FLcruisergrl

It’s best to just buy a bottle of the reef safe. We use the white Sun Bum or the Bare Republic. I know it’s ugly and inconvenient, but it’s for the health of the reef. Unless you only plan on going to a swimming pool or not going in the water at all, why would you not comply? You’re damaging the environment.The regular Sun Bum is not reef friendly.

If you know what you want, why not book it online?

I usually leave $15 on top of the gratuity that is already paid on the package.

On 7/10/2022 at 8:49 PM, TTEllis said:

Nice!! Was on St. Thomas in Dec. 2018 they wouldn't let us on St. John it wasn't ready for visitors yet. Going back next year and looking forward to it. 

You didn't by chance see the new bar at Trunk Bay did you? They needed a new bar terribly I just hate it they had to get a new one by having a hurricane blow the old one too pieces.  

Exact same thing or worse at Magens, AWESOME Beach, Beautiful water, great atmosphere, the bar is THE WORST!!

The bar at Magens Bay needs blown to shreds and washed out to sea by the next hurricane and replaced with something that actually compliments an otherwise beautiful Bay. 

Thanks for your help.

No, we didn’t see the bar. Sorry!   It had been years since we’d been in the USVI, so I can’t say if everything is the same as it was pre-Irmaria, but it was certainly wonderful last summer!

1 hour ago, DukeASUGirl said:

How is the water temp in early October for swimming at CocoCay? Keep in mind that my kids are wimps because we live in Arizona. Kids generally won't even get in the pool unless it's at least 95 degrees outside. LOL (Our high today is expected to be 115.)

We’re from Florida, so we’re wimps too! The water was cool, but not too cold when we went last October.

3 hours ago, Floridastorm said:

In NCL Health Protocols it states that wearing masks on board is recommended. However, it does state that it is not mandated. For those that have traveled NCL recently is this policy adhered to? Do most passengers wear masks or not? I am not in favor of wearing a mask at anytime and won't travel if I have to wear one. Will I be made to feel uncomfortable for not wearing one? 

 

Thanks for any info provided 🤔

They are not mandated. On our March cruise on the Dawn, most did not wear them. We didn’t. None of us got COVID and although we all got the initial series, none of us are boosted. We never felt uncomfortable or unsafe.

We spent a week on St Thomas last summer and went to St John. Everything is lush and green again and businesses are open and thriving.

Our daughter has celiac. We’ve found NCL to be very knowledgeable in GF vs. Celiac, cross contamination, etc. With pre-planning, they literally make her anything she wants. The night we ate at Le Bistro, she had the cheese rolls from Moderno (naturally GF), fettuccine Alfredo from La Cucina, and dessert from Le Bistro!

We were in the Garden Villa on the Dawn in March. We wrote our butler a letter (not long and flowery) detailing our likes, dislikes, and plans for the cruise. He told us over and over again how much he liked it and how helpful it was to him.

We booked a Garden Villa.

We were there last October and found the food to be very, very good. They will bring you as much as you want and you can mix & match. We paid $179 and, although expensive, wouldn’t hesitate to pay it again. It was a GREAT day.

14 hours ago, DCBullets02 said:

@tallnthensome Agreed, I have never felt closer to death than when I had Noro. I'll take Covid everyday of the week over puking my brains out for days at a time (among other things!)

Me, too. COVID (for me) is nothing compared to Noro. Noro was the sickest I’ve ever felt.  My bathroom was a complete biohazard.

1 hour ago, BirdTravels said:

Unless they develop a new beach area, they would be taking away from public beach space for yet-another paid private beach. "Beyond the Pool" is the already developed Coco Beach Club which is an adults only space for $189/day. Just beach and lunch. "Beyond the Pool" is also South Beach which has reopened to passengers, but also remains the crew beach for crew members confined to the ship due to covid. I suppose they could rope that off and charge admission for a beach lounger there.

 

There is beach space beyond the dormitories, but I assumed it was an employee area. RCCL has over 200 employees who live on the island and rotate on contracts (like ship's contracts) to run the island. 

