Glory 0912-0919.09

[whoohooo]

Since this is my first review, it will take me a while to write it all up, but I'll do this as the dry run and then submit an actual one for the review section. Here goes.

 

Day One- 0911.09- Took off a half day from work and the wife and I drove to Lake City Florida for the night, not bad, only a six and a half hour drive if we had missed Atlanta rush hour which we did not. Stayed in the Fairfield Inn and Suites off I-75.

 

Day Two- 0912.09- Pulled out of the parking lot around 0930 headed to the port. All went well except for the GPS making me look like a fool right at the Florida Turnpike Exit, the less said about that the better I think. Anyway, got to the port around 1300 and was through security, turned in our three question medical questionare, past the desk with our cards in hand and on board by 1400. Straight to the cabin, 7383, to drop off the carry-ons andup to the Lido for lunch. After lunch we killed time exploring before muster. After muster we went to our cabin to find our bags already there, impressive. After unpacking we met our steward, Rizky. Great guy, very friendly and always greeted us with a smile and by name. Sail away was an excuse for a DOD, Funship Special. The only other thing to come to mind about the first day was a guy named Bobby G, I swear he looked like Elvis and was everywhere. Didn't go to the show tonight, hit the buffet and then right to bed.

[whoohooo]

Day Three- 0913.09- Nassau- I don't see why people don't like this port, I loved it. I went expecting it to be a day at the beach, which it was and wasn't disappointed at all. Bit of advice, Senor Frogs is not open in the morning so don't walk down that way, get a cab and head to I think it's cable beach, a public beach on Paradise Island. Beautiful water, even with 6-8 foot waves. Be warned though, if there aren't many people there yet you will have to keep telling people you don't want anything from them. It gets much better when more people get there cause they learn you aren't going to buy and have more people to ask anyway. After an hour on the beach we got a cab back to the port area, $4 each each way and they don't leave till the van is full. Went right to Senor Frogs and each had The Yard, I had a Bahama Mama and my Wife had a Sex on the Beach, both very good drinks. After that we went back to the ship.

 

Tonight was the first act in the Comedy Club in the Ebony Caberet, Percy Crews. Great show, so good we got tickets to see his PG show the next night and liked it as well. Don't let the fact you have to get tickets worry you, they do it cause it isn't in the main Amber Palace so space is limited and the tickets are free and come with a $1 off drink coupon for the club.

 

Didn't go to the Amber Palace tonight or to the Cruise Elegent dinner either, tired and didn't want to dress up at all so we always ate buffet, pizza, or grill. Never did go to the dinning room.

[whoohooo]

Day Four- 0914.09- Day at Sea- This was a lazy day, laid out on deck and read, got some sun and watched the water pass by. Didn't do much of the activities on board, just wanted to rest and rest we did. Not much to say about today other than we saw Al Ernst in the Comedy club this night.

[whoohooo]

Day Five 0915.09- St. Thomas- We went with what we were told here on the boards and set up a tour with Sunny Liston. If you are going to St. Thomas, book with Sunny. We had a great time, you can't help but sing and laugh on his tour. Oh and beware of the Banana Diaquri on the mountain, its a banana smoothie with rum poured all over the top of it. Good stuff. You will be amazed at the places Sunny can get his open air tour bus in and out of. We did shopping, got three bottles of rum for $27 and had it taken to the ship for us, wife got some shirts and a necjlace or two. This island is beautiful, the people were very pleasant and I just loved every minute of it.

 

I've run out of time at work so I'lll wait till tomorrow to finish up. As alaways if you have any questions or anything please let me know and I will be glad to answer them.

[BlueC5Kitten]

Did you go to the Comedy Club each night? Were the acts comparable to what you might get on land at your local comedy club? I'm really interested in this, and will be sailing the Glory in January!

 

Thanks for the review...keep the info coming! :)

[katiel53]

We are going on Glory in a few weeks and I am enjoying your review. Where do you get the tickets for the comedy show and when do you get them? I know you said you got them the day before, but am wondering where to get them and how far in advance they can be picked up.

 

Thanks for the info.

[whoohooo]

Did you go to the Comedy Club each night? Were the acts comparable to what you might get on land at your local comedy club? I'm really interested in this, and will be sailing the Glory in January!

