jonboy9756

At least 2 recent cruisers have reported here that they were there on April 27 and had a very nice time.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

If Carnival was smart (and that's a big "if"), they would give FTTF the earliest Check-in Times, and the earliest Boarding Group (after Diamond/Platinum/Weddings). Then you can show up when you want, and board when you want. That would help maintain some of its value.

 

There is no if at all. Actually with FTTF the Check in Time doesn't matter, and we do get the earliest boarding time after Diamond/Platinum/Weddings anyway. So we can show up and check in when we want. In my opinion FTTF is more valuable now, because an early check in time might not be available.

I didn't eat there but it's called Oceanside Barbecue. I remember hearing some people talking about being disappointed there was not a Fat Jimmy's.

Thanks again for the confirmation of no Fat Jimmy's. John Heald had posted before the dry dock that it would be added. But everything else appears to be in place, and I can't wait to see it.

Thank you so much for doing this review. We will be on the Magic in September.

Did you happen to see or eat at the barbecue on Deck 5 Lanai. Did you notice if it had been remade into Fat Jimmy's C-Side BBQ?

Got one. Thanks OP!

So bad news first, then really good news!

We will be doing Xunantunich early in the morning and cave tubing after lunch. Tour guide and previous reviewers had no problem getting back to the ship. Very excited.

Curious how long are you in port?

When we did just Xunantunich last year it took over 7 hours including tenders and travel time.

I have done some research on this and I believe both are "all inclusive" including food and drinks and the Lifestyle Beach. However the VIP package apparently gives you access(by wristband) to a more secluded Serenity beach area and also to VIP bars and restaurants and pool. According to the limited reviews, it sounds very nice.

I hope its worth it, we'll find out in September.

Yes gladly!

I hope the OP is never on the same ship as me.

Yes this has been asked and answered a million times, but here it goes again. You can use the cards for anything Carnival related other than online purchases from the fun shops.

 

You can use them to load as obc and then from there spend as you wish. Because Cheers is sold through the fun shops/bon voyage, you can't buy it in advance online. But you can use your obc from gift cards to get it once onboard. And yes you can use them to prepay tips.

 

Sent from my SCH-I435 using Tapatalk

Sorry this is incorrect. You can now purchase Cheers in advance online.

The most important fact about Kathy Griffin...

She is not funny

Mitsusugirly,

FYI Carnival Magic is going into dry dock Feb. 21 thru March 6.

It is reported to be getting these upgrades:

Guys burger

Blue cantina

Blue iguana tequila bar

Red frog rum bar

Pizzeria relocate

Deli relocate

Fat jimmys bar-b-que

Alchemy bar

Hotels in Miami most costly followed by Ft. Lauderdale (hotels right close by to the cruise terminal) and least costly hotels in Pt. Canaveral and are right at the port area also. Pt. Canaveral is a shorter drive.....to Ft. Lauderdale be an extra 4-5 hour drive time depending upon whether you make stops and how many, then an extra hour to Miami. I like the parking a lot better in Pt. Canaveral and Miami the least.

 

Carnival Magic had her last dry dock 2015 this year, I always look for this because they do routine maintenance which involves painting, carpeting, bedding, etc. She also has a nice serenity area with spas, waterworks, mini golf, basketball, cucina del capitano a good sit down pasta place which is excellent, mongolian, and red frog pub.

 

Carnival Conquest her last dry dock was back in 2012, she has blue iguana, red frog, guys burgers, fish and chips and I believe maybe a comfort kitchen.

 

Carnival Splender last dry dock was 2011, she has a large serenity, rotisserie, mongolian wok, wine bar, mini golf, tandoor and I believe chopsticks.

 

About Aruba, you dock in the city area, so you really don't get to see the nice part of Aruba unless you take a tour, but there is something for everybody in Aruba, we love Aruba so much we always go there for a land based vacation for a couple of weeks each year, everybody is nice, no haggling, no venders begging, good restaurants/food, beautiful beaches, all watersports and even on the hottest day tradewinds keep you feeling comfortable.

