Here is a comprehensive review I read recently about the Carnival Glory:
Carnival Glory
Ship
ATM is located on Promenade deck 5
One personal check per cruise can be cashed at the purser info desk up to $250.00
I didn't see alot of real young children running around, but having two 13 years old traveling with us went to the orientation (parents must attend to sign forms) and their were alot of children aboard. Sounded like Carnival had tons of activities to offer the little ones to keep them busy. On Thursday night for the younger ones they offered an all night slumber party to see how long the kids could stay awake, and they would bring your child back to your room the next morning at 8:00am. I think the charge was $25.00
Staterooms
Small shower approx size 30 X 30. Shower felt wonderful, water temperture is set for you at 38 (which is 100.25 degrees) Lever 2000 soap dispenser and shampoo dispenser in shower stall. Free disposalbe razors, toothpaste (not enough for the entire week) floss, and one package of shampoo, conditioner and gel, Rolaids and a bar of soap.
There is a clothes line in the shower so pack your clothes pins to hang your wet swim suit up to dry. One electrical outlet in the entire room, so make sure you pack an electrical strip. Two white terry cloth robes are furnished in each cabin. Hair dryer located in top drawer you will need to hold in a button for it to work, bring your own, too much trouble to use. 3 large closets doors, one foot stool, and a small oval table. Balcony was nice, we use ours alot for pictures, sunbathing and who knows what else... hehehe!
Phone Calls
You may make phone calls in your cabin. All calls made usng toll free #'s, collect and calling cards are charges $6.99 a minute.
Children
Camp Carnival has lots of activities for children up to age of 15 broken down in different are groups...2-5 yrs old, 6-8 yrs old, 9-11 yrs old and 12-15 yrs old. Camp Carnvial is located on deck 12 forward telephone #1140
Babysitting is offered from 10pm to 3am for $6.00 per hour
Video games only takes tokens which can be purchased with cash or your S&S card. Adult limit is $500 per day and $20 per day for children. $5.00 mimimum amount can be purchased.
Volleyball, Basketball and Ping Pong you must rent the paddes, balls etc from the Pursers desk on deck 3. You will be charged $10 and when items are returned you will be credited back the $10 on your s&S card.
Pool is only 4 foot 6 inches deep.
My son took a cheap basketball, we had heard that it is hard to get one they are always rented out. It worked out great because he made several new friends by loaning his out. Then on the last day he donated it to the ship and it gave him more space in his luggage for those souvenirs.
Iron, Washing Machines and Dryers
Washer and dryers cost $2.00 per load and $1.00 for a box of soap
locations:
Deck 9 portside Forward of stateroom 9270
Deck 8 starboard side midship in front of 8351
Deck 7 starboard side midship in front of 7339
Deck 6 starboard side midship in front of 6387
Deck 2 starboard side midship in front of 2367
Deck 1 starboard side midship in front of 1359
Casino - Camel Club
Is located on deck 5 midship, offers a wide selection of table games and slot machines of different denominations 5cent, 25cent, $1 and $5. In general the casino is opened approx 1/2 hour after sailing from port. No cigars or pipe smoking is allowed in casino. Must be 18 and older. I am not a gambler...in fact I had to ask someone how to play the 25cent slot machines, In two nights I (cleared) won $70.00.
Shore Excursions
Now are booked from you TV in stateroom. Tickets ordered will be delivered to your stateroom under the door. Shore excursion staff is available just to answer questions. Located in the Old Glory Lobby on Deck 5 port side. Cruise Director will provide info on the different ports of call in the "travel talks" Check you capers for dates and times.
Dining Room
There are two different dining rooms. Golden and Platinum Restaurants both are located on decks 3 and 4. Four time seatings 5:45. 6:15, 8:00 and 8:30.
