EatonDoolittle

Maybe check their website.
 

Marriott.com

2 hours ago, numnums said:

Now I’m not going to ramble about how some service was questionable, 

I would hope not, especially in this context. 

It is precisely inexperienced drinkers,  trying to order multi ingredient frozen umbrella drinks,  that cause slow service. 

Sail away day is an absolute nightmare for anyone trying to orger a simple adult beverage out on deck. 

I believe you will have a better chance of getting an answer on the Bahamas page. 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/35-bahamas/

I think this sounds like fun, and plan to do it sometime on a future visit. 

Captain Kate from Celebrity did it last year, and posted all about it on her Insta page. 

However, beware of wearing your creations on an elevator on the ship . That can upset some people. 

For those who are  link-phobic, it is a perfume making class. 

https://stmartin.tijon.com/

I just heard a perfect term for this increasingly common type of person yesterday:

"Me Monster".

They are everywhere, not just in the Solarium. 

2 hours ago, BermudaBound2014 said:

I suspect much of the motivation for such a sale is to be able to report record future bookings. 

 

Exactly this.

I retired from the hotel business and future reservations were absolutely a key reporting metric, even more so in a publicly traded company.

From a consumer standpoint, I never got the attraction of the very low deposit.

Pay them now, or pay them later. I'd rather pay a good deposit and ease the final bite, especially on a longer, costlier cruise. 

No, I've not taken that tour. 

The water there is beautiful, so I treat it as just a beach stop. You will need water shoes, tho. It's rocky in areas. 

There is a stand about half way to Jacks for cheap and potent rum punch. 

I believe you would enjoy the bar hop, it is indeed a great look at the island. 

It is not really a party bus, I suppose if you had a bus full of one rowdy group it could deteriorate, but generally, just fun, maybe a few get tipsy. Host Coleen just wants everybody to have fun. They make a big deal out of returning guests, that tells you something. Many go over and over. 

The included shots at each stop are just that, tiny shots of a mixed concoction. tasty, but hardly the stuff of a party bus atmosphere. 

I don't think anyone could get a buzz off just what is provided. Extra drinks, and lunch,  are of course your responsibility. 

There is (or used to be) an imposter company, make sure you book the authentic one. 

https://cozumelbarhop.com/

Another vote for Shipmate. When they started a few years back, you could even enter ships that were now retired. I think they removed that. I just checked, and my oldest 3 ships are now retired, started in 1998.

Since you have the ship and date, it will be easy to populate. 

Long Beach is right in Puerto Plata, maybe a 15 - 20 minute cab ride into town. 

There are bars, restaurants, chairs, etc. Ask your cab driver to recommend a favorite spot. There are deserted areas and busier areas..

No need for an excursion, unless you want to go to a resort or beach club. 

You can Google it or go to Trip Advisor for photos and reviews.  

Full disclosure, I have not spent any time there, only driven by several times, gotten a good look at it, and heard the discussion by tour guides.  

There is a lot to see in PP, and I have yet to visit often enough to just want to sit around the beach. 

GT pier is definitely not as long as AC. There are lots of YouTube videos showing the cruise port, also photos on their web site to give you an idea. The beach is right there, however, an early arrival is needed to score a decent spot close in, especially with 2 ships, which is common. 

http://www.grandturkcc.com/

I have no personal experience, but it would seem like a good idea to make specialty dining reservations early, if you are planning such an event.

You know all the VIPs are not likely to dine with the masses like some ship officers do on a normal cruise. 

1 hour ago, Mark_K said:

Princess has way more cruises stopping at Princess Cays than Celebrity will have stopping at Coco Cay.

Indeed. Having been to both, CoCo Cay is as nice or nicer than Princess Cay. But with a dock.

For those who have never been, yes, you walk past the entrance to the water park when you arrive, but after that, it's a non issue. 

The rest of the island is beach options, restaurants, vendor kiosks, walking paths, just like any other private island. 

Much ado about nothing, but the pearl clutching here has been fun to read about. 

If you know the ship and sail date, you can use the free Shipmate app. The itinerary will populate. It's a good way to keep track, as you can also enter upcoming trips. 

Mine lists all my cruises,  starting in 1998. 

I keep key cards, and a few notes, so I had all the names and departure dates. 

No, there are no boarding passes.

Simply screen shot the QR code and save on your phone, that way you don't even need to fumble with WIFI in the terminal. 

https://www.cozumelcruisetours.com/cozumel-cruise-schedule

https://www.porttb.com/

I have the same card. In the redemption center, click on onboard gifts, then onboard credits. 

It will say ex: $50 spa credit, but it is $50 to use as you like. 

1 hour ago, hidden_relic said:

Pretty sure you gave the cruise line your passport at boarding and they gave a copy on to the port authorities.

This sounds like some typical  Facebook nonsense rumoring.

I agree with @rjrpar, passport is used when you board at the departure home port. After that, nobody cares, put it in the safe. This is for the Caribbean. 

11 hours ago, Marie51 said:

Thanks for your info. I will probably cross it off my list because I don’t eat seafood.

 Good idea, for all the reasons that Capt. mentions.

Plus, IMO it is a tourist trap, well past its prime, but still trying to attract customers on the old reputation. 

I have not personally been, but this place gets consistently rave reviews on a local foodie FB page. 

https://www.thirdculturekitchen.com/

Also, a local favorite for Mexican. . 

https://elleoncito.com/

About a 30-45 minute drive each way, depending on traffic.  PoS is a busy city..

Approx. 2-3 hours free time at the beach. Plenty of time for lunch and some beach time. The water was quite rough on my last visit, I don't recall a lot of people swimming that day. 

So probably +/-  5 hours away from the ship total. 

No, not walkable. 8 miles, 20 minute drive, according to their website. 

Looks like $35 is for 5 people, so the best option would probably be to go to the cab stand and say loudly "Who wants to share a cab into town?". 

For the hot sauce fans:

Amazon sells a 96 pack of individual varying hot sauce flavors. Easy to slip one or two in your pocket when going to the dining room or buffet. Around $20, but would make a fun gift.

Side note- I am one of the 30% of Covid victims that lost taste and smell for a week or so. It came back, but changed and reduced. So hot sauce is even more important than ever in my life. 🌶️

I think there is a lot to see in PP. The town square and surrounding streets are fun and scenic to explore. There are rum factory tours, cigar bars where you can roll your own, chocolate factories, a stunning fort, a cable car (or bus) up to the Christ the Redeemer statue and surrounding jungle gardens to name a few.

Take some time to scroll this board for more ideas.

On my first visit, I took an all day comprehensive tour, and I was glad I did. Saw a lot, but also got ideas for next visits. 

The people are lovely, and dedicated to offering a positive tourism experience, unlike many of the islands. They even have a special tourism Police Force, who are very visible and will assist at busy street crossings, offer directions, etc.