Just back from the JUBILEE, long but detailed report

[ysteve1]

First off this was our first cruise and honeymoon so we don’t have anything to compare with. This is kinda long but detailed, if you don’t want to read the whole thing then skip to the bottom where I rate the food and stuff.
To lay some groundwork before the cruise. We get to Galveston the night before and stay at the Commodore on the Beach. The hotel was very nice and we are considering going back for just hotel and beach time (although we will probably look for some place that allows pets so we can bring our dogs to the beach). We had dinner at Gaido’s, which was very good but a little high priced for our budgets, next time we’ll eat at Casey’s (owned by the same people) a little less money, same food. This is were the “fun” begins. The wife is sick all night, don’t think it was the food because I ate food from her plate and was fine. Thank goodness Kroger’s is open late because I made a couple late night runs trying to buy stuff to make her feel better.
The next morning, miserable weather, windy cool and wet, we take the hotel shuttle at 11 am with three other couples and arrive at the terminal around 11:30. The check in line wasn’t too long, it went quick. They had our dinnertime wrong (wanted late and was assign early, had checked with the TA twice before trip to confirm late sitting) so had to get that changed with the matra de (?) once on board. After check in had to wait in another line to board, once again not too bad of a wait except for the one screaming kid who just didn’t want to stop crying (poor mom was trying everything).
The boarding begins and even though we were in two separate lines it’s a mad dash for the single entry point and the “cheesy” boarding photo. For all those who are worried about the “new” beverage restrictions, don’t be. We saw people carrying 12 packs on board with no attempt to hide them. We brought a six pack of bottled water and sprite, 4 airplane size bottles of crown and absolute each and a 5 liter box of white wine, packed in our luggage with no problems. We even carried on some Pringles, Doritos and a 32 oz Gatorade in a Wal-Mart bag. Nothing was said to anyone that we saw.
We make it on board and find our room (e59). Just to let you know, take the stairs, it’s a lot quicker and the whole cruise one of the four elevators was broken in the area closest to our room. The décor wasn’t too bad, yes it was out dated but not horrible. I understand that sometime soon this year the Jubilee will be dry docked and redone. Once in the room we half unpack, hanging the tux and dresses, meet our stewardess (very nice girl from Indonesia) and have her remove the sodas and water that were in the room ($2.50 soda, $3.25 water), tipped her a buck. The next day asked for an extra ice bucket and ice (for drinks brought with us) she told us that because it was a full ship they didn’t have any extra buckets, she gave me more ice, tipped another buck. Later we had an extra bucket and were never without ice, she kept them both full of fresh ice.
Now starts the disappointing part of the trip. We are told we would be delayed while they wait for essential personnel. Well three hours later we finally get under way, we were supposed to leave around 4 it wasn’t until after 7 that we left Galveston. No compensation was given.
Since we were 3 hours late leaving the captain decided to “haul ass”, or so it seemed to all the passengers, to make up time. The only problem with that was it was very rough out due to the high winds, (could see white caps out the widow), this caused the wife to get sick all over again. Had to go and track down some seasick pills, since everything was closed at this time (after midnight) the purser desk gave me a couple. They didn’t help. The next day we tried the wristbands, didn’t work, we bought some pills, since she was already sick they wouldn’t stay down and hence didn’t work. She was really sick because she missed lobster night (I had to eat one for her so I had two) and she was ready to fly back home once we reached land (she hates flying).
Word of advice, if you think you might get sick, take the pills BEFORE getting on the ship, they need at least an hour to take effect. Since she was already sick before getting on the ship and by the time she started to take preventative measures it was already to late for them to help. And you need a doctor’s prescription for the patch. I was fine throughout this whole ordeal. To me the motion felt like going through turbulence on an airplane. It wasn’t bad at all.
Once we reached land and she was able to calm down, the pills worked great and she wasn’t sick the rest of the cruise.