Red Sail Restaurant...lido deck 9
Deli...offers overstuffed gourmet sandwiches deck 9
Pizzeria offer pizza, calzones, caesar salads and garlic bread deck 9
Salad bar deck 9
Ice Creme parlor...choc, vanilla, or mixed ice cream cones deck 9
The Grille...Hamburgers, hotdogs, french fries, steak and chicken sandwiches deck 9
Fish and Chips deck 10
Sushi Salmon deck 5
Cremes...european coffees, cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos and french pastries for a nominal fee deck 5
I know milk shakes were $4.54
Emerald dining room...$25 per person fee opened 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm Jackets are required for men, live music and dancing
We did not do, but we heard the food was delicious and huge portions.
Continental Breakfast
Can be delivered to your room, you will find in your room a menu card, leave it hanging on your stateroom door before retiring (before 5am) There is a place on the card where you can indicate what time you want your breakfast delivered. Categories are fruits, cereals, breakfast breads, yogurts, hot / cold beverages and condiments...be sure to tip!
Room Service
You can order juices (orange, tomato, apple, grapefruit) Bagels, assorted danishes, large variety of sandwiches, salads and beverages. Dial 8000 for service and again be sure to tip!
Entertainment
Amber Palace - las Vegas style revue shows and featured entertainers perform nightly
Ebony Cabaret - live music and dancing / also you pick up your tender tickets here
The Colors Lobby - Pre dinner live music and after dinner cocktails
White Heat - dance to the latest hits from a DJ in the state of the art dance club
Blue Bar - Live music and dancing in an intimate atmosphere
The Cinn-a-Bar - request and sing along in the piano bar with Scottee
Ivory club - Enjoy live jazz and cigars nightly
Ultraviolets - vidoe arcade deck 5 (under 18 yrs old)
Black and white library = Atlantic deck 4
Internet Cafe - Deck 4...located port side next to Ivory bar
Tips
$70 tips for 7 day cruise / automatically added to your s&s card on the first day
Safe Deposit Box
Uses any card with a magnetic strip, they do not recommend you using your s&s card...a kroger card works perfect! Any problems with getting your card to work you can call 7777
Carnival Beach Towels
Blue thick Carnvial embossed beach towels will be replaced in your cabin everyday if you lose your towel the charge is $22.00 per towel.
I suggest you bring one from home to mark your chair. I did not see where chair hogging was a problem.
Wake up call
lift handset, dial 37 then hour and minutes - remember enter in military time
"Fountain Fun" / Soda Card
Cost is $32.20 for children and $44.08 for adults (price includes tip)
Can be purchased from any bar on the ship. Unlimited sodas. During the day if you show your card you receive a glass of soda with ice -in the dining room you will receive an opened coke can. As read in past post we never had a problem using ours.
Coke products available
Debarkation
If you are willing to carry off your own luggage with out any assistance you will be able to get off the ship faster. We went to the Amber Palace - get a seat the closest to the door (back of palace) also when facing the stage you will want to sit on the left side. Arrive early! 6:45am because after 7:00am they made an annoucement for no more guest on deck 3. Around 7:35 we were walking off the ship you must have your s&s card, photo id, and birth certificate or passport and your declaration form completed. (form is delivered to you on Friday night)
If you are getting a shuttle bus to a motel / airport...as you walk out of the terminal go directly across the walkway and shuttle buses are available there. Ours stated ARTS on a white van. There will be guys standing around iwht list of names of families they are waiting for.
If you need assistance with your luggage you must have your luggage out beside your door by 12:00pm on Friday night. Make sure you don't pack away your passport, birth certificate, photo id, s&s card and declaration card. And a changing of clothes.
