Vision of the Seas - Photo Review - 1/10/15 VOS

[wato1963]

Loving the review, great work guys

 

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[WinksCruises]

Let's take a break. Nothing crazy here... just some random shots from around the ship.

 

 

Here's the jogging track. Warning: Those of you who hope to use the Promenade Deck (as I typically do) as a walking deck, you're out of luck on Vision. It doesn't complete a circuit of the ship and what is available to walk is often times closed for maintenance. Your option is to use the jogging/walking deck up top. Plusses: It pretty much runs the length of the ship and the sun bathing chairs are tied to the fencing so no one can obstruct the path.

 

 

 

 

On the topic of motion sickness... During our first night out of Tampa the seas were over 5 feet. It was rocky for sure, but the rhythm of the waves, at least for us, was not that nausea producing type. Nonetheless, barf bags were placed along each of the stairwells. My wife and I have been sea sick twice on cruises... usually during a rhythmic pattern while at the fore of the ship and generally not for long. We find ginger pills and alcohol work wonders. Because Vision is a smaller ship... and because our weather pattern wasn't serene for the first portion of the cruise, we popped ginger pills as a precautionary measure and were fine.

 

 

 

 

Talk about rough seas... here's Mrs. Winks snorkeling off the shoreline of Little French Keys in Honduras. I thought the water was too choppy for snorkeling - I hate the surprise of water in the air tube. But my better half couldn't resist the lure of a prime snorkeling reef, so donned a life vest and took the plunge. Again, this would be a superior resort excursion if the weather had been better.

 

 

 

 

Tampa is a more industrial port than Ports Miami, Lauderdale or even Canaveral. You spend a long time passing factory inspired scenery on your lengthy trek out to the high seas. Here's a shot of some large bird that's made a nest atop a crane structure.

 

 

 

 

Mrs. Winks parading before a WOW logo which was painted on a wall at the gang plank entrance. Not sure what port we were docked at, but we were back early from whatever we were doing, so there was no line at security - hence the ability to grab this photo.

 

 

 

 

Here we are enjoying a pre-dinner drink (gratis) at one of Vision's bars, (probably the Schooner Bar) thanks to our Diamond level status. Note the Gold card at the bottom right. Once again, gold card or not, service levels were top-notch around the ship (except at the Pool Bar - in our experience). All crew members displayed excellent customer service skills... with vigor.

 

 

Oh yes... still waiting on Belize. Next up!

 

 

[Green Recruit]

Let's take a break. Nothing crazy here... just some random shots from around the ship.

 

Here's the jogging track. Warning: Those of you who hope to use the Promenade Deck (as I typically do) as a walking deck, you're out of luck on Vision.

 

On the topic of motion sickness... During our first night out of Tampa the seas were over 5 feet. It was rocky for sure, but the rhythm of the waves, at least for us, was not that nausea producing type. Nonetheless, barf bags were placed along each of the stairwells. Because Vision is a smaller ship... and because our weather pattern wasn't serene ......

 

 

 

We also prefer the Promenade deck for walking in the morning and can only do so on a ship with a helipad, Radiance and above,... not counting Oasis.

 

Oddly, we look forward to the bags on the stairwells as it tells us we are in for some motion. We don't like sailing in a bathtub so a bit of rock and roll reminds us we are on the ocean...... ;)

 

We will be on Vision in 2 1/2 weeks and your pictures look great.

 

Dion

[smedley_odwin]

Thanks for keeping doing this, I am really enjoying it.

[lawgirl]

Really enjoying your review! First time on Vision this Fall ...in a GS (and we are D+.... Even crazier than a D booking a suite)! How are your Diamond drink vouchers working? Are the bartenders easy going about making various drinks?

 

Love your sense of humor! :D

[shofer]

We are on the VOS in May for a Mediterranean cruise. Keep the photos coming. Interested in the overall condition of the ship. Thanks for taking the time to do this.

 

Sue

[WinksCruises]

 

Ghost Ship on a port day

 

I’ve always been a fan of days at sea.

