Bizzybee's 5 day Splendor Grand Turk and Amber Cove Review May 21- May 26, 2016

[bizzybee902]

There was a slight overcast but there was nothing to be worried about. I took a picture of this guy because of his Baltimore Orioles hat. He said Polanco was his son. One of the guys on the bus googled Polanco and he is a player. I don't know if he was joking because I was a tourist or what. If this guy is his father someone tell him to send his dad a new hat.

 

 

We had some late arrivals and left at 9:30am. There were about twenty people on our bus. and a group of five went to the 27 Waterfalls. You have to be in good physical shape for 27, especially for the cruise since time is limited.

This is Raul one of the tour guides. He was very funny. Raul mentioned that our driver was Shaggy and he just got his liscense, not funny (once again I think these were just tourist jokes).

 

 

Alex is behind Raul and he is promoting the Mamajuana liquor. Not to be confused with Marijuana. This was our prize if we finished the waterfalls, lol.

Two for the team!

 

 

Can you tell that I was nervous? Did I mention that I am afraid of heights? I was just breaking barriers, lol!

 

 

Here's a picture of a healthy calf running. I never knew cows could run. Maybe they don't run in America.

 

 

I imagine this was momma cow screaming "I told you to stop chasing those buses. You better sit down before you get hit by one!"

 

[bizzybee902]

Unfortunately, I do not have pictures of the waterfalls themselves. You can look on Iguana Mama fb page to view some. My camera was not waterproof so I left it on the bus. We arrived at the camp grounds and changed into our water clothes. All other items are locked on the bus. They have water shoes for $1. I wore an old pair of running shoes and tossed them out when I got home (They didn't dry and molded). These turned out better because it really was a 50 minute hike to the first waterfall. From the layout it appears several tour companies use the location. We were fitted for helmets and life vests and were on our way. This nice girl held my hand (don't judge me) because there is a rope bridge over a river that you cross in the beginning (yes, I am afraid of bridges and tunnels). She was so sweet. LOL. We took possibly six breaks; one break every ten minutes. It was cloudy, but humid. I believe the temperature was about 85 degrees (F).

 

You have the option to slide or jump on each waterfall. My goal was to just slide. If you slide you have to cross your arms, but after the first gallon of water I inhaled Arido let me hold my nose. There was a group of three ladies and two young girls (about 8yrs old and 10yrs old). I slid with the girls and everyone else jumped. One of the ladies was the very last to go and was scared. Naturally, Arido grabbed her life vest and jumped because we had to go, lol. The water was cold and refreshing. There was a slight trial between the waterfalls so if you can spare $10 for some Walmart sneakers and toss them after, I would. I completed 10 slides and 1 jump. That's 11 right? Well this girl chickened out on one of the slides and climbed down a ladder. It was like a rollercoaster and you were airborne for at least three feet before hitting the water. At that point another group had caught up to us and their tour guide (Cecilio) thought it was funny to grab my vest and push me. Of course I let him have it and he apologized "I sorry, I didn't know you were chicken!". Some apology right.

 

The waterfall I jumped off of.

 

 

*Courtesy of Iguana Mama fb page*

 

There was about a 20 minute hike back to the camp grounds. Food and liquor was included in the price. The food was fantastic. It made me miss New York so bad. I have yet to find a good spanish restaurant in Baltimore.

 

Arido and I. (Don't judge the outfit I was rushing remember!I had to fully cover to protect from the ZIKA so I grabbed anything!)

 

 

Eddy, Arido, Me, and Alex. Best tour guides ever!

 

 

"Cows, we got Cows!!!". Name that movie, lol. It's in my top ten favorites.

 

 

Life vests and helmets.

 

 

Lunch Area.

