Amadawn1

Oh my gosh, what a wonderful review you wrote.  You've had me laughing throughout.  Y'all would be so much fun to cruise with!  Have a great time on your girl's cruise!  Thanks for sharing with all of us!

6 minutes ago, MistyRo76 said:

Thanks for your feedback! 

 

If we cruise from Tampa again, we will definitely look harder at the Hilton Garden. I use pretty much exclusively Hilton properties too as that is who we use usually thru my work. Sounds like they gave you the royal treatment! We could have used the free hotel shuttle from the Hampton if we wanted to, but for the small price it was worth it to use Lyft and go exactly when we wanted to. There’s. I thing I hate more than being squished into a full shuttle bus! I think I’m a little pampered from my work travels. Lol 

 

i dont think when we booked the chef’s table that the reserve option was available thru the website. Maybe that will help them keep better track of bookings. It sounds like the same thing happened to another couple from the other cruise group page I was on for our sailing. You will certainly enjoy it when you do it on the Vista! 

I hear ya on those hotel shuttle buses.  I normally won't ever use them.  We just lucked out in Tampa.  I've had an Uber account since that time and loved using it pre/post cruise in New Orleans and Ft. Lauderdale.  Convenient when planning a night out locally as well when we intend to partake in adult beverages!  

Thanks so much for your wonderful review!  I really enjoyed reading it and your photos are fantastic.  We also stayed in Ybor City in 2017 before taking a NCL cruise.  I'm big on Hilton properties, and picked the Hilton Garden Inn.  It was great.  Super clean property, nice pool and the usual nice HGI rooms.  One night we did happy hour out on one of the patios, and the bartender gave us outstanding service.  He would take our drink orders outside and also deliver them out there.  After awhile, he asked if we were hungry and brought out menus just in case.  Well, we ended up eating there and the food was good.  The bartender also did double duty as our server.  The HGI was really worth the extra $$.  There is also a liquor store about a block and a half from that hotel, and it felt very safe walking over there (daytime).  By the way, not sure if they had it when you booked your Cuba cruise.  But if you have any current Carnival cruises booked, they now offer the Chef's table booking on the specialty dining reservations on the website when you go to your booking.  When you submit the request, you receive an email confirmation within a week or two.  I'm really excited to try their Chef's table for the first time when we sail on the Vista this December.  I loved your Chef's table pics!  Thank you so much again for sharing your Cuba cruise experience!

P.S.  When we went to the front desk to request a taxi to the port, the front desk offered up their shuttle van for free.  My husband and I and two other ladies were the only passengers.  Cherry on top!!

Hi deladane!  Just wanted to let you know I've been following your review and really appreciate you sharing all of your adventures, photos and insight.  Thank you so much for sharing.  We'll be on the same itinerary in December of this year on the Vista out of Galveston.  Thanks so much again, and please keep sharing!  It is very much appreciated.

159.  It's Magic!!

Thanks so much, Greg for this wonderful live review.  I've been following you all week.  Gotta say, I've been to Stingray sandbar twice and I never saw that many people there.  But I did take excursions outside the cruise line both times.  I hope you had a chance to pet and maybe even kiss a stingray for luck!  Love the videos, too.  They're bringing back good memories and getting me excited for my upcoming adventures.  We're sailing on the Vista in December.  Any chance you will be dining at Bonsai Sushi during your cruise?  I know sushi is either a Yes Yes!.... or....Oh Hell No!  Would love pics if you do.  Ahhh….spicy tuna roll!!  Thanks so much again.  Looking forward to your next installment.  Hope you're having a great time!  

Thanks so much for these great videos!  I watched your earlier ones on the Fascination as well.  Great job!  We're headed out on the Magic to Bermuda in late September.  We haven't sailed on Magic since she received the 2.0 upgrades.  I'm really looking forward to sailing on her again.  Thanks so much, again.  Your videos have me really looking forward to my cruise.  Can't wait to see more!

I just sent in a booking request for this Catamaran tour with Captain Marvin's for November. Looks like a great tour. The Stingrays was my all time favorite shore excursion. Can't wait to visit them again. Good luck!

Stingrays, Starfish and Snorkeling

...is a new and more exclusive tour that is being offered on our brand new motor catamaran.

This tour has been getting really great reviews! With approximately 18 people on average, it's a comfortable and high-end unique visit to some of the most beautiful spots on the planet.

The snorkeling will be at either the Coral Gardens OR the Barrier Reef, with approximately 40 minutes at each stop, allowing you more time to enjoy the beautiful Caribbean Sea.

Thank you for your review. It looks like you all had a good time on your cruise!

Add my DH and I to your list for this cruise! This would be outstanding!

 

My advice, check out a map ahead of time and write down directions. Or, if you are super fancy, and you have GPS on your cell phone, use that since you will still be in the U.S. and wont incur international data charges.

 

Have a drink or 20 on us! :D

Thanks for the great advice, Nancy! I will definitely go the map route. I'm a little technologically challenged at times with my cell phone and GPS! Will do on those drinks, too!! I'll toast to ya! ;)

I'm reading your first review right now. It's super! Love the Hemingway House cats, too! We are actually going to Key West next March on the Conquest out of New Orleans. Can't wait! I just hope it's not as hot as when y'all were there. We are supposed to do a pub crawl (right after we dock) but I want to check out the Hemingway house, too.....I may be challenged to even FIND the Hemingway House or my way back to the ship for that matter!

Thanks again for the great reviews!

Awesome review and pics, Nancy! I just spent my whole morning reading it, and hope to start reading your 2010 review this afternoon. It looks like you all had such a great time. I really hope you get to take that December cruise.

Definitely invest in the rumrunners. We packed them in both our checked bags (just in case one ended up in the naughty room) on our last two cruises and they all got through without a hitch. They also come with their own little funnels for filling (which also works well for ports...:rolleyes:)

Again, thanks so much for the reading pleasure. Hope to run into you and the Andrew on a cruise some day! We'd love to party with you all!

Excellent review so far. Can't wait to read and see more!

Chris and Cass,

Thank you so much for your wonderful review and pictures! I couldn't wait to log in each day hoping to see a new installment! Cass, the mixology class sounds like it was a lot of fun, too. I will definitely keep my eye out for that offering. My next cruise is not until November, but reading your review made me feel like I was right there. Counting down is so hard when the days are still in the hundreds!

Glad you had a great Birthday cruise, and very best wishes for your Honeymoon cruise next year!

Thanks again for the excellent review!

Thanks so much for your wonderful review! I have been reading it for the past several days, and kept checking back regularly for new installments!

We are cruising to Alaska for the first time this year. We haven't cruised since 2001, and are really looking forward to it. I have been tossing around the idea of taking your same 14 day Hawaii itinerary on the Golden, maybe next year for our anniversary. After reading your review, it's no longer going to just be an idea. I will be booking the Golden Princess for Hawaii!

Thanks again. Wonderful review and awesome pictures as well. I do hope you decide to take another cruise soon, maybe that Alaska itinerary you mentioned early on? It would be awesome to get to see another review from you! :)