 

To me, port days come chock filled with the logistical nightmares I always assumed we were cruising to escape from. Don’t pretend you don’t know what these are. We’re talking about the ulcer-producing stresses like getting up extra early to fight off a family of four over the last dried-out scraps of French Toast from a Windjammer warming tray - only to discover, 10 minutes later, that they’re the people staying in the cabin right next to yours - who you will now have to avoid making eye contact with for the remaining 6 nights of the cruise; packing several duffel bag’s worth of sunscreen, insect repellent, snorkel gear, my Nook, her Kindle, our cell phones, towels, gallon-sized jugs of water, copies of our passports (color), the port agent’s contact information, hauling it down to the gang plank where you discover you’ve forgotten your Sea Pass Card in the stateroom safe, 8-flights up - for which only your wife, who has just disembarked, has the combination; on the pier trying to find your shore excursion’s precise letter and number pairing in the sea of similar looking raised paddles while fending off aggressive name-bracelet vendors, a guy offering you weed - who may or may not be the guy who served you dinner rolls last night in the main dining room - - as well as the ship’s photographer flailing about in an 8-armed octopus costume, insulted that you don’t want to strike a pose with him; waiting in an un-air conditioned, 18-passenger taxi van (if they use the jump seat) while it slowly fills up, over the course of an hour, with enough other idiots who want to travel 90 minutes to a beach they saw once on Travel Channel only to discover it has no bar or bathroom facilities; and then, of course, having to keep an eye on the time to avoid the fame that comes in being a viral sensation in the next YouTube compilation of “You’re late! You’re late!” bumbling dock runners. Those kinds of stresses.

 

 

A dreary day and a 30-minute tender ride = Success for Winks!

 

 

For years I argued with Mrs. Winks, unsuccessfully, that it was crazy to waste hours of time arranging to go to a beach, where we might stay for an hour or so, just to return to the ship… when all the while, the same sun, cocktails, lunch and insidious kettle drum tunes were just as available to us on board… with a lot fewer costs and hassles involved. Plus, it’s not crowded.

 

I begged and pleaded with her that on one cruise, we would finally do it, not get off the ship. For anything. Not even to investigate the faux pier shops. Not even for a gall bladder operation. (Let the ship’s medical facility give it a shot)

 

So when we docked in Belize City (a port we’ve visited previously) and I saw the fortuitous coupling of cloudy skies and the daunting prospect of a 30-minute tender ride to shore, I finally convinced the slightly hung-over Mrs. Winks to do it. We were going to stay on the ship the entire day!

 

 

Vision life on a port day

 

 

Wow! I’ve never been more bored in my life!

 

While Mrs. Winks found solace parking herself on a top deck, lounge chair to nurse her aching head, I found myself floundering with my new found freedom and run of the ship. There really wasn’t much to do, other than take interior photos of the vessel for later inclusion in this report. After snapping a few shots, and discovering amenities like the casino, photo displays and onboard shops closed, it was lunch time. And with lunch came wave upon wave of tender ships, making their trek back from the shore, packed with returning passengers.

 

I ended up hanging out in the Schooner Bar lounge (the bar itself was closed) trying to read and come up with clever, if questionable, ways to hasten our ascent to Diamond Plus status, but found my ruminations were soon foiled by a morning-long series of crew drills that commenced the minute I sat down. They practiced a man-overboard drill and a ship run aground drill, which saw crew members checking-in and congregating, noisily, at various stations that always seemed to be right next to where I'd just re-seated myself!

 

In the end, I found this Holy Experiment of staying onboard to be a failed one. The day seemed to slip by much faster- and I found myself actually missing the mental busy-ness that comes with dealing with shore side logistics.

 

 

The Casino Royale

 

 

Speaking of the casino, this was the first cruise we’ve taken where the casino didn’t offer the Caribbean Stud Poker table game. While not a game that offers very favorable odds, it’s a slow paced game that gives us a chance to socialize with the other players at the table. Over the course of an evening, we all end up sharing our cruise related tips, info and opinions. In fact, we’ve made some of our most interesting cruise acquaintances sitting at the Caribbean Stud table, so we were disappointed that the ship’s casino, following the trend of its land-based brethren, has phased the game out.

