My first review attempt!!! – Carnival Splendor May 12-20th w/pics!!

[cruisinbabs]

Really enjoying your review, taking this same cruise next week! I have a few questions.

 

On Grand Turk, it looks like people brought their own beach umbrella (looking at the picture of the conch). I'm thinking that's not a bad idea, we are driving in and those beach umbrellas are fairly light.

 

Shoot I would.. especially if you are driving to port. Not only that but its not too far of a walk if you are done at the beach and need to bring it back on board... I think it would be worth it so you don't have to duke it out in the alley with other people to get some shade.. :D

 

We are also planning on going to Jack's Shack but I've now seen the prices of food and drink and I find it fairly expensive. We still may walk down to pet Topher and the other dog, and a cat or two, but may eat and grab a drink from the other establishment called The Local Village Bar. It's supposedly right on the other side of the boundary of Margaritaville (on the way to Jack's Shack) and has a huge sign that says $3.50 Beers. Maybe that's where you stopped?

 

Its still a nice walk and you can say you went there.. If there are two ships in port I would not even stop for a drink there... it will eat up time when you could be doing other things.. IMO.. The place we stopped was not too far down from Jacks heading back to the ship.. I think (if i remember, its been a month and I have slept since then.. lol) the lil house was yellow..for me, it felt more "local" if that makes sense?? :)

 

About purchasing liquor on Grand Turk. Where did you find the best prices? Since we are not flying, I plane on stocking up on bottles and thought Nassau would be priced good but you suggest Grand Turk?

 

I was impressed with the prices in the building you go through to get onto the ship.. I was like "oh my god babe, its cheap!!!" granted we dont have bad prices here in Oregon but I about choked when I went to the liqour store in NY for a Liter of my Malibu, with taxes, blood sample and a fingerprint (jk) was almost 35 bucks!!! Here at home if you catch it on sale at the Liquor store you can get it for $9.99!:eek:

I do not know the prices in Nassau cause we stayed on the ship, but GT is def cleaner and I would feel more comfortable buying stuff in GT

 

Thanks so much for this review, it helped so much in planning everything for us. Even the pictures from the helicopter give me a birds eye view of where to walk on the beach!!

 

You are so very welcome! I am excited for you!! I will prob be watching your sailaway.. I still stalk those webcams.. someday.. sooner than later I wont have to watch on my laptop again..

 

Also, Grand Turk looks like a bigger island than I thought, I can't believe cruise people really get around in golf carts, looks like a lot of roads and an industrial island.

[ah4sail]

Your review is really great!! We'll be on the Splendor in 25 more days! After seeing all your pix I really can't wait!!! :)

[cruisinbabs]

Really enjoying your review. My first cruise was on the Valor for my honeymoon in 2011 Western Caribbean, then we did the Eastern on the Liberty 2013. I love HMC and Grand Turk! Our next cruise is on the Glory 2015 ugh. Thanks so much for taking the time to write this review. Looking forward to reading more!!!

 

 

Thank you so much for your kind words Taylorray! :-)

 

yea I told my hubs that I cant go 5 years between cruises... just cant.. I will find a way someway somehow.. I can't get enough.. Wish I could get paid to cruise with the fambam and get paid for it.. lol.. IN MY DREAMS!!!

 

I was spying the Glory for 2015 as well on May 9th..hehehhe.. of course hitting GT and HMC again.. I loved these ports a lot.. especially HMC!!!

[cruisinbabs]

Your review is really great!! We'll be on the Splendor in 25 more days! After seeing all your pix I really can't wait!!! :)

 

 

Thank you so much ah4sail!!! Glad you are enjoying and following along. :-) oh my goodness... 25 days... watch out it is going to go faster than you think! heheh.. i remember being at 20 something days and was like 'man this is going to take forever.. "... then before i knew it i was packing the night before (because I am a professional procrastinator!!)... well mainly cause lil dude was at grandmas and i could get it done in half the time and things would stay put.

