jreichow1972

Can you tell me about the picture package?

I got the 10 pictured for $150. Got some small free gifts like a picture of the Glory, a lanyard, a travel coffee cup, a luggage tag and a USB drive that they told me they would upload a digital copy of my pictures on but then charged me $10 after I selected my pictures on the last sea day. I still considered it a good deal.

Belize, last time we saw Xunantunich but today I'm babysitting on the ship and the rest of the group is doing the River Wallace & Altun Ha Ruins. The whole group told me when they returned that the female tour guide spent so much time stopping the boat ride to point out monkeys, crocodiles or alligators and other wild life that their time at the ruins was ruined. When at the ruins they only got 30 minutes to climb 2 sites which was enough time to get to the top and immediately come down. They said they would have rather had more time to explore the ruins and less time on the river. They also questioned if they had fake crocodiles or alligators because they looked fake. My husband also said this site was not nearly as impressive as Xunantunich. Back on the ship more of the same as previous nights. Buffet, Casino, Gift Shops, Photo Gallery, Bed and of course that noisy water noise. I think it was this night or last night that it's sounded like a giant draining pipe early in the night and was quiet the rest of the night, yeah!

Cozumel, last time we did the Cozumel Bar Hop which was awesome! This time with the baby we decided Nachi Cocum. After checking in we decided to get massages 45 minutes for $50. My mom & I should have swapped cause she complained hers was too hard and I said mine was too soft. I wish I could go back in time and not get the massage cause I didn't feel like I got my money's worth. It was basically a over priced back rub. They guys rented jet skis and one was having mechanical issues so that was an ordeal. I was not impressed with Nachi Cocum after reading so many good reviews on here I had higher expectations. Food & drinks were not very good, beach was ok, pool water was cold, hot tub cold. The overall facility was nice, servers were good. We left early to shop in the port, went to Fat Tuesday's then back on the ship to eat at the buffet, more casino and back to the cabin. The water noise continued every night/day of the cruise when the ship was in movement.

Last sea day. We went to the Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast which was really done well. We all enjoyed it and it was just adorable! Afterwards I needed to close my picture package by 1pm but I was waiting on the pictures from the Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast which came just in time. We did the future cruise seminar but didn't book because the $100 IBC wasn't enough to make me have a sense of urgency to book now. We packed our bags and spent time on the cabin resting, I'm still having cold symptoms. Then we went to the casino and lost a little money before bed.

Disembarkment was a breeze. We were to the airport by 10:30am even though we dragged our feet for our 3pm flight. Wished we had earlier flights cause it was a real long day waiting for that flight,

In summary we had a great week. Our family has some great memories and pictures. The ship was nice, seas calm, extremely friendly staff and mostly good weather

Cabins 9262, 9258, 1114

Just wanted to share a quick review of our cruise. Sorry no pics or food porn. We had 8 in our group my husband and I in cabin 9262, my daughter, son in law and granddaughter in 9258 and daughter, son and mother in 1114. We originally had 3 lido balconies in a row but when we invited my mother we had to change cabins and had chosen to let Carnival choose the cabin as this option was cheaper than us choosing our own by approximately $500.

We flew Southwest to Fort Lauderdale on New Years Eve and it was cheap but we didn't like the boarding groups vs choosing the seat at booking. We had one of the last boarding group called and most of our group was scattered throughout the plane which worried me being my sons first flight and he had to sit among strangers and the flight was very turbulent the entire flight; so much so that the Captain apologized several times for the bumpy flight and stated he requested elevation changes several times trying to find us a smooth ride but there was nothing more that could be done.

We arrived in Fort Lauderdale and rented two Hyundai Santa Fe's from Budget that we pre-reserved online. They were pretty fast to get us checked out and on our way.

I booked us in the Homewood Suites Airport on 74th St if I remember correctly. It was around $750+ for 2 nights, cheaper than 2 decent hotel rooms. Our room had a bedroom with a king bed, a bedroom with 2 queens and a living room with a sofa sleeper. It worked out great for our group and we all really liked the amenities. There were lots of kitties at the pool and I was excited to see them but once I got close I was saddened that the big orange guy had a big limp and the black and white one had a wound on its hip. I was glad these kitties were allowed to stay there. They were definitely well fed by the guest.

