Carnival Splendor 6/10/13 ... a ramble

[foilman2002]

Sunrise - and I'm up again (and I wondered why I couldn't stay up late enough for a show!)

 

 

Absolutely love this picture!

[bjinouno]

Very pretty and sad too, Knowing another cruise day is going to be over and done with... love reading about your vacation, as I said before, it's making my 42 days seem like it's not so far away.

I know there are a lot of upcoming Splendor Cruisers reading your ramble, so I just wanted to give a Heads Up, if your planing on parking in the City for your 8 days, On the NY Harbor web site, there is an add for parking at the Peir,,, Ok i'ts not AT the pier but one block over,,, you pay a flat fee of $200.00 for you 8 days at Park Right... If you have problems finding the add, email me at this name and I am on aol,,, will be more than happy to email it to. I have read other recent travelers who have used them and were Very happy, they even give u 5 bucks for the taxi back to you car, OH did I say, they even drop you off at the ship with your car If you look them up you will get a price of about 242.00 or more depending your drop off and pick up times.

[Cyber Kat]

Very pretty and sad too, Knowing another cruise day is going to be over and done with... love reading about your vacation, as I said before, it's making my 42 days seem like it's not so far away.

I know there are a lot of upcoming Splendor Cruisers reading your ramble, so I just wanted to give a Heads Up, if your planing on parking in the City for your 8 days, On the NY Harbor web site, there is an add for parking at the Peir,,, Ok i'ts not AT the pier but one block over,,, you pay a flat fee of $200.00 for you 8 days at Park Right... If you have problems finding the add, email me at this name and I am on aol,,, will be more than happy to email it to. I have read other recent travelers who have used them and were Very happy, they even give u 5 bucks for the taxi back to you car, OH did I say, they even drop you off at the ship with your car If you look them up you will get a price of about 242.00 or more depending your drop off and pick up times.

 

That's a good deal!

 

It cost us $132 each way for the limo - that included, taxes, tolls, fuel surcharge (***?) and the tip. So it was $264 and they had to deal with the NY traffic. We just sat in the back in air conditioned comfort!

 

For the adventurous and those with out a lot of luggage, you can park at the NY Waterways Ferry Terminal in Weehawken. Parking is $10 a day ($12 on weekends). The Ferry fare is $9 one way for adults, $6 for children 6-11 (5 and under are free). I think there is a $1 discount if you buy a return ticket at the same time.

 

The Ferry comes in to 39th St and the Pier is at 52nd St. It's walkable if you are fit or don't have a lot of luggage. They have a free bus that goes up to 52nd St, but you have to cross 12th Ave, There's a light there.

 

You can also catch a cab. So you're talking $80 for parking for 8 days (bit more to cover a weekend in there). $18 a piece for the ferry (adults) plus probably a $10-$12 cab ride if you chose that option.

 

We've done it, but the limo is a nicer way to start a vacation!

[bjinouno]

we were going to do Limo, than with 4 of us, they said we needed a SUV for luggage purpose, If we had a Sedan town car, no trunk room unless it was a cadilac they have a good size trunk.. than the cost would be anywhere's from 240 round trip (mini van.. I don't think so) to 148 each way for a SUV... Were lucky we live about 25 min from the port, and just go down the west side highway, so No City traffic Unless the UNTHINKABLE of a car accident. So I did a mock trial in my Honda Cross tour, and everything fits 4 suitcases garment bag and carry on for those important things... Oh and 4 people! grrrr is it our turn yet?

[keene state mom]

We are going in 4 weeks and have a 5 hour or so limo ride it is a first for me we are so excited, my sister and her family of 5 are going on the Splendor with us thanks to make a wish foundation and my husband and I are going with them on our own, but they did say we could all drive together I hope they have enough room for the luggage ( 7 of us ) that is my only worry right now.

