Photo Blog - Ben the Bendy Man's Splendid Splendor Adventure, July 3rd, 2014

Hello all you brave and curious souls who clicked on this post with the questionably odd title. I'm Ben the Bendy Man and I just returned last week from the Carnival Splendor. This is my first time posting a blog on the Carnival board. For those who don't know me, I often dictate to my personal assistant/typist/manservant kylenyc about my cruise adventures. I hope you enjoy it!

A little background... Ben began blogging about his cruise adventures back in 2012 (see links in his signature) when he first started traveling solo (mostly on Norwegian Cruise Line) with his typist/photographer/manservant in tow. 2012 was also the first year he sailed a Carnival cruise aboard the Fascination. Unfortunately, he didn't blog about the Fascination because it was a short mini-cruise that didn't have an active roll call so he was thrilled when his Splendor roll call got pretty active and he'd have some fun to report back.

Thursday morning, July 3rd, 2014

Carnival Splendor 5-Day Escape from Hurricane Arthur Cruise?

Welcome free spirited fictitious figurine fans to another installment of Ben Bendyman's Adventures. Last week our limber lilliputian returned from a cruise aboard the Carnival Splendor. Our bright-eyed bendable buddy had been bouncing between bulkheads with cabin fever after fretting over the entire 7 months and the whole summer he'd have wait until his next cruise. His manservant desperately needed a getaway and the Splendor was sailing out of New York for a short Independence Day weekend mini-cruise. And so he poked and prodded his typist (doubling as personal cruise planner) and persuaded him to book it.

As the cruise approached, Hurricane Arthur began making his way up the Eastern Seaboard and threatened to storm on Ben's parade! Would our Norwegian enamored navigator have a nice time? Would this cruise destined for St. John, Canada turn into a "Cruise to Nowhere"? Would our slinky seafarer end up docked in Boston for an entire week like his Superstorm Sandy cruise in 2012?

On the morning of the cruise, Ben tried to distract himself from the looming storm and focus on the task at hand - Standing bemused on the sofa scratching his head, he pointed and directed his personal valet into stuffing a big brown box of way too many goodies to bring aboard the Splendor. Our peppy polyplastic party planner was hosting a Meet & Greet and group activities for a bunch of new friends he'd meet on board. He grew a little concerned as he watched his butler stuff the huge box full of party supplies. This was among the most he'd ever had his squire attempt to lug aboard a cruise ship at one time.

Ben's big brown box of goodies - 75 blinky necklaces and bracelets, lots of large genuine 2014 NOLA Mardi Gras beads, 2 bottles of champagne, 24 cans of juice and soda, plastic cups, cold brewed iced tea bags, fruit punch mix, gummi bears, and more! Oh my!

After the big brown box and 2 cases of soda and juice were bungee corded to his manservant's carry-on hand luggage, he met with his friend Cherie and together they shared a taxi ride to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. There they checked in some luggage before heading to lunch in Hell's Kitchen. He felt (a little) bad as his valet huffed and puffed while dragging the rolling warehouse to the restaurant four blocks away while be harassed by towncar livery drivers across from the terminal trying to hijack a fares from taxis at the legitimate taxi stand. They quickly came to the conclusion that saving a few dollars on soda was simply not worth lugging the extra weight around. On the other hand, bringing the $200 in Moet Chandon Grand Vintage Champagne was worth every drop of sweat beading down his squire's forehead on this surprisingly warm sunny day.

Ben's butler finally lugs everything to the Manhattan Cruise Terminal.[/i]

Covering his eyes in fear (and embarassment)... Hoping the box doesn't or burst at the seams.

Carnival Splendor at Pier 90, Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Next up... Breakfast at Print Restaurant at Ink48, Check-in, Faster to the Fun, and a suspenseful nail biting long wait in the terminal.

Tips:

• Bringing beverages on board - Unlike Norwegian which allows a passenger to bring "reasonable" amounts of non-alcoholic beverages on board, Carnival limits each passenger to 12 cans or bottles of 20oz or less of soda/water/juice. However, unlike Norwegian, Carnival also allows you to bring 1 bottle of wine or champagne per passenger without a corkage fee if you consume it in your cabin. NCL on the other hand allows for unlimited wine/champage to be brought on board for a corkage fee starting at $15 per 750 ml bottle which you can consume in any dining venue or bar.

• Meet & Greets - Carnival does not host nor provide a venue for Meet & Greets/Mingles unlike Norwegian and Royal (and even Princess, a Carnival company). We had to organize one completely on our own. However, Ben did contact John Heald (Carnival's Senior Cruise Director) via his Facebook page and he kindly sent us a couple of bottles of champagne and ships on a stick to give away. Thanks John!