 

Stay tuned, gunna try and get some HMC stuff done today! my favorite port ever so far!

[ibcnusoon]

Professional Procrastinator here too! I will be packing the night before. We leave Tuesday and with Sunday being Fathers Day and Saturday I have a birthday party ... I just don't have the time! The only thing I've done so far is toss magazines and an insulated cup in my carry on bag, only because I was cleaning around the house and didn't want to forget them!

[ibcnusoon]

T

 

Stay tuned, gunna try and get some HMC stuff done today! my favorite port ever so far!

 

Oh good, because I'm uncertain what to do here, where to sit, tendering, etc.

 

I don't have FTTF and was thinking of booking the bike trip at 10:00am, figure at $20 a piece we will be on an early tender and the bike trip would allow us to see the island.

 

Then I'm not sure where to park for the rest of the day, being I'm travelling with my teen daughter, I want to go somewhere lively. Is getting chairs by the ship bar where the music comes from, and is that close to the buffet??

 

Don't answer, I'm just thinking out loud, I'll wait for your review. :p

[cruisinbabs]

We are also planning on going to Jack's Shack but I've now seen the prices of food and drink and I find it fairly expensive. We still may walk down to pet Topher and the other dog, and a cat or two, but may eat and grab a drink from the other establishment called The Local Village Bar. It's supposedly right on the other side of the boundary of Margaritaville (on the way to Jack's Shack) and has a huge sign that says $3.50 Beers. Maybe that's where you stopped?

 

Thanks to a fellow Splendidos pics from GT... I can now show you where we stopped for a bite to eat.. lol!!!

 

 

So Jacks shack is on the left you can see... we went on the back side and walked behind those pink houses...

 

 

---right after the pink houses you can see a tiny yellow hut with the lawn chairs on the beach.. that is where we ate.. I dont even think it has a name??

[cruisinbabs]

So mom and I go up to deck 10 to watch us sail away from GT... and low and behold there is a Splendido there too.. shocker!! lol...

 

---Bye bye Liberty.. you and your fine aft... and you can see even better in this picture the proximity of the lil lunch hut we ate at from the pink houses.

 

---Such a gorgeous day!

 

---Love my mom.. (as if you couldn't tell through this review)

 

---Backing out and rotating

 

 

[cruisinbabs]

---Onward Capt'n Stubing!

 

---Bye bye Grand Turk.. until we meet again!

 

We stayed on deck for a little bit, then it was time to go wake up the hubs and get ready for dinner.

 

The night consisted of dinner (which was fun as usual with our tablemates!), casino, coffee, hanging out with fellow splendidos, casino, show (i think??), drinks, dancing at the club.. basically just having some fun until it was time to retire for the evening... oh and room service BLT's for a midnight snack!

 

---Hello mr. Stingray and thank you for greeting us this evening..errr..wayy early morning..

 

After having our midnight snack, I set my tablet alarm for some god awful time so I could catch a sunrise and us anchoring for HMC..

 

Remember I am not a morning person at home.. but on a cruise getting up after 4 or 5 hrs of sleep.. NO PROBLEM!!

[Jenny in TX]

Love reading your review and your mom is cute and has the best smile! Kuddos to you and your hubby for bringing her along. I bet she had a wonderful time!

[TeamLincoln]

Thank you for the nice words on the review. :-)

 

No it's not silly... Gold card is serious business!!! Lol.

 

When you check in you will get your gold card and your pin in your cabin! Woohoo!!!!

 

 

 

Happy dance! Thanks for the info! See there are more details to read today. Another happy dance!

 

 

Sent from my SCH-I800 using Forums mobile app

[Syrenitee]

Aug 20th baby!!!! Leaving from NY, heading to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. Traveling with in laws, my lil unit (husband and 4 year old) my mum and Godmother 😳 I know I know...never again though.

