Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    I switched to the NORWAY of NCL, see Note 36.0
                                                  
    
    DG

    This is the only note I could find about the Holiday.  Does anybody
    have any experience or opinions about the Holiday?  I'm planning
    to take my first cruise aboard it this summer.
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    
    Hal

    I was on the Holiday two years ago....It was our first and last
    on Carnival....We were spoiled by Sitmar previously....We enjoy
    going with our whole family and our kids felt very left out.  The
    food was typical restaurant food and service was mediocre.  It is
    a shame we got spoiled early, since we cruise every year the lower
    cost ships can't compare.  But in reality all cruises are good;
    only some are better than others.
    
    Joe Pflanz

    
    I just returned from a trip aboard the HOLIDAY and I do agree with
    the previous note.  The only difference was that I'd been spoiled
    by NCL (Sunward II).  
    
    I work at the customer suport center in colorado and because of being
    in a support business, i'm not too tolerant of shoddy customer
    relations.  NCL was really great in this regard.  Carnival lines
    could really use some lessons in how to treat their customers.
    
    I dont mean to say i didnt enjoy the trip (the caymans were absolutely
    lovely and i really enjoyed jamaica....mexico you can have).  its
    just that i did like my other experience better.  
    
    The ship is big, clean and there's lots to do......it just isnt
    as polished as it was on the Sunward II (and thats a much smaller
    ship).
    
    one note....if you're accomodations are for an inside cabin be
    prepared for sleeping in what seems like a dark pit.  you really
    can lose your time sense in one of these cabins.  it also seemed
    stuffier than the other cabins, but i really believe that was
    all in my mind.  none of them seemed to have adequate ventillation.
    
    to give you a few good things on the holiday....if you're single
    its great!  there's lots of young people and the night clubs
    on the ship are fun.  the tours usually include something oriented
    towards singles and there's a variety of them as well.  
    
    jan
    

    JAN,
         I'M TAKING THE HOLIDAY THIS OCTOBER.  COULD YOU TELL ME A LITTLE
    MORE ABOUT THE ISLANDS?  DID YOU SEE THE RUINS IN MEXICO.  DID YOU
    TAKE ANY ISLAND TOURS?  ELABORATE ON THE CRUISE ITSELF.  WHAT
    ACTIVITIES DID THEY OFFER?   THANKS ALOT.
    
                                    SANDRA
    

    
    Hi Sandra,
    
    sorry its taken so long......i've been in the middle of several maalox
    moments.
    
    lets see, the ruins in mexico.  i didnt make it to tulom (i think
    thats how you spell it.  in any case its pronounced too-loom) mostly
    because as i recall the tour cost about $50 and was all day long.
    i wasnt too wild about spending time on a bus either.  the people
    that i knew that went came back very tired, but really enjoyed the
    excursion.  it was very hot and humid, though.
    
    all ports offered snorkel tours, but i did hear that it was cheaper
    to rent snorkel equipment and go off on your own.  since i dont swim
    well (i know, i know....insert the usual jokes about why were you
    on the cruise in the first place....i just figured what better way
    to go), i elected to stay on the beaches.  cozumel was so hot and
    humid, i wound up staying on the ship and enjoying the deserted decks
    and swimming pool.  at grand cayman, i went ashore and shopped (very
    expensive there) and then attended the beach party that was organized
    by the cruise line at one  of the hotels on the island.  for about
    $15, you got a beach towel, lunch (barbeque, hot dogs or hamburgers
    and it was very good) and one of the prettiest beaches i've ever seen.
    it was paradise.  oh, and taxi was included.
    
    at ocho rios, you had the same sort of fare as grand cayman, snorkel
    tours, beach party, or tours of the towns.  also, you could go to
    a water fall and hike up the side of the falls.  this was by far the
    big hit for ocho rios.  i dont remember the cost but everyone enjoyed
    it.  one thing, i heard it was strenous for the couch potato (my
    category).  once again, i elected for the beach and had a very
    good time.  there's one in walking distance, but i'd recommend a 
    taxi to one not so near shopping.   the walk is a bit much as well
    since i think everyone in jamaica drives a taxi and will pull over
    to your side of the street (against traffic i might add) to ask if
    you want a ride.  it gets tiresome.  also, negotiate for the cost
    of the ride up front.  one horror story had it that the guy charged
    them extra for air conditioning and the use of the windshield wipers.
    and they call us crazy americans........
    