 

Dominican Amber Cove can do without.

 

St Kitts watersports and nice beach

 

Grand Turk watersports, good beach, margarhitaville complimentary pool, chairs etc.

 

St. Maarten a good place to sightsee dutch and french side, good food/restaurants, good beaches

 

San Juan, you dock in the main part of the city...rainforest, casinos, limited I feel, to see the nice part of the island is a ways to get there.

 

Curacao has the tradewinds also, didn't see any decent beaches, buildings are all pastel colors nice but limited on what to see and do, my opinion. Suppose to have good watersports there also and the best kayaking in the mangroves.

 

The Conquest would be my personal choice of being last (remember most of the time your on the ship not in ports)

 

The Splender is an extra day, offers an overall of good ports, but she is the one that hasn't been in dry dock

 

The Magic, is closer drive, less costly hotels, easier parking at the pier, not as good ports but the ship is newer, offers more, been in dry dock this year.

 

What is more important to you ports or the ship? For Ports its the Conquest, for the ship its the Magic, my last choice is the Splender because of the ship not being in a current dry dock and out of Miami.

 

I would choose the Magic, it has more for the kids too.

I agree with your decision and am doing this itinerary on the Magic next September. But... Magic did not do dry dock in 2015. It will be in dry dock in Feb/March 2016. And according to John Heald will be getting the full package.

Actually I think this is incorrect. Both Google Maps, Trip Advisor, and RIU website show the resort adjacent to the Amber Cove complex.

Riu Resort is upper right corner of pic:

I found that it is about 15 minutes away from the port. I have read some poor reviews on it on several sites. They said that the place is run down, has roaches, and has more fruit flies than food.

Actually I think this is incorrect. Both Google Maps, Trip Advisor, and RIU website show the resort adjacent to the Amber Cove complex.

RIU Bachata is in Puerto Plata (Amber Cove) which is a 4.5 hr drive to the north coast with no traffic. Dreams La Romana is located in Bayahibe which is 20 minutes from the ship.

The ship will be docked at Amber Cove, which is very near the RIU Bachata Resort

I booked yesterday on the conquest and asked the same question. I was told that since I had an early saver with a guarantee balcony, we didn't qualify. I'm not exactly sure if you're in the same situation, but that's what we were told! I'm going to keep watch anyway... who knows!!!

Sorry but I don't understand how you are booked early saver with a guarantee? I thought Early Saver fares always let you choose your cabin. Every time I have done an ES booking online I have chosen the cabin then.

This is quite literally the worst advice I have ever read on cruise critic...maya chan is amazing. Just look at the number of people on the thread giving it glowing reviews.

 

As for your daughter I am not sure what she likes, but if she is not into hanging on a beach, kayaking, or snorkeling then she might not enjoy it. I have seen kids there playing in the sand but they were young. They can make non-alcoholic drinks and milk shakes for her in place of alcohol. You will get a cabana with a bed and hammock that is nice. It is not a hint blow up slide super exciting place, just a very nice relaxing beach day with great staff, drinks, and food.

 

6&8

Lighten up Francis, I think it was a joke.

Sarcasm, check into it...

Hmmm. Either we got short-changed, or the cabin steward forgot to leave us the coupons. Maybe I should write a letter to Carnival and complain. Or better yet, I'll contact John Heald. Think I can get a free cruise out of this? :rolleyes:

It was effective May 15 sailings.

We were on Roatan May 20 and did the Best of Roatan Tour. Our guide was also Ronald and we had a great day. He drove us all over the island, stopping for pictures and shopping and telling us historical stuff and stories about life on Roatan and meeting his friends and also some of his family. Then we went to Victor's Monkey Business and had a blast playing with the monkeys and birds. After that he drove us thru the West End and out to West Bay where we got loungers on the beach, had lunch and spent a few hours relaxing before heading back to the ship. Ronald hung out nearby the whole time. I really can't say enough about how wonderful the whole experience with Victor was, from the initial email contacts, the booking, the tour with Ronald and the followup after the visit. Truly one of the best vacation experiences we have ever had.

