projectorguy1

I think it was just barely in the strong range...range was around 200 to 500

just got my 340pp bid accepted on the 2/22 Escape sailing - from an inside to a spa balcony!! Woo-Hoo!!!!

Thank you! Just what I was looking for!

Nobody booked a cabana on the Getaway or Breakaway in the past year?

I just booked our specialty dining meals (4 total - one of the "perks"). Usually when I purchase an upgraded meal such as a dinner meal, it requires me to pay the upcharge when I book - This time, Ocean Blue  (Breakaway) showed as $0.00 total - does this mean they aren't charging the $12 pp fee anymore?

Sorry - Just saw the above post!

I've searched everywhere for this (not successfully 🙂  )...

Has anyone rented, or seen the cost of a Vibe Cabana for the Getaway or Breakaway recently?

The last time we rented one was 2016, and I have read that prices have more than doubled since then for Vibe. We paid $359 for the week for a cabana, with a $100 onboard credit included. Weeklong Vibe passes were only $129 those days (vs. 209 now as best as I have found out so far).

I saw someone posted $489 for a week for only ONE person, plus the second person $209?? If it is indeed $700, especially if you no longer get the 100 dollar food credit, I guess we won't do that again...I'd rather use that 700 plus a little more to bid on an upsell...

The point of this thread...I think at least, is that there really ARE people this "Penny wise and pound foolish" about flying to a cruise. There have been some pretty frantic posts and threads on FB recently about people flying in from CANADA the day of a cruise and ultimately missing the boat over a 90 minute delay on a flight departure, which isn't all that uncommon these days.

As unbelievable and ridiculous as it sounds - risking a several THOUSAND dollar cruise over a HUNDRED dollar hotel room seems like a great idea to some.

Glad that you have a friend in St. Thomas . It is more ready than any other port in the area. Puerto Rico is still in the news. Ships can go there but you are limited to staying in Old Town, which can get crowded. The areas out in the country side are still without power . St. Maarten and Tortola are not close to ready for ships. NCL would have more disappointed people if they took a cruise with a stop only in St. Thomas.

St. Maarten looks pretty good to me right now...am I missing something? There are ships showing on the port webcam...and the Maho Beach Airport webcam looks pretty good too...

http://www.portstmaartenwebcam.com/

We were in M265 last April...Loved it until sludge water coming from the shower drain forced us to sleep in a public area the last night of the cruise...

four words ...

Pool, Margarita, and Hot Tub!!

Maybe one more thing...Island music out on the lake!

...and a Margarita...

25 years ago, We were on our honeymoon. 4 day Carnival cruise. Inside room. $800 EACH. YES, 25 years ago things were different, and you paid for it! The main cruise lines are catering to the average American, making it affordable for many who couldn't afford it 25 years ago. I honestly thought going on a cruise was a once in a lifetime adventure back then. Now it is a once a year activity.

 

There were many more perks back then. If I still want them, I will go on a more expensive cruise. If you figure time value of money, that cruise from 25 years ago would be around $2000 each, for 4 days, inside room.

You get what you pay for...

more like $1400 - But your point is still very valid! :-)

http://www.usinflationcalculator.com/

1400 for an inside will get you a luxury cruise nowadays for SEVEN NIGHTS if you shop around...

We did 7 nights in the Haven on the Getaway for 1300 each (Spa Suite) last September with an upsell...

I guess 1022 out of 1110 reviews on TripAdvisor as well as countless people on Cruise Critic must be wrong about this place. I guess it must really be a wasted day for many, such a waste that they pick a particular cruise so that it stops in Costa Maya so they can be a repeat client.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g499450-d3844947-Reviews-Maya_Chan_Beach-Mahahual_Costa_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

 

Here are the reviews about Mahahual from TA: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g499450-d3741187-Reviews-Mahahual_Beach-Mahahual_Costa_Maya_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

SNJCruisers - please ignore my previous post, as well as this one, since you know everything already. TIA

I haven't been there 1110 times, but I WAS there on April 24th, and the entire area smelled terrible - sewage-like smell from the decaying grass and trash washed up VERY high everywhere. The resort was doing what they could do to keep their area clean, but they cant clean the water or surrounding area, nor could they keep the smell out. All I can say is I would have liked it if I had been given a better heads up about the conditions.

Again, If you don't like my report, then ignore it. I think the property owners are doing everything they can do, and I have NO complaints about the facilities or service. It's just unfortunate that the conditions can be bad there because of the currents and location.

If you go to Costa Maya...Check out Maya Chan, an all inclusive with rave reviews in the ports of call board for 59.00 pp including transportation from the ship.

 

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Check on their sea grass situation first...When we went, it was piled so high they couldn't keep up with it. The water was brown and murky, and there was a strong nasty smell everywhere. The facilities were fine, the food was very good, and the drinks ok...the location was unfortunate though. We stopped at Mahahaul to shop on he way back, and the beach looked and smelled WAY better. The beach at the dock was WAY better. I have to think this isn't that uncommon a situation there. They shouldn't have opened in that condition. I wasn't spoken to at the meeting location about the conditions - Nor was my email answered a few days prior, so I assumed the best. My mistake...pretty much a wasted day.

Since I was able to apply two certificates to an upcoming cruise, I am one short for another cruise - I cant purchase any until my September Escape cruise. Does anyone here have a spare they can sell me? We can do that, or I will be happy to buy one or two for you when we cruise. A good way to reset the four year clock!

