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saraandnick

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Posts posted by saraandnick

    Need help planning FL vacation

    in Florida Departures

    Posted

    My family (husband, 12 yr old daughter, my in laws & myself) are cruising on the Vista out of Miami April of 2018. I am in the early planning stages of the trip. We live in CA and are planning on flying into Orlando to do parts of WDW for 3-4 days. Then the plan is to drive to Miami via a scenic route and stay a couple of days along the way. We are also interested in checking out the Florida Keys. We have about 7 days pre-cruise to work with.

     

    Questions: 1) what route south do you recommend? 2) where should we stay between Orlando & Miami? 3) what are must see areas? 4) any other tips or suggestions?

     

    We like beaches and to explore. Just trying to get the Florida experience.

     

    TIA,

    Sara

     

     

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    the on board scavenger hunt

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I agree! One of my favorite cruise memories is when my family was doing the scavenger hunt & one of the tasks was to have someone smash an ice cream cone in a team member's face. While my daughter was filling up the cone, another cruiser asked what we were doing. My daughter explained & he asked if he could smash it in her face. She accepted and the fellow cruiser was laughing so hard while helping us compete the task. [emoji23][emoji23] we also met many nice (& inebriated) people on the Lido deck while gathering enough people to do the required conga line. Many fond memories!

     

     

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    Please post your planned or completed itinerary

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    50 days & I'll be Hawaii bound!

     

    Day 1- fly to Honolulu. Look around Waikiki and then go to Diamond Head Luau.

     

    Day 2-Hike Diamond head. Walk to farmer's market from diamond head. Back to hotel to check out & board POA.

     

    Day 3-road to Hana. Plan is to go all the way around.

     

    Day 4-surf lesson at Hang Loose for daughter & I. Explore beaches, Lahaina, etc.

     

    Day 5-Hilo-bike volcano tour

     

    Day 6-kona-renting convertible and beach hoping. Snorkeling, body boarding, relaxing [emoji41]

     

    Day 7-Kauai-Na Pali experience afternoon tour

     

    Day 8--driving to lighthouse & do Kalalau hike.

     

    Day 9--back to Honolulu. Get car. Dole plantation & then 2:45 Pearl Harbor tour. Drive to house we rented in halawai.

     

    Day 10-shark's cove, food trucks, shaved ice

     

    Day 11-north shore shark adventure for hubby & I. He has always wanted to be in a cage surrounded by sharks.

     

    Day 11- zip lining for our daughter & her grandfather. If he chickens out, I'm the replacement. Grandparents over parents...always!

     

    Day 12-hike & explore more of Oahu

     

    Day 13-say goodbye [emoji22]

     

    We are looking forward to everything but most especially the house we rented, shark adventure & shore excursions.

     

     

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    Favorite cozumel excursion/place to go

    in Cozumel

    Posted

    Cozumel is one of our favorites! The first time we did a private excursion where we were picked up in a jeep and went snorkeling, to the lighthouse, lunch at a wonderful restaurant and played at the most beautiful beach ever. Second time we did a carnival excursion to Playa Del Carmen where we went swimming in the cenotes, swam with turtles and had a great lunch.

     

     

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    Shore Excursions through Carnival

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I do most of my shore excursions through independent companies; however, on my last cruise through carnival my family and I did one of carnival's excursions because were concerned about time.

     

    We met our group in one of the entertainment rooms on the ship and walked off together to a ferry that we took to start the excursion. We really enjoyed the carnival excursion. Yes, transportation is provided to & from excursion

     

     

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    I Wish Someone Had Told Me On My First Carnival Cruise.....

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Great information in this thread for a first timer (Splendor - Eastern Caribbean in June)! I love to take pictures with my DSLR. However, my phone takes decent pictures as well. Do you bring your good camera or just stick to your phone?

     

     

     

    Has anyone ever had problems with theft from your room? How careful are you about putting stuff in your safe (electronics, cameras, etc.)?

     

     

     

    I bought the prepaid gratuities with my cruise. What gratuities are not covered by that?

     

     

     

    Do you usually buy the drink packages? We're not big drinkers but definitely enjoy mixed drinks and an occasional beer.

     

     

     

    I saw that bottled water isn't covered on the drink package. I also saw someone say they pre-ordered a case of bottled water at $2.49 per 12. Where do you do that? We're all big water drinkers.

     

     

     

    We don't plan to do the Captain's table but are going to the steakhouse one night. What is the most casual you can get away with? I want to pack as light as possible.

     

     

     

    We have port days every day but one. Do you always go ashore? Do you always book an excursion? What's your favorite excursion? We're late 40s but are taking two 13 y.o. boys with us. We like to relax. They like to play.

     

     

     

    Have any of your kids been to the C Club (12-14 y.o.)? We're talking a couple of boys who love video games, Minecraft but also both play sports. Are they going to love it or hate it?

     

     

     

    One of the boys has a severe (Epi-pen) peanut allergy. Would you feel safe with your kid going to the teen club with an allergy like that?

     

     

     

    Thanks for your help! :*

     

     

    I hope some of our experiences help you: we have a daughter and we all started cruising when she was about 7. This will be her 5th cruise and she's about to turn 11. She loves the kids club. Each sea day at breakfast (or sometimes the night before) we look at the camp schedule and she picks what she wants to go to during the day. At times we have told her she is going to go to the camp at a specific time so we could do a grownup activity and even when it hasn't been the activity she chose she usually liked it. Many times she has asked to stay longer or even attend the shows with the camp instead of us. [emoji22]

     

    We get off the ship as soon as we can on port days because we always have excursions lined up. My husband and I have been talking about an empty ship to enjoy some of the things that are hard to get to with a full ship. Just talk though because we are port people!

     

    My daughter does not have allergies but I can tell you that on the kids club registration asks about allergies. We always do the registration ahead of time online.

     

    We have never had an issue with theft in the room and we are not great about using the safe.

     

    We have never gotten the drink package but usually only get one alcoholic drink each.

     

    The most casual we have gone for the dining room is khakis and button up for my husband, skirt or dress for me & similar for my daughter.

     

    Have a great time! Your boys will have fun!

     

     

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    Car Rental on Kona

    in Norwegian Cruise Line

    Posted

    Yes! Inside of the courtyard Marriott right across the street from the pier is a hertz. That's where I booked our car through for June sailing. There is one other rental company near the pier too but I can't remember which one. The hertz info:

    Island of Hawaii, Kailua-Kona - King Kam HLE (Off Airport)

    75-5660 Palani Road

    Suite 200

    Island of Hawaii (Kailua-Kona) , Hawaii 96740

    United States

    Show Nearby Locations

    PLEASE NOTE: This location services the Cruise Ship / Pier guests. The Hertz location is located in the Courtyard Marriott facing the Pier.

    Phone: (808) 329-2042

    Fax: (866) 827-1209

    Location Type: Corporate

    Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 7:00AM-5:00PM

    Sat-Sun 8:00AM-12:00PM

    Additional Information

    The car lot is located at the back of the hotel - the office is situated to the right of the lobby.

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Do you have suggestions for how to spend the day in Kona?

    in Hawaii

    Posted

    My family rented a car in kona and we are headed to several beaches. Hapuna Beach is one of our destinations because it was voted one of the best beaches in the world. Kahalu'u bay surf is a business that is located right across from Kahalu'u bay that rents boogie boards, surf boards, chairs, umbrellas, etc. We like that the rental car office is right across the street from the port. We sail on 6/3.

     

     

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