jkloni

Hi all - I'm so sorry I haven't replied.  I didn't get the notifications. 

-Our taxi driver stayed with us the whole time so we didn't have to find a taxi to get back to the ship.

-I did contact Jack's and was able to tell them we were coming, but it didn't seem necessary.

- There were very few other people on the beach were we were.  Though I think I read that things may have changed and now a group tour comes into that area. Not sure though.

- The chairs to sit on the beach were free for us.  We walked to the restaurant for drinks (except the first time when a server came and took an order and brought our drinks).

- We also ate at the restaurant outside covered seating and it was very nice and inexpensive.

-There is a little area next to the restaurant where tents are sent up where people are selling different things.  We didn't go far into it.

We have been back to Puerto Playa, but went to Amber Cove instead of Taino Bay.  We decided not to go back to Jack's because it is a bit further from Amber Cove then it is to Taino Bay.    We are going back to Puerto Playa in February, to Amber Cove.  So not sure what we will do this time.

It's not listed for our Encore Feb 11, 2024 cruise....  We did it a few years ago and wanted to book it again.  I wonder why it's not listed? 😭

What are the whiskey prices onboard?  I've tried searching for menus that included whiskey like Jack Daniels and Coke (Pepsi)  or Bulleit and ginger to know how much those would cost.  Anyone have that info?

2 hours ago, Jamman54 said:

Fully agree. If not on the drink package you can buy everyone at the bar a drink if you so choose. 😁🍺

Not on a drink package, paying for each... would the drinks all count towards my 15 for the day?  ...like buying drinks for another 3 people....  Would I be on drink number 5 on my drink count next time I get a drink?  

On 3/23/2023 at 10:07 AM, Aj101 said:

Doink!   I just paid a bit more than $8.50 per person through the cruise line … oh well!   😂 

We are going to do St John on our own- this is what I’ve found the detailed cost will be-

$60  Taxi-cruise port to Red Hook- 10/$15pp ea way 

$33  Ferry - $16.30pp round trip 

$40  Taxi r/t to Trunk Bay - $9pp each way x 2 people

$10  Trunk Bay $5pp entrance fee for 2

$14  chair rentals (2)

$157 - not including food, drinks, other rentals or purchases. 
 

We think this is better than the cruise line excursion because we can get there earlier and enjoy the beach before the large group on excursions arrive..

it is costing more than the last time we went to St John. Just taxis are $100. 

14 minutes ago, Ironore88 said:

Thanks so much everyone, all resolved.  Happy Cruising...

Great! Did you get all of your OBC back?

2 hours ago, CruiserMickey said:

Thanks for the response! Interesting to note your thoughts on the Royal Caribbean drink selection. We are going on an RC cruise in May and have the same concern. Is it really worth it to have the drink package? We like to enjoy ourselves on our vacations, but if we can’t get the drinks we want, that will be disappointing and a waste of money to have the drink package. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Worth it on Celebrity?  For us yes, This will be only our 2nd Celebrity cruise and we have purchased the All Included both times, and then upgraded my husband to Premium with the Elite disc.  The All Included for our next cruise was only about $225 more each than Cruise only which made it worth it to us.

On our Royal Caribbean cruise last month, pre-cruise the lowest the drink package got was $65.99 plus 18% gratuity a day - not worth $1,100 for both of us for 7 nights. As Diamond we had 4 drinks a day loaded onto our cards, and we made do with that with a few extra.  I do have to say it made me feel constricted because I felt the need to check the number of drinks and what we had left vs. the freedom to order whatever - drink, beer, coffee, etc. - anytime I wanted without thinking about it.  Though that freedom wasn't worth $1100 to me.

2 hours ago, CruiserMickey said:

Can you please tell me if the Martini Bar is stocked with the premium liquors? Or are they making the martinis with Tito’s and other well spirits?

 

We have upgraded to Premium from AI/Classic on Equinox (granted, not til Nov./23 sailing), but don’t want to pay the up charge if they aren’t even stocking the premium vodkas and gins we have paid for. 

I think they were when we were on in Oct/Nov because we went to the Martini Bar every night.   The reason my husband upgrades to Premium is because there is no whisky he drinks on Classic.  We were on Royal Caribbean 2 weeks ago and the whisky selection was quite slim. We did not have the beverage package thankfully, because that would have been really upsetting.  So I understand not wanting to upgrade unless you have some assurance that the premium alcohols will be available. 

Montego Bay - sorry I didn't get a notification to answer.  I know it's way past September!

Just to loop back in - we had a wonderful day in Puerta Plata at Playa Dorada beach.  We debarked the ship and walked thru the port area to the taxis.  We got a taxi that took us to Playa Dorada. It was $10pp each way - $20 each - there were 6 of us - and he stayed with us the whole time.  He offered a tour of the city, but we declined and asked that he bring us to the beach, to Blue JackTar Kite & Grill.  The beach was big and nice and was not crowded.  We had our pick of chairs and the were complimentary and we purchased some drinks.  We at lunch there and it was great.  On our way back he brought us into town to see the umbrella street and a couple of other things.  We had a really nice day. Happy to answer any questions.  