 

The Casino Royale on Vision was relatively small, but not nearly as tightly packed as we found the new casino of the Regal Princess to be. There, chairs were jammed together and any passage space through the casino was tight and many times impassable during the prime times. It was refreshing to be in Vision’s casino where there was plenty of space to breathe…. even if that breathe gets filled with cigarette smoke! Ugh. The casino also had a nice bar that showed the NFL playoff games throughout the cruise.

 

Even if you’re a non-gamer, there’re typically 3 free slot-pull credits on your Sea Pass card. Take it to the casino window, they’ll give you three tokens and point you to the promotional slot machine. We have won various tchotchkies this way, including RC key rings, RC luggage tags and, once, a Casino Royale branded t-shirt.

 

 

Captain Mareck belting one out at the Top Tier event.

 

Hanging out in the Concierge Lounge that evening, we almost passed-up on attending the special Top Tier Crown & Anchor event going on concurrently in the Some Enchanted Evening lounge. We’re so glad the hotel director, who was chatting with us in the CL at the time, encouraged us to go… explaining that we would have the rare opportunity of seeing Captain Mareck sing for us.

 

That sounded amusing, so we pulled-up stakes and headed down to the aft lounge to see what the C&A event was all about. Well, what transpired was one of the most incredible events I’ve ever witnessed on the high seas. Captain Mareck did indeed take the floor. And after thanking the assembled Platinum or better audience for their patronage, and thanking several Pinnacle members personally, and at the urging of Marvin the cruise director, who was hosting the event, Captain Mareck broke into his very personalized karaoke rendition of Hoobastank’s 2004 hit pop ballad, “The Reason (I’m Not a Perfect Person”) in which he apologized for Royal Caribbean, in song, for any times they got things wrong.

 

I'm not a perfect person

There's many things I wish I didn't do

But I continue learning

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

 

Keep in mind, the Captain personalized the lyrics for his karaoke edition - and made it specifically about the relationship between Royal and their loyal passengers. And that we all were "The Reason" they were going to start over anew.

 

It was self-effacing, humorous, stirring, genuine and at the same time awe-inspiring. Most of all, it was gobsmackingly original and astonishingly creative. I’m sure the public relations department back at the RCCL main office would cringe if they ever heard it, but for us repeat passengers in the audience that night, it effectively cleared the slate of any ill-will we bore against the cruise line. The captain had song his heart out, apologizing like a guilty lover, begged for forgiveness and promised to do his all in the future. It was one of the most powerful marketing ploys I’ve ever seen, on land or at sea. Sheer genius and simply unforgettable.

 

And speaking of unforgettable...

 

 

An at sea bro'mance

 

We headed out of the Top Tier event with grins on our faces, congratulating the Captain and his senior staff during our egress and thanking them for a wonderful cruise. Then we stopped to take some professional photos. We had purchased the My Cruise Photo unlimited print package, so it was really in our best interest to load up on as many pictures as possible. And since we had already blown an opportunity that morning to get Belize City gangway shots, we decided to double up on our evening photo ops.

 

Fortunately, our concierge Vojtech was passing through the area and happily obliged when we called him over to take a couple of photos with us. The next day, when the resulting images were printed and available on the Photo Display panels, we located our shots and took them to the counter to be added to our file folder. Well, did we hear an earful from the photo clerk. This shot (above), of Vojtech and me, was the talk of the photo lab and the ship! We were the Vision’s official new “bro’mance” and the officers were adhering to a “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy when it came to Voytech, we were told jokingly. So hilarious! We of course ordered up an additional 8x10 reprint of offending shot to present Voytech with on our final evening in the Concierge Lounge. Good times.

 

Next up - Adventures in downtown Costa Maya, Mexico

 

Edited January 31, 2015 by WinksCruises

[WinksCruises]

Those expecting to find a wonderful library stocked with a fun array of reading choices will be in for a little surprise on Vision. The library has been replaced with a couple of bookcases called "The Book Nook". And, like most collections at seas, it's been neglected and rifled through. You can still pick up daily puzzle / sudoku pages here - and there is a collection of board games in the locked cabinets underneath. The Book Nook is located between the photo gallery and Ben & Jerry's right off the Centrum.

