2Fltravelers

FYI if you are planning on renting from Karib golf carts any time soon. I reserved a cart for 2/2/18 through the website on Friday and paid a 50% deposit through Pay Pal. I just got an email advising that there was a fire at their facility and many carts were damaged. They refunded my deposit.

I appreciate the prompt action. Guess if they didn’t have bad luck this year they’d have no luck. Hopefully, 2018 will be a better year for them and the island🤞🙏Sad!😪

Definitely a "breakfast" place. Not quite the place for lunch (although it probably might be very good ... we have seen a lot of ship officers there over the years on turnaround day) or dinner atmosphere-wise!

The breakfast and lunch menu are available all day. The restaurant closes at 3.

Yes. Same space, similar menu. But new management.

Better food, nice outdoor area along canal, and redecorated.

That's really cute. We're going to have to look for Joe's Cafe when we get to FLL - we've traditionally been going to the Quarterdeck for lunch, so will try a new place.

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Across the street from the Quaterdeck is South Street Seaport which, IMHO, is much better.

So, Joe's Cafe and Kelly's Landing are on the list. Anywhere else - preferably near the Embassy Suites?

If you like Indian, Indian Harbor In the same shopping center as Joe’s is excellent. If you want to sit outside for a nice dinner, then The Boatyard across the street and 2 blocks east (no reservations for outside).

I was just on the Koningsdam and smoking was allowed in the casino except for 2 non-smoking nights.

 

Leslie

That may be because it was a Caribbean cruise. Over the summer in Europe it was the opposite.

There are a few places, try Karib auto rental or Nathan's!

 

 

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Thanks.

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I rented through Karib auto rentals online. Exit the main gate of the port and it was only like a 3 min walk. They are set up on the side of the main road. Gold carts, Dune buggies, and mopeds.

 

 

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Thanks. I'll check them out.

I rented a golf cart when 2 years ago. It was a blast we drove all over. Shopped, ate, went to the most beautiful beach, flea market, lighthouse and house looking. I would highly recommend this!! The port beach area was packed. I liked the adventure.

 

 

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We will be in GT in January & would be interested in renting a golf cart. Where exactly can you rent them? Thanks for the information.

What hotels are open in San Juan? We just received an email today that the hotel was canceling ours even though they only had minor damage. We have a friend staying at another hotel and all three rooms were canceled.

 

Sorry this happened to you. We dock in SJ on 10/28 and had to finally cancel our hotel last night because we weren't getting any positive feedback from the hotel for 2 weeks. Initially they told me on 10/6 they were open & operational with only minor damage but power issues and I should check back in a few days. When I tried for 2 days to reach them they finally responded. They told me to contact Expedia to cancel since I booked through them. And then Expedia tried to tell me that the cancellation time ended 9/27! I told them they better not pull that since I would dispute the charge. They backed down when they couldn't reach the hotel. They sent an email & text telling me that the hotel was not operational and that I should email back for a refund which would be promptly given.

 

I woke up this morning to a completely different email telling me they were trying to reach the hotel-again! Lots of angry words in my response back. Glad I booked a flight home the same day the ship docks expecting there would more than likely be issues.

 

 

I hope it works out for you and your friends.

I as well recently booked B2B Summit sailings in December. I plan to fly in/out day of cruise starting and ending, flying from south Florida makes this very easy especially with the scheduled 8:30pm departures. I don't think the San Juan is necessarily ready for visitors staying for long periods in their hotels but I see no reason to not use the city as a port of embarkation. I sail in approximately 2 months and I'm being optimistic that the island will recover. The prices are outstanding on the December sailings.

We are doing the Summit repo from NJ to SJ next week. We decided to return home the day we dock since our hotel has some power isssues but we will return. The airport if functioning 100%, the roads in the area are clear, the port, airport and much of SJ are back on the grid, there is cell service and plenty of taxis. We never thought of cancelling on our own. PR needs more than our thoughts and prayers. It needs our business and support so people can go back to work, earn a living and reclaim their lives. Happy to see that others feel the same.

And I emailed you the information, Michelle.

