Txmedic5

I was looking at reviews of Paradise to see what some wrote about the ship during the big storm in the Gulf and came across a review by Familyof2 regarding the the Paradise cruise from August 10th.

I can't tell you how much you made my day. In your review you singled out "they guy who sang Family Tradition" as the best entertaiment on the ship. That was me.

I was asked by the Karaoke DJ Lisa if I would sing it for her because it was one of her grandmothers favorite songs. I wasn't sure if was going to do it but Lisa was awesome and I couldn't tell her no.

Hearing that you not only liked the song but came back on Friday to hear me sing Karaoke again really means a lot. It's been a very long time since I sang in front of anyone in a live venue of any sorts and it really made me smile.

So thank you very much for the compliment. The review is here if anyone cares to read it. http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=545229

Thanks for the heads up on the movies as well Sushi! Really appreciate you taking the time...:)

Glad you had fun! I would welcome you back Sushi but who really wants to come back from a cruise!!!

Thank you!

I had read they had movies in the cabins aboard the Paradise that were relatively new.

Thank you !

Do you know if any of those locations have sea turtles? Not a big deal but it might change my wife's mind about walking around town instead.

Great information!!! Thank you very much.

Any Cozumel suggestions?

I have a cruise booked in August to GC and Coz and was wondering if anyone knew of a way to snorkel from the shore without booking an excursion?

I would really like to experience the waters around both but we are taking the cheaper route this time when it comes to excursions.

If you know of a great place to snorkel that is free or at the very least locally cheap that would be great!

Also if anyone has taken the Whale Shark excursion is it worth the $200.00?

I would love to see more pics. Going to HMC next month. Have no excursions booked for it and would LOVE to try to snorkel. Never done it before but I am a pretty decent swimmer.

I'll add more pics as soon as it lets me. If you want me to send you some (I have more videos than images) you can shoot me a private message and I can email them to you if you want.

A few caveats and words of caution on this. I've snorkeled many times from Bora Bora to Hawaiii to Costa Rica and most of the Caribbean, and I wouldn't do this unless at the minimum, the following was in place:

 

1) I had a snorkel buddy with me in the water

2) Someone was watching us from the rocks

3) I knew something about the local conditions, like tides, currents, bottom scape.

 

The OP was there on a calm day, and maybe most days are like that on HMC. I've been there twice and I know the area the OP is talking about. But heck, I still prefer snorkeling with a guide who knows the area rather than going on my own, even in a place I know as well as Tabayana, where I've snorkeled over 25 times.

 

Just something to think about......Last January a diver off the rocks on Carambola beach in St Kitts suffered some sort of emergency event and was seen floating about and had to be pulled from the water. I watched as a nurse rushed over to administer CPR, but it was too late.

 

I doubt this is the place for a 1st time snorkeler to explore without a guide. JMO.

I definitely would not go alone, especially if it's your first time. There are not tide issues where this reef is at but always better to err on the side of caution. If you are going to go around the bend I definitely wouldn't do it alone the first time you go...I should have but still glad I did (still not smart in unfamiliar waters).

Still this is a great option for those who want to snorkel and don't want to buy an excursion. The reef is easy to get to. There are no guides as Carnival doesn't take people to the reef. But like this poster said, it's always better..ALWAYS... to have a partner...:)

I would love to see more pics. Going to HMC next month. Have no excursions booked for it and would LOVE to try to snorkel. Never done it before but I am a pretty decent swimmer.

Best part is you don't need to book an excursion for this HMC is free as it's Carnivals own island. They have a lot of stuff on the island but this is a reef you can explore on your own! Enjoy we loved it.

I took a cruise to the Bahamas about a year ago and I love to snorkel. I booked two excursions, 1 in Nassau and the other in Freeport. It was Half Moon Cay however that I found to be the best and here's why.

If you like to snorkel and we all know that while HMC offers some very crystal clear water there isn't much to see off the beach except a few fish here and there. But there is a reef and they don't tell you about it.

Where is it? If you look at HMC from the ship there is a point to the far left side of the island where the beach meets the rocks. This is an area you can explore but please note there are no lifeguards and it's swim at your own risk. Not much risk though. The small but GORGEOUS reef is located about 50 yards off shore and most of that is in water that is not above your head (we took my then 10 year old son out to it). Neither my wife nor son wore fins on the swim out. The reef is in about 8 feet of water. The waves were very calm and the fish were beautiful and colorful. I've posted a pic.

We spent about a couple of hours here and couldn't get enough of it. Especially since there was only one other group of two that showed up...it was like a private little reef. OH and no there were no sharks.

For the more adventurous - swim around the left side of the island (it's better to avoid the fire coral but I'm a big guy and was able to navigate over it. Around that left edge of the island there are sunken remnants of a pier and the water depth is about 15 to 20 feet (still no sharks..:( ) However, I was able to easily dive down and collect HUGE Queen Conch shells that were empty after having the conch removed and the shells discarded. There was a lot of shells of varying kinds and there is also a small white beach with no other access but from the water. I sat there for a about 30 minutes just enjoying the peace and tranquility.

There are a lot of edges to explore just below the water but you should be a good swimmer and while I explored it alone, it's probably better to go with someone.

Of all the excursions I have taken, this was by far my favorite snorkeling spot and I can't wait to go back. There is just some great beauty there to be seen that very few know about.

I will say this though, I was out there until late in the day and the walk back is long so time it accordingly, also, as the afternoon arrives, the water on the other side of the bend starts to get a little darker and it gets a little creepy when you realize your visibility has shrunk from about 100 feet or so to about 20 or 30...LOL. At that point, the Jaws themes creeps into your head.

If you are going to HMC and are a good swimmer and want more than what's on the beach, you can't miss the opportunity to explore on your own! And the best part? It's 100% free!

If you want a few more pics or want to know more details about this reef just ask I will be more than happy to send. We loved this so much I stopped doing the snorkeling tours that were offered and saved the money for drinks on board and shopping!

Hello,

My wife and I are taking our new adopted kids and our own kid on a cruise in August. My wife is wondering what kinds of in-room movies they are currently playing ahead of the cruise so she can plan entertainment activities in the event of rain or in the evening when we are relaxing in our cabin.

If you have cruised recently and know what was played it would help give an idea of what will be expected.

Thank you!

Will be on Paradise in August as well. Looking forward to seeing what others think of this app as my wife wants to use it on board as well.