On 1/28/2023 at 1:26 PM, chrisinaz said:

Hi. 
We are on beyond mid may in aqua.  Just finished calling them 5 minutes ago to the booked passenger number 888 751 7804 5 minute wait they looked up our status and for 12 days it was about 198pp with the 20% added in did not ask about just doing 1.  Hope this helps they actually were pretty efficient.

That's $16.50 per day.  - Exactly what I paid a couple weeks ago for a 7 night cruise - $16.50 x 7 = $115.50 with the Elite discount.  Seems pretty consistent?   And I did upgrade only my husband to Premium (didn't know that evidently the rules had changed in December), as I only drink beer and Franziskaner is on Classic and I love wit bier so it works for me. 🙂

4 hours ago, OfTheSeasCruiser said:

What would the per day price be to upgrade from an included Classic Package to Premium with the Elite discount?

For us, I upgraded DH and it was $115.50 total with our Elite disc for our 7 night March Reflection cruise.

I've been searching too.  We will be visiting Nov 1, docked at Taino cruise port.  I've found only vague information about a beach day, hardly no info about transportation, beach bars, menus,  pricing.  I finally got in contact with Jack's Kite and Grill that replied the beach is free and the are food and drinks that can be bought.  I asked for a menu and got a food menu. Asked for a bar/drinks menu and received a reply that they had an assortment of drinks with an estimated price of 200-500 RD (Dominican Pesos).  They accept USD, RD and credit cards.   No info in taxi transportation costs though.  

It's so odd that there is so little information online about outside of Taino Cruise Port or beach things to do outside of port. (Several YouTube videos of the actual port grounds.)   If anyone finds anything, please post.  

We are planning to take a cab as you explained to Radio Beach.  Where do we go once we get dropped off? Best place to get beach chairs and refreshments / beer and mixed drinks?

Visiting Puerto Plata, DR, docking at Taino cruise port.   Anyone with information about going to Playa Dorado Beach?  Taxi costs?  Where on the beach?  Which beach bar/resort/restaurant?  Information is scarce and hoping that those that have been in recent months can offer info.  

Any and all help is appreciated!

Yes closed.  We were booked in March thru booking dot com for 1 night pre-cruise 10/28-10/29 and they auto canceled our reservation.  That had never happened before so I messaged them and the hotel.  Message back from the hotel that they ceased operations September 8, 2022 and was sold.  They also said that the Rodeway Inn across the street would honor the pricing from Ramada.  We had already rebooked a different hotel.  Our friends did get rebooked at Rodeway Inn.  

$7pp each way to Doctors Cave Beach. It’s a bus. No option for individual taxis inside the port. Didn’t see any outside once we left the gated port.

Our driver was Albert. Very nice older gentleman. When the bus - it’s like an 18-20 passenger, individual seats type bus - leaves the port, he picks up a tour guide.  She will offer a tour and shopping and beach, but we were able to say just the beach. We paid round trip with a pickup for 1:30p. He was waiting for us. 
if you decide to get your own taxi back, only certain taxis with red license plates can bring you back into the port.  The other taxis aren’t allowed inside. The have to drop you off by the road.

Hope this helps.  And the beach/water was beautiful. 

Kathy
 

We are docking in Montego Bay this morning and our plan is to taxi to Doctors Cave Beach to enjoy the day.  I’ll let you know the cab fare once we get back. 

We went to Tropicante and enjoyed our chairs, the food and drinks.  Bathroom clean. Uncrowded.  We went in December.  Was going again in February until our port times changed and it just didn't work out to go.

I'm interested too.  Haven't been to Montego Bay in years and starting my search of what we will do.

Any updates on MCO to Port Canaveral hotel transportation?   Did anyone take an Uber/Lyft?  What was the cost if you don't mind sharing? 

I did a fake booking earlier this morning (our cruise is 4/23 and flying in Friday 4/22) and it was about $80-90 with the tip.  There are 3 of us.   just curious of current experiences.  

I am looking at shuttle options too and I looked at a rental car (is more $$).  The shuttle per person cost x 3 was similar to the Uber/Lyft - which I know could be different on the actual day.  Sharing just as a comparison.

I've read the last few pages and from what I can gather -all 3 loyalty programs we have would be MSC Gold?   We are Royal Caribbean Diamond, NCL Platinum, Carnival Platinum.  Does anyone recommend one over the other to submit for MSC Loyalty match?  Does it matter how many points you have within that Loyalty status?   Thanks, Kathy

Just off Breakaway this morning.  Our Platinum vouchers had the ‘up to $35’ on the back, but were good for any entree we wanted. We would only pay the supplemental amount  if listed. The UDP meal was the same. 
Also, in 1 restaurant we were not charged for a cappuccino and in another we were. ($4.67). 

These are on website - I don’t see the 30 min of internet any longer. 

https://www.ncl.com/latitudes-rewards-program#tier_benefits

We were there the first week of December. It was as I remembered it pre-Covid. Drinks were good, food was good.  Sand and water were good.  We had a beautiful day.  Weather was perfect.  We paid $59pp and the taxi was $18 for 4 of us each way before tip.