gatour

Great. one size doesn't fill all.

Funny story in regards to the airline fee reimbursement. Last year I flew out to Las Vegas on Delta. When I got back and received my 2nd credit card statement since the trip, I saw several $6 credits in relation to Delta. It took me a bit to remember that I had a few glasses of wine on the flights. I put two and two together and checked AMEX website and found that the $200 fee coverage, covers pretty much everything. I had thought it only covered baggage fees, seat upgrades and that sort of thing. If I knew that I may have ordered a few more glasses of wine, since I didn't come close to using up the $200 last year. :)

I did some more research yesterday and decided to go with the other card I was reading about. It's the Capital One Venture card (the one that Alec Baldwin promotes in the commercials.) It will give me 2% back on EVERY purchase, which equates to well over $1,000 a year, plus many of the same benefits that the platinum AMEX offers. I get several perks on cruises, which is most important to me, plus many hotel, food, and airline benefits. It does not offer the BOGO first class international ticket, which was the only perk AMEX offered which has a value in the thousands of dollars, but most everything else the Venture card offers is similar in value. The $1,000+ spending money would more than cover anything else that's missing with plenty left over for me to spend as I please.

 

While I am going with a different card, as the last poster said, I want to thank everyone for participating in this thread, because it opened my eyes to the additional perks that some credit cards offer on top of the basic cash back awards. I was unaware that credit cards could offer perks such as hotel upgrades, cruise OBC, and free meals at hotels and other events. Although a lot of this thread was geared towards credit cards, and less about cruising in general, it sure made me a lot of extra money, so I thank you. I will continue reading here as I'm sure some other ideas might come up from new posts. This has been a very informative thread.

I normally fly Delta, and have never had problems in entering their lounges as long as I presented my AMEX platinum card and had a boarding pass for a flight on Delta that day.

To me that is a great benefit esp. when I am on vacation. Arrive at the airport at the recommended 2 hours before, if you get through TSA quickly, head to the Skymile lounge for a couple of "free" wines. In the bars in the terminal, this would be $28+ for me and my wife. Fly to Atlanta, where we repeat the Skymile lounge.

Return trip would be similar.

The $200 fee re-reimbursement which they started last year also is a plus. I am "old-school" where I don't want worry about how to pack all of my clothes into a carryon. I prefer to check in my suit cases and just worry about carrying on my camera/computer/electronic bag.

Base on the above scenario, I have already covered $300 of the platinum card's annual fee.

There is at least one intangibles.

In general the airline clubs can be a quiet respite from the "drone" of the main terminals and the airplanes themselves.

Each person needs to make their own cost/benefit judgement

however its annoying to see that someone who doesnt need to spend money on airfare gets a huge discount on cruising and gets double points at the same time). (caribbean)

Why would a cruiseline care if you have to fly and factor that into your points? If you fly make sure you are member of FF club, you will eventually get a free flight.

Using your logic, people who live in Florida, and go on a cruise should get additional points from the cruiseline because we can't get FF miles on an airlilne.

Yesterday, got an email reply for my reservation request from ZoZo's. They only accept reservations 30 days out. No harm/no foul. Just wanted to point that out to anyone else that is reading this thread.

Anne, Thanks for the entree suggestions.

Petepie, Thanks for reminding me about bug spray. I actually brought some on a cruise a few years ago for the first/only time since me and one my wife's cousin's was doing a kayak tour through mangroves. He was very grateful along with other shipmates that were on that tour.

I may do some National Park trail hiking, so besides the open air restaurants it should be needed.

Definitely understand about the need for a 4 wheel drive. I remember some of the "normal" roads during St Johns Island tours. That is what I will reserve.

I have already ordered the National Geographic map along with the latest Nook ereader. If you ever see a couple sitting on a cruise ship, one that is reading magazines while the other is reading a book, more than likely that is us. On vacations I catch up on my magazine subscriptions. After doing some research I found most of my magazines that I subscribe to are available on the Nook. Less things to pack in the suitcase weight wise.

Once I get the nook, I will also buy some e-copies of fodor's et al. Although with the wealth of information everyone here has provided they may well be redundant.

And yes my signature changed. I just booked a cruise to the Western Caribbean. ;)

Float mats.

On cruise lines that have private islands, they rent float mats. Nowadays, we don't normally rent one as after a few hours there are numerous ones abandoned by the actual renters.

I imagine our hotel includes these under the free "water toys" category but also I guess they are limited to use on their beach.

Is there a place to rent them for a week or several days and take them to whatever beach you want?

Sorry for all of the questions. I don't go into commando mode while on the trip. I like to have a few things planned, but also have some options in mind while on the trip.

