sckal

Thanks to you both. Absolute aware they're previously cooked even at fish markets. Publix may be a good idea as long as I get them to crack them fully for us. Hang out by the pool with Stone Crabs and wine, sounds like a plan.  Otherwise, yeah Billy's is good, I've been there and it's not that far away.

Anyone who doesn't have the drink package, take some cash on Princess Cays, go behind the fence to the true local market. Ask for the stand that sells beer and mixed drinks. You can get beer, mixed drinks, cigarettes at great prices.  Last December I got 3 beers and a sprite and it was like $8 so the Kalik or Sands Bahamian beers are like $3 each. He will also make mixed drinks for you.  I bring a baggie from home, get ice from my ship ice bucket, put the beers in there and go back for refills if I run out.  They tell you no need to bring cash off the ship, but beer, cigarettes and souvenirs much cheaper behind the fence. No worries getting back into the "Princess/Carnival" approved area, they just look at your cruise card. 

On ‎7‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 1:21 AM, LisaDee said:

I meant to include the website link but got distracted by my happy memories 🙂  ....

 

http://www.onelovecharters.com

I think I will wind up bookin with them, thank you!

2 FLA natives will be staying at a hotel on 17th St. Causeway the night before a Princess cruise in December. I know this is Stone Crab season, are there restaurants in walking distance that anyone has been to that serve fresh Stone Crabs?  I think I saw Finster Murphy's may have them, but I don't think the kitchen is open until the 4 or 5pm we need?  Or I know there are 2 restaurants on the beach in Dania that do, but I'd prefer something close to walk to.  Thanks in advance for all the Ft. Lauderdale residents/pros that can help!

Thank you!  That was one if the 3 I was looking at, I will contact them

Looking for recommendations. We'll be in St Thomas in December from 10 am until 10 pm on the Regal. So really we have probably 11am until 4ish of good warm daylight. I'd like to take a small shared excursion or private boat with a couple snorkel stops away from the usual cruise ship snorkel places then go to Lime Out floating taco bar off St. John for a bit. Anyone have any experiences/recommendations they'd like to share?  Thanks in advance!

My cabin, my balcony and my light. While it may be rude you have zero right to ask anyone else how they use their cabin.

And it's rude to intentionally annoy your neighbors.

Our original itinerary had us going to St. Maarten on Saturday so I'm guessing by then the camera may be showing a different picture. I hope not. They still have a long way to go in recovering from Irma.

Isaac' long gone west of the Antilles, toward middle Caribbean. Glad you had a good port visit in PR, good to support those people as well as they continue to recover financially.

Interestingly enough, viewing Port St. Maarten webcam this morning, beautiful day, calm seas, 2 Carnival ships and 1 Royal Caribbean in port.

Roatan Ocean Adventures. Herbert can format a 2 or 3 stop snorkel, the reef drift snorkel is one of the best I've ever done and I've snorkeled or scuba'ed at least 50 times all over the Caribbean.

I wonder if they have anything set for those whoe need wheelchair assistance to get on the ship? My elderly parent uses a walker, but we rent a wheelchair delivered to our cabin as it's much easier for me to just push her than her trying to walk long distances on the ship. I hope they don't bring her on then drop her off in a public space, then leave us to our own devices to brave the crowds all trying to get to their staterooms.

I can't really discuss snorkeling from shore, but I do ready many posts about it on Roatan's Port of Call page. I'm an experienced snorkeler as well and use Roatan Ocean Adventure's 3 stop snorkel tour. A fantastic combination of snorkel sites and Herbert the owner is very eco friendly. In fact he's actually growing coral to plant on the reef to expand/replenish.Hope this helps!

I've used Herbert at Roatan Ocean Adventures twice myself and sent 3 different friends of mine to do various tours with him. I can say with total confidence that Herbert's 3 stop snorkel tour and drift snorkel over the reef is the best snorkeling I've ever done. Healthy, colorful reefs, beautiful fish and personalized tours/service. And I love his eco-friendliness, unlike many others who just lip sync that.

Yes. There was a restaurant/bar on that side that advertises access to the wreck of the Cali (on it's sign on the sidewalk). I'm sure that bar or its successor (maybe Rackam's?) still does so. We stowed our gear there and just swam straight out to the wreck.

 

The wreck of the Gamma is harder to find on Google maps (click here for its location). There's absolutely no facilities at the wreck of the Gamma.

 

 

If you are standing on the deck of the cruise ship, facing the shore and tender dock, that's correct.

Awesome, thanks! I did a little research last night and saw what you were talking about.

One trip my wife and I just walked from the tender dock to three locations. First we walked about 3/4 of a mile to the wreck of the Gamma. Bring beach shoes, because you have to walk on sharp coral to enter the water.

 

Before we left the ship, I could look up towards Seven Mile Beach and see the wreck of the Gamma sticking out of the water.

 

Afterwards, we walked back towards the tender dock. Before you reach it, you'll see a restaurant / bar that advertises the wreck of the Cali. You can rent a locker and swim out to the Cali from there. (Look for the sign on the walk to the wreck of the Gamma.)

 

After that, we walked to the far side of the tender dock. We rented a locker at Eden Rock Dive Center, entered the water there, and snorkeled that reef.