 

I love your pics, your mum n the hat!!!! Love it!

 

Next time u come to NY I'm taking you to the affordable spots for good eats n fun! You gotta know the secret spots!

 

 

:D

[ibcnusoon]

So Jacks shack is on the left you can see... we went on the back side and walked behind those pink houses...

 

 

---right after the pink houses you can see a tiny yellow hut with the lawn chairs on the beach.. that is where we ate.. I dont even think it has a name??

 

Thanks for the picture, now I know where I'm going!! From what I understand now at Grand Turk, there are 2 establishments between M'ville and Jacks. They are: The Crew Bar and The Local Village Bar. You may have went to the Local Village Bar (the yellow house) because the Crew Bar is the first establishment on the beach right next to M'ville (the blue house all the way to the right).

Edited June 13, 2014 by ibcnusoon

[cruisinbabs]

Aug 20th baby!!!! Leaving from NY, heading to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. Traveling with in laws, my lil unit (husband and 4 year old) my mum and Godmother I know I know...never again though.

 

YEEEYAH!!! how exciting! but ya, its ummm, different to travel with a brood of people.... and especially in-laws.. hopefully I dont hear about you in the news! lol... i have a 4 year old too and i cant wait til he is old enough to cruise.. we just havent been brave enough to take him! this last trip we needed by ourselves.

 

I love your pics, your mum n the hat!!!! Love it!

 

I know right?? isn't she just cute?? now we just need to find her a man.. she is widowed but is single and ready to mingle.. but hard to get back in the game after 25 years..

 

Next time u come to NY I'm taking you to the affordable spots for good eats n fun! You gotta know the secret spots!

 

yes please and you are hired!!!

 

 

:D

[cruisinbabs]

After a glorious 4-5 hrs of uninterupted sleep, my tablet is going off telling me it is time to get up... ok fiiiiiinne tablet!! I'm up. Plus I wanted to make sure that I was awake to hear room service knock on the door... ::knock knock::, food arrived right on time again.. yay for coffee!!!

 

Poured myself a cup of coffee and headed out onto our balcony. Great thing about a balcony is you can go out there in your pajamas, scivies or go all natural(whatever you prefer). Sipping my coffee and enjoying my bagel on the balcony.. well not literaly on the balcony but you get my drift.

 

---Good morning.. we are going to have a glorious day today!

 

 

Husband finally gets up and we enjoy some more coffee together.. we love our coffee!!... We start getting our stuff together that we are bringing ashore for the day. Called mom and made sure she was up too... Before we knew it we could hear Malcolm announce that the crew was bringing over provisionals and we would start tendering soon.. SAWEET!!

 

We grab our excursion ticket, bag, towels and head to the Moracco lounge for our meeting spot.. again why they have us meet alll the frickin way in the aft when we just have to walk the whole length of the ship to get back to the tender.. does not make sense at all.. let us meet in the main lounge, then we can just go downstairs.. but whatever, we were getting on a tender and going to the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my lifetime!!

[Katmarha]

Aug 20th baby!!!! Leaving from NY, heading to Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay, and Nassau. Traveling with in laws, my lil unit (husband and 4 year old) my mum and Godmother I know I know...never again though.

 

I love your pics, your mum n the hat!!!! Love it!

 

Next time u come to NY I'm taking you to the affordable spots for good eats n fun! You gotta know the secret spots!

 

 

:D

 

Syrenitee

Have you joined our roll call yet? It's a small but friendly group and we are going to do a slot pull.

[Katmarha]

So mom and I go up to deck 10 to watch us sail away from GT... and low and behold there is a Splendido there too.. shocker!! lol...

 

---Bye bye Liberty.. you and your fine aft... and you can see even better in this picture the proximity of the lil lunch hut we ate at from the pink houses.

 

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---Such a gorgeous day!

 

---Love my mom.. (as if you couldn't tell through this review)

 

---Backing out and rotating

 

 

 

 

I love all the photos! The helicopter ride looked like a blast! Thanks so much for sharing.

