KandKB

We bought the package online before the cruise for all the prints and CD. We were very satisfied with both the photographers on the ship and the process. Granted, not all of the photos were great but we had plenty of options.

Sorry to hear that some of you have had very serious customer service issues, but I just wanted to post that our experience was great. I certainly wouldn't do this all the time if I cruised a lot, but I would definitely consider it again.

Ship and Year of Cruise: Constellation (November 2014)

Cabin #: 7182

Deck: 7

Class: C2 (Concierge)

Area: Aft

Bed Near: Bath

Quiet?: Yes, can't recall any noise at all (other than the one drunk who fell into the wall in the hallway...).

Balcony View: Great. The balcony for the suite below us stuck out and did block the view straight down.

Balcony Size: Standard size for Balcony/Concierge/Aqua class rooms

Wind a Problem?: No

Soot a Problem?: No

Comments: Very close to the aft elevators, which were typically not crowded, so it was very easy to use them to get wherever you needed to go.

Great to know - thanks for the replies! I've had my eye on that Cowboy Crepe for a while...

Does anyone know if Bistro on 5 is reserved for Suite passengers for lunch on Embarkation Day? I think in the "New Menu" thread this was mentioned, but I'm wondering if that's fleetwide.

Thanks!

the Day 1 menu (always has goat cheese and beet salad) day 2 menu etc...the day 5 6, or 7 menus!

So these are standard menus? Are they available online anywhere? We're going on a 9-night cruise in just over three weeks and I'd love to see the menus if they're out there.

Thanks!

Gary and Karysa, thank you both for you for your informed responses. It's easy to make something look good on paper - much harder knowing if it's actually going to work...

Well, I wouldn't try this, but consider:

 

Is the charter from Philipsburg or Marigot?

 

If you're in port until 5, then all-aboard is at least 4:30. Planning to be back by 3, if Marigot, gives you time to get back to the Cruise Facility if there are no delays with the charter, and no delays because of traffic, and you might be fine, if the charter returns you directly to the port, much better.

 

But not much time to enjoy St. Maarten shopping and such.

 

Personally, the only time I would attempt to do this would be if I had an opportunity to meet Bankie Banx at Dune Preserve. Then I'd probably take the chance.

 

gary

Not to hijack your thread tech, but I wanted to piggyback and share my planning...

We're planning to take the public ferry from Marigot to Anguilla. My understanding is it runs every 30-45 minutes and takes about 20-25 minutes to get there. Based on that, we're planning on taking the ferry around 10 and leaving Anguilla around 2. Figure that gets us back to Marigot by 2:45 at the latest and then gives us an hour for taxi back to the ship. Gary, given your local knowledge you seem to think that's a bad idea? We're in town on a four ship day (port load ~11k) in early December.

I used a TA to book our first cruise, but it was admittedly fairly "mercenary" to see what deals I could get. Sounds like we're pretty similar - I'd rather do something myself as opposed to trusting someone else. Having a TA is a little frustrating because it is then somewhat out of your hands, but most TAs don't charge a cancellation fee, so you still retain control if necessary. If you search online, you can find websites where TAs will compete for your business - an easy way to find the best deal relatively quickly, once you know what cruise you want to go on.

These boards are really invaluable, but there are a million other resources online. Just search for what you're looking for and you're liable to find it. As far as a step by step approach, I basically just planned the vacation door to door and started figuring things out as I encountered something I hadn't planned already. We're going on a 9 day cruise in a little over a month and everything but 2.5 of our three sea days is planned out. If you want to give me your email address, I can send you the spreadsheet I'm using as well as one I got here to give you some ideas.

The Canyon Ranch Spa Prices are here, under "Menu of Services": http://www.canyonranch.com/spaclubcelebritycruises/plan-your-spaclub-experiences

The pass is $25 for 1 day, $50 for 3 days and $75 for 6 days. I'm not sure if they have a "length of cruise" pass.

The last time I took the ferry was in 2013. It was a day trip from Marigot to Anguilla. We paid $5 departure tax each way and $15 for one way tickets each way as well. It takes about 30 minutes. I think that the $23 departure tax is for vacationers to Anguilla and not day trippers.