Back to the problems, Since we were late leaving that meant we were late arriving Calica by some three hours. The one excursion (the catamaran, they said not enough people signed up but they cancelled before we even arrived) that we signed up for was cancelled the day before we arrived and a bunch of others were cancelled after arriving. The only ones going were the land excursions, park, ruins, shopping trip, and beach. So we ended up going to the park, Xcaret. It was fun, the “underground” river was nice and the tower was pretty neat. We didn’t stay for the night show, went back to the ship to rest and get ready for dinner.
Cozumel was eh. I went scuba diving, which was great. The ship used Sand Dollar Sports, they weren’t bad. They knew what they where doing, their boat was nice and clean. There were 13 of us so they divided us into two smaller groups, 7 and 6. I was in the group of six. The dive master was very good, we also had a videotographer, Pepe, with us and they both pointed out some good sites while in the water. I think our first dive was Santa Rosa Wall and the second was Paraiso Reef. We saw an eagle ray, some stingrays, two nurse sharks and a bunch of other fish I don’t remember the names of. The only complaint I have is these were both timed dives. Being an experienced diver with a computer I had plenty of air left over after both dives, 1000 +. I understand where they are coming from trying to keep everyone together and surfaced at the same time but I would have liked to stay down longer.
Getting back to the ship was a pain in the butt. The ship was no longer at dock, it was out and you had to take a boat out to get back. That was an hour wait. After getting the wife, who stayed on board while I scuba, we had another hour wait to take the boat back to shore. So now we lost 2 hours waiting to get on and off the ship giving us an hour to shop in town. Forget about trying to bargain with the stores, there were 9 cruise ships docked, Jubilee being the smallest, (maybe that’s why they couldn’t stay docked, size does matter) and the shops weren’t budging from original prices. So we didn’t buy anything (could find it all cheaper here in San Antonio) except for a pin from Hard Rock that my sister wanted. We get back in line for our hour wait to get back on board the ship. By this time they had two boats taking people back to the ship. This was interesting, the had this one boat that had an open upper deck and an enclosed lower deck with a few windows. Buy the time it came to our turn this boat was already past capacity so we were letting people go in front of us. They stopped loading, then called for 4 more, the 20 more then 4 more again. Now this thing looked like the refugee boats you see on the news coming from Haiti of something, very scary how they kept packing them on. Glad we waited for the next boat cause it was half full and it was very entertaining watching the under aged drunks trying to get on the boat, no drinking age here.
Security was pretty weak getting back on the ship at both stops. They did have metal detectors but it was constantly going off and they weren’t checking. You have to swipe your sail & sea card to get back on but I don’t think they really check as long as it does the right beep. I used my wife’s card and she used mine and no one said a thing. If you bought alcohol on shore you were suppose to have it checked in but the check in booth was so far away from where you board people were just going up the stairs, again no one said anything. (No we didn’t buy alcohol on shore, it was cheaper in the ship, by a dollar or two per bottle).
Security was even weaker after the cruise was over. Any schmoe with anything illegal could have waltzed back into the US. Here I was worried about buying too much alcohol because living in Texas you’re only allowed to bring back 1 liter per person. I could have brought back a liquor store and no one would have said a thing. After filling out our immigration form on board ship and writing down our declarations (we both declared $100, alcohol and a watch for me) we got our red stamp from immigration, no questions. We disembarked and picked up our luggage, go through customs (ha, that’s a oxymoron). A single guy (no guards) in a little booth asking if you have any plants or vegetables. Who cares if I’m carrying anything else, drugs, explosives, Cuban cigars, my own liquor store, of course I wasn’t but it sure would have been nice to see some sort of security to get back into the United States. Especially during these times when security is supposedly at it’s highest.

