Bluewake

It's actually quite easy to walk from the ship to Margaritaville in Nassau.  We've done it a couple of times.  There is a fee, of course, to use the pool, lazy river, tube ride, and/or beach and I think it's over $100 for a day pass. To me, that's kind of expensive but it's clean, safe, and nicely themed so it might be worth it to you.  However, we weren't interested in doing all those things.  The first time we just went to the store and then walked around the outdoor area for a bit.  No cost to do that.  The second time we bought some nachos and a couple of drinks and just sat eating and drinking for about 30 minutes. Again, we didn't have to pay anything to get in...we just paid for the food and beverages.  I don't know if a ship or private excursion would be cheaper than just showing up but I doubt it since you'd probably be charged for the ride.

Same thing here.  I've tried different browsers but every time I try to press "manage my cruise" it sends me back to the log-in page.

Thank you all so much for your comments and suggestions. Hearing from others who've been able to be seated after only a relatively short wait is very encouraging. Maybe we aren't going to have to eat in the buffet every night after all !!  

We are booked for My Time Dining on an upcoming Royal cruise.  Unfortunately, I was busy doing other things and forgot to make dinner reservations. By the time I realized it, the only times available to reserve were much later than we'd prefer.  With My Time, is it possible to simply show up when the dining room opens and wait for a table or must one have a reservation for a specific time?  I called RCCL with this question and was told that it's possible the dining room would not be able to accommodate "walk-ins" if there have been too many reservations.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

On 9/22/2023 at 12:13 PM, Itchy&Scratchy said:

to get a better price I'd advise to book farther out in advance. For example, when I booked our November cruise a year ago, the price was around $550 pp for a regular balcony for a 7 night cruise. Now the same cruise is $1,200+ pp for the same balcony.

I am looking at March 2025 cruises and right now they are around $550 pp for a balcony (with drinks and wifi). I will, however, wait to book until after our first MSC cruise this November. I know I can book and then cancel, which is what I did with our March 2024 cruise after I read a ton of negative Seascape reviews, but I still kept our November 2023 cruise, because we got a very good deal and a whole family is coming.

We have sailed on a number of different lines, including multiple cruises on MSC.  Please don’t be dissuaded by a few negative reviews about MSC on cruise critic. When you consider how many thousands of people cruise each year, a handful of negative reviews on CC doesn’t constitute a critical mass of opinion upon which you can rely. Similarly, condescending posts on cruise critic which imply that unless you’re in the yacht club, you are somehow sailing in a garbage scow or are of lesser social status are equally insipid.  We’ve sailed in the yacht club on MSC as well as outside the yacht club. I don’t doubt there are cruisers who are very much drawn to the milieu of the yacht club and/or the individualized attention and services.  However, because what is offered by the yacht club is not of particular importance to us, we simply don’t see the advantage in paying the additional cost. In fact, we actually have found some aspects of the yacht club experience not to be to our liking. In my opinion, it’s about objectively deciding what is important to you and then doing your research to determine whether or not a particular cruise line or ship is a match for those expectations. For some, that certainly will mean the yacht club is the only viable option.  For others, not so much. 

I greatly appreciated your description of Cartagena.  We will be on this same MSC Divina cruise in April and it will be our first time visiting Cartagena.  We've read about the relentless vendors in Old Town, including "rappers" who supposedly come up and loudly "rap" in your face until you give them money to go away.  Not sure if that is a myth or not!  Although we often book private tours, we decided to go with a cruiseline excursion in Cartagena that spends only part of the time in the Old Town so that might help to mitigate the stress for our first visit. 

2 hours ago, DaKahuna said:

 

 

I found it confusing.  I went to Google maps and searched for Reynolds Pier and the map location cam up as where we docked but the pictures showed the pier that was damaged.  
 

The only name I could see on a map for that area was Ocho Rios Cruise Port.
 

A description of the two piers can be read at:

https://www.iqcruising.com/ports/caribbean/jamaica/ocho-rios/overview-ocho-rios-cruise-port.html

We are new to Princess and are looking at a cruise on the Island Princess. We are trying to decide whether to go with the standard option or the plus option which would give us two “casual meals” during our cruise. This brings up the question of what are the casual dining venues aboard the Island Princess?  And are the casual dining venues the same thing as “pop ups” or are those two entirely different things?  Advice is much appreciated.

