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Jolly Mon Sings

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    Royal Caribbean Bypasses Labadee Due to Local Protests

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ZhW-nbXMA]

     

    Guests aboard Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas were unable to visit the cruise line’s private destination of Labadee today due to political protests in the area.

    Video posted to Facebook shows Freedom of the Seas was able to dock at Labadee, but groups of protestors staged a demonstration in small boats. This caused Freedom of the Seas’ captain to decide not to let passengers off the ship.

     

    According to CruiseLawNews by Tom Fox, currently aboard the Freedom of the Seas.

    Dozens of chanting protesters, banging pots and cymbals, and packed onto a half dozen small vessels, greeted Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas cruise ship as it docked this morning in Labadee, Haiti.

    Labadee is a 260-acre peninsula – dubbed a “vacationer’s paradise” by the cruise line — along Haiti’s lush, mountainous and secluded north coast. A small beachfront resort with palm covered cabanas, the area is separated from the rest of the island, cut off by a 12-foot high fence and guarded by security forces.

    Royal Caribbean, according to various cruise websites, has leased the land until 2050.

    At first it appeared the vessels were approaching the docked ship as part of a rehearsed welcoming ceremony. However, when two coast guard ships arrived and began circling the vessels and encouraging them to leave the waters, it became clear this was a protest – though the specifics of the protesters complaints were not completely spelled out.

    One sign, held by one of the protesters, read “USA Away!

     

    The Freedom of the Seas cruise ship states it carries 3600 passengers. Many were waiting near the gangplanks waiting to disembark shortly after breakfast. With the protests going on many on the ship watched from their balconies taking pictures and waiting for further instructions

    After some thirty minutes’ delay the ship, a voice over the ship’s loudspeaker system announce there would be a short delay before passengers could leave the ship. The vessels continued to play cat and mouse with the coast guard vessels, slightly larger than the protesters’ boats, but all dwarfed by the docked cruise ship.

    After more than two hours a voice once again came across the loudspeaker system explaining to passengers that local Haitian elections will take place in another week and that the protests they were watching were a local matter.

    It seemed a number of passengers and crew members weren’t buying this explanation.

    Finally, the voice stated that the cruise ship would not be disembarking today “for the safety of our passengers, which we hold to be of the utmost importance.

    One veteran crewmember told me said she had been sailing into Labadee for 13 years and this was the first time she had seen such a protest.

    Nestled on the northern coast of Haiti, Labadee, according to Royal Caribbean’s website, “is the ultimate private destination for cruise vacationers – and we’re the only cruise line that sails there.”

    According to several cruise websites, passengers are not allowed to leave Labadee to venture out to see the rest of the island. Haiti is the poorest of the nations in the Western hemisphere and suffered a devastating earthquake in 2010, although it apparently did not affect the northern part of the island where Labadee is located.

    Cruise travel websites state that only a small group of Haitian merchants are given rights to sell their merchandise and establish their businesses at the Labadee resort. Most workers ar

    Great Bay

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted · Edited by Jolly Mon Sings

    Was at Great Bay last week in the Gem. Water was beautiful, no excess seaweed, Had great time with many others. Boardwalk and shopping fun too. Stop at Juggies for two beers and a small cuban cigar...Wish I was there now!!!

    Safe sailing

     

    We also enjoy Juggies'World's Smallest Bar". Can't beat 2 beers and a Cuban cigar all for $2.99. Juggies is great stop near the water taxi back to the ship.

    Booking Multiple Rooms Onboard

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Hello All

    We are interested in booking 4 cabins for a upcoming cruise for our friends in order to use the reduced deposit ($100) and obtain the maximum OBC as compared to purchasing future cruise certificate(s) which have a lesser OBC..

     

    How many rooms can you book onboard for a future cruise? Can rooms be booked in different persons names?If so what information is required?

     

    Thanks.

    Senor Frogs Free Margaritas Promotion

    in San Juan, PR

    Posted

    Does Senor Frogs in OSJ still have a 2 free margaritas vouchers for anyone that must be redeemed at the Senor Frogs in St. Thomas? In the past we liked to pickup our free drink vouchers and use them when we got St. Thomas at our 'Bon Voyage Party' at the end of the day before boarding the ship. 8 people + 16 free Margaritas = "Let get this party started!"