 

[bizzybee902]

Can we have a moment of silence for this authentic Dominican cuisine? Sheesh, I can still taste it. Hell, I can still taste the alcohol. Be careful with that stuff. I think they try to get you drunk so you can spend money at the shops. JK. In my mind I'm a former now current member of Overeaters Anonymous (food lovers unite!). I workout so I can eat extras. As some of you know I also belong to the Diabetes Mellitus Club (exclusive membership only). You may have heard Southern Black folks refer to it as "The Sugar". So naturally anytime I say "My blood sugar low" I get to eat extras, lol. Shoutout to the struggling diabetics. Ya'll wouldn't believe how slim I was before the insulin, lol.

 

 

We hoped in the bus and stopped at a local souvenir shop and cigar place. We saw a demonstration of how cigars are made and then we headed back to port. On the way back the bus drove us inside the port (that would be one hell of a pier run).

 

 

Drying leaves.

 

 

Tobacco Plants.

 

 

 

So they kept talking about this drink called the Mamajuana. I thought that was the stuff in the big bottles. Nope. The Mamajuana is an aphrodisiac. Basically, it's red wine infused with wood from the native land that is supposed to give men extended arousal. So in my head I was thinking "Should I tell him I just got baptised? I don't think this if for me!" So the associate was really trying to push the sale even after I told him I don't have nobody to give it to and he gone say "Bring some home for your Dad." I politely said no thank you. However, in my head it went something like this "The devil is a damn lie and I will not ask my father about any arousal issues he may or may not be having. In their eyes I am still a child and I will stay in a child's place. You done lost your damn mind if you think I'm gonna bring my daddy an aphrodisiac back. He gone enjoy the generic tourist gifts like a t-shirt, mug, or refrigerator magnet.Wit yo nasty a$$ mind." They ain't (yes, ain't) right. LOL.

 

[bizzybee902]

This was the best excursion ever. I really enjoyed myself. It is a great workout, family fun, amazing food, and free drinks (free drinks at the end. Imagine some of ya'll career drinkers jumping off the waterfalls drunk). They do offer photos and video of the entire excursion for $45. Arido and the crew were really great and no one was injured. It was good to see two young girls make it through. They payed special attention to everyone. Please listen to the tour guides. If they say walk on the cliff, do so. They have been through the falls many times and know where to walk safely. I will be back to Amber Cove, and I promise if I am in good physical shape I will be doing all 27 waterfalls!

 

Here are some photos walking back to the ship. I believe we arrived around 2:30 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

There's a storm brewing!

 

 

I spot a whale tail! Don't judge my untamed brows. I didn't think it would last through all twelve waterfalls. The only thing worse than no brows is a smudged brow. LOL.

 

Edited June 20, 2016 by bizzybee902

[bizzybee902]

Let me tell you. If I was home I woulda had all the lights out; this storm was coming with a vengeance.

 

 

Fathom Adonia was with us. They were there the entire week. The could only book Iguana Mama on Thursdays I believe.

 

 

I was back on ship before the storm hit. Apparently it was pretty bad before everyone was onboard. So bad that they were handing out warm towels.

 

 

Fun Times (Oops, lol). Next up is dinner and Quest!!!

 

 

 

[gotscrapz]

I am so loving your review:D

Thank you so much for all of the info and pics you have provided. I sail this itinerary with my 13 year old dd August 6 :D

 

Also booked Iguana Mama - the midway tour that you did, thinking it was probably a good compromise for us since it;s going to be so hit and humid and a lot of hiking. So glad you loved it - we are excited!

I think I am going to just buy their picture/video package so I don't have to hassle with it. Did you see the pics they took? Were they good?

Also thinking of an inexspensive waterproof camera....

 

Oh and your eyebrows were fine girl;)

[bizzybee902]

I am so loving your review:D

Thank you so much for all of the info and pics you have provided. I sail this itinerary with my 13 year old dd August 6 :D

 

Also booked Iguana Mama - the midway tour that you did, thinking it was probably a good compromise for us since it;s going to be so hit and humid and a lot of hiking. So glad you loved it - we are excited!

