yankedog

I'm sure someone has mentioned this somewhere... but has anyone tried the free luggage back to the airport deal with the city of seattle?

https://www.portseattle.org/page/port-valet-enjoy-seattle-luggage-free

Sounds so great!  Please let me know if it worked! 

I'm trying to figure out the best way to get from Hobby to Galveston.  3 of us!  We are arriving around 4:00 on Wednesday and have a hotel already reserved in Galveston.  We are used to renting a car in Florida and can return them at any port with no one way fee.  In Texas car rentals are so expensive because of that fee. Any ideas?  

Hey, Rhode Islander, I'm from MA and now living on Bonaire. I get what you're saying about rocky beaches, but the gorgeous beaches in Sorobon have had a massive amount of Sargassum Seaweed wash up on the beaches. It's just massive, and more is expected to arrive soon. It rots and emits a poisionous gas and I don't know how long before it clears up, but I would expect weeks at least. So sad for the businesses there. So if you like a Sandy beach, I think your best bet is going North of Kralendijk to Spice Beach and Coco Beach, both are nice and sandy, Spice Beach is the nicest. The Western shore is unaffected by the seaweed.

Jeyna from Boston

Yes... got to love Narragansett Beach in RI and Hampton Beach in NH. I go to both every summer and my DB and DN have a house in Cape Cod. This Colorado girl(since ‘77) gets to the beaches frequently. Thanks so much for the heads up! We will head right to either beach. Does any have a place for drinks and light snacks?

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We used to prepay so it was all done by the time we get on the ship. We walk in the first day and when our room steward walks up and introduces her/himself we talk for a bit and hand them a $20 bill. We say “keep the ice coming and we hope to see you around”. We always get great service. I feel if you add a smile when you see them it goes a LONG way. If you need something done or done differently they will go out of their way to do it. We do anytime dining and if we have great service the first night we will request the same table nightly. We tip as we go in that case. Drinks... same. They add the tip on... but I think if you add a tip also at the beginning you will get their attention right away. We have had one 5 day cruise that none of this worked. And our safe didn’t work, our door lock didn’t work...actually the last night when my DF dropped food on clothes and our bags were already taken, at 1 in the morning I fed $$ into the washer and IT didn’t work. I think we were doomed from the get go!!

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I can’t wait! We have our golf cart rented!

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I too am looking for a nice beach that you can walk in some water (without rocks)up to maybe your waist. Being raised in the Ocean State, Jaws did a number on me years ago (don’t laugh). I am afraid of fish. I have tried snorkeling many times (even have my own gear), but I just don’t find it relaxing. We are renting a golf cart and looking for a walk-in beach somewhere on this beautiful island. Thanks!!

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I know it sounds weird but it does work.... this prayer works... no matter your thoughts or beliefs...

Tony, Tony,

look around.

Something's lost

and must be found!

That prayer and the more "polite" version (Dear St. Anthony please come around something is lost and it cannot be found.)

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That is what we always do! Be prepared to get off your ship early and stake your claim.

Or head to the pool behind margaritaville and take little trips to the beach. Both are wonderful!

I have always done this. Take say $200 off the slot machine to play with and play a little and go to cashier to cash out. The $200 is charged to your sign and sail account and I have never been charged a fee. I do this on the ship a couple of times when I need cash for the Island. I didn’t think anything is wrong with that. With the ton of money people are using in the casino, they probably don’t worry about the small fish.

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I get gift cards from my grocery store when they have 4 x the gas points throughout the time I have booked. If I win I cash out and tuck some away. If I lose I take $ off my sign and sail card (which eventually you pay for at the end). I take my gift cards the day before we leave and pay off my bill!

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I’m a teacher (probably last year). Husband retired. We used to cruise with others but he got bored. So did my BFF’s husband. So now her and I take a spring break cruise every year. Last year she gambled enough to get a free cruise so we went in June and did it again so we went in October. We have been on 16... can’t wait for spring break. My husband plays golf 3 times a week and goes hunting. We go to Arizona golfing together for a week on winter break and I go to Rhode Island and CApe Cod ever summer to visit family and my BFF. Sometimes he comes too. We camp, boat and ATV all summer too! We worked hard all of our life and downsized our house awhile back. Our friends now realize we did things right!

 

 

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And my Brother in law just moved to Las Vegas with a pool so I am sure we will be heading there too[emoji6]

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I’m a teacher (probably last year). Husband retired. We used to cruise with others but he got bored. So did my BFF’s husband. So now her and I take a spring break cruise every year. Last year she gambled enough to get a free cruise so we went in June and did it again so we went in October. We have been on 16... can’t wait for spring break. My husband plays golf 3 times a week and goes hunting. We go to Arizona golfing together for a week on winter break and I go to Rhode Island and CApe Cod ever summer to visit family and my BFF. Sometimes he comes too. We camp, boat and ATV all summer too! We worked hard all of our life and downsized our house awhile back. Our friends now realize we did things right!

