Carnival Triumph 1st time review 04/09/12 - 5 day Galveston, Progresso, Cozumel

[maldenmusic]

I can't see your pictures:(

[cruisingsouth]

We were on the same cruise that you were on. I don't recall seeing salmon on the hang up menu for the morning delivery. Did you call this in or did I just miss it? Thanks Love your review. Brings back good memories. Rebooked for September.

[ticka1]

Our interactive roomservice menu channel didn't work, it just played really loud static. I had to be carful when changing channels while he was sleeping (I need background noise to sleep)

 

There were a few channels of regular TV but it changes to spanish language once you get out in the gulf. I swear it was english one minute and then switched to spanish midshow but that could have been too much booty (rum). It was fun watching spanish commercials. There was a weather guy who had a parrot dummy that we watched that was hilarious.

 

Some other channel will show you some of the cruise shows you might have missed.

We saw the couples game (medals in the butt) and the talent show on the TV.

Theres another channel that plays the "movie of the day"

 

This is from the Moday Fun Times

Channel 17- Cruise Director Channel

Channel 21- Information Channel

Channel 33- Movie (Alpha and Omega)

Channel 34- Movie (You Again)

Channel 35- Kids Movie (Ice Age)

 

There was also cartoon network.

 

I don't know what channel it was but there was one with music playing that had progress info. It was a map of where we were. I don't recall what the info was but it was likely what you asked.

 

I liked that I got to see some of the cruise shows we missed. There was one show that was like a documentary tour of the ship. There is no way to go do and see everything you want to . We only went to half the things we planned on.

 

I made sure we went to the Fun Farewell party to score FREE drinks. I did just like a cc member suggested and ordered him a FREE jack and coke (you can order anything you want to at the fun farewell and it is still free) from the bar so he didn't have to drink one of the 3 drinks being offered by the roaming servers. They were offering mimosas , screwdrivers and one other drink. I got a screwdriver.

 

Thank you for the reply!

[FriedPickle]

What is the dress code for the various bars on ship?

[peabody304]

I saw a cruise critic mate and hollered out his name and promised to see him at the meet and greet.

Great review. I'm enjoying reading it, and I was there! Thanks for the mention. :)

[okgirl]

What is the dress code for the various bars on ship?

 

There isn't really a dress code. Most people in the evenings wear either what they wore to dinner or sometimes they change back into more casual cloths.

 

I'm not sure if you can wear bathing suits to any of the bars other than those on the Lido deck.

[tootsiebit]

GREAT Review!!!!! We were on the Triumph last October and are about to book again for October again...to us it is the perfect time of year...not too hot and hasn't gotten cold yet either and seemed we enjoyed the Carribean more this time of year.

What I wanted to ask is if the LaQuinta had balconies for your room. I noticed in your "views from the room" pics it looks like a balcony. we stayed at the Quality Inn last time, and I really like it, but like you I am a smoker and the Quality is totally non-smoking, which put a damper on my morning coffee out on the balcony;), so I thought if the LaQuinta has balconies and is a hotel that has smoking rooms, this would be the answer to my next hotel question, because hubby doesn't smoke and I don't like to smoke in the room in consideration of him....

Glad you had such a fun time....I know we had the best cruise we have ever had and after reading some folks complaints about the Triumph, we were skeptical, but now we wonder if those people were even on the same ship, because out cruise was EXCELLENT!!!!!!

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

What I wanted to ask is if the LaQuinta had balconies for your room.

 

No balcony at the La Quinta. We were on the 3rd floor and that was the view from our front door. All the doors on that side face the seawall.

They do have smoking rooms and that was also a deciding factor. He doesn't smoke either but doesn't mind my secondhand. He occasionally smokes (when he drinks ) so it is less obnoxious for him.

 

When I booked the room online I put a note to be sure to have an ashtray in the room because I had issues with a San Antonio LQ where I never got one.

 

The Galveston LQ had the room cooled and a ashtray was waiting!

In the morning the elevator was being serviced so we had to walk down the stairs to breakfast but they had it fixed before we had to bring our bags down!

 

They are also dog friendly (we didn't need this option but just FYI). In the morning our neighbors were out on thier "balcony"/front door in lawn chairs enjoying the morning.

 

The rooms in the back don't have the view and the free cruise parking is along the fence.

[tootsiebit]

No balcony at the La Quinta. We were on the 3rd floor and that was the view from our front door. All the doors on that side face the seawall.

They do have smoking rooms and that was also a deciding factor. He doesn't smoke either but doesn't mind my secondhand. He occasionally smokes (when he drinks ) so it is less obnoxious for him.

 

When I booked the room online I put a note to be sure to have an ashtray in the room because I had issues with a San Antonio LQ where I never got one.

 

The Galveston LQ had the room cooled and a ashtray was waiting!

