edmonton2

Hi - I am celiac and our next cruise (NZ and Australia) will be our 4th (2 Celebrity, 4 HA). I have had great experiences on all of our trips with the staff onboard meeting my gluten free requirements. Eating off the ship is another story, so I generally avoid the hassle. However, when we have been on excursions in non-English speaking countries, especially where a meal or 'snack' is included, it can be tricky.

You should check out this website: https://glutenfreeglobetrotter.com/resources/glutenfreetranslations/ 

You will find travel cards in any language that explain what celiac disease is and what foods can/can not be eaten. They are great to print off or have on your phone to show at restaurants etc. I used them several times and it really helped communicate my needs!

Jill

7 minutes ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Yes, obviously.  😉   (91F and high humidity are uncomfortable enough!)

 

Quick question: you said it would have been easy to get a taxi if you'd wanted one.  Once you are in the city itself, are the taxis sitting at taxi stands, or do you just put your arm up and hail one on the street?     

 

We will be visiting Cartagena for the second time next winter (our second Canal transit), and visiting the Fort is on our list of possible things to do (we had a great tour of the Old City with Dora on our first visit).  I doubt we'd walk each way given the heat, so I just want to be sure we can easily get a taxi back to the ship (which sails at 2pm).

 

Thanks for any tips/advice.

From what I remember, there will be many taxis parked near the Fort that are available to take you back to the ship. We also noticed while we were walking back that a number of taxis flashed their lights at us, ready to pull over if we wanted them - it didn't seem to matter that we were walking toward them as they would find a way to turn around and pick you up!

Since we didn't take a taxi, I can't speak to which taxis offered the best rates, etc. - just that they did seem to be very prevalent. One thing that was recommended to us was to negotiate the price before getting in the taxi. 

I don't think you will have any trouble finding one to get you back to the cruise terminal.

16 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

I didn't think global warming had gotten quite that bad yet.   😉

Oops! The heat must have really affected my brain! I meant to say 91F (which would close to 33C).  😀

On 3/4/2019 at 9:14 AM, Nymich said:

ok! Thanks

We just returned from our cruise and I am happy to report that we walked from the cruise ship terminal to Castillo San Felipe de Barajas in Cartegena - and back! The ship arrived at 12 noon and we disembarked fairly quickly. It was a hot day - something like 91C with high humidity, so it was like walking in an oven. We were offered a taxi many times but we declined and set off on foot.

The traffic was moderately busy but you have to be on your guard at all times. The sidewalk is unpredictable - narrow at times and lots of stepping up or down. Also, there are parts where the sidewalk is in poor shape, so watch out for holes or pipes sticking out. We were the only ones that we could see walking, however we felt quite safe the whole way (we were approached a couple of times by people trying to sell a few candies for a dollar but they were not very persistent).

As we had been to this port before, we really only wanted to spend our time at the fortress, however, if we had more time we could have walked another 15 minutes or so to the Old Town. Taxis are plentiful and easy to hail so we felt like we could easily get a ride if we needed one. It really helped that we had scouted out the route on google maps before we left (and printed detailed copies to take with us) as it was easy to get turned around when you first leave the terminal.

Would we recommend walking - yes, and no. It is definitely doable - it only took about 35 minutes each way and is not a long walk. However, just make sure you are prepared for the heat and conditions of the sidewalk and keep your wits about you - and be prepared to sweat off some of those trips to the buffet on the ship!

19 hours ago, Nymich said:

we are going there how did you make out and what did you do there?   Thanks

We will be there on April 14th so we will report back after our trip!

Has anyone ever done the free walking tour that starts at the Municipal Tourism office. According to my research, there should be one that starts at 9am on Saturdays. We arrive in port at 7am - do you think its possible to take a taxi from the ship and get there in time for the start of the tour?

Following...we are interested in walking also. According to Google maps it is 3.2 km (2 miles). We understand about the heat, but just wondering how safe it would be?