Interesting... The Anguilla Tourist Board website is rather ambiguous:

Departure Tax

A US $20 departure tax applies to all tourists departing from Anguilla, whether by plane or ferry. There is no charge for children under twelve years old. The departure tax for day trips to surrounding islands is US $5 for trips through Blowing Point Ferry Terminal ONLY. Residents of Anguilla and residents of St. Martin/St. Maarten are also subject to a US $5 departure tax through Blowing Point Ferry Terminal.

- See more at: http://ivisitanguilla.com/customs-immigration/#sthash.Dm9LNlWz.dpuf

I decided it wasn't worth the risk to try and do it on my own anyway. Thanks for the info though.

Dennich,

From what I've read 30 minutes for the taxi is adequate time in the morning. Just FYI, in looking at the ferry to Anguilla, it appears that you have to pay a $5 departure tax when you leave St. Martin and a $23 departure tax when you leave Anguilla. At least the Anguilla tax must be paid in cash - not sure what happens if you don't have it, but that might make for a funny story...

Does any one know the rental rate for chairs on Little Bay?

Thanks!

Hi all,

 

As promised, we have included our Classic and Premium Beverage Package below, and they are current as of May 28, 2014.

Thanks for posting an official list, even if it's subject to change!

Have you personally used Park by the Ports before? Do you leave your keys or do you park yourself?

That poster has 5 posts, all about Park by the Ports. I've checked for online reviews and couldn't find any. Their Facebook page has a bunch of likes by what appears to be almost exclusively local people (many of them high school kids). While they're much cheaper, I've decided I won't be using them when we're down there. My car is too big a deal to take a chance with...

I'll probably go with Park N Fly or Park N Go, both of which have a number of online reviews on Yelp, Travel Advisor, etc. and have recommendations from actual cruisers here on CC.

Hi Masspector,

 

Where did you find the spreadsheet. I would like to use it, thanks.

Check post 198 a few pages before this one: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=40706337&postcount=198

How do you find out how many ships will be in port on a particular day?

Check this website: http://ports.cruisett.com/

Thanks for the information!

No special driver's licence is needed on the island.

That's interesting, because the below is from Rent a Wreck's website...I guess it's just their company policy?

So how do I know which pier we'll be using on our cruise, or will I? We're sailing on a Nov. 29 cruise on the Constellation from FTL - I know most of the stops there's only one option, but I'm curious which pier we'll use in San Juan as well as our departure pier in FTL. Is there a way to get this info?

Thanks!

It looks like both of these are located at the airport, will they meet you at the port? I think the airport would be a timely and costly taxi ride away. Also, it appears that you may need an international driver's license in St. Maarten - I don't know what that entails.

One other thing I noticed - Paradise Rentals' website does not appear to be secure, so you probably don't want to provide your credit card info on their website.

Please let me know if you find out anything more from these companies as I'm still on the fence about renting a car in St. Maarten myself.

Depends on the sail date. If September 2014 or later, you get both automatically. If before September (ie. this summer), you have to book with choice air or you only chose one.

 

Hope that makes sense!

Makes perfect sense - thanks! I was just being dense...

So is it now OBC AND the savings, even if you don't book airfare? Before, it offered two options - the lower cost or the OBC. Now, it has both offers listed as I go through the booking. But the fine print at the bottom of the page seems to indicate you only get both with airfare... Is it just that the amounts went up, or are they now combinable (without air)?

Thanks!

Curious on this one as well - have you found out any other information? They're substantially cheaper than other well-reviewed options I've seen (Park n' Go and Park n Fly), but I can't find any reviews of them online. They have a few "Reviews" on their Facebook page, but all the reviewers seem to be local and many of them high school kids, so...

 

I'm probably going to go with Park N Go, unless I hear something to change my mind on these guys.

Seems I can't edit my post... I forgot to mention, there are a couple of posts on this forum saying that Park by the Ports is great, but they're both by the same person and it's their only two posts... Seems a bit suspicious.

Curious on this one as well - have you found out any other information? They're substantially cheaper than other well-reviewed options I've seen (Park n' Go and Park n Fly), but I can't find any reviews of them online. They have a few "Reviews" on their Facebook page, but all the reviewers seem to be local and many of them high school kids, so...

I'm probably going to go with Park N Go, unless I hear something to change my mind on these guys.