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11 hours ago, thewebbys said:

 

Five years? She is now 23.

Has she cruised on her own (without you) since she turned 18? That’s what triggered it for my 26-year-old daughter. Before that cruise her status matched mine.  When they updated her account with the new cruise points after that it reset her to the level she held at the age of 18 — which was based on our status at the time (Emerald) — and reset the number of  points to what she herself has actually sailed (not us her parents). 

Is the rainforest aerial tram at Braulio Carrillo National Park worthwhile from Limon? It seems like a very long bus ride (3 hours) and I am wondering if the experience is worth the long journey. Thanks for any insight!

2 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

This will give you an idea if what you might be dealing with at Loden (the hotel is next to the former parking garage)

 

https://vancouver.skyrisecities.com/news/2019/02/parking-garage-cleared-away-stack

Wow! That is a big project. It looks like it will be so nice when it's complete.

I may go with Auberge for this trip simply because it is closer to the pier and the price is slightly less. The Loden looks so nice though!!! The reviews are so good. I wish we were staying in Vancouver longer, we have visited twice before and always have an amazing time. How has the weather been lately?

21 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Both hotels are a block or so away from my house. Both have great bars/restaurants. My only caution with Loden right now is that it is immediately next door to a huge construction project. The sidewalk has been closed off for months and there are cranes and construction machinery/vehicles out front constantly. Not sure if that would impact you in terms of noise or if it would make a difference with such a short stay....but just so you are aware!

Thanks so much for that insight - that's good info. None of the reviews mention that. What about the Auberge Vancouver? Would that be a better option? 

1 minute ago, martincath said:

I'd have to point you toward TripAdvisor/Expedia etc. reviews rather than personal experience, since living downtown I very rarely stay in hotels - but the Loden's reviews kick Coast's butt six ways to Sunday so it's a no-brainer on that front! They're in a very similar location so there's not really anything to choose from on that front, and close enough to the PP that you should be familiar with the pier, resto options etc. already.

Thank you - yes, the Loden does get really great reviews and it looks lovely. But the Coast's reviews aren't bad either. Thanks for your insight!

Have a choice between Loden Hotel and Coast Coal Harbour for 1-night pre-cruise hotel next month. Price is about equal. Which is the better option? Previous stays have been at Pan Pacific, but not available for our date. 

Thanks for any insight! 

3 minutes ago, VgsBby said:

Left the Armonia this morning. I can confirm the doors are magnetic. Noticed a few decorated with fridge magnets.

Awesome! thank you!

2 hours ago, houseofduck said:

I don't know about the Armonia, but on the Seaside and Divina, the outside of the doors did not hold the magnets that I brought.

Thanks! Appreciate the info.

5 hours ago, Beamafar said:

Doors are very rarely decorated on MSC ships, but I have seen one or two done over the various cruises I've been on - mainly birthdays and a couple of doors done on a Christmas cruise.

Thanks! It would be for a birthday. Do you know if the doors are metal and will hold a magnet?

Hi!

I have a question about the stateroom doors - are they metal? Like to hold a magnet? Do passengers on MSC ships decorate their doors? Thanks so much for any info. 

We were in St. Lucia a few weeks ago and did the Cosol tour. I absolutely 100% recommend it!!!!

It is a lot of time spent in the van ... BUT ... there's no other way to get around the island! We were amazed at how much we got to see and do, and without feeling rushed. The roads are hilly and winding -- not my favorite type of drive -- but there are ample stops and you spend plenty of time out doors at various sight-seeing stops, on the boat ride to Sugar Beach, at the beach, at the mud bath, at the water falls, etc. Also, I was happy that they do not cram the vans to max capacity (or at least they did not on our day. It was roomy and comfortable. The stops are well worth the drive!!! St. Lucia is an incredibly gorgeous island - jaw dropping sights at every turn. 

Our guide was also Yellow Bird (Cosol's brother), but we also interacted with the other guides at the stops, and they were all friendly and gracious and hospitable. 

