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    Carnival Magic

    3.0 (14 reviews)

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    Amber Cove

    Last week I was in a party of seven who took a Caribbean cruise with the Carnival Cruise Line. I'm personally not partial to cruises; I've traveled to 34 different countries and I enjoy traveling at my own pace. This was my second cruise and I already knew that we would have to operate on the ship's schedule and visit only the areas that were accessible in the limited time we'd be at each port. We were scheduled to dock at "Celebration Key" in the Bahamas, "Amber Cove" in the Dominican Republic and Grand Turk in the Turks and Caicos. I was looking forward to the Bahamas because I have relatives there who I hoped to contact and I wanted to go to the Turks for the first time. My family is a jovial bunch and we always have a good time when we're together; strangers always join our fun and appreciate our jokes. I reluctantly agreed to go on the cruise because the majority of my family voted for it and because I knew that I'd have a good time because of the people I was traveling with. As far as the cruise goes; I'll first say that all of the Carnival employees were outstanding and I tipped them generously. All of my family members tipped. On the registration form, we were asked if we wanted to pay up front for gratuities and we all declined, knowing that we would be tipping onboard. I tipped more than the $96 that the registration form asked us to tip. On the final day of the cruise, one of my brothers noticed that he was charged the $96 gratuities fee despite our wishes. He told my other brothers but forgot to inform me. The others went to guest services and got refunds. I did not. The food was fine for the most part; the only things I hated were the burgers (a weird taste) and the tacos and burritos (the tortillas were freshly made, but they were not cooked. The first burrito I tried wasn't grilled at all. The second one was grilled but all of the tortillas still tasted like raw flour. Some of the food was outstanding. The ship wasn't able to stop at Celebration key because of the stormy weather; we spent an extra day at sea and continued to Amber Cove. Upon arrival at Amber Cove, we saw that it seemed to be a wholly owned encampment of Carnival Cruise Lines. It was totally fenced off and had no beach access and there was one entrance/exit to the rest of the island. An announcement was made before we disembarked that we should not take food or drink with us. We found a small fenced in area that had an irregularly shaped pool with water that wasn't deep. The people who got into the pool walked round and round the crowded circuit. There was a short zip line that cost $35 and a bunch of high-priced shops. I went to a cafe and paid $5 for a small cup of tea so I could sit and have internet access. It would have cost $27 (I believe that's accurate) per day for internet service on the ship and I'd already been warned that the service was subpar so I elected not to get it. I paid for internet and phone service through AT&T but it turned out to be unreliable too. The only Dominicans allowed in the encampment were those who worked there and all of them spoke English. I was highly disappointed. I love traveling abroad and being exposed to other cultures. I love to hear other languages and to try to communicate with locals. I felt cheated because Amber Cove felt like an outpost of America that was placed on the island of Hispaniola. I don't feel that I can rightly say that I've visited the Dominican Republic. I'm sure that Celebration Key would have been exactly the same. Americans who like locales like that should stay at home. What's the point of traveling outside the USA if you want to remain immersed in American culture?! We headed to Grand Turk afterwards, but the weather again caused us to forego docking there. Instead we turned around and went to Nassau in the Bahamas. Nassau was great; we were actually able to experience the ambiance of a different culture for awhile. We went to the beach and family members shopped and went to the casino at the Atlantis Hotel there. The fact that this wasn't just a fenced in American tourist trap made Nassau quite enjoyable.

    One stop amber cove
    Danielle G.

    We rated this cruise ship a 3/5 the boat is one of carnivals oldest so be prepared for older decor, beds were not good, small television and the food was just ok. For fun it was awesome!!! The service particularly Emmanuel was awesome, the casino bartenders were great and our cabin cleaner was great but after that the customer service lacked in comparison to other carnival ships we've been on

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    Regency Travel

    Regency Travel

    4.4(5 reviews)
    0.4 km

    Few travel agencies have the scope to deal with so many aspects of International travel. When you…read morefind your self in a traveling mood for work or pleasure I highly suggest Regency for your tickting.