I too want to thank Mitsugirly for her wonderful review of Blue Kay and recommending it. We enjoyed a wonderful day there and will certainly go back there again when we stop at Costa Maya.

 

Also nice meeting you jonboy9756 and glad you made it home safely.

Thanks finoky! yes It was nice to finally meet a fellow Cruise Critic-er in person.

As far as Belize, jonboy, what time were you able to get your tender? We also have a ruins excursion booked there, did you feel it was rushed because of late tenders? Just thinking if they did this last week, it may be the same next week....thank you!!!

We were in the theatre at 7:45 per info from Carnival. We waited over an hour. As we were scheduled on the first tender due to the long Xanantunich excursion we were loaded a little before 9 AM I think. The CD explained that the Belize customs officials were late, however when we finally made it to our bus the quides told us the Belize authorities were waiting on the ship before we dropped anchor but Carnival didn't call. So were were well over an hour late leaving on our trip. We still had time for the full ruins tour, but we did have to eat our lunch on the bus as we drove back. We were on the last tender and as we left the dock the engine blew and left an oil slick and had very little power. We returned to the dock and were loaded onto a backup tender. We were over and hour late getting back to the ship. I think this was the first visit by Valor to Belize, hopefully they will get the tendering process ironed out.

I believe we were docked around 7 AM. We were not in a hurry as we had been up early for the other 3 ports. But I think folks were getting off the ship by 8 AM ships time, which is 7 AM local time. Blue Kay's info said they didn't open until 9 local time anyway. I don't know if they are strict about that. So we had a leisurely breakfast, strolled into the port area and shopped a little, and rode the tram down to Blue Kay arriving about 10 AM. They treated us very well. We only had about 3 hours before catching a taxi back to the ship. We just chilled on the beach, enjoying the water and a few drinks. No bicycling, no snorkelling, didn't go down the Malecon.

To Ourfamilyof4:

Sorry I can't private message. I will be posting some comments in various threads about the Valor and the ports of call we visited. You can check those out and/or feel free to ask questions.

Ship got ruined when it went from San Juan to FLA.

I am going to have to disagree with this. We just got off the Valor on Sat. the 23rd. The smoke smell in the casino area is very bad, but luckily we spent almost no time in there. Didn't smell smoke anywhere else on Deck 5 or anywhere else on the ship for that matter. Our interior cabin was on Deck 6 above the casino and we didn't smell any smoke in our room either. I believe the OP's smoke problem was caused by the balcony smoker or a previous cruiser. Embarkation was late for many but luckily we had FTTF and were escorted past the long lines, checked in quick and were among the first to board when they opened the ship between 12 and 1. The ship is clean, the staff is excellent, food was above expectations, comedians and shows were better than average. We had a great time in all the ports we visited thanks to research and information from folks here on Cruise Critic. I will agree the music is much too loud, particularly in the "Serenity" area where you can hear it blasting from the lido, and the bands playing outside the Casino. The tenders to Belize were late, but we had booked the Xanatunich ruins excursion and were on the first tender ashore(and the last one back!). Debarkation was perfect, again with FTTF we were Zone 2 and off the ship between 8 and 8:30.

My family all agreed this was probably the best vacation we ever had.

Mitsugirly,

I also want to thank you for your information about Blue Kay. Just got off of the Valor yesterday and we were only in Costa Maya until 2 PM last Thursday. But we had a wonderful morning at Blue Kay. Easy to get there, the water and beach was beautiful, drinks were cold and and service was great. Didn't have any food because of the short time. Sure there was a bit of seaweed but they had folks working to clean it up, but it wasn't a major problem. Wished we could have stayed all day. We will be there again if we are ever in Costa Maya.