On 1/23/2019 at 3:11 PM, mjkStirling said:

Just sailed Panama Canal experience, let me know your ports of call. Nicaragua was cancelled on Sunday the 20th of January under guidance from the British Tourist/Foreign Office due to political unrest and our safety if ashore. Not sure how long that will be in place or when you sail.

Just curious...did you stop at another port to replace the stop in Nicaragua, or just skip it and have a sea day?

Aside from the slow transportation, how was your day at Isleta? Considering this excursion on next trip to Cartagena.

Isleta is a small island. There is a small sandy beach area with a dock near the main building (I think this is a small resort that can be rented privately). There is also an infinity pool and eating area. The different parts of the island are connected by boardwalk and walking trails and there are a number of private areas to explore where there are hammocks and lounging chairs to relax in. The day we were there was extremely windy, and we found it less windy to sit by the pool as opposed to the beach. We were served lunch that was prepared in a large outdoor kitchen (not quite as good as the food on the cruise ship) served buffet style. Drinks were available all day - I'm pretty sure there was an extra charge for the drinks. There were also small kayaks and snorkeling gear provided at no charge. It was very quiet and serene on Isleta, compared to an adjacent island with lots of people and loud music playing. A few people in our excursion rented jetskis as well. We noticed a couple of people set up an area to sell jewelry and other souvenirs but they were not pushy by any means.

Something to keep in mind is that the island is very small so there are not a lot of places to actually explore. Even though our trip to the island and back took longer than expected because of the weather, it is still quite a ways from Cartegena. If you are looking for a relaxing day then this is a great excursion!

Here is a link with some great pictures of the island and its amenities. http://www.aviaturecoturismo.com/es/colombia/aviaisleta

Thank you. We'll book a shuttle. Found one through Hawaiian Airlines site that appears to cost $29.xx for the two of us.

Wait! We have taken a shuttle before, and it seemed to take ages! You could be one of about a dozen people in the shuttle (which will wait until it is fairly full before leaving the airport) packed with everyone's luggage. If your hotel happens to be last on the list, it could take quite a while to get there, not to mention the time it takes to unload everyone before you.

Before you book a shuttle I would definitely check out the flat rate taxis that Pizzalady1 listed. I have searched Charley's taxi before and they are recommended highly. The advantage is that the taxi will be there waiting when you arrive. However, the one drawback is that you will be waiting for that particular taxi you have booked, not the first one that happens to be there. For this reason, we chose to just take the first cab available - it was the quickest and easiest. Yes, it might have cost a bit more, but we were out of the airport and at our hotel in less than half an hour.

We are definitely not the type of people to normally jump in a cab when on holiday, but this is one place we do!

Are you planning on driving the road to Hana? If I'm not mistaken, I think that is where you will find most of the waterfalls with easy access. We tried to hike the Waihee Ridge trail on our visit in February but the it was closed. We were planning to do this mainly for the hike, though, and not necessarily just to see the falls (they are visible off in the distance apparently).

Astro Flyer and edmonton2, thanks so much for the information, it will certainly help.

 

After much research and reading, it appears the best place to see rainbow eucalyptus is going to be the arboretum at MM 16 1/2. Does that seem correct to you? Thanks for the info on VNP. Do either of you know where I will find Rainbow Falls in Hilo?

We visited Rainbow Falls in Hilo a few years ago. A quick search and I found these directions: Take Waianuenue Avenue (one of the main roads in downtown Hilo that connects to Highway 19) west for just over a mile and a half from downtown. Follow the sign for the falls and turn right onto Rainbow Drive. You'll see the park on your right with a large parking area. If you get to the Hilo Medical Center, you missed the turn. Here's a link with a map: https://www.lovebigisland.com/hilo/rainbow-falls/

And don't forget to watch for the eucalyptus trees at MM 6.7 on the Hana Hwy - even though you can't really walk through this forest area easily, you will still see them :)

You said you stopped on the way to Hana and back, didn't you drive all the way around? I thought that was the point of doing it. I didn't realize that there was a point where you stopped and went back the same way you came.

