ciship

What a beautiful, open, LARGE space they have dedicated for the adults only Serenity area on Mardi Gras!  However!!  They desperately need to get more shaded areas.  Umbrellas are needed everywhere.  Loungers in the sun aren't being used.  It's a horrible waste of space without shaded areas.  

I'm looking in to finding umbrella's that attach to the chairs.  Let me know if you recommend a good, strong one!

2 minutes ago, ProgRockCruiser said:

Well, FWIW, I mildly prefer a balcony with no shade.

 

If someone doesn't suggest a known "shaded" Suite balcony, I suggest you check the deck plans and compare with the photos of the ship to see if you will have shade.

I've been looking at various deck plans for two days.  They don't show whether there is a roof or not.  So strange that Carnival would make balconies like this.  We will "fry" on our balconies if we don't have shade.

We have booked an Ocean Suite on Deck 9 on Mardi Gras.  Just learned that our balcony will have no roof, thus no SHADE!  What the heck?  I am trying to find another cabin suite that has a roof on the balcony and have the deck plans pulled up, but that gives me no help at all?  Where are the Ocean Suite cabins with roofs on the balcony?

On 5/16/2022 at 12:20 PM, Jamman54 said:

Here are some views of the Country Inn & Suites. This is the lobby seating area…..

 

 

I guess you can call this the business center…..

 

 

This is the area where they serve the included breakfast…..

 

 

 

This is the fitness center…..

 

 

 

 

The laundry room if you need to do laundry…..

 

 

This is the pool and spa area…..

 

 

 

 

 

Now let’s talk about how we are going to handle getting our covid tests now that we are in the window for getting them. We were hoping to get tested today here in Kingsland, but neither CVS or Walgreens offered the rapid antigen tests in the area. The nearest CVS that offered the rapid antigen test was just south of Jacksonville, so we had booked it two weeks prior for tomorrow at 9:30am. Knowing that CVS has a habit of cancelling appointments, we also booked a Walgreen’s in Cocoa Beach for later in the afternoon. In the event that didn’t happen, we had our proctored test kits ready to go if needed. One way or another, we would be tested by the end of the day tomorrow!

 

To be continued…..  

I can't see your photos, but I see where you have a photo of a laundry room?  I thought Mardi Gras didn't have any washing machines or dryers for passengers to use?

So, does anyone know if there is a huge difference in space between the Havana Cabana regular stateroom and the Havana Cabana Suite?  Also, from the photos I can find, it looks like in some of the HC cabins you can't see the ocean from your patio?

We've always just thrown our phones in the safe as soon as we board the ship and never use them the whole trip.  However, this time I want to take photos with my phone.  Can't I just find free wifi at Starbucks, etc.. in one of the ports and post from there?

Do we have the option of carrying on all our luggage ourselves and then carrying them off as well at the end of the cruise?  I can't remember if they still allow this?

What port was this?

We embark the Splendor in late May.  We are doing the following in each port:

Mazatlan - Stone Island Tour (highly recommended)

https://www.mazatlantours.org/

Our second choice for Mazatlan was a resort day at El Cid Moro Resort.

Cabo - Parasailing

HappyFlightsCabo.com

After that they will drop us off at Medano Beach and we will probably to to Billygans or The Office.

Puerto Vallarta - ATV Mountain Tour

www.estigotours.com

Really looking forward to this one.  Have heard a LOT about it and Estigo's customer service is PRIMO!

I'm not a beach girl.  Just can't stand being idle and sitting around doing nothing.  I know I'm in the minority though:)

12 hours ago, CA_Cruzing said:

Cabo is a busy town. Depending on when you visit will determine how busy Cabo is. 

 

Yeah, there’s beach vendors. We’re used to them. If you’re inside The Office’s seating area the vendors are not permitted inside to bother you. 

 

As as for food or drink, you can cruise google maps while home and read reviews of other restaurants. We like The Office as their food and drinks are nearly perfect. Living in CA mex food is prevelant here. The Office is a notch better and their seafood is top notch. 

