Buckett

No T-pool on Vista? Wow, that's disappointing.. I like the T-pool so much that I actually try to sail on the ships with it. Once I tried it on Splendor I was hooked and have paid the extra for Cloud 9 ever since - and I am not a spa person at all.

I agree with you! I am really disappointed to hear this. I also loved the T-pool, etc on the Splendor! Am booked on the Vista in March and was looking forward to a similar experience.

 

One good thing about Cheers though is it would allow me to try more expensive drinks that I might not ordinarily consider. I love single malt scotch and there are a couple decent ones listed on menus I've seen posted here although nothing magical like a Bruichladdich DNA or even an 18yo Laphroaig. But I would definitely use Cheers to sample some of those they do have and I also hear that the Alchemy bar makes some really cool drinks that I wouldn't buy if I was just hanging out at a bar.

 

I've never done Cheers, but am probably going to try it for the first time on the Inspiration in January. I totally agree with your quote above, and this is part of why I'm going to give it a go. I also like that it now includes specialty coffees, etc. Normally I don't like to spring for those very often but now I plan on having a double shot vanilla latte every morning! :D

FTTF is not attractive to me, although I do see why others might want/need it. If I have GS issues I will go to the desk at an off time. If we tender, I get in line early to get a ticket so I don't mind that either. I always end up making new friends in line. I do self assist when debarking. So again, for me there is no value.

Great review so far, thanks for posting! Will be sailing on her in March 2017 and have been eagerly awaiting these first reviews and pictures. :D

Can you use Carnival gift cards to buy the cheers program pre-cruise?

Comett, unfortunately no you can not use Carnival gift cards. I've asked. :-(

That is awesome! Have a great cruise and please come back and tell us more about the Vista! I will be sailing her in March next year so I eagerly await reports. :D

Great review as usual, I am finally all caught up! I have been to those ports so it's nice to see them again through your pictures. We were in Grand Turk and San Juan just this past January. I agree with you about the water in Grand Turk, it was absolutely beautiful!

I take my niece on a cruise every year for year for Spring Break, next year we are doing the Vista, and really looking forward to it. Your pictures of the Breeze are having me consider it for 2018!:D Nice looking ship for sure.

I've sailed both ships, and liked them both. Having sailed them with my now 12 year old niece I can say she likes the kid's club better on Carnival than on HAL. So I'm basing my recommendation to you on that. :D

OP, I was just at 3 of those ports in January. We really enjoyed walking around Old San Juan, spent the day doing that. We turned left and just started walking up the hill to the fort, and spent $5 each to tour it. We really enjoyed it! I don't think you need an excursion at this port, provided you like walking. We made some pit stops along the way, for example at Barrachina, which is one of the places who claim to have invented the Pina Colada. :)

At Grand Turk, as others have said, the gorgeous beach is right there so if you like that, you're set. We did a snorkeling excursion through White Sands charter and it was one of the highlights of our cruise. I can recommend that without hesitation. After the excursion, we walked down the beach to Jack's Shack and had a bite to eat and a drink. We got to meet Topher the dog, he is so friendly and cute! We would have like to spend more time there but had to get back to the ship.

At St. Maarten we did a tour through Bernard's Tours. If I went again, I would probably try to book a private tour, not part of a big group. It was a nice tour, you get to cover a lot of the island, but it felt rushed.

On another cruise back in 2010 I did go to St. Kitts as part of a group cruise, and our excursion there took us to Reggae Beach Bar. That was a lot of fun! Good food, good drinks, and a beautiful beach.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise!!

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for that, as we took the Springhill shuttle. Honestly I'm not sure I'd do that again, at least from the airport, as we waited a LONG time. A cab would have been quicker.

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Thank you for the clarification and the extra info. I am looking for Hilton, Marriott, OR IHG (holiday inn family) hotels. I should have enough points with any of them to stay for free, IF they still have free nights available. A lot of them are already showing "No Points Nights Available" even though we are almost a year away.

 

Am I still missing something? (Sorry - I have a sinus infection and the drugs seem to be affecting my brain today). The Hampton Inn where I stayed on a business trip (and I wasn't really thrilled with it) is at 2301 SW 12th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 and Google maps puts it at about 3 miles walking distance to where the water taxi map shows the Las Olas Blvd stop to be. Is there another Hampton?