Yes, this is why we turned around once we reached Ohe'o Gulch. As Astro Flyer pointed out, driving any further may have voided our rental car agreement, so after much research, this was a risk were didn't want to take.

We will be cruising Hawaii in about 7 weeks. We have rented a car on Maui, Hilo and Kauai and I was just trying to determine if my goals are realistic.

 

1. In Maui we plan on driving the Hana Hwy. and driving it clockwise (I have read that this is the safest bet). I have the book "Maui Revealed" which has a lot of helpful hints, but it doesn't state WHERE I can find rainbow eucalyptus trees. We are trying to find a spot where we could park and get some pictures. I have always been fascinated by pictures of them. Any suggestions?

 

TIA for your help.

Look for the Painted Grove between mile marker 6 and 7 (approximately 6.7). If you stop on your way toward Hana, there will be a small pull-in on your right hand side. We stopped both on the way to Hana and on the way back - the light in the morning was so bright that the contrast in the colours on the trees didn't show up nearly as well as they did later in the day when the sun was less intense. At this stop the trees are down a bank off the highway, so its not really possible to wander among the trees here. You might want to stop at the Ke'anae Arboretum (MM 16.7) which might give you a better view.

In Oceanview, things tend to be marked as to whether or not they are GF. However in my experience things that are marked GF are not always GF. In the dining rooms you may have an easier time getting the correct info, but you should still proceed with caution and ask questions. Even in the MDR (should you ever order from there) where the items are marked GF, ask questions. I was once told I could eat the barley soup because there was no flour in it. As a celiac I'm sure you know what goes and what's out. You'll do ok, so long as you ask questions. You'll soon figure out who can help you and who cannot.

 

Oh and snacks...probably bring your own. They do offer some GF bread but you can guess how good it is. No crackers or anything similar. All I remember seeing as of late are some macaroon type cookies.

I am celiac and always eaten in either the Oceanview cafe or the MDR. I have had great experiences, but I completely agree with the comments above. Especially when it comes to asking questions - don't be shy about this! I found the staff very helpful, but make sure you ask the right questions and the right people. Once they even made me gluten free fish and chips in the buffet!

Also...at dinner, I always asked for my gluten free bread to be toasted. I agree, its not great, but it does taste better this way (and don't let them bring you raisin bread at dinner, unless of course its something you like:)).

Unfortunately, we will be making the drive from Lahaina toward Kahului at night no matter what we do - whether it's right after the luau or at 2 in the morning. I considered turning in the rental car that first night and booking a tour for the Haleakala sunrise to avoid the early driving but I like the flexibility too much of doing it on our own. Right off the bat, we can decide to go later if we're too tired to get up. If we do get up and go for the sunrise, 1. I'm sure there will be other cars/buses on the road to follow and 2. We can play our day by ear depending on our energy level vs. being committed to a tour.

 

I do appreciate all thoughts from you and others! Sometimes you need that voice of reason. ;)

We did the drive to Haleakala in February and saw an absolutely spectacular sunrise! I am so glad we got up early to see this (we drove from Lahaina). The roads are well marked and there are reflective cat's eyes most of the way. One thing to be aware of though, since Feb. 1 there is a new reservation system if you are taking a rental/personal vehicle. The cost is minimal, but without a reservation you won't be allowed into the park until after 7am. See this thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2427272

If you have the time, I would recommend doing this in a rental car instead of a group tour. After the sunrise there are a lot of interesting things to see on the crater (short walks, hikes) and a few restaurants on the way down. We really enjoyed taking our time to explore a bit.

Something else to be aware of if you plan to explore Iao Valley State Park - the park is temporarily closed due to heavy flooding - http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/iao-valley-state-monument/

Hope this helps!

I''m really going to miss this blog! I started reading when we returned home from the Caribbean and you have been my cure for the post-cruise blues!!! And since we are planning an Australia/NZ cruise in a couple of years, I have been most interested in your travels. I will go back and re-read your blog many times, I am sure! Thank you for all of the detailed information and great pictures - and your commentary has been very entertaining! I look forward to following along on your next adventures - wherever that might be. :)

Hmmm. That's good to know. If you were to pick your deck. Which one would you?

