8 Day Horizon - Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao May 11, 2024 Sailing Review

[l2f]

This is be a short (no photos) review of the May 11, 2024, 8 Day, Horizon Sailing from Miami. 

 

Itinerary: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao.  This sailing had 4 sea days.  This was our experience and opinions of this cruise.

 

This was our 14^th cruise (all on Carnival) and 7^th time sailing from Miami.

 

Pre-Pre Cruise

We originally booked our spring 2024 cruise on the Mardi Gras with the itinerary Cozumel, Costa Maya, and Mahogany Bay for April 27, 2024 sailing.  We booked in May 2022 and has been some years since we booked that far out, but the price was too good for a bump out balcony.  Friends we usually cruise with couldn’t make this sailing.

 

In May 2023, we did the Horizon 8 day Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao itinerary and DW got the cruise crud (Jamman54 term) and missed one port.  So we switched and did this itinerary again for 2024.  We love the ABC itinerary.

 

In early February 2023 airlines changed the flight times and the new times just didn’t work.  Way to early.  Only way to make work was to switch from flying into Miami to flying into Fort Lauderdale, and taking a ground transportation to Miami.

 

Hotels cost were crazy in Miami.  From our home state, we rarely can get non-stop flights to Miami.  So this year, we are going to fly into Fort Lauderdale (FLL), and stay at the Hyatt Place FLL.  We booked the hotel thru ValueTrips for a great rate.

 

Lastly shout out to Saint Greg.  His Live review of the April 27 – May 5 sailing let us start our vaca early, in our minds.

 

Pre-Cruise

Since our second cruise, we always fly to the cruise port the day before the cruise.  Our flight was delayed.  We sat on the plane approx. 1:15 prior to take off due to weather in Florida.  Once we arrived at FLL, we retrieved our luggage and grabbed an Uber to get to Hyatt Place.  $19.00 with tip.

 

Hotel

We have stayed at this Hyatt Place before back in 2016.  The hotel was basically as we remembered.  It was clean, convenient location, and had a free breakfast.  Checked all the boxes for us for a pre cruise, one night stay.

[l2f]

Evening in Fort Lauderdale

After checking in, we dropped off bags off, we went across the street to 17^th Street Grill / Gilbert’s for dinner.  Food was great.  Then we went across the parking lot to Publix to pick up a few items.

 

Cruise Day

This is our first cruise since 2016 we haven’t cruised with any friends.  Loners this time.  Our first time staying in a different city than the port departure.  Everything went off without any issues.  Got an Uber from Hyatt Place FLL to Port of Miami.  Left Hyatt Place 9:25 AM.  Arrived Port of Miami 10:00 AM.  $59.00 with tip.

 

Embarkation

We had check in time of 10:30 – 11:00.  We were a little early and expected to be told to wait.  But they checked us in.  Directed us into the terminal, breezed thru security, and to the Platinum seating area.  It was hard to hear the announcements.  Didn’t note the time, but seems it was around 11:00 AM when they started calling groups.  They did have staff checking passenger placards to ensure people were boarding with their assigned group.  But at about letter M, the staffer left their post, and basically everyone that noticed hit the line.

 

We went to our cabin to drop off luggage, (we carried on all of our luggage) and the fire doors were surprisingly opened.  The cabin steward happened to be in our cabin.  We dropped off our luggage in the cabin closet and left.  Went and knocked eMuster out.  Then had lunch at Ji Ji.  After lunch we went back to the cabin approx. 1:30PM and unpacked.  Vacation has officially begun.

 

Cabin

We had a Deck 7 Mid Balcony, portside.  Our Sign & Sail cards were waiting in the cabin mailbox when we returned at 1:30 PM to unpack.  Cabin Steward came by later in the afternoon to officially introduce himself.  His name was Jhammel.  We chatted a moment and he asked us if we wanted our cabin serviced.  We replied PM.  He wanted us to give him a specific time.  Never had that before.  We told him we had early assigned dining, so 6 PM would be good.  Also asked if we needed anything.  Requested ice twice a day.  Cabin Steward did a great job all week. 