[Syrenitee]

Syrenitee

Have you joined our roll call yet? It's a small but friendly group and we are going to do a slot pull.

 

 

Yyyyyyepppp, I'm trying to explain to my group as I learn here. I'm definitely on the roll call though!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

[Jamman54]

We grab our excursion ticket, bag, towels and head to the Moracco lounge for our meeting spot.. again why they have us meet alll the frickin way in the aft when we just have to walk the whole length of the ship to get back to the tender.. does not make sense at all.. let us meet in the main lounge, then we can just go downstairs.. but whatever, we were getting on a tender and going to the most beautiful place I have ever seen in my lifetime!!

 

Amen Sister!!! For the life of me, I'll never figure out why they meet in that lounge. There are PLENTY of places to meet that are much closer. It seemed like a 10 minute forced march!!!

[cruisinbabs]

I am so sorry for the delay.. we had a busy weekend of cleaning out a garage (fun!.. not!!) and my brothers graduation party from college.... my time was sucked up by both things.. I am working on a installment while at work.. shhhh..... hehehe... Thank you for your patience!!!:D

[cruisinbabs]

So after our long uhhh ship march... we get on our tender boat.. love the size of these tenders.. holds lots of people!!!

 

---Time to tender!

 

I forgot to take pictures tendering in because..

 

A) too busy ooo-ing and ahhh-ing

B) too many of peoples heads were in the way of where I was sitting

 

So we get off the tender, shuffle off like a herd of cattle.. MOOOOOO... then we head to the excursion check in hut.... uh oh a snafu... They tell us we are in cabana 10 and not 11 like they had told us the first day of the cruise... So in the mean time while we are at sea, I am inviting other Splendidos as I see them around the ship to hang out if they so choose and all they need to bring is some booze as their cover charge.. lol... I was praying that no one was there yet trying to get prime real estate in front of the wrong cabana!! Thankfully the people that were in cabana 11 were very nice and told a few of our friends that got there ahead of us that it was not our cabana... So they peek into cabana 10 to read the name on the cooler to make sure it had our name on it before claiming beach space in front.. How they got tendered in before us is beyond me but doesnt matter, it all worked out in the end...

 

We ride the trolley down to the cabanas, then skip on down to our cabana.. set our stuff down and VOILA!!!

 

---Ummmm... enough said.

 

Other Splendidos rented some clamshells just to have some extra shade when needed.. I told whoever needed a break from the sun could come in and chillax.. didn't want any of my friends fried to a crisp.

 

I think it is a very nice touch they do this in the cabana.. and since my name has already been put out there... there you have it.. lol

---why thank you for having me HMC!!

 

---Hubby was excited too!

 

---Yahoo!!!

 

---Ya think he's excited??? lol

[cruisinbabs]

---Snacks!!! Also there was soda and water in the cooler on the other end of the counter..

 

---Our crew getting all set up with prime chair real estate and ready to get this party started!

 

---Bucket o'beers! We have already had a shot of bacardi 151 to start with.. lol

 

 

---Mom was like, hurry up and take the picture.. the hammock is calling my name.

 

---Me and Paula... and my ridiculous awesome sunglasses...

 

---Mom!

[Rene2.5RS]

---Bucket o'beers! We have already had a shot of bacardi 151 to start with.. lol

 

Yeah, and it wasn't even 10am yet! Start of a long awesome day!!!!

[cruisinbabs]

---Now excuse me while I step into my office.

 

---Me and Carrie

 

Someone brought their ipod and speaker so we had music going of our own and just hanging out... Then hubs and I wanted to take a stroll on the beach.. just me and him.. one of my favorite moments this trip. The view of our stroll didn't hurt either...

 

 

 

 

---Some nice people took our pic for us.. well obviously..lol

[Stevo24]

Enjoying your review! Excited to see the rest.