Costa Maya
Costa Maya docks at a pier. If you plan to get in the ocean water shoes is a MUST! We saw one guy get hurt pretty bad, had to be transported by ambluance back to the ship. We did not take an excursion at this stop. There are a few stores to shop in, be sure to bargain with the prices. I purchased two pair of Oakley sunglasses for $40.00...asking price was $25.00 each. Marada $1.00 each, leather fanny pack $15.00.
make sure you have a drink / eat at Mamasita's Taqueria. We had a rainbow teaser margarita made from mangos, strawberries, lime and fresh fruits.....AWESOME! $9.00 for a 2 foot tall glass! We also ate quesadillas, 3 cheeses, guacamole, sour cream, and fresh salsa for $7.00. Costa Maya Nacho's were $6.00
Belize
you will need a tender ticket to get to shore. You must pick one up in the Ebony Cabaret located on Deck 5 (entire party must go) We got there early and was told since were the early birds they let us go on down to Deck 0 with out the ticket #. So go early! Before leaving home we had booked the X-stream cave tubing 5 1/2 hours tour on-line thru
www.belizecruiseexcursions.com Tours are limited to 14 people per tour. Which is better than if you book on the ship. Carnival has about 50 people in their groups. Our tour guide was Thomas he was very good! We saw banana trees, pineapples, huge spiders, leaf cutter ants, huge termite houses, fruit and insect bats, tree in which suntan oil, insect repellent and lotion is made from.
When in the caves and you look up to see the bats don't open your mouth...you might get bat poop....hehehe!
Cave Tubing was fun and easy 40 minutes walk thru the Belizean Rainforest. We went thru 2 caves (if you book with Carnival you only go thru one cave) you are given a vest which is not required to wear but you must hook it on your inter tube. A head light lamp...Caves are dark! You will need to back stroke backwards / float through fun rapids where you will pickup some speed and end the cave tubing ride in style bringing you right back to the starting point of your cave tubing adventure. A Belizean Restaurant is found at the cave entrance welcome center with lunch for sale. You will need to order lunch before tubing and they will have it ready when you return. Cost is $5.00 per plate. Consiste of BBQ chicken, rice and beans, sweet plantains, a noodle / vegetable salad, homemade muffin and mango fruit juice to drink.
Your picture will be made at the end of the journey and can be available to purchase thru Carnival.
If you book this excursion when a boarding the bus be sure to sit in the front on the van, it takes a while for the air conditioner to make it to the back of the van.
We had about an hour to shop when we returned to shore. I purchased a t-shirt stating "you better belize it"..cute!
Pharmacy stores no prescriptions are needed. Cheap prices. My son got sick so I purchased a Z-pak (antibiotic) for $15. In the states I pay $59 from Eckreds. There were signs up with prices example: valium 50 cent a pill, vigra $4.00 per pill, Retin-A $10.00 per tube. You can also get an address for mail orders.
interesting facts: We stopped for gas and purchased $90.00 worth of gas ($2.50 per gallon US $) an average 500 - 600 foot block house cost $75,000 (35,000 US $) They don't have lawnmowers they cut grass with machetes we watched them doing this. School hours are 8:30 to 11:30 then back from 1:00 to 4:00...they don't serve lunch you have to go home to eat.
Cozumel
We did the Catamaran Sail and Snorkel excursion. Lots of fun!! Boarded a 65' catamaran at the pier. Sailed not far away from the ship and was given instructions on how to snorkel, we saw tons of brightly colored fish snorkeled about 40 minutes. The instructors would throw out bread and the fish would just swarm around us. After snorkeling we enjoyed free beer, margaritas and sodas while we made our way to a beautiful island. Beach volleyball, sea kayaks, hammocks, and beach floats were available. For a charge of $8.00 you can enjoy a "cheeseburger in Paradise" with all the trimming, pasta salad, potato salad all you can eat. Drinks are all free.
Your pictures will be taken while snorkeling and when you board the catamaran available at end of tour for $11.00 each....so make sure you take some money along. As leaving the catamaran they also have a jar out for tips.
We ran back to the ship and took a fast shower and headed out to shop, took a taxi into town. Price was $6.00 for the entire group. If there is only two of you find another couple and pretend you are all together. About a 12 minute ride. Tons of shopping available. For a cheap little gift they have wood pens made into Mexican people for $1.00.