I think I am going to just buy their picture/video package so I don't have to hassle with it. Did you see the pics they took? Were they good?

Also thinking of an inexspensive waterproof camera....

 

Oh and your eyebrows were fine girl;)

 

Thanks so much. You will enjoy it. I would probably bring a disposable waterproof camera next time. I took lots of pictures with their camera, but I didn't take the time to view the preview. Another couple said they would email me the photos, but I never received them. I was happy to enjoy the falls instead of taking pics. I took several pics for other people. Just depends on what you'd prefer. $45 was a bit expensive for me.

 

The hike up was hard. I drank my whole bottle of water they provided. I might have even called on the Lord. Its not for out of shap people. I do about 20 miles per week walk/run and I still struggled.

 

Eyebrows vs. Zika protection. Zika won, lol.

[Bamamom1916]

Enjoyed your review! Are there any public beaches in Amber Cove? What is there to do there without booking an excursion?

[bizzybee902]

Enjoyed your review! Are there any public beaches in Amber Cove? What is there to do there without booking an excursion?

 

One of my dinner mates mentioned that there was a free pool. She said that they were behind the cabanas. There is a beach that is 20 minutes in a cab, but it's not pretty and the cabs are expensive. My other dinner mates decided to do the waterfalls at the last moment and paid $90 for a cab ($30 per person) and still paid $70 for the waterfalls. Punta Cana has better beaches than Puerto Plata (Amber Cove area). I would plan an excursion or a chill day by the pool. Outside vendors are not in the port so it would be difficult to find last minute tours.

[Buckett]

Thanks for your review! I enjoyed it for several reasons. Splendor was the first Carnival ship my niece sailed on with me, back in 2012. It remains her favorite Carnival ship although I think in March 2017 when we sail the Vista she might change her mind haha. So your pictures reminded me of the fun we had on that ship.

 

Also, I have a cruise booked for January 2018 (I like to plan ahead, can you tell?) and one of the stops is Amber Cove. I haven't been finding much while doing my research. Your review and pix of Iguana Mama sound exactly like what my bf and I would like to do! I went to the website and saw they also have a Puerto Plata highlights tour, and that sounds interesting too.

 

And Grand Turk! Went there for the first time this past January and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to get back there again!

 

Thanks again for the review and pix!! :D

[cruzkitty]

Girl-this is a great review! I have really enjoyed your pictures. Looking forward to visiting Amber Cove next year on the Vista!

[sjbrown01]

Thanks for your review. I'm on Splendor in 18 days!!:D

Edited June 21, 2016 by sjbrown01

[Love2Cruz2015]

Great review and Pics!

[mikechass]

Thanks for the review.

Looks like a nice trip! I appreciate all the pictures.

We are heading to these same ports in the spring.

Thanks again

Chass

[DKane]

Really enjoyed your review w/pictures. Boarding on Sunday for a B2B. Thanks.

[bizzybee902]

Thanks for your review! I enjoyed it for several reasons. Splendor was the first Carnival ship my niece sailed on with me, back in 2012. It remains her favorite Carnival ship although I think in March 2017 when we sail the Vista she might change her mind haha. So your pictures reminded me of the fun we had on that ship.

 

Also, I have a cruise booked for January 2018 (I like to plan ahead, can you tell?) and one of the stops is Amber Cove. I haven't been finding much while doing my research. Your review and pix of Iguana Mama sound exactly like what my bf and I would like to do! I went to the website and saw they also have a Puerto Plata highlights tour, and that sounds interesting too.

 

And Grand Turk! Went there for the first time this past January and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to get back there again!

 

Thanks again for the review and pix!! :D

 

Thank you for reading. If you book with Iguana Mama I am sure they will take care of you! I also agree that nothing will compare to the Vista!

[bizzybee902]

Girl-this is a great review! I have really enjoyed your pictures. Looking forward to visiting Amber Cove next year on the Vista!

