bowbiter

Head to the MDR to eat a steak!

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Interesting. We have a totally different opinion. We stopped there about 3 years ago. Decided to wander around the town and see what was there...

 

I have travelled all over the world and this port was awful. We stayed 20 minutes and went back to the ship because we felt so unsafe. Motor bikes with aggressive teenagers zipping all over the place harrassing the tourists looking to make trouble, lots of exhaust and abandoned buildings etc.

 

I've travelled all over the world (including India, Morocco, Asia, and not on cruises) and this was one of the unsafest places I've been in.

 

Maybe the only way to go is an escorted excursion. But as far as I'm concerned, being on an excursion still exposes you to risks.

 

Sorry, our opinion--I'm sure there are others who have had better experiences.

 

We are stopping there on a cruise in December and perhaps it's changed....

3 years can make a huge difference when it comes to a cruise port. Especially a relatively new one or one that isn't frequently visited. Samana is more regularly visited now.

I've travelled all over and didn't think it was any worse than anywhere else.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Oops never mind. I apperently mixed IP the waterfalls. The one I saw was Lulu and the previous poster saw El Limon. Sorry about that!

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Tours with Terry! Great tour guide/comoany. You can tell he loves what he dies. We did the ATV's. We were the only 2 that signed up but they ran it anyways. My other friends did the family one (had 2.5y/o). They rode around on an open tour bus with Terry as their guide. Lunch was delicious and everyone met up there (all the tours including horseback).

I disagree with the earlier comment about the hike to El Limon falls. It was a fairly easy hike. There was only a few steep parts and for the most part it was over tree roots. Very short spurts. Honestly the mud from earlier rain and other (wet) hikers that returned wet was worst part. You can go swimming at the falls if you want.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Where do you get ginger pills

Organic markets

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

I use ginger pills. The only time ice really needed it was after a heavy night of drinking. That being said I have given it to others who were seasick and most told me it helped. If you aren't sure how you will react you could take it on a weekend to test it.

Also, some lines offer it for free at the customer service desk.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Well - finally.

 

As promised... Tracy Arm to Sawyer Glacier in 12 minutes... 4 hours of sailing the Tracy Arm presented at 20x speed in 720p HD.

 

It's not the best but it's ours, and the Benny Hill stops after a minute or two! :eek:

 

Hope you enjoy.

 

 

After the first 3 minutes of this video, I changed the camera position in order to get the glacier without our heads bouncing around in the shot. I clamped it to the aft starboard hull steel on the outside of the ship.

 

Cheers! If anyone wants the Seattle sailaway... I'd be happy to post it since I'm going to work it up in the next few days.

Great time lapse video!

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

I've had price drops every cruise and got upgraded for free each time. The cabin I was upgraded to was always cheaper than or equal to what I paid. I just call my TA. I will say not all TA's are equal and not all know how to ask. It us totally up to NCL to say yes or no. This past Alaska cruise we went from an inside to balcony because the price dropped that much. I usually wait to ask until a month (or less) out though.

Fyi I always ask TA's before booking if they are willing to call and ask for an upgrade if there are price drops. I also ask how it could affect obc. I can tell if they know what they are doing based on the answers

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

I was on your sailing too. Great pics. We did completely different things in port. It is crazy how different everyone's experiences can be on the same ship.

BTW we sailed Tracy arm/sawyer in the am because this late in the season ice is am issue and they wouldn't be able to get through if they kept w the pm sailing.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

how old are you - if you don't mind sharing...

 

we'll be celebrating my 50th birthday - not ready to lay down and die but also not able to do what I could do 20 years ago....

