topspot

   We have taken our daughter and a friend on several HAL cruises during their teen years.  During the holiday times there were always several other teens and they would hang out in the teen club.  There was one cruise we did NOT during a holiday time.  There were 15 kids of all ages, but our girls went to hang out in the club area every sea day.  The kids club staff was great with the kids.  They found out what their hobbies were (DD was a dancer and her friend worked on the stage crew (mostly sound) in high school.  The girls spent an afternoon in the theater during a rehearsal.   DD met with the dancers and her friend worked with the sound people.  On another afternoon staff arranged a tour of the bridge for all of the kids.  We were jealous!

  If I remember correctly, there was a ladder to climb up.  I would say unless you have OBC you are trying to use up, the snorkeling on this trip was not good.  Corals were dead and not much sea life.  It was very disappointing.  When we take a cruise that has Princess Cays as a port, I usually snorkel from the area were there is a small structure with a red roof (where people are feeding fish) and then slowly go all the way down to the opposite side to the end of the roped off area.  This area is very rocky, but there usually are some fish hiding in the rocks.  It can get quite shallow, but since you are experienced, you should be fine.

We used  https://www.h2ovisionsbonaire.com/         to do a private night snorkel.  Brenda is the owner and she was great.   She does private tours of the island also if you are not interested in any water tours.  

This is the info for seacow.  I have never gone out with them but they have great reviews

https://www.seacow-bonaire.com/

This is info for Woodwind I have gone on their snorkeling trip about 8 times both companies have great reviews

https://www.woodwindbonaire.com/

We live in FL and are never in a hurry to leave the ship.  One thing we do is try to get a luggage tag with an earlier time, Say 8:00.  We put our luggage out the night before, then we head down to breakfast in the dining room around 8:00.  By the time we've finished breakfast and go to claim our luggage, it is one of the last in the group to be claimed, making it very quick and easy to find.

On 7/2/2024 at 8:59 PM, kitkat343 said:

do you remember the names of the beaches where you could swim with turtles?

We have seen turtles at 1000 steps which is north of cruise port and salt pier which is south of the cruise port.   We have seen turtles at least 8 of our 9 trips with Woodwind snorkeling around Klein Bonaire

We refared excursions as well when there was a sale back in May.  It took a few phone calls, but after about 2 weeks we finally saw what was owed to us returned to the credit card that was used to purchase the excursions.  One phone call I was told I needed to have my TA get the refund.  This was untrue as I purchased the excursions, TA had nothing to do with excursion purchase (though she told me she'd call if I did not receive the refund).  I had screen shots of everything.

I have contacted them via their website in the past.   Click on the three lines on their website in the upper right, and info to contact them comes up.  They answered my questions within a couple of days.

https://arubus.com/

3 hours ago, chisoxfan said:

That is unfortunate.

 

Oh we sat by ourselves, at a table for 6 where they removed all other place settings

3 hours ago, 555 said:

 

Were you at the Michelangelo DR on deck 5? 

Botticelli, deck 6 aft.

35 minutes ago, 555 said:

All you had to do is make the request from the head waiter.

Yes I know, I have done this before.  I was told NO on the first night, the second night, the third night.  Others were given regular tables, we were refused!  When we would arrive in the "with a reservation" line we would have to wait for them to pick a table.  One night they put us at a table for 6, and removed all of the other places.  

We cruised on Ruby in November 2023.  It was the WORST dining room experience we ever had on Princess.  Reservation for 2, private table for 5:20 every night.  They would not seat us at the same table (or same section) every night, yet others were given same table every night and as we waited in line, they would just walk around us to "their table".  The manager (or whatever the proper term is now) could be seen every night frantically running around looking to see which tables were avaiable.  We have sailed Princess quite often, and this was the first time we've had such a horrible experience.  I sure did fill out my post cruise survey, but it seems as though Ruby is still a mess.

    My experience with Club HAL is old (DD is now 28), but she had the best experience with the club as a teen.  We sailed on time in the middle of January, and there was a total of 14 children onboard, 2 of which were in our cabin (DD and friend).  They went to the club whenever it was scheduled to be open.  The staff was so great with them.  The staff found out the girls interests (DD was a dancer and friend was tech crew (lighting and sound) in the highschool).  Club HAL staff arranged for the girls to attend the show rehearsals, DD met the dancers and learned some combinations while friend was with the lighting and sound crew.  On another day club HAL arranged for all of the children to have a tour of the bridge.(only DD and friend showed up)   Staff went above and beyond.

32 minutes ago, Native Floridian 26 said:

It's been a year and we're getting ready for our next TA on the Nieuw Statendam in April.  Are they still having Happy Hours and what about the Historic Happy they had for the 150th anniversary?  If they had it a year ago, I wonder how long they celebrated it or will celebrate it.

