WatchHill

If NCL is using TAP for your BOS to LIS flight, then it's an early evening flight, 7:10 pm out of Logan, arriving LIS 5:35 am. TAP uses Terminal C at Logan not Terminal E, the international, for its departures. Arrivals are through TE. That's the flight we booked for our March '23 cruise with Azamara, arriving a few days pre-cruise to adjust to the time difference and explore the city and beyond. Darcy

Last month, we [3 adults] took a taxi to Chogogo Beach Resort about 3 miles outside of town. For $25. pp [includes a $10 food credit] we had full access to their pools, lazy river floats, palm covered lounge chairs and access to a beach bar and food. Very nice & clean place, friendly staff, very good pina coladas and we opted to share a large tray of nachos with all the amenities. DH took his snorkel gear and entered the water to look at fish and coral formations - said he saw lots of them. Water shoes are a must in Bonaire. My sister and I did a few circuits on the lazy river with the supplied floating tubes and then hit the pool. We are seriously considering flying to Bonaire and staying on this property. Their evening beach BBQ and nightly entertainment looked very interesting. Darcy

And the fine print indicates reservations only on embarcation night - only reservation we could get, booking done on the delighful App as soon as reservations were open to book, was first formal night. The "old" coupon, with no exp. date, was any time during your cruise. A few times I saved the coupons, to use on future cruises - no longer an option. I anticipate additional changes no only with Princess, but other cruise lines as well. Darcy

We got the coupon book via email prior to our Enchanted cruise. There was nothing of interest to us, so I simply hit the delete key. At one time, a small bottle of wine was offered at the Crown Grille, not now. Besides many of us have the Plus package through our TA's. We have the Elite 10% on items at the shops - but the OB offer of buy one get the second at half price was a better deal - the sales person rang up the first item with 10% off then did a separate slip for the half price item. If people don't use the coupons, this will be yet another thing to bite the dust with Princess. I wish they would send out a marketing survey to past passengers to inquire about potential offerings via coupons and then refine what is offered. Darcy

We're both Elite and on our recent Enchanted cruise found the mini bar set up lacking as we had the Plus beverage package. We're not soda drinkers, and the package included water, coffee, and far more alcoholic beverages than either of us could drink. I asked room service about switching to vodka minis that we would could take home with us - none on the ship. They eventually gave us a few bottles of Absolute that I packed in bubble wrap, put into checked luggage and they both made in home! Elite perks are not what they used to be for value. Princess needs to take a look at the perks and revise the amenities to reflect recent changes. We did use the laundry option and DH purchased a cologne [10% off] in the cosmetic shop...the better deal was buy one and second is 50% off. The "appetizers" delivered on formal night were gross, never used the early tender to Princess Cay, skipped the Elite disembarcation lounge as we did early walk off though we did go to the Vista Lounge for predinner drinks. Darcy

Yesterday we were in Bonaire on the enchanted princess arriving close to noon. We caught a taxi to ChoGoGo Beach Resort about three miles north along the coast. It’s only a year old and still emerging as a fantastic place to spend the day or even consider a week! No reservations but check in at desk and cash or CC $25 pp with children less. You get access to the resort chairs lounges lots of palm huts for shade and an amazing lazy river with free floats that meanders around the pool and resort buildings. The cost includes a $10 food beverage credit. Pina coladas were $9 each and excellent. Got a tray of nachos and dips that the three of us couldn’t finish. Taxi was $4 pp to the resort and $5 pp return. Taxi rates are not regulated on Bonaire Something to consider Darcy Submitted while at Marriott beach resort because enchanted princess Wi-Fi is awful. Think AOL dial up was better!

Love that wine! It's only $20. bottle at my local liquor store. I'll stick with a cosmo and use up the nips in the cabin bar set up. Crazy since we also have the beverage package. Darcy

I got an email from ArcBest telling me they are hiring! Finally got an email the medallions have been shipped, but the App says pick up at the port - we sail on the 19th. Darcy

Good to know, it would have been nicer if we were informed of this.

Yup, same as pre-covid for us, pick up at the pier. At the bottom of the medallion order status, it says we can buy Medallion merchandise accessories at the Oceafront store. Just wish Pricess was a bit more upfront with the shipping not shipped, pick up at pier info. Darcy

Same here - at first shipped and now pick up at the pier. Are we getting only the free items? If so, I think Princess had no problem with skipping shipping to us - those who opted for the additional cost items probably had them shipped. If this is indeed the Princes policy, the cruise line needs to state this and not leave us waiting and checking for the medallions. The notation to pick up at the Medallion Store at the pier implies they want us to spend a few $$ - no way! Darcy

Yes, I finally see it on the app, but a further deep dive into the app says not shipped yet. We plan to pick up the medallions at the pier and not worry about the shipment to our home - we'll probably be in Ft Lauderdale when they are left on our front door step - for the porch pirates! Darcy

I ordered on August 1st for our November 19th sailing on the Enchanted. So far, medallions have not been shipped and we are flying to FLL a few days pre-cruise. This is not the first time we have encountered this issue. As before, we simply pick them up at the pier when we arrive at PE. Darcy

Many hotels offer a shuttle service to PE. You can sign up for this service when you check in, or simply call a taxi. Darcy

