douggw

Going to Olbia in June, 10-6 ship time, which I believe is 1 hour behind Olbia's time.  Wanted to do the 4 hour snorkel to Tavolara but it leaves a 9am. Thought about pre-booking a Tuk-Tuk tour "archelogy tour" but they too don't match up with the times we will get in port.  Are there tuk-tuks we can just get when we get off the ship to take us to Pedres castle, giant tomb etc?  or do I need to keep looking and try to pre-book them?

Thank you!

As MapleLeaves said, very easy.  We went there last October, first time, and had no issues.  Do your homework ahead of time though if you are DIY.  I did a lot of research about each "town", which hikes to do (we did one of the two that cost, but well worth it!) - Corniglia to Vernazza, know about the "secret" bus to take you to the top of Corniglia so you don't have to walk up the hundreds of steep stairs, GO EARLY, GO EARLY!  We hit all 5 "towns" and it was amazing, but we did not do them in order, because we wanted to do the hike early before it got hot and crowded.  I have pics on my blog of each one as well a lot of pics from the hike - http://gwilliamhouse.blogspot.com/2022/11/european-cruise.html   Cinque Terra starts about 1/4 of the way down the blog.

Just got back from doing this tour.  It's not a bad tour,  but what you get isn't quite what is indicated on the website.  Basically, it's a very expensive speedboat ride. Since it's a "Carnival Special", it's only for those arriving to La Romana on Carnival, which is usually in port for only 6 hours.  They whisk you away quickly into pre-reserved taxis for a 15-20 minute ride to Bayahibe, where you pay and get into groups for the speedboat.  The boat is small and packed with people.  It's a bumpy 30-40 minute ride to Soana Island.  You have a pretty good buffet lunch once you arrive and total, (including lunch) have about 75 minutes on the island.  The island is beautiful, not very crowded, with a small beach and plenty of palm trees/shade and chairs.  You then get back into the boat and ride 15-20 minutes to a small sand dune which is waist deep and everyone walks or snorkels around the small area to find the 15 or so starfish that are there.  There is nothing else to see except sand.  Then it's back in the boat to return another 20-30 minutes where the taxis are waiting to take you back to the ship.

So here's the time breakdown:

Speedboat total time - 65-90 minutes

Taxi - 30-40 minutes

Starfish - 20

Time on island (including lunch) - 75

So you're on the boat longer than anything and the entire trip is 3 - 3 1/2 hours.

Website also says you sail along the coast of the National Park and the guide will explain you some of the sites and history.  This doesn't happen.  The boat follows the coastline, but it's far out and no guided talks - it's way too noisy for anyone to eve talk. 

Website says on the island, the guide will take you snorkeling at the pier - this doesn't happen.

Website says on the way back, you go through the Mangroves and guide will explain this.  The boat takes the same route as it did on the way there - no Mangroves, no guided explanation.

It's not a bad tour, it's just very rushed and you spend more time on the speedboat than you do anything else and for that, it's an expensive speedboat ride.

46 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

Carnival doesn't change ship time to port time unless there's a reason the captain needs to do so.  So you'll be on Florida time.  But independent excursions may not adjust so double check with them.  Aruba is currently 1 hour ahead of FL.  So you will dock at 10AM Aruba time.  Probably not off the ship until 10:30 Aruba.

That's what a was thinking. But then one tour operator told me the "Port Authority" says we dock at 9am Aruba time........so thank you for confirming.

Anyone who has been on Carnival to Aruba, does the ship change times?

I assumed, like many cruises, it does not and remains Florida time.  From what I've been able to tell, this would be 1 hour ahead of Florida time.  We are to be in Aruba from 9am-10pm - so that would be ship time, right?  Aruba time would be 10am-11pm?  Or so I thought.

I went to book an all day excursion from a local tour operator and it starts at 9am Aruba time.  I thought i would miss the first hour and they said due to Daylights Savings Time, it would actually be 10am Aruba time and I'd miss two hours.

Then I talked to another tour operator who had a tour also starting at 9am said they checked with the "port authorities" and the ships 9am arrival time is Aruba time.

So I'm very confused.  I have three different times here.  Florida +1 hour, Florida +2 hours, and 9am Aruba time.  

I think it's Florida +1, but then again, I never was good with numbers.

On 9/18/2022 at 2:39 AM, roger b said:

 Hi Doug , You have a plenty of time ashore which is unusual ,I don't think you will be able to do Soller and the Caves of Drach as it would mean you having to return to Palma and a one hour  ride each way.

          The boat trip to Sa Calobra is feasible ,I have never done it you would have time , but there is nothing there except a one hour boat trip each way.