In the morning the elevator was being serviced so we had to walk down the stairs to breakfast but they had it fixed before we had to bring our bags down!

 

They are also dog friendly (we didn't need this option but just FYI). In the morning our neighbors were out on thier "balcony"/front door in lawn chairs enjoying the morning.

 

The rooms in the back don't have the view and the free cruise parking is along the fence.

 

 

Thanks for all the info...this is a definite choice for our pre-cruise stay.....never thought about just sitting outside the front door, but good idea, and the free cruise parking is a plus, although I usually just park at the parking lot/garage across from the terminal, but it is a thought....Thanks again for taking the time to answer my question!!!!

[Poorplaya]

Oh no, your photo bucket account is overloaded, i cannot see any of your pictures:(

[jaoconnor4]

Do you still have the Fun Times & by any chance are you able to scan & post them??

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

I knew that was gonna happen

 

I got a warning email from them.

I am putting all the dolphin pictures on a new photbucket account. I'm not sure how it works but I am also making the future uploads 800x 600 instead!

Here are the links to the albums, maybe you can view it on the photobucket site.

 

 

http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/ILove2go2Cozumel/

 

 

http://s1167.photobucket.com/albums/q631/ILove2go2Cozumel/04-09-12%20Embarkation%20Day/

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

Do you still have the Fun Times & by any chance are you able to scan & post them??

 

 

I saved all but Wednesday's but I don't have a scanner.

I can answer a question if you know what you wanted to know.

 

Elegant night was Tuesday -Fun day at sea

 

In the club we went dressed up one night and casual another. Most of those out hunting were dressed to kill!

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

Wednesday April 11th - Progresso

 

7:30 am

We had ordered room service breakfast for 7:00 delivery. The same favorites from yesterday. Cream cheese and croissants, fruit and juice.

 

 

 

I forget who asked but.......

The smoked salmon is on the door tag that you hang on your door the night before.

 

( I had never had it before and I quite liked it with cream cheese and croisant. I skipped the lemon and lettuce and onions)

 

I was a little hungover from our fun night at the Hollywood Dance Club so I was not happy

about getting up but the excitement of being in a NEW COUNTRY made me able to drag my butt out of bed. (This is only my second vacation EVER and My First time out of the country so it was a big deal to me.)

 

I had heard good things about AutoProgreso on CC and the price was right for only $19 each for an excursion! I am a big fan of birdwatching. I beleive it reduces stress and cholesterol just like watching fish does.

 

 

(On a unrelated note...heres the link to Cornel University cams where you can see baby red tail hawks that hatched last week in a nest...)

 

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=2422&ac=ac

 

We had already prepaid/pre-booked our excursion through the AutoProgreso website

but our reciept (email) did not say what time to be there. It just said to ask for Sheyla.

 

The page you land on after paying (via Paypal) shows you a map that was very useful in finding them but no times.

 

When we left I noticed our door ribbon was gone and I figured housekeeping had took it down. Then we saw someone had put it on thier door about 20 doors down. I could tell it was mine because of the corner of paper that was our door sign that had ripped off with the tape.

 

I was a little annoyed but then decided to take it as a compliment that they liked my idea and I figured I could make another one (I brought the whole spool of ribbon).

 

 

We got off the boat at 7:30 and figured we would go find out the time of our flamingo tour

and then go kill some time.

 

Here's our balcony from the pier. I brought a flag/scarf to hang off our balcony so I could see where we were.

 

 

We rode down the worlds longest pier!

Pretty blue water.

 

 

We found the AutoProgreso Tent and found Sheyla

We showed our receipt and gave us pink paper admission bracelets.

 

Our tour didn't start untill 11:15! Over 3 hrs to kill. Our original plan was to do excursion then go get a massage on the beach, but since we had so much time to kill we went to find the cheap massages. I was told it was near the founders statue.

 

It was still early but allready gettng hot!

I remebered that I forgot my hat so we browsed the little market.

 

 

We saw a hat that matched my animal print top.

 

 

The vendor said 35.

We said no.

He went down to 30.

I said no and started walking away.

He said what would you pay?

I said 15.

He said that was too low... how about 22!

 

A deal was struck.

 

My balcony neighbor told me later that she haggled him down to 18 for that same hat!!!!

We wandered down to the beach and found some bottles of water.

 

I knew the cheaper massages were down by the founders statue thanks to another cc member.

 

Here's a dog wandering around and my shadow with my new hat!

 

 

So we walked through the building with all the massage people and found our way to the beach!

 

The Founders Statue

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

While we were standing there taking photos, two ladies walked over to offer us massages.

 

They quoted us $20 for 30 minutes.

 

We counter offered with $50 for us both to get 1 hour massage.

 

We were the first ones there! The tables were freshly made up and so very white and clean looking!