Oops didn't see this question. I'm in my 30's but there was a wide range of ages in my tour group. If you are comfortable walking on rocks or hiking you will be better off than me. The walk back up was the most strenuous. The down part was easy.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Yes they accepted the return although I still haven't been refunded my money. But I have an eBay message chain saying it will happen.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

It never occurred to me that the solo meetings were for those sailing by themselves. I always though it was for dating :-p

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

So I had to return my camera. I think the CCD sensor got damaged during shipping. When I turned it on all I could see was vertical lines. Oh well. Worth a shot.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Bah I thought I was saving money buying a used (rarely supposedly) FZ200 for $420. I must not have seen the amazon ones for 499. I saw prices way higher than that and moved on to other sites.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

I didn't have any lines for showers but it probably depends what time you go. There are lots of showers but not all are obvious. I recommend exploring before you get wet.

At no point will you be waiting naked so you should be OK. You could be waiting in a wet bathing suit though. I don't remember it being that cold inside the locker room area but it doesn't mean it wasn't.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

It is very easy to not get your hair wet at the Blue Lagoon. That being said you should still pile on the conditioner before getting in. I wish I had known about the "tour". Free drink and snack with total admission the same as regular? Totally worth it... If you have enough time.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

how hard was the canyoning physically - I'm up for a challenge, but not a Gros Piton sized challenge...

I pretty much have no upper body strength and had had ankle surgery 6 months before. A little more than none would have been helpful for letting myself down (repelling) but the tour guides are great for helping out. I managed but I wish I could have done it a little more on my own. (I weighed maybe 135 so I didn't feel that bad about it.)

Honestly the most strenuous part for me was the hike back up to the car. lol. For some reason it never occurred to me that repelling down a canyon/stream would require hiking UP to a road. It is a but harder because you are in a wetsuit which constricts your movement some and makes you hot. I was also extra out of shape because of the inactivity from my ankle injury/surgery recovery. (Not that I am ever "in shape".

The only other thing is you do a lot of walking in rocks. I'm not so great at that and was extra paranoid since I hadn't been cleared for normal activity for that long. The fact that i would be walking on rocks also didn't occur to me when planning ahead lol.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

You can also go canyoning with Extreme Canyoning Dominica. It is a very unique experience and one of my all time favorite excursions. I love Dominica's unspoilt beauty. Ignore everyone who says there isn't a lot to do.

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Not related but I actually like the Mac and cheese they give the kids. Cruise lines don't understand the concept of cheese fries. Sometimes I need the Mac and cheese for a cheese fix ;) (and I know its fake cheese but it is better than nothing)

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Nope

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

The cruise roll calls are great for cruising solo. I managed to find friends who have committed to going on my next 2 cruises (although personally I'm only counting on one actually following through) but only going that route because its cheaper. The last two cruises I had a friend onboard but had my own room. (It's so nice!) Otherwise I've made great friends through the roll call and actually it will be my 4th time sailing with some in October!

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Forums mobile app

Was just there in April. As long as you rinse/wash your suit after the visit it should be fine (or close enough). If you dobt the silica in the water will make it very stiff. I did wash mine immediately after getting to the hotel and when I got home. My suit is a little stiffer than normal but will likely be fine after it is used again. Not bad enough to not use again.

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

When I was in Samana we booked an ATV tour through Tours with Terry. Great operator and very friendly!

Send from device_name using Cruise Critic your_app_name App

Cruises are what you make of it. Some people cruise for the activities on board, some use it as a travelling hotel, some go purely as a more cost efficient way to visit a location. You can easily spend the entire time in your cabin if you don't want to deal with people. I personally love meeting new people. I'm in my 30's and most of my cruise friends are older than me (some could be my patents). They are there to have fun. Just find others with the same attitude (if you want) and it should be enjoyable.

I booked through ecotoursbelize for the fly and dive package last year. The tour was great up until the end. They forgot to pick us up from the airport. We had to call and remind them. Sat at the airport for 45min total. We did get back to the port exactly at 430 ("last tender")....which for those of you who have been to Belize before know it really isn't the last tender. The line was so long I still had time to buy chocolate from a store. Other than the fact they more or less forgot to pick us up it was a good tour.