Got it! Thanks.

I will try to post my information again: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BjAtDscML-9Ce3VWUUsOrsVhPL7KIxb7Go_9SRi82dE/edit?usp=sharing

 

I recommend renting a car if you are going to Peggy's Cove, but if you wish a private driver find me on the NS forum for Trip Advisor, click on my username (same as here) and send me a private message giving me your email address and I will send you my notes gathered over the past few years about private tours and taxi drivers.

Hi Maryann:

I just messaged you on TA.

Michelle

I just returned 2 weeks ago from a 26-day B2B, having occupied Cabin 6080. Best location I can imagine! Right around the corner from the central elevators, so you are dropped off right at the doors of either the Lido or the main DR, and only walk half the ship for the theater. Although it's so close, I don't recall ever hearing the elevator door chime. The cabin is mid-ship, so very stable; the view is great, and the verandah is completely adequate in size. (I booked fairly late, so did not have a comparable choice available on the starboard side, which would have been preferable for viewing land on our travel route).

 

I would note that mattress is by far The Worst I have ever slept on, and even a requested topper could not even out the deep gullies. Also, the verandah deck has some major rust marks, the room furniture is pretty worn, and the bathtub has a small crack on the outside. Perhaps the refurbishment to take place this next winter will help with some issues, but the ship will only be in dry dock for 2 weeks, and they can't make an old ship new in that amount of time. Definitely check on whether the mattress will be replaced!

 

 

A really big Plus for this cabin is its stewards--Komang & Rinaldy--absolutely the Best!! Komang is a prize-winning towel-animal master whose creations were like none I have ever seen, and had me chuckling out loud through the whole cruise. He is also a delight to talk with, and has an infectious & ever-present smile. The two of them do impeccable work on the cabin, and fulfill every request practically immediately.

 

Have a great cruise!

Peggy

Thanks Peggy for your detailed review. We are hoping that the drydock this December will address some of these issues you mention. Can't imagine anything worse than a horrible mattress for 20 days with my back issues.

I am debating going back to Emerald Beach or to Megans Bay. We have been going to Emerald several times on the last cruises we have been on with friends. The jitney buses wait to fill up to go to Megan's vs. taking a taxi to Emerald (never had an issue getting a taxi back or arrange for your driver to return to pick you up. Everything depends on traffic too. Going up and down the hills to Megan's bay can be exciting or frightening, depending on your outlook. I've never felt threatened. Last few times I've gone with a private tour vendor I know and love and may do the same this time as it's about the same cost as a taxi round trip.

We plan to go to Megan's Beach on our October cruise, we are interested in your private tour vendor if the price is about the same as a taxi. Please email me at mkainsta@gmail.com. Thanks.

Is there a map or description where they take you in St Maarten on this tour? (couldn't open the link) I saw the pictures on the Aruba site and knowing St. Maarten like I do I can't help but think that instead of going on dirt roads and exploring, you might find yourself stuck in traffic congestion getting from one beach or site to the next. Please come back and review this new excursion for us. :)

Go directly to the website for more info. Since I didn't post a hyperlink here. There is no map but they may be able to send you one if you email them. I will certainly post our experience here once we return the end of October👍

Can you tell me the name of the trikes outfit in St Maartin

It's http://www.trikes-St Maarten.com

I don't think they have a room full of unused footstools, just waiting for someone to ask for them. If you want this particular amenity, then you should book concierge. I don't think you should even ask your steward. Why ask him for something he can not provide and let him know that he has disappointed you right from the start. That's simply not right.

 

 

 

We will be on Summit soon, and there are no footstools in Aqua. We are bring inflatable footstools. Many many to choose from on Amazon. Not expensive and easy to pack.

Surprised to hear that Aqua on Summit has no footstools. That is an amenity in all Aqua cabins I have been in on all other ships. I will have to check. Thanks for the heads-up.

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There are also 8/11 and 8/23 roll calls for the Zuiderdam for this trip. There are some of us on the 8/11 continuing onto the 8/23.

I will check out your roll calls since we are doing this cruise in 2018. Thanks.