Progreso
We did the Chichen-Itza Mayan Ruins (pronounced Chicken pizza) excursion. We met in the Amber Palace at 7:20 am and was taken first thing to a tour bus (greyhound type comfortable buses) It is a long drive! 2 hours and 15 minutes to see the engraved Mayan Ruins. In your seat you will find a sack lunch consisting of a salami and cheese sandwich, a bag of chips, donut, apple and a smores granola bar. I didn't eat my sandwich when we returned to the bus; I was scared after it sat on the HOT bus all day. After the tour you can purchase water and soft drinks. On the way we made a 15 minute bathroom break. But forget using the bathroom about 10 other buses are stopped and the lines are too long. There is a bathroom on the bus, but you are ask to only do #1...well somebody on our bus did not follow the rules...yucky! (because our tiolet didn't flush) While stopped you are at a Souvenir tour trap. Shop fast you don't have much time and you can again bargain prices. I purchased a marble temple for $8.00 starting price was $15.00 and a hand made embroidery samll wallet with a long strap to carry as a purse, just big enough to carry around your sign and sail card, lipstick and a zipper compartment for money $5.00. Check out the locals at the back of the bus, prices are cheaper. We only had 1 hour and 45 minutes total once we got to the ruins. Your guide will walk around with each group and explain what all the craving s mean and then you are allowed to go on your own for the next 30 minutes. There are 91 steep steps to the top of the temple, with a rope to help you get down to the bottom. Saw several 3 foot iguanas walking around.
You are asked to tip the driver and tour guide separately. When arriving back to the ship there are a few stores to walk thru. I purchased a bowl filled with fruits all made from marble for $15.00
Interesting Facts: Progreso has the largest pier in the world! 7 miles long. On the drive you will pass houses, a lot of block work, which was started and never completed. Stone fences represents property lines. Water bins is located on top of houses for the sun to warm. Rainwater is collected to use for cleaning and bathing purposes.
This excursion was an experience of a lifetime, but if I had to do it over I would have opted to do something different that did not involve so much sitting time on a bus. But as our cruise director stated "it is an island in which you must do an excursion if not there is nothing to see" He said it was like someone asking you about the city you live in and you walking out on your front porch and saying well there is nothing here to do. You have to travel to appreciate the town.
On Sunday they had ice carving demonstration by the lido main pool...neat to watch.
On Friday galley tour of the kitchen at 3pm meet in the golden dining room. I was not all that impressed compared to the lst kitchen tour I was given on the Pride. For instance they showed us the wine cellar, pantry, and freezer and all you saw was a huge stainless steel door not inside.
The Grand Gala Buffet "festivale of food" was on Thursday night. It was small compared to the others I've seen in the past. Almost all of the food was behind glass, which created a glare when taking photos. After you go thru the line, which obly took us about 5 minutes they offered 3 Carnival cookbooks for sale. Carnival cocktails, the Carnival Experience, and the Buffets of Carnival Entertaining secrets from carnival chefs all three book for $25.00.
Sunday and Thursday nights were formal nights
On other nights I did see a few men in the dining room with blue jeans and shorts on...one guy even wore flip flops. I would not recommend doing this, it will be frown upon by your fellow cruisers...or envied upon
The muster drill took place at 3:45 when the signal is sounded you need to go to your cabin and collect your life jackets located in the top of the 2nd closet and proceed to your muster station on deck 4. Look on the back of you cabin door to see what your muster station # is.
All the comedians through out the week were hilarious! Be sure not to miss them. The midnight shows are R-rated. After the show they sale their CD's for $15.00...wish I had purchased one, but each time I forget to take my cash down with me.
I have a copy of all the capers, dinner menus, camp carnival itinerary, deck plans, and Carnival Glory ship prices on liquor, recommended stores to visit at each prot, spa prices, excurisons offered and prices if anyone wants a copy. This will be too much for me to e-mail each person. I have set up a email address if you are interested in all of some of the above let me know by emailing me and sending me your address and I will mail it to you.
suntangagirl@yahoo.com
Dining room we sat at table #351 a table for just us 4. Tables consist of tables for 2,4,6,8 and a few 10. On the first night you are told what color team you will be representing red, white or blue. Thru out the week you can win points for you team by entering the different contest. They have a big dance party one night out by the pool and you are ask to show your team spirit by wearing your team color.