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We have this option to try this place while in Curacao. Looking for a nice place for the 4 of us without breaking the bank..

 

 

 

Any comments will be appreciated!

Yes, I would love to hear more too!

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Lol. We are not spring chickens and laying around at the pool is like laying around on the beach. We love it and that is why I am on my 16th cruise and my bff on her 20th cruise. The only time we buse the 45 minute rule is before dawn. We are both there within an hour or two and there is still no one there but the workers and a handful of people. We do go in the water, we do go run and get lunch one at a time. We do buy drinks, we do go to the bathroom. We usually are out of our pool chairs by 1:00 so others can have it. We do tell people to take chairs if someone has planted their towel and not come back for 2 hours (we tell them to have one of the pool guys bring the things to the towel rental place). I wish Carnival WOULD go back to putting the stickers on the chairs and taking people’s belongings. The drink guys KNOW Always know who abuse it. What pisses me off now is on the ships that have changed the “adult only” at the aft pool. Now there is a problem to talk about! Lol.

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We have the clothes down to an art! Bring 2 pairs of comfortable dressy (not cotton) black capri’s and then about 4 shirts (2 sparkly and two comfy shirts). Wear a pair of cotton or jeans capris, one pair of shorts and 2 bathing suits and two coverups. This is for Caribbean warm weather. No one is going to tabs on what you are wearing, except for that couple sitting near you at dinner that have nothing to say to each other and want something to gossip about. Oh and don’t forget the underwear ( unless you really want them to talk[emoji6])

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I have to say. My BFF and I have it down to a science. One of us ops to go out at 5 or 6 am (with our robe and swimsuit under). We “save” the other chair. The only ones out are the workers. Then we fall asleep in the chair until others start showing up about 8. At that point during the day we always leave one person there. The funniest part is when my BFF is still sleeping and snoring when people start to show up!!! Lol. We have seen on Carnival where they put stickers on the seat and take peoples items. I believe the time is 40 minutes.

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We rent a car from airport, drive to cocoa beach. We can buy drink stuff there, and get a good night’s sleep. The next morning we used to drive to the car rental place, but last time we went to the beach for 2 hours. All the car rental places have free shuttle to the port! It is such an easy and cheaper way to come I the night before.

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Look on the carnival website. +Just posted 2 CANCELLATIONS ..... 9:00 pm TONIGHT

Carnival Liberty – September 7

Carnival Victory – September 8

LEaving on Sunday 10/30. Stopping during the week. We have gone to Freeport a couple of times and love it! WE go to the Grand Lucyan Resort and purchase a day pass. Beach, Pool, CAsino! It is awesome. But I know that area was hit terribly hard, Resort closed until mid Nov. Feel terrible for the residence. No word from Carnival what we are doing.

I leave on Ecstacy on Sunday the 30th, no news yet on Freeport. I loved the Grand Lucyan there, but know that it was damaged and not opening until mid november. The market across the street was damaged- lost roof

If anyone hears anything please post.

WE had booked Mt Pleasant for about $189, but by the time we rented a car($89) and got there, afternoon would be turning into dusk. We cancelled everything and went with the Hyatt Place Historic District (priceline $200), will take an UBER from airport (heard about $20+) and then will take uber or taxi to port. Is the Hyatt a nice one? (good reviews). What is a good restaurant near the hotel? Where would we take the carriage rides from? Thanks for all your info.

Do you have information on transportation from airport to port in Charleston? How much is UBER, CAb, car rentals (and can I drop it off and get transportation to the shop).

Where are the decent $110-$140 hotels in the area. We are coming in day before cruise, so need to land at airport, get transportation, get to hotel, dinner and to bed. Get transportation to boat and then ask for a Pina Colada! How is Mt Pleasent/Patriots Point/Ashley area?

HELP!!!!!!!

Does anyone know of a beach that has people walking the beach offering massages? Eagle? Palm? Any? How far from ships and how much for cab? Thanks in advance!

I am picking up a Budget rental car at FLL the night before our cruise, driving to Miami that night, picking up pop etc. In the morning we will drop car off at rental company and they provide free shuttle to ship! Pretty easy! We did the same at Port Canaveral last year. In Florida there is no "1 way fee" on the cars. You can pick up a car in Florida and drop it off at another place in Florida- fee