wassup4565

Thank you for the information. Going to try to re-book this better tomorrow. I think the $50 is bogus, right?

We will be arriving back from our ten-day cruise to FL on Friday, Feb 24/17 in the morning. Our flight back to Canada does not leave until 7:40 pm. We decided to rent a car, so we can safely stash our luggage. We will use the time to visit a friend nearby and do some shopping for items we can't buy in Canada. Then we want to drive to FLL airport, drop off the car, and fly home.

Enterprise has offered to rent us a car for $25.99 plus some taxes. There will also be a "drop" fee of $50.00 to pick us up at the port and take us to get the car, which we can then return later at the airport. Altogether, then, this will cost us about $80.00. Any advice will be very welcome.

What I really value about CC is concrete, factual information and generous help people take the time to give. For example, two posters helped me sort out how to take the train from Venice to Rome and then to Civitavecchia. They told me how, where, and when in such exact detail that I couldn't go wrong, and their instructions were perfect. I've had dozens of other very kind assistance from people, and I am very grateful.

Less useful are people's opinions about food, service, decor, other passengers, and so on. We all have different tastes, and different doesn't mean wrong, - it just means different. I take these opinions with a grain of salt.

As for the Serenade, I love that ship. I'll be seeing her again in Feb, lucky me!

I didn't realize what I had been missing out on. Don't worry though, I'm making up for lost time now!

You've received a lot of specific info from earlier posters. None of it is wrong, but none of it matters too much for a first time cruise either. I'd say this.

Seven nights is a great time frame, good idea. In the Caribbean in January, the farther south your ship goes to, the more likely the weather will be reliably warm. But remember, in January you can also encounter some rainy periods. Rainy times aren't bad times unless you went in expecting endless sunny days. Bring a deck of cards, or join in a dance class, or just have a peaceful snooze if it rains.

You'll read all kinds of comments on these boards about whether to pay for a suite or a balcony. Just remember this: no matter what cabin you're in, you get exactly the same experience in the dining venues, the shows, the activities, etc. You can be staying in the lowest down inside cabin, and the food in the dining room is still the same for you as for someone who reserved the Grand Suite. Unless you plan to spend a lot of time in your room, think about how much it matters to you to have a bigger room, or one with a balcony. The money you spend on the more fancy room is money you could spend for shore activities, for example. So think about what is important for you. We do fine with an inside windowless cabin, because all we do there is shower, sleep and possibly a little afternoon delight. Otherwise we like to be out and around on the ship. This leaves us with more money for drinkies and having fun on shore.

And speaking of on shore, if you've never been to any of these ports before, maybe you don't need to book expensive excursions at every port. It's enjoyable (and free) to walk around exploring. The journalist Tom Brokaw said that in any place he visited he tried to see a grocery store, a wedding and a funeral. You may not score all three, but you can usually find the grocery store and see what people shop for and what they pay. I also like to look for the Post Office and send a few postcards, including one to myself to see how long it takes to arrive.

I guess I'm trying to say that you need to think about what kind of experience will give you a great time. And it's not always paying more money that buys you the best experience.

Knitting is noisy? Bring that comment back here after you hang around card shufflers, mahjong clackers, Scrabble tile droppers, dice throwers and charade players.

That's one I never thought I'd hear. The tyranny of the noise of knitters. LOL.

You will be travelling in a luxurious floating hotel no matter what line you chose. There will be many entertainment choices and dining/eating options included in your ticket price. So already, you can't lose.

As for the ports, take the time and do your research. You've never been to these places before, so just getting off the ship and walking around, or hiring a taxi for a couple of hours' tour will give you a good taste of these places. Don't feel you have to pay to see the most fabulous fantastic sight. You haven't seen any of it before, right? So start simple.

Above all, reach out to your fellow passengers. Introduce yourself, no matter how shy you are. Just put your hand out, say your name and your home town, and a conversation will begin. Next thing you know, you'll be having a meal together or sharing a taxi, and being friends.

You will have a wonderful cruise. Go for it!

Safety briefing and how the Jacksonville port handles non-Americans

 

[YOUTUBE]zhdwdO5vWwo[/YOUTUBE]

Happened to us in Tampa too. Just when we thought we were your Canadian cousins, you called us aliens and ordered us around at 7 a.m. Huh. You think we Canadians have weapons in our suitcases after a cruise? Dudes. Many of us in Canada still go to sleep at night without locking our doors.

