jeffdal

Just picked up these bad boys for 3.99 each at Container Store to carry wine with us. Absorbs the liquid if there is breakage!

We had excursions planned for two of our ports and decided to take it easy and hang out at the beach in Roatan at Mahogany Bay ... which was just fine. Heading there again in March and will do the same.

Exactly. It's 2015 after all. :).

I've seen some interesting posts about gay charter groups on ships. but not much about the lgbt cocktail hours.

I think the mixer is posted in the Patter but the bar staff has no idea.

Me too. I will walk in the bar and blurt out "let's get this party started!!!"

Oh cool. I have never actually been to one of the LGBT meet-ups. I was too shy :( On my last cruise I was going to go but I was with my cousin (straight) and it was the same exact time as dinner.

 

This cruise I chose the late dinner to make sure I could go.

So the mixers are hit and miss. They are informal, nobody hosts from the ship and it is what you make of it. It's better to go the first night. My last cruise the bar was really busy with other passengers and we could not get a seat but I remembered a couple of the guys and ended up meeting them later at the pool. When we made an effort late in the cruise to go, we would notice people stopping by but leaving when there wasn't much mixing. LOL

I know right! There were a handful of us on the November cruise at the lgbt mixer but nobody here ahead of time.

I went to all the bars on the Emerald and did not see a menu of different Bloody Mary's. I am sorry. :(

If you have a good TA its never too late.

I just emailed him! We shall see! :cool:

I am very excited about my March 29 sailing on the Emerald. I booked about two weeks ago and then while going through my mound of mail I saw a Princess brochure with deals and special offers sale during the time I booked. The offers include the specialty dining and up to $200 free OBC.. and the cruise I booked is highlighted on the brochure. The promo is R50 and RTA and campaign reference PT4MD045/PT4MD445

I found a great rate for this sailing on the Princess site and then put it on hold and got my TA to finalize the booking but he never mentioned or added any promos.

What would you do? Is it too late?

Great review! We did the Emerald Princess for Thanksgiving and decided to do it again March 29 when I saw such an amazing deal! Can't wait.

Just had to book it since it was featured as the best cruise deal of the season on the Today Show.

Anyone else?

Had a great time in November and heading back at end of March.

I really enjoyed the Emerald in November and saw a great deal for end of March and just booked it again!

I have heard nothing but great things on the Lamanai Ruins excursion for Belize. We tried to go but our sailing had to skip Belize due to rough seas. So we will try again on our March 29th sailing.

Nachi Cocom Beach Club was outstanding in Cozumel. They limit to 100 people on cruise ship days. Nice, relaxing and the food was amazing. In Roatan, we just spent time on the beach in Mahogany Bay but we got far from the cruise herd and went to the farthest point of the cruise beach.

Looking for recent insight and suggestions for Emerald Princess cruise and excursions. We booked the Emerald for March 1st out of Houston with friends. After reading so many positive comments about this cruise (iffy on the port but insightful) the wife and I booked a B2B starting Feb. 22nd. We have cruised about a dozen times but never a B2B, that will be a new port experience... We also have to change cabins, mini-suite to a suite.

 

Hoping to hear current “must does” on the Emerald… AND excursions… and equally important, any OMG – disappointments to avoid. Because of our B2B, we will have an opportunity to visit both Costa Maya & Roatan in addition to Cozumel & Belize.

 

I am researching:

· Tours: The only excursion we have booked so far is the Princess tour to Lamanai Ruins / River Cruise in Belize… Good / Bad chose? We don’t mind private tours but chose Princess on this one because of distance and CC comments.

· Beach resorts for relaxing: Have notes on Passion Island Beach in Cozumel… the Tropicante and Maya Chan in Costa Maya. Suggestions? Where else?

· Non-certified diving or snorkeling packages?

· Port: Which are good to just get off and walk around or hang out after a tour? As I recall Cozumel is not such a port, correct?

 

If you have an excursion suggestion, how did you book it, through Princess, internet or on shore?

 

Thank you in advance for your input and suggestions.

I had been thinking about a March cruise and then the Today Show had a feature on "Best Winter Escapes" and their best cruise deal was the Emerald Princess sailings in March. Since I really enjoyed my cruise on the Emerald this last November... it was an easy sell. $599pp balcony! March 29th.

Here's the video: http://m.today.com/money/claire-newell-shares-best-deals-winter-getaways-2D80474150

And I snapped a shot of the story. (Yeah, my tv in the office is old)

Enjoyed Emerald so much in November and saw a great deal for March 29 and doing it again!

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Lotus Spa pool was delightful. Adults only and it was warm. :)

Will be our first sailing and will have six cabins.

Do you usually book directly?

Any ideas for deals?

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Thank you for the family suite idea! By looking at the website I had no idea that was an option.

Thank you all for your input on the line and the cruise ship.

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I'm convincing my siblings we really need to give my mom a break next Christmas and do a family cruise. We are looking at the 12/20 7 day out of FLL on Silhouette (parents live in West Palm).

Without having been on Celebrity, I am assuring my siblings that it's a higher end experience compared to other lines. Am I off base? They are not that picky but like things to be nice. Food, accommodations, etc.

We will have a group of 11 that includes a very well behaved 15 year old. But we are not sure where he will stay. The parents need a break and would like him to stay with the grand parents. Does three to a cabin work out ok?

Any advice and words of encouragement is appreciated.

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I have a Contigo bottle that I carry with me. It goes through security empty, then I fill it up with ice for the airplane trip - helps my poor back to get comfortable in those lovely seats! :rolleyes:

 

Then, I can either use it on the ship, or just take it with me on shore excursions. The main reason I use the Contigo instead of a generic bottle is that it has a clip that I can use to put it on my belt loop, purse, or bag.

 

And, unless I drop it from shoulder high onto concrete, it doesn't leak. Technically, even then it didn't leak so much as shatter....

I took insulated water bottles but they were too large to get water from the HC water station.... so I would hold up things a bit having to fill up the water glasses then pour into the water bottle.

Was there a dining room open for lunch on embarkation day?

DaVinci was open for lunch on embarkation day on the Nov. 23 Emerald sailing.

Not stupid at all. I wanted to know the same before my cruise on the Emerald but afraid to ask. :)

I agree with the article. The cruise terminal is nice. I wouldn't say gorgeous but it was super clean, bright colors and great signage.

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We had the same experience in Houston at Bayport. Easy breezy boarding. :)

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