By: Bob and Wendy
Bob7@canoemail.com
This was our seventh cruise, the second with CCL, departing March 14, 04. The itinerary was San Juan, St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, Aruba, San Juan. Our TA at Cruise Magic called CCL and got us an immediate upgrade to a guarantee 4A inside at a 1A price of $555 all-incl, and on arrival we got another free upgrade to 6A outside on the Riviera deck.
EMBARKATION
We flew in about 5pm, and airport to cabin took a little over an hour, very slick, no line longer than a couple minutes. A taxi dispatcher at the a/p curb gets you a cab and gives you a paper stating the cost of the trip to avoid “misunderstandings” between passengers and drivers ($16 plus 50 cents per bag, tip not included). Others arrived about 1pm, previously the worst time for embarking with 2 hour lines, and said they pretty much walked on the ship, no lines. And others arriving mid-afternoon got on quickly. The people who arrived at 7pm had to waited the longest of any we talked to, about an hour.
THE CABIN
Our 6A outside Riviera deck cabin was great, long vanity counter and mirrors, free safe using any magnetic strip card like a drivers license, 4 foot square window, king bed, large sofa, chair, table, tons of storage space, 2 outlets on the counter, ice and pop machines down the hall. People with thick hair will likely want to bring their own hair dryer, the cabin one will take you forever. Don’t trust the telephone wake-up call system, it failed for us as well as our friends. Soap and shampoo in the shower, adjustable shower height, slow drain, we were standing in water at the end (foot bath?). Nice bag of toiletries and thick robes. You can view your account and book tours on the TV (press Menu).
THE SHIP
We thought the ship was lovely, any signs of wear were very minor. We really liked the Sun and Sea lido buffet, it seemed classier and less noisy than the ones on other ships, perhaps because there were no clattery trays, and it has an upper level away from the crowds where you can always get a window seat because most people probably won’t or can’t climb the stairs holding food. A lovely peaceful place to eat.
The Happy Valley always had an interesting Oriental dish or 2, and the NY Deli made great sandwiches with all the fixings, pastrami, corned beef, etc. Great 24 hour pizza just out the back of the Sun & Sea, about 8 choices. Ice cream and frozen yogurt cones near the pool by the drink machine on the port side.
As on all our other cruises deck loungers near the pools go fast on sea days, and everyone breaks the rule and saves them, so you might as well too. Here’s a tip if you want to be near the pool to hear the music and also need some shade like we do (it’s very hot). First, there is shade at the pool level on either side of the deck, but these areas are full of tables and chairs. But there is an overhang on deck 10 above the pool behind the band, where you can move your lounger in and out of the sun. There is also shade for about 4 chairs under the radar globes (?) on the small deck where you walk up the stairs to the water slide. If you get out to these places by about 7:30 you’ll probably find empty chairs. If you don’t check on them frequently your loungers could get pushed around by other people jockeying for positions (as happened to our deckmates) and you’ll find your chairs pushed way out in the sun or back against the wall. Pool chairs in full sun are available until about 8:30. If you don’t need to be near the pool there are lots of chairs in other places.
The dining rooms were lovely, food and service great, got the wrong dinner time and table size, but the maitre d’ fixed it. Take your camera to dinner, lots of “waiter” shows, even a Backstreet Boys show, quiet a riot. Entertainment was good, floor shows, comedians, a magician.
Nice rubberized jogging track, nice gym, 3 or 4 ellipticals, maybe 10 treadmills, about the same bikes, several strengthening machines, free weights, no pulleys, surround windows, lovely change rooms, lockers, showers (no shampoo here (?). You walk through the spa to get to the gym.
PORTS
One general tip about ports, have lots of small bills, you always need them so you have the correct amount for cabs, tips, snacks, buying small things. Getting change is often a hassle. Take about $40 in ones, lots of fives, and a few tens. Twenties are only good for paying for large things like private tours. Most vendors, even little market vendors will take travellers cheques, but often can’t make change for 20's. The ship will cash your traveler’s cheques, and fortunately had lots of 1's and 5's when we ran out.
ST. THOMAS
Port side cabins view the bay and hills, starboard ones view the port. This was our second time in St. Thomas, and for the morning my wife shopped the Havensight stores at the dock while I found a good internet place to find out if our kids had wrecked the house yet.
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