Traffic can be rough. The Panorama has had some slight engine issues and arrives around 8 to 9 am. This backs up traffic for arrivals before noon. We had a car so once clearing car ticketing you find a spot. That was easy, 2nd floor, 50 feet from elevator.
First floor is more desirable. I noticed a huge line waiting to go up from pax getting of the ship. Note to self, bring less luggage and carry it off
Arrive during your adjusted time, short line inside checking your docs…X-ray and yes dogs sniffing.
group
Ship experiences
Food and Dining
5 out of 5
BlueIguana Tequila Bar
5 out of 5
Very busy place on lido pool deck
Havana Bar & Pool
5 out of 5
Best place on the ship. Live music, drinks, dancing…
As a beer fan, almost never drank a beer here. Parched Pig is an average tasting beer. Only tried the BBQ when free…beef was underwhelming, lacked burnt ends…sauces have tasted better.
Guy's Burger Joint
3 out of 5
Not sure what the hype is all about, buns are oversized average. 5 Guys is better.
Cucina del Capitano
3 out of 5
My pasta wasn’t cooked 100%?
BlueIguana Cantina
5 out of 5
Maybe the best meal on the ship.
Alchemy Bar
5 out of 5
Alchemy Drinking Society great drinks always
Onboard Activities
5 out of 5
Sky ride is cool, what until lines are gone not worth an hour wait. Ropes require some upper arm strength on first couple sections…
SportsSquare
5 out of 5
Ropes require a little upper body strength
The Club House
3 out of 5
Ok
Sky Ride
5 out of 5
Fun, just don’t stand in line a hour for it…
Aft Pool
2 out of 5
Again two pools for a ship this size?I could have stepped on heads and crossed the pool
Carnival Waterworks
4 out of 5
Water slides are fun
Main Pool
2 out of 5
Too many people, only one main pool
Entertainment
5 out of 5
Loved the Havana night’s music. Now realize not interested in the none organic deck parties…80’s…mega. Loud music and screaming. Also It seems it’s a carnival thing for the cruise director to sing over music tracks to whip up a frenzy?
Leads to overindulgence, and a less family friendly atmosphere…
Service and Staff
5 out of 5
Havana Bar, never a line. Roger and his fellow crew are great.
Ship Quality
5 out of 5
Best area on the ship. I sailed an inside Havana room…twice the experience over any balcony
Cabin / Stateroom
5 out of 5
This cabin is flipped at a nice angle. 5205 is the same. Both are in the Havana area.
Beds are average. Stick a towel in the safe or lock it or it will bang all night.
Ship tip
As you wait for your boarding group you can visit the customer service desk. Upgrade anyone?…Adjust your cc or add cash to your sail sign card. This move saves time on the ship. There are also seldom used Kioks that are useful to do the same. Most ship are crushed when you visit customer service.
Self tour. Old town/cento is a good 15-20 drive. City bus is 10 pesos.
Romantic zone, Malacon is the area you want to wonder around. We rode a city bus from port, returning to the XOXO (7-11). Bus that says Walmart will return here. Check in at the tourism booths, very helpful.
Old churches, beach bars, restaurants, shopping. Street vendors offering almost anything for sale, be careful.
Summer can be hurricane season, very hot, humid, rain from the hill cloud beaches.
Long Beach is a cool place. Not as hot as the rest of LA County. Nice harbor, great downtown core with nice dinning scene.
Outlet shopping. Good hotels.
If you can debark with your luggage. Exit your room at the appointment time. Find a spot to camp/park luggage near an elevator on 5th floor. Limit services are open, MDR and lido…3500 are asked to wait on 10th and 5th floors until your group is called. Priority groups, then by muster In carrying your bag and soon. Passport line is longer, if anyone is using a birth certificate that line is shorter, the entire group can stay together in that line…don’t separate.
@willwork4cruz…a Havana inside can be less then a balcony. Two large hot tubs, one decent pool. Always a lounger, private outside bar shared with never more then 200 pax. Vista class has one central pool for 3800 pax. No other cruise line has a space this affordable. I was completely satisfied with a inside room. A Havana cabana or balcony would have been double the price, and with the entire rear of the ship that’s yours why pay for what your not using? And YES at times night and day nobody but the Havana attendant or bartender are there, ghost town…or true serenity?
Great advice, thank you. I’ll keep the safe locked. Can someone tell me what is great about Havana cabins? They can cost a lot more. I have looked down into the Havana private deck area but I’m not very impressed. Tiny pool, looks deserted like the Havana guests don’t hang out there much.
We sailed the Panorama end of May and loved it! We were in the Havana cabana balcony room and that was amazing. Immediately booked the Horizon for next year to the ABC Islands.
Great review of the ports and activites/food. We did mini golf and that was fun.
Thank you for a detailed review and pictures! And I have to agree, the Havana Cabana rooms are great on the Vista class ships! Sadly the Vista class has been plagued with propulsion issues. I hope that can be corrected in time.
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