 

We were worried about where to store our stuff but they showed us a place and when he went to put his wallet in his shoes she said no and showed him to put it under his chest while he was on the table, that was a great idea so then you can relax and enjoy the massage without worrying about your wallet!

 

They explained that the massage is 3 parts. Aromatherapy, Reflexology, and Deep Tissue.

I was a little concerned that deep tissue would be too hard but she assured me that she would go softer if necessary.

 

It was not necessary...... she gave the right amount of pressure from the start and when she asked me if it was OK I could barely "HUMMMammmamahumph"

but she understood that meant, "That is just freaking awesome, don't change a thing!"

 

 

She was able to read where the tension was and work those areas extra.

The ladies are sooooo good at what they do. They massaged my hangover AWAY! Someone else rubbing your temples feels so good when you have a headache! I didn't like the way the "aromatherapy" smelled but I think it did help clear out my sinus.

 

The reflexology part was amazing and I think it could only be better if we had done it at the end of the day.....after exploring the ruins and our feet where sore.

 

Lunch

It was food ! Nothing worth taking photos of.

 

I had fajitas and a soda at the resturant near the massage tent and the volleyball. We were right near the long pier. The fajitas were ok. I've honestly had better at my favorite nearby local mexican restaurant Guadalajara (in Lockhart TX). But any food in my stomach was good thing and made me ready to go on the tour!

 

While we were eating we got hit up for:

Hammocks

DVDs

Conch Shells

Bracelets

More bracelets

Serenade

 

We declined everything, but the serenade. He was very good and sang 2 songs.

 

We almost caved in when they sent over the children with jewelry " for the pretty lady" .....

 

Apparently, thier Easter break is much longer than in the states so the kids were on the sales team this week.

I felt bad for the kids but then also congratulated the parents for smart marketing strategy!

Besides, there are worse jobs then selling bracelets on a beautiful beach!

 

 

I saw a guy parasailing with a huge fan on his back! I took a video

 

 

Our waiter tried to take a pic and took a video......

then when I realized I had left it on video from the parasailing he took a picture of us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

Here is the link to the whole days album for even more pics as there are way too many to post.

 

http://s1154.photobucket.com/albums/p540/ILoveToGoToCozumel/04-11-12Cruise%20to%20Mexico%20Progresso/

 

By now it was 11:00 so we headed back to the AutoProgreso tent. I saw another cruise critic member that was on our roll call but I wasn't sure if it was her so I didn't say HI.

 

I wish they had more chairs at the waiting area! We were all standing around in the heat and the tent was nice for shade but I was still getting hot and bothered.

 

My little misting fan would have been a godsend at that moment!

 

When the AIR CONDITIONED bus got there we were more than ready to get on it!

 

Some other guy with a guitar got on the bus for a bit and sang for us. I thought my earlier serenade was better. He even sang the same song.

He collected tips and then got off the bus.

 

OK ! Here's were I start complaining.......................

Here's how it was advertised.

 

TRIP THROUGH THE PORT OF PROGRESO, VISITING THE BIRDS SANCTUARY, FISHERMAN’S TOWN, THE SALT FLATS AND THE BEAUTIFUL ARCHIOLOGICAL SITE OF XCAMBO

 

* See the countless flamingos dive and play against the backdrop of the clear blue sky.

 

Guess how many flamingos we saw on the Flamingo tour?

 

 

 

Countless!!!!!

 

 

As in there were none to count!

0

Nada

zilch

goose egg

none

< 1

 

While we were speeding down the road on the way to the salt flats and the tour guide said, "If you look over there you will see pink dots...... those are flamingos"

 

Everyone looks out the window and can't see any!

 

Everyone's like...

Do you see anything.....

No

Do you?

No , wait I think I see pink.

No , That wasn't a flamingo.

 

 

I was just holding my camera against the glass and clicking away, hoping I could see a flamingo later when I could check the images.

 

No one on our bus could claim they saw one!

 

Even if there were some to be seen, the area they were supposed to be is too far to see and we were flying down the road.

I had the impression we were going to stop somewhere and go to a bird sanctuary. As in a place were there are lots of birds.

 

If I had seen even one it would justify them calling it a flamingo tour.

 

I feel it was false advertising.

If the flamingos are hit or miss ( I get that certain times of year are better so we just weren't there at the right time) then call it a Xcambo tour with a seasonal add-on of flamingos. Don't advertise it as a flamingo tour with ruins.

If I had seen even one it would justify them calling it a flamingo tour.

 

Also, for like 30 minutes I thought he was saying

"All the tourists" say..(info about Xcambo)

 

I was thinking....what do tourists know....

 

 

Finally, I figured out ....he was saying " Archeologist" say......(info about Xcambo)

 

I still can't figure how Archeologist sounds like All the Tourists

 

 

OK. Rant over!

