Shyhova Sails Again! Carnival Victory Photo Review( Jamaica & Grand Cayman) Apr 2014

[JustCruiseMe]

Just FYI you can usually get Southwest out of RDU roundtrip direct flight for 200.00 RT. I know..because that's what we do!

[KatieCharlotte]

We were on the same cruise, though we had our kids with us so we didn't do much drinking or searching for chairs on Serenity. We basically hung out at the aft pool. My oldest was the skinny boy with outrageous metabolism eating pizza, ice cream, and fries 24/7. We loved the Victory, and I'm enjoying reliving our cruise on this cold, rainy day. Please add more!

[shipshape3]

Loving your review Shyhova!! I was born & raised just up the road from you in Jacksonville. I live in Oklahoma now, I still consider myself a Carolina girl !! Go Heels!!

[mousey]

Shyhova,

 

Where are you dude? I need some laughter in my life! My washing machine blew up and now I'm standing (or I was) in 2 inches of water all over the bottom level of my house! I'm sitting here waiting for someone to come dry the carpet in the DH's office (he's out-of-town on business today), and for someone to come fix our phone land line, which is down. I could sure use a good laugh! Help me!:D

[hunkahunka]

Waiting patiently, Shyhova, please come back.

[sjcarter407]

To say I'm enjoying your review would be an understatement. George and Weezie had me in tears. We'll be on Victory in June. Looking forward to the rest of the review.

 

When in June? I will be on the Victory on June 14th.

[dnj1]

Where are you man? I realize that you are trying to get an education and hold down a job and all that stuff...however you have cruise addicted friends waiting to here from you.

 

sorry, I didn't mean to come across pushy. ;)

[msgemgirl]

June 19th

[water4me]

Loving your review - HAD to locate and read the 2013 review. Now i'm up to date. OMG~ i'm from Wilmington, NC and have never seen any others posted. I attended John T. Hoggard High....Small world after all!!

 

Eagerly awaiting the next update......

[Shyhova]

Loving your review - HAD to locate and read the 2013 review. Now i'm up to date. OMG~ i'm from Wilmington, NC and have never seen any others posted. I attended John T. Hoggard High....Small world after all!!

 

Eagerly awaiting the next update......

 

 

 

Yay....I graduated from Hoggard:p

[Shyhova]

Waiting patiently, Shyhova, please come back.

 

 

Sry lol....I'm back now..Its been hectic, but thanks for being patient lol:D

 

Where are you man? I realize that you are trying to get an education and hold down a job and all that stuff...however you have cruise addicted friends waiting to here from you.

 

sorry, I didn't mean to come across pushy. ;)

 

 

Nah its all good :p I promise the pace will get better....uploading pics now

[Shyhova]

Yay! Another Shyhova review!!

 

You really should write for a travel magazine.

 

My GF says I should blog lol....IdK...Thanks Tho!

 

We will be sailing on Victory in September and your review makes us more excited to be going. I agree with everyone else, your writing style is great! I can't wait to read the rest. I absolutely have to read the first one. I am from Charleston and have also sailed the Fantasy. Sailing her during College Spring Break provided us with lots of extra entertainment. Lord, if their momma's only knew......lol. Anyway, I can't wait to read more.

 

 

Thank You!!!

[Shyhova]

So after going up against Coyote Ugly we chilled out a bit then went and got dressed for dinner. TOnight was elegant night.....

 

 

They sang " Thats Amore"....

 

 

I did not really like the dining room on Victory because of the location....

 

It sits completely Aft and feels like you are RIGHT ON TOP of the engines...The whole time you are eating you are vibrating and bouncing...Maybe it was rougher seas and it's not like that all the time....I dont know...but on our trip it was pretty bad...More on that later....

 

 

 

We both started with the ceasar salad...

 

Uhh Boy...Everybody said this ceasar was so good....We must have got a bad batch LoL.....It tasted like mayonnaise..

 

We both also got the alligator fritters...

 

 

 

Of Course we both got...

 

 

 

 

I looked at the GF's plate and was like " Why does your lobster look orange?".....She goes " Ahhh dayum babe...Why'd you have togo and say that??" *hits me with the I cant believe you face*...

 

So of course I said..." man babe, there aint nothing wrong with that lobster, they just cooked yours a tad long?"

 

So she goes..." So that means that you will switch plates with me and eat this one?"...

 

"Huuuhhhh??" *Scooby Doo Face*

 

So she hits me with the *But youuu saiddd* Face....So I handed over my plate and took the Tangerine lobster...UgH...

[Shyhova]

It tasted Fine LoL....

 

I debated a bit on desert....I mean WCMC Mickey mouse style you can never go wrong with...And on the Fantasy back in October I was not blown away by the bitter and blanc....But I decided to give it one more try...I mean...I could always do something very CRUISE-Y and order BOTH right?...