I bring Lysol wipes and we clean the room before we do anything else. Door and drawer handles, light switches, phone, remote - anything people usually touch and use. Any way I could prevent picking up someone's cold or dyssentry is worth trying. The previous people could have left the cabin at 10:00 coughing and hacking, and you will get your room by 1:00-ish. Ask yourself if the steward had time to wipe a rag over everything you could touch in every room. I don't think so.

As for keeping the room clean, the steward has to vacuum, straighten the bed, take out the garbage and dishes, and clean up the bathroom. The least we can do is get our stuff out of the way to make the work as easy as possible.

We were on a cruise a couple of years ago and a young man was constantly knitting something. Every time we saw him about the ship he has his knitting with him. I did see a couple of women approach him at one of the cooking demonstrations, but most time most people seemed to leave him alone.

 

I am a male and use to a be a regular knitter. Created a lot of my own patterns and designs, but haven't touched it now in about 20 years. Might be time to pick up the needles again. :)

Maybe you know the story of Jacques Plante, an ice hockey goalie for the Montreal Canadiens many years ago. As many goalies are, Plante was a player apart - it's not an easy job having hard rubber disks shot at you at high speed for 60 minutes a game. These guys are often in their own world.

Plante was a knitter. His French Canadian family, with many children, were not well-off when he was a child. As one of the oldest kids, his mother made him learn to knit and turn out socks, mitts and hats for his little brothers and sisters. It was an activity he continued as an adult, and as a professional goalie in the NHL. I like to imagine Jacques pulling his knitting out on a bus or plane trip to the next hockey game, while all the other manly men asked themselves, "What the heck?"

As those of us who enjoy this work know, there is a certain peace that comes with the activity. Not hard to know why this guy found comfort away from his job of being constantly fired at. Just a little true Canadian folklore for you here tonight!

We are from a northern climate, so we are not able to enjoy actively doing things in temps over 30 degrees C (nineties in F temps). The ports in the Med are so interesting, it's a shame to be limited because you just can't take the heat and keep on going.

We've cruised twice in October in the Med and found the daytime temps were kind enough for us to keep on walking and exploring (high 20s C). If it had been hotter, we'd have had to quit. It does cool down in the evenings and early mornings, and remember, the days are also shorter as the calendar moves along.

And if people are saying it's more crowded in the summer than in the fall, let me tell you, it's still plenty crowded in October! For that alone, I would choose a slightly off-season time.

Well, actually, Air Canada doesn't receive any government subsidies and hasn't for quite some time. West Jet offers good competition to AC on many routes.

 

As for Ogdensburg, I just priced a flight to FLL for next February. For just a few dollars less I can spend anywhere from 14 to 42(!) hours making a 3 1/2 hour flight.

 

I'm not a cheerleader for Canadian Airlines but feel if they are to be criticized that it be done factually.

 

 

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I salute your patriotic support of Canada's airlines, but disagree. I won't bore people with the details, but the many ways and many times Air Canada has screwed me are not fiction. And yes, WestJet was once a better option, but it stopped competing on price several years ago, and they don't fly to many places I want to go. And no, the government doesn't hand cash to Canadian airlines as a direct subsidy. But the government strictly restricts and limits which airlines are even allowed to compete in the Canadian market. If I am allowed little choice, that is an indirect subsidy.

If you want facts, here you go. There is only one reason Ogdensberg and other US border cities are expanding their air operations. It's because so many Canadians are beating a path to their doors.

Vampire - now, those new some Newfoundland words: "growlers" and "bergy bits!"

We did a small road trip in Newfoundland in late June. I was completely amazed by many things, but one thing in particular. We took a little boat trip with a local fisherman along the shore, and he used his boat hook to knock a chunk of ice off a growler. He told me to take it back and put a piece in my drink. So I did that, and couldn't believe that as the ice melted in my drink, the bubbles popped and fizzed! Not carbonation, just pops and fizzles. Ten-thousand year old air, released!

We certainly did use those binoculars in Newfoundland! We never travel without them.

We used to go to AIs every winter. Then we tried cruising, got hooked, and for several years never visited an AI again. Quite frankly, the food and the entertainment were so much better on ships than at any AI we had stayed at.

Last winter we did go to an AI, specifically to meet up with a travelling friend who was in the country for a few weeks. Although the rooms was not as well-decorated and kept-up as a ship's cabin, it was perfectly fine if you're not picky. The food was excellent, certainly equal to that on a ship in quality and variety. I have to think AIs may have risen to the challenge their cruise ship competition presents in the food department. The resort entertainment was shabby, however, and those annoying beach activity staff were still a factor. I can do without their yelling and whistle blowing.