Now about the ship

Décor: Yes it’s a little dated and wore out in places but it’s not bad for a ship built in the early 80’s.

Room: Not a bad size, but you really don’t stay there except to sleep (unless of course you’re sick). There is a TV with very limited channels, some times only the ship channel works (I know more about how the Jubilee works than I really want to) again not there unless you’re sick.

Steward/ess: She was very friendly and attentive. Room was always cleaned and stocked (ice, towels etc). Biggest complaint, we never got the towel animals that everyone was talking about. Very disappointed there, we did get to see what they looked like during the F & B tour.

Entertainment: The shows I thought were very good and fun. Had a couple of comedians, musicals (liked the Broadway show the best) magician and guest talent show. Sucked at BINGO but that’s not the cruise’s fault, I just suck at all gambling. Played in the Newlywed not so Newlywed game, knew we were in trouble when I got our length of marriage wrong on the application ticket (I put 5 days when it was suppose to be 7), we got second out of three. All in all good job crew.

Shopping on Board: Like I stated earlier, bought all liquor on board. Two liter bottles of Crown Royal, $31, Two liter bottles of Baileys, $29. plus two free bottles, 1 rum, 1 vodka. Bought these the first night, they said this was the only time for the special, but that was not true, it was the same price throughout the cruise. (maybe the free bottles was the special not sure). The ship kept the alcohol until the last night of the cruise. The watches were considerably cheaper then on shore. I had bought my wife a watch as a wedding gift that I saw $100 cheaper on board, oh-well.

Casino: Since I stated earlier about sucking at gambling I didn’t gamble but I did take the lessons just in case, (did very well during the craps lessons but it wasn’t my money). I watched a lot of people win money, one guy in particular at roulette did a great job. Also saw a lot of black jack winners.

Food: The food in the Burgundy dining room was very good. We mainly just ate diner there and breakfast twice, the final two days. In hind sight we should have had breakfast there everyday also. You could have as much as you want of any of the items on the menu. Our tablemates and myself abused that often. I only had one bad meal, the first, it was a sirloin, I asked for med rare and it was more well done and very tough, everyone else had a good stake the way they order it.
Lido deck food was so-so. It was served in steam tables so it wasn’t very warm. The omelet made to order was good, and the hamburgers were great when they were fresh off the grill otherwise they were cool and over cooked. Pizza was great and desserts were wonderfull. Like I said next time more meals in the main dining room.
The dress code for the main dining room wasn’t as strict as you read about. Shorts allowed for breakfast and lunch. I saw jeans and t-shirts during dinner and one guy even had a sleeveless shirt, which I thought went to far. Only one night was dress up night, our second night. I wore a black tux, but there were a lot of coat and ties and some with no ties.

I think that about covers everything. All in all it was a fun trip, my wife even had a good time after she stopped getting sick. If you’re worried about getting sick, take your pill while waiting in line to board.

Have fun and remember be patient and relax, you’re on vacation. Saw way too many snobby “Americans” treating the crew badly, the crew deserves better. A lot of them work 7 days straight for 7 months with no breaks trying to make your vacation a good one.

If you have any questions about anything or about something I forgot let me know.

Thanks
And sorry it was sooooo long

Steve

1st Cruise Jubilee 03/03/03

[First Timer]

Enjoyed reading your message. We are going to Cozumel and Playa del Carma the end of this month on Holiday. Just wondered when you went and how the weather was once you made it out of Galveston. Thanks.

[ysteve1]

The cruise was a 5 day cruise leaving 03 March 2003. The weather was great once we reached the lower Gulf. Sunny but windy in the high 80's. Water temperature in Cozumel (for SCUBA) was around 82 at 80 ft.
Hope that helped
steve

Thanks for the great, detailed review. Congratulations!!!!

Steve - thanks for the GREAT review. I am a first time cruiser on the Jubilee on April 14th for the same ports. Mon-Sat

I have be very apprehensive since reading some other negative reviews but yours gave me a real feel for the ship. Thanks for the advice to relax and enjoy. I was scared by the possibility of rough seas but it sounds like you are never in real danger just a little anxious and then it passes.

Really looking forward to the ports. I am thinking of going to the beach in the morning and then doing the 1/2 day bus trip to Tulum from Playa that afternoon. Then in Cozumel I have heard good things about Nachi Cochum and other resorts that have everything. Just relaxing on the beach and a little looking around town.

I will definately check out the casino and comedy shows. Food and service sounds great and that is what I hear from everyone.

A little nervous to hear about the lax security and the ferrys back to the boat but again...... I am going to focus on the fun and make it an ADVENTURE.

thanks for sharing!

[ysteve1]

Tarra,
If you book your excursions with Carnival, the half day trip to Tulum is in the morning (or at least it was for us). I think this would be better for you anyhow that way you can go to the beach for as long as you like in the afternoon and not have to worry about catching a bus later. A few of out table-mates did the beach in Playa and they loved it.
As far as getting sick by the motion, don't worry about, but if you are just take a pill before you get on the ship on Monday and you will be fine. We had no problems with motion. If my wife hadn't been sick Sunday before we left I believe she would have been fine the first two days at sea. As it was she had no problems from Wednesday on.
Have a great time and try and get involved with the onboard activities. Some of them were really fun.

steve

I was watching the security screens when we re-boarded our last ship and saw that both my husband's and my picture popped up either of our cards were scanned. That is why you didn't have any trouble when you had each other's cards.