We'll be on that TA with you.  We sailed on the Rotterdam in January'24 and happy hour was 4-5 all drinks 50% off.  It was listed 4-5 but the servers actually started earlier than that around 3:30 they would ask if you wanted a drink and that it was happy hour despite it being before 4

1 hour ago, complawyer said:

you dont book the air, ncl does it for you. consequently, you pays yer money and you takes your chance

When do you typically find out the flights? 

Another newbie question....If I book a cruise on NCL using their air with air deviation, when can I book the air?

7 hours ago, Haljo1935 said:

It is not a scam - HAL offers OBC to military. We use it each cruise.

      Do you need to apply for the credit with each cruise (like the stockholders) or will this automatically be applied once we've been approved (as long as HAL continues to offer)?

Thanks

We used Jay's last year.  They meet you by the port.

https://www.jayscarrentalaruba.com/

We were on the Rotterdam in January and yes they have  few things like toothpaste etc.  in the same shop that sells bottles of liquor.

Divi Flamingo is a resort that has diveshop/dive boats within walking distance (like a 5 minute walk at most) of where the ship docks.  Dive Friends has several locations, and I believe one of them is also within walking distance of the ship

2 hours ago, Hydro ergo said:

ok @topspot, one more question for you as you have been brilliantly helpful!  Did the busses/vans accept US dollars? 

Yes.  We usually give them a five and don't, take change.  Also I read you replies one said you'd look for a van, we walk to the bus station in Punda  which is labeled on one of the maps I linked.  They'll be parked waiting to fill up, but will have letters on the front window that say where they are going.

  We have done both.  At Playa Piskado, the fishermen clean their fish, and the turtles are there for the easy food.  The water is full of fish guts and people.  You are (almost) guaranteed to see turtles because they are being fed.  We have gone out with Woodwind at least 8 times.  We have seen turtles about six of those times.  If you see turtles, it is because they are feeding naturally, not because they are being fed by humans.  There is no guarantee to see turtles, but you will have a great time snorkeling.  You will see corals and various fish.  We have also been to 1000 steps on our own (a dive/snorkel site in Bonaire)  there are often turtles here.

12 hours ago, Hydro ergo said:

 

 

 

When you took the van, did they drop you off at the dive shop, or did you go all the way to Mambo beach and walk back? The first time we asked to go to Sunscape, which is just before Mambo, but just after where we wanted to go.   Now we tell them Sunscape, but we know exactly where the shop is and just ask them nicely to get out.

How did you get back into town?   We just go out to the road and wait for a van to go by.  It usually takes about 10 minutes.  The last time we went Dive Bus called a cab for us.  It was around 20.00 back to port.  We will be doing this when we go back, it cut out the walking in the afternoon heat.   When we snorkel, we either swim in a protected area in front of Sunscape, if the water isn't too rough, then we enter and swim around the break water to snorkel in the open ocean.  There are more corals outside the wall.  If you are inside in the calmer area, you can only get in and out of the water in one spot as you can't go onto Sunscape property.  They will show you a map of where to snorkel at the shop.

12 hours ago, Hydro ergo said:

 

12 hours ago, Hydro ergo said:

this is great, thank you so much!!

It sounds like the vans are the way to go, but maybe not the most reliable? By that I mean, one may or may not be available to take you where you are headed?  We're in port from 8-5 as well as another ship from 8-6.  I'm hoping that people will be wanting to get out and about...and maybe head out to Mambo beach as you mentioned.  When you took the van, did they drop you off at the dive shop, or did you go all the way to Mambo beach and walk back? How did you get back into town?

Thank you again for your help. It's so much easier when you can talk to someone that's done it before...and I vastly prefer to have a plan ahead of time and just be able to execute it, not lose valuable time searching around port for solutions. 

38 minutes ago, Hydro ergo said:

@topspot, if you don't mind me asking, what dive shop do you use?  

The Dive Bus.  Here is a link to their dive shop.  I email them to see if they have room for us.  (They always do)  They used to list a snorkel package on their website, which is what I described in the post above (#28).  Just tell them you read about their snorkel package.  They rent equipment if needed.   if you go back a few pages to post #2 I have links that show where the bus stop is located. 

https://www.thedivebus.com/

Here is a link to the actual beach where we snorkel.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Marie+Pampoen+Beach/@12.0916319,-68.9088812,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x8e848277fc3ecd01

On 1/11/2024 at 1:33 PM, noshoobie said:

Just want to confirm that you can do a la carte at either venue. Can you rent snorkel equipment there and how long and what is the cab cost to get there? 

I’m not sure about rental equipment as we have our own.  Pretty sure Money Bar has rental equipment.  We have done al a carte at both places.  Cab was around 12.00 for up to 4 people each way.   You can do an internet search on each place to find their menu also get phone # and make a WiFi call to them to see if they rent equipment.