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I swear, I never put on the comment card, "Please remove the sushi from the buffet and kindly charge me an arm and a leg to eat it in a specialty restaurant".

Perfectly said! We thought the exact thing when we asked where the sushi was and was told it was at Sushi on Five. What a disappointment that place was.

I would just like to add that I was invited to participate in a Celebrity focus group last fall. It was a very interesting experience and there were a lot of comments, positive and negative, by the participants. All I can say is that Celebrity is very aware of the competition it faces from new ships coming online and is trying to be innovative. Whether or not the new policies will work remains to be seen. We were not made privy to their exact plans so it is difficult to judge if anything has been rolled out yet or is working. So far, based on my last cruise in January (it does not appear that any of these changes have adversely impacted the Galapagos cruises which I was on in April), I'm not impressed but I enjoy Celebrity enough that I'm willing to wait and see.

 

Last December, when we were on the Eclipse we had a private conversation with a senior member of that ship's staff (a gentleman we have known for years) who expressed some frustration with policy changes coming down from Corporate. Consider that even a small cut-back can result in major cost savings....when its done across the entire fleet. In Blu, we started to laugh at the almost daily use of less costly cuts of meat such as beef shank, pork shank, etc. One night they served a "rib eye" that could not have been more then 1/2 inch thick. Its not a cut of meat we would even consider using at home...so no reason to expect it on what is supposed to be a higher end mass market line. One morning, at the Lido, we asked the egg cook to please make us an omelet with real eggs (not the processed liquid that comes out of a box). He had plenty of real eggs (they use them to make things like over easy) but told us her was not permitted to use real eggs to make an omelet (he quietly apologized for the policy). The so-called Fresh squeezed OJ that is sold at the bar in the Lido...is no longer real fresh squeezed OJ. Even in the Elite breakfasts....the previously real fresh squeezed OJ had been replaced by what they told us was a "premium" product. That stuff was not nearly as good as the basic OJ we buy in our supermarket. These are very small changes...but they start to add up which is why I called it "death by a thousand cut-backs."

 

Hank

Hank:

We noticed similar things in Blu on our Equinox cruise in January. There was pheasant, quail and some other game bird on the menu 5 out of 10 nights and it was repeated on one other night. We found that very odd since we did not recall seeing any of those choices on the menu before. But so many nights when entree choices are limited caused us to seek alternate dining choices on 2 nights when we would normally eat in Blu. It will be interesting to see if these changes in Blu are throughout the fleet when we are on the Summit in October.

Wrong. SOLAS regulations requires corridors to kept free of obstructions and Celebrity's policy requires mobility devices to be stored in the stateroom when not in use, not "nearby". Not in elevator lobbies, stairway lobbies, or corridors. All comprise parts of our paths of exit travel in case of emergency.

So true! This is a great concern of mine in the event of an emergency. I spoke to Celebrity about the design of new ships so that there is a special accessible bay on the port and starboard side of each passenger deck to "park" motorized scooters/wheelchairs so they can be out of the corridors. On a Silhouette cruise a couple of years ago I counted 6 motor scooters on my side of the deck-all parked in the corridor. It is an accident just waiting to happen

What nightime parties? I'm looking at the Celebrity Todays from my January cruise and none of the nightime events, other then port wine tasting, have a fee. Also, there isn't a elegant tea (from what I was told it was not well attended), but they do have afternoon tea with snacks at 4:00 and it is free.

There is also a wine tasting and tea if you are Elite or higher that is no-fee but the quality of that has diminished.

Exactly. Usually get some fresh grilled salmon, maybe a salad or 2. So much different than the buffet. Very peaceful and a decent lunch.

It is sometimes difficult to get a table. We usually wind up sharing a table.

We just ate in Blu and once the MDR and once the buffet... the other perks are you have the use of the Persian Gardens and the relaxation room. You get bottled water and fruit, and appetizers in your room...

The new policy is bottled water is on embarkation day only. I guess that they presume you have the beverage package and can get bottled water throughout the ship. We were surprised about this.