Ship is big and well taken care of. The decoraton was not my favorite, but it was elegant and classy enough. The crew was caring and attentive. The food was plentiful and very diverse... to fit everyone's taste. We really loved everything about it!
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
We were very delighted with the amunt of food, the access to it, the quality and the many options available! The desserts at The Gathering for dinner were delicious. The warm lava cake was ok... nothing out of this world. Alton, the maitre d of The Gathering was very attentive.
Entertainment
5 out of 5
There was never a dull moment, nor for the adults nor for the kids. The staff could be rated separately, some were very aproachable, while others were distant and seemed uncaring. Jeff the Fun Dude was extremely funny, and so was Butch! Fun Force was out f this place: fun, entertaining and very nice to everyone!
Children's Programs
5 out of 5
Kids had plenty of options and activities. The staff was friendly but strict. My kids enjoyed it!
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
The few people we got to talk to were very friendly, while others were a bit distanced, perhaps because we didnt purchase a gym or spa package, but that didn't cloud the impression we had of the wait and cleaning staff.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
The room was perfect for a family of 4. The service and friendliness of the person in charge of cleaning it was above average. He made sure we had every comfort we could. We were in stateroom 623 and the balcony was perfect. Some noises could be heard from the hallway, but they wernt loud enough to keep us awake
Again, no excursion was booked, but there are many options. We rented a golf cart for 3 ours to go to the nearest beach (Mayan Bar), where we were greeted by Pepe and Abel with some free Tequila Sunrises. The beach was nice and shallow with some chairs, tables and lunges, but if what you want is snorkel or fish, find Alvaro and his boat "RUBIA" right there. He charges $10 a person to go to awesome places to snorkel and/or fish. Beautiful!!!!
We booked our excursions independently: The first one was with Wild Tours (http://wild-tours.com/index.html), which offer several options but we decided to do the ATV and snorkeling option. Price was quite reasonably. We took a taxi to Margariteville ($7) and waited for the tour guide to pick us up. The bus ride to the ATV location was about 15 minutes. NOTE: if you choose to do the ATV adventure, make sure you wear closed toe shoes such as crocks or water shoes, avoid sneakers; avoid wearing white, and bring a bandana or something to cover your nose and mouth it gets dusty! You have to rent a locker ($2) and they recommend you dont bring your camera, but if you can put it in your pocket or under your shirt, bring it! We then headed to a semi-private beach, Las Uvas, where snorkeling equipment is available for free as part of your excursion. The best deal is probably getting all the local drinks you can have for $12, Food is good too!
We decided not to book an excursion, but to head to West Bay where the nice beaches are. We went straight to the taxis and ask for a nice beach for snorkeling. The driver took us around the island all the way to the Mayan Princess Resort instead of the resort suggested by Carnival. The ride was $80, but the driver stay at the resort waiting for you as long as you need to. There is a $10 entry fee to the resort, which includes access to the pool, the facilities, and beautiful beach! There are tons of locals selling everything you can imagine: jewelry, dresses, hammocks, fake brand sunglasses, excursions, etc. There are plenty of activities you can book right there, such as snorkeling, banana boats, jet skis, or parasailing; but you can also walk to the end of the bay for some wonderful snorkeling. On our way back, the taxi took us to a souvenir store where they give you special discounts. Remember to bargain for everything. Dont leave without buying some hand-made mahogany pieces
My kids and I decided go tubing on the Rain Forest caves with V.I.V. Tours (http://vivtours.com/). The ride to the rain forest was about 45 minutes on a very rough road, but our guide Tomas was very talkative, explaining tons of things about Belize, its government, history, etc. Make sure you bring a water resistant camera and closed toe shoes, there is a long walk between the parking and where the river starts! You have the best tubes and helmets with lights for the caves. The water is a bit cold, but the trip is extremely cool! It lasts about 1.30. The guide paddles while you sit and enjoy the caves!
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