    Okay, this has been a totally odd experience. It started with a 5 star review by me when we were…read morein the process of getting our large group cruise put together. Consider it excited optimism as a first time group coordinator who was full of hope and promise. Then we do the sailing. I followed up with the one star review that follows: "Okay, our cruise is done and I'm not all too pleased. The Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas and it's staff were great, but Regency sucked, IMHO. First off, the communication gaffs were horrible. We had 133 people on a 2700 passenger ship, or 5% of the total passengers. Sure, we're not the biggest group ever, but every customer is important. The problems: 1. Couldn't reach my agent, Linda, for final info, large package loading & contact on board for our room the Friday before we sailed. 2. That would have been no biggie except that on Monday, the day we sailed, she was unreachable after the morning when I had some issues with the situations on board. 3. The scheduled bus pick up time was booked 1 hour later than she told me she'd book it for us, causing 50 some-odd people to wait an extra 30 minutes in the sun for the first bus and another 30 people to wait 90 minutes in the sun for the second bus. 4. We had used some GAP points to give our passengers a bottle of Champagne in their stateroom, which was there, but with her & Regency taking credit for it. 5. Even though she stated there was a chance I wouldn't get an upgrade as a large group leader (and was assured not to book a higher grade), my wife and two children were shoehorned into a standard room when the cruise line sold the super high cost huge rooms that had been available for cents on the dollar to help fill the boat. If I had known they'd do that, I would have paid for one of them, she should have known that they do this. 6. After speaking with experienced cruisers, they stated that she should have booked herself on this cruise with a group our size, to make sure everything went perfectly. 7. She was paying for one of the buses, yet I got charged for both, and only a review of my CC statement caught that, after which the charge for the other bus was removed from me and put on them. I thought we were really getting top of the line help and assistance, but, in review of my notes of situations and some communication gaps, I think I was wrong about my first review. I guess I was just happily anxious and new to being the leader of a big group sailing. What really cheesed me was that on Monday when we sailed, I called her at noon from the boat and was told she'd left the office for the day (on a Monday) and called her cell phone. Yet, I received no calls back, nor did I get one today to see how everything went as a wrap. She was pushing to get another trip booked for later in the year. We'll have another big cruise (I'll let all my yelp friends know too, could be a fun event!!), but it won't be through Regency. Saddest thing is that Linda is one of the owners and her son & daughter play in my league and we should have received even more superior care. I know I'm not their only customer and I'm no more important than any of the others, but this just doesn't sit well with me. Oh well, live and learn and move on." Now fast forward to us awaiting our check from Regency for some money due back from RCCL that was being processed by Regency. I had been made aware that the check had been cut on January 26th but still hadn't received anything by late February. I then called them, specifically Linda, to find out what was going on. I was told Linda was on vacation until March 23rd and would have to wait until she got back, and then there was some seemingly subtle hint of her not liking the review I'd left on Yelp, which might have led to the delay. This was the gist of what was quickly stated by the person on the phone and then not followed up with by them, as I had to leave a message for the co-owner, Cindy. I spoke to Cindy, who's the co-owner of the agency with Linda, a little later, both via phone & email. She was unaware of the situation and none too pleased with what I had to tell her. She wasn't upset with me, but with how we were handled. I wasn't sure what direction this was going to go, so I removed all my reviews of them, as I wanted to make sure I received the money due us. Not that everything's clear, I've decided to post my whole ordeal. I have to give big props to Cindy, as she handled the situation professionally and quickly, while being apologetic about it. The reason they're getting two stars is her follow up. Having not dealt with the remainder of the agency, I can't speak for how good of a job they'd do, but I stand by my results from the dealings with Linda at cruise time, which were very disappointing. Like I said in my original deleted review, move on and up and go from there.

    Larimar Travels

    Larimar Travels

    5.0(1 review)
    0.0 km

    We used Larimar Travels for our recent family trip to mexcio and everything was handled perfectly…read more We had a beautiful hotel, awesome options for excursions, and transportation waiting for us at the airport to bring us to the hotel. Will did such a great job of anticipating our needs and delivering exactly what we wanted. The swimming with the dolphins adventure was incredible - I didnt think it would be that fun, but it was one of the coolest things I ever did. I def recommend it to anyone. We were so pleased with the level of experience from Larimar Travels that we are having them book our Destination Wedding next year in Mexico! I would recommend Larimar Travels to anyone looking to book a family or romantic getaway!

    From the owner: *Are you dreaming of the perfect wedding on the beach -- but find yourself stuck and overwhelmed…read morewhen it comes to research, reservations, and nit-picky details? *Do you want the fun and excitement of creating your dream honeymoon or destination wedding with a professional who's more than just a "planner," but someone who's passionate about extraordinary travel, is a romantic at heart, and who truly understands you and really gets the vision of your unique celebration? *Are you looking for a fun, personable, and knowledgeable expert who can find the absolute best location for you and your guests -- a place that's romantic, intimate, gorgeous, and budget-savvy? *Do you want the peace of mind that comes with knowing your personally-customized destination wedding and honeymoon are being handled by someone who has dedicated his life to creating stunning travel experiences? If you've tried to do this on your own, you already know: the effort that goes into creating the illusion of a trouble¬-free destination wedding can be exhausting. Lucky for you, Larimar Travels has a fabulous history of planning the most amazing celebrations! When you work with me, you aren't just working with a travel agent, and you are not just working with a wedding planner. My unique background with over 10 years in the travel and hospitality industries ensures you and your guests will get comprehensive guidance with your destination wedding and travel plans. Ready to get started?