[l2f]

Food

Food is so subjective.  For us…

 

Breakfast –We had all breakfast on Lido.  Usually omelet station, but did hit Blue Iguana few times.  Bacon police were on duty this sailing.  Only available every other day.  Also noticed French toast and breakfast sausage was only available every other day as well.

 

We didn’t go to Sea Day Brunch any this cruise.  We aren’t fans.  Not so much the menu as it is the 8:30 AM opening time.  At home, we get up early and eat breakfast by 6:00 AM.  It is hard to wait until 8:30 AM, which really becomes 9:00 AM by the time you actually get food.

 

Lunch – We ate at Buffet, Guys, Blue Iguana, Pig & Anchor, Pizza, deli, and Ji Ji.  Ji Ji was good but didn’t like we had to pick from a preset menu.  Miss the Mongolian Wok.  All in all everything we ate for lunch was good.

 

Dinner – Always in the MDR.  We had the assigned, early dining in the Reflections Dining Room.   After the first night, our wait team was on point.  We were out in under 1 hour (usually under 45 minutes) every night.   Had a great window table for 2.

 

Some observations.  Definitely noticed smaller portions sizes, which we have no problem with.  As well as changes.  One very disappointing item.  Italian Sausage Linguini wasn’t on the menu.  I recall it last year but it had very little sausage.  Maybe one of those things people stop ordering it due to lack of sausage, then it was taken away.   Another let down was 2^nd formal night.  Prime Rib - most around us that got prime rib, were commenting how tough it was.  Like show leather.  And the lobster smelled very fishy.  Seafood smells like seafood, not like bad fish.  Many people that ordered it didn’t touch it.  We asked the Head Waiter and the reply was the lobster they serve now is fishy smelling.

 

2 nights it was tough to find something we really wanted on the menu.  There was a time when every night it was a tough choice as there were more than one entrée we wanted.  But we assume those days are gone.

 

Cakes at buffet were dry and not sure… different.  Like maybe some ingredients were replaced with inferior ingredients.  Not sure.

 

A couple desserts we got in the dining room were great, but then went to buffet later to get and they were totally different.  The banana Cream Pie (we think) was a normal slice with great presentation in the dining room.  At the buffet it was in a large bowl like pudding to scoop out.

 

A couple of good entrees.  The Catfish (MDR) we really liked.  Honey Glazed Pork Lion (MDR) was a pleasant surprise.  The Ginger Pineapple (think that was the name) at JiJi.

 

All that said, we always found something to eat and by no means went hungry. 

Edited May 27 by l2f
Typo

[l2f]

Entertainment

Production Shows – the shows playing this week were: Vintage Pop, Celestial Strings, Amor Cubano, and Soulbound.

 

We didn’t attend any of the production shows this cruise.

 

Music - The spring of 2014 on the Pride, we discovered we really enjoyed listening to the live band.  A band called Hi Lux was on the Pride and they were really good.  Every cruise since 2014 we have gotten lucky and the bands have been really good.  Our 2023 cruise, the Rock Band didn’t sound good to us.  They were really good this year. 

 

We usually go to the piano bar at least once, but for some reason didn’t this cruise. 

 

Comedy Shows – Comedians onboard this sailing: Sean Larkins, Jaylyn Bishop (1^st half) and Mark Hawkins, Drew Marks (2^nd half).  We didn’t go to all the comedy shows, but the ones we went too were pretty funny.

 

Casino - We aren’t big gamblers.  Never any tables games.  Usually we spend a little on slots.  The casino never seemed overly busy the times we walked thru.  The smoke wasn’t as bad as some cruises, but noticeable.  Not to start a smoking/non-smoking debate, just an observation. 

 

Bingo – we did one sessions of bingo.  The last bingo of the cruise for the $5,000 pot.  No luck, again.  Definitely a price hike since May 2023.

 

Cruise Director

The CD was Paully.  He was around the ship plenty.  We was at the gangway for returning passengers at Curacao, the only early departure port.  We heard this was his first week on the ship.  Will be filling in for 2 months, we think.

