hlb76

Hi all,

We have been hoarding gift cards for some time now and just wondering the best way to use them. I did put a CC on file when I did my boarding pass. When I arrive should I have the agent add my gift cards then? Or is it better to wait until we board the ship? I just want it to be a quick and painless transaction for everyone involved.

years ago I had some GC I received as a Bday gift I added at some point during the cruise. It wasn't enough to cover my bill so it took the gift cards first then my card was charged the rest.

Thanks

Excited to read this one! I hardly ever see reviews that are not Caribbean.

I love all your reviews and this one will be extra special as I have sailed o the Sunshine before so it will be fun to see her again. I love the old Destiny pictures! We sailed her as well though quite a few years after you.

Thanks for bringing us along with you.

We are booked on the Valor in Oct. My husband and I have been so high stressed at home we really are hoping to use this vacation to unwind. While we are not spa people I was thinking of booking us a couples massage. I did win a facial once while on board that was nice but the high pressure sales pitch at the end took all the relaxation and enjoyment I received away.

I would love some feed back and experiences that your willing to share. I really dont even know the difference between the types of massages either so any help there would be appreciated.

I'm all caught up.. which I'm not sure if I'm happy or sad about. I love knowing there are more installments waiting but I hate that I'm behind!

So glad Kendra ended up coming along. Love hearing her stories though thus far she has been on the up and up - minus some monkey business. HAHA

I bet Sakari will adore her PADI classes. I'm jealous - I would love to dive. I bet it wont be long and you will all be doing classes even with the ear issues.

Thanks for all you do to bring us with on these virtual trips!

YAY!! Another review from Kim. I'm excited for this as it have not heard many reviews form this itinerary. Plus I love your CCL reviews as its my preferred cruise line. Hopefully this will tide me over until we sail in Oct.

thanks for this... I would love to take the grandkids on a glass bottom boat trip. I agree it dont want it over crowded or they wont get to enjoy.. they are 1.5 and 3.

Thanks for the info. We are still trying to decide what to do in freeport.

Ok... can you provide more details

just trying to confirm the easiest way to get to here. We are a party of 7 - not sure if a taxi or private rental is best or available.

Ive heard there is public beach access close by. Any feedback on this vs a day pass to a local hotel.

We are just trying to find a way to kill a few hours. We are traveling with my son and his family including 2 kids ages 1.5 and 3.5. So we would like to have them burn off some steam.

Any other help with this port is greatly appreciated

what is the cost to get to the market place from the cruise port? I'm assuming cabs are readily available somewhere

We are traveling with my son and my grandkids on a 5 day cruise in Oct. We are looking for something to do in Freeport. I was there years ago and just remember needing a tour if you wanted to get tot he beach or do anything beside walk around the small shopping center. We are really on a tight budget as we are covering most of the bill for this trip. Any suggestions for a budget friendly day where we can enjoy and the kids can enjoy too?

Thanks so much for this review. We are traveling as a family in Oct. including the grand kids about your childerns age. This really helped me to know what to think about and expect.

I like the idea of going to Atlantis. I have never been I need to see if we can fit that into our small limited budget as we are paying for this cruise for all of us.

Well said...I am a coke girl...and probably would then have to bring a camping Britta water purifirer something or other..I could make it all work but it is nasty...still want to try them..but lousy rules with the choice and allowances. And that water not included...that is much worse than the wine or pop choice issue. Hope they have ice tea and lemonade free...something...

We sailed NCL for the first time on March. Now my memory of the beverage stations is not overly vivid but I do recall them having plain water which I drank just like I do on CCL. They also had some flavored waters that I found to be very weak. I found one milk station in the buffet but it was open very limited hours and type. They did have juice and cartons of milk in the AM. I never found hot chocolate like CCL which I drink a lot of. That's about it. So yes they do have other things on the buffets drink stations.

With the UBP whats the big deal??