 

 

The salt flats were beautiful and educational!

Salt crystals growing on a stick

I enjoyed taking lots of photos there.

Can't tell from the pic but this was sparkly and glittery in the sunlight!

 

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

 

View from the top

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

Me at Xcambo

 

Joe at Xcambo

Us at Xcambo

See the lizard peeking out at me?

 

I found a caterpillar

 

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

 



 



 

 

The Catholic church

 

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

 

A little cenote

 

There is fish in there!

 

Well, it was only $19 each so I feel we got a good deal for the price worth but I wouldn't reccomend this tour if your wanting to see flamingos.

 

Time to go back to the ship

Makes me feel blessed!

 

Our ship from the bus!

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

I was hot and tired and mad about not seeing flamingos so when I saw my door finder ribbon on the way back to our room I took it back! somehow it seemed more like stealing than flattery after a hot day in the sun.

 

2:52

We got back to our room to find todays towel animal, a cute little dog! Gotta pet the dog!

 

 

Ahh the bed!

 

Joe laid down to take a nap but I stayed up to see the ship chasers!

 

I was hoping for some funny drunk folks staggering, running, being carried, or something funny to happen.

I was not dissapointed!

 

At 4:00 I saw a couple who appeared to a little tipsy so I got my camera ready!

The minute I started taping she started performing!

 

She flashed everyone that was watching from the balcony!

Got some whistles and cheers.

Some one yells out "No more tequila for you"

She look ups all quizzical.

They repeat "No more tequila for you" and she responds by flashing again! Just one boob this time.

 

I had qualms about posting this but ultimately decided that if she was willing to flash in public to a ship of 3000. Whats a few more?

AND

It is a private link.....only those with this link can see it. It will not show up in search results.

AND

You can barely see anything since I was up on 8th deck!

 

Drunk Cruise Straggler flashes other passengers

http://youtu.be/TZZC-fRKL1E

 

That was even better then someone running to catch us!

 

 

 

View from balcony

 

I finally slept a little before dinner.

 

 

Took a picture of my salad and forgot the rest. Don't remember what I got but I'm sure it was fabulous. We enjoyed all the dinners in the Main Dining Room (MDR).

 

 

 

Returned to the room to see a second animal in one day!

A cute rabbit !

 

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

11:15

We went looking for the California Wine Bar and it is just a little alcove in a corner on the way to the Hollywood club and the casino.

 

This man was amazing.

 

It is a shame he had to do his show in this little corner that is a main walking area. People were walking through in the middle of the show but they couldn't help it because there was no other way to get to the elevators.

 

Here is a video of him making a crumpled up piece of napkin float!

 

I would highly reccomend his show! I don't know where people got chairs from but you should come early and find a chair.

 

Stopped by the progress map on the way to the club!

Our progress

 

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

This place is really cool looking with the color changing walls. The whole back wall has a long bench couch and there were plenty of spots to choose on this night.

 

I realized I lost my cigarettes but thankfully I finally knew exactly how to get back to the room and back. We finally had a good idea of where everything was and luckily the elevators came out right near our room.

I took a video of Joe in front of the color changing walls.

 

I looks alot more subtle in real life.

 

 

Our favorite server Nestor came by and made me buy another disco ball! I told him I didn't like the rum drink that came in it and could I pick something else?

 

SURE SURE Whatever you want!

 

He took these photos of us!

 

I was too tired to dance but I did sit and wiggle a little to some of the songs. It was fun watching all the others dance and have fun and sip on drinks.

Tonight they were hawking a shot in a sparkly (as in LED flashing lights in the bottom) shotglass so I had to have that for a souvenier!

 

I had to have a matching set so I got 2!

Then decided 4 was better!

 

The disco balls will be awesome in my garden to scare away birds from my cherry tomatoes!

 

I have a shotglass from Vegas (my first vacation) and now 4 from this cruise!

I guess its a collection now.....

 

We left the club at 1:30

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

Insomnia sucks!

 

3:30

He's knocked out and I can't sleep....

time for a hot shower and late night room service!

I take random photos of stupid stuff

( I am drunk)

 

4:00 Room Service Arrives

 

Grilled Fresh Mozzarella and Portobello Mushrooms

In Focaccia with Zucchini and Basil Aioli

Fresh Fruit salad

New York Cheesecake

 

 

5:00 AM Finally I am sleepy. Gotta get up in 4 hours !

 

[ILove2go2Cozumel]

TIPS for the day:

 

Bring your water from the ship with you!

Massages on the beach are wonderful and priced way better than the cruise ship massage.

Don't be scared to haggle. Then haggle some more!

You can order any drink you want in a disco ball cup!

Theres no minifridge in balcony rooms (at least not in ours) so a minicooler that will chill a few sodas is great to have.