On 1/6/2024 at 10:46 AM, Ladydee said:

Regarding Mahahual in Costa Maya: I am confused how recent Trip Advisor reviews go from either 1-star to 5-stars. Yes, I know it depends on what peoples' expections are, but "nasty" to one person is still at least "bad," to another. Visiting there while in port is pretty much non-negotiable for my group.

The backstory is that back in 2005, Costa Maya was a brand new port, and Mahahual was an unknown, unspoiled little gem of a town. The speed bump on the road there was some thick nautical rope laid across the dirt. We visited there while on the Grandeur of the Seas. In fact, we were the sailing that hit the pier and were "shipwrecked" there for 3 days. All other ships had left and we had the island to ourselves. Mahahual was a paradise.

 

 

We also were there on the Grandeur in 2005.  The port area was very different...much smaller than today.  We went to the village of Mahajual and had coconut shrimp at the Cat's Meow. Then, we spent some time on the beach.  It was such a relaxing port experience.  We went back in 2006 and took the Native Choice tour with Ivan and David to Chacchoben before heading to the village for a while.  Another great time.  In the years since, we've been back several times. In fact, we were just there last week.  Unfortunately, the village of Mahajual is very different from our initial visits.  After two or three experiences involving vendors lined up and relentlessly coming one-after-another to sell you the same souvenir items, asking to braid your hair, or to give you a massage, we stopped going to the village.  Yes, I know they are just trying to make a living and a polite "no thanks" was usually sufficient but we found we had to do that about once every 3-4 minutes while at the beach or walking along the malecon and it became onerous.  Our next couple of trips, we either took an excursion or  just stayed at the port area which was less intense.  However, it wasn't long before the port area involved dealing with vendor after vendor who wanted to put some sort of lotion on you and pull you into their store.  We tired of their lines  (e.g. "are you a movie star"?  because I was wearing sunglasses).  So, when we were there last week, we went to Maya Chan, a private beach oasis about 4 miles below Mahajual.  It was wonderful!  Okay, the water is a bit more murky than the blue water by the port and the beach isn't anything to brag about but the overall experience of having our own private cabana set between palm trees and tropical plants, limitless food and drinks, no vendors, and the most polite staff we've encountered in the Caribbean was great.

On 1/11/2024 at 5:54 PM, Jim_Iain said:

Wow.... Abby ---- Just got a message from a friend that is on a B2B on Constellation.   As you probably know by now,  they have a big outbreak of Noro aboard and CDC is coming aboard and a full disinfection campaign is underway.    B2B's had to pack up and leave the ship and were taken to a mall as no passengers can be on the ship.   They had to totally leave their room so it can be disinfected.  

 

Just checked and it is already on the CDC site. 

Yes. We just returned yesterday from the Constellation's Jan 3rd  New Orleans & Western Caribbean cruise.  I heard there 70+ cases of Norovirus but I don't know the actual numbers.  The Captain alerted passengers to the outbreak about 2/3 of the way through the cruise and addressed it a couple of additional times in subsequent announcements, hand sanitizer dispensers popped-up all over the ship, and the buffet switched to where all serving was done by staff members...there were no stations with self-service, including beverages.  It really gets you thinking just how easy it is to touch something that another passenger or crew member just touched such as stairway railings, elevator buttons, drinks handed to you by a waiter, grasping a chair to pull it up to the table, the table itself, menus, etc.  It's impossible  for the crew to disinfect everything before another person comes along!  A friend who was aboard was stricken with Noro - pretty serious symptoms - and had to remain in their cabin for 2 days.  And, it wasn't only Noro.  Two other acquaintances aboard came down with some sort of respiratory virus and had to be treated by the ship medical staff. One said it was covid but the other said it was something different.  We were fortunate and managed to avoid getting ill.  I have to think that is because we were very careful about what we touched, washed and sanitized regularly, and avoided close crowds such as in the casino which looked like a virtual germ distribution center to us!

1 hour ago, PTC DAWG said:

That's pretty much what the OP suggested..folks just didn't want to read that part.  

Thank you.  Perhaps I didn't word it correctly but, by no means, was I suggesting "no cell phones whatsover" on the ship.  All I meant to suggest was whether people might support designating 2-3 small areas of the ship [such as a particular lounge, the library, an area of chairs on the Promenade Deck...just like the smoking area is set up, etc. as "Quiet" areas where cell phone conversations, facetiming, playing music or videos by speaker, etc. would not be allowed...and I suppose loud conversations could be included. This simply would afford those who want to read or relax to have some places to do so without being subjected to another passenger's very loud phone conversations, videos, and other noise producing actions. Nothing would prevent a person from using their phone to text or watch videos with earphones or even to receive an incoming call in these areas provided they took that call to another location.  They would have the majority of the ship to do that.  

