vabchtraveler

Very excited here in VA, also. Can't believe they took the CC site down for work when we needed it most. See you all at sailaway party! - 

We were very impressed with the tourist information booth at the port where we received valuable information about the local bus service. For $5 you can purchase a return ticket to one of the best beaches about 20 minutes away. If you wish to stop off you can pay $2.60 for a 3rd trip directly on the bus. Originally we intended to do that but were satisfied with seeing the other beaches on the way and stayed for a couple of hours at the one beach, Arashi. Very beautiful, with great snorkelling or just beach visit. The bus trip itself was enjoyable as we passed lots of amazing resorts and lovely beaches. After having done island tours at the other 2 islands, we were content in Aruba with this bus trip, beach visit and walk through the town on return.

I completely agree with you - next time we go this is exactly what we plan to do. We visited Arashi as part of a tour last time and I found it delightful!

We are goin on the Glory and am looking at them for excursions in St. Thomas and Puerto Rico. Does anyone has experiences they could share as I am unfamiliar with them?

Island Marketing is always my first go-to for excursions. I've used them for 8 years and have never been disappointed. We were supposed to do the island tour in St Thomas and our ship was late making port. But, they were sitting right there waiting for us. If you like to do a lot - that's a good tour -- downtown for a little look see and shopping, up to Mountaintop for a banana daiquiri and a great view of many islands, then on to Magens Bay for a nice swim.

On one cruise, we had reserved an excursion in Belize and they notified us that our ship was not going to Belize but was going to Costa Maya. No one at the cruiseline seemed to know this -- for weeks -- but they finally sent a letter with the itinerary change. Thanks to Island Marketing, we'd already changed our excursion with them to Costa Maya.

I trust them completely.

I just booked my week on the Epic and looking at the port calendar there will be 3 ships in port that day. I am hoping to get some chairs at the Tropicante but I am pretty late to the party.

 

For those who have been, it seems like a small port to have 3 ships at once especially with the Epic holding 4000.

 

Suggested Alternatives to the Tropicante?

Loved the all-inclusive of Nohoch Kay -- booked it for $50 through Island Marketing. Very clean, very pretty, good food, unlimited beverages, reserved chairs and palapas, shaded open air restaurant, bathroom facilities, walk out snorkeling and swimming, great bi-lingual staff, super service, limited number of people allowed. Highly recommend.

Between reading up on Grand Turks and seeing your response I'm definitely getting a better picture of the smallness of the island. As far as the beach area, do they have a limited area allowed for swimming that is roped off or can you go as far down the beach as you want and still swim?

It seems to me that you can go down quite a distance down the beach to swim. Even though it is a little crowded in the main area, if you go to the right off the causeway when you debark, it is less crowded and fairly good snorkeling if you have your own equipment. All in all, it was just a great beach day for us. Part of our group did Blue Water Divers private snorkel tour and liked it a lot -- they had a dolphin come play with them (totally spontaneous on the dolphin's part) while they were snorkeling. Scared the stuffin' out of them til they realized it was a dolphin! LOL!

We booked Early saver rate for our September cruise. I look now and the Casino rate is about $200 cheaper. Can I request the price difference on the difference or does the early saver price have to be cheaper to get the OBC for the difference?

I always book ES and then I put the cruise in a cruise finder like 'cruisecheap.com' and it sends me an email anytime any rate on my cruise changes. I watch it on the Carnival site, too. I've gained back hundreds of dollars by paying attention. That's the thing about ES, you have to tell them, they won't tell you. Are you on your sailings thread? We always keep each other up-to-date on price changes so everyone gets the best deal possible.

Thanks for all the suggestions and help. Still kinda in limbo bout what to do, but hopefully will make up my mind before february!!

 

Thanks again!!

Hi, we were just in Nassau and booked a private tour through Island Marketing. We did the research and selected the itinerary ourselves -- an outside look at government buildings, a walk down the Queen's Staircase (driver met us at the other end), and a stop at Ft. Fincastle. Then we crossed over the Sidney Poitier Bridge for about an hour in the casino at Atlantis, then back to Graycliff to tour the chocolatier and cigar factory. We wound up at Arawak Cay - the locals call it the 'fish fry' for great Bahamian food at Oh, Andros. It was fantastic! The bus was new and spacious. Our guide, Joe, was marvelous, and it was only $40 each. I highly recommend it! It's easy to book online and you only pay a 20% deposit by credit card with majority due in cash at the end of the tour. Enjoy your trip whatever you do - and I'd get back on the ship before dark.

Definitely travel with a passport -- you can get on the ship in the US with a birth certificate but it's not so easy to get back home (or catch the ship) if anything goes wrong. Hope for and count on the best, but be prepared for the worst! What the heck, it works out money-wise to about a $12 a year investment! :)

Just wondering how long to allow for if we visit GrayCliffs and John Watlings Distillary both? We are planning on walking from the cruise port. Thanks for your help.

We just did the chocolatier and cigar factory - probably an hour for both.

We just did Pat & Diane's snorkel and deserted island tour on Tuesday and we had the best time! Our Captain T.K. and crew were so fun and knowledgable. I highly recommend this excursion!

Going in 2 weeks and can hardly wait. Did you get the boat with the rock climbing wall for your deserted island tour? I think Diane says it depends on the number of people who sign up.

If those people know they are not traveling overseas they can save an additional $220 by just using their birth certificates and government issued ID

 

Bill

You can't fly to Canada or Mexico without a passport.

You trying to scare your steward???!!! Just joking, have a fantastic first voyage! After one cruise, you'll be as addicted as the rest of us. See you on the boards again. Bon Voyage!:)

I used those window /door cling thingies last time & had so much fun with it. Loved walking the halls of the ship, admiring other door decor. I don't think the doors on Carnival ships are metal, not sure about other cruise lines. A beachy theme sounds great.

I always carry a roll of scotch magic tape for - whatever - worked just fine on Carnival doors last January. Our group had 5 cabins and we had colorful, soft cardboard fishes purchased from the Dollar Tree at about 3 per package - huge investment!! Great for finding your way 'home.' And, of course, we printed out our Cruise Critic door sign, too.

Dollar tree also has battery operated 'candles' that I used on my last cruise celebrating our 25th anniversary...and they make great night lights for trips to the bathroom:D. I used a cute colorful wind sock on our balcony the last cruise and it was cool to be able to spot our cabin when we were in port, and our kids could spot us on the port webcams as we set sail...without them! lol!!!:eek:

Love the windsock idea - I'll be high-tailing it to the dollar tree! I already have tropical fish for our doors (5 cabins same deck/all port side but not adjacent). I also previously picked up ponchos for the rainforest; sewing kit - scissors, needle and thread; small flashlight; lysol wipes; screwtop plastic qt. size containers - for getting juice for our fridge - we make mimosas; throw away reading glasses, throwaway sunglasses, and throwaway reading sunglasses. I want to Be SURE I can see the menus!!:D I think I'll get a dry erase for leaving messages, too.