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Tuesday, November 16, 2011
Grand Turk
Everything is right at the pier – gorgeous water, Margaritaville, shops, etc. There were plenty of beach chairs for by the beach.
My husband and I booked a dive trip through Carnival. My parents and my cousin hanged out at the beach.
Reviews after the jump…
Monday, November 15, 2011
Sea Day
Three of us went to the main dining room (Universe) for breakfast. We were taken quickly to a table with other people, but we requested to be seated alone. They were able to again quickly find a table for us at the back of the ship. Gorgeous view!
We spent most of our time eating and hanging out at the aft pool.
Reviews after the jump…
Sunday, November 14, 2011
Embarkation – Miami, FL
We took a cab from Hyatt Summerfield Suites to the Port of Miami and it cost us $28+tip. Arrived at the port around 11am. Embarkation was quick and we got on the ship around 12 noon.
We were told that we couldn’t get to our rooms until 1:30pm so we headed to Sun & Sea Restaurant (buffet) for lunch. There weren’t a lot of people and we quickly found us a table big enough for the five of us. At a little past 1:30pm, we headed to our rooms, unpacked, roamed the ship a little, then got ready for dinner in the main dining room. It wasn’t required to dress up for dinner on the first night since it was likely that not all luggages were delivered to the rooms.
The ship left on time at 4pm and our journey began.
Cruise lines usually have daily newsletters that contain the day’s activities, specials, and other info. These daily newsletters get delivered to your stateroom the night before except of course on embarkation day. Carnival’s daily newsletter is called Fun Times. Click here to download all the Fun Times at our cruise. The first day’s Fun Times was in our cabin when we checked in.
Reviews after the jump…
Saturday, November 13, 2011
Pre-cruise
We decided to get to Miami a day before cruise embarkation to anticipate any delays. We flew Delta from JFK and flight was uneventful. There was no delay flying out and we arrived 20 minutes early in Miami.
We booked the Hyatt Summerfield Suites near the airport. It was a nice hotel and I highly recommend it. However, their shuttle is not very reliable. The shuttle took 40 minutes from my first phone call to the arrival of the shuttle at the airport. Check-in was a breeze and the unit was nice.
I called front desk to get us a cab that will fit 5 people and the cab was waiting for us as soon as we got to the lobby. The cab ride cost $23+tip to Dolphin Mall. The mall was huge. Going back to the hotel however cost us $25+tip. The cabbie was surprised we gave him a tip. I guess they don’t tip cabbies in Miami huh?
The hotel was one block away from a shopping center with Publix. So my husband and I went around 9pm and bought some midnight snacks and breakfast for the next day. Our unit had a full kitchen.
Reviews after the jump…
Friday, June 17, 2011
Disembarkation – Port Canaveral FL
We were given Green 5 luggage tags which has a disembarkation time of 8:25am. There were other luggage tags available by Guest Relations that you can grab (yes, no lines). I was able to grab some Green 32 luggage tags with disembarkation time of 9:30am.
We had a nice leisurely breakfast at the Windjammer Cafe and had enough time to head to the meeting area (Sound of Music Theater) for our disembarkation. Disembarkation was very quick and we didn’t wait long to find our luggages at baggage claim. The disembarkation procedure is included in Day 4 Cruise Compass.
Porters were on hand to help (no charge). The same porter that helped us when we embarked approached us. She was very nice and friendly.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Orlando / Kissimmee, FL
We went to Cocoa Beach to get some gas and proceeded to the beach. Our phones sent us to the beach entrance on N 1st St, but it had a small metered parking lot and no other amenities. There were hotels all around. We found this umbrella and chairs and decided to sit. Then we were approached by someone telling us that it was for rent for $25.
We asked and were told about Lori Wilson park. The parking lot was spacious and free. There were restrooms, water fountains and drink vending machine. There were signs for hammocks, but we weren’t able to check it out.
We went to Merritt Square Mall for lunch then headed to Kissimmee, Florida to check in our timeshare condo at Vacation Village at Parkway.
Reviews after the jump…
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Sea Day
Today was our relaxation day. We woke up late, had brunch, did some shopping and watched a couple of contests.
We went to the pool area and watched the Belly Flop contest and Sexiest Man contest. It was crowded as expected. The contests were quite funny. But beware if you have children. Especially in the Sexiest Man contest, there were some actions performed by the contestants that weren’t kid-friendly no matter how the staff in charge (emcee) tried to make it so. The emcee was very hilarious. At times, we weren’t able to see the contestants, but listening to the emcee alone was funny.
We went around the ship and took pictures. We went to the photo gallery to look at the pictures taken by the ship’s photographers. They were very expensive ($19.95 for an 8×10) and their photo packages weren’t that great either.
We filled out the prepaid gratuity form provide in the cabin, but also available at Guest Relations. They needed to be dropped off at the dropbox at Guest Relations by noon the day before disembarkation day.
Tonight was our last night and we ate at Claude’s. The waiters and assistant waiters did a parade and we all danced the Macarena.
Below is today’s Cruise Compass. Click here to download the Cruise Compass for the entire cruise.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Nassau, Bahamas
The ship arrived at Nassau around 8am. We headed to the gangway around 12 noon and there was a very short line to get out.
