June 2019 - 7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Breeze
chdoctor
Purser
Virginia
Joined 07/2017
6
Cruises1
Review24
Helpful VotesPast cruises
August 2018 - 7 Night Eastern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Magic
Great Ship, Good Excursions
We're tight on our cruise budget, but we try to go once a year to unwind, so when we cruise, we choose whatever relaxes us most. Sometimes it's just a mid-afternoon nap in the cabin or a Serenity deck hammock. We get the spa package on the ship because it's the place I unwind best. A whirlpool, heated lounge chairs, and steam rooms let me unwind wonderfully. The food's always great and in small enough portions (except the buffet ;), so we come home heavier than when we arrived but filled with many great meals. My favorite excursions involve snorkeling or history, and there are plenty of each to be had.
January 2018 - 7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Magic
July 2016 - 8 Night Southern Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Valor
June 2015 - 7 Night Western Caribbean (Port Canaveral Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Valor
June 2014 - 7 Night Exotic Western Caribbean (Tampa Roundtrip) Cruise on Carnival Legend
Carnival Magic
Sail date: August 04, 2018
We're tight on our cruise budget, but we try to go once a year to unwind, so when we cruise, we choose whatever relaxes us most. Sometimes it's just a mid-afternoon nap in the cabin or a Serenity deck hammock. We get the spa package on the ship because it's the place I unwind best. A whirlpool, heated lounge chairs, and steam rooms let me unwind wonderfully. The food's always great and in small enough portions (except the buffet ;), so we come home heavier than when we arrived but filled with many great meals. My favorite excursions involve snorkeling or history, and there are plenty of each to be had.
Cruise tips
Amber Cove (Puerto Plata), Dominican Republic
We didn't buy an excursion, so we missed out on a few trips we heard from others that were good. We just hung out at the free pool. It was clean and relaxing--no high sales pressure like at the other ports. The cruise pool at Amber Cove was a nice place to take in some rays, but if you're wanting to do more than chill in the sun, look into an excursion.
This is another island that thrives on cruise ships porting for several hours. The beach to the left is big but crowded with constant vendors and renters looking to sell/rent you something. If you go to the beach to the right, it's less congested. Nice shops to buy souvenirs. We went on a snorkeling excursion with Papa J's the second time we went to Grand Turk, and that was fun. Got to see nice colors and features of the Caribbean Sea floor.
We did a little shopping and gave ourselves a walking tour around Old San Juan. This was our first time there, so it was fine. The next time we go, we'll probably jump in a bus/van with a local tour guide, who meets guests near the port and see specific things I'd not know were there.
We went to Coki beach, which was crowded but had a small, decent place to snorkel. It's good for families, but there's pressure to ride with certain taxi drivers and rent beach equipment while there. If you're used to that on the Carnival port-related beaches, then it's OK.
Carnival Magic
Buy the spa package. Join with a group, and see if you can get a group rate.
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