 

The Book Nook on Vision of the Seas

 

Alright, to keep us all up-to-date on the food offerings, below is the MDR menu for Night 4. It was Italian night...

 

Italian Night Dinner Menu

 

And here's the Day 4 Cruise Compass - issued on our Belize port day...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noticing the night's entertainment listed above, I am reminded of sitting in the Concierge Lounge (while Mrs. Winks was off in the powder room) eavesdropping on a couple seated behind me arguing about the quality of the ship's production shows. Apparently they were torn between their desire to see the shows, rate the talent and listen to the orchestra and their unwavering belief that all the offerings on this class of ship "suck" and it would be a waste of their time. The Vision orchestra, in their mind, was the most offensive. It being the night's sole offering, they were debating whether to attend. As Mrs. Winks returned, I overheard them agreeing to agree that they didn't cruise the high seas for the quality of shows, but they should watch them none-the-less for any promising talent. For what that's worth...

 

 

 

From the Promenade Deck on Vision of the Seas.

 

 

 

 

[WinksCruises]

Our next port of call was Costa Maya. We arrived in the morning to find The Emerald Princess had already trumped us for best mooring position, so we had to dock further out, perpendicular to her. This resulted in all of us on Vision facing a good quarter mile walk along the pier just to get to shore. Not a big deal, but it didn’t go unnoticed that Princess had commissioned a trolley to shuttle passengers back-and-forth to the terminal; Royal passengers, who actually had a further walk, had to hoof it on their own.

 

Since we weren’t in a hurry to go ashore, we kicked around on the top deck before breakfast, just happy to see the sun unfettered by the clouds that had doggedly followed us all week and just ecstatic to bask in its warmth (basically for the first time all cruise!)

 

Docked with the Emerald Princess at the pier in Costa Maya

 

On the recommendation of some crew members we’d queried the evening before, we decided to make it a beach day. We were told to catch a cab to Mahahual, the closest town, where we’d find a colorful stretch of beach clubs – each offering cheap eats, drinks and wi-fi. Not as classy as a resort like Little French Key, but we felt like slumming it today and were told this area had good food and was an easy, safe trip.

 

We disembarked at our leisure, made the long hike to the terminal taking time to grab a few shots of the Emerald Princess along the way. Once at the faux pier city, we ran a gauntlet of vendors hawking various forms of transportation – everything from multi-passenger vans, trolley trains and ATVs to rent-by-the-hour golf carts, all at stiff prices; but we stuck to the directions given us by our crew friends and made our way outside of the terminal gates where a much more reasonably priced 2$ per-person private taxi that would take us to downtown Mahahual was easily had.

 

Beachside at Mahahual

 

10 minutes later we were dropped off at the Tropicante Beachside Grille in downtown Mahahual, Costa Maya. There, the helpful staff quickly set us up with two lounge chairs under an umbrella, gave us the wi-fi code and instructions to flag down any of the servers if we wanted food or drink. Very casual. A bucket of six 12oz beers was 15$. Reasonably priced mixed drinks, wine and fare from a Mexican menu were also available. You could rent a kayak or take a boat tour. And there were ocean view massage tables doing a brisk business as well.

 

Chilling... w/ wi-fi

 

It’s true this stretch of beach does get busy as the day goes on, and the clientele is made up small travelling groups and families who tend to become louder and more raucous as the tequila kicks in - so it’s definitely not a place for solitude or a tranquil beach escape. There’s not a lot of space, but the amenities are cheap, there’s plenty of shopping along the pedestrian walkway storefront, and the people are friendly – even if the hawking of goods is an ever recurring annoyance.

 

 

At one point the owner came over and introduced himself. He was an expat from Texas who had done some construction work in Costa Maya following a hurricane. Seeing the potential of the area and knowing the cruise lines were coming, he bought up several properties along the beach, including the Tropicante, and is now living la vida loca in Mexico. He thanked us for stopping in and then jutted off for a swim.