At the risk of sounding petty...

We just returned from a short Celebrity cruise that was wonderful in most ways other than one exception.  In four days, we encountered 6-7 situations in which we found a quiet place to relax but, within a few minutes, someone a few chairs away was on their cell phone engaging in one or more of three behaviors:  (1) talking very loudly...really loudly;  (2) using the speaker on the cell phone to hear the other party...many such exchanges seemed to involved "facetiming"; (3) watching videos on their phone with the speaker at max setting.  These were not emergencies in any way.  I know that because the entire conversation from both parties was clearly audible to everyone within a 10-20 foot radius.  And, at no time, did the party on the ship seem to be concerned that they might be bothering anyone. 

It's hard to believe we are the only cruisers who find this somewhat disturbing but I have to acknowledge the possibility that others simply aren't bothered by it.  If so, it's my problem.   However, it got me thinking.  If cruise lines can have smoking and non-smoking areas, why not have certain areas where cell phone conversations are not permitted and videos/music can only be watched with earphones?   Of course, nobody cares if someone is texting...it's the noise polution that is the issue for some of us.

So...am I being a curmudgeon and unreasonable?

I've sailed out of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, and Tampa and drive to all of those ports so flights are not a factor for us.  In my opinion, there are four main considerations:

1. Getting there - If you are flying, hardly matters, I suppose.  If you are driving, I've found getting into Port Canaveral very easy. Fort Lauderdale is pretty much a straight shot from the Turnpike and fairly easy access.  Tampa is a little bit tricky due to some recent construction taking place and getting through Miami can be a pain in the neck because of the traffic and people darting in and out of lanes depending on when you travel.

2. Baggage Drop and Parking - Once again, baggage drop and parking at Port Canaveral has always been painless.  The main garages are pretty near the terminal.  Fort Lauderdale isn't too bad for the same reasons...the terminal staff seem organized and parking is fairly close.   Because of so many ships boarding at once, Miami can be quite congested and we've ended up parking quite a distance away from our ship.  Tampa isn't bad..not too far from the terminal to the garage.   Of course, you always have the option of parking off-site and taking a shuttle.  It can make a difference to have someone else do the driving!

3. The onboarding process - I can't say we've noticed a difference among the various terminal staffs.  I tend to like Ft Lauderdale's organization. Same for Port Canaveral.  Our longest waits have been in Miami and Tampa.

4. Disembarking and Getting out of the port - Port Canaveral wins this one "hands down".  Getting out of the port and on the way is easy.  Now, Miami - at least for us - is a totally different story.  I'll bet we've missed the signs to get out of the port at least 3 times (which says a lot about our ability to read overhead signs I suppose!) and had to circle back into the line of those coming into the port for the next cruise. For some reason, we are baffled by the roadways there.  Tampa and Ft Lauderdale are about equal for us...although I think I'd give the edge to Ft Lauderdale.

Of course, all this is totally subjective and those with greater navigational acumen might have very different ideas!

6 minutes ago, Pennstatedj said:

They have sticky buns once a weekly at cafe Baccio. They are good but not the same as the Diner.

Good to know about sticky buns in Baccio!  I won't be on Equinox again for a while but will soon be on the Silhouette and, in January, the Constellation.  I absolutely will try to track some down.  Maybe it will bring back memories of State College.

4 minutes ago, Pennstatedj said:

. Too many classical groups, not any acoustical guitar acts. We just spent more time in the Martini bar. We will miss the Equinox next summer, but look forward to the Edge and the many differences that it has to offer. 

Not quite like going to the Phyrst to hear the Physt Family or hanging out at the Corner Room!  (Couldn't help but notice your CC "name" - Pennstatedj)  Wouldn't it be great if Celebrity offered "sticky buns" in the Buffet? 

