TeamNOJO

I am one of those packers...the ones that has a packing list in a spreadsheet complete with a separate list for each traveler in my family. We pack off this list and it makes it much easier for everyone to check their luggage for everything they need.

I have never left anything behind - that wasn't on the list. However, I have found that I have to edit the list from time to time.

We even have a cruise bag that stays packed most of the time with things we only use while cruising. Like everyone else says like magnets, pens, highlighters, tape, small scissors, night lights. etc. We even have pouches that I made that carry our sea pass cards. These stay with our cruise stuff because this is the only time we use them.

Everyone is different but we like to start early. It builds the excitement and anticipation of a great vacation!

I read mitsugirly's review of the Nachi Cocom from 2013 and know what the sand and beach are like there. Does anyone have any knowledge if the sand is still hard to walk in and the sand drops off at the beach. Just looking for confirmation that it is still like that now.

Is the sand like that all the way down to Mr Santos Beach too, since they are right next to each other?

I suggested Paradise Beach for our next cruise, but the rest of them wouldn't hear of it.....back to Nachi....:o

 

Fine with me:D

The sand on Paradise Beach back in 2006 was horrible. It was full of coral and very sharp. Just FYI!

We docked at Falmouth 2 years ago and there was store in the port area that sold Jamaican Blue Coffee. They gave away samples. He LOVED it!

Does anyone know if you can get it in decaf???

We also used Capt Marvin's for our party of 9. We created our own tour through Cayman and even got to spend some time at the beach at Royal Palms. He set up a time to come and pick us back up at the beach and even provided his cell phone number so if we wanted to leave earlier, he would come back.

It was the best excursion we have EVER had. And the whole day only cost us about $40 per person which included a stop at the Turtle Farm. I even had mobility issues and needed a walker. Our tour guide was nice enough to help me in and out of our van and fold up my walker each time we stopped.

This will be very helpful if you are needed to bring a stroller!

We highly recommend Capt Marvin's. We set up everything through email! We were nervous about doing an excursion without going through the ship. This was our 1st experience setting up our own excursion and will always be highly recommended by us.

Think about it .... For people who don't like the beach or water sports there really isn't that much to do especially for those who have been there bunches of times.

Since we like the beach, it's no problem for us but can understand it could be for others who don't.

 

Grand Cayman is one of the safest port stops in the Caribbean ... but it is also one of the most expensive. ;)

 

LuLu

Cayman is not that expensive. Jamaica is more! Costa Maya is 4 times what Cayman is - we found the same shirt in Costa Maya that was $20 but in Cozumel it was $5, go figure that one out. But Like you said, Cayman is the safest island in the Caribbean! And they are proud of that fact. We love Cayman and have been on many cruises. One of the most fun things to do is to keep going back and trying new things in the ports. Cayman is one of those ports that there is so much to do. The first time we were there, the turtle farm was so little. It's grown so much in 12 years that it is neat to go back and see it again. Still not sure what we are going to do in Cayman but sitting on the beach, relaxing sound like the best thing in the world right now!

Last year we found squaredancer44 on our roll call from Cruise Critic. It was awesome. Just finding someone else who cached and cruise was great. The best part was all the travel bugs we had with us. We were able to give them some to move along.

Some advice...travel bugs Dont dont do well if taken on a cruise. I released one in Hell, Grand Cayman and it disappeared.

Having done a few along the way, there is no way to do caching and a ship excursion as well. We have booked private tours and have had good success. We have two more we are doing this year. We asked for someone in Cozumel that knew about it. Will let you knowmhownit goes!!!

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With 12 million improvements starting next week to terminal #2

 

at PORT of Galveston,

 

the Port is also promising to change and hopefully improve

ingress and egress off Haborside with terminals #1&2.

 

 

Improvements to terminal are to be finished by summer 2015!

And before Liberty arrives in November 2015.

The reason for these increases is to pay for these improvements. The Port of Galvestion signed a deal with Royal Caribbean to improve the terminals. It was signed back in Jan 2014 and it was an investment of $10m. see here: http://www.portofgalveston.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=31

Even if the parking goes up $30 extranfor a 7 nite cruise - for us it's still cheaper than 6 plane tickets and 2 hotel rooms. We love Galveston and will continue to board there. We also love small business and as long as they offer comparable rates and shuttle service - we will still use them.

Just think, even if it cost $100 to park and be shuttled, it's still cheaper than the top 3 cruise ports! (Flying is such a hassle and you feel so rushed.)

Just wanted everyone to know the real reason behind the increase. Yes it's incredible greedy the amount they are increasing to but there is a reason and you will begin to see the benefits next summer!

Happy cruising everyone!