Coco Beach Club is not adults only. M My understanding is that Hideaway Beach is being made at an area that was not previously developed for guests.

The last time we were on in 2020, it was Cagney’s.

Good Lord, we’re trying to help you. Pick up the phone and CALL THEM.

11 hours ago, Cruise a holic said:

A nice option- but costs so much more- if your budget allows it, try a grandsuite.  No extra heat IMO in Central park- but never book any cabin/suite under the pool deck.  We dislike boardwalk balcony as the noise is all day- the merry-go-round and the crowds at night, make for difficult sleeping if you are in bed before 11PM.

We normally cruise in suites, but since this was a short cruise and just the 2 of us, I figure a balcony is fine. The boardwalk wouldn’t be our scene, either. 

7 hours ago, hazeleyes46 said:

Our CP balconies have always been less than Ocean Balconies and just a bit more than an inside room. 

Who goes to bed before 11pm on a cruise? 😮 lol

Us! We get so full from dinner we’re inevitably asleep by 9pm! 😂

5 hours ago, Quencups said:

Love Alex 🙂

He is up there with Gian as my favorite so far! Such a sweetheart.

My husband dove with Aqua Action, which is at Secret Harbour. He really liked it. We’ve also heard great things about Red Hook Dive and have been to their shop. He’ll probably dive with them in December.

If you’re in the Haven, they can make it happen with advance notice. You will (likely) be charged the price of the dessert. 

We had a CP balcony booked on the Allure for next year, but have changed it to an ocean view balcony on deck 8. I know my hubby would walk around in his undies and forget to close the curtains, plus the potential heat and noise from the pool deck, all combined with the nagging fear that I’d miss my ocean view made the decision easy. I figured deck 8 would be the best of both worlds- the ocean as my “back door view” and CP steps away from my front door.

32 minutes ago, micmacmissy said:

It is one thing to politely advocate for your health and food allergies.

 

It is quite another to insist that the chef come out so you can lecture him (for a solid 5 minutes) on why rice flour is superior to almond flour…in a loud and rude tone, and tell him that the pancakes he made taste like crap.

 

I’m not assuming anything…I was sitting 3 feet away and was privy to the entire conversation.

Ok, yeah, that sounds entitled! I just saw a few people quote this part of your post and wanted to make sure that it wasn’t assumed they were acting entitled just because they were gf. Sounds like GF actually has nothing to do with it, they were just jerks!

On 4/16/2022 at 3:48 PM, micmacmissy said:

Lord.  In Luminae one guy complaining to every server that he was told to put on pants.  He whined through dinner.  

 

Another couple asked to see the chef and then proceeded to lecture the poor guy about the proper way to make gluten free pancakes. 

 

Numerous people not wanting to wait at Retreat pool bar for service.  

 

Finally:  really jerky people chair hogging.  Overheard a guest in the retreat complaining to a retreat attendant:  “I set my alarm at 6am to reserve chairs and the good ones were all gone!”

 

 Our waiter even commented how poorly they’ve been treated.  

Please don’t assume the pancake people are entitled. Perhaps one had celiac? Proper food handling and preparation is vital to ensure a celiac doesn’t get very ill and have their intestines damaged. The others sound ridiculous and entitled, but I’d give the gluten free couple some grace and not assume. Even chefs often don’t understand celiac food handling.

I’m 0 for 2 at Le Bistro. The first time I found it bland and the 2nd I felt sick afterwards. I like Ocean Blue (that bread!) and La Cucina. Cagney’s is a reliable solid, but I love La Cucina because they have a wonderful filet AND you can get pasta!

5 hours ago, geegee1 said:

 

The OP started this by making private information public.  Asking followup questions as to why is not inappropriate 

OP did not make private info public. They simply said they couldn’t get vaccinated.  There are boundaries and asking questions like that is inappropriate. But I guess you want to know because “it’s about the greater good”? 🙄