adriennecruises
Cruise Director
Milburn Oklahoma
Joined 05/2016
13
Cruises4
Reviews126
Helpful VotesI am curator of Collections at a cultural center. I work mostly behind the scenes. I started my cruising in 2013 to celebrate my mother's retirement and my divorce. We loved it. I always wanted to go on one but thought it was to costly turns out it not. This is how we travel now. I am addicted to all things cruising. Everytime someone suggested a land trip I am like mmm how can I squeeze a cruise in. Currently we take about one year. Goal is two year.
Upcoming cruises
Past cruises
August 2023 - 7 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Vista
November 2022 - 7 Night Hawaii (Honolulu Roundtrip) Cruise on Pride of America
August 2022 - 5 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Breeze
May 2022 - 7 Night Greek Isles Patmos & Israel (Athens Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Jade
December 2021 - 8 Night Eastern Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Dream
December 2019 - 9 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Getaway
December 2018 - 7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Miami Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Bliss
May 2018 - 5 Night Western Caribbean (Galveston Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Valor
This was my first cruise with Carnival. I was not 100% happy with it.
Cons.
1. Very disorganized when it come to letting people off on the ports. It took 1hr or longer to get off in Cozumel. And Progresso was almost as bad.
2. The buffet was more like a cafeteria different selection each night no variety. People were severing you were not at the station had to wait. They did not in force the no pool wear rule. Never saw so many half nake people. Didn't enjoy seeing that while I was eating. Hair may fall where it should not fall from.
3. It did not flow well on sea days. Far as some areas.
4. Entertainment was lacking.
5. She showing her age able to see rust and chip tiles. Other ship I have been on that was almost as old as her was very well maintain.
6. The photo shop needs to come into the digital age stop wasting so many pages of photo paper. Tip: Use people room numbers when taking the photo and when they login into the system. Just so waste full. They say they are going green. Go green with digital.
7. To many smoking areas. That you have to walk through. They need to be contain or more visional marked.
8. The Muster drill they put you on hot area and show you what to do but if you are not standing close to the center where they are demstartion it you can see nothing. They need more people demstartion or divide people up more.
9. The way they bill I am used to the cruise line billing all the onboard chargers at once on the disembarkation day. They did not do this. It was very confusing how they billed.
Pros.
1. Like the lay out of the cabin. I was able to set on the bed see out the window. It had a couch and chair which I liked. It felt bigger than the other ship I had been on.
2. The staff was friendly. The room steward was amazing. He always give ice without me having to ask. He even give extra pillows for me because I hurt my leg it need elevated. The other staff was just as helpful. Even the buffet staff when you could fine one.
3. The price was good, they didn't try to up charge lot of items like some cruise lines do.
4. Like it that I could put an X about of money on my newphe sign and sail card not have to worry that he would go over have hundreds of dollars chargers in the arcade. Once he used up the amount he was done.
5. They try to make up for what was lacking in having something to fun to do on sea days. Lots of little fun actitives.
6. Faster to the fun. Is worth it if you want to get on board early and off early. However it did not work on ports at least on this sailing. I like it that I got on early could start enjoying the ship.
7. They have a self serves laundry room which came in handle when we got wet because of the rain in Progresso. The price was not to bad.
8. Was able to fine a deck chair when I went to set out.
Would I sail Carnival Valor again probably not to much stuff I didn't like. Would I sail with Carnival again probably, but on a different ship.
Another thing that might not cause me to enjoy the cruise is I hurt my leg and had to have it up. Could not walk to good. Had to stay in the cabin more than I normally do. Thier was few other factors as well that might not cause me to enjoy the cruise. Such as the people.
August 2016 - 7 Night Alaska Sawyer Glacier (Seattle Roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Jewel
First Alaskian Cruise... Amazing
It was wonderful cruise. Was distpointed that we didn't get to see Skaway. Other than that it was great. Lot of fog. We was Dawes glacier not Tracy arm, but it was still beautiful. If I do Alaskan cruise again I will spring for an balcony.