When getting around on the ship always remember deck 5 you can walk the whole lenght of the ship. The other floors are like a jig saw puzzle so good luck!
I did not hear of any one getting motion sickness. Did see several people with patches behind their ear. I could not feel the shop rocking at all.
Frozen drinks is $5.69, daily special (w/o the souvenir glass) is $3.39
Like other post I read I never experienced any problems with lines. The longest line we stood in was to get a hamburger by the lido deck, which was right at the peak of lunch time, but still the line moved quickly. about a 5-minute wait) I am a non-smoker and I never experienced any problems either with smoke.
Mark Price is the cruise director...he is FANTASTIC!!! Humorous to listen too always keeps you laughing.
Be sure to decorate you stateroom door, it makes it easier to find your door on those late nights.
Plenty of games and contest to enter such as: karaoke, blind date game, dance party, bingo, name that tune, hairy man contest, basketball hoop free throw challenge, ping pong tournament, ship building challenge, newlywed game show, art auction, millionaire game, shipboard survivor etc.
I have always collected a "ship on a stick" but on this cruise I was unable to get one
I paid for my sone and his friend upper and lower bunk beds on deck 1 inside cabin and they were upgraded to deck 6 outside cabin with a window. Cabin #6206 which is a handicap room. Huge corner room, beds in an L shape. Being a handicap toom the bathroom was extremely large. They were excited!
Big items to purchases: fine jewelry, tanzanite stones, mexican silver, tequila, kahlua, imported turkish and oriental rugs, cuban cigars, leather, watches, hammocks, del sol items will change color in the sun....pretty cool!
We had excellent weather, but it was HOT, HOT, HOT so make sure you pack your sunglasses, hat and sunscreen.
Also pack an 11 X 14 envelope with a card board type insert to place all those photos you might purchase in...you don't want them to get messed up.
8 X 10 photo is $20.00
10 wallets is $10.00 (you have to purchase a 8 X 10 to get wallets)
5 X 7 is $8.00
Next day film developing on the ship:
24 exposures $6.48
35mm 27 cent per print
APS - 45 cent per print
Digital media 50 cent per print
Drinks of the day: All drinks of the day are only $2.95 or $6.25 and you can keep the collectors glass, A souvenir glass refill is $4.95
Saturday- The fun ship special
Sunday - bahama mama
Monday - Yellow bird
Tuesday - Island delight
Wednesday - Mexican mama
Thursday - Goombay smash
Friday - Caribbean breeze
I took a total of 935 digital photos during my 7-day adventure! Can't wait to start scrapbooking!!!
You can get free Carnival Glory Ship postcards for the pursers desk, just ask them for them. I pre-printed out my labels before I went and it saved alot of time, plus I didn't have to worry about remembering all the address. Make sure you pack your stamps too.
I packed 19 pair of shoes and wore all but 2 pair!
My son purchased a fossil watch on board the ship for $58.00. They also sell all brands of perfumes and Estee Lauder products, I did not see a huge savings in those departments. I did purchase a huge beach tote bag for $11.99 and a sunvisor for $5.50. They sale $1.00 an inch silver for bracelets, necklaces etc but what they don't tell you is the clasp is $5.00
I am back home now and my sail and sign card doesn't work in my kitchen... and I don't get my bed made in the mornings wiht a cute little towel animals
Wish I could sail again!!!
I hope all my comments helped some of you, and I hope I did not repeat myself too much...in between writing this I had to stop and take my son to the emergency room he had a bad bike accident and ended up with 18 stitches down his arm. Now he is not allowed to get in a pool for 10 days....glad it happened the day after the cruise than before. I think my family is accident prone...because exactly one week before the cruise my husband cut his leg on the job and had 13 stitches. As they say accidents comes in 3's, I sure hope that is not true because I am the only one left! Yikes!!!!
We don't party shhhhhh! LOL
