Sharon45069

We're also on the Hawaii/Tahiti cruise in Mar 2019. We booked it on our last cruise.

Allan

We are also booked on the 28 night cruise on March 9, 2019 to the South Pacific .

This will be our second trip there. Last April we took the Masdam on a 33 night cruise there. We loved it !

Disembarkation - well, we took our passports as ordered, presented our customs forms inside the passport. Customs officer took our passports and form, took the form and didn't take one look at our passports. [sigh]

 

One nice thing was that we were called out of the disembarking lineup for Customs clearance - I guess he figured that we were in transit with no carry on luggage.

 

No Mariner luncheon listed in the On Location today by the way. There was when we boarded interesting.

 

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We have enjoyed all of the post from this cruise. Thank you to all ! We are looking forward to next March for our cruise to the South Pacific on the Maasdam .

Sharon and Jim

We got this fellow a couple of nights ago - he is hanging by a vent. And he hasn't been dismantled. Not a stranger to most of you, but his guy has a Malita!!! (That's Bali for leia).

 

 

I wore the leia to dinner tonight and the placed it around the monkey tonight. I got the leia as a gift after I bought my flowers. Yes, this port has a gorgeous market including flowers.

 

 

Nice to give the lonely orchid some company - LOL

 

 

$10 US in the lovely market today. Something had to go right ;)

 

 

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Hi Kazu We are enjoying your notes . Did the folks at the market where you bought the beautiful flowers take U.S. dollars ? That was Raiatea correct ? We are on the Maasdam next year for this cruise and are looking forward to it. Thanks and hope you have better weather.

Sharon and Jim

Maasdam - 24-Mar-17 - 33 day Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas

Sharon45069

Some tour operators want xpf and some U.S. $. Very confusing for sure.

 

Outside of the operators, for French Polynesia they prefer xpf for purchases but most accept U.S. $. The thing is that you might not get the appropriate exchange rate.

 

Patrick's Tour is in U.S. $, Bruno's in xpf. Yvonne's in Nuka Hiva accepts xpf, U.S. $ and credit cards currently.

 

If you drop down to my signature (assuming you can see it) and click the link for our PDF spread sheet. - you. Will be able to see that different pricing that different vendors wanted.

 

We did bring xpf with us for extras along with one tour. The operators should tell you clearly how they want to be paid. I'm surprised they are not. If it is on their website, it might be the reason?

 

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the information. We are so excited to go on our cruise next year .

Sharon

Temarena Tour in Nuka Hiva is the only one I am on that wants to be paid in xpf. I found it impossible to get xpf in advance in the banking sources available to me. Others had no problems.

Thanks for the information. We are so excited to go on our cruise next year .

Sharon

Looking at the deck plans, you may be under the galley. I'd call and switch rooms and get more mid ship.

Thank you so much.

Sharon

Cruiser Andi....you beat me to it. Just looked at deck plans and I agree with your advice about switching cabins. Before I book any cruise on any cruise line, I check deck plans and also search the cabin number on both CC and Google, it has always helped.

 

Sharon...You may want to consider asking for a cabin change, look at deck plans and be sure you know what is above and below you.

Thank you so much .

Sharon

We took in a comment card on our room stewards today. They are so good, it almost seems as if they are lurking around a corner and when we leave for breakfast, they pounce! Only one morning was our room not done when we came back, and they were in the room and apologized that the room was not quite ready. I sat by the elevators for 5 minutes, and Rudy rushed out to tell me they were finished. Anyway, kudos to Rudy and A. G.

We are really enjoying these post. I do have a question. We are taking this cruise next year on the Maasdam and were wondering if the vendors take U.S. cash or XFP . We have a friend that is booking some things for us and she is not getting much info back .

Example Alberts tour, Kevai Tour, Patrick's Tour, Capt. Tamas tour. Any information will be most helpful. Can we do the exchanges on board if necessary ? Thanks and enjoy the rest of your wonderful cruise !

Sharon and Jim

Thanks for the good info!

We are booked in Cabin 370 Lanai for next March. I hope we don't regret the choice. I booked this months ago and had no idea about the kitchen noise. Has anyone out there been in that cabin ? Also how would you say the food is compared to Celebrity ships ?

Thanks so much

Sharon45069

Quite frankly I'd plan to stay a bit closer to the port - within an hour or so. Celebrity has sent out a traffic alert for this weekend - I think it's because the Pulaski skyway is complete closed which could affect the turnpike traffic. There are some reasonable hotels at exits 8 and 8A. Please read this thread where these hotels were discussed this week - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2202153

 

You would be looking for places in East Windsor, NJ or Cranbury, NJ. Nice suburban/semi rural area. No need to get involved with hotels near Newark Airport. If you stay further away you will be in the Philadelphia metro area - no real advantage to that.

 

Courtyard Cranbury is reasonable for this weekend - about $125 tax included. It is right at exit 8A. I've stayed there and would go back again. Hotel offers food or you would have to drive to a restaurant. This is a semi rural area with retirement communities, farms, and tasteful suburban warehouse properties.

Thank you so much.

I think we will e on the Penn turnpike then the N.J. turnpike to 440.

We are coming in from Ohio . Are there any hotels close to the N.J. turnpike ? We would like to plan a two to three hour drive to the pier on Sunday morning. Any ideas would really help. We are also looking for some really good pizza ! :o) Thanks

I have also been having issues with the web site. This has been going on for a week now. If anyone can tell us what's happening , it would be helpful. In the mean time we will contact our TA tomorrow for assistance.

Does anyone know if there is designated handicap parking spaces at the Cape Liberty Cruise port ?