chica

I did that excursion10 years ago and it was great!   I’m hoping it’s offered again.  We got to jump off the boat, swim to the hot springs and wallow in the mud a bit.   So fun!  Then a short hike around the volcano area.

 

Edit to add:

 

Good news!  I see it is offered by Viatar.  Check them out.  It was very fun.

We took a Lyft.  Not far.

 

Maybe JSailors or perhaps trying to accommodate unhappy groups. I do have written confirmation on the dining time reservation and they actually had already given us the tour tickets. As it happens we ended up forming our own table with similarly treated passengers but the dining room is still making us make a new reservation each day and will not allow specific table requests or wait staff requests. Just rude. And they are flat out lying about the tour being overbooked at the time we booked it. I understand things happen but I don’t understand lying and being rude to a repeat customer.

Maybe JSailors or perhaps trying to accommodate unhappy groups. I do have written confirmation on the dining time reservation and they actually had already given us the tour tickets. As it happens we ended up forming our own table with similarly treated passengers but the dining room is still making us make a new reservation each day and will not allow specific table requests or wait staff requests. Just rude. And they are flat out lying about the tour being overbooked at the time we booked it. I understand things happen but I don’t understand lying and being rude to a repeat customer.

Anyone else feel like this ship is less friendly? We booked our cruise a year in advance and had confirmed early dining. When we headed to the dining room we are told we were now Select which was definitely not what I wanted. I love having wait staff who know our preferences before we sit down and who we get to know. When I questioned this and insisted I had confirmed seating I was ignored. Now we get a call from Excursions telling us that when we booked, when excursions opened a couple of months ago, ours was overbooked. Funny since there were still openings when we got on board. I absolutely refused to change to another less popular tour although they were quite persistent in telling me I was overbooked. I am an Elite member and I feel like I am being messed with... I can’t imagine what they are doing to no status cruisers. We did have a port eliminated and I feel like they are trying to accommodate those who lost their excursions in that port at our expense.

They did not give my son a lanyard on our sailing last week and he spent a lot of time in Kids' Club.

We were just on the tour with Mobey Dicks. I would certainly recommend them as having a great crew and we had anawesometime. There were 18-20 people on our tour. Punch and water is supplied along with snorkel equipment, including swim vests. The crew assisted in helping you hold and in the case of my son, kiss a string ray.

I have taken my son on many European cruises. There are never a lot of kids on board and they will have plenty of space. We are going out of Southampton on May 30th....any chance you are on that one? I have a four year old going along with my 17 year old.

Waiting to hear more...taking my four year old on. Indy inMarch.

Are there rental cars available at the port?

I am looking at the RCCL air boat ride on the Everglades but it picks up at 9 am and drops off at 1:30 pm. I am not fond of spending 4 hours waiting at the airport with a 4 year old. BTDT too many times! Any ideas for how to fill the time and manage luggage? I looked at the water taxis but what would we do with luggage?

Yeah I was thinking that would be too close. Guess we will fly in the day before as there are no other earlier choices from Phoenix. I was trying to avoid the hotel cost, but alas it appears impossible since I know I will not do an overnight flight with a 4 year old. Thanks!

Our ship leaves at 5:30 pm. If we had a flight arriving at 4:17 pm would we have time to get to the ship? We could do only carry on. Also we arrive back in port at 5:30 am and there is a 7 am flight that would be preferable (to staying until 5:30 pm). Would that be doable? I am assuming FLL is a fairly small airport so it might work.

Yes it is a "biggish" ship. Qthanks Simon!

I have arranged a rental car for our 24 stop in port. Is there parking available at the port?

We were on RCCL, Vision of the Seas, back to back cruises in July 2011. Our first stop was when we had our DIY day. It is a shame if they no longer offer it. Our second day we did a private tour to the out of town spots others have discussed. It was such a cost savings to get our Hermitage tickets online and go on our own. We got to mingle with the locals. Maybe call and see if they still offer this but just do not list it as a tour. BTW I did this with my sister, my then 14 year old son and his 14 year old friend. Boys loved the freedom and shopping in the not tourist shops.

When we did SPB a couple of years ago the ship had a DIY tour. We were dropped off in the mid town area and walked to and saw the Hermitage on our own and walked around town to Peter and Paul, etc.

We booked our own rafting trip down the Centina river, which proved to be a great day for most of our group. My teens loved it. It was an easy float. The walled city is right near the dock and good for shopping and walking around.

Just got the Wyndham Rio Mar for $85 on Oct 3 and 4. With fees it is $205.27, total.