All in all, we still prefer cruising. With a little research, we always find something interesting and active to do in the ports. And the live entertainment on the ships in the evenings is still a big cut above what we saw at the AI. Have a great vacation, whatever you choose!

I worried about this before my first cruise too, and I didn't need to. You don't need special knowledge to cruise. From the moment you get on the ship, you will be in a first-class floating hotel with wonderful service, food and staff, and more activities and shows/entertainments than you can pack into every day. Plus, in the ports, you can see parts of the world you've never seen just by getting off for a few hours and walking around.

There are a bajillion tips and ideas for every aspect of a cruise vacation. But honestly, just pack up your stuff (not too much), and bring some small bills for tipping the deserving staff.

My only tip is this. Avoid the professional complainers. They will carp about the food, the service, the shows and the staff. Move away from these people as fast as you can. If they want to spend their cruise finding fault and being dissatisfied, that's on them. Don't let the whiners take up your time.

Have a great cruise! You will.

I really sympathize, it's a mess.

However, here's the good news. You live in a country where the airlines still compete, somewhat. Just come on up here, where we are at the mercy of Air Canada, which continually jacks the government up for subsidies (to preserve the industry in Canada...Canadian culture...jobs...blah blah). And at the same time, jacks its customers with outrageous fares, crappy service, and...how shall I say it, a thumb to the nose.

They just opened an expanded airport in Ogdensburg, NY, a little over an hour away from where I live. Next trip I'm waving bye-bye to Air Canada. And they deserve it well.

Oh my goodness, what a lot of advice. None of it's bad, but wow, it's a lot.

If you are flying to the port, don't put your cruise luggage tags on until you get your bags back from the airlines. The airlines sometimes rip wheels off suitcases, right? So put your cruise tags in an outside pocket for easy access once you are done with the airlines.

The truth of the matter is you don't need the tags to be on the bags until you get the bags right to the port. And even then, if you forgot, the crew at the ship's luggage check-in will print out tags and put them on your bags. But supposing you did actually print out and remember to bring your tags, and you can find them in that outside pocket, the luggage-crew will help you get them onto your bags when you get to the pier.

Yes, if it makes you happy, order some special luggage tag holders from Amazon. Or apply packing tape all over the tags you printed out before you ever left home, and then get your hotel to staple them onto multiple handles on your bags.

But really, the truth is your bags will get to your cabin. The luggage-crew will make sure that happens. Relax. This will work out just fine.

Embassy Suites, if all you want is a reasonably-priced decent hotel near a few good places to walk to to eat dinner or buy a few last-minute items. The breakfast is the definition of basic, that is, better than nothing at all. Sign up for the shuttle to the port the next morning when you check in, or you'll be far down the list.

We will arrive at the Miami port via RCI flight and transfer from airport to the port. We do not want to pack bottles of shampoo, conditioner, other liquid cosmetics and our two permissible bottles of wine in our luggage for the flights. They weigh a lot and they could break open in the luggage.

We have from about noon, when we are dropped at the pier until 3 pm, when we must be aboard, to do some simple shopping. Is there somewhere near the pier we can get an inexpensive taxi to and from to do our shopping? A Walgreens or CVS would probably have most of what we need.

Agree with LHT28. In 35 years of traveling to many Caribbean islands, we've never found a place that won't accept US$. Sometimes, however, even if you pay in US$, your change will be in the local currency, which may or may not be the currency on any other island you visit. This is why bills in small denominations are best - you won't get as much local change if you pay with a twenty instead of a fifty. But most British people are used to this if they travel on the continent, right?

Never had a problem with ATMs in the Caribbean. As in Europe, you will pay in your own currency and receive your cash in the currency of the country. The trick is to try to estimate how much you will need, - good luck with that!

Good question, and yes that has happened to me, both times on Med cruises. I'm not happy about it, but on those cruises I trusted the cruise line to produce my passport if I needed it while ashore. I also understood that for some of those countries, the passengers would not be able to freely get off and back on unless the cruise line met the country criteria.

I did, however, carry a photocopy of the important pages in my passport with me while on shore. You're making a fair point (I assume) that sometimes we have to take calculated risks when we travel. I have done that when I had to. But if the choice is left up to me, I like to have my passport with me when I'm in another country (and that includes the USA).

