Just off the Splendor

I just got off the Carnival Splendor. Food and service were great, weather was good (had some rain and rough seas in Cabo, yet we still tendered). Some excursions were canceled due to sea conditions.

Entertainment was generally pretty good - I thought the Playlist shows were really well done (including Epic Rock and Studio VIP, which I had seen before on Sunshine), although I was disappointed in one of the comedians we picked up in Puerto Vallarta (I didn’t see the other). Leon, the cruise director, is no Emma Nixon, but I think he has potential. I had high hopes for him given he made some effort to liven up the muster drill. We had the MJ String Trio from Poland on our sailing, and they were great - and they played a lot on our cruise, from outside the Gold Pearl to the atrium to the promenade.

The Internet package sucked big time, although ironically I was able to post to Facebook from outside the ship on a tender boat.

Since my only other cruises were on the Sunshine and the former Celebration, the layout felt largely familiar to me, although I enjoyed all of the extra open deck space at the aft, and the covered hot tubs on Deck 10 at Lido were amazing when the weather turned cooler.

I personally had no issues, but there were at least two cabins that lost air conditioning just from what I overheard at guest services. The ship could use some touch up paint but looks in pretty good condition for 10 years old.

Slots were somewhat generous in the Royal Flush casino - it would not be unusual to be ahead after one or two spins, although it would be followed by a bunch of losing spins. Cashing out was a breeze.

What questions do you have for me?

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Thanks for the update. We're going next Saturday, 9/29. Did you happen to use their parking lot? If so, what time did you get there?

Thanks again!

My wife and I are sailing on her in March. How is Cabo for people who don't give a darn about partying? We're getting two days in that port and we're leaning strongly towards skipping one of those days and staying aboard.

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Thanks for the report.

Tidecat,

What was your embark time window? I am sailing in November and the earliest slot I could pick was 12:00 to 12:30. Were there earlier slots available when you picked? I am just trying to find out what the earliest windows are that they offer. Thanks!

12 is the earliest slot but you can get their earlier with the plats and diamonds and FTTF folks. When we were there they had a separate line for people who were earlier than their listed time.

It is not generally a port where you get onto the ship much before noon at the earliest.

Cabo is a beach town on the edge of a desert. If you are not into beaches or beach activities or partying there are other excursions. Last time I rode a camel alongside the ocean which was unique for me. Most times we stay aboard in Cabo as it is our least favorite Mexican port.

Thanks for the update. We're going next Saturday, 9/29. Did you happen to use their parking lot? If so, what time did you get there?

 

 

Thanks again!

I did not park at the pier, but it looks like most people were there around 10:15-10:45

Tidecat,

 

What was your embark time window? I am sailing in November and the earliest slot I could pick was 12:00 to 12:30. Were there earlier slots available when you picked? I am just trying to find out what the earliest windows are that they offer. Thanks!

I was FTTF. Checked in around 11:00, and was one of the first 100 or so on about 11:30.

My wife and I are sailing on her in March. How is Cabo for people who don't give a darn about partying? We're getting two days in that port and we're leaning strongly towards skipping one of those days and staying aboard.

 

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That might be a good idea. I was at the Breathless resort (the “Exclusive Adults Only Beach Day”), and while it wasn’t raucous by any stretch, the DJ got old after a while. You may be able to find another beach excursion that may be a calmer scene.

We thought the MJ String Trio was awesome also.

tidecat & riffatsea,

Thank you for the answers. Appears that I was able to choose the earliest arrival time. It's be awhile since I sailed from Long Beach and now that I think about it probably before Carnival started with arrival windows. I have sailed from other ports recently and was able to choose 10:00 to 10:30. I guess each port is a little different.

My wife and I are sailing on her in March. How is Cabo for people who don't give a darn about partying? We're getting two days in that port and we're leaning strongly towards skipping one of those days and staying aboard.

 

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Sister and I were on Splendor in April. We got off the ship at Mazatlan and Cabo, shopped a few min then got back on the ship. Not worth it. Mazatlan was a tourist trap, IMO. We did an excursion in Puerto Vallarta and had a blast. We LOVED staying on the ship during sea days. Quiet and peaceful.

We LOVED staying on the ship during sea days.

True, the alternative is too horrific to imagine.

IF you didn't actually visit the city of Mazatlan how in the world can you call it a "tourist trap". It is a large bustling place where tons of USA citizens and Canadians call home in the winter.

I agree that one can really enjoy the ship on a day in port but you cannot judge a city if you didn't actually visit it!

