agp_mzk

This is so sad. I'm probably one of the few who prefer Freeport to Nassau. Last time we were in Nassau we stayed on the ship. As for Freeport, we've gone out to Paradise Cove/Deadman's Reef to snorkel and it's really good snorkeling. Hope they recover soon.

I'm with you. I strongly prefer Freeport to Nassau. I also went to Paradise Cove on my recent stop in Freeport, and the snorkeling was absolutely outstanding. I'm so sad to hear how badly the island was hammered by Hurricane Matthew. I hope they're able to get the infrastructure repaired enough to resume cruise stops very soon so that the tourism dollars will start flowing again.

You don't have to be using a wheelchair or scooter to get smacked in the head by one of those fully-loaded "bug-out" backpacks! As a woman who stands just under 5'2", I've been nearly knocked over by those, on more than one occasion. Usually, it's a close quarters situation (crowds, queues, etc) and the person wearing the backpack suddenly turns around, totally oblivious to the folks nearby!:eek:

YES! I could have written this post myself. At 5' tall, I spend what feels like half my life dodging other people's backpacks (I work on a college campus). Airplanes are the absolute worst, with cruises a close second. Please have enough situational awareness to avoid those around you when wearing one of those things. Some of them are really heavy, and it HURTS when they smack you in the face, especially at a high rate of speed.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I would think that Amazon should have some responsibility, as they sold you "faulty" gift cards. Since you can show that you bought them on X date, and the cards were used prior to that, they should be held accountable. Just my $0.02.

Agreed. It's not Carnival's fault that Amazon sold you gift cards that someone else stole (or sold two cards with the same number). I've had good luck with Amazon's customer service in the past; I'm surprised they blew you off so quickly.

Any wild fish/animal can potentially be dangerous. Sometimes we need a reminder like this thread. I've come upon barracudas while snorkeling a couple of times.

In Cozumel in 2013:

And in Freeport this past May:

I've always given these guys a wide berth, and they've done the same to me. I always keep an eye on them as I back away, not that I could really "get away" if I needed to. I also wear solid, dark bathing suits and no jewelry when I snorkel, and my camera is blue, so (hopefully) it kind of blends in with the water instead of sticking out. We can't control all the circumstances in our interactions with wildlife, but I do try to take all the common-sense precautions I can.

I did finally decide to get the Tribord mask. I took it to the local swimming pool to give it a try and it worked just as advertised. No fogging your mouth and nose are separate from the viewing area of the mask. It was not hard to use at all and very comfortable to wear. No problem with the seal as long as you get the correct size(had to send DH's back for smaller size). No trouble breathing while actively swimming like some have stated. All in all I am super happy I got the mask and can't wait to use it in December!

That's great to hear! It looks like we'll be sailing the same week in December. Happy snorkeling!

A good seal has never been an issue with the 3 of us...teenager and his parents.

 

Fogging has never been an issue either.

 

Good luck

Thanks! I may have to try one of these out on my December cruise. It would be nice to be able to snorkel without having to surface every couple of minutes to take the mouthpiece out and re-group. :)

I still don't think the tribord mask offers anything that a traditional mask and snorkel do not. It also seems like it would be much harder getting and maintain a good mask seal around your whole face - which is what will keep the water out.

I am considering a tribord (or similar) mask because I LOVE to snorkel but have a hypersensitive gag reflex. Holding the snorkel in my mouth is extremely uncomfortable on a good day and nearly impossible on a bad day. This type of device seems like a solution to me. Like you, I am concerned about the ability to maintain a good seal with this mask. I'm also wondering whether fogging is an issue. Can any of the posters here who have used one comment on those concerns?

America's Cup Yacht Race in St. Martin (a ship's excursion)

This one makes the top of my list of favorite excursions, too - well worth the money! Other favorites (none of them Carnival-sponsored excursions) for me have been Sapphire Beach in St. Thomas, Paradise Cove in Freeport (really fantastic snorkeling), and Nachi Cocom in Cozumel.

Beautiful!

Thank you!

This is my favorite cruise photo for not only its beauty but also what it represents. This was taken on my first (and only so far, but definitely not last) solo trip on the Freedom in 2014. It was also my first balcony. I'd had a rough year and really needed the peace and quiet that the balcony offered. Every evening before dinner, I'd sit out on the balcony, have a glass of wine, and watch the sunset. This was by far the best sunset picture I got this week, taken as we sailed out of Half Moon Cay. I made some amazing friends that week and had a great time, but my favorite memories were definitely those self-reflective evenings spent sitting in silence on my balcony. It's not the most technically perfect photo I've ever taken by far, but it's my favorite.