December 2013 - 7 Night Western Caribbean (New Orleans roundtrip) Cruise on Norwegian Jewel
Late Jewel Review
this review is kind of late but just discovered that it is good to write one. This was my first cruise. My mother and I went on this cruise. It was wonderful. The staff was amazing. I booked though cheap cruise. Got pretty good deal. The entertainment was great. Loved watching the people dance. The food was a amazing. Loved chocolate night. We did the behind the scene tour that was good. The watermelon carving was great. I feel in love with cruising on this ship.
Carnival Valor
Sail date: May 05, 2018
For some reason it will not let me rate the ports of call which were wonderful. The crew that organized getting off on ports need more organization. When we dock in Cozumel it took us 1 hour or longer to get off the ship because everything was so disorganized. They called people with shore excursions first. But people didn't listen got in line anyway. The crew did not direct them to another area. It was just other chaos. Progresso was a little better but still 30 minutes late getting off because of the disorganization. Which with the long tour I book caused issues.
I did love the lay out of the room. You could lay on the bed look look out. This was great since I hurt my foot. Did not get to enjoy the second sea day to good.
Faster to the fun is only worth it if you want to get on early and disemarkation fast. Otherwise it does not help you getting off on ports. At least that was my experience.
Over all it was okay cruise. This was my first Carnival cruise. I probably would try another cruise with Carnival but I would not sail on the Valor again to many things I did not like.
It was nice short get away that need to be longer.
Norwegian Jewel
Sail date: December 01, 2013
this review is kind of late but just discovered that it is good to write one. This was my first cruise. My mother and I went on this cruise. It was wonderful. The staff was amazing. I booked though cheap cruise. Got pretty good deal. The entertainment was great. Loved watching the people dance. The food was a amazing. Loved chocolate night. We did the behind the scene tour that was good. The watermelon carving was great. I feel in love with cruising on this ship.
Norwegian Jewel
Sail date: August 06, 2016
First Alaskian Cruise... Amazing
It was wonderful cruise. Was distpointed that we didn't get to see Skaway. Other than that it was great. Lot of fog. We was Dawes glacier not Tracy arm, but it was still beautiful. If I do Alaskan cruise again I will spring for an balcony.
Carnival Valor
Sail date: May 19, 2018
This was my first cruise with Carnival. I was not 100% happy with it.
Cons.
1. Very disorganized when it come to letting people off on the ports. It took 1hr or longer to get off in Cozumel. And Progresso was almost as bad.
2. The buffet was more like a cafeteria different selection each night no variety. People were severing you were not at the station had to wait. They did not in force the no pool wear rule. Never saw so many half nake people. Didn't enjoy seeing that while I was eating. Hair may fall where it should not fall from.
3. It did not flow well on sea days. Far as some areas.
4. Entertainment was lacking.
5. She showing her age able to see rust and chip tiles. Other ship I have been on that was almost as old as her was very well maintain.
6. The photo shop needs to come into the digital age stop wasting so many pages of photo paper. Tip: Use people room numbers when taking the photo and when they login into the system. Just so waste full. They say they are going green. Go green with digital.
7. To many smoking areas. That you have to walk through. They need to be contain or more visional marked.
8. The Muster drill they put you on hot area and show you what to do but if you are not standing close to the center where they are demstartion it you can see nothing. They need more people demstartion or divide people up more.
9. The way they bill I am used to the cruise line billing all the onboard chargers at once on the disembarkation day. They did not do this. It was very confusing how they billed.
Pros.
1. Like the lay out of the cabin. I was able to set on the bed see out the window. It had a couch and chair which I liked. It felt bigger than the other ship I had been on.
2. The staff was friendly. The room steward was amazing. He always give ice without me having to ask. He even give extra pillows for me because I hurt my leg it need elevated. The other staff was just as helpful. Even the buffet staff when you could fine one.
3. The price was good, they didn't try to up charge lot of items like some cruise lines do.
4. Like it that I could put an X about of money on my newphe sign and sail card not have to worry that he would go over have hundreds of dollars chargers in the arcade. Once he used up the amount he was done.