Let me tell you the big deal for me.... and my most recent cruise was on NCL ( our first time trying that line)

1. yes I can get my favorite brand soda (Pepsi) but I cant get a full can. I prefer can over fountain which is the way it comes at many bars. If I do find a bar that has cans I get a warm can normally flat poured over ice just like CCL. YUCK!

2. I must go to a bar to track down a glass. I prefer to have one in my room when I'm getting ready in the AM or sitting on my balcony etc.

3. if I book my cruise last minute I do not qualify to get any of the promo's - so its not like everyone can get the UBP always. And when you do get it you still pay tax. Think it was like $90 for the 2 of us to have the UBP - gladly paid it as my bar bill would of been more but its far from free.

So glad I found this review! Its Amazing!!!! Your pictures and so beautiful and I love your writing style. I cant wait to read the next installments and hopefully go back to read your previous reviews.

Thanks for all your hard work!!

Congrats on the big move Brianna!!! I too need to move out of the land locked state of MN. Too far from cruise ships... lol

I'm sorry I'm late to this party. I have been waiting for this review since I found out you booked! When I saw you on JH FB page I knew this would be another amazing review. You always have the best time! One day I hope to cruise with you so we can "lean" together ;)

The pictures amazing as always. Thanks for all your hard work and effort! I cant wait to see what comes next.......

Thanks for your review. Glad you had a better time than your list trip. Sorry you feel like you wont be back on Carnival. They are my favorite, even not having much to compare it too.

We did try NCL this last March and left feeling --meh. It deserves another try as there where many issues on our ship on many sailings.

We felt the food was same across the board. We would have a great meal and then a not so great meal on both lines.

Drinks I prefer CCL even though I had free drinks on NCL. I just never found one I loved.

Entertainment is hard to give a favor to either. NCL has some great shows but Ive seen some good one on CCL too. We where bored stiff at night though. After the main show there was not much else going on unless you wanted to go to the disco. No comedy shows (or other evening entertainment) - even with bad acts I'd rather have something to do.

Its always good to try something new. Sometimes it works out sometimes it proves you have been making the right choice all along. I have 2 more CCL cruises booked but will be pricing NCL for another shot in the future.

Anyone? (

Hi all. We are cruising in Oct with the whole family :) I'm super excited but nervous as this will he the first vacation our grandkids have had. The boys will be 21 months and 2.5 years old. The oldest can do camp activities including late night parties if I'm not mistaken. The little one is not old enough for camp but can do night owls (babysitting) I believe. I'm not sure we will use this option but would like to know about it to be prepared. I think it would be fun to have one adults only evening. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experience with this program. Thanks in advance.

They come up frequently. Just need to check often. Even if my cruise was 18 months away I'd still even buy one 100 one here and there to save plus spread the wealth but that's just me. My Oct cruise is paid in full. Gathering 100 ones for the S&S bill. My Jan cruise is getting paid little by little but plan to do it all via gift cards. I just apply them to my cruise via the Web when I get them.

Boo..that stinks. It costs more to buy onboard too

Can I pre order booze, drink packages, or other fun shop things using my gift cards? I know I have used them to pay the balance of my cruise, used them on board for S&S bill and even think I may of when booking an excursion. Though I have not for Funshop items.

I did a mock booking of the Cheers package and I did not see a place to enter Gift card info. Did I miss it? Or can I call and order to use a gift card?

Thanks in advance

I personally would never remove them. I may not tip above and beyond if I don't feel it's earned. I personally like to have as much paid before hand vs the shock factor after. All my choice and it's my money so not sure what business of anyone else's is how I spend it. And when I day shock factor I don't mean grats are a shock, they are factored into my budget. Though when you get that S &S bill grats, gift shop, bar, kids in arcade, etc sometimes it's a shock, even when expected and calculated.

Wow from asking if we can pay online to being told how and why I should pre-pay them or not to removing them. Geez..... Thanks to those that confirmed I can not pay on line.

Thanks... I must of been thinking of our NCL cruise.