Nachi Cocum is a very nice beach with great food and drinks

While the "best" excursion really depends on what you enjoy doing, I agree with this poster's recommendation! I loved Nachi Cocom when I visited there a few years ago, and I'm looking forward to returning in December. There are pictures of our day there in my Paradise review (link in my signature). I didn't take as many shareable pictures as I usually do (the alcohol was flowing VERY freely that day); hopefully I will be able to take more/better photos this time around. :D

Also, I would like to reserve at the steak house. How do I know when our cruise elegant night will be so that I don't choose that night??

In my experience, the elegant night (or first elegant night on longer cruises) has typically been held on the first sea day.

I like to go to the steak house on the first night for the free wine. :)

Actually, hurricane season officially started June 1st, so we are probably due one anytime now....

More than over due, actually. This has been the longest period in recorded history without a hurricane entering the Gulf:

https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-drought-gulf-of-mexico

I'm so very sorry for your loss.

Two years ago, I booked a solo cruise for myself and ended up at a wonderful table of other solo and single travelers. Two of my table mates and another person we adopted into our group mid-week were recent widow(er)s. I was going through some turbulence in my own life as well at the time, although nothing on that level. It ended up being an absolutely magical week. Several of us keep in touch to this day. I can't imagine another trip ever topping that one! You can find a review of that trip in my signature if you'd like (Freedom 2014).

The nice thing about cruising is that you can find a group to join in with when you'd like, and you can find plenty of time for solitude and reflection, when needed, as well. There's nothing quite like the healing powers of the sea.

Get a guidebook on your ports...there is more to the Caribbean than beaches!!

Or, for more current information without the expense of trouble of finding a guide book, she could just Google the ports she's considering. :) I see the "get a guide book" advice trotted out on CC a lot, and I just don't understand it. More information can be found online (and much more quickly!) than in even the best guide book.

Thanks for continuing your review!

See the review in my link for my B2B cruise this year. I have a photo of our lunch there.

Thanks! I've been there once, but I didn't take any food pictures (we enjoyed the free flowing alcohol a bit TOO much on that trip...), so I have to live vicariously through other cruisers for now until I can get back there.

Please don't leave us hanging! I'm anxiously awaiting the Nachi Cocom food pictures to hold me over until my visit there in December. :)

Once again, please provide these menus or link to them. Everyone at the CT gets a copy of the menu to take home. The 2016/2013-14 menus are the same on both of my copies??:confused:

A word of advice! Before you call someone out for something you think to be false, it is always prudent to have your proof and facts in order and ready to present!!:):)

 

Unless someone speaks out and presents an updated menu for the CT, since say 2013, I stand by by original statement.

I'm sorry that I don't save links to all of the dozens of reviews I read here on Cruise Critic. All I can tell you is that I have seen MULTIPLE posters review the Chef's Table since my 2013 cruise on the Paradise, and I have seen two CT menus that are different than the one I experienced since that time. You can choose to believe me or not, but that is what I have seen ON THIS VERY BOARD.

Can you provide a menu, that shows that it has changed in the last 3-4 years?

I haven't done CT since 2013, but I have seen two menus posted in various reviews here since then that are different than the one I have/did. One change happened shortly after my trip, and one change happened very recently.

I've only been once (but will be going back in December!), and our trip was definitely "all you can eat". I never even got to the entree - we must have eaten at least dozen servings of guacamole and ceviche between the four of us! Carlos just kept the servings (and drinks!) coming. :D

If you're going to be in even moderately crowded conditions, your fellow travelers will thank you for wearing a cross body bag instead of a backpack. I am 5'1", and I've lost track of the number of times (easily in the dozens) that I've been smacked (hard!) in the face by someone taller than me wearing a backpack who swung around suddenly without bothering to check their surroundings first. :mad:

Some friends and I just did this itinerary (on the Liberty) in May 2015. You can read the full review in my signature, but our excursions were:

St. Thomas - taxi to Sapphire Beach

Barbados - taxi to The Boatyard

St. Lucia - Carnival's Kayak Pigeon Island excursion

St. Kitts - Carnival's Rail and Sail excursion

St. Maarten - taxi to Saraphina's and Maho Beach

The CT menu has not changed in at least 3-4 years.

This is not true. I did the Chef's Table on the Paradise in 2013, and the menu has changed twice since then. I can't wait to do it again on the Dream this December!

Unless you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the near future, Zika isn't something you really have to worry about.