5. They try to make up for what was lacking in having something to fun to do on sea days. Lots of little fun actitives.
6. Faster to the fun. Is worth it if you want to get on board early and off early. However it did not work on ports at least on this sailing. I like it that I got on early could start enjoying the ship.
7. They have a self serves laundry room which came in handle when we got wet because of the rain in Progresso. The price was not to bad.
8. Was able to fine a deck chair when I went to set out.
Would I sail Carnival Valor again probably not to much stuff I didn't like. Would I sail with Carnival again probably, but on a different ship.
Another thing that might not cause me to enjoy the cruise is I hurt my leg and had to have it up. Could not walk to good. Had to stay in the cabin more than I normally do. Thier was few other factors as well that might not cause me to enjoy the cruise. Such as the people.
Cruise tips
It was great need to allow more time here. The Crawfish boil was great. At Beneo on the beach I thank that was the name of the place.
This was my first time in this port. I did the Mayan ruins Chichen Itza tour, the bus ride was long and the stop for bathroom break was like a sale pitch for Carlos friends that were sale items there. We wasted 25 minutes because people didn't listen get back on bus in time. Than when we got to Chitzen Itza it took 10 minutes to get everyone together before going in. The guide was very informative and knowledgble. However we were told we would have 1hour on own to look around but we only had 30 minutes, because we were late. Than it started to rain which can happen. Over all it was little dispointing because was hoping for the hour on my own to look at the ruins and take pictures. Just be prepared that your time can be shorten.
I love Cozumel wonderfull. I did snorkel and lunch. The guide was not very patient rushed. Also didn't tell people the tour was leaving. I thank this is due to fact that it took so long to get off in Cozumel. It took over 1 hour to get off in port due to disorganization of the ship crew.
Carnival Valor
Be prepared to wait in the buffet and manage your time around your meals.
We walked around the port. It was completely walkable. We found a place where you could rent a electric car. We rented two of them because thier was 5 of us it only held 4. We drove all over the town. Stopped watch the float planes take off and land. After turning in the car we went eat Alaskan crab. Than looked at some shops. It was than time to get back on board.
We did a whale Excursion through the ship. It was for 3 hours we were able to see Humback whales, Kill whales and Seal lions. Could not get to close because of the side of the boat. Next time I do one with smaller boat to get closer. Great view of the ship. After our excursion we started walked to town but it was long ways, we found a bus got on it into town. All we had time to do was walk around and go in few shops. Saw the Empress Palace. Next time I want to see the town more.
We flew into Seattle two days before the ship was to leave. We rear arrived around 4 local time. We checked into our hotel. Rested and went for a walk and stopped at Thai restaurant and took the food back to the hotel. The next day we took the train to Pikes Marketplace we walked around, my sister in law, my mother and nephew rode the Great Wheel. We than walked to the the Space Needle your we had already booked a tour. We eat at restaurant that was near the needle. We didn't eat at the restaurant that is at the needle. We than took the the monorail back to where the train was and back to the hotel.
The ship had propulsion issues so we did not get to visit this port. NCL did refund is a port day.
We did the Mendenhall Glacier tour through the ship. The drive to it was great we saw lot of Bald eagles. We walked to the glacier and saw the falls. Need more time had to walk kind of fast to get back to the bus. Also the bathrooms were not clean. Than we did the mount Roberts tram. The view was amazing. Once the fog lefted. We walked a short trail on our own hoped to see a bear but we didn't. The guy in the shop was making a totem pole which was cool to watch. We than took the tram back down. It was time to get back on the ship.
Norwegian Jewel
If you go the wrong way you still end up at your room because you are just taking the long way. Always take advantage of the outside pool party, they have kinds of food. It is mid-size ship so everything wad easy to to navigate.
Do a short tour and still have time to shop
Take the tax get to see more
The rum tour is long. That's all you get to see.
Norwegian Jewel
On chocolate get there early so you can get a set. Try other restaurant not just the buffet.