Anne,

Just sent an email to to Zozo's for reservations with a preference for the two corner seats. Found a website that has the sunset times for St Johns during the time we will be there. Sunset is right before 7pm, requested reservation time is at 6pm with a preference to the two seats you mentioned.

Without you even mentioning it, I expected that they want us to eat at the bar, so had already perused the menu. Any recommendations on dishes to order?

Thanks for the pointer to Pine Peace. It would probably just be a "wine run" so either one be sufficient and between you and Auggie, you have convinced me to rent a jeep.

David

Anne

Sorry I wasn't clear in regards to Starfish, I didn't mean right next to the dock. I found it on maps.google.com and it showed on the map as being to the right of the dock but a bit away. I wanted to make sure that was the place you were talking about. It sounds like it is. I am thinking about picking up a few bottles of wine there to take to the hotel. It would be nice to grab a glass of wine and sit out on our patio or balcony without having to go to one of the hotel bars or wait for room service.

What would be your guesstimate be for the time it would take to travel from the Westin to Zozo's? maps.google.com says it should take 17 minutes. Looking at the route and based on my prior trips where we took island or snorkeling tours that sounds optimistic. If you can't tell you have me sold on Zozo's. :)

Thanks for the info.

David

David ~ I promise you will not regret your decision. Starfish isn't exactly "next" to the ferry dock. It is a little way out of town. It's actually between the ferry dock and the Westin. If you want to do the bar at Zozo for sunset, I'd suggest picking a night soon and email for a reservation at the bar (ask for the two corner seats (there are only two).

 

Unfortunately, Carlos is moving back to New Mexico in June so he and his wife can raise their children on the mainland. He was terrific and worked there a long time. They will miss him.

 

Feel free to ask questions at anytime and you can also drop me an email (it's below my signature).

Anne, thanks for the information. I have saved both your post here and your trip report. Exactly the type of the information I wanted/needed. Moho Bay sounds perfect. We have been to Trunk Bay numerous times and getting away from the cruise ship crowds would be nice. So you have convinced me that a rental jeep is in order for 3 or 4 days.

It looks like Starfish is to the right of the dock for the Redhook/Cruz Bay ferry. Is that correct?

You mention that I am going to before June to say hello to Carlos at I guess Zozo's. We won't be going until July. Is it just because Carlos will be leaving or going on vacation then? I found Zozo's website and based on your recommendation and the website, it definitely sounds like something I want to do with my wife.

If you asked me and wife a year ago about job stress, I had it and she didn't. Now the tables have turned. So when I started thinking about our next vacation, I thought of St Johns. Someplace where we can walk out of the room and onto a beach, but also a potential to explore. Based on the information you have supplied, it sounds like we have made good choice. Just be forewarned I may additional questions.

David

gatour ~ I think quite a few people do what you are thinking about. Rent a jeep for a few days from the rental desk at the Westin. I highly recommend doing that so you can see all of the island. One couple on our catamaran trip stayed at the Westin for four nights and never got beyond the beach at Caneel bay other than getting on our catamaran. You can't enjoy the beauty of the island if you don't venture beyond the Cruz Bay area.

 

Here's a link to my recent review on trip advisor: http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147409-i432-k5384143-St_John_Trip_Report_April_22_29-St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html You'll find some restaurant suggestions here. I highly suggest making a reservation for the bar on the upper level at Zozo's at Gallows Point. Make a reservation for 30 minutes before sunset. GREAT view and equally great food. If you are going before june, tell Carlos we said hello (he's the bartender/server). There are lots of great restaurants in Cruz Bay and if you rent a jeep, you can venture to some of the fun places on the east side of the island like Skinney Legs, Shipwreck Landing, Donkey Diner and Miss Lucy's. So much to do, so little time. Have a great one!

Petepie and wannabatsea,

Great timing and great pointers.

After many stops at St Thomas on cruises, we flying down for a week stay on St Johns.

We will be staying at the Westin. I am trying to figure out the logistics about getting around. The Westin has a ferry between St Johns and St Thomas (Crown bay) and I have that part down.

My questions are mostly about getting around St Johns. Sounds like the a taxi to the beach of the day and and pre-arranged return pickup will work for those type of trips.

But I would also like to see some of the sights and perhaps utilize some of the National Park trails. The hotel has an onsight jeep rental agency where they offer 3+ day rentals. There is a 3 day rate, a 7 day rate and a daily rate. But you have to book for at least 3 days, so I imagine the daily rate if if you want to rent for 4 days.

I also don't want to eat every day at the hotel. Would like to eat at various restaurants around the island.

