Daisyloo

There is a plaza across the street where there are a few options for food. McDonalds, another burger place, a Thai restaurant, a sports bar, Subway, a pizza place. We have eaten at the sports bar and the food was quite good. I have heard from others that the Thai place is good too.

Across the road and down a short walk is a German restaurant that is quite good.

There is also a grocery store in the plaza.

We have stayed at this Hampton about 7 times and always been happy with our stay.

We have sailed on both. The biggest difference for us is the Tamarind restaurant on Eurodam. It's our favourite specialty restaurant on HAL, so if we had to choose we would pick the Eurodam. (if all else is equal, ie ports, port times etc)

I have a Princess cruise booked for April 2017. It is gone up $300 more each from when we booked it. And we got the drink package for free. Glad we booked when we did. I am glad we booked our three upcoming HAL cruises when the Canadian dollar was better too.

We did the Stingray City Sandbar in December last year. It was beautiful weather and the water was warm - very pleasant. We loved that excursion and are doing it again this December.

HAL is the smoker's line of choice, everywhere reeks of the stuff. They allow smoking on Balconies (the ONLY line that does) and don't think of using or passing thru' the Casino unless you have a mask. Disgraceful in this modern age !

I'm an ex-smoker and quite sensitive to the smell of smoke, and other than the designated smoking areas I have never had an issue with smoke. To say the entire ship reeks is a huge exaggeration.

I once got "sea-sick" on a porch swing, and so far Bonine has not let me down on any cruise. I wouldn't want to cruise without it.

I have cruised 5 or 6 times now since I started using a cpap.

The first few times I did request an extension cord, and it was never in the cabin when we first got to the room. I then asked the steward and he brought it. Once it was a very long cord, like 25 feet. Lol. More recently I have just brought my own. I carry it in the cpap bag. That way I know I have it with me at all times.

Also, it will depend on the cabin layout as to whether you will need an extension cord or not.

If you preorder it and it's not in your cabin waiting for you, either ask your steward for it or call room service. Weird I know, but that's what I was told to do on more than one of my HAL cruises since starting using a cpap.

The $4.00 is way more than it costs me at home, but it is what it is. On Princess the distilled water is free.

Good to know. Thanks.

We have sailed on all three of these ships and liked them all. I would choose based on itinerary first. If that is the same or similar, I would probably pick the NA, only because she is the newest ship. Also, we love the Tamarind, and usually eat there at least a time or two per cruise. (Tamarind is also available on the Eurodam.)

I would go for the 7079 for the extra large balcony.

We were in L110 and had no issue with noise from above at all. Loved that location.

The taxi will cost approximately $35. There will be lots of taxis available agt the airport, and at the cruiseport for the return trip.

For sure they aren't cheap. Those prices also include the drink package (I think Celebrity will also substitute an OBC in exchange for the drink package but not sure). But it's the one stop shopping aspect of it that is appealing. It would be ridiculous pricing for me to fly to PBI or FLL from London, and it would either involve connecting in Toronto or Chicago. This package has a chartered flight direct from London (or 6 other cities) to Florida, and it's only people on your cruise on that flight. You fly down the day of and all transfers are included. And then fly directly home. I know I compared it last year, and yes I can get it cheaper if I fly from elsewhere, but comparing apples to apples, the package from them would have been cheaper if I was seriously thinking about it. Like I said, I wish other cruise lines would do stuff like that.

The one stop shopping like you said, is worth paying a bit more for I think. It makes it so easy, especially if you are new to cruising. It is very similar to going to an all inclusive resort. Easy.

I live in Hamilton, one of the airports that are part of this package. I also wish that other lines did this kind of package. We have only cruised with Princess and HAL so far, but this deal with Celebrity is tempting.

The Fort Lauderdale airport and cruiseport are only about 10 minutes apart, so it's not a long trip. But clearing customs/immigration after getting off the ship can take time, especially on a busy port day (maybe 7 or 8 ships in port). Also, there is a chance your ship may be late returning to port. It is rare but it does happen. There can also be a line up waiting for taxis.

So, bearing all that in mind, most people recommend a flight no earlier than about 11:30 am.

Very interesting website. You have obviously put a lot of work into it. Thanks for sharing.

We live about an hour from the border and for the last 4 years have been flying out of Buffalo. We have only flown on Southwest to Fort Lauderdale. We have always been able to get down there non-stop but a couple of times we have come back on flights where we have had to change planes in Baltimore or Chicago. I check the cost of flying with other carriers but Southwest has always been better.

One thing we really like about Southwest is their no fees to change a flight. If you book at a certain fare and then notice the flight gets cheaper later, or you want to change to a different flight, you can change with no fee. You pay the fare that is currently listed. We have changed flights a few times, and when the flight is cheaper, they give you a credit for the difference that you can use at a later date. (time limitation)

For us, where we live, flying out of Buffalo makes sense.

We have been to MHC and Princess Cays many times and we much prefer HMC.

Getting off at HMC seems to be quicker and easier, as instead of using the ships tenders they use larger island based tenders. Princess uses the ships tenders.

The beach at HMC is much nicer - soft white sand, shallow, no rocks in the water, whereas Princess Cays is very rocky with sharp coral - beach shoes are almost a necessity. Other than that we find them to be similar re food and drink, washrooms etc.

Hampton Inn Airport North Cruiseport. We have stayed there 6 or 7 times and always been happy.

Has free airport shuttle, across from shopping plaza, nearby restaurants, pool, complimentary breakfast, clean. Shuttle to port in a.m. is $6.00 each or a cab would be cheap as the hotel is really close to both airport and cruiseport.

Hi Jerry, we are on the same cruise as you. We did this exact cruise last year too and loved it.

In San Juan we walked off the ship and got on the HOHO trolley. It's a short walk from the ship. If I remember correctly as we got off the ship we were handed a map of the area and the trolley stops were on there. It's free and does a route all around Old San Juan. We got off at the fort San Cristobal and toured that. The entrance fee for the fort is $5.00 each, and that allows you entrance to the other fort in San Juan, El Moro as well. It was a great way to see San Juan. We plan on doing the same again in December.

OP, I find your post interesting as my three kids all prefer HAL over Princess too. They like both, but prefer HAL.

You Canadians get all the good shows. We get some Kardashian crap.:rolleyes:

lol :D

Dave, I've been in cabins that were designated as triples or quads and I've not noticed anything other than the sofa serving two functions. I have noticed a cabinet above the sofa before but don't recall if that was when I was in one of those cabins.

 

If anything, other than was has already been noted, there may have been a hassock instead of a desk chair, so it can be tucked away. I know I've had both at different times.

 

Are you getting ready to book next week when E4 is back?

Is E4 "Explore 4"? Is that sale coming up? Will it be available in Canada?

Lots of questions I know!

When we were on the Zaandam in a Neptune Suite, the upper level of the dining room was for the suites and the bottom level was for everyone else.

OP, call your cellphone provider and ask about their travel packages. We always buy one when we travel. The one I have usually bought gets me approximately 100 minutes talking in US and unlimited texts incoming and a certain # of outgoing texts (maybe 200 or more) for $25.00 Puerto Rico and the US VIrgin Islands count as the US for the phone plan so if your cruise goes to either you are covered.