 

Thanks for the review...keep the info coming! :)

 

 

They had four different acts and we went to each of the r- rated shows. Yes, the acts were as good as you would see on land. You'll love it.

[whoohooo]

We are going on Glory in a few weeks and I am enjoying your review. Where do you get the tickets for the comedy show and when do you get them? I know you said you got them the day before, but am wondering where to get them and how far in advance they can be picked up.

 

Thanks for the info.

You get the tickets at the port shopper desk. It's right beside the creams coffee shop, deck 5 Promanade Midship. The were only open for like an hour or two at a time but they opened several time during the day. After a certain time you can get them from the casino cashier desk.

 

As far as how far in advance, you can get them the day before. If you don't get tickets, they have a line for standby seating and i never saw anyone turned away.

[whoohooo]

Day six- 0916.09- St. Maarten- I highly recommend the water taxi here, $6 each and you can ride back and forth all day. When you get off the pier into where the bars and little stands are look to the left near where all the sand is piled up and you will see the entrance for the water taxi. We rode to the downtown stop, not sure why you would get off at the other stop it makes, as it's not that far from where you get on the thing.

 

Just a heads up, when you get to the end of the dock, you will be asked if you want everything from a taxi, to beads, rent a car, you name it and they are persistant. Just say no thank you and keep on trucking.

 

If you get off the ship early, don't plan on going shopping, everything is still closed. We walked down the boardwalk area and saw signs for two chairs, and umbrella, and either two frozen drinks or five beers for $20. Seeing as it was morning we walked to just past the Hollandhouse Hotel and got two chairs and an umbrella for $10, right at the water. If you like to look for shells, you will have a hard time finding a better port than this one to do it in, they are every where. The water is so calm and pretty I swam around for at least on hour.

 

We noticed more and more things starting to open so I laid out and dried off and then it was time to go shopping.

 

First little place we found that we bought anything is a little Belgian Chocolate Shop we heard about on the ship and here. If you love chocolate you have to go here, this stuff must have crack in it cause you try one piece and your hooked.

 

Second shop was right next door, it's a purse/liquor store. If anybody here collects liquor, namely Jack Daniels, I bought a bottle of Jack Daniels Silver Select for $40 here, and didn't see it in any of the other stores we went to.

 

I think if I had to choose, this would be the island I would pick to retire on. Clean streets, beautiful beaches, warm friendly people, all around a great place.

 

Oh, if anyone goes looking for diamonds, we bought one here. The price started at $1500 and we got it for just under $1100 and it only took about 20 minutes to get that low. And yes I have already taken it to be appraised and was tols it was worth more than $1500.

 

Got some jam for gifts back home and some Guavaberry Liquor, then back to the ship

[BaseballMomof4]

Do you have any photos of the ship? We will be sailing the Glory in December and would love to see what she looks like!

 

Great review!

[whoohooo]

Sorry, we didn't take many pictures and I haven't seen one picture we took of the ship yet. The only place that the colors theme goes a bit overboard is in the arcade and the Ultraviolet kids lounge. Think Dayglow Orange.

 

Oh, also, I don't know what people are complaining about as far as wear and tear on the ship, or anything being nasty. They were ALWAYS cleaning the public areas, for instance, they always had a guy on duty with cleaning supplies on the promanade deck by Creams to clean up any messes right away.

 

Yes there was some carpet fading and it seemed the elevators were all missing some little tiles, 1/2 inch X 1/2 inch tiles, from the floors, but all in all you really had to look to find anything not in tip top shape. I did notice one place on deck ten, it looked like the wood railing broke and had to be replaced with a stained 2x4, but that was it for a ship this big and this busy I say that was remarkable to be the only things.

[katiel53]

You get the tickets at the port shopper desk. It's right beside the creams coffee shop, deck 5 Promanade Midship. The were only open for like an hour or two at a time but they opened several time during the day. After a certain time you can get them from the casino cashier desk.

 

As far as how far in advance, you can get them the day before. If you don't get tickets, they have a line for standby seating and i never saw anyone turned away.

 

Thanks for the info. I know we will want to go to the comedy shows.