Good to know. So the wreck of the Cali is on the opposite side of the tender dock from Eden Rock? From what I can determine, Eden Rock and Sunset House are to the right of the tender dock.

https://www.viator.com/tours/Cayman-Islands/Grand-Cayman-Kittiwake-and-Reef-Sail/d31-2715P15

 

http://www.tortugadivers.com/tortugacaymanactivityeast-end-snorkel-excursion-1&view=detail

 

https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/grand-cayman/barrier-reef-snorkel-417053

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do?sourcePage=shorexByPort&ProductCode=GCC6&DestinationCode=

Thanks! I will check out viator and tortugadivers. I'm on Princess so the Carnival and RC tours won't work. And I want to be a bit careful as a single how far I have to travel from the cruise docks.

PLENTY

 

b4 stingray city became 'a thing' there were plenty of snorkel trips offered on the island. Any snorkeling that stays on the west side is not gonna include StgCty which is in the north sound. Any trip that includes kittiwake is on the west side .... ditto 'cheeseburger'

 

And as you mention, DIY snork' at Eden, or Sunset or Smith's Cove is easy ... the first two have dive shops for renting equipment, Smith's does not.

Okay thanks for the info. I'll keep searching for keywords kittiwake or cheeseburger or just diy since I have my own equipment.

Anyone been on a cruise to Grand Cayman and taken a snorkel excursion that doesn't include Stingray City? I enjoy it but I've been 3 times now and I'd rather spend my time snorkeling at the reefs. Thanks for any guidance. I may just go to Sunset House or the cove out past that.

My biggest issue with the Captain Circle Program is that it is based on Sea Days and Cruise Credits. It should be based on Sea Days Only. It is not fair to reach Elite status by doing a bunch of short cruises. Just saying...

I have to take a little exception to this. I still work so for the last 10 years I've taken two 7 day cruises a year on Princess. I have every right to be rewarded for my loyalty by reaching Elite through # of cruises as those who are retired, or otherwise able to take many more or much longer cruises.

I will be taking the Princess Regal ship to Grand Cayman (Georgetown) and Cozumel the end of Feb. For Grand Cayman, the ship arrives at port at 7am and leaves at 4pm. For Cozumel, the ship arrives at port at 10am and leaves at 10pm.

I want to go scuba in one location (either Grand Cayman or Cozumel) and snorkeling in the other. I have been scuba diving once 20 years ago on my honeymoon and loved it but have never been again. My wife, daughter (15) and I have been snorkeling many times on other cruises. I am working on convincing them to go on a discover scuba dive in either Grand Cayman or Cozumel :)

Which location would be better for scuba for my situation?

Recommendations for scuba provider that has a discover scuba dive option?

 

I was looking at the Acquarius Sea Tours snorkeling/stingray/starfish package for $50pp if we decide to snorkel in Grand Cayman. I'll see what everyone's feedback is though before deciding.

 

Thanks.

Tim

Tmaxx, I think you may be on the Feb 25th cruise as I am. Right now, I've not figured out anything in Cozumel. But if you found a good Discover Scuba there and wouldn't mind a tagalong, that'd be great! I wound up using Captain Marvin's in Grand Cayman based on suggestions and recommendations. Hope it's a good one. Still completely unsure what to do in Falmouth

Coki Beach Dive Center has a FB page with 3 very recent pics. The beach looks good and the water clarity is returning. They don't mention Coral World in particular, but maybe FB msgs to them re: Coral World's condition may be helpful to ya'll. FYI, Peter said they are lowering their Discover Scuba price for this season so if you've been thinking about trying it, this might be the time.

I;m probably heading that way in early December. Some of those shacks may not be there, but hopefully that nice bath house they built still is.

It's going to be at least a year before some of the islands are really ready for visitors and I would also include the Florida Keys.

 

I don't have a cruise booked in the winter season, but have a 10 day Eastern Caribbean Voyager cruise booked for May 2018. Before Hurricane Irma, there was an itinerary change from Barbados to St. Marten due to propulsion issues with the Caribbean Princess. Would not be surprised to see one or more itinerary changes. With the propulsion issues along with the devastation on some of the islands, it may be a "No" for me. I'll wait until final payment in Feb. to decide.

 

In the meantime, I'm doing my own post hurricane cleanup at my home in Florida. Still many in my county are without power and some are struggling with flooded homes and structural damage. It's ugly enough here and I can only imagine the recovery necessary on some of the islands and in the Keys.

FYI, 1st Royal Caribbean ship called upon Key West today, per Key West Harbor cam.

I think it was behind the Carambola Beach Resort? Got a taxi from the port, behind the resort is a rock jetty that protects the beach from the wave action. Out near the end of the jetty was some pretty good snorkeling, lots of fish, even more on the outside of the jetty, but be sure you're a good swimmer, the current on the outside can be strong depending on the tide.

We are both Elite, but on our recent 6 day cruise on the Coral, we were advised that there was no Captains Circle party on cruises less than 7 days, nor were we offered a drink voucher. I'm confused?

I too hope we can board early, but I wonder if the Coral will be like the Eurodam. We were on the Eurodam on the last cruise before she went to Freeport for drydock. The crew went there with her and stayed on the ship the whole time she was in drydock, unless they were at the end of their contract. There were also over 500 contracted workers waiting to board the ship in Port Everglades as we disembarked. From what I understand they were imported workers flown in by HAL from Russia. So I'm not sure whether or not there were contracted workers on the Coral for this drydock, but if so, they will have to disembark and be cleared by Customs before we can board.