 

I was looking seriously at the Springhill Suites, Dania Beach. Do you have any info or recommendations on that hotel or area?

 

Thanks for your patience and help.

Alwalaska, I just stayed at the Springhill Suites in Dania Beach in January, as I had enough points for a free night. :) I would recommend it. It wasn't far from the airport at all, maybe a 10 minute drive? It was clean, the staff was nice, and they had a good free breakfast. There aren't any restaurants close by, but they do have a hotel shuttle that will take you and pick you up from nearby restaurants, we took advantage of that. The shuttle to the terminal was I think $10 per person and it was well organized. I would be happy to answer any other questions.

I'm curious to hear more replies on this too. I've never used Carnival transfers either, but did sign my niece and myself up for it next year post-cruise, from POM to FLL. The cost was $62 total, which didn't sound bad to me.

It has been a couple of years since I have visited Grand Turk. I was wondering if anyone that will soon be visiting or has recently visited and has a great memory could tell me if Bambarra Rum (the rum of Turks & Caicos) was still being sold in the Dufry store and if so, what kinds they have. I always try to pick up a bottle when I visit, and I understand they have some newer and limited rums. Grand Turk will be the last stop on my upcoming cruise, so I don't want to pick up certain kinds of rums if they will have in Bambarra brand at Dufry.

 

Thank you in advance!

If Dufry is the name of the big store right there at the cruise port, yes they do sell Bambarra rum there. I bought 2 bottles last month. They had silver, gold, and spiced. It was $25 a bottle (I bought the gold) but if you bought 2 it was only $42. Hope this helps. :D

The deck plan on the Inspiration has been updated.

The Alchemy bar is on the Promenade level just outside the Candlelight lounge, where the old Chopin lounge used to be.

I must be looking in the wrong spot on the Carnival website, because I don't see an updated deck plan showing the Alchemy Bar. However since I've been on her a few times, and looked at the recent pictures someone posted, I know right where it is. Looking forward to trying some Alchemy drinks on the Miracle next month, and on the Inspiration next year. :D

I'm excited for the upgrades! We'll be sailing her next January for our yearly girl's cruise. :D

The Queen Mary is another option. I have used their stay and sail package in the past. Fun and interesting place to stay.

I cut and pasted from my roll call:

"The discount code is P41 and it changes the listed price for park and cruise from over $200 to only $159+tax!"

Hope this helps. :)

My hubby and I will be doing a B2B (4 days followed by 3) out of Long Beach next month to celebrate my 60th and our 15th Anniversary. We've decided to look into parking our car at a Park and Cruise rather than drive in from Northern California that morning. I've looked around these boards...but most of the postings on this subject are pretty old and out of date.

 

Any suggestions on where to stay? Thanks!

A lot of cruisers stay at the Hotel Maya. Someone on my roll call recently posted a discount code, I think it was p41, but let me check.

When I was on the Imagination a couple of weeks ago, I had pre-purchased the Bottomless Bubbles program. I was thinking perhaps there would be a sticker on my sign and sail card when they gave it to me, but I had to go to Lido deck and the guy at the table selling Cheers and Bottomless Bubbles had a list of pre-paids and he looked me up and put the sticker on my card. Maybe it varies from ship to ship?

Thanks everyone! Can't believe it's almost here. So excited to be on the Nieuw Amsterdam for the first time. :D

I still say line dances are the devil lol

I agree! Wish they'd play more DuranDuran! (I like your handle) :D

Based on the good reviews I read here when doing research for our upcoming cruise I decided to book with White Sands Charters and Tours in Grand Turk. I don't think we are allowed to post websites but I'm sure a quick forum search would yield a lot of results.

You can use the gift cards for excursions, but as others have posted, for some reason not for Fun Shops purchases. I did use a gift card for Carnival post-cruise transportation to the airport also.

This a great reminder. A lot of times what I will do is for example if I have a favorite bartender or server, I will be sure to keep a receipt with their name on it, and from their name tag I will write down what country they're from. That way when I fill out the survey I can specifically say name, country, and at which bar they were working.

Thanks for your review! Bf and I will be on the NA next month and are really looking forward to it. I booked Tamarind a while back, upon the recommendation of my TA. She said she loves it and to be sure to book early to make sure you get in. :D

Those suites are nice on the Westerdam! Congratulation on your awesome upsell. :D