 

The Tropicante Grille

 

The Tropicante Grille itself is open to the walkway and offers an indoor sheltered area with several long tables where you can eat or simply prop-up a tablet or laptop and do a serious online check-in with home. There’s also an entire wall of used books along one side of the room, with an emphasis on great paperback beach titles. These titles are for sale at 3$ to 5$ each. The shop is run by a charming woman named Nancy, who rescues most of the titles from the abandoned property room at the local airport or gets them from tourist passing through who simply want to trade-in one paperback for another. Interestingly enough, she reports business is very good – crediting the wall of books, clearly visible from the walkway, that lures readers in like a bears to honey. When I asked about the effect electronic readers were having on her business she claimed that many people still prefer reading physical paperbacks, especially on the beach where sand is potential glass scratcher.

 

Nancy also offers a postcard service. She’ll sell you the cards, stamp them and personally mail them from the local post office on her way home at night. That’s a terrific luxury for a habitual postcard sender like myself - and I was happy to pay her the surcharge for not having to track down the cards, stamps and a post office on my own (something I’ve wasted a lot of time doing at other ports of call).

 

With proprietor Nancy at the Tropicante book store

 

After a few hours at the Tropicante beach, we packed up, strolled the pedestrian walkway (think boardwalk, without the boards) finally re-camping at The Krazy Lobster, another popular crew destination, renown for its fresh seafood selections and 1$ 8oz beers. Like at Tropicante, free wi-fi was available as well as snorkeling, kayaks and beachside massage tables. We sat at a table on the beach and enjoyed a fresh seafood lunch.

 

It made for a beautiful and very economical beach day. After another hour and another bucket, we simply grabbed another cab back to the ship where we browsed the portside stores – and found the same trinkets we’d seen on our excursion in town, but at pier side prices.

 

Back to the ship... Trolley for Princess passengers only, please.

 

Truth be told, you could have a very similar “beach day” experience at the Costa Maya port complex. There’s a pool, beach and lounge chairs set up along a store front of vendors – it’s basically a sanitized remodeling of what we had seen in Mahahual. So that’s an option for those who just want to get off the ship and not deal with travel logistics. But we enjoyed our time outside the terminal gates with the locals and it was definitely easier on the wallet.

 

Next up: Bar Hopping with Cruise Critters in Cozumel.

[WinksCruises]

Because Spring is around the corner and some of you may be cruising with teens... here's the special Cruise Compass they printed for teens on Vision. It'll give you an idea of the type of activities available.

 

 

 

Edited February 2, 2015 by WinksCruises

[WinksCruises]

Here's a shot of the pier facilities in Costa Maya (see the Vision in the distance?) There's a pool and a beach area right in the center of the shopping. Can zip-line and Swim With the Dolphins activities be far behind?

 

The pier facilities at Costa Maya... almost like being in Mahahual!

 

Below are the menus and Cruise Compasses from day 5

 

 

 

 

 

And here's a shot of the dancing that goes on about the ship... this pair of couples were dancing one evening in the Some Enchanted Theater at the aft of the ship.

 

 

Yes, yes, Cozumel coming up...

 

[At Sea 4Ever]

Here's a shot of the pier facilities in Costa Maya (see the Vision in the distance?) There's a pool and a beach area right in the center of the shopping. Can zip-line and Swim With the Dolphins activities be far behind?

 

 

Last time we were there I never noticed the beach at the pier. Can you give me some info on it? Is it walking distance, pay to get on, chairs and amenities available, clean? Thanks! Enjoying your review!

 

 

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[mmfb162119]

Thanks Winks, your posts have been very informative about vision! My wife and I are going on vision for our honeymoon to the med in sept. I'm looking forward to the rest of your insight along with any tips of tricks about the ship that we need or would be useful to know. I too strive to reach pinnacle one day, heck right now I'm just excited that the next one puts me into platinum! Thanks again.

