cardamon

Consider booking an excursion offered by the ship when you're there on Sunday. If it's offered by the ship, it will go as scheduled .

Martinique is very pretty! Look forward to having a wonderful time! :)

Thank you. We are looking at a boat tour to the Pitons and Marigot Bay. Any opinions? Will we see the beauty of the island?

We will be in port on a Sunday. What can I expect to be open? Do taxis run, shops open , tours operating? Thanks!!

Thank you for posting! This will be our first trip there. Did you notice if there were beaches near by?

We are on your Anthem cruise. After reading previous posts, are you interested in hiring a taxi with our party of 4? We could look for another couple to fill the van.

Cardamon (Linda)

I have a very important (to me) question. I am taking my children and cgrandchildren on a cruise 7/6/2017. I am paying for 9 people. Am I correct in assuming I do not get the points toward my next cruise- that they get the points even thought I am paying for their rooms? They may never cruise again so I think it is only fair I get their points!!

Can you tell me how guaranteed balcony works? I never heard of it before so give a thorough explanation please- like "guaranteed balcony for dummies".

We were there in April on a Sunday and the town is pretty much shut down. As far as the ferry's, I don't know what the schedule is like for Sunday. The people in Martinique seem to observe Sunday for church and family time. I just learned that on our cruise in April of 2017 they changed ports from St. Lucia to Martinique.... and we will be there on Sunday. I think we may take an excursion from the ship if there is one that appeals to us.

We must be on the same cruise- Anthem on 1/2/2017? I am very disappointed to read about the itinerary change- that's why I'm on this site- looking for advise for our visit. Our friends, who have been there before, say it is a good pool day! Not very encouraging. We are not shoppers- we love the beach and beautiful scenery but not at the expense of long bus rides!

Hope we can meet on the cruise!!

I agree- each cruise director brings individual talents- that appeal to a certain age group or energy level.

I agree - each of us as cruisers look for particular traits in a cruise director.

That taken in consideration- I have thoroughly enjoyed my cruises with John and Katrina, including Their last cruise on the Enchantment. With a friend, we organized a tribute for John, Katrina and the crew who were leaving after years on the Enchantment.

They were very visible and approachable. I liked that they rose through the ranks to their positions-maybe why they were so respectful.

On our cruise to Alaska in 2014, we never saw the cruise director except on stage. So much for the younger generation of CD.

I hope John and Katrina are on the Anthem when we sail in January 2017!!

Any suggestions for a 3 PM arrival time ? Our ship does not dock until 3 PM so many of the usual attractions are not available . Has anyone taken the Anthem to PR and had a good excursion . Please advise .

You will have time to do one of the forts. I think they are both open until 6:00. On one of the threads in this forum is a walking tour of San Juan. It will give you 3 routes to take. I think all 3 include El Morro. The Cathredral is amazing, worth walk. Other parts of a walking tour: the Old Wall, the cemetery, a walk through Old San Juan shops and restaurants, Pigeon Park. All within walking distance of the pier. Lots of security visible during the day. I have not ventured off the ship at night.

Because outlets have been limited on RC ships I bring small flame less candles as night lights. For jewelry : bought a $2.95 tackle box, works well as jewelry organizer. And don't forget to pack relaxation and fun!!

Salud to you as well. I don't carry a beer snob card as I had a Medalla Light yesterday at a baseball game and I drank all of it. I do think too many people limit their choices by thinking only certain kinds of food go with beer. Paired nicely, the right beer can elevate cuisine every bit as well as wine. Beer diversity is fantastic. I'm sorry to see its' availability being limited in OSJ though.

 

PS, PR coffee is fantastic!!

Appreciating great craft beerS is like learning to eat beef Wellington when you grew up on pot roast: new flavors, pleasing to the eye, and a whole new vocabulary. I think craft beers take time to learn to enjoy- and with new microbreweries popping up all the time, it is so much fun to follow. I am married to a beer geek: always trying to find microbreweries for him, on every vacation.

So thank you for keeping us updated- we would have looked for the microbrewery that was close to the pier, now closed.

Looking forward to finding a few craft beers on the Anthem.

Can anyone tell me what exactly is open when you first board? I'm going on my second cruise in a few weeks and wanted to really relax and enjoy (last one was way too short - 3 nights). We we got on, we didn't find much open. Is it because we stopped at the promenade deck? Should be go somewhere else? I'm sailing on the Independence of the Seas. Hints greatly appreciated!

Most people go to lunch. Sadly, they sit there and occupy tables waiting for their rooms to be ready. We usually eat lunch, then explore the ship. This is the best time to get pictures- few people to obstruct your views and I often get so busy on the cruise, I forget to take them. When our room is ready, we drop off the bags. The bars are open, so if the weather is nice, enjoy a drink on deck.