          I have been to Sa Calobra by road stayed about 5 mins and returned !!Just a unusual rock formation and a boat ride along a mountainous shore line. 

 Don't let me put you off this if the sea is calm go for it .

            If you have never been to Palma I would Get the 10.30 train to Soller Look around this typical Majorcan Village then get the tram to P de Soller .

            Make your way back to Palma and spend the rest of the day there ,My other idea is after P de Soller get a bus or taxi to Valdermossa and see the place Chopin spent the winter this would also take you through the Village of Deia which is stunning .

 Many thanks for your lunch offer but Its My anniversary and I am out with friends ,if you need anything else , let me know. 

Roger

 

 Thanks so much for your honest description of Sa Calobra.......puts in perspective!  I also thought that is a lot of time to be in port.  I do like your idea of going to Valdermossa instead.  Thank you so much for your help!  You are amazing.  And if your lunch plans change, let me know!  🙂

Wow and wow.  I wish every city had a thread like this!  SO helpful!

Will be arriving Friday October 21 9a,-11pm on MSC Grandiosa, so pretty sure docking at the newer terminal.  

Is it doable to do the Train/Tram to Soller and back AND the Drach caves?  If not, we will focus on Soller, but want to add in Sa Calobra.  I see a local tour group that does this tour, but they don't do it on Fridays, but it seems pretty easy to do DIY.  

Taxi/Bus to Train Station, 1st or 2nd Train to Soller, spend some time there....Tram to Soller Port, and once there, I believe can get boat to Sa Calobra and back.  Then either taxi or Tram & Train back.

What am I missing?

Also, Roger, lunch is on me - where should we meet you for lunch? (I'm serious)

On 10/2/2021 at 8:29 AM, mapleleaves said:

I went DIY so I was able to do the ferry AND walk between 3 villages.

I much preferred the view from the sea.  When  you're IN the town you're surrounded by people and don't really have much of a view, but the sea gives you a great perspective.

Mapleleaves, do you have a write up or more information on this?  Will be porting there in October and very interested in DIY ferry and walking.  Thank you!!

15 hours ago, nyer said:

We dock in Barcelona at 5:00 am.   We are also going on to Paris and we booked a flight for 12:45 pm.   I assume that we will be fine with that time?

 

I would think that's totally fine too.  I wish we docked earlier....maybe will, but don't want to take that chance.  

2 hours ago, roger b said:

Don't even think about it !!!

Ha ha...I guess that answers my question!   🙂

Will be disembarking MSC - says they arrive at 8am in Barcelona.  I know the airport is about 20-30 mins away and will be getting a flight to Paris, so not returning to US yet.  Will I have to go through any kind of customs still?  Is a 9:30am flight to Paris too early?

I think so.  It's pretty vague on TA, but I'm sure you can get a taxi. Question is will they wait for you.

I'm interested in cave tubing and see that most of the tours are about 90 mins away from the port (We will be docking Old San Juan).  Most of the cave tubing tours do not offer transportation.  I see that renting a car for the day would be about $100.  Has anyone done any cave tubing tours on your own?  How was it?  

I'm looking at cave tubing from tanama river adventures or west side adventures.

Thank you!

I'm looking at the feasibility of doing the waterfalls on my own. 

"Private" tours run around $65 pp, so for four that would be $250

I looked at rental car prices which would be around $80 for the day and admission to the waterfalls are around $12 I think, so that would be $133.

Am I missing something here?  This seems like a tour that would be fairly easy to DIY.  Anyone who has done it on their own have any tips/ideas/thoughts?

Thank you!

On 2/12/2020 at 12:15 AM, CruiserG79 said:

 

Whenever i read things like that, i am glad i never tried the YC myself so far...

 

Done two MSC Cruises in the "Cattle Class" now and it was a great experience on the Preziosa and on the Meraviglia. Even foodwise and considering that it's hard to imagine, that the food in the YC is that bad.

 

The "Cattle Class" buffet isn't just burgers and salad btw. plus the "Cattle Class" has dinner on every evening too and we always enjoyed the food being served.

 

If normal people read this forum they often must think that it is YC or nothing. But that's so not true.

 

Maybe MSC is not for everyone, but you get very good value for your money... Yes, you said that for the "Cattle Class" but with saying it like that, i have the feeling your expectations, even for the YC, are far away from the reality.

 

Oh... And i am doing my third MSC cruise this year. Imagine... An interior cabin with 4 people and i am sure we are going to enjoy it a lot.

 

Sorry for being grumpy but the posting from mickey89 did upset me quite a bit.