 

 

 

I didnt need to...THis was what bitter and blanc would taste like inside the finest bed and breakfast in the heart of Jerusalem during the birth of our lord and savior....Such a heavenly bowl of baked perfection that I was in tears by the time the last spoonful went down...

 

While I enjoyed my bowl of holy Bethlehem Bread Pudding the GF shocked the world!!!!

 

 

FYI...it never gets old to her...I think her and the little smiling Mexican lady on the Chiquita banana sticker are first cousins lol....

 

We headed over to the Punchliner and caught both comedians...They were both pretty funny but Lester Bibbs had me in tears...Dean Gaines was also VERY funny, but when we caught him on the last sea day it seemed like he was mailing it in...but in his defense he said he wasn't feeling well....Everyone could echo that sentiment on that last sea day (more on that later)

 

 

 

We headed back to the room and finally on the second night this guy was sitting on our bed...

 

 

He asked could he spend the night so I cleared off the pink couch and threw him a pillow :p

 

We were pretty tired and plus we were super excited about Jamaica the next morning...

[Shyhova]

 

I was up early and READY for Jamaica on the third day....

 

You wanna talk about somebody excited????? We didnt book any excursion or anything, we figured we would play it by ear once in port. Boy, I'm glad we did that because as we walked to the end of the pier there was a representative from Carnival sitting at a little table offering last minute specials on shore excursions. We scored a excursion to Dunn RIver Falls with transportation, entry to falls and everything for $25 ea......#WINNING!!!!

 

We charged that to our sign and sail and was good togo....

 

 

 

Before we got off we stopped to grab breakfast...

 

 

I couldnt find any hot grits to save my life on the Victory....but let me tell you something...Carnival grits dont need heat.....who knew foreigners could make a mean vat of grits?? I thought you had to be from Alabama or something to make grits like that....They werent as good as the ones on Fantasy...but still....Carnival got some good @#% grits...

 

 

Of course "Chiquita" got fruit on her breakfast plate....

 

 

Who takes pictures of folk taking pictures??

[Shyhova]

 

 

 

Why does Carnival have this "jamaican" dude for you to pose with after you get off the boat? LoL

 

 

 

You walk through this little building at the end of the pier, and thats where all the tour operators gather to herd people into their groups...right outside of that on the other end of the walk is where we scored the last minute excursion...

 

[Shyhova]

Inside of the building...

 

We were directed to a operator and after a few minutes we were escorted to our bus...

 

 

So someone in Jamaica had left the oven on BAKE at this point...SHEESH..

 

 

I was trying to work these little vents, but the heat was like "Boy Please"...so I let that go and just sat back and simmered on the way to Dunn RIver Falls...

 

 

 

 

The ride to the falls was 10 minutes at the most if that...The Jamaican "countryside" looks just about what you would think it looks like. I fell in love with this port man....

 

[Shyhova]

 

We arrived to the falls and were met by an employee who gave us all a wristband and explained the process and what we would be doing etc...

 

 

 

 

The scenery at the falls area man....I'm not this big nature is everything type dude...but wow man. Between the flowers and the trees and everything, you really do have a sense of being in a special place. I know there will be trolls who have been to THIS PLACE...and THAT PLACE...and will say its just touristy and yadda yadda.....Yea, I understand why they say that. But, the way I approach vacation is....I dont worry much about the people around me...rather its "touristy" or not...I allow myself to take in the sights around me, enjoy the company I keep, and thank God for the experience....I REALLY enjoyed Dunn RIver Falls...

 

 

 

These guys were singing for tips right inside the entrance...

[AriannaFan]

Yippee! Love your last review!! Maybe you can do western Caribbean cruise because I think your review of that would be off the chain!

 

Let me also add that I didn't share your last review with my husband until I was Done reading it because I knew he would high jack my iPad and not give it back until he was done. Doing same thing this time.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[Shyhova]

 

 

Waiting on tour to start....

 

So let me set the scene for those who have never been and are Jamaica-bound...

 

Its a pretty big park...You are dropped off at the entrance/ parking lot where you are given a guide...The guide gathers you into a group and walks you down into the park.

 

Along the way, they tell you about the climb, shops, and explain where to go etc. You can stop along the way at the shops and stuff but I suggest you DO NOT....keep with your group, at least until after the climb.

 

The jamaicans can be pretty pushy. Just ignore and keep it moving. They are trying to make a dollar so dont take offense, just say no and move on......(unless you really want what they selling obviously)...

 

The walk down to the falls is pretty cool in itself....like i said, the flowers and trees and everything are beautiful man...