Here is hoping you do not get seasick. Having said that - I always carry the sea calm (acupuncture) bands, and have worn them on occasion when we hit rough seas. They do work! (Had a friend tell me her pregnant daughter used them for morning sickness).

I also carry candied ginger (it tastes great after a meal) and ginger pills.

A caution with Dramemine- on our first cruise, we sent my husband back to the cabin for our caera. We were dancing in a congo line! He took one Dramemine, sat down on the bed- and was out for hours! No pictures and no fun husband that night!

Just checked the website seaglasslovers.com. It is under construction. I will keep trying. Thanks.

Has anyone found sea glass on any of the beaches on St. Kitts or Nevis?

Im very curious re touring the forts on our own,,, can you share? Thx!

Last trip to San Juan we toured Cristobel fort. It was so interesting- because it is part of our National Park system, if you have a Natioal Park card (we have a lifetime membership- benefit of being a Senior) your admission is free. It was hot- but cool inside underground and the view is amazing. You will receive a guide sheet when you enter. Well worth the short walk.

I don't advise trying both forts on the same day unless you have all day. We usually arrive at 3:00 which limits our time. El Moro is more austere and imposing- great views and again worth your time! Make sure you are on deck to see the forts as you enter the port- awesome!!

We are sailing on the Anthem in April 2015. We live in Southern DE and are trying to decide if we should come up to NJ for a night precruise in an area hotel where we would leave our car and take transportation to the terminal. Or should we leave early cruise day, and plan on parking at the pier? We have always done a precruise overnight, leaving our car parked at our hotel, when cruising out of Baltimore. It was so easy. Cape libery does not sound as easy. Help!!:confused:

Not really. They are south and east of town.

Thanks for the advise. How are their beers? Do they make IPA's ? stouts? Do any of the local bars carry their beers so we would not have to go out to the brewery to taste them?

The brewery is just west of town on the main island road. You go past it on the way out of town if you are going to many of the regular tour stops such as the fort, batik etc.

Is it on the way to the beaches? Friars or Shipwreck?

Has anyone gone there? We are considering a tour there and onto Romeny Manor. Does anyone have thoughts on this?

I will definitely look into it!! Hope it is not too out of the way. We only have one day in St. Kitts, never been there before and so much to see. My husband will definitely want to do this!

I am looking to put together a group cruise for Micro-breweries. I am not quite sure what to include on the cruise. I was thinking of seeing about shore excursions that would go to a Rum making factory or even a brewery. Any other ideas?

I think this is a great idea! My husband is a beer snob, brews his own beer. I have to plan our vacations around the microbreweries in a location- and there must be some to make him travel. Last year we did Seattle, and then cruised the Inner Oassage. He loved Alaska BC and Skagway, but needed more! Let me know if you organize a cruise!!

He is not interested in Europe, because he does not like Belgian beers. The CA coast would be a possibility. I have not looked into the proximity to the coast of any breweries, but we drove along the coast a few years ago and found a few. San Diego would be a good starting point!!

I have read about transport to the airport from Canada Place but little about the port we are using for Rhapsody OS. How difficult will it be to find a taxi from Ballentyne pier? D we have any other options, beside the SkyTrain- we have too much luggage to comfortably do that. This is the last stay in a long two weeks- I want to have a good experience. There are only2 of us, so a limo would be too expensive.

Wow!! We go on RC Rhapsody OS- hope we get as close!!

Yup. Also hard liquor now, as of a couple of years ago. Of course, some supermarkets have a lot better beer and wine selection than others.

We will stop at a supermarket after we pick up the rental car and buy 2 styro cooler- one for beer and one for food. It would be difficult to bring food back from the market o I guess we will have to eat there. Thanks or all the great info!! Less than 3 weeks now . My husband can't wait for all the breweries.

I would catch the ferry thursday night or drive around thursday night and stay somewhere on the way...I would not want to catch a ferry labor day weekend. the only saving grace is you will be traveling opposite most traffic....

We changed Thursday night reservation to spending that night in Poulsbo ( night before we have to board our cruise from Seattle by 2:30). We will enjoy Poulsbo Thursday night, then take the 11:25 ferry to Seattle. I feel better. Then our friends will drive us in the rental car to our cruise port ( RCI- Smith's Cove). Any recommendations for route to the pier and time?

We want to see s much of Seattle as possible in 4 days. Any comments on the Emerald City HOHO trolley? Are there now 2 routes?

We want to go to Ballard on Sunday for the market. What is the best way to get there, and back with time to visit a few brew pubs lo built in for the hubby?