wwforever11

Thank you so much for sharing! We are leaving for Alaska tomorrow afternoon and our cruise departs Friday! This sure helped as I am a planner!

We are just finishing our cruise today and thought Icy Strait Point Glacier Wind Charters was the best excursion we did. 18-year old college son and 20 year old daughter.

 

We did the following: Sea Plane in Ketchikan with Misty Fjord Air, Mendenhall Glacier with hike to Nugget Falls by taxi (four of us, so made sense, Mount Roberts Tramway with hike at top also in Juneau, White Pass RR up Fraser with Dyea Dave back to Carcross for Skagway.

 

Glacier Winds Charters whale and wilderness watching stood out. Sean is a pro. If I ever get back to Alaska, that's the only thing I would repeat. The rest were good (Dyea Dave has a very inexperienced new driver guide and it doesn't seem as if she has spent much time in Skagway, but she is nice and will improve throughout the summer).

Thank you so much! Unfortunately the Glacier Winds Charter is sold out:( But I will consider all of this in our planning!

Icy Strait Point book a private whale watching tour. You wont be disappointed. We have used FISHES in the past but they are now retired. We booked with Hoonah Whale Tours under a recommendation. Will be doing the tour in 3 weeks and can let you know. Private tours only take 6 people so makes for a great day.

We are heading on this cruise in August with our 14 year old as well. How was your private tour with Hoonah Whale Tours?

The float trip is probably my least favorite of 50+ excursions I've done in Alaska. I was almost bored (which is pretty much impossible in Alaska unless you're sitting in the Anchorage airport) and hypothermic after the first hour or so, since it was cold, rainy, and windy and they gave me wet boots to put on, which made staying warm pretty much impossible.

What excursions do you recommend??? Looking to book for Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Icy Strait.....please:):)

I am aware that Dunn's River is in Ocho Rios, as opposed to Falmouth, and because it'd be a long transfer, that would make for a long day, so that's another reason why I decided not to do it.

 

Your opinion from your experience is your opinion - I'm not going to judge you - but I myself have not been to Falmouth before, and feel that I should at least do something in port.

I agree....I'm actually on this thread trying to find something to do in Falmouth. We were there a few years ago and had cancelled our shore excursion due to a last minute financial obligation to one of our dogs. There isn't a whole lot to do at the port, and to walk outside of the gate is pretty unsafe (we heard from others). We ended up doing a bit of shopping, ice cream and going to Margarittaville where the kids swam. It was fun, however, I really didn't feel that we experienced Jamaica at all. Just an FYI....we were on the Independence of the Seas and one of the shore excursions to the Dunn River Falls had a tragic accident. One of the buses was hit head on by a large truck and it flipped. A woman died and left her tween daughter alone in Jamaica at the hospital. They were having a dream mother-daughter cruise together, while her husband and other 3 children were back in the US. It was awful.

Love the pictures and information! We are heading out on our cruise on January 11, 2016 and very excited. Your pics are the best!

For Labadee, we just enjoy the beach. We did a snorkel excursion there once and were disappointed. If you're making it a beach day, when you get there consult a map and walk or take the tram to Nellie's Beach or Columbus Cove. Many first timers to Labadee settle with the first beach they see and it's rocky, often windy, and not good for swimming. Nellie's and Columbus Cove are sandy and calm.

 

For Falmouth, you'll get mixed answers about beaches and the port in general. We've only been there twice...first time booked an independent excursion to Hilton Rose Hall (all inclusive resort) that had a wonderful beach, pool, water slides, lazy river, swim-up bar. On our second, none of the excursions appealed to us so we just walked around the gated port area for shopping and lunch/drinks at Margaritaville, then went back and enjoyed the ship's pool and hot tubs.

Thank you so much for the info! Did you find that the Hilton Rose Hall was worth the $$? For a family of 4, it would be approx $475.....?

Hi there! Just booked a cruise for January 2016. Heading to Falmouth, Jamaica and Labadee, Haiti. Was wondering if there were any shore excursions worth the $$?

OR.....are the beaches at the port nice enough?

Please help! Thanks much!

Thank you everyone for your opinions! Well, the Breeze it is! However, did anyone ever feel that there were too many kids to even experience the fun things that this ship has to offer? Too long of lines, etc?

So, I have been to Nassau on 3 different cruises, only because it has worked out with the cruiseships and dates that we have our cruises booked for. We are not big fans. It is a big industrial when you arrive, so not the prettiest port. And, the shopping near the port is a bit sketchy. We survived the Straw Market, however, at times I thought we might be murdered. :eek:

With that in mind...this time we decided to do the Blue Lagoon Sea Lion Encounter and LOVED IT. You are taken to the Blue Lagoon Beach on a double decker boat on approximately 30 minute ride to the island. A few different excursions are available....the Sea Lions, Dolphins, or just the Beach. Most opted for the Dolphins, but the Sea Lions were fantastic. I have to say though that the excursion for four of us was approx $450. Crazy! The beach was nice and it was a beautiful day. There is an area of the beach which has a bunch of inflatables (on the water trampolines, slides, activity areas). I think this area was an additional $15-20 charge/per person. This island reminded me of a lower end Castaway Cay. I would definately recommend it to others. They had a bar and eatting area which was good.

Good luck in your planning! Let me know if you want any pics of Blue Lagoon Island/beach.

We recently cruised on the Disney Dream in December 2013. LOVED it. Have been on Carnival several years ago, and we would love to cruise again this next winter (Jan 2015) but are on a limited budget and can't do Disney again (this time). Sooooo.....am trying to decide between the Freedom and the Breeze. I see that the Breeze is a pretty new ship, but large. Sometimes that isn't the greatest thing, means more people. Wondering what others think about travelling on a budget with 2 kids, age 10 and 13???:confused:

So, on Ebay they are selling these magnetic door signs/posters for cruisers. Is this something that many have on their cabin door?

Was wondering if many guest dress up for Pirate Night? I had purchased a costume and our nine year old said, "Mom, people won't make fun of you if everyone is dressed up"...lol! :rolleyes:

We are heading out on the Dream from December 15-19th 2013. Our Boys have loved pin trading at the Parks, but wondering about on the Cruise Ships. What should we expect? Do all the cast members trade or is it alot less on the ships?