Also ... the food ... WOW! You will not go hungry! There is food and drink at every turn, and the food is really delicious. It is a feast. That bread and cheese towards the end of the tour ... Why is something so simple so utterly delicious? 

I will advise to consider the drive as you imbibe -- the rum punch and the very cold Piton beer is offered at every stop. I don't know, it might make the drive worse or maybe better! You'll have to decide for yourself! 😀

I HIGHLY recommend this tour. It was a fantastic experience and we were so glad we got to see so much of St. Lucia on our visit to the island. First, but definitely not last - it is now at the top of our list for a return trip.

Thank you to all on this board who suggested Creole Antigua Tours for our port stop in St. John's last month. We had an amazing time!!! This was one of my all time favorite cruise excursions. The small group, beautiful scenery, fantastic snorkeling, delicious lunch and most of all, the gracious hospitality of Capt. Glen, Travis and Danny made this a topnotch experience. I would highly recommend them: https://www.creoleantiguatours.com

At first, I did have trouble contacting them via the form on their website. I submitted a request, and never heard back. So I finally sent a direct email, and got an immediate confirmation from Katja. So, if you don't get a response - don't give up!! We paid a deposit online before the trip, then the rest of the payment when we got there. They offer a discount for cash, but can also process a credit card payment.

Their boat picked us up right at the cruise dock - it was so convenient. We were the only ones from our ship (Grandeur of the Seas); there were 2 other cruise passengers from NCL, and then some resort guests. The cruise dock was the last pick up and the first drop off for this trip.

Again, I commend Capt. Glen and Travis and Danny - they were welcoming and friendly from the first moment. We got settled on the boat, and then had a nice boat ride around the island. A little bit of bumps and sea spray (it was a windy day). We dropped off Capt. Glen to start lunch preparations and headed for our first snorkel stop. The conditions were not ideal at the usual spot, so they took us to an alternative. If this was second choice, I can't imagine how wonderful the first location would be!! They provided equipment for anyone who needed it - everything was in good shape, and they were very considerate to find the right sizes. I usually need a child-size snorkel, and they found one that worked perfectly. It was easy snorkeling, lots and lots to see. We saw rays, some bigger grouper, lots of colorful varieties - like being in an aquarium! Danny was in the water with us, pointing out interesting things to see and answering any questions. There was plenty of time to snorkel - not so long that we were cold and exhausted, but not so short that we felt rushed. Oh, we also saw turtles!

Back to "Bird Island" where we would have lunch. It is absolutely spectacular scenery. An unihabited island, with a beautiful little beach with nothing but picnic tables and a grill - like paradise. Travis led us on a hike up to the top. It is an easy, pleasant hike, well worth the short walk for the stunning views on top. Then back to the beach for the big yumminess - the BEST rum punch, grilled lobster and homemade salads. Fun time chatting with the other participants, floating in the water, and enjoying the sun. I have never tasted lobster that good in all my life!! For those that don't eat lobster, there was also a chicken option, and the salads were plentiful (green salad, potato salad, pasta salad) We ate under the shady trees, and all the crew were so hospitable in ensuring we had all that we needed. 

The snorkel stop #2 - shallow snorkeling (no fins) to see the starfish!! This was so fun!! Again, Danny was in the water with us to point out all the cool creatures. Then -- sadly -- back to the dock to rebound our cruise ship. They were very respectful of our time to ensure that we made it back in plenty of time. (Oh, and don't forget the tasty homemade banana bread snack on the way back - plus more rum punch, beer and/or soda. All of the food is made by Capt. Glen's wife and it is yummy!)

Would definitely do this again! We are boaters and beach people, so I will say that those who prefer more luxury may find it a bit bare bones. It's an open boat, there's no fancy restroom, and you need to be able to climb in and out of the boat on a ladder. But if you have a good attitude, and like island scenery, good food, great company and a little bit of adventurous spirit, this is a perfect choice. 

I am hoping to do this excursion later this month.  I submitted a request at their website (almost a week ago) and got an email response saying they would get back to me as soon as possible, but I haven’t gotten a confirmation. How long does it usually take? Should I email them again? Thanks for any info. 

