Amanda1928

Cozumel, Mexico

We did an excursion booked through Carnival that included an air conditioned bus tour of the island, walking tour of the ruins at San Gervasio, and a stop at a beach on the Caribbean side of the island- beautiful but no swimming because of rough water and rocky shore line. Our guide, Dante, was very informative and fun! While we really enjoyed it, next time I might try taking a taxi to the ruins in order to spend more time or seek out a beach day where we could swim.

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Chose a day to stay on the ship and enjoy the amenities being less crowded.

George Town, Grand Cayman

We had an excellent experience in Grand Cayman! We had scheduled an excursion through Carnival to go snorkeling, and it was canceled because of lightning. They refunded our money- so kudos for doing the right thing and prioritizing safety! We decided to hop on a $20 bus tour independent of Carnival. Our guide, Martin, was excellent and as customer service and safety oriented as I would have expected of an excursion booked through Carnival. Most of the stops were at shopping outlets like Tortuga Rum, but we did get some good history on the island as we rode around. In spite of the weather, we saw how beautiful the island is, and hope to go back for a shot at better weather and snorkeling.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Stayed outside of New Orleans the night before the cruise and drove in day of.

Carnival Dream

It looks like the spa suites would be the way to go if you can afford it because your fare would include access to the specialty spa amenities. If you're trying to stay on budget like us, don't forget that you can utilize the fitness locker room and it's steam room for free.