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On 3/24/2024 at 4:35 AM, karena1 said:

We dock at Taino cruise port not Amber Cove according to the cruise schedule

 

I know. You mentioned that. Map shows distance from your port

On 3/11/2024 at 2:38 PM, karena1 said:

Do you know how how far this is from Taino cruise port and how much the taxi will cost?

 

No clue on taxi. But a 5 second Google search states 15 mins from port. (see pic). We dock in Amber Cove so figure we'll be paying more.

Golf cart seats in general don't move forward or backwards.

We're looking at this one for September over the 2 you listed as by researching had better reviews:

https://www.resortpass.com/hotels/iberostar-costa-dorada

This post should answer your questions. You can go on your own without a tour as it's right by the dock:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2923504-monkeyland-taino-bay-puerto-plata/

On 1/21/2024 at 2:54 PM, mjkacmom said:

RIU is our favorite so far, breakfast/lunch buffet was good, beach beautiful, drinks included.

They recently raised their day pass from $110 to $160pp. OUCH!

https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/travel/faqs/#:~:text=Most visitors arriving to the,visa to enter the country.

I just notice for our Celebrations cruise that they recently raised the prices $3 per day... UGH

When we're cruising...we're not texting anyone  🤭

Always amazes me how rude/pushy some are to get on the ship first. You're all leaving at the same time and going to the same place. It's the same with airlines. Everyone crowds near the gate to get on first and stand ready get off the plane as soon as the front wheel hits the ground.

1 hour ago, craig01020 said:

I've heard that breakfast is complimentary on Johnny Rockets, but haven't verified that.

Yes, B-fast is

We're new to Carnival (avid Royal cruisers) and wondering if Carnival has Black Friday deals for on-board packages etc.? We've always waited for Black Friday to add packages such as 40% off internet and such. I couldn't find a thread when searching so if anyone can attach a link or any info, that would be great. 

19 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Small world. We'll be in 11358 in January! 😀

Indeed it is. We liked the cabin number as "358" is my firefighter number so we had to have it 👨‍🚒🚒

On 5/11/2023 at 12:53 PM, VictorWI said:

 

We had the bump out balcony directly below you last week (#11358) and it had two loungers, a table and a single chair. We enjoyed lounging out there with the shade for sea day afternoons. Anyone know if you get one configured like this will they honor a request to swap a chair with another lounger?

 

Outstanding review! This will be our first Carnival cruise as we have been avid/loyal Royal cruisers. @VictorWI We will be sailing on Celebration 9/1/24 in same cabin (11358). Is the bed or couch closer to the balcony?

We took our clothes steamer on Symphony recently. I think it passed as it looks like a hair dryer and handle folded as well. It worked wonderfully and was very convenient:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P456NHG?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details&th=1

We had zero issues a couple of weeks ago on Symphony and was just as quick as our Wi-Fi at home. This was on both phones and laptops.

Symphony 2 weeks ago out of Miami they weren't checking times. Hell, all they checked was Set Sail Pass to board. We were never asked vax status, show cards or even passports. Facially rec was used at customs disembarking so passports weren't asked for either. We were onboard within mins as well as offboard and through customs.  

16 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Could be a lot of issues, for sure.  

 

And I just want to make it clear that I, in no way and stated, don't/didn't find fault with your post or your review.  I was just sharing my experience with the food on the cruises that I've been on.  

Appreciate your input for sure. Believe me, we are beyond grateful, blessed and lucky to even have an opportunity to sail and be able to vent a bit. Overall, we're all lovers of this lifestyle that not everyone can afford or endure.

14 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

On a cruise ship, especially Royal, I don't think I've had a meal that I would come into a social media forum and complain about.  NO!  I'm not finding fault with those of you in here that have.  I'm just saying that it hasn't happened to me.  I've dined around the world in a lot of the higher-end restaurants and some of the best Big Box restaurants and many many Ma/Pa corner restaurants.  So, I think I know what a good meal tastes like.  I also know what a bad meal tastes like, Military Mess Halls come to mind!  But, many of those were very good too. 

