Choozin Croozin

Any suggestions as to where to go in Bonaire for free wifi? I hate to pay the ship's ridiculous prices for wifi when all I need to do is quick check email to make sure all is well at home once a day. TU

I am also posting this on Aruba and Curacao so if you know those ports too, you could post that too. 

Any suggestions as to where to go in Aruba for free wifi? I hate to pay the ship's ridiculous prices for wifi when all I need to do is quick check email to make sure all is well at home once a day. TU

I am also posting this on Bonaire and Curacao so if you know those ports too, you could post that too. 

2 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

I'm not doing math today,  so here are the onboard prices:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55188055&postcount=105

 

Remember also that if you purchase onboard, you don't have to purchase on day 1. You will have cell coverage until sailaway.

 Thank you... I can do the math.   I appreciate it.

22 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

Your onboard C&A discount is either one free continuous 24-hour period of unlimited internet or $23 off the purchase of a package on board.

Thanks Bob. It's good to know that I still get 1 free day. So is it cheaper to get $23 off or buy their pre-cruise "deal" of $12.99/day? We are on a 9 day.

Wow, