MaryPoppinz

We usually like Caribe deck midship, but with three in the cabin, I think a mini would be a better choice. So I agree with taking D709. That's a great location -- stairs, laundry are nearby. Little bit of a hike if you're into the buffet, but that's probably a good thing. :)

Oh yeah. One more.... UBER ROSSI...

 

I"M OKKKKK!!!!

 

(had to be there)

Never played Bingo, but I do love some Uber Rossi. It's pretty much the same show every time and it's still....OKKKKKKK.....with me.

I bought a tablecloth from Provence for my mom at a shop called Soliel at the West Indies Mall in French St. Martin. The woman who owned the shop spoke a little English and I spoke no French, but she was very sweet and helpful. The tablecloth is unlike any of the other tablecloths from Provence I own or have seen anywhere else (although she had many of that type, too.) It's jacquard and the colors are fantastic. I'ts quite large (108") and I think it was about $120. I buy a lot of linens when I travel and this is one of my best finds.

I didn't keep it for myself because I make sure my mom gets the best souvenir of every cruise -- she's the babysitter! :)

They *do* have chocolate sauce, and it's freshly-made onboard -- like the ice cream, which is definitely not soft serve.

Tex-Mex followed by a Hershey's bar.

Then it's back to protein shakes and lighter meals. :)

If you want boots sold in Texas, go to Cavender's. Check out Lucchese's (brand available at Cavender's) -- I believe they are still made in Texas. Justin Boots is also a Texas company.

If you stop in a distant foreign port, you can transport passengers between two different U.S. ports (in your case Honolulu and Kona) without violating the PSA.

That is exactly my understanding of why the OP cannot travel between San Francisco and San Diego. Without a "distant foreign port," the US travel must be roundtrip to<-->from one US port.

The Jones Act also allows a cruise ship to depart and return to a US port if the ship makes at least ONE call in a non-US port.It doesn't matter if the foreign port is 20 miles away or 200 miles away, it just has to be a non-US country.

As long as it's a roundtrip, that's true. But, if embarkation and disembarkation are at two separate ports, it matters:

"....voyages by foreign vessels between two U.S. ports that include a distant foreign port,and round trip voyages from U.S. ports that include a nearby foreign port and other U.S. ports, do not violate the PVSA." http://www.gao.gov/docdblite/details.php?rptno=GAO-04-421

There must be a "distant foreign port" involved when embarking and disembarking at two separate US ports; only a "foreign port" is required for a roundtrip involving one US port. Though, as someone said "distant" is in the eye of the Passenger Services Act, not the map. Aruba qualifies, Bermuda doesn't.

In fact I know of several people who have used a short carnival cruise to make a on way trip to Cozumel and take a huge amount of luggage with them. It was less expensive than flying and shipping the stuff.

That shouldn't be a problem, because you are embarking in the US, and terminating in a foreign port. The problem only really arises when you are dealing with US roundtrips involving either the same port or two different US ports.

....in order to travel between two US ports (SF, San Diego) on a foreign vessel (Princess), you would need to stop at a "distant foreign port." None of the Mexican ports of call will meet this requirement. So, I believe you'll have to continue through to your embarkation port for a roundtrip that only requires stopping at a "foreign port" -- satisfied by any of your Mexican ports.

The repositioning cruises that you're thinking of that involve two US ports (ie: Ft. Lauderdale - SF, via the Panama Canal) stop in Aruba to comply with the law, because Aruba (unlike most Caribbean ports) is considered a "distant foreign port."

This is something I think you are only going to find in the accessible cabins.