Can't wait to hear about Bendy's adventure! I have read many of your NCL reviews but since we moved 25 minutes from Port Canaveral , we have been cruising on Carnival. Folks, you are in for a treat!

Is he friends with Gumby?

Can't wait to hear about Bendy's adventure! I have read many of your NCL reviews but since we moved 25 minutes from Port Canaveral , we have been cruising on Carnival. Folks, you are in for a treat!

Heheh. Thanks! It's been a long time coming. Hope you enjoy!

Is he friends with Gumby?

Who's Gumby? :D :p

Thanks for the report!

Thanks for the report!

Thanks Kirk! :)

Thursday morning, July 3rd, 2014

Pre-cruise Breakfast at Print Restaurant at Ink48 Hotel.

Ben, Cherie, and his valet had a pleasant breakfast at Print Restaurant at Ink48 - A hotel restaurant three blocks from the terminal. Their hot breakfast entrees start at $10 for Quinoa Porridge/Banana/Raisons/Almonds/Brown Sugar. He had the Chorizo Scrambled Eggs/Cheddar/Fried Tortilla Strips/Tomatillo Salsa/Sour Cream ($14). The tomatillo salsa verde was and not very spicy. The scrambled eggs was very good but could have used some more spicier chorizo. The multigrain toast was fantastic. Service was very good and the decor modern and comfortable. Ben's butler enjoyed the meal and service fearing it would be all down hill from here but he was still cautiously optimistic and had high hopes for this evening's reservation at Splendor's Pinnacle Steakhouse. They had been frequently eye's the menu on Carnival.com and looking very much forward to it.

Print Restaurant at Ink48, Hell's Kitchen

Yup... A surprisingly sweaty hot day even with Hurricane Arthur fast approaching.

A nice, relaxed, yummy (and a bit pricey) breakfast. Yay! French press!

Wondering how Carnival's food and waitservice will compare. Will it be all downhill from here?

Holy cow! Can't wait to read this!

Looking forward to reading about the adventures! ;)

Looking forward to the next installment! :D

Thursday morning, July 3rd, 2014

Faster to the Fun Check-in, and the agonizingly loooooooong wait board

After breakfast, Ben hitched a ride atop his small Coleman beverage cooler that was bungeed to the rest of his goodies and his butler's human oddities, and together made their way into Pier 90 of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. He was a bit perturbed (although not surprised) to find some of the same port employees to first "greet" them (curtly) as often happens on NCL cruises out of next dor Pier 88. Further into the terminal upon presenting his passenger ticket with "Faster to the Fun", he was quickly directed to an empty line and immediately waved over to the next available agent where the check in was fast, easy, and courteous.

Not only does Ben have an inclination for hiding $100 casino chips (link), he "accidentally" swipes Faster to the Fun Priority Boarding passes. Ben promises to make his executive assistant mail it back to John Heald.

After check-in, Ben made his way to the VIP lounge to meet with his friends Cherie, Peggy & George who had booked a suite together and waited to board. There they met up by chance with some Cruise Critic members on their roll call and chatted away. After some mingling, laughs, and sharing some cruise stories, before they knew it it was fast approaching Noon and we still were not called on board. The lounge was now filled to capacity and many people had to stand around.

Our bubbly bendable had trouble imagining that the long wait was the norm and suspected Hurricane Arthur had something to do with the delay. We all guessed that Carnival was determining whether we would actually call on St. John, to another port, or stay out to sea. Our little group of veteran cruisers dared not voice our hopes.

Several announcements blared over the PA system apologizing for the delay along and pleading for our patience along with a vague non-explanation. Everyone was getting pretty antsy. Eventually the speakers buzzed to life one last time. While everyone was on the edge of their seats, an almost apologetic voice announced over the PA that "We have some important information to announce... [Carnival] was SORRY to say that due to Hurricane Arthur... We will not be able to call on St. John due to the severe weather. It's our duty to keep you safe and we will instead visit BERMUDA"

The terminal erupted into cheers.

Anyone who had ever been to Bermuda was elated and jumping for joy while new cruisers were trying to process the news, asking questions of fellow passengers, and wondering impatiently why we late boarding. :p

Ben and his butler screamed with joy at the announcement that we would call on one of his favorite destinations, and they were quite bemused that Carnival was... Sorry?!?! We couldn't be more happier. Carnival more than did right by us. Not only did they diverted us away from what would have been at best a cold rainy wet St. John, and keeping us out of harms way, they sent us to a beautiful (and expensive) port of call and the pink sandy beaches of Bermuda.

