My niece and I will be sailing on the 18th for the first time on the Holiday (stopping in Progreso and Cozumel).  I've heard mixed reviews about the ship and hope that we are mentally prepared for the good and the bad.  

There are so many excursion options!  I'm still trying to decide if I should book with Carnival or if I should book the excursion with a private co. down there.  My niece is 11 and wants to see the ruins in progreso and we haven't nailed down anything for cozumel.  Any suggestions?  Also, if you are trying to get a tour together, let me know, we may be interested in something like that!

We are getting ready to sail on the Holiday for the 3rd time.  Don't listen to any of the bad reviews!  She is a wonderful ship.  Get onboard expecting to have a good time and you will!  Just cruise as a passenger, not a cruise critic.  You are on vacation....it will be awesome!  We are taking our boys to do the Stingray excursion in Cozumel.  We have done it before with our daughter in Grand Cayman and it was a blast!   We always book our excursions with Carnival before we leave.  That way we are assured that it has not sold out.  If you get a chance, eat at Panchos in Cozumel.  Great food and a beautiful courtyard.  Yummy margaritas.  Ask for Antonio!  Oh, and stay away from the casino.  SHE is evil

Jessicab34, I have just returned from my cruise on Carnival Triumph out of New York and I will be sailing on Holiday for both July 4th as well as July 18th itinerary calling on the same ports. I sail for the joy of the ocean and that is most thrilling. I carry an ocean floor map and know exactly which trenches and ridges we are passing over. In my opinion there are more to enjoy about or in an ocean then ports.

Trust me, I have "LOSER" written on my forehead when it comes to cruises.  I live here in Mobile, right by the biloxi casinos and have nothing for it.  I would rather spend my money on those yummy margaritas!!  Thanks for the info!

Let me suggest Nachi Cocom Beach Resort in Cozumel. You can go to the site by the same name. Catch a taxi at the hub when you get into Cozumel, it's a beautiful drive thru Cozumel, around 15.00 one way and takes about 20 minutes to get there but it is an exclusive beach, they only take 100 people per day and it is all inclusive. All you can drink, alcohol and non, sodas, water and they have a wonderful menu you order from that is also included in your price of 49.99 per person. They have these little "huts" on the beach with lounge chairs underneath, 2 per hut, that look out to the ocean and the beach is perfect white sand. They have a pool with a swim up bar and a hot tub attached to the other side. There is also, for additional fee, the oppurtunity to parasail, which my husband and I did, and to rent sea-doos for 30 mins at a time which we also did. It was FANTASTIC!!! Space is very limited so don't wait long if this is something you think you are interested in. We are also cruising the Holiday the last week in July and are returning to Cozumel and have already booked this excursion again. Best wishes and have a GREAT CRUISE no matter what you decide to do.............

We too are doing the Holiday on the 18th. We have chosen to do the ATV/Snorkel in Cozumel. I am sure we might pass as we have a 9 and 12 yo (boys). I am super pumped and dont care what others say about the older ship. We got a GREAT price and its all about having fun. hope you have a great time!!! 

We will be on this sailing also.  July 18th will be our 39th anniversary.  Our first cruise was on the Holiday back in 1995 for our 25th.  We've been hooked ever since.  We want to cruise her one last time to say goodbye to the "ole girl".

We have booked a mini submarine tour in Coz and plan to get a massage on the beach in Progreso.

I've already started packing.  Can't wait.

cw

Congards on the 39th, that is a great accomplishment in todays divorce happy times, we will be celbrating our 22nd a few days late, but like I told the wife better late than never. We have been on the Holiday once before and enjoyed it.

We haven't booked any excursion yet, we are thinking of doing a beach resort in Coz.

If we don't see you on the cruise HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

MG

We are taking our first cruise on The Holiday out of Mobile on the 18th of July as well.

Since Cozumel has more to see and do near the port, we decided to do our excursion at the Progresso port.  We are doing the Progresso Resort Beach Break at the Reef Club Beach Resort.

I have written this same review on other blogs since I returned from my druise on June 20-25. I too was leary about  cruising on this ship after reading the more bad than good reviews about this ship. I am very happy to report that NONE of the bad reviews were true. My family and I had a WONDERFUL time on this ship. I do not understand where these bad reviews came from. No brown water no bad smells that was told on the blogs.We were celebrating our 20th anniversary and wish I could sail on this ship again.We went to the Nachi Cocum Beach Resort in Cozumel and it was heaven. Private beach and very quiet and relaxing. I booked it through its website. Have fun on this great ship.