Vista: Planning
This is a 7-day Western Caribbean cruise on the like new Carnival Vista from Galveston to Montego Bay, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. This will be my 10th Carnival cruise, first on Vista, and third out of Galveston. It will be my first time to Montego and Grand Cayman, and my ninth time to Cozumel.
Booking
I booked this a year ago. The fare and gratuities were 100% paid for by the fun points earned on my Carnival MasterCard. I saved up 100,000 points and redeemed them for a $1,500 statement credit.
I booked when they were offering onboard credit and over the course of year converted several price drops into onboard credit giving me $222 in OBC. The OBC is going to pay for specialty restuarants 5 of the 7 nights, my Montego Bay excursion, and a couple of drinks on embarkation day before cheers kicks in. There’s no cheers on day 1 out of Galveston.
This cruise worked out perfect for me. I’ve been cruising the last week of Feb or the first week of March for the last four years. Last year I did an early March cruise on the Breeze and was there during the time change. I didn’t like losing an hour of sleep so I will try to stick to the end of Feb from now on. This cruise allowed me to get the week I wanted, a ship I haven’t been on, and two ports I haven’t visited.
Hotel
I’m not a huge fan of Galveston. On top of the no cheers on day 1, they have some jacked up hotel prices there. I’m talking paying more for a motel 6 than I’m paying for the Sheraton Four Points on Bourbon Street next cruise. There’s no reason for me to stay there other than to be close to the port so I like to stay back a little bit. Last year I actually stayed in Houston. But I specifically wanted a hotel next door to a sports bar that was showing a pay per view UFC fight. My preference is in the Webster area which is where I stayed two years ago and where I’m staying this time. I booked the Comfort Suites Webster on Hotwire.com which came to $70 after taxes. It’s right next to the interstate, 29 miles from the cruise port, and they have tons of restaurants and shopping right in that area–Free breakfast as well.
Parking
Two years ago I parked at EZ cruise parking and last year I used lighthouse. There are people who swear by both. To me both are fine. Neither blew me away so I went in this year with an open mind. I wanted to find something better without paying double the price. When I did EZ they had a park n walk option that saved like $20 I want to say. I tried the park n walk option two years ago and didn’t like it. Galveston has those big curbs and the sidewalk I took wasn’t good for rolling luggage. It was also the week of their Mardi Gras (it will be again this year) so they had some streets blocked off and a bunch of people in the way who weren’t cruisers. On top of that I couldn’t remember if I locked my car so I had to walk all the way back to check. Now I can lock my car from my phone thankfully. But at the time I couldn’t. I swore I would never do that again. Now maybe their shuttle service is good. I can’t really say since I didn’t try it.
Last year I went with lighthouse covered parking. It was fine. You park under those metal covers. When I returned my black car was yellow from pollen. I didn’t like the fact that on the way back the shuttle stopped at the uncovered lot first. The covered people paid more and had to sit and wait while the lowly uncovered parkers got off and unloaded their luggage before going to our lot.
I waited until last week to book my parking this time. First I read all of the Galveston parking reviews I could find from the past year. Then I searched for Galveston cruise parking and price checked all of the lots. I may have found a gem in Falstaff cruise parking. This is a new facility. It used to be a brewery. It opened as a parking facility a month after my last Galveston cruise. Indoor parking is $75 after taxes and fees. It seemed like Galveston indoor parking has always been $100+ at other places I’ve researched in the past. After checking this time the other indoor lots ranged from $97-127. Outdoor parking at the various lots ranged from $64-87. That Falstaff indoor parking looks great! Shuttle included. I booked there.
Excursions
Montego Bay
I haven’t booked this one yet because I want to use my OBC for it. But the plan is to book Dunn’s River Falls. I know I’m getting myself into another long excursion and it would be best to do DRF when docking at Ocho Rios. But I’ve looked at future cruises and I don’t see myself booking an Ohco Rios cruise anytime soon. I’m going to Montego twice this year. Might as well do what I want while I’m there.
Of course there are several of them.
1. Ocho Rios & Dunns river falls with lunch for $79.99. Leaves at 9am and runs 7 1/2 hours. Lunch at the Almond Tree restuarant. Shopping if time permits. 4/5 stars.
2. Dunn’s River falls and Bamboo beach club lunch for $99. Leaves at 9am and runs 7 hours. Sounds like this one includes unlimited alcohol at the beach club. I have cheers so that doesn’t move the needle for me. 3.5/5 stars.
3. Dunn’s River Falls, Beach and Lunch for $79.99. Leaves at 9:15 and 10:30 and runs 6 1/5 hours. Sounds like lunch is on the beach at this one. 2.5 stars. I have to know why this is 2.5 stars so I’m going to read the reviews. It sounds like people liked the falls but not the beach or the lunch. I’ll probably try to book the one with the almond tree restaurant lunch.
4. Sky explorer and Dunn’s River falls 119.99. Leaves at 9:15 and runs 7 hours. Looks like you do a chair lift thing before you go to the falls. In fine print “excursion may last 8.5 hours.” 4/5 stars. That sky explorer looks nice but I don’t want an 8.5 hour excursion.
5. Finally there’s a Bobsled Jamica & Dunn’s River Falls with Lunch for $128.99. 9:15 departure and runs 7 hours. 4/5 stars. Now I like the movie “Cool Runnings” but this looks like you’re paying an extra $50 to ride a roller coaster. I’ll pass.
I think I’ll try to book #1 and if it’s full I’ll have 3 then 2 as backups.
Grand Cayman
I saw a travel show on Stingray City a few months back and decided to check it out.
I booked the Sensational Stingray Swim through Carnival for 39.99. I used my Carnival Mastercard so I got $4 back. There are a bunch of stingray excursions. I wasn’t interested in ziplining through the jungle or having lunch with the dolphins or any of that in the combo excursions. This is the bare bones Stingray City one. Another bonus booking through carnival for this one is the fact that GC is a tender port. So I won’t have to wait in line for a tender number. I can relax in the lounge until my excursion is called like I did in Belize. It’s an early one. 7:30 and it only runs two and a half hours. So if I want to do something else, I’ll have time. GC is an early port. I think we’re leaving at 3 or 3:30 and I believe it to be one of our elegant nights.
Cozumel
I ended up booking the Cozumel Barhop excursion on www.cozumelbarhop.com I’ve been to Cozumel many times but this will be my first time on the east side of the island.
Specialty Restaurants
This is where a lot of my OBC is going. I have a reservation for the steakhouse two nights, JiJi’s two nights, and Cuccina one night. The plan is to only eat in the MDR on the two elegant nights.
