Destiny Review!

[lupee13]

Before I'm going to start I'm going to say that falkcor definitely has the best Destiny review ever, so if you want to read a very good review be sure to check his out. But, I figured I would post a review to give another point of view on this amazing ship!

This was my families 2nd cruise, our first was on the Sensation, we picked Destiny because we wanted a higher class ship and we liked the ports of call, I was a little worried because there are some bad reviews about this ship, but they are ALL WRONG!

Day 1

We flew into Miami on the day of the cruise, caught a Carnival transfer bus to the port and was there around 1130, embarkation was a breeze barely any lines, got through there in twenty minutes tops. Loved the ship the second we set foot on it, the lobby area is gorgeous! The usual horde of people were in the lobby and we made our way up to the lido restaurant, which was very packed lines were pretty long. But we got our food and headed up to the second floor of the lido restaurant and there was no one up there! It was very relaxing to be up there away from the hubbub of the lower floor. Around 130 an announcement came on saying our staterooms were ready so we headed down to check out the room. We were 2nd floor ocean view, very nice room! These rooms are bigger than the ones we had on the sensation and were very roomy and comfortable.









Rain came around 315 so the muster drill and the ship leaving port was delayed muster drill didn't happen until around 4, it was your usual drill can't really complain it's always annoying to do, this time though the 2 guys in front of us were so drunk really it was 4 in the afternoon and they could barely stand! It was terrible everyone was smashed together already and these two were flailing around pushing and being loud. Oh well we didn't let it get to us it was just a shame to see people that drunk already.

Ship finally sailed around 445, it was supposed to leave at 4 but no big.
We had the early seating in the Universe Dinning room. The dinning room is really nice! Our waiters were fabulous like always, anything we needed they got us! The sad part is there wasn't that much singing in the dinning room. On the Sensation there was a show every night but we only got one show this time. Food was excellent no complaints about it the whole cruise.


The show that night wasn't all that great. It had one number from the dancers, kind of a teaser for what was going to happen all the other nights and they featured the band too. Then Brent Mitchell the CD came out and talked a bit, he was a really good CD! We really enjoyed him the whole cruise! After Brent talked the comedian JR McCollom came on, he was nothing special IMO

Also went to the casino, it's a very nice casino, lots of slots, there weren't that many blackjack tables which was annoying because that's what we liked to play but the wait for a table was never long and we only had to wait if we went later at night. Bar service though, is very good. There are waiters walking around all the time offering to get drinks and the bar was never crowded.

[lupee13]

Day 2- Day at Sea

We discovered two of my best tips about the Destiny this day. For one, the line for the Lido breakfast buffet can get VERY long! You can spend 20 minutes just waiting to get your food. But, if you don't want hot food (pancakes, sausage etc.) and just want toast, muffins, breads, or cereal you can skip the whole line because that stuff is in the middle of the buffet with their own plates. I did this every morning and never had to wait took about a minute to get all my food and be ready to sit down. On the down side, I always ended up finishing eating before the rest of the family even had theirs.

The second tip is the best place on the whole ship is the aft! Decks 9 and 10 aft are never crowded. The adult only pool is back there, which it is enforced we saw 2 kids get kicked out the first day! The pizzaria is back there too along with another grill like the one out on the main part of the lido deck, there is also ice cream machines out there and a bar. The only thing there isn't is drinks (the lemonade, water and iced tea). But you had to walk through the lido restaurant to get to aft level 9 so it's no problem getting drinks.

There are tables and beach chairs back here, it's very quiet and relaxing you can't even hear the music from the main part of the lido back here. My family loved being back here away from the crowds!



We spent the rest of this day laying on beach chairs until it was time for dinner, another wonderful experience in the dinning room, it was formal night, food was great!

Went to the casino the rest of the night to lose some more money!

Day 3- Jamaica

Arrived in Ocho Rios at 9, we scheduled to do the Mystic Mountain and Dunns River tour through Carnival. Getting off the ship wasn't hard, the lines down the stairs were long so we jumped in an elevator and bypassed all the lines after you get off you walk down the pier into a building where you get wrist bands to show which tour you're doing then they load you on a bus to take you to Dunns.

The bus stopped along the way to let people buy or rent water shoes, pretty sure the price was only 10 dollars, which isn't bad. We came with our own water shoes so we just waited on the bus. water shoes are a MUST when climbing the falls. When you get to the falls they explain the rules and give you tickets and you wait for another busload of people to come then you all head on into the facilities. There you meet your guide and are given time to drop your stuff in a locker. After that you walk down to the bottom of the falls where there is a beach and your guide organizes you into a human "chain" and you begin your climb.



Our guides were very helpful, one in our group was very unsure about climbing the falls because they are not very outgoing or athletic but the guide put her first inline so he could hold one hand and help out.

After climbing the falls we walked back out got on another bus and headed to Mystic Mountain, the drive takes less than 5 minutes in between places. Walked right into Mystic Mountain and hopped on the sky explorer to the top. Be sure to have your camera out the views are amazing on the way up! At the top there is a gift shop, food, the bobsled ride ($$), a zipline ride ($$) and also a pool and water slide (no $$). The pool is great because it is an infinity edge pool that looks out over to where the ship is!