[KellyElisabeth]

My husband and I have been following and loving your posts - we will be on the Vision in 10 days! I have to send you a giant THANK YOU for picking up and posting the teen compass! We are traveling with my 13 year old stepson (and my in-laws) and this is not only his first cruise, but his first real vacation of this kind. He is on the spectrum (very high functioning, but has some anxieties with crowds and with social stuff) so it is just a wonderful gift to be able to have this before we leave so that we can better plan things for him! Thank you so very much! :D:D:D:D

[WinksCruises]

Last time we were there I never noticed the beach at the pier. Can you give me some info on it? Is it walking distance, pay to get on, chairs and amenities available, clean?

I wish I could tell you if there's a fee. There didn't appear to be, but who knows if you grab a lounger whether someone comes up and explains it comes at a cost.

 

I can tell you it's close to the pier... though that itself can be a long walk. It looked clean; people seemed to be enjoying themselves. Like I said, it was sort of like going to town, but it's all right there. Swim up bars and everything. A Senor Frogs. Lots of shopping.

 

Definitely worth checking out. Search "Port Costa Maya" on YouTube. People have posted whole video tours of the facilities there.

 

Winks

[WinksCruises]

THANK YOU for picking up and posting the teen compass!

Great, I'm glad you found it of use. Something compelled me to pick it up, a voice saying someone might want to see this.

 

There weren't many teens our voyage. it being right after the holidays, but the few we saw seemed to be having a good time. Good luck!

 

Winks

[WinksCruises]

Here’s a tip. When you’re in Cozumel, be sure you tell your taxi driver exactly where you want to go. I think we just uttered “downtown” as we poured into his cab and away we were whisked, passing every storefront and Diamonds International subsidiary, along the main drag, until we were unceremoniously dropped off at the steps to the Forum Shops… which is pretty much at the farthest end of downtown. Come on… Did we really look like Forum shoppers? I thought for sure we looked more the Senor Frog type.

 

Because that’s where we were ultimately headed, the patio outside of the Senor Frog’s bar in downtown Cozumel; there to hook-up with a group of other Cruise Critics members who, thanks to the organizing skills of Canadian Tyler, were getting a 5$ per-person group discount on the infamous Cozumel Bar Hop private excursion. This was an outing Tyler mentioned on our Cruise Critic Roll Call a few months ago and which went on to blow-up in popularity to the point we formed a large enough group to justify our own separate van.

 

 

Our crew on the Bar Hop van with our Hop Host, Colleen

Now I’m sure you heard the term “bar hop” and figured we’re just a bunch of hardcore cruise lushes who think it’s okay to bypass the once in a lifetime opportunity to see Mayan Ruins (shyeah, 100 miles away) just to get tanked at 10:30 am simply because we’re in Mexico and the drinks are dirt cheap and we can. And you’d be right…

 

But the Cozumel Bar Hop is so much more than that. We’ve already been to the Tulum ruins, yawn, and I’d ante-up the four humble shore-side establishments we visited up on the Bar Hop against their crumbling (you can’t even climb on things), refreshment free, grandiose boring temples, any day.

 

The Bar Hop is really about the beaches...

For you see, the Cozumel Bar Hop is really about getting an opportunity to see the gorgeous, pristine and un-gentrified Eastern coast of Cozumel. No resorts, condos or crowds. Just miles of unspoiled beaches. Heck, the bars don’t even have the ability to run a credit card. They have no electricity - other than what solar or wind power generates for them. They’re only open during the day. And there are no high rises or other commercial establishments crowding them out. In other words… paradise.

 

So the best kept secret about the Cozumel Bar Hop is that it’s really not about the drinking. It’s about soaking up the uncluttered, natural, Cozumel shoreline. There are four stops, where you get about an hour to explore, have a drink, eat, sun bathe or simply hang. Each stop is a little different in scenery and vibe… and each is stupendous.

 

 

Enjoying ourselves on a really relaxing excursion...

So we were picked up in a van at our meeting place on the patio of Senor Frogs. Driven the 9-miles across the island, getting some background history from our hop host, Colleen. At each of the four bars we were welcomed with that venue’s signature shot and then allowed to explore and socialize. You can order food at any of the stops and service was fast and friendly.