IF you didn't actually visit the city of Mazatlan how in the world can you call it a "tourist trap". It is a large bustling place where tons of USA citizens and Canadians call home in the winter.

 

 

I agree that one can really enjoy the ship on a day in port but you cannot judge a city if you didn't actually visit it!

 

LuckyStar got off the port at Mazatlan.

It does have a large tourism district, and it is quite possible to speak only English and use only USD. I enjoyed the Mazatlan by Land and Sea excursion, although the boat ride portion was a little choppy due to sea conditions.

The market at the port is quite large, but I found it be a more pleasant environment than wading through the market at Nassau.

Sent from my eye phone using a three legged yak FFS

Sister and I were on Splendor in April. We got off the ship at Mazatlan and Cabo, shopped a few min then got back on the ship. Not worth it. Mazatlan was a tourist trap, IMO. We did an excursion in Puerto Vallarta and had a blast. We LOVED staying on the ship during sea days. Quiet and peaceful.

That's interesting. Back in April I also sailed. I found Mazatlan to be the least touristy city of the three.

My wife and I are sailing on her in March. How is Cabo for people who don't give a darn about partying? We're getting two days in that port and we're leaning strongly towards skipping one of those days and staying aboard.

 

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Forums mobile app

If you walk far enough around the marina there are some nice quiet bars where you can sit and watch the boats.

12 is the earliest slot but you can get their earlier with the plats and diamonds and FTTF folks. When we were there they had a separate line for people who were earlier than their listed time.

It is not generally a port where you get onto the ship much before noon at the earliest.

Cabo is a beach town on the edge of a desert. If you are not into beaches or beach activities or partying there are other excursions. Last time I rode a camel alongside the ocean which was unique for me. Most times we stay aboard in Cabo as it is our least favorite Mexican port.

I wanted to chime in and say I have a check-in time of 11:30am for my Splendor cruise out of Long Beach next week.

True, the alternative is too horrific to imagine.

Ha ha...I just got my boo boo. I did mean port days and you knew that. :rolleyes:

IF you didn't actually visit the city of Mazatlan how in the world can you call it a "tourist trap". It is a large bustling place where tons of USA citizens and Canadians call home in the winter.

I agree that one can really enjoy the ship on a day in port but you cannot judge a city if you didn't actually visit it!

We did walk into the town. It was crazy. We didn't stay long but know what we saw. You have your opinions and I have mine. You work for the Dept of Tourism and get offended easily?

IF you didn't actually visit the city of Mazatlan how in the world can you call it a "tourist trap". It is a large bustling place where tons of USA citizens and Canadians call home in the winter.

 

 

I agree that one can really enjoy the ship on a day in port but you cannot judge a city if you didn't actually visit it!

 

Maybe they went to the Golden Zone? Think I’ve seen that once. We usually stop at the Mercado for lunch, raspados in front of the church and rarely go further.

Thanks for the update. We're going next Saturday, 9/29. Did you happen to use their parking lot? If so, what time did you get there?

 

 

Thanks again!

We are on that cruise with you on saturday. Start our long journey from western alaska tomorrow very excited.

I have a few questions:

1. Do you have your fun times you can scan?

2. Did you visit the spa? if so what is the mud and flotation rooms like and cost?

3. How rough is the muster (we usually cruise on RCCI and they muster inside I hate the thought of going back to the outside muster but we got a great deal on a suite for our 20th anniversary trip)

Thanks in advance

Splendor musters outside. The deck is open but shaded. Hasn’t been too bad on our Splendor cruises.

I have a few questions:

1. Do you have your fun times you can scan?

2. Did you visit the spa? if so what is the mud and flotation rooms like and cost?

3. How rough is the muster (we usually cruise on RCCI and they muster inside I hate the thought of going back to the outside muster but we got a great deal on a suite for our 20th anniversary trip)

 

 

Thanks in advance

I saved all the fun times, I can scan them in later this week.

I did have the spa pass so I had access to the Thalasso pool and thermal suite. It was $111.20 for the week, which I believe was after a 20% discount. I did not try the flotation or mud therapy as those were not included. I did get a decent hot stone massage, although there is a place here where I could get one about 45% cheaper than what I paid on board.

Muster wasn’t bad for being held outside, although the card scanners were not in place right away, which added to how long it took. Guests seemed to cooperate, which made up for it. Leon, the cruise director, did try to liven up the script. The drill took about 30 minutes. We began sailing a few minutes later at 4:08 PM.