On our last cruise (which was on Royal Caribbean), I had a chance to ask the Cruise Director why no educational, cultural, or information programs such as "Beyond the Podium" were offered.  He very politely responded that it was because there just wasn't any interest. I found that surprising.  Okay, such sessions might not pack the theater but we had an opportunity to attend a couple of sessions (one was famous sea disasters...somewhat of an interesting choice for a cruise!) last year on Celebrity and there were 50 or more in attendance.  In 2018 we were on a Carnival cruise that stopped overnight in Havana and an enthusiastic speaker did multiple sessions on Cuban culture, etc. that were very well attended.  We will be on Constellation in January and I'd love to see something similar.

1 hour ago, hcat said:

We heard they have a pool, loungers   food/ drinks  and nice shops right at the Puerta Plata  port area.. Can you confirm that?

 

Our ship, APEX will arrive around 11:30 am and we are hoping for a nice relaxing day..close to the ship!

 

 We really liked Taino Bay.  As C4HCG wrote, TB has bars, shopping, and a nice swimming pool area...however, no true ocean beach access when we were there.  Here is a video from Youtube that shows what it's like:

Amber Cover is similar but we liked TB better.  Lots of shopping and a pool area but not as nice as TB...at least we didn't think so.  Here is another video that shows AC.

13 minutes ago, C4HCG said:

Looks like we were misinformed then, shame we were looking forward to it. As mentioned above the chap seemed distraught so we accepted his word. Maybe he’d had something happen to him but he didn’t say so.

Totally understand. If someone had told me what you were told, I'd have done just what you did. You probably are correct that he had a bad experience that colored his view and he passed it on.  I suppose we all have a story about a port where we felt "ripped off" or unsafe.  I once had such a "moment" on an excursion in Falmouth, Jamaica that left me nervous about that particular port.  However, I'll bet others would find my concern totally misplaced!  I hope you can give Puerto Plata another chance.  It's not my favorite port but I didn't find it to be as that other cruiser portrayed it to be. With that said, however, any port can present criminals with opportunities so it's always wise to be cautious.

4 hours ago, ela123 said:

We walked there from the ship it was very straightforward. A local tried walking and chatting with us to “show us the way” we just said thanks but we know the way so we don’t need help and carried on walking. I didn’t feel unsafe at all.

We've been in Puerto Plata three times in the last 12 months - docked twice at Taino Bay and once at Amber Cove - and went to the historic downtown area all three times.  We also never felt unsafe.  Our second time at TB, we walked from the port to the historic downtown area, along the beach near the fort, and back.  Other than being approached right at the port exit by mildly persistent people trying to get us to take their taxi or a private tour, we had no issues whatsoever.  We went in several stores in the downtown area and were never "pressured" to buy anything. Can't believe someone told the OP that they were  "locking people in shops until they bought something"!   In fact, I've actually felt more pressure at the straw market in Nassau and from the guys standing outside the jewelry stores in Charlotte Amalie (St Thomas) and Phillipsburg (St. Maarten).  On just about every corner along the way from the port to the downtown area in Puerto Plata, there are "Tourist Police" who stop traffic to allow tourists to cross and do a good job making tourists feel comfortable.  Of course, maybe there is a need for such police but, if so, we didn't see it.

We've been in St Maarten quite a few times so when we once had a particularly long day in St Maarten, we decided to do something different by taking a ferry to St. Barths.  It's about 45 minutes each way.  We were there long enough to hire a taxi to give us a 90 minute tour of St. Barths and a bit of souvenir shopping before returning.  We'd not been there before and quite enjoyed it.  Of course, it all depends on how long your ship is docked and your tolerance of the risk about not getting back to the ship on time but as long as your ship is there long enough, it's something to consider.  Also, I agree with others that Bernard's does a good job. We've taken 2-3 tours with them and were very pleased.

To each his own.  However, I am currently in a deck 8 Promenade view room on Mariner and don't believe I will ever again book another Promenade room.  I happen to have sensitive hearing and the thud of the bass and drums from the band playing below  - not to mention the singer - is very distracting.  It went on for a couple of hours this afternoon and I expect it will go on until about 11 pm as it did last night.  Someone who tends to be out late in the bars or other activities, doesn't spend a lot of time in the cabin, and doesn't mind the music will not have a problem.  However, I often go to the early show and head back to the cabin to read or watch TV and it's very distracting.   Right now, the music is absolutely blaring from the 70's party ( I think).  The loudest it's been so far.  No way I'd book another Promenade view.

