Questions for recent caribbean cruisers

[kasi1979]

Hi there,

we´ll be heading to the warmth in 6 weeks, so trying to get evrything together until then.

As by now noone posted a review, I´m just putting down my questions in hope one of you, who just returned from the Fortuna are able to help:

 

- What were dinner sitting times like?

- Did you miss any ports?

- Were you still allowed to bring softdrinks with you aboard in Ft. Lauderdale?

- How were picture costs?

 

If you can think of amything else you want to share, please go ahead.

as it will be my BFs very first cruise, I´m trying to get everything checked out so all he has to do is enjoy ;)

[Mamanance]

Well we like early dining, only because if I eat late, I want to just call it a night. I think the first seating on Costa is 6:30. Then we go to the casino or the show. It is rare to miss a port, only if the weather is bad and it is to dangerous to take a tender. And trust me, if the sea is rough, you don't want to be in a tender. It's better to miss the port. As far as pictures go, good God, they snap them all over the place and they usually run like twenty bucks, depending on the size. Sometimes they will run specials. I haven't been on Costa in a few years, but they are owned by Carnival so they should all be right around the same price. I met one lady who brought her camera and she actually took pictures of the pictures and never bought one. LOL. You and I are on the same ship the 22nd. I wrote before on here somewhere, that I always bring on soft drinks and bottled water. I get a rolling cooler at like Walmart. You put your luggage tag on it and up it comes to room. Then I give the room steward ten dollars and ask him to keep it full of ice and they always do. I buy the small water bottles, and I pack that cooler full. Sometimes I have some left over and I just bring them back. But I have never had a problem ever with that. Hope that helps.

[doxiegal]

Do not take late seating. We had this and it was awful. We were seated promptly at 8:30pm and did not get our order taken till about 9:10pm every night. We did not finish eating till 10:30- 10:45pm every night. We did not change to early seating as we did not want to leave our tablemates alone.

We thought the food was very good. We did not miss any ports, did not take any ship tours as we have been to all these ports before. We did take soda onboard we packed a few 2 liters and some 12 packs in our luggage, no problems at all. Even carried 2 liters on board at the ports of call.

Cannot help with the prices for pictures as we did not buy any photos ( we have so many from other cruises we have been on)

We did the self disembark and we were off the ship by 7:15am and made a 8:50am flight (stand by of course) back home.

We loved the entertainment, all the shows we saw were very good, likewise the staff did a great job with the activities. Max the cruise director was awesome, not to mention good looking. Roman toga night was a blast. Hubby even won the slot tournament on board winning $300, not bad. We had an awesome cruise. And most of the people we spoke to onboard were also enjoying themselves. I am sure you will have a great time.

[CGinMTL]

Just got back from the Fortuna.

Dinner was at 5:45 for us. I believe that is the earliest they have.

From the comments I have heard, early seating is the way to go.

Also, no need to bring a cooler, there was a fridge in our inside cabin. nothing stops you from puting your own stuff in there.

Finally, if you have a fuel surcharge credit. Please note that we were not able to use it to pay tips ( everything else was ok ? ). In that case, they will send you a check.