Mud_Shark

I was told by Princess last year that you only need 1 month of passport remaining to enter any of Mexico, Canada or the US if you hold a US or Canadian passport. We took the Mexican Riviera cruise without a problem.

Don

My wife gave them a go last time, but I just couldn't muster up the courage to give them a try.

Don

Give it time to settle. I have seen the price go up today on the two cruises we are considering and then actually come down to a point that is below what was advertised for the sip and sail promo, so I hope it stays at the lower point once the 3 for free promo begins. They are resetting things and it may take a bit of time for the actual prices to be displayed.

Don

Does not currently show for our November cruise. I wonder if that means they are changing the price or the limits and getting ready to introduce a new package?

Don

We are booked for cave tubing in November but I too am having second thoughts. It sounds like a lot of travel for a short window of experience. Not sure if we will do it or cancel and snorkel the reef instead.

Don

Ah - I figured out the $800 max OBC thing. It is based on 4 in a room. So the max for two in a room is $400.

Don

How can there be OBC up to $800 per stateroom when the maximum on the chart was $200 per person for 13+ days in a balcony or above? Is the $800 including the value of gratuities?

This sale is slightly reduced from the previous ones, if this chart is correct. Last two seasons we received $150 OBC per person for an inside 14 day cruise. This year it is $100 per person. We will likely still book a cruise - but a little more erosion....

Don

Thanks for the tip Sci Fi. I will see if I can find anything on such a shuttle. If not, we will do the taxi (unless we can set up an UBER over wifi because we will not have a phone with us.)

Don

Has anyone done a back to back where you disembark in Port Everglades and then embark same day in Port of Miami? What would be the best way to make the transfer and what would be the cost and the time required to do this?

Thanks. We are considering a Princess cruise in November and then the day it disembarks, heading over to Miami to board an RCL cruise. We have never done uber or lyft, and usually don't travel in the US with cell phone coverage, so is a taxi our best (but priciest) option? Don't want it to be a $200 trip or anything. Thanks

Don

Sorry - Have not yet done this either, but am planning to in November on the Royal Princess.

My wife and I love to snorkel, and we plan to do that for the morning. But we have a little extra OBC and noticed that we can get a couple hours of fishing in so we will be signing up for the afternoon slot. I love to fish, but have no experience doing so in the Caribbean. I don't really anticipate catching grouper or anything sizable, but we would be satisfied with whatever, as long as there is a reasonable possibility of a bite. Obviously you can't take it with you anyway, so it is all catch and release.

I will post in November with our experience.

Don

We took the bus to Pearl in the morning, and spent several hours, including doing the tour of the submarine and Mighty Mo BB, as well as the Arizona. We took the bus back in the late afternoon, caught a bite to eat on the ship, and then walked to the beach. Took a swim at sunset and were back on board with plenty of time to spare. It was a fairly long walk but we are walkers.

Don

Can you not Email this in? Who uses Fax machines anymore? I bought my shares on Monday. Just looking for an easier way to send this in beside regular mail and fax. Link information does not provide an email. Anyone know? Thanks

Don

If you are a beach person, the Caribbean wins hands down over the Mexican Riviera. We enjoyed our Mexico cruise but continue to give preference to the Caribbean. The one thing the Mexican cruise had over the Caribbean ones is the sea life visible from on ship. We saw several whales following along beside the ship on different days, plus large pods of dolphins on a regular basis.

Don

Quite a number of Rental companies in Orlando airport offer 15 pax vans for rent. That would give you plenty of room for your luggage.

Also, have you checked flights? We are going from Disney to Fort Lauderdale in Nov and found morning flights for $60 pp (one way as we are flying directly home from Ft Lauderdale) on Silver Airlines. That's as cheap as any shuttle or bus.

Don

Thanks all for the replies.

I am completely green/rookie/noob as far as investing or the stock market goes. We just have bank controlled mutual funds.

Sounds like TD Ameritrade or something similar is the way to go - however, we are Canadian and I don't want to have to convert money (and lose on the exchange), if I can purchase directly from Canada. Do all these big investment firms that are online have way to invest straight from Canadian Dollars?

Don

Can you purchase stock direct from Carnival Corp over the phone? Or do you need to go through an online discount broker? I have never purchased stock but am considering the basic 100 shares as a partial investment and as a travel benefit when we cruise, but I have no idea how this is exactly done.

Anyone willing to step me through the process? Thanks

Don

When I try to add OBC to my booking, it still offers me the OBC at the same rate I booked.

I booked at 1.20 exchange rate. I am offered 3 categories for adding OBC - $30, $60 or $120 Cdn. These amounts equate to adding $25, $50, or $100 US OBC to my shipboard account.

Don

Stone Island in Mazatlan is a long beach that has restaurants lined all along the beach. Most offer free beach loungers if you order something from them. This is an inexpensive beach outing as you can take the water taxi over from the port for a couple dollars. You can walk to the water taxi from the ship, but it is about a 10 minute walk. Taxis will also take you to the water taxi.

Don

I find that prices increase a week or two before the next sale so that it looks like a good sale when it begins.

Don

We too thought we would be against the Royal for the lack of an aft pool and the lack of a wrap around promenade, but I must say, the ship has won us over.

We loved to hang at the aft pool and do an hour and a half of walking on the promenade, and thought those two items would put us off from the Royal, but we loved her! We are sailing again on her this November before she leaves the Caribbean.

The Room TVs with on demand, the much better buffet, the brighter and increased resolution of the MUTS screen (and better sound I think), and the bigger atrium are worth the trade off. Everything is a little nicer/newer than the Grand class.

I still miss the aft pool, but we have taken to late night swims in the adults only pool and often are the only ones there. Might be a bit cooler on the California side on late nights, but the hot tubs are also usually empty after 9pm.

The main pool area is fine for an afternoon swim, its just that you may have to find a chair a bit out of the way for relaxing on. When lots of kids are on board, the hot tubs are certainly busy.

And the walking/jogging track on the top deck is adequate for a walk, but certainly not the same ambiance (or shade) of the promenade. But hey, we will take it.

Try it and see. You too may be surprised how well you like it.

Don

It's not a ship excursion, but from Belize a trip to Goff's Caye is like a trip to paradise (except that 300 other people will be there).

It is a tiny little island with a dozen or so palm trees and crystal clear blue waters and sandy beaches. But, it you snorkel round the far side of the island from the dock, there is a reef with lots of fish. Aside from the common fish, we saw lionfish, conches, and even a lobster. The island is smaller than a football field. They set up a station for food and the prices are quite reasonable for a good lunch.

When you get off the tender, go to the far left side where people exit the pier area. In that final building are all kinds of tour vendors. Just ask for one that has a tour to Goff's Caye. We paid $40 per person and that included a guide for snorkeling and your snorkel gear.

Don

People who park their cars at the terminal while cruising must park near terminal 2. There is a shuttle to take them over to the other side, and you can jump on that shuttle. We have also done the walk, but it is cumbersome if you have a lot of baggage.

Don

A couple years ago the menu had a line on it which specifically said that the tip was included in the price of specialty dining.

Now the menu specifically says that the price does not include the gratuity.

Does this mean we are now expected to add a tip?

Don

Here is what we did in the same scenario where I had more OBC than DW.

Called Princess and out of my OBC they let me pay for both tickets on an excursion. They won't let you mix the two amounts (yours and your spouse), but they will let one side purchase two tickets for an excursion.

Hope that helps.

Don

Personality driven. My wife does is a "doer", and can't be idle for long periods of time. I can :D :D:)

While some things might get repetitive, I could muscle through it and still enjoy it. My wife would eventually get stir crazy.;

Don