Greselda, we do the same. This discussion rages on CC from time to time, and it amazes me how strongly some people try to impose their views about it. We are all adults, and we will make our own decisions.

We carry our passports ashore with us, because the passport is your government's request to the host country to treat you fairly and well. I want the document with me that says my country has my back. I paid for my passport to provide me with my country's protection - why would I leave it locked away in a safe on board the ship where I can't get at it if I need it? Keeping my passport safe while ashore is no more of a challenge than keeping my money, my credit card, and my cellphone safe.

Canadians NOTE: as Canadians ashore for the day in Puerto Rico, we were demanded to produce our passports when we were in line to re-board our ship. Americans in line were not asked for theirs, but we were. We were very glad we could produce them.

I take my Nikon Rubber Coated, Water Proof, 10x42, medium size on each cruise. They have provided good service on several cruises.

 

Bob

Same here. I love having them because I spend a lot of time outdoors on every cruise. I take them on all my cruises, and look at the shore, other vessels, and even the open ocean. Be sure they have a neck strap, because you wouldn't want to drop them over the side!

As you've mentioned you're on a careful budget, here are a few suggestions for enjoying your cruise without spending a lot. First, remember that once you've paid for your cruise and any mandatory charges (like gratuities, for example) any additional spending is up to your discretion. All your meals, snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are covered. While some people do spend extra on special restaurants, the food served on the ship is usually excellent, and with a lot of variety. Some people do spend extra on soft drink packages, but there are always drinks like lemonade and iced tea available at no extra cost, and the water on board is perfectly safe and good to drink. If you're not big drinkers, you won't spend much on alcohol.

Most ships offer many contests, shows, musical performances, and so on at no extra cost. If a performance is taking place in a bar, you don't have to order drinks to watch it - just say no thanks. Avoid the casino, because it eats your money. Don't bother with spa treatments, as they are overpriced. Room service does not cost extra, and it's one of my great pleasures to order breakfast and eat it on the balcony, if I've paid for a balcony. Or you may wish to order afternoon tea and biscuits for your balcony. There is no extra cost.

I do suggest that you should bring money in small denominations to tip the staff who serve you. While this is not done as much in Britain, and not required on the ship, remember the staff are paid very low wages, and your tips help support their families. So if you order room service, tip the server who delivers it. Tip your cabin steward and dining room waiters. On some cruises, aside from buying an occasional cocktail, tipping is all the extra money I spent. A couple of dollars is a decent tip for room service and $10 or $20 for the wait staff and cabin attendant are fine.

You do not need to spend money on activities when your ship stop in ports, especially since you've never visited these places before. Especially if the ship docks right at a city or town, you can have an interesting time just walking off and having a look around, soaking up the local scene. I love visiting local markets and grocery stores when I can find them. Gives me an idea of how people live in that country. I've also enjoyed buying a couple of postcards, and then finding the Post Office to mail them. If you do decide to do a tour, instead of booking pricey excursions, consider hiring a local taxi for an hour or so, and ask the driver to show you the highlights. The taxis are usually easy to find near the dock and in most places in the Caribbean, you can find a taxi guy who will take you around for about $25 an hour for the two of you. That's a lot less than a couple of hundred dollars for two for an excursion. The "Ports" section of CC has tons of information about every port, including ideas for doing things ashore that cost nothing or very little.

People who tell you to bring twice as much money as you thought are not giving bad advice necessarily. Of course you can have a grand time spending more if that's what you enjoy. But remember, you have already paid for your cruise, and all by itself, it's a fantastic, luxurious experience compared to the way most of us live day to day.

You will have a wonderful anniversary experience! Please write a review on CC when you return.

For those looking for an easy day in Costa Maya, Katherine and I were there six years ago. We had a wonderful day for not much $$. I think it is much more developed now, but still within the low-cost beach option.

After leaving the cruise port shops and constructed area, we got a taxi for about ten bucks each to a long strip of beach shack establishments. Every little bar had its chairs and umbrellas, and for the price of a drink you could park yourself there. The beach and the water were beautiful. Some guys were offering water sporty things at a price. You could get a lady to do you a massage. We ordered up daiquiris, guacamole and salsa (and I feared we would have Montezuma's Revenge) but it was all good and delicious, no after effects.

I understand this area is now called the Malecon (kind of like a beach-boardwalk in English) and there are a lot more sophisticated establishments. But I think we can still find a small beach hut thing and have a nice day like last time. Sounds like there are still taxis to the malecon, and now also a trolley.