    Private taxi vs Tour operator

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted · Edited by Jolly Mon Sings

    We have always hired a taxi/van for the day. We use Richard nicknamed 'father'. He will personalize your visit/tour based upon your interests. He is very knowledgeable and personable. You can request him at the taxi stand near the cruise dock or call him ahead of time. Cost is less than a tour operator and is not a canned tour.

     

    * Enjoy your visit.

     

    MR. RICHARDS (nickname- father)

    MOBILE--- 1-721-690-101-571

    FRENCHSIDE TAXI 155

     

    Taxi Supervisor

    Donald Krhythoft

    1-721-580-6407

    what to do in st. M. when you've been there 10x already

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted

    ok, not 10 but 6.

    lots of trips to french side for their marketplace and lunch, orient beach, had a 747 land on our heads, rented a car and got totally lost (FR side mostly) and the usual downtown marketplace stuff.

     

    are we doomed to just chill at a beach?

     

    veterans, please - lmk.

     

    You may have missed "Juggies Place-"World's Smallest Bar " in Phillipsburg.

    $2.99 for 2 cold beers and a cuban cigar. Located right off Front St.

    9k=

    Saint Johns,NB -Bay Of Fundy Choices????

    in Canada (Alaska/Pacific Coastal)

    Posted

    Curious - where are you renting the car from? I am looking to rent a car in Saint John and am having trouble finding a location near the cruise terminal.

     

     

    Avis - Saint John, NB, Saint John,

    4 Water Street, Saint John, NB CA

    (E2L 2A5 )

    506-634-7750

    Sun 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM; Mon - Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Sat 9:00 AM

    - 12:00 PM

     

    Contact Us

    Reservations & Avis.com Assistance 1-800-230-4898

    Saint Johns,NB -Bay Of Fundy Choices????

    in Canada (Alaska/Pacific Coastal)

    Posted

    Our cruise ship will be in Saint Johns, NB on Oct. 9 from 10am-6pm. We are renting a car and are interested in seeing the Bay of Fundy. What would you recommend to see in the time we have (7hrs.-need to be back by 5pm) of the three choices below:

     

    1-Drive to Saint Martins Sea Caves & Fundy Parkway

    2-Drive to Alma,NB & Alma Lobster Shack

    3-Drive to Hopewell Rocks

     

    Thanks

    At phillipsburgh a beach

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted · Edited by Jolly Mon Sings

    The chicken littles would like you to believe that the water at Grand Bay is unsafe to swim. That is clearly not the fact. The St. Maarten Nature Foundation annually test water quality at seven sites around the island including Grand Bay. Test results have shown that water is safe for swimming.

    http://www.naturefoundationsxm.org/pdfs/Water-Quality-Testing.pdf

     

    Thousands of people visit this beach annually and the beach is primary source of income for many businesses.I am sure if there was a problem with the water which affected swimmers it would be widely publicized similar to the mosquito problem on other parts of the island.

     

    Come on in the water's fine!

     

    Sail'in On.............

    At phillipsburgh a beach

    in St. Martin/St. Maarten

    Posted · Edited by Jolly Mon Sings

    Get the all day water taxi for $7pp. Water Taxi is a short walk down the pier to your left. This allows you to bring purchases back to the ship, eat for free and return to the beach. When you exit the water taxi downtown Phillisburg, the beach is both on your right and your left. There will be many hawkers who try to lead you to chairs as they make money from the store fronts. Don't allow this as you get a better deal by telling them "No Thank you" and finding the seats yourself. Walk to the left down the beach about half way down you will find Lizzy's. There we got 2 beach chairs, an umbrella, a water float, 2 Red Stripe beers and two shots of flavored rum and free WiFi...all for just $12 total,,,NOT per person. Last year it was $10. I sat on the beach and swam in beautiful water. We sat up under Lizzy's covered open porch, listening to music while enjoying $1.50 beers after our freebees. There is free wifi. There is also a big water trampoline that was free and plenty of jet skis to rent along the beach. We went early to get the best chairs,went shopping a little, went back to our ship for lunch and returned to our chairs by the water for the remainder of the day. The shopping in the next street over and you can access it right next to Lizzy's up the side street, We met wonderful people and they watched our chairs and things. This is by far the greatest island stop for a non expensive excursion...don't miss it!

     

    Don't forget to visit "Juggies-World's Smallest Bar." 2 beers & cuban cigar for $2.99.

    http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g147347-d147595-i91270863-Frontstreet-Philipsburg_Sint_Maarten_St_Maarten_St_Martin.html

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