AtMaui

We're interested in doing the Flavors of San Juan in December. Where does it meet in Old San Juan?

Jaci

I agree with buffy24. We took this tour in December and I highly recommend it. Seeing more of Falmouth than the port area was great too. I believe the house was where the tour company had their office, in addition to the fact that it was privately owned and we met the owner.

Jaci

Silversea also has great single supplements - anywhere from 150% down to 110%. I used to take Regent when they were doing 125% SS but they got to be too expensive after they added all shore excursions. I too am a DYI kind of person when it comes to shore excursions.

A friend and I did a b2b last December with both cruse 110% plus a 5% reduction for the b2b.

Daily prices usually are between $320-420 but that includes all drinks and tips, plus butler service for all suites. And the suites are much larger than Crystal.

I would love to try Seabourn but not at 200%!

Silversea has become my cruise line of choice.

The Grill will definitely cook the food for you. We ate there 3 times in December and asked for the food to be cooked on two visits.

Jaci

Brumagin1: You're charged $1/day for the donation. I just did a b2b (8 day and 10 day) and was charged $8 for the first cruise and $10 for the second one. I just went to Reception and asked for the charges to be removed. I think the response was "certainly" since I'm sure they are asked this quite often.

Jaci

I was there last month in 1123, facing the port (in the rear of the hotel). Like Ashland said, just ask for a room on a high floor facing the port. That's what I did. I did not use the on-line check in because I didn't know what room would face the port.

Jaci

We were just in Falmouth last month and took the jamaicaculinarytour. It's a wonderful tour with lots of food. We started out with local fruit and sugar cane before we even left the port area. Then we had the meat patties at Spicy Nice and later on jerk chicken at Pepper's Jerk. I couldn't tell you exactly their locations since we had a guide. The tour was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone.

Jaci

I agree with Sharon. Curry Mansion Inn is wonderful. I recommend it to everyone who goes to Key West. We parked our car when we got there and didn't move it until we left. One-half block off Duval so everything is very convenient. Great breakfast and cocktail hour(s) too. When I go back to Key West, I won't stay anywhere else.

Jaci

We just got off a cruise on 12/22 with a 7:45P flight home. We thought about a day room but instead we took a taxi to FLL, checked our bags at Bagstogo ($7/bag), took a taxi to the Hilton Marina Hotel, boarded the water taxi, had lunch on Las Olas, got off the water taxi at the Hilton Marina stop, and took a taxi back to the airport. We could have hung around the hotel if we'd wanted but had to pick up our luggage before 5:30.

We returned from a cruise on 12/22 with a 7:45P flight. We left our luggage at Bagstogo at FLL ($7/bag), took a taxi to the Hilton Marina Hotel, took the water taxi, had lunch on Las Olas, got off at the Hilton Marina stop, and took a taxi to the airport. It was great!

jongbj: Like you, we're on the b2b for 12/4 and 12/12. We've only made reservations at The Grill and LT. Since we have friends joining us on the 12/12 cruise we thought we'd go to LC and Stars on that one. Interesting that the reservations are closed. I guess we'll just wait until we get on board and see what we can do. Thanks for the heads up.

Jaci

We're going to be there in a couple of weeks and have signed up for a culinary tour.

Someone mentioned that a T. J. Maxx would be opening at the Harbor Shops. Has that opened yet? Being from Chicago, it's hard to find summer clothes now and I was hoping to find something at T.J.'s. There's a Ross near there too, right?

Friends and I have a late flight out of FLL next month and I've looked into Bagstogo. I'm told we just take the cruiseline bus (or taxi) to the airport terminal and check the bags at the Bagstogo facility. We can then take a taxi to the Hilton Marina to get the water taxi. Has anyone done this recently? Is it as easy as it sounds?

Thanks for the update, Capt BJ. I'm sure we'll enjoy My Bar!

Jaci

Capt BJ: I'm concerned about your last comment. Based on your prior posts, we were planning to go to Sunset House for lunch. We'll be there on Sunday, 12/7, and we'll be the only ship in port that day (540 passengers). Do you think it will be overly crowded on a Sunday?

Jaci

Cruising Bonnie: We taking the culinary tour in December based on Trip Advisor reviews. What can you tell me about it?

Jaci

We're taking a culinary tour in December so I'm hoping it goes to the "real" Falmouth and doesn't just stay in the port area.

Jaci

Thanks for the info about the luggage options. I don't recall Silversea having a program for that. Maybe we'll just go back to Embassy Suites (where we will be staying pre-cruise), check our luggage, and take a taxi to board the water taxi for 3 hours.

Jaci

lah66: Are you able to check your luggage at the Hilton?

Jaci

Cruise timetables gives lots of info. Cruise TT doesn't even show us in port but Cruise Timetables does.

Jaci

We won't be there until the first part of December but I'll give a report when I return.

Jaci

Another site to try is http://www.cruisetimetables.com.

Thanks for all the good info, Capt. BJ. We will definitely be having lunch at My Bar. We're the only ship in port that day so it won't be crowded with other cruisers.

Thanks for clarifying the distance, Capt. BJ. My friend and I both read it wrong! Which place would you recommend for lunch - My Bar or Paradise? It's our first time on Grand Cayman.

Jaci