Don't apologize for being grumpy!  I agree with you 100%.  Seems that 95% of everyone complaining about MSC are from the YC!  Been on one MSC cruise and 8 Carnival along with several other lines.  Not a bad cruise in any of them.  Most have been inside rooms, possibly an Ocean View here and there if it wasn't too much more.  Usually 4 in a cabin.  It's a vacation people...you are not at work.   Booked Preziosa for Sep 2020.  

I got an email back from Long Beach City saying they only let you park at the Convention Center and/or the City Lot A for the 3 and 4 days cruises now....and NOT for the Panorama 7 day.  I wonder how they control it?

I got an email back from Long Beach City saying they only let you park at the Convention Center and/or the City Lot A for the 3 and 4 days cruises now....and NOT for the Panorama 7 day.  I wonder how they control it?

I got an email back from Long Beach City saying they only let you park at the Convention Center and/or the City Lot A for the 3 and 4 days cruises now....and NOT for the Panorama 7 day.  I wonder how they control it?

I had a reservation for a zodiac whale watching from  Cabo Adventures but they cancelled me since I'm arriving via cruise ship and forced me to pay more than double if I wanted to keep my reservation.  Obviously, I said no this scam.  I know there are other whale watching that I can just book right there at the pier/marina, but I think most of those are the bigger boats. I'd still like a zodiac smaller experience.  Anyhow know or remember seeing any of those available as you get off the tender there at the pier?  Thank you!

On 1/11/2020 at 10:56 PM, CACruiseLady said:

Turns out you were exactly right. Ships time was one hour earlier than the local time in Puerto Vallarta.   Luckily our ship arrived a bit early in PV  and it was a short walk to the tour boat so we were able to make it to our tour on time.

Were you also then 1 hour ahead of Cabo time?  Did you arrive early there as well?

1 hour ago, MissyMac13 said:

I bought the poster in the middle on Etsy. It is a magnet. I used lots of Sticky Tac!

Oh!!!!    That makes more sense that it's a magnet..must have used tons of Tac!  ha ha!

On 8/5/2019 at 1:15 PM, almost40nCruisin said:

Did you have any problems booking directly through Cabo Adventures?  We cruising on the Carnival Panorama in March and booked a couple dolphin swims directly through them.  When I got my confirmation it said in fine print on the bottom that cruise guests must book through the cruise ship. Wondering if this will be an issue or if it's just something they put on there to cover their own behinds? 😁

As others have reported, do NOT use Cabo Adventures!  They are horrible to work with!  First of all, they have captive dolphins in an extremely small enclosure and they market their dolphin adventure like it's something less captive than it really is.  Also they will cancel you without permission if you are arriving on a cruise ship and you book with Cabo Adventures direct.  I had a whale watching tour booked direct that cost $110 on the ship.  Price direct was less than half the cruise price.  Cabo Adventure cancelled me and forced me to book with the cruise line (which I did NOT do).  There are plenty other whale watching tours.  Last time in Cabo, we were hit up on the marina for all kinds of tours.  Stay away from Cabo Adventures though!

This is what I received from the City of Long Beach when I asked about the elusive Lot A I've read about on here:

The only parking structure we have overnight parking for, which would allow overnight parking for a whole week, is Lot A (50 E. 6th St. Long Beach, CA 90802). With a monthly pass, per the parking agreement by the City, vehicles need to be moved every 72 hours. For the Carnival cruises, there is an exception made for Lot A so customers can pull a parking ticket as they enter the lot and pay the daily amount ($12.00) per day once they are ready to leave.

I did reach out to the City of Long Beach about the mysterious Lot A I've read about on here.  This is what I received:

The only parking structure we have overnight parking for, which would allow overnight parking for a whole week, is Lot A (50 E. 6th St. Long Beach, CA 90802). With a monthly pass, per the parking agreement by the City, vehicles need to be moved every 72 hours. For the Carnival cruises, there is an exception made for Lot A so customers can pull a parking ticket as they enter the lot and pay the daily amount ($12.00) per day once they are ready to leave.

I did reach out to the City of Long Beach about parking at the elusive Lot A that I've read about on here.  This is the reply I got:

The only parking structure we have overnight parking for, which would allow overnight parking for a whole week, is Lot A (50 E. 6th St. Long Beach, CA 90802). With a monthly pass, per the parking agreement by the City, vehicles need to be moved every 72 hours. For the Carnival cruises, there is an exception made for Lot A so customers can pull a parking ticket as they enter the lot and pay the daily amount ($12.00) per day once they are ready to leave.