Thanks so much - very helpful comparison. 😀

Wth all other factors being equal, which ship would you chose for a family with teens for an Alaska Cruise: Coral or Royal? Is bigger better when it comes to keeping teens happy? I haven’t been on either  ship, so I’d appreciate some insight. 

Does Celebrity have a daily planner, like the Cruise Compass on RCCL? If so, what is it called and is there anywhere online to see examples?

Also, what are generally the outdoor areas where smoking is allowed? I want to be sure our veranda is not near them. Thanks!

Hi - I don’t know if this is helpful or not, because my experience was on the transit from Honolulu to Vancouver, and not an Alaska itinerary. For our cruise, they had a special on the first day of $179 (plus 18% gratuity [emoji849]) for the length of the cruise (10 days) for 2 people. I believe the advertised price was $39 (per person) for a one day pass but I saw specials advertised during the cruise as low as $19.99. Again, that was per person, where the $179 was per couple. Hope that is helpful. The thermal suite is indeed beautiful with the big picture window and lovely tile loungers. It was rarely occupied during our cruise - I only saw one other person in there the whole time. Even though it was a cruise coming from Hawaii, we did have some chilly days at sea where it felt good to be in a warm space.

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We just used Lavaland because I was looking for a more active tour and less stops at shops. We felt it was totally worth the cost. We walked to a very remote area of the crater and learned so much.

 

 

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Thanks! Lavaland is one that I haven't checked into yet. Glad you had a good experience. Looks like it might be just the right thing for us.

Thanks, everyone! Good insights.

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Conrad Miami (Great rooftop pool), and DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Hotel Biscayne Bay (good for groups or families because you can get a condo-style room with multiple bedrooms and a kitchen.)

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Does anyone have suggestions on Hawaiian-themed movies or TV shows to watch on the (8.5 hour from Dallas) flight to Honolulu? We love everything, especially documentaries and comedy. All suggestions, though, are greatly welcomed. Mahalo!

I thought of 50 First Dates, The Descendants, and Aloha with Bradley Cooper and Emma Stone.

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All of these things can easily be visited by renting a car...have you considered that option?

 

 

 

It’s been my experience that touring by car from Hilo has been the easiest of the islands to do. We’ve never paid more than $40 to rent a car including as recently as in January 2017.

We have considered it, but really prefer the local knowledge and context provided b6 a tour guide.

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We used Marylou’s Big Island Tours in March 2018. Same stops as Aina Tours...only 4-6 people. One of the very best tours and not expensive! We also used for Kona because we were so impressed.

 

 

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Marylou’s is not available for our date. (At lest last I checked.)

Thanks though!

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I’m trying to decide between two small group tours out of Hilo. One is a little bit more expensive, but is slightly longer and includes lunch, so the cost is probably pretty even overall. Both companies have great reviews on TripAdvisor.

I thought I’d ask here to see if anyone has any personal experience that might help me make a decision.

Option 1: Mauka Makai Adventure

Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park including a visit to the steam vents, viewing of the active Halema'uma'u crater where lava is brewing just under the crater floor, walk along the crater rim and through the rainforest to Thurston Lava Tube, and viewing of other volcanic formations. Highlights of Hilo including Big Island Candies for chocolate and coffee sampling, views of Hilo Bay from Liliuokalani Gardens, a drive through downtown Hilo to Rainbow Falls, and visit a beautiful black sand beach home to Hawaiian green sea turtles.

Option 2: Big Island Aina Tours

Tour stops include Volcano National Park - Thurston Lava Tube, Jagger Museum, Halemau'mau Crater and Kilauea Caldera, Steam Vents, Kilauea Iki Crater, 1974 lava flow

Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Factory

Liliuokalani Garden

Banyan Drive

Richardson Black Sand Beach

Rainbow Falls

Orchid Farm on request.

We are most interested in lava/volcano focus and and prefer active tours with walking more than driving around.

Any insight?

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Thanks!

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