[Cyber Kat]

we were going to do Limo, than with 4 of us, they said we needed a SUV for luggage purpose, If we had a Sedan town car, no trunk room unless it was a cadilac they have a good size trunk.. than the cost would be anywhere's from 240 round trip (mini van.. I don't think so) to 148 each way for a SUV... Were lucky we live about 25 min from the port, and just go down the west side highway, so No City traffic Unless the UNTHINKABLE of a car accident. So I did a mock trial in my Honda Cross tour, and everything fits 4 suitcases garment bag and carry on for those important things... Oh and 4 people! grrrr is it our turn yet?

 

We went through that on our last cruise. One company said we HAD to have an SUV -another said they could do a town car as long as we each had only one piece of regular sized luggage. They tried to talk us into the bigger car, but we said no way - so they said okay!

[bjinouno]

7 people and here I am worried about4...... with maybe 3 reg sizesuite cases and garment bag and carry on bag with soda's in it, I would go to a limo place and look in their trunk, some have spare tires in there on a ledge... Have a wonderful vacation ! and write about it when u come home

[Aprilmay13]

That's a good deal!

 

It cost us $132 each way for the limo - that included, taxes, tolls, fuel surcharge (***?) and the tip. So it was $264 and they had to deal with the NY traffic. We just sat in the back in air conditioned comfort!

 

For the adventurous and those with out a lot of luggage, you can park at the NY Waterways Ferry Terminal in Weehawken. Parking is $10 a day ($12 on weekends). The Ferry fare is $9 one way for adults, $6 for children 6-11 (5 and under are free). I think there is a $1 discount if you buy a return ticket at the same time.

 

The Ferry comes in to 39th St and the Pier is at 52nd St. It's walkable if you are fit or don't have a lot of luggage. They have a free bus that goes up to 52nd St, but you have to cross 12th Ave, There's a light there.

 

You can also catch a cab. So you're talking $80 for parking for 8 days (bit more to cover a weekend in there). $18 a piece for the ferry (adults) plus probably a $10-$12 cab ride if you chose that option.

 

We've done it, but the limo is a nicer way to start a vacation!

 

Kath, wow I'm getting quotes for 400 + .. I'm in CT. where did you book your limo from??

[SusieCruisie]

Happens all the time. Last year I booked the Fascination two weeks prior to sailing. Of course, all the cabanas at HMC were sold out. Put my name on the waiting list, and I got one!! Of course you won't have a choice of which one, but that doesn't matter. I wound up with #14. Just make sure you head to the Shore Excursion desk as soon as you board and put your name on the list. Good Luck!!!

 

Thank you for the hope! I will try to be there 1 st!

[SusieCruisie]

Yes - but make sure you do it as close to when the Shore Excursion desk opens as you can. They open at noon on embarkation day. I was first on the list and I got a cabana, the people after us did not. So it pays to be the early bird!

 

How does that even happen? Do people actually cancel? I'm really hoping I get one! Thank you so much for your amazing review! So nice of you to share !

[SusieCruisie]

Ps do you remember what deck the shore excursion desk is on? Thank you!

[Cyber Kat]

Kath, wow I'm getting quotes for 400 + .. I'm in CT. where did you book your limo from??

 

LOL - we're in northern NJ - I would think it would be more from CT!

[Cyber Kat]

How does that even happen? Do people actually cancel? I'm really hoping I get one! Thank you so much for your amazing review! So nice of you to share !

 

Yeah - apparently they do! Perhaps it wasn't the one they wanted. Maybe they are superstitious and didn't want #13. Maybe they gambled away their cabana money in the casino :D What ever it was, we got the benefit! So if the cabanas are sold out - be sure to put your name on the waiting list once you get on the ship.

[Cyber Kat]

Ps do you remember what deck the shore excursion desk is on? Thank you!

 

Deck 3 the lobby deck. It's right there in the atrium and it opened at noon on embarkation day. We were first in line!

[Cyber Kat]

So as I said, we headed back to the ship around 1-1:30 with a brief stop at the shops. We also took a few pics ..