New Years Eve we drove to Bayside Marketplace hoping to try Bubba Gump but it was so crowded being that they had a big festival in the adjoining park. It looked like so much fun but our group was tired and finding parking looked like as huge deal so we headed towards Miami Beach to find more festivities and parking issues so half the group opted to order a pizza in the suite and the rest of us went to Dolphin Mall to try to eat at Cheesecake Factory. Sadly they were out of 2 simple plates my husband ordered (a Cuban sandwich and then a club sandwich) so we left and went to Kona Grill which was much better.

The next day was spent shopping and trying to get my mom items she needed for the week seeing as American Airlines temporarily separated my mom from her bags at O'Hare when she was flying to my house. For dinner we finally made it through the traffic and finding parking to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp. All I will say is the drinks were good but overall that place is highly overrated, overpriced and service was sloooow!

Next day was embarkment and we took the cars to Budget for return and waited for a bit for a shuttle to port , nothing too exciting but it sure was hot out. I believe we made it to the port around 11 and were on the ship by noon eating a Guys Burger. It was a pretty quick and painless embarkment. Luggage made it to all our rooms by the time we got back from dinner. We had anytime dining and my daughter went to the hostess stand and was told seating was immediate, she went to the casino to get us and we went immediately which at that time we were told a 45 minute wait and were given a pager. Dinner service was great, our servers were awesome. This was our first time trying the American table/feast menu and it seemed like a downgrade compared to the old menu. I ate the flat iron and it was kind of gross and I left most of it uneaten which I normally never do, I love any steak and usually clean my plate!! Back at the room, time for bed and what do I hear... a water noise. It sounded like water sloshing back and forth in a pipe. At first the noise was not to bad but as the night went on it got louder and woke my husband during the night.

The next day was a nice calm sea day. We ate the buffet on lido for breakfast, Guys for lunch and MDR for dinner for formal night. During the day we spent time at the 18 & up pool & hot tubs. I ended up buying a package at Pixels for photos and we ventured into the Casino. MDR service was poor tonight and our server completely forgot my 17 month old Granddaughter's food twice. We all mostly ate Prime Rib and Lobster and all agreed again that the food was not as good as last cruise. I had earlier contacted my steward about the water noise and has an engineer in our room listening to the water noise. He seemed to be clueless and thought there was a hot tub over our room when there were cabins. Again the water noise continued and was louder.

Grand Cayman, we made it, last cruise we missed it due to weather. My husband and son did the USS Kittiwake snorkel, the rest of us went to 7 Mile Beach to a place called Royal Palms. We had a great afternoon. The facilities were clean, nice beach, nice bar, great drinks and the pool was awesome too. I would definitely go back there. The guys reported back that the USS Kittiwake snorkel was not too exciting although the ship wreck was interesting. They just seen far better snorkeling at other ports. Back on the ship we opted for the buffet, casino, then bed. Like the previous nights that water noise continued and we again notified the steward.

Mahogany Bay, second time here. We loved the first visit and this time rented a cabana which was a good choose as it rained most of the day. The cabana was very nice and they had a server to bring food and drinks. There were some sodas in the cabana fridge, water floating devices and plenty of seating. My husband snorkeled on the far side of the wooden pier which he likes. He also slipped and fell on a pier step which was very slippery. It was a nice but rainy beach day. Back on board we again went to the buffet for dinner, sat on our balcony and then went to bed. Again that water was sloshing in the pipe and was getting pretty loud. We were in communication with guest services who offered to switch rooms to an interior or we could get compensation. I took the later because I still wanted to have the connecting balcony with my daughter and granddaughter.

We sailed the Explorer (Borer) of the Seas Jan 29 for a 9nt cruise. I was so excited to try RCCL and it ended up being a Royal disappointment. Food and entertainment was mediocre to bad, service staff in dining, bars and room steward were unfriendly and lazy. Pool side servers were non-existant. Our room steward lectured me daily about using my door signs to let him know if I wanted service or not. I heard the ship was going into dry dock soon after our cruise and the staff just didn't care.