We reserved a room at the British Colonial Hiton for the day for $109 plus taxes and fees that covered 2 adults, 2 children were free. There were 5 of us (3 adults), but the nice front desk agent didn’t charge us for the 3rd adult. Maybe because they were doing construction on the wing where our room was and there was no electricity from 1pm to 3pm. We could have also gotten a day pass (without a room) for $55 per adult and half price for kids. But the room was cheaper and you get a room unlike the day pass.
We swam at the hotel’s pool. We played on the sand on the beach right infront of the hotel and we snorkeled and kayaked.
We left the hotel at 6pm and we planned to go shopping afterwards. Unfortunately, most of the shops were closed then. So if you plan to shop, do it early.
Below is today’s Cruise Compass. Click here to download the Cruise Compass for the entire cruise.
Reviews after the jump…
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Coco Cay, Bahamas
The ship arrived at Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island at 8am. We ate breakfast at the ship and headed to the gangway around 11am. The gangway and the tender weren’t crowded. We got to the island in 15 minutes.
Coco Cay was great. There were a lot of activities available and buffet lunch was provided by Royal Caribbean free of charge.
We were only able to snorkel today, but we had a blast! We saw plenty of fish even a stingray. My aunt just stood in the water and fishes were swimming around her!
We were the last ones to board the last tender (4:30pm) back to the ship. There was no line at all. Unfortunately, we got back with bad sunburns on our back from snorkeling too long, but it was well worth it.
Below is today’s Cruise Compass. Click here to download the Cruise Compass for the entire cruise.
Reviews after the jump…
Monday, June 13, 2011
Embarkation – Port Canaveral FL
I like how I could check in my flight on my phone and I didn’t have to print my boarding passes. I got to the Delta terminal at Laguardia airport around 5:40pm and I haven’t seen a line that long for Security. I was worried, but I was able to catch my 6:55am flight. I had a rolling carry-on, a backpack and my camera bag. But at the gate, they only allowed 2 bags, so I had to check in my rolling bag at no charge. Unlike American, US Air and United (7-hr flight!), we were served complimentary drinks and choice of pretzels, peanuts or cookies during the 2 1/2-hour flight. I always look forward to the cinnamon cookies, they’re my favorite.
My uncle and his family checked in at the Hyatt hotel right in the Orlando International airport the day before. My uncle was waiting at the hotel atrium which was also the airport’s atrium before you get to baggage claim.
The hotel was pretty nice and big, but the elevators were located in only one side of the building so it was a long walk going to the other side where my uncle’s hotel room was located.
We drove to Port Canaveral for our Bahamas cruise on Royal Caribbean Monarch of the Seas. It was pretty easy to get there – I-528 E all the way until you see signs for your ship’s terminal.
Cruise lines usually have daily newsletters that contain the day’s activities, specials, and other info. These daily newsletters get delivered to your stateroom the night before except of course on embarkation day. Royal Caribbean’s daily newsletter is called Cruise Compass. Below is the Cruise Compass on embarkation day, click here to download the Cruise Compass for the entire cruise. It was in our cabin when we checked in.
Reviews after the jump…
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Disembarkation – San Juan PR
We did express walk-off and had to meet at the Island Dining Room at 6:45am. I like how they had us waiting in the dining room where we can sit and let us disembark in groups. However, some cruisers didn’t listen to the cruise staff. Instead of going further into the dining room where there were seats, they stayed in the pathway and blocked it.
We reached the gangway around 7:20pm and waited for about half an hour to retrieve the dive knife they took from us. The cruise security had trouble finding our knife. You would think they would have it by the gangway. That was a big hassle for us the whole trip. The dive knife was 4 inches and had a blunt tip. Their steak knives were sharper, not to mention had pointed tips. A couple of times, they let us take it inside the ship, the rest of the cruise, they took it from us and we had to retrieve it every time we leave the ship for our dive trip.
By the way, the International Cafe was open early on disembarkation day. So grab something to eat while waiting to disembark.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Puerto Rico
It was a rainy day today. We went straight to our hotel (Intercontinental in Isla Verde) from the ship. We took a taxi and paid $19 (taxi rate) + $4 ($1 each luggage) + tip.
We got there around 8am and our room wasn’t ready. So we just left our bags with the bellboy and got picked up by our tour guide Asha from Natural Wonders at 10am. Asha took us to get some authentic Puerto Rican food by the road. I don’t remember exactly where. It was delicious. And I love the homemade hot sauce!
We then headed to the rainforest. We first went to a part of the rainforest that is not usually visited by tourists, but still beautiful. Unfortunately, because of the weather, one of the trees fell on the road and we couldn’t get by. We then continued to other parts of the rainforest.
We went to Ceviche Hut in Luquillo for a late lunch. The food was great especially the ceviche, but it was pricey. After lunch, we headed to the beach in Luquillo then went back to the hotel.
We booked the cheapest room (2 double beds with cityview) at Intercontinental. But when we got back to the hotel, we were given an oceanview room at the top floor! It was great!
We ate dinner at Mi Casita at the shopping center across the hotel. The restaurant was highly recommended and there were a lot of people. However, we weren’t impressed.
Reviews after the jump…