We have an 11: am flight out of FLL at the end of November, Thankfully, only our ship in port that day. We not only have pre-check but trusted traveler/global entry. I've easily done 10: flights as long as we opted to disembark early with our own luggage. Othewise it's either another night in FL or go for the 6:30 PM flight home. Unexpected issues can happen. We once returned to Liberty/NJ and were told our 6: am arrival would be delayed because two other ships had medical issues and were given priority entry. We didn't tie up until after 9:30! Since we were driving it didn't cause any harm. Friends from FL were with us, and had a 5: flight out of Westchester. We still managed lunch in CT, but saw so many pasengers scurry about searching for flights. Worse part of cruising: the flights to get there and home. Darcy

Seems many of us are in the same boat! We're both Elite, and our TA booked us with the beverage package, so the minibar set up is relatively uselss. We are considering splitting the contents with my sister who is Platinum, in a different cabin, and take the nips home post cruise. Let's see - one nip attached to the mail carrier's Christmas card, same for our trash hauler, landscaper, house sitter, etc. With all the inclusive beverage/dining options, and growing repeat passengers, Princess needs to review the perks/benefits/incentives. Darcy

DH is a fan of the Chairman, though will try most any martini that includes gin or vodka. About ten years ago, while in Anchorage, I tried a blood orange cosmo and have been drinking them ever since. It's not something I've ever seen on a cruise ship until I recently searched through the Enchanted's various bar menus and discovered one of the bars uses the blood orange syrup in another drink. We'll be on the Enchanted in three weeks, so I'll be heading to that particular bar to request my martini of choice. My sister, the former bourbon drinker, has now switched to the blood orange martini, so there will be two of us enjoying our beverage package. Darcy

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Logan-Airport/The-Bostonian-Boston Looks like taxi would be the easiest option. Darcy

Bijoux Terner has stores across the country and merchandise is priced at $10 same as on the ship. There used to be a shop at FLL airport. Always on Amazon. Cruise ships has a captive group of passengers eager to purchase items at "super sale prices" Buyer Beware! I'm very skeptical of the prices on cruise ships - from cosmetics that are less at Macy's or Sephora, to Effy, etc. Darcy

Ingredients hidden within seemingly innocent foods often present as triggers. Corn syrup, highly sweetened foods - like those yummy buttery frosted fruit filled breakfast Danish, are loaded with corn syrup - so are most baked goods and my cruise ship cookies cookies. Darcy

I have Barrett's and am closely monitored by MGH/Brigham. I take protonix/pantoprazole daily, and on occasion twice a day. Sleeping with the head of the bed slightly elevated is a must - extra bed pillows to do this NEVER because that "folds" your body mid-point in the esophagus and can increase acid pushing upward. Wedge behind the mattress on a cruise. Knowing all of your trigger foods is so important. Eating smaller portions helps a lot, nothing to eat or drink 3 hours before bed time, avoid anything carbonated, and the usual list: peppermint, fatty/fast/fried foods, alcohol, cinnamon, no citrus juice, coffee, Asian foods, pizza, tomato and chocolate. Dairy and milk products can promote acid production. Add to that, sucrose and all sugar substitutes. Gosh, this list keeps growing and I do like things on it! Foods that soothe or easy to digest: oatmeal, low acid melon, chicken [not fried], plain seafood such as haddock or sword, green and roots veggies [no buttery sauces], gravy and honey. Sipping a bit of cold water, which has a pH of 7, helps neutralize the acid. Of course, we all cheat and "need" some of those forbidden foods. One or two bites I can handle, but consuming fruity foo-foo drinks along with pizza/chips/spicey foods will leave me walking the deck at 2:am sipping chilled water and feeling sorry for myself. Darcy

Deepest sympathy to you and your family in your loss. I'll assume you had Medicare and we know it does not cover out of country. However, There are some exceptions, it will cover services aboard a ship if it's within territorial waters adjoining the land areas of the USA. The specifics are in the Medicare hand book and well worth contacting Medicare to seek partial coverage since this did happen within/adjacent to USA waters. Darcy

Reading about chair hogs, jogged the old brain cells. I remember having reserved deck chairs, with our name on a small tag at the back of the chair. When selecting this option, I could request a general location and always had my dedicated deck stewart who knew my beverage preferences. The last cruise line to offer with was Home Lines. Maybe this is is an option cruise lines could consider - a small extra fee of course, but something to consider if there are numerous sea days. Darcy

Most hotels have laundry facilites on site. We usually stay at one of the Hyatts and they have a guest laundry room, Worse case, you'll need to find a commercial self service laundry near your hotel. If you check yor hotel's web site, not the main booking site, it will list laundry faciliteis as an amenity. Darcy

The App may be a good idea, but there are too many flaws that need to be corrected. Some things on line, others App only. Annoying with no option and spending too much time looking for things. Port guides are nearly impossible to read on the iphone, and spending my time to download, print, etc., isn t my idea of customer friendly service. When it comes to making dinner reservations - based on days ashore and at sea, the App refused to allow me alternative dining rooms or times which is annoying, but tolerable. Five nights in the dining room, another 5 we'll do buffet and one night CG. However, making a reservation for the Crown Grille is another story and I'm not pleased. Once the CG reservation was open for booking, I reserved a table for 3 at 6:30 and then submitted payment. All set? No. Two months later the 6:30 is now 7:20 - and cannot be changed! Looks like I'll be calling the dine line once on the ship - either give me back what I reserved or recourse the payment. Darcy