On 8/12/2023 at 9:01 AM, TeeRick said:

 I think perhaps once in a 7 night cruise I might actually call my Butler.  Not 1-2 times a day.  I see my butler when he/she stops by on occasion, perhaps to check our mini-fridge.  Or when they deliver our breakfast after leaving the card on the door.  I actually have very little need for them in reality.   We never have them meet us in the theatre on Chic night- and we don't like the reserved seat area.  Anything related to guest services, reservations, etc. I will go to the Retreat Lounge and use the Concierge there.  Our room steward takes care of us more than our butler including taking an occasional laundry bag.  That is my case.  Frankly I struggle finding what to do with the butler on most cruises.  So most of my needs would be easily met by a dedicated on-demand Retreat Team approach when I really think about it.  So I am willing to try it.

Same here.  We have tried the "Butler thing" and - for the most part - it just didn't work for us.  Admittedly, we've appreciated priority boarding and debarking with a Butler escort but that's about it.  I am a "do it myself" person and actually sometimes find having to work through an intermediary to be a challenge or a disadvantage. For example, a Butler once asked us to wait for a group to assemble to take us all to an excursion meeting point. The Butler had the entire group wait for the late-comers to meander in and by the time we arrived at the excursion area, we were at the far end of the line...got the worst seats, etc.  That was the last time we used a Butler for excursions.  Like you, we prefer a different seating area in the theater so we go on our own.   In fact, on the cruises on which we've had access to a Butler, we've used the Butler so infrequently that we feel guilty about not using them when we pass ours in the hallway....and then we struggle about how much to tip someone we've seen only once or twice and whose services we haven't utilized.  I do understand that some people see the Butler as a great advantage. It's just not for us.

2 hours ago, RedJessi said:

Our November Cruise has beach club at 160.99, waterpark at 88.99, beach club cabana 1,699.00, and overwater cabanas at 2,199.00. 

We will be enjoying the free beach 😆

Wow!  $1700 for a cabana.  We've never purchased one but, while walking past them, we have wondered whether you can split the cost among 2-3 families or is there a limit on the number of people who can use the cabana?  Does anything come with it such as drinks or food or are those extra?

4 hours ago, emmas gran said:

We did a Panama City tour with another cruise line Princess if I remember correctly..

Our tour had a police escort of armed officers front and rear, we were told not to wander outside the group.

 

1 hour ago, phissy said:

As far as the cruise listed by OP, we have done this cruise.
Panama was a big shock for those who wanted to go into town, Heavy police presence with not many shops open. Many came right back onboard. Some took the excursion that buses you to see the canal . Very long ride with police escort. Late return and exhausted from many hours on bus. One passenger who was from there said she would not get off ship because that port area is very dangerous. It’s a shame, it looks like,they were in the process of developing a very nice area there but it shut down with Covid.  NCL will no longer use that hotel or port for embarkations for a cruise.

These posts are concerning and certainly have prompted a reconsideration of the notion of exploring on our own. Our group cruised to Panama once before. The ship anchored in Lake Gatun and we did an excursion in which we took a small boat the remaining length of the canal to the Pacific, then a long bus ride back to Colon to meet the ship.  We had no sense of safety issues because our only interaction with Panama was passing through it by ship, small boat, and bus.  

43 minutes ago, Mark_T said:

This one I assume?

 

"With numerous fascinating sites with a history intertwined with Spain, France and the United States that never fails to delight, Casco Viejo (Old Compound) offers highlights which include the 17th century churches, the ruins of century convents and residences, original dungeons, a French monument to the 22,000 who died building the Panama Canal and the Panama Canal Museum in an elegant, restored building that once housed the headquarters of the French company that attempted to build a sea level canal."

 

Not sure I've ever had much more detail when booking ship tours, but It is listed as 4.5 hours and at a rough estimate it is going to be close to an hour each way on the coach so you'll have around 2.5 hours in the Old Quarter.

 

It is not listed as a 'scenic tour' so you will be getting off, but it doesn't mention time for individual exploration so I'd expect it to be mostly a guided tour and probably a museum visit, although that isn't specifically mentioned.

 

Hopefully someone who has actually done the tour will be able to tell you more, but given you already have a group, why not look at arranging your own private tour?

Yes…Thank you. Primarily, our group wants to know if we’ll be a to explore a bit either on our own, or in some sort of guided way.  I hadn’t thought about the term “scenic tour” making a difference, so I appreciate you bringing that to my attention.   We very much enjoy MSC cruises, however, we’ve had some frustrations dealing with MSC’s shoreside operations.