We are a couple in our early sixties and this was our 23rd cruise. Our 4th on Carnival. My husband and I flew from Nashville, TN to San Juan, PR on the day of the cruise. We arrived around Noon. We easily got our luggage and proceeded to the taxi area. Our taxi cost $24.00 plus tip. Check-in was very easy and fast. After lunch, we were able to go to our room and take a much needed nap. While this ship is not new, I really liked the room. We had an inside room. There were drawers (on some of the new ships there are none), two hanging closets and a closet of shelves. Very good storage! Also, the shower was a good size and there was room on both sides of the bed. All bedding was comfortable. The ship was not extremely elegant but suited our needs just fine. They had the regular activities going on. The service was excellent everywhere we went. No complaints. We ate most of our meals in the regular dining room --breakfast and dinner. The hamburgers (no cost) were EXCELLENT! Also, the pizza was good. However, we did not care for the fish and chips but others thought they were good. Carnival has a brunch on sea days which I love --don't have to get up early to enjoy dining room service for a late breakfast. Our children are grown but we saw children having a good time. The shows were better than average. The comedians really were not that good--seems they think as long as they talk dirty,then it should be funny. They are still doing the karaoke legends same for 9 years. We did not like how they handled it on this ship!!. Really no competetion for the parts, the girl just gave the parts to anyone who wanted it. This does need improvement. Because we know the ports, we plan our own activities. We did not go to any enrichment activities nor did we go to the fitness center.
In St. Thomas we went by taxi to Megan's Bay cost $20.00pp ($16.00 RT plus $4.00 entrance fee). In Barbados we rode the city bus to Speilgton. In St. Lucia, we hired a private taxi cab driver and went to a banana plantation and a rum distillery. In St. Kitts, we went to Royal Palm Gardens and enjoyed the day at an infinite pool -very nice! You can take a taxi or walk -$11.00pp for a chair and umbrella. In St. Martin, we rode the water taxi ($7.00pp) to town and rented two chairs, umbrella, & five drinks for $25.00. Disembarkation was very easy, we just walked off. Overall a very nice cruise!
Cabin was great. More room than on most ships. Plenty of storage.
Megan's Bay - It cost $20.00 pp to go --that includes taxi and entrance fee. Very beautiful beach!! There are tables and benches you can use--along with a bar restaurant.
Because we had taken a tour on another cruise, we wanted to see a banana plantation. We hired a taxi cab driver to take us to one, then we continued to the rum disterillery. Two hours cost us $60.00. We did enjoy it!!
My favorite island. We just took the water taxi ($7.00pp) to town, you can rent two chairs and an umbrella for $15.00 or enjoy 5 drinks for an additional $10.00. (rum punch/beer) Shopping is good at this port. Just go to the second street to shop from the locals.
We took a taxi to Royal Palms Gardens. Taxi ride was $3.00pp to go and $5.00pp to come back!!!. Really it is about a 20 minute walk and would be easy to do. The entrance fee with a chair and umbrella is $11.00pp. We enjoyed the pool, hot tub, and just relaxing. Also, the Pina Colada's were excellent!! $10.00 but much better than the ships.
San Juan is beautiful!! Be sure to see the old city, capitol building, and go to Bicardi's Rum Factory. There is now a good walk area around the cruise terminal.
We walked out of the port area and caught a bus to Speilton. At Holetown, just behind the city center there is a beach bar/restaurant called Surfside. We had very good "flying fish". You can also rent chairs and umbrellas there.