 

Ports

Aruba – Grabbed a taxi ($15 one way for the 2 of us) and went to Eagle Beach.  Rented chairs/umbrella $15 per chair or it may have been $30 for the umbrella.  Either way, cost us $30.  Had a great day.

 

Bonaire – Made our way off the ship and called Chogogo Dive & Beach Resort to see if they had available Day Passes.  They did, so we grabbed a taxi and spent the day at Chogogo.  $15 one way for 2 of us.  Met a couple from the cruise ship in the taxi going to Chogogo also.  We happened to leave the same time and split a taxi.  The cost was $15 per trip.  So $7.50 per couple for the return.  We of course tipped both ways.

 

Curacao – We just walked around the town for a few hours.  Went to Old Market, New Market, Floating Market, Fantasy Garden, Curacao & Dushi signs, Governor’s Place, Renaissance Mall & RIF Fort to name a few.

[l2f]

Disembarkation

Went to Lido omelet station for our last breakfast.  We had a late afternoon flight and would rather sit on the ship than the airport.  We got out of the cabin early and hung out in Ocean Plaza until last call, which was around 9:15-9:30.  Customs went really quick.

 

Airport Home

What a killer way to end vaca.  All was well until we boarded the plane and backed away from the gate.  Then we sat.  And sat.  Announcement said due to weather we had to delay takeoff.  Maybe 1 hour passed and we start to taxi.  Next announcement says we were 12^th in line to take off due to all planes in holding due to weather.

 

After another 20-30 minutes, next announcement.  We don’t have enough fuel to make it to the destination (non-stop mind you). So we have to go back to the gate to get some fuel.

 

Once at the gate, we were initially told we could stay on the plane.  Next announcement was the pilot crew will time out before we can make it to the destination.  So the airline has to find new pilots.  Now we must de-plane as airlines has no idea (at this point) how long it will take to find new pilots.

 

We believe we are at approx. the 3 hour delay point.  Some passengers asked the gate agent about food vouchers.  Were told they were available.  Yet no announcements were made to get them.  The line was long for those passengers trying to get other flights.  Finally line dies down and a few get in line for food vouchers.  Anyway, we get our vouchers.  Were told they had to be used today and in the airport (or any airport).  Literally hand vouchers to us and a couple in front of us and within 5 seconds announce boarding is starting.  When we landed at destination all food options were closed as it was near midnight.

 

All in all the flight was delayed 4 hours.

 

Some final thoughts

Weather was great.

 

Horizon rear pool / lounge chair area is too small.  Chair hogs were in force with no policing.

 

Entertainment we attended was good.

 

The platinum gift was an attache case.  Or that is what it looks like to us.

 

We did save the FunTimes.  Reply with your email if you want a copy.

 

All the crew we encountered were smiling and working hard.

 

We had another great cruise and looking forward to planning the next one.

[cruise to live]

 Glad you enjoyed the cruise. What time did disembarkment begin.  

[jimbo5544]

Love that ship and cruise, did it in January and up again next March.  Thanks for the review.

[l2f]

7 hours ago, cruise to live said:

 Glad you enjoyed the cruise. What time did disembarkment begin.  

I believe we heard the first announcement around 8:00 AM.

[l2f]

1 hour ago, jimbo5544 said:

Love that ship and cruise, did it in January and up again next March.  Thanks for the review.

We love this itinerary as well.

[ktinnc]

Enjoyed your review… we were on the cruise too (it was my last of 3 legs). Loved Horizon and agree with almost everything you experienced 🙂

[Journey11]

Thanks for your review. Glad you had an overall good cruise.

[jhubba]

We were on this cruise also.  Stayed in an inside Havana cabin and really liked the havana area, expecially in the morning and evenings when it was less crowded.  Weather was great in all three ports.  Managed to come back with $500 of the casin's money 😁.

[l2f]

On 5/30/2024 at 12:23 PM, jhubba said:

Weather was great in all three ports.

Yes we had great weather the entire cruise.