[whoohooo]

You'll enjoy it, I remember seeing comedy in the main show lounge on my first cruise and it was terrible, but this was great. Much more intimate setting and more banter between the act and guests. If however you plan on buying that nights acts cd, they only take cash. They are not set up to accept credit cards or the sail and sign cards. Just a heads up.

[BaseballMomof4]

I'm sure we will make a point of seeing all the comedy shows - thanks for the info, I put it on my Glory "cheat sheet" :D

[whoohooo]

One more thing before I continue, you can tell the Captain is Italian, we were doing 20+ knots and it didn't feel like the stabilizers were out even once. It was fun once we got used to it, but that first couple of nights was touch and go as far as our stomaches went.

[whoohooo]

Day seven- 0917.09- Day at sea- Slept in till we heard the room stewards doing their thing up and down the hall. Went to breakfast on the lido, grits, toast and eggs. I didn't think the omlet station was worth the wait, the eggs on the buffet were just fine.

 

Laid out in the sun and read for about an hour, went to the cabin for a nap, did this daily. Woke up about four most evenings. Did our donations to the Casino, bout $120 all together and decided enough was enough. Lido dinner and then to the Amber Palace for a show, Let's Rock. Not bad considering we were on a moving ship. Just keep that in mind when you see a show, due to rocking of the ship and such you aren't going to see too much in the way of a WOW factor for safety sake.

 

After the show we wnt to a comedy show, Diane Ford, R-rated. Pretty funny, hope you like a routine about farts. I did. :D

 

AFterwards, up to lido for ice cream then off to bed.

[whoohooo]

Day eight- 0918.09- Day at sea- Pretty much a carbon copy of the day before, except no comedy show and the Amber palace had the Carnival Legends show, it was really good I thought. Nothing spectacular about today other than after the show we went to the cabin and all my liquor had made it to the cabin safe and sound ready for packing. Packed everything up and put the bags out in the hallway and went to bed.

[whoohooo]

Day Nine- 0919.09- Port Canaveral- Up at 0700 and showered and dressed. Out of the room by 0800. We went to wait for our Zone to be called, Zone nine, on the Promanade deck right across from Creams. By 0930 we were called, through customs, had out bags and were in the car making our, we made it back, phone calls.

 

The trip back wasn't to bad, made pretty good time. Doing 80 with a trip to 90 every once in a while will do that I suppose. Just in case anybody needs to know, there is a Books-A-Million in Valdosta GA. Exit 18. Turn left at GA-133/GA-94/N St. Augustine Road. Keep driving and looking for a Lowes on your Left right before a red light. Go through that intersection and BAM should be in by Best buy on your right.

[whoohooo]

Now for the pros and cons of our trip.

 

Pros- Comedy shows were all great

Amber Palace shows that we saw were pretty good

Cruise Director James was funny and easy going

Jeff-the-fun-dude, not Funguy, that's what grows in your shower :rolleyes:

Port Canaveral, very friendly staff, very easy to get to and from

Embarkation and debarkation went very smoothly

Plenty to do onboard if you wanted something to do

Great Ports

Best Vacation so far

Great Pizza

Everything we had from the grill we liked

 

Cons- Lido buffet food was lacking anytime other than breakfast.

(could have solved this by going to the MDR, but didnt want to

dress for the occasion. Our choice.)

Lido staff would say they were out of something when they were

pushing a cart full of that around, (lemonade)

Beds were not that comfortable,hopefully that is fixed in dry dock.

 

 

I think three things is pretty good for a trip like this don't you? Was better than the first night of our Honeymoon when somebody pulled the fire alarm at 0130 and we all had to wait in the parking lot for an hour while the fire department cleared the building.

 

We liked it so much we are already looking at what Carnival Cruise to take next year. If you are taking your first cruise with Carnival, keep this in mind. Kids will be onboard, people will smoke, and at times it will be loud. If you don't think you can handle that, find another line. For those that go with the right attitude of I'm on vacation and I'm going to have fun, you will have a great time.

[tandtmk04]

Now for the pros and cons of our trip.