 

Is Royal's buffet and other included eating venues "WORLD CLASS"?  No, of course not.  But, to me, they have always been acceptable. Now, I'd like for Royal to swap dessert recipes with Rustbucket Cruise Lines, Inc.  Rustbucket Cruise Lines, Inc., does a couple things better than Royal, that's desserts and Spa.  But, I'll never cruise Rustbucket Cruise Line, Inc., again.  But, that's a whole other story, for another day.  

 

Sorry if your meal(s) wasn't up to par!  

Same boat as you as far as world traveler and ate at countless places in my 58 years. My point was the food doesn't compare to every other Royal cruise we had been on. The quality and variety/selection changes weren't like every prior cruise. I had to ask my wife if I was imagining it and she agreed that it was a disappointment on the sailing. We expected better from Royal. But like mentioned, it could have been the ship and maybe where they sourced for this itinerary.

The punches also depend on the barista and the amount of "shots" added to the coffee etc. Just off Symphony and depending on barista we had depended on punches. Sometimes, they didn't charge any extra punches. My wife would order a Grande and he would split it to 2 smaller cups so we both had a specialty coffee and only charged one punch. It was definitely not consistent.

49 minutes ago, Rysyonok said:

 

Thank you for your review. Have you tried all the free venues, e.g., Solarium Bistro, El Loco? Have you tried any paid ones - or have you seen how much they were booked? What kind of promotions were being pushed for paid food venues, prior to the sailing and onboard?

 

WJ used to have a hidden gem that I call "chef's night off"; it's when on a formal night all the more senior crew are pulled to MDR, and some genuinely ethnic dishes come out, the kind you both can't name and can't resist 🙂 Has there been no changes like that at all?

We did try Solarium Bistro a couple of times for breakfast and lunch and was pretty much the same food selections offered in the WJ and of course we hit Sorento's and Promenade Café for snacks. Again, both were disappointing. The pizza was wafer thin and the selection at the Café was minimal and always the same. We didn't do any specialty dinning on this cruise as we have in the past. We just felt that the food that we always really enjoyed at the many "included" venues has slipped to what we considered cafeteria food. Oh...and don't get me started on the "prime rib". Pure leather. Shame as the rest of the ship is exceptional. 

Just off Symphony and not sure if it's a post-Covid thing or what, but the food was very subpar from any other pre-Covid cruise we have been on. Is this just on Symphony or fleet wide? Is it a way to upsell specialty dining and packages? So what do I mean by subpar? The food was extremely bland with not much flavor. It seemed no matter what we ordered in the MDR or ate at WJ, Park Cafe etc., there was very little flavor. I remember how rich the food tasted on previous cruises and bragged to friends about the food on RC. Also, the selection in WJ didn't change much as in the past and the selection of pastries was almost non-existent. Maybe 3-4 of the same packaged style items every day. As others have noted, the food was luke warm at best. I'm a big foodie and was disappointed with this as I was looking forward to some nice savory meals. Now, to be fair, my mother, who's a cruise specialist TA, is currently on Odyssey in the Mediterranean and stated the food was lovely. One great thing on this sailing was the crew. EVERYONE was so welcoming, friendly and accommodating. Dennis the CD and the 2 comedians were outstanding. Flight was beyond amazing and the ice shows were also very good. Hiro was really good for the first half before being stopped for winds. This cruise was super crowded with a lot more kids onboard than we had anticipated but most were behaved. School still out...it's been 2+ years 😉 These were just me and my wife's observations as your thoughts and tastes may have been different.

9 minutes ago, Arubamoose said:

No Central Park or Boardwalk.  

 

It does have the Mall of America.  Quantum class has to be my least favorite.  Have done Anthem and Odyssey and going back on Odyssey this weekend only because of the itinerary.  Walking around those ships makes me feel like I am at the mall.  Shops that I have no interest in going in.  Restaurants that feel like a food court instead of fine dining.  No outside windows to let you know you are on a ship.

 

Oasis class is my favorite because it has Central Park.

 

100% agree. Least favorite. It was like they pieced it together. Oasis class for the win!

4 minutes ago, bluecruise456 said:

does the key allow my time dinners to front of line in MDR?

Nope

39 minutes ago, ARandomTraveler said:

Is 11am the earliest time you can get without being in a suite or having the key? 
 

10:30