 

 

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We have stayed on Deck 6 on the Eclipse and deck 8 on Equinox - loved both locations!!! If you take the stairs often (as we did), deck 8 is a bit closer to everything - however, that would be minimal in the decision-making in my opinion. On deck 6 there is a blue deck-part that extends beyond the balcony, but no one below you. On deck 8 you can see people below you at the railing (and above if you look up) as others have mentioned.

For our next cruise we have booked, we chose a SV cabin with a larger balcony, which happens to be on deck 6 - we are very happy with this!

[quote I hope that timid/scared/frightened/whoever people do cancel their cruises. It will simply make it cheaper for me and those who are not timid/scared/frightened/whoever

For sure less & less American's will be traveling to these countries in the future .Thus ,you will see prices for cruises ,land tours ie drop in regard to lower demand ;which could be a very good time to take advantage :)

I have read through all of the posts, and agree with some, and disagree with others. However, at a time like this I sincerely hope people are not meaning to come across as insensitive and capitalizing on the misfortune of others. Whether or not you see this as an opportunity to 'take advantage' of falling cruise prices, please, for the sake of those affected by this terrible tragedy, respectfully refrain from making those comments.

Wow - this thread brought back some memories! I sailed with my family out of Vancouver on P&O's Arcadia (the one built in 1953) in the early 1970's - first to Los Angeles and then to Hawaii. I remember the streamers - sail away was a huge event and the streamers were a big part of that. I can see why it's not done anymore - but wow - thanks for reminding me of this!!!

I was wondering about the GF food when you go off the ship. When I go to the Caribbean I bring a GF Card in the language that is spoken to explain what I can't have.

 

I was going to mention these cards but you beat me to it! :) I have used them in the Baltics (I took them in all the different languages of the ports we visited) - it made a huge difference and really helped facilitate getting gf food when onshore. I'm not sure why I didn't take one to the Caribbean as it would have really helped - next time! Here is the link that I use, in case anyone is interested

 

http://www.celiactravel.com/cards/

Here in Canada - I'm still awake and have been reading all about your excursion today! I sure do feel for you - especially with regards to the availability of gf food on excursions! Whether you are 'just' intolerant or celiac, the reaction can be the same - as well as the negative affect on your body. Sometimes I think it is too convenient for Celebrity to pass it off to the people on shore that you are doing your trip with and you end up trying to manage it on your own. On a recent trip to Chichen Itza all I could eat from the provided lunch was a banana! Hang in there - it's nice to see that you managed to keep your sense of humour dispite everything!

I love taking a stroll down by the waterfront and heading up at Mile Zero to Beacon Hill Park.....love this park!

There is a great place for ice cream right opposite Beacon Hill Park on Douglas Street. Fantastic soft ice cream and the cones are huge!!! :)

http://www.beacondrivein.ca/

These are all such great suggestions - it has really got me thinking (and googling!) and what we need to do now is decide on the area we want to visit first, and then start planning our route. It will be tough to narrow it down - each area looks amazing!

I'm taking a guess here, assume the OP is booked on the same cruise as myself. Celebrity solstice 5/3/2018. Leaves from Perth via Adelaide, Melbourne, NZ then ends in Sydney.

Not many other cruises have been released for 2018 yet!

Wow - thank you everyone so much for all of your helpful advice - this really makes me want to start planning! And I am really excited by the idea of camping now that I see that it is a realistic option.

Yes - the above cruise is the one we have booked. We have to decide whether to fly to Brisbane and then do our camping in the Great Barrier reef area, or fly to Perth and camp on that side - I'm not sure if we have the time to do both. While we first thought that we would just bring the minimal camping gear (tent, sleeping bags) it would add a lot to the weight of our bags. That's where the idea of renting a campervan came in. I've looked up Wicked and will stay away from them - no desire to drive around in a vehicle covered with controversial slogans!

You have all given me a lot to think about - I will definitely copy everyone's information and look into all of the suggestions! :)