 

Pros- Comedy shows were all great

Amber Palace shows that we saw were pretty good

Cruise Director James was funny and easy going

Jeff-the-fun-dude, not Funguy, that's what grows in your shower :rolleyes:

Port Canaveral, very friendly staff, very easy to get to and from

Embarkation and debarkation went very smoothly

Plenty to do onboard if you wanted something to do

Great Ports

Best Vacation so far

Great Pizza

Everything we had from the grill we liked

 

Cons- Lido buffet food was lacking anytime other than breakfast.

(could have solved this by going to the MDR, but didnt want to

dress for the occasion. Our choice.)

Lido staff would say they were out of something when they were

pushing a cart full of that around, (lemonade)

Beds were not that comfortable,hopefully that is fixed in dry dock.

 

 

I think three things is pretty good for a trip like this don't you? Was better than the first night of our Honeymoon when somebody pulled the fire alarm at 0130 and we all had to wait in the parking lot for an hour while the fire department cleared the building.

 

We liked it so much we are already looking at what Carnival Cruise to take next year. If you are taking your first cruise with Carnival, keep this in mind. Kids will be onboard, people will smoke, and at times it will be loud. If you don't think you can handle that, find another line. For those that go with the right attitude of I'm on vacation and I'm going to have fun, you will have a great time.

 

I was also on this cruise. I also traveled w/ 2 kids "Kids will be onboard" and have to say that they acted better than ALOT of adults that was on the cruise! We had a great time and I plan to write a review w/ pictures (if I can figure out how to add the pics). I DO agree w/ the smoke though... hate that they can smoke in most locations of the ship or at least it felt that way! :)

[tandtmk04]

Since this is my first review, it will take me a while to write it all up, but I'll do this as the dry run and then submit an actual one for the review section. Here goes.

 

Day One- 0911.09- Took off a half day from work and the wife and I drove to Lake City Florida for the night, not bad, only a six and a half hour drive if we had missed Atlanta rush hour which we did not. Stayed in the Fairfield Inn and Suites off I-75.

 

Day Two- 0912.09- Pulled out of the parking lot around 0930 headed to the port. All went well except for the GPS making me look like a fool right at the Florida Turnpike Exit, the less said about that the better I think. Anyway, got to the port around 1300 and was through security, turned in our three question medical questionare, past the desk with our cards in hand and on board by 1400. Straight to the cabin, 7383, to drop off the carry-ons andup to the Lido for lunch. After lunch we killed time exploring before muster. After muster we went to our cabin to find our bags already there, impressive. After unpacking we met our steward, Rizky. Great guy, very friendly and always greeted us with a smile and by name. Sail away was an excuse for a DOD, Funship Special. The only other thing to come to mind about the first day was a guy named Bobby G, I swear he looked like Elvis and was everywhere. Didn't go to the show tonight, hit the buffet and then right to bed.

 

I have MANY pics. of Bobby G. aka ELVIS!! haha:o

[whoohooo]

I was also on this cruise. I also traveled w/ 2 kids "Kids will be onboard" and have to say that they acted better than ALOT of adults that was on the cruise! We had a great time and I plan to write a review w/ pictures (if I can figure out how to add the pics). I DO agree w/ the smoke though... hate that they can smoke in most locations of the ship or at least it felt that way! :)

 

I agree, alot of the kids were very well behaved on board. We never saw kids causing problems, adults however...

 

We only had problems with smokers twice, once in the casino. I swear that woman was smoking wet dog hair it smelled so bad and of course just HAD to sit right next to us, Oh well. The second time was out on deck. This guy decided he wanted to smoke a cigar upwind of us, on the non smoking side of the ship. By the time I found out where the smell was coming from a little old lady had already enlightened him on his "mistake"

[whoohooo]

tandtmk04,

 

I don't suppose you were the lady I talked to in the Deli line one day are you? Just saw you were from Johnson City and I talked to a lady very very briefly in line there from the Johnson City.

[tandtmk04]

tandtmk04,

 

I don't suppose you were the lady I talked to in the Deli line one day are you? Just saw you were from Johnson City and I talked to a lady very very briefly in line there from the Johnson City.

 

That probably was me..... especially being from JC. :)

[whoohooo]

In that case, sorry if I seemed short or uninterested in talking, I had to pee so bad I couldn't think straight. :D