 

Cabo is very CA pricing. Mazatlan and PV are much better values for food and beer. 

 

It all depends on the vibe and scene you’re looking for in Cabo. There are lots of choices. IMO, the Marina restaurants are more tourist traps. The Office while still touristy has authentic food, in a nice setting (on the beach), and their margs are strong. Like very strong. I’ve experienced the bottoms of many margs glasses there. 

 

Feel free to ask away with any other questions. Happy to help or guide you. 

 

 

Thank you for the great information.  We will be in Cabo on a Monday.  First Parasailing with HappyFlights at Noon and then they said they would drop us off wherever we wanted to go.  I was worried with it being that late in the afternoon that The Office or anything on Medano Beach would be crazy crowded.  Guess we will just have to take our chances.  Thanks again!

Is there anywhere in Cabo along Medano Beach that we can park ourselves under an umbrella at a restaurant and not get hounded by beach vendors?

We are thinking about The Office.  Do you get hounded with beach vendors there?  Would you recommend anywhere else that is not as crowded?

Please let us know how everything went on your cruise.  We rarely get to see a Splendor review!

Which port is best for snorkeling in the Mexican Riviera? Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, or Cabo.......and where?

Looking for a day pass to one of these.  Which has a better pool area?

18 hours ago, IPlayWithString said:

I beg to differ, friend.

 

 

Ok, I'm against jeans in the dining room, but if THIS guy comes in....I'm not saying a word!!

On 10/20/2018 at 3:10 PM, coevan said:

 

 

 

Are you bragging? 

I think he is just trying to get a rise out of everyone (and many people took the bait).  Of course anyone with any sense knows that jeans are casual and not suited for elegant night.  Saying that, if someone wants to stand out and wear jeans on elegant night in the dining room, then let them have the (shock value) attention they are seeking.

I’m not exactly new to cruising as I’ve been on seven with three more booked. I know what FTTF offers. We sail out of NOLA, and board immediately after FTTF, always on board before noon. We have small rolling carryons that we easily hold onto while we eat on Lido until room is ready at 1:30. Luggage has always been delivered well before dinner. Rarely use guest services but when we need them we go early in the day when lines are nonexistent. Tenders have never been a problem or much of a line. Self assist debarkation gets us to our car by 8:30.

 

 

There are usually five of us, so we are not only carrying around our small rolling carryons, but also a bottle of champagne/wine each, and a case of soda each. I have never been to guest services when there was not a line....and we are up before the ship is up. Last tender port, we all had to stand with hundreds of other people in the hot and humid stairwells for over and hour just waiting for the line to start moving. Two hours plus to board the tender....late getting to excursion.....learned my lesson and won't deal with that again. I guess it just all depends on each individuals needs/wants whether they get FTTF or not.

Personally I try to get to the port (NOLA) around 10, so we can get through the check-in process before boarding starts, usually by 11, 11:15. I bought FTTF once, now I don't and find I get on 10 minutes after they do.

You being new to cruising, I just wanted to explain that FTTF isn't just about boarding the ship early. It's about getting in to your cabin early, getting your luggage earlier, not having to stand in long lines at Guest Services (such a waste of time), and BEST OF ALL, not having to wait hours for a tender if you are in a tender port (like Cabo). Lots of benefits to FTTF.

Is cash "expected" if we have already pre-paid gratuities?

I take ALL the hacks! Helps tremendously! Can't live like a pig in my cabin. I want everything organized. I think of more and more helpful items each time I finish up a cruise. Hope all of these suggestions help you:)

Who is CD for 2019 on Splendor?

OH, No wonder! I had asked in another post who the cruise director for the Splendor will be in May 2019 and that is the name they gave me. Anyone know who the CD will be?

Interested in knowing about CD Monroe Moore? Did a search for his name, but nothing came up. Is he new?