Ben will be framing this apologetic letter from Carnival. :p :D

Next up... Balcony cabin, a little exploring, the un-"safety" muster drill.

Tips:

• Cruise Terminal Employees - Many of the staff at the cruise terminal do not work for the cruise line. They are employees of the terminal and port authority. While the check-in agents are usually friendly, the porters and greeters are often curt and sometimes down right rude. Don't let that be your first impression. Ben likes to think his cruise officially starts when he walks up the gangway and his foot touches the deck.

• Faster to the Fun - The $50 cost per person for FTTF is certainly worth considering if you want amenities such as priority check-in, early boarding, having your cabin ready early, priority check-in luggage delivery, and priority debarkation if you don't already have some of these perks by being a suite or Platinum/Diamond repeat passenger.

• Prohibited Items - Passengers may not bring coolers larger than 12" x 12" x 12". Do check the "Restricted Items" list (link) for things you can't bring on board including heating irons, hot plates, beer & hard liquor, etc.

Enjoyed your previous reviews so much and looking forward to the rest!

One of my favorite reviewers!

Great start!! Can't wait for the rest.

Bendy's back! Looking forward to the rest of your review!

Well, well, well...looks like your personal assistant/typist/manservant kylenyc finally got that 4 day to Bermuda!!!! Hi kylenyc :) Looking forward to the rest of your review. I'm doing the 4 day on 31st & as much as I'd love a storm to divert us to Bermuda, I'll take sunny skies & smooth sea, because with my luck I'd end up in Boston again.

Can't wait for more!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

I am enjoying your review and looking forward to more. Thanks for posting.:)

Great review! Loving the pictures...and Bendy is a cutie:D We sail the Splendor next year to Bermuda..you guys were really lucky imho to get to go this year!!

Ben will be framing this apologetic letter from Carnival. :p :D

That is by far the best re-route notice I have ever seen! :cool:

I really am surprised we didn't blow the roof right off the terminal, as loud as the cheers were! Awesome re-route! :)

Ben will be framing this apologetic letter from Carnival. :p :D

 

 

That is by far the best re-route notice I have ever seen!

Better than the other way around! :eek::eek::eek:

I was with Ben this cruise, first time I met the little guy.

When I got to the Pier they were still handing out Canadian Immigration Forms when you were checking in (Had FTTF but no suite) to be collected right before you swiped on board.

Needless to say kept it to be shredded when I got home.

Great review, reading it makes me feel like I was there... Oh Right, I was there.... Boy do I need another cruise...

Great review so far! We sail to Bermuda on Splendor next year so we can't wait to hear your thoughts about the ship and port!

Thanks manmachine, Crusin Karen, , 092306, Shayhooper, Jimmy Geegitz, Cupcrazy, teetee6263, CruiseAwesome, SMSACE6! Ben and his typist are thrilled that you enjoy his reviews. It really means alot. :)

Well, well, well...looks like your personal assistant/typist/manservant kylenyc finally got that 4 day to Bermuda!!!! Hi kylenyc Looking forward to the rest of your review. I'm doing the 4 day on 31st & as much as I'd love a storm to divert us to Bermuda, I'll take sunny skies & smooth sea, because with my luck I'd end up in Boston again.

Yes! It's like providence that Carnival would send us to Bermuda due to a hurricane after Princess (Carnival) parked us in Boston during Superstorm Sandy (not their fault and they took good care of us then too). I'll be eyeing price drops and resident discounts on the 4-day cruises. :p Bon voyage.

That is by far the best re-route notice I have ever seen!

And one of the best souvenirs ever. :D

I really am surprised we didn't blow the roof right off the terminal, as loud as the cheers were! Awesome re-route!

LOL. I would have loved to have heard the cheers outside in the main terminal. I'd ask Cherie but she was screaming her lungs off so loud she probably couldn't hear it anyway. I can imagine people coming out of the bathroom thinking what the heck is going on :p

I was with Ben this cruise, first time I met the little guy.

When I got to the Pier they were still handing out Canadian Immigration Forms when you were checking in (Had FTTF but no suite) to be collected right before you swiped on board.

Needless to say kept it to be shredded when I got home.

Great review, reading it makes me feel like I was there... Oh Right, I was there.... Boy do I need another cruise...

It was so great meeting you and Dee too. I hope we sail again some day! Great memories to supplement our Superstorm Sandy Pahked in Bahston stories :D.

Great review so far! We sail to Bermuda on Splendor next year so we can't wait to hear your thoughts about the ship and port!

Bermuda is awesome. Bon voyage! Beautiful island with pink coral sand public beaches with no beach peddlers constantly hawking their wares and great public transit system of buses and ferries to get around. Been there 5 times I can't wait to go back.