 

Thanks for reading!

 

Thanks for your review. I'm on Splendor in 18 days!!:D

 

You will have loads of fun!!

[bizzybee902]

Thanks for the review.

Looks like a nice trip! I appreciate all the pictures.

We are heading to these same ports in the spring.

Thanks again

Chass

 

Thanks for reading. I think these ports go really great together. One beach day port and one excursion port.

 

Really enjoyed your review w/pictures. Boarding on Sunday for a B2B. Thanks.

 

Thanks for reading. You have plenty of time to explore! One day I hope to do a B2B!

[bizzybee902]

Dinner Time!

 

 

 

Potato Cream Soup. Delicious.

 

 

Assorted Seafood, Newburg Style

 

 

I was craving Beef Stroganoff before the cruise so I had to get this. Delicious. I couldn't eat it all and I definitely wanted to eat my dessert tonight since I waited three cruises for this dessert.

 

 

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Bitter & Blanc. Am I the only one that thinks about the food they wished they'd finished on a cruise? Lord knows I wish I would have finished it!

 

[bizzybee902]

Bae was waiting for me again. I selected evening service only. I tend to nap a lot and I am not an early riser. I would have had to make an effort to get out of bed for morning service.

 

 

I headed to the Love and Marriage show and ran into the W's. They didn't have the best time in Amber Cove because of the lack of choices when you get off the ship. The elderly couple (left) was the best. I want to say the husband's name was Phil and he had all the best answers. The middle couple was not as funny, but the husband had the nerve to talk about his wife's ugly shoe collection when he had oddly long toes! WTH! Chloe made him take off his shoes and he did have long toes. The couple to the right was your typical newlywed; husband hated the mother-in-law.

 

 

 

I headed up to Quest, but there was a Grown Up Game show going on.It wasn't Quest but it was too packed to see the stage and watch. I went to Lido to grab a burger from Off the Grill (so addictive) and Jurassic World was on the big screen.

 

 

I headed back down to deck 5 and the game show was still going on. I grabbed a drink and listened to Roddy play in the Piano bar.

 

 

[bizzybee902]

Quest! Its an adult scavenger hunt. We hunted for everything from tattoos, piercings, favorite sex moves (Speedo Guy clearly likes wifey to do all the work :eek:), and undergarments. I missed the beginning when the numbers were handed out, but there were over twenty groups. When Chloe called the item, the leader had to run up with the item including people! Several bald men were used multiple times, lol. Sorry for the blur, everyone was running around, lol.

 

The judges were thoroughly confused and were almost trampled a few times.

 

 

 

 

The lounge was very full!

 

 

The final event required a man to dress as a woman and strut his stuff! #3 was very shy, lol.

 

 

Shoutout to #5 for that gaze! He clearly came to slay! I was helping group #12.

 

[bizzybee902]

If these girls could talk:

 

#1: "I'm #1 and I am front and center!"

#22: "Girl, you better back up!"

#13: "I think my bra is too small."

#3: "Girl its ok my bra is too big!"

#14: " Can ya'll walk so I can go!"

 

 

And the best bra fit goes to #6! (he is between #22 and #14). Look at that smile! I had the time of my life. The best part of the night was a bald-headed birthday boy getting kisses on his head with bright lipstick from the girls. It was even more hilarious when the men ran up and did it too, lol. He won champagne for participating! If you have a cruise director willing to host Quest, please go. It is not available on every ship. A group did win a free bottle of champagne and a ship on the stick.

 

 

Ok, guys. Stay Tuned for our last Sea Day and a tour of the ship!!!

[splash_in_the_water]

great review!!! looks like so much fun and i'm liking the menus. ughh, just mad we don't have a cruise booked right now :(

[mgm3430]

Awesome trip review!!!

[alliemom39]

Thank you for a great review. I will be on board the Splendor on July 2nd (different itinerary) for 8 days. Thank you for some great pictures of the ship. :)