Does anyone know if there is a minimum age on going with a private company to see the ruins? My daughter wants to see the ruins but they all have a minimum age through the cruise line and her daughter will be almost a year and a half.

Can anyone recommend a good company who will get us back to the ship on time and in one piece?

I had one in March. It took 24 days to pass and a CT Scan says there are plenty more backed up in my kidneys waiting to come out. I've been told by a few to down lots of beer because it's makes you urinate a lot and that will help move the little sucker along. Next stone I will give it a try. Over the whole 24 days the first 4 were the worst. I'd ask your urologist before traveling.

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We did Balmoral in January and all of us thought it was a huge waste of money. Time wasted we will never get back. Rocky beach, miserable boat ride to and from, expensive crappy food and beverage, DJ blasting music and of course the jerks who yell at you for looking at the sting rays and dolphins. Don't even point your camera in that direction to take a picture of the sunset on your way out with your phone cause they will all scream at you.

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We drive 18-20 hours to Fort Lauderdale/Miami from Ohio every cruise and land vacations too. We leave early and drive 12 hours the first day and finish up the rest the next. Like others have said it's not bad if you take breaks.

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I swear I saw this exact video months ago.

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I am still going back and forth on doing the vow renewal. Our 25th will be July 2015 and I don't want to cruise in July. I like to get away when is cold to have a nice warm break away from the cold. So I'm tossed up. If I did it this coming winter it's too soon (24.5 years) and the following winter will be 25.5 years. What to do.....

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I thought about buying meds in port once and figured it wasn't worth the risk. The risk of counterfeits, the question of quality and regulations. Not worth risking my health or my life to save a few bucks.

I do hear people buy them and have no problems but with my luck I'd buy that one tainted bottle.

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Mmmm! I love biscuits and gravy. I put a little gravy on my eggs and potatoes too. Maybe I will make breakfast for dinner tomorrow. Delicious!

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I've been on the Liberty and the Freedom and loved them both, these were my husbands least favorite with the tiered lido seating. We have been on the Legend (sister ship of the Pride) which was my least favorite but my husbands favorite because of layout.

Liberty had all the upgrades which was great. Freedom does not have the upgrades yet but will go into dry dock soon. I didn't miss any of the upgrades when we sailed on the Freedom. I don't think you could go wrong on any of those ships. Have fun.

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The pit boss will take your sign and sail card and track your play. For the On Us program, on average, they are looking for a $15 wager per hand for 3-4 hours per day. Since there is no points for table games, it is up to each pit boss to determine eligibility. What you wagered on the Pride that earned you On Us status may not be enough to earn it on the Breeze. Depending on the ship and how busy the casino is, most pit bosses will not even fart in your direction for less than $10-$15 per hand. My first cruise, I played about 20 hours of $5 Let It Ride and the pit boss never even acknowledged my presence. Do not expect anything if you are playing minimum table limits unless you spend the entire cruise in the casino and/or become friendly with the dealers and pit boss, which in that case, the pit boss may offer you one free drink. Rare, and while I personally have never had or seen it happen, it does happen from time to time.

 

For comps/discounts/free play/etc. through the Ocean Players Club for future cruises, they are looking for a $25 wager per hand for 3-4 hours per day.

 

RdP :)

Good information! My husband plays more than I do but still the minimum.

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Were you playing $25 per spin? Usually you won't be rated at table games unless you play a minimum of $25. Not always the case, as my wife often has more cash at the cage waiting for her when we cruise, and I play $25 minimum craps, and she plays $5 roulette (at least that's what she tells me! :)).

 

One thing I have found, generally speaking, the nicer you are to the casino staff, the more liberal your comps.

 

Kevin C

I was only playing the $5 minimum and I swear I lost every time, lol.

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How is playing tracked at the tables? We played roulette and I gave them my sign and sail card as I heard I should but he just immediately set it on the table without looking at it. We play roulette and other tables every cruise but never gave them my card before this cruise.

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I have no other information other than what I have read on the internet. I just thought this information would be good to share. From what I'm reading it's totally random numbers they are dialing and I doubt scammers will abide by our laws or respect do not call list which I am on as well.

It would really stink if someone had been talking with a local tour operator in say Antigua and then got one of these auto dial scam calls from Antigua and called back thinking it was the tour operator.