 

 

Not much of a line - they had two entries open, so we had no wait. We went back to our cabin to change out of our bathing suits, then I thought I might have a shot at the Mongolian Wok, but there was a long line and it was getting late. (The WOk is open from Noon - 3:30pm). So I grabbed a hot dog with chili and cheese from the Grill.

 

Oh - I forgot to mention - They did the Murder Mystery, but we missed the beginning. I would have liked to have done that. Sounded like fun.

 

We decided this might be a good time to check out the "secret decks" So we headed up to the bow on deck 9. We found the door with the round window and the sign about the high winds, so we knew we were in the right place.

 

This is a great place to visit while in port. Once the ship is moving it's VERY windy. There is a nice bench to sit, a stair case to deck 10 and this is over the bridge so it has the wings that stick out on either side of the ship. You can see toward the stern of the ship as well.

 

We looked down at the dock and were VERY glad we had decided to come back a bit early ...

 

 

That's the crew sun deck down there in the blue section.

 

Some of our CC roll call mates - the bridal couple and their family and friends joined us and we had a nice time watching all the people in line :)

 

When everyone was finally back on board, we left Grand Turk in the capable hands of the folks on the Liberty ...

 

We ended up heading up to deck 10 by the Lido pool and we spent some time chatting with our roll call mates.

 

On to dinner ... but that has to wait - sorry

[ALEX122495]

Were going on the splendor on Aug 5th my request is I want Kath to come and show us everything she just wrote about !!!;)

Great reviews !!

 

We also will be on the Aug 5th cruise also, and after reading this great review by Cyber Kat , just cannot wait. Keep writing Kat - great review.

[jimbo5544]

Happens all the time. Last year I booked the Fascination two weeks prior to sailing. Of course, all the cabanas at HMC were sold out. Put my name on the waiting list, and I got one!! Of course you won't have a choice of which one, but that doesn't matter. I wound up with #14. Just make sure you head to the Shore Excursion desk as soon as you board and put your name on the list. Good Luck!!!

That is my fav cabana....

[jimbo5544]

Kath, wow I'm getting quotes for 400 + .. I'm in CT. where did you book your limo from??

400 is about the going rate from CT area (depending where from).

[SusieCruisie]

Deck 3 the lobby deck. It's right there in the atrium and it opened at noon on embarkation day. We were first in line!

 

Thank you so much!

[foilman2002]

I was going to ask you about the Murder Mystery. What exactly is it and when does it start? I had heard about it only once and told my DW who would love it.

[Cyber Kat]

I was going to ask you about the Murder Mystery. What exactly is it and when does it start? I had heard about it only once and told my DW who would love it.

 

I'm not sure how it works because we missed the start of it, but there were clues that you had to decipher in the Fun Times each day.

 

Believe me - I'm going to be looking out for this on my next cruise!

[Aprilmay13]

We also will be on the Aug 5th cruise also, and after reading this great review by Cyber Kat , just cannot wait. Keep writing Kat - great review.

 

Hi I'm getting so excited about going also !! I'm going with my husband and my daughter and her boyfriend ( there in there mid 20's ). My son does not want to join us on this cruise... He said he has been on enough cruises :mad: the little spoil brat..lol

[Aprilmay13]

400 is about the going rate from CT area (depending where from).

 

 

Yea with that price we decided to drive :eek:

[maurinsky2]

I'm leaving from NYC next April (two-hundred eighty-something long days away!), and we're planning on taking the train and the bus. Will be a bit of a pain with luggage, but we're cheap! I may see if my lovely SIL will drive us, she has a huge van, but she may not have the same school break we have. I guess I could check if CT Limo has a ride to the pier, but they take so long because they have to stop all over the place to pick up customers.

[Crusin Karen]

I was going to ask you about the Murder Mystery. What exactly is it and when does it start? I had heard about it only once and told my DW who would love it.

We were on the May 9th cruise and we didn't have this. Kat had mentioned it once before and I said I knew nothing about it, then someone from the cruise we were on said yes, we DID have it. I saved my Fun Times. Just looked thru them all for the 100th time and see no mention of it. It's a mystery to me :eek::rolleyes::D:p