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    Princess Cruises - Amazing theater

    Princess Cruises

    2.3(412 reviews)
    0.3 km

    We just wrapped up a land and cruise trip that was comprised of 8 days on land a week long cruise…read more We began in Fairbanks and stayed at the Fairbanks Princess Riverside lodge (separate reviews for all lodges so check those out) then moved to Princess owned lodges in Denali, McKinley and finishing in Kenai. We boarded the ship in Whittier Alaska so this review is regarding our onboard time. We booked a Reserve class Mini Suite which was at the very front of the ship L108. We did this as the room has a large balcony above the bridge and we wanted excellent views of the glaciers. The room itself is very large, nice entrance and closet space, as well as a sitting area with TV and comfy bedroom with another TV and an incredible view out the bedroom room . I will say we were a bit spoiled as to food quality on land and the ship food simply isn't measuring up. Salmon, halibut, steaks are SO DRY and overcooked unfortunately. Soups are bland (corn chowder and salmon chowder specifically) and watered down. I know princess isn't known for food quality but yikes; it's been rough. Service from the staff is great to excellent- they are working hard to please even though there are obvious cuts. We did purchase the premier package and although they made cuts to the program in July of 2025, since we purchased BEFORE then, they are honoring what we purchased- so we have unlimited fitness classes for example (that's gone from new purchases). The entertainment has been excellent and we are never without 'something to do' when we are sailing. The captain has kept us abreast of any issues as well.

    I have to say that, so far, I genuinely regret choosing Princess Cruises. My friend made the…read morereservation and purchased the package, and since I had never taken a cruise in the U.S. before, I trusted her judgment and went along with her choice. I have cruised with MSC in Europe on a Mediterranean itinerary, so that is really my only point of comparison. The two cruises were in a similar price range, but the overall experience has been completely different, honestly, day and night. One of my biggest frustrations has been the additional charges. I paid about $480 for internet, and the plan can only be used on one device at a time. If I want to switch between my phone and another device, I have to go into the app and manually swap devices. On my MSC cruise, I paid around €100 for internet, and I remember both the service and overall experience being much better. The dining experience has also been disappointing. On MSC, we were able to make restaurant reservations and enjoy different dining options throughout the cruise. The ship was newer, beautifully decorated, and, most importantly, everything felt very clean. Unfortunately, this Princess ship feels quite old to me, and in several areas I have noticed a musty or mold-like smell. I have also been surprised by some of the extra gratuity charges. For example, we noticed an $18 gratuity charge associated with dining, which was mentioned in very small print at the bottom of the menu. I only realized it after seeing the charge on our account. On another occasion, during formal night, champagne was being handed out and appeared to be complimentary, but we later noticed another gratuity-related charge. These types of charges should be communicated much more clearly upfront. The buffet has probably been one of the biggest disappointments. The food quality has been mediocre in my experience, and the variety is extremely limited. On MSC, I remember being able to choose from several different cuisines and food stations representing different countries. Here, the selection feels repetitive and much more limited. Customer service has also been inconsistent. With a few exceptions, many of the front-desk and restaurant staff members I have interacted with have seemed impatient or unfriendly. A Brazilian staff member in one of the restaurants was especially pleasant, and our cabin attendant, Fred, has been wonderful, friendly, professional, and one of the few people who has consistently made us feel welcome. Another frustrating example: I called to request a bottle of water for my room, fully expecting to pay for the water itself, but I was told there would also be an additional $5 charge just to have it delivered. At this price point, these constant extra charges start to feel excessive. The pools are also quite small and crowded, and, personally, they have not looked clean enough for me to feel comfortable getting into them. The ship also seems to move quite a bit, although that may simply be related to the ship's size, weather, or ocean conditions. The passenger demographic on this particular sailing also skews considerably older than I expected. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it does affect the atmosphere and entertainment, and it may be something younger or more active travelers want to consider when choosing a cruise line or itinerary. Overall, my experience so far has been disappointing. Between the condition of the ship, limited food choices, extra charges, internet pricing, and inconsistent customer service, I have not found anything significant that makes Princess stand out in a positive way. Based on my experience on this sailing, I personally would not choose Princess Cruises again. Compared with my previous MSC Mediterranean cruise, which was in a similar price range, the difference in value, cleanliness, dining, and overall experience has been substantial.

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    Princess Cruises - The look on their faces lol...

    The look on their faces lol...

    Princess Cruises - Our 360 table experience

    Our 360 table experience

    Princess Cruises - Sail away event

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    Sail away event

    Carnival Magic - travelservices - Updated October 2026

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