I considered calling back just because I was recently on a tour in Antigua. The fact that no message was left and I wasn't going to call Antigua from my cell not knowing what they wanted and how much a call to Antigua would cost me was what stopped me from returning the call.

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Wow, this is crazy. We went on the liberty jan 18 to half moon cay, st Thomas, San Juan, and grand turk. Since we've been back we've been getting one ring calls from a number in Antigua, 268-762-0152. Luckily, we never tried calling it back.

 

Everyone should be aware! The only time we used the phone was some texts and picture messages on st Thomas and St. John. Scary they can come up with our phone number, but it had to be from this trip.

From what I have read they are using auto dialers that randomly call numbers. I also read that this is an old scam that went away but is now resurfacing.

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The Fantasy was our first cruise and we really enjoyed it. We really liked the ship and all the crew except the waiter Bernard. He told us to not even bother getting off the ship in Freeport and although after stopping there we did agree, it wasn't the most exciting place, it's just not what you want to hear when you are on vacation. We did have a great day there but it really turned excitement about a port into a real downer.

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Thanks for pointing this out and bringing it to everyone's attention.

Scams are far too many these days.

 

We did See Antigua By Sea on our last Breeze cruise.

We renamed the excursion "The Booze Cruise".. LOL.

It was so much fun. The guides were kind and upbeat, the transition from Caribbean to Atlantic was exciting (and scary).

I agree with the snorkeling though, and the beach was blah.

Yeah that rum punch sure taste sweet and fruity but packs one heck of a punch!

I agree the beach and snorkeling was a let down. I wasn't expecting the rough waters on the Atlantic side. That was a bit scary.

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Jreichow1972 do you sell team hats?

What do you mean? I don't sell any hats.

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I love B&B, Creme Brûlée and WCMC but the WCMC usually gives me heartburn. After I stopped eating it the heartburn was gone which is too bad cause I really like it. I didn't even try it until my third cruise.

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We got off a great cruise on the Freedom January 19th. One of our stops was Antigua and we did a Carnival excursion "See Antigua by Sea". The snorkel stop left much to be desired but it was a fun day.

Last Saturday I saw a call from Antigua but I didn't answer and no voicemail was left so I wondered... Who would call me from Antigua. I wondered if I maybe left something but I would have already noticed something missing. I knew I didn't talk or inquire with local tour providers about excursions. I never called the number back and thankfully I did not because I saw an article posted in my news feed on a social network site about a One Ring Phone Scam. I read the trouble begins when you call the number back and you get charges on your phone bill.

I thought this may be good info for fellow cruisers communicating with local tour companies. Hope this link attaches, if not an internet search will yield plenty of information. The article in my news feed listed several Caribbean area codes.

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/missed-call-one-ring-cell-phone-scam-could-cost-you-2D12044967

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We just booked 9293, please tell me what you felt was GREAT about the cabin :)

We really liked being close to everything on Lido. A quick walk in the morning to get coffee and drinking it on the balcony and enjoying the ocean view and sounds. There is only one neighbor and the other side is like a service balcony for staff.

The off the beaten path hallway made for little traffic. If you like to watch movies on Lido it's a quick walk back to the room for something in the room like something to cover up with if it's cold.

I never heard a peep of sound from the deck parties at night but when I'm tired I'm out as soon as I hit the pillow. My husband said he was suppressed at how quiet it was being so close to the main pool.

The steward was Ian (I think) and we didn't see him too much. He didn't leave us towel animals night 2 & 3 but I don't really care about that. He did keep the room clean and we were happy.

There was a sofa that coverts to a bed too. They had some linens in the drawer underneath so when my 17yo son got tired of sleeping in a pull down he shared in his sisters and her husbands interior we just made that up so he could stay with us.

It's a great cabin! Absolutely no cons. I will book that cabin on other future sailing.

Have a awesome cruise!

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We did Balmoral and all 5 of us were disappointed. The beach was rocky, food and beverages were over priced and it was a long, ugly, boring ride to the island. I think if I had spent more time researching I could have found much better for the money. The only upside was no locals harassing you to buy anything. Wish we would have tried Blue Lagoon.

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