 

Once you get down to the "entrance" thats where the organized chaos starts. By my estimate, there are 50 or so "fall guides" who handle the groups...It seems they assign every group of 20 or so people 2 guides....One armed with a video camera constantly telling you to say " hey mon!" or something like that lol.....Very cheesy yea...but still fun.

 

At the top, you can rent a lock for $5 and once you give it back after the climb is over they give you $2 back....or something like that. The lockers are big and can handle a few peoples belongings, so depending on how many people and how much stuff you have determines how many lockers you need to rent.

 

If you decide to climb the falls, you will not need to bring anything with you on the climb because you will get DRENCHED. No cell phone if its not waterproof...no valuables...you will want to leave them in the locker. The locker area stays HEAVY populated, so there is virtually ZERO chance someone will break into your locker so no need to worry....

 

Once you are assigned a guide and everyone is ready you make the trek down to the base of the falls....

 

 

 

 

Our guide...I forget his name but he was pretty funny and a good guide...He named our group the "numbah WON" group so anytime he wanted our attention he would yell out " numbah WON group!!...lets go!!"

 

[Shyhova]

We met two pretty cool couples in our group. One couple...the husband was an equally tall and equally off the chain black dude who named our guide "Leroy"....LoL

 

Aint no jamaican dude name Leroy....but hell, we went with it Lmao...

 

By the time we were in the falls we were all calling him Leroy...

 

 

Walking down to the base...

 

As you walk down, the falls are roaring to your left, and you can spy on it more and more through the trees...

 

 

 

 

You zig zag down the stairs....down the paths....through a few tunnels...

 

 

Mural on tunnel wall...

 

 

 

You come out the tunnel and you are almost at the bottom...

[Shyhova]

 

 

 

 

Spying through the trees...

 

 

Ok at this point you are saying...Oh it doesnt look that bad...and truthfully...It really isnt...Especially if you are a rock-climbing...trailblazing type person by nature...

 

The Dunn River Falls climb is a shade under 1,000 feet up from the bottom to the top....It is a natural waterfall, but it looks man-made...

 

There are some pretty tricky spots on the way up, and most people will need help getting up and around some spots...You have to be physically fit to climb them...If you have a bum knee...or a bad back...It will be very difficult to climb them. However....If you want the experience and can bear it...you can still give it a try, because you can always get off of the falls.....They have constructed "exits" off to the sides to allow people who have had enough the opportunity to quit the climb.

 

Lemme just say this...1,000 feet is HIGH...just when you think you are getting somewhere there is another section of falls....

 

You'll be like " well i be d#$n....I just knew we was getting to the top."

 

NOPE....press on..

 

My GF kept saying " babe...I think I'm gonna get off at this next section...I'm tired babe"....I kept pushing her...And she will tell you shes glad I did...We had so much fun and really felt accomplished after...

 

If you are Mr./Mrs. outdoors-y by nature....you may not think it was much.....but coming off the couch watching Real Housewives all year and eating Cheese Doodles to climbing these falls???...No Joke!!

 

Especially after a night full of DODs lol...

 

 

The bottom....Yes..the falls empty into the ocean...How freaking awesome is that???!!

 

 

[singbluesilver1]

When we did the falls we went by boat and we're dropped off at the foot where it meets the ocean, it was neat

 

 

Love your reviews btw

 

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Shyhova]

So we are gathered on the beach waiting for the group ahead of us to make it up a bit so we can start...."Leroy" is yelling " numbah WON group listen up!!!....We are the numbah WON group okay?? we are the BEST!!....Lets stay together and have fun!!...Any questions feel free to ask, and my number WON Pri-or-ah-tee is to get Evee Won to tee top with No Broken Bones Ok??"

 

Say what Leroy??

 

" Ok, now evee Won ready!?"

 

 

" yea!!!"

 

**** Face* " In Jamaica we say....Yeah Mon!!!"

 

"YEA MONNN!!!!"

 

So off we went.....

 

"Eveee body hold hand of the person in front....Like ah cheen....Start with Me"

 

Everybody grabs hands and my new friend looks at me and then his wife and goes...

 

" Oh hell no Leroy....Why I got tobe at the end of the damn chain?"

 

This dude was bigger than me....He prolly liked fruitier drinks than I do....and He's the link behind me at the end....scared then a mug...lol

 

So me and the GF is like this....Ok...forget this chain mess...I mean, if someone needs our help up a rock cool....but you got me and i got you ok?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm proud of the GF....she didn't quit....as much as she wanted to...

 

[Writerfl]

I am *loving* this review. I was on the same trip, saw myself in a couple of your pictures. It's really cool to read someone else's impression of the same things you did/saw/went. In Jamaica I went to the Blue Hole, though. If you go back to Ocho Rios, Shyhova, you gotta go there.

 

Great job!