    cozumel was an overnight stay and the only port that offered a chance
    to see the night life.  all i talked to enjoyed it.  having been
    the victim of montezuma's revenge before, i stayed on the ship.  i
    think carlos 'n charlies was the most popular, but i would've been
    interested in the flamenco dancing excursion.
    
    if i ever get to do this one again, i wont miss tulom or the flamenco
    dancers and save the beach for caymans and jamaica.
    
    hope i dont come across like a fuddy-duddy, but i really enjoy relaxing
    on my vacations and truthfully some of the excursions just seemed
    like too much work.  that coupled with getting to the briefing meetings
    was somewhat cumbersome since we were at the late sitting for breakfast
    and they were very crowded.  if this is your first cruise, though,
    i'd consider them mandatory.  they really do tell you alot about 
    the ports and how to get around.
    
    hope this helps.....
    
    jan
    

    Just another persons opinion about the Holiday cruise.  I did go
    to the Tulum ruins in Mexico.  I enjoyed it, it was quite interesting.
    The bus trip was 45 minutes to get to Tulum, you spend about 30
    to 45 minutes there, then, another 25 minute bus ride to xel-har
    (pr. shell har) it is a fresh water lake that meets the ocean. 
    That was pretty , but I didn't snorkel there.  You get a lot of
    Mexicans trying to sell you silver (sorta silver) on the street.
    The trip to the dock was another 25 minutes.  You then have to take
    a boat to get to Cozumel where the Holiday is docked.  The whole
    trip cost about 55 dollars per person.
         Mexico by far had the best deals for shopping.  The next stop
    was Grand Cayman.  By far the best port.  It was clean unthreatening
    and just all around beautiful.  I snorkeled at Eden's Rock.  I rented
    the snorkel equipment from the ship and we went on our own.  We
    then went to what is called the 7 mile beach, which was beautiful.
    The shopping is expensive here, but, they have stores with really
    nice crystal (waterford, baccarat).  My husband also got a real
    Spanish treasure coin that was salvaged from a sunken ship.
         The last stop Jamaica.  I got off the ship for two hours, then
    booked it back to the ship.  I hated Jamaica.  Though the Dunn's
    River Falls were beautiful, the downtown shopping area was scary.
         Overall I wouldn't take this cruise again because I really
    enjoyed and felt comfortable in one port (grand cayman), though
    Mexico wasn't that bad.  The cruise itself was enjoyable.  The food
    was excellent.  The entertainment was okay.  The had this group
    of "Holiday dancers" from England who were not what I would call
    spectacular.  Some of the activities were kind of geeky, for lack
    of a better word.  But I suppose if you're drunk enough you'll
    participate in anything.  And that is another thing, they ask you
    if you want a drink every five minutes.  Take some advice the sail
    and sign cards are dangerous.  All you have to do is sign for your
    drinks and it goes on your credit card with 15 percent allready
    added on.  I hope this helps anyone considering the Holiday.

    I am planning on taking a cruise in April - with 5 of my friends.
    Myself and two of the others sailed on the Jubilee last April.  We
    haven't booked the cruise yet because we're still fighting over which 
    ship to take.  I am opting for the Holiday, mainly because the 
    Celebration (which 2 of them want to take, one of whom is one of the 
    ones that went with me last year) stops at two of the same ports we 
    visited while on the Jubilee.  (Is this making sense??)
    
    Anyway, my main arguement with them is that it would be nice to see
    different ports and sail a different part of the Caribbean.  I've 
    gotten them to agree to this, but they are hesitant because the 
    ship is older than many of the Carnival ships and they're afraid it
    won't be as nice.
    
    For those of you that have been on the Holiday, could you please tell
    me a little bit about it?  Also, if you've been on this and any other 
    Carnival ship - how does it compare?
    
    Thanks for any help you can offer.
    
    Stephanie                         

    
    HI!
    
    I havent been aboard the other Carnival ships, but I found the
    HOLIDAY to be quite nice.  If it was old it didnt appear to be
    out of shape.  The cabins were close quarters, but kept immaculately
    (saying alot for having 4 people in a small room).
    
    jan
    

    Read note 223.   I took the Holiday on April 28, 1990, and thought it
    was great.  I WILL do it again.
    
    
    bob