 

I enjoyed the second stop, Coconuts, the most, mainly because it was situated on a cliffside overlooking the ocean and it reminded me the most of Tulum. Mrs. Wink picks stop four, Rastasi, for its unparalleled beach frontage and lazy hammock amenities.

 

 

Just don't quit your day job, Mrs. Winks!

Playa Bonita, the third stop, featured an atomic margarita that really got the crowd going. Mrs. Winks enjoyed it so much, she grabbed the bongos and joined the Mariachi band for a number. This bar was unique in that it appeared to be an abandoned beach house, where guests were encouraged to leave graffiti on the walls and etched names in the tables. Beautiful spot.

 

 

Those Canadians sure can drink!

Up top, you can see Cruise Critic members Canadian Tyler and Not_Anna sharing one of those Playa Bonita atomic margaritas. (Sorry Tyler, it looks like the umbrella is going up your nose!) Tyler and Anna are Fo Ho’s - former hoppers – and are treated like Diamond Plus royalty by the Bar Hop staff. They really appreciate the repeat business… and we appreciated Tyler for turning everyone onto this incredible excursion, not to mention the group discount.

 

By the end of this stop, the crew was starting to really let loose. There are pictures, but this being a family forum, we respectfully refrain from posting them!

 

Our van on the way back... recognize any cruise critters?

Our hostess Colleen told us the success of any Bar Hop is the ability to not only get us back to the ship on time, but also the ability to do so without anyone having to pull the van over to heave-ho. Fortunately, while we were a wild crew, we behaved, and managed to succeed on both fronts!

 

Great excursion and well worth investigating if you have already been to Cozumel. You don’t have to be a drinker to enjoy this day on the Eastern shore.

 

Next up – Our Final Day at Sea and a Bridge Tour.

[cruisincha]

Awesome review of one of my favorite ships!

 

Last spring, we were on the repositioning from Panama to Ft. Lauderdale and were going to B2B to Cozumel. Hubby got the flu so bad on day one of the cruise, we got off in Ft. Lauderdale, as I was also feeling awful. We had the bar hop booked for Cozumel, and they were gracious enough to refund all of our money, which was great, as we lost the money for the second leg cruise. I know - travel insurance!! ANYWAY, my point is that I haven't seen much about the bar hop, but now realize exactly what we missed. It looked like you all had a wonderful time, and we'll be sure to book it the next time we're in Cozumel.

 

Thanks for the great pix and review.

[abhb]

What is the difference between Suite dinner menu and MDR menu?

[WinksCruises]

What is the difference between Suite dinner menu and MDR menu?

Good question. The answer though is nothing. Suite Guests simply get a copy of the MDR menu in their stateroom each day, should they want to exercise the option of dining in. They can order off it - in addition to the standard room service menu.

[WinksCruises]

Not sure why the flag is being flown upside down.... the pirate in me doesn't ask such questions!

 

I realize the Cozumel Bar Hop post above was a little photo heavy on the participants and light on the beautiful scenics, so here are a couple of beach shots from the day.

 

And then the Cruise Compass and MDR menu.

 

The wonderfully wild and refreshingly undeveloped East coast beaches of Cozumel

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay... okay... almost ready to wrap this monstrosity up.

 

Next: Sea Day and Bridge Tour followed by final thoughts.

Edited February 5, 2015 by WinksCruises

[Rwwebber4]

Noooo i dont want it to end. I am enjoying your review. Sailing on Vision in 30 days!!!

 

 

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[luv2cruiserccl]

Noooo i dont want it to end. I am enjoying your review. Sailing on Vision in 30 days!!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Please come join the roll call for your cruise

 

send from my phone please excuse any typo's

[IrishLassie]

LOVING your review! :D

 

One question about the "Bar Hop", did you book that through the ship or on your own & may I ask the cost PP?

 

All your pictures are beautiful & since we live about 30 min. from Tampa, we may give Vision a try!

Thanks for posting. :)

[CptSticky]

Thanks for the review. I enjoyed seeing who won the bottle of champagne after I told them to re-draw for it. Our table was afraid of being lynched after winning almost everything at the M&M:p