So should I think about reserving a jeep for a least part of the trip, or could I rely on taxi's etc for most if not all of the trip. Obviously when we take the hotel ferry to St Thomas (Crown Bay) we would have to take a taxi into Charlotte Amai.

So write a letter to the Bahama authorities as they set the port fees.

This is a great suggestion that I would have never thought of. I can definitely tell the difference with your photographs against other peoples, it adds a little extra something to the photograph.

I am also with you on lighting esp. outdoors in the Caribbean. My wife will sometimes complain to me about "fussing with the camera" during the trip, when she see some of the results she usually realizes it was worth it. The fussing I was doing was usually getting the exposure correct.

Definitely love both the review and the photographs.

The black borders are to draw the eye into the photo. Since the web browser is white, it makes it more difficult for the eye to focus on the image. The borders are helpful for that and help the eye to see the true brilliance in the color detail as well. :-) Cheers!

From personal experience it will fit. You may need to lift the bed a bit to get it under the frame. Once placed under the bed you won't know it is there

One word of warning, ask that your spouse don't sit on the bed while doing this procedure.

Thanks for your write up on the Cloud 9 spa.

You mentioned that it cost $149 for a singles pass. Was there a couple's pass and if so how much?

Paul great job.

Quick someone call the Today show,or GMA.

Thanks for the directions.

You should see me out there sometime. Just need to pay attention to her schedule.

apdmom, is the beach you go to, open to the public? I have only been to the city park under the Dames Point bridge to watch the ship leave/take pictures

And kind of an irrelevant question. Between cameras, laptops, ipods, cell phones etc. we bring on several thousands dollars worth of electronics when we cruise. We don't lock them up but don't leave them in open sight to the door.

With this set up, have never had a problem on cruises or hotels.

Ok, finally I got the answer I was looking for. I had asked before if anyone has used the Park Cafe to load up on sandwiches and snacks for land excursions. I was told the Park Cafe was also a green market. Thats how it is described! You can load up on supplies such as sandwiches, drinks and snacks to either take back to your cabin or take with you on a land excursion.

Did you take advantage of this?

 

Thanks!

Most ports technically do not allow you to bring food on-shore. Your mileage may vary.

I remember this thread from when it was first posted, neat thing.

One reason why graves are above ground, is because of high water tables, think of the old cemetaries in New Orleans or in St Augustine.

We loved the Coral. The great thing about Princess cruise ships is the amount of storage available in cabin, although I couldn't compare it to Celebrity having never sailed Celebrity.

There is laundromat and they do have change machines in them but they sometimes run out of quarters, so I recommend you bring your own. They also sale detergent etc, but I usually visit a local laundromat and buy the little boxes there and bring them along.

Princess also has the Scholarship at Sea program. They offer things that go beyond the typical cooking demo or wine tasting. Things like photoshop classes. Note there extra charges for some of the classes. Can't remember if the Coral has the ceramic thing though.

Also another nice feature is the Horizon court (buffet) has a bar in it. I like a glass of wine with my meals, on other cruise ships, it could be a pain to flag down a server or walk out to the pool bar to get a drink

Although I have been on the Brilliance, whenever I have been in cabin that far forward they have been the standard rectangle modular.

Just curious, if the dishes you are voting for the worse ever are the types of dishes you have had before either at home or on other cruises.

For example, I regularly eat sushi at home but have not found a good rendition on Princess, RCCL, or Disney. So that is my choice for worst food item on a cruise.

However I see a couple of people mentioning game hen/squab as being bony and because of that being bad. However, in my experience in cooking game hen at home it is not as meaty as a chicken breast. So in general I find most game hen dishes on a cruise acceptable.

The other factor is how "authentic" a dish is to its roots. For example, I find most "jerk" dishes okay, but not really like the jerk you can get in Jamaica. Where-as curry dishes on some cruiselines are much better in their overall flavor profile.

On Disney anytime during the cruise you can got to guest services and put tips on your room account. They then give you vouchers to present to the various staff members.

I usually bring some extra 20's or 10's to do extra tipping or if I make a special request.

Definitely keep in mind that the servers, and busboys do not only work one shift per day i.e. they do not just work the main dining rooms at dinner. They also work the main dining rooms at breakfast and lunch. They will also work the buffets in the casual dining area. So if you are eating a meal anywhere onboard the ship at anytime of the day, those servers or busboys that you only think you see at dinner are also working at the same times you are eating the other meals of the day.

I almost always book a gurantee at the level I am willing to accept and the price I am willing to pay, if I get upgraded fine, but if I don't, I don't get upset. Sometimes I have gotten "upgraded" but it is usually the same type of cabin ie I guranteed a balcony cabin on deck x but was "upgraded" to a balcony on deck y.