[doxiedog2001]

Yikes! I typed a whole long big email and this site lost it because I wasn't logged in. Oh well, it was probably because I had way to much blah-blah-blah in it.

So, Steve, I will spare you and cut to the chase.

Thank you for taking the time to recap your trip. My husband and I will be taking the Jubilee on May 31 out of Galveston with my niece and her cousin as a high school graduation present to them.

Questions:
What was the age make up of the passengers on your trip?
Did you hang out at the pool?
If you were 17, what would you want to do for fun on the ship?
For fun at the ports (good-clean fun)?
Would it be safe to let the kids do anything alone? For instance, if we go to the resort park, could they wonder around safely?

Thanks for the info on the drinking age (there is none) and the overloading of the tenders.

Congratulations!

Janice

[ronda]

Thanks for the review Steve .. We will be on the Jubilee for the first time on Sept 1 2003 .. All the information we can gather is useful to us . We took our first cruise on Sept 1 2002 on the Fantasy . The Fantasy was a beautiful ship , I have no complaints at all about the Fantasy

[ysteve1]

Janice,
As far as the age makeup of our trip (this was the first week before the major spring break) it varied with mostly 20-30+ and then small kids with their parents. School was still in session so I really didn't notice many high school aged kids (there were a few around the pool area). My wife and I mainly layed out on the upper forward deck, the pool area was pretty crowded and very active.
As far as fun for teenagers they always had some sort of activities going on that they could get involved with (trivia, bingo, pool side games) as well as basket ball, shuffle board and a game arcade (casino and all alchol on board ship was for 21 and over I believe). They do have a carnival fun thing but I think that's for the pre-teen kids.
As far as the ports go you should have no trouble letting the kids go to Xcaret or the park at Cozumel (Chankanaab park) alone and hanging out. It seemed pretty safe and secure. I would not let them go into town by themselves, In Playa de Carmen or Cozumel, not that they would do anything but what others might. You always hear some story, especially involving young girls. Now they do have some shops right on the pier in Cozumel that they could walk around but I wouldn't let them leave that area alone (there are gaurds at the entrance letting only cruise people in).
Cozumel also has a mini golf course that I hear is real fun (its run by an american couple) (check www.cruisecritic.com and look for "Mini golf Sally" there are a lot of posts and she is always on line helping others find things to do)

hope this helps and have a great time.
cya,
steve

[ronda]

Hi Steve ! Need to ask you a question please , when you docked in Cozumel how far was it to Carlos & Charlies ?

[ysteve1]

Ronda,
Carlos & Charlies was a $6 taxi ride (one way). You could probably walk it, but it's maybe 2-3 miles (?) with very narrow sidewalks and lots of crazy traffic. The taxi ride is a fixed rate to and from the the dock so if you can share with others it's a little cheaper per person.
(Hard Rock Cafe is a couple blocks past Carlos & Charlies, but everything into town is the same rate)

steve

Steve, a VERY good review on your trip! I will be going on my first cruise on Conquest, and you answered alot of my questions, and I will also follow some of the advice you gave. I am a travel agent, and the only thing that might not have been the agents fault was the dinner times, when you book with CCL, they do ask if any medical needs and what dining time you want, if they were full at the late-seating according to what the reservationist was looking at, that might explain why you got the wrong times, but then cancellations might explain how you got it back.

PS-the only thing I don't suggest to anyone is, don't EVER get "wait-listed" for a cruise, not worth it, cost more that the next cruise would.

Steve,
Thanks for the review. My husband and I will be sailing on 4/24. This will be our first Carnival cruise and our first time in the western Caribbean. We were a bit apprehensive after reading some of the other reviews, but sounds like it should be just fine.
Crystal

[Dzamma]

Steve,
Thank you sooo much for posting. My daughter and I sail on the Jubilee in 3 days. There's not much info or reviews on her. Yours was great. We are very excited. Thanks again.



Awaiting the Jubilee:
June 5,03


Past cruises:
Celebration----7-10-01