After that road the sky explorer back down and got another bus back to the ship, they give you the option of being dropped off in the shopping district if you would like.


that's the ship as we walked back in Jamaica

That night was the blackjack tournament, we competed in that (and lost more money of course!) After the tournament we went to the show which was GREAT! It was the ventriloquist Marc Ruben and the comedic juggler Dana Tison, funniest show ever! This is a must see! It was hysterical, the juggler was my favorite because he did a bit where he brought up someone from the crowd and all I can say without ruining it is that is is priceless and you CAN'T miss this show!

[falkcor]

hey there thanks for the shout out
and your review! this is taking me back, oh, 10 months or so

i'm glad to hear you had a good time! loved destiny...

[firefly4423]

thanks for sharing! Great pictures.

[BuckeyeMark]

thanks for sharing ... and we'll be giving Destiny soon. can't wait!

[lupee13]

no problem the other days are coming when i get time to do them

[JRock59]

Great so far keep it coming! I'm going to make sure our roll call's have the link to this board!

Falkor- she's right you rock! And btw we're going to be living in the same "region" by next year. Hopefully heading to Galveston! If we do you and yours are just gonna have to come on down and we'll have drinks at the Spot!

[jerseygirl79]

Yayyy!!!!! New Destiny review. Great Job so far. Can't wait for the rest.

[falkcor]

Originally Posted by JRock59

Falkor- she's right you rock! And btw we're going to be living in the same "region" by next year. Hopefully heading to Galveston! If we do you and yours are just gonna have to come on down and we'll have drinks at the Spot!

hehe awesome! galveston's beautiful and so much fun, i'd love to live there... i just might be able to swing on down for that! or, maybe hop a cruise on conquest or the newly refurbished ecstasy! i'm trying to get a bunch of people to come on down and go on a kinda group cruise - but i keep planning other cruises in the meantime!

[Jeans*Fanatic]

Thanks so much for the review!!! I think we are going on this same itinerary... We are going to Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios.. Still trying to figure out which excursions to do... BTW Falkcor, I can't get enough of your review! LMBO

Thanks again!

[LBumb]

I was on the Destiny almost ten years ago. great seeing your pictures.

[hill6]

Originally Posted by lupee13

After that road the sky explorer back down and got another bus back to the ship, they give you the option of being dropped off in the shopping district if you would like.


that's the ship as we walked back in Jamaica

Great review and I get an excellent view of my aft wrap balcony that we will be on in 83 days from your great picture. Made final payment today.

[BuckeyeMark]

be interested in your thoughts on how "family oriented" the comedians were... sometimes the early show is okay for kids with a later show for adults but not always. what did you think? are the comedians' show family friendly?

[KruznKel]

Awesome review so far.. we did a B2B in April on her and loved it.. seriously considering another.. we if we had the extra leave would have stayed on for the B2B2B to goto Jamaica but just couldnt swing it!! Maybe next time

[stlcruise]

Originally Posted by LBumb

I was on the Destiny almost ten years ago. great seeing your pictures.

I was on the Destiny 10 years ago also. Plan on sailing on her again in 17 days. We are also from St. Charles, MO.

Thank you for the reviews. I'm looking forward to our cruise!!

[David148]

Great Review So Far, it's really getting me Excited about my cruise on the Destiny in about 30 days I don't know why or how in 2007 when we went on a cruise to Ocho Rios Jamaica that we missed the Mystic Mountain and the pool and the sky ride, we would have loved to have done that. Never heard of it until Falkcor's review and then again on this review! Loving the pictures and from that picture of the ship docked, i can see my balcony room

[falkcor]

Originally Posted by David148

I don't know why or how in 2007 when we went on a cruise to Ocho Rios Jamaica that we missed the Mystic Mountain and the pool and the sky ride, we would have loved to have done that. Never heard of it until Falkcor's review and then again on this review!

probably because mystic mountain didn't open until july 19, 2008

Originally Posted by Jeans*Fanatic

BTW Falkcor, I can't get enough of your review! LMBO

lol, good to hear! i can't wait to write the next one

i'm totally gonna show up my last review... i'll remember to take more pictures this time

[Nunu]

Originally Posted by falkcor

i'm totally gonna show up my last review... i'll remember to take more pictures this time

Dude, I'm gonna write one too.

[falkcor]

Originally Posted by Nunu

Dude, I'm gonna write one too.

i'll read it

actually, i really look forward to that... destiny + your commentary = a great read, i'm sure! if it's really good, maybe i'll make you a superhero costume too

PS - since it was your idea... you like?

[Nunu]

Originally Posted by falkcor

i'll read it

actually, i really look forward to that... destiny + your commentary = a great read, i'm sure! if it's really good, maybe i'll make you a superhero costume too

PS - since it was your idea... you like?

lol yeah its great. i mean i'm a dude but it looks good