever since. In my opinion there's not a whole lot of difference between the two. I think I prefer panorama now for a few reasons.

1. I now cruise with my 3 year old daughter. So on most ships my panorama balcony dumps me right outside at the water slides for her.

2. Similarly, on P deck I can walk outside and get back to the kids club and buffet more quickly without having to navigate the crowds on the lido deck. (this is a smaller concern but it is nice, particularly when there's "events" happening on Lido)

3. Since I seem to spend a lot of time on the dream lately, I can get a spa balcony on P deck.

But really they're mostly interchangeable. I pay the small premium for the spa balcony perks, but I don't think i'd pay extra just for the P deck on it's own. But if either were sold out I wouldn't hesitate to book the other.

Everyone in the Caribbean takes american dollars.

If the money isn't a concern then NCL all day long. No contest IMO.

I doubt very seriously you have anything to worry about. I think once you're in the cabin you will be able to relax. (I'm assuming this is your first balcony)

I'm an almost 200lb man and I have to make an effort to open a balcony door on any ship I've been on - including even the ones with sliders. Unless your 7 year old has super human strength they won't even be able to open the balcony, much less do it without you knowing. If you're sailing on Carnival then forget about it, their are damn near impossible to open for an adult!

I was on the Dream middle of September and it's still gone from there as well. Oh well it saves me money! I used to substitute Heineken but now even they come in those huge cans. I'm sure I'm in the minority but I prefer the smaller cans. The big giant things they serve in get warm before I can finish it. College is a fading memory for me, I have no interest in shot-gunning a beer anymore.

Great. Thanks for the ideas!!

For me it's a no brainer too. Longer is better. If you can swing the vacation and the money I'd do the Vista all the way... And I'm a smaller ship guy. But longer is alway better to me. I can't take that long off work so go forth and sail for me!!

Same. Probably a little more younger kids on the summer cruises we've been on.

My two year old loves her iPad at home. However it's mostly just you tube kids stuff. She has a few games that aren't internet dependent that she enjoys (Sesame Street, some doodling thing, counting etc.)

Does anybody have suggestion for what to load that your toddler likes? I'm trying to come up with something for her to do during the cabin times. She absolutely will not watch TV. (Not even Frozen!) The only thing she'll watch is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse when it's nap time. I'm not buying an Internet package as frankly my cruises are the only weeks a year I can keep my wife off Facebook! So I'm just trying to find something that might occupy her for a little bit for when mom and I are trying to get ready for supper etc.

Yes we'll bring regular toys and books etc. and no we're not the type to stick an iPad in front of our child and ignore her and all the other judgmental comments that like to get traipsed out around here ;)

OP hasn't returned but I'll chime with my .02 anyway.

We cruised with our daughter when she was 6,9, and 15 months. The first two were fantastic. In fact the one when she was 9 months has probably been my favorite. That's just such a fun age. At 15 months... Well let's just say it's a good thing we paid for grandma to come. Actually she was fine with everything but meal times. Anywhere. After that cruise we decided to take a year off and we're just now returning next week. She's a little over two now so we're hoping for a little more civility.

Anyway I say go for it. Carnival actually gave us a crib on our two cruises with them. NCL gave a pack and play which my dd would not sleep in at all. (She actually hated them, never would play in hers at all even at home) The staff really does dote on the babies. It's really sweet, but sad when you remember it's just cause they don't see their own kids often. Our daughter was always happy on deck in her blow up bathtub splashing around.

As for price I actually take the opposite view. Kids make more work for the crew so I don't mind paying more and certainly tipping more. We're very concerned about cleaning up after her but there's stuff that needs to be done that wouldn't be if it were just another adult 3rd passenger.

Try it and see how it goes. The benefits of not having to mess with car seats and dinner plans outweigh any of the negatives imo. But I have a very easy going child, only know your child's temperament.

Don't know of I'm going to be able to copy the link from my phone but this is certainly interesting. I hope it happens!

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/09/mayor_sandy_stimpson_hints_tha.html#incart_2box

If the link didn't work it's supposed to be to an article on http://www.al.com that hints at carnival coming back to mobile. Just go to the homepage it's pretty easy to spot.

Yes that would be great. Before we had a kid I didn't really care where we departed from as there were only 2 plane tickets to buy. Now with 3 tickets and the fact that airfare is more expensive anyway we've driven to port for our last 3 cruises. And for us that essentially means N.O or JAX. I'm not will to drive more than 7 or 8 hours.

I'd love to see someone back in Mobile. But with Galveston, New Orleans and now Houston I just don't think it will happen any time soon.

Bring kids yogurt too. It doesn't need to be refrigerated so it's a good thing to bring into port if they get hungry. There's plenty of regular yogurt on board but that's needs to be kept cool so not a good choice to bring into port.

Since the switched coffee 3 years ago I find it tolerable. Prior to that it was undrinkable IMO.

We bring a few snacks with us. (Small bags of pretzels, cheese its, granola bars etc.) we find having something in the cabin quick is key. Sometimes room service takes too long or you just don't want that much food. Same logic for the buffet we don't find there's much to "snack" on. Or maybe it's just I don't have enough will power but I always wind up with more than I wanted!!

We don't bother to bring anything else with us though (cokes, water, booze etc.) the mini bar is sufficient for cravings.

I think all the ships sunk!

 

 

 

j/k :D

Firstly, that literally made me lol.

Secondly, I've been having trouble with their website for a few weeks now. I can't look at their shore excursions or spa stuff from my laptop. I just keep getting that towel animal page. When I login from my phone I can shop them. I don't get it. They're both mac's and both using safari and I never had any problems before using my laptop.

Oh well. At least the glitch is saving me money !

We use the scented bags as well. Only Disney (that I know of) provides diaper genies. The scented bags algorithm really well but any plastic you can tie up with work just as well.

Nope we are the same way. We were on a cruise when the big tornado came through Alabama 4 (5?) years ago. We saw on the news that our town was hit. We thought about calling in to check on our house. We decided against it and figured we might as well enjoy the cruise without worrying about it. If our house was gone what would knowing about it change?

Might still be weird but I agree with your logic. I don't understand people rushing to the hospital when loved ones are admitted. Unless you're a doctor you can't help. (I'm not talking about stopping by to visit, Southerners seem to think they must camp out in the hospital for the duration no matter how small the matter)

It is bigger, quieter, less crowded, cleaner and does not smell like chlorine. If you prefer the hot tubs, no problem. I don't want to be jumped on by kids, witness drunken sex, be deafened by loud music or get sunburned. I love the T pool and I am willing to pay for it. Each to his own preference. No Harm no Foul.

Don't be so quick to dismiss the drunken sex ;)

Bermuda hands down. No contest. Bermuda has been my favorite itinerary by far and I keep trying to get back but unfortunately can't work out the scheduling.

Before I went to Bermuda I was very concerned about "just" being docked for 3 days. But it was great to not have to rush anywhere. Great island, great weather, great people. Add that it's a closer port for y'all to leave from and it's a no-brainer to me.