Thanks!

I don't want to put out false info either. I wish I had paid more attention at the time. Of course I just threw away my itemized charge list for the cruise. The drink I had was a Grey Goose and tonic. That was just under $10 for the drink. I remember seeing a $2 additional charge as I glanced at the slip. The only other thing that could have happened would be that there were 2 drinks bought at the time. That would mean $1 per drink or 10% which is pretty standard sales tax for Alabama (I live there). I don't want to mislead anyone, so hopefully someone can come back with a firm answer. I just figure that additional sales tax in port is part of the way it goes. I do want to stress though that it does take a good while to get to international waters, so the tax is added for several hours after leaving port.

 

Dawn[/quote

 

Thank you for the clarification, and you did no such thing (misleading anyone)! It just seemed a bit high :-)

I do not remember the exact amount of the tax when we left in December, but it wasn't outrageous.

 

I'd say 9-10% max

That sounds much more reasonable - I could see 2 dollars for two top shelf drinks maybe. I never worry about these fees - usually doesn't total more than a few dollars...

Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5 and the tax is 10%, the guest's Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.50 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call).

 

I copied and pasted this off of Carnival. I am sorry that RoperDK didn't have a good experience. BUT, we do not want to most bad information and scare fellow cruisers. I will try my best to find the facts.

 

Thank you, Bobbi

I will post what I find out when we sail next month...I would expect (as we've seen in Miami on NCL - never more than 8 or 9%), about $0.50 to $1.00 a drink. If the tax is anything like 25%, I will not be happy with pre-buying the package for the entire cruise, and will purchase it on day two in the future. Further, the reduced choices with the "Alabama bar menu" isn't exciting news to begin with.

Just off the Fantasy last week. We didn't have Cheers, but I remember the Mobile tax for a mixed drink was around $2 each. The "Alabama bar menu" was in effect until reaching international waters. For us that was around 8PM. We had Funships when we boarded so I didn't realize there was still a reduced liquor menu until later. I couldn't get a Cosmopolitan, but did get a vodka tonic. I looked at the reduced menu quickly and only remember that each type of liquor (vodka, whiskey, etc.) had about 3 brands to choose from. There were maybe 10 fruity drinks like margaritas available. Can't help too much with beer and wine, but don't think there was a very large selection. Hope this helps!

 

Dawn

Was thi8s 2 dollars on a roughly 8 dollar drink?? If so, that's a whopping 25 percent sales tax? Anyone else noted these tax rates?

Hello OP. I hate to "butt in" but I just wanted to say that I love the Fantasy. My family has sailed her many times. Yes, she's the oldest ship in the fleet but they have kept her looking great in my opinion. I have sailed larger Carnival ships and tend to enjoy them all. The Fantasy had some of the 2.0 upgrades last year and that added some great new options. To me, the Fantasy is a little quieter and doesn't seem so crowded as others. It is a great value and that's one reason we tend to sail her often....and it's a short drive for us.

 

 

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Thank you for your input! I want to make it clear that Rattleshoe is certainly entitled to his/her opinion...I was just curious about timing. Your opinion is very similar to many I am seeing since the Fantasy came to Mobile. I wouldn't be shocked to read that there were issues before drydock, or before she came to Miami or Mobile, however, especially if most of the crew were nearing the end of their contracts at the same time...

Being a Senior citizen , the only trolling I have done is in a boat. Not a ship. We did a 5 day on the Triumph and two days after returning, did the same itinerary and same menu on the Fantasy. No cruise on Carnival has ever been a bad cruise! But the food in the dining room was not as good and trying to a clean table 0n the Lido was always a challenge. I remembered the same thing from an earlier cruise on the same ship. Even the help was " downbeat ", with the exception of a great dinner team and steward. It was just a noticeable difference doing both in 12 days time.

 

 

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When did you sail the Fantasy - If you dont mind me asking? And which port?

Please don't judge all ships by the Fantasy.

 

 

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Can you elaborate? Or just trolling?

Not very helpful as it stands. And why would I judge all ships by one older one?

I've cruised NCL only so far on the Sky, Getaway, and Escape...Have stayed in balcony rooms, mini suites, suites, and The Haven... The differences between the Sky and the others is HUGE, but I have enjoyed all of our cruises...

I will judge this upcoming cruise against not going on a cruise! Also, I will judge it on the value received for the cost...a little over 900 for two, including tips, for a 5 night cruise in a ocean-view room would have to be pretty bad to not be a good value for that price! :-)

Has anyone or no one seen the MDR open at lunch on embarkation day?

I think they recently changed a state or local law that allows Cheers to be activated on the first day out of Mobile. We went in december and were able to use it as soon as we got on board.

 

In the past this was not so.

Thanks! Thats great news!

Greetings all! Sailing next month on the Fantasy - Does anyone know if either main dining room is open on embarkation day for lunch? My DW and I have kind of a tradition of eating our first meal there on NCL.

Also - I am aware that the cheers drink package could only be purchased on day two out of Mobile in the past. We pre booked it, and were charged for all 5 days of the cruise. I'm assuming it is effective as soon as we board and get our stickers then? I think in the past, you just purchased it for your cruise length minus one day, and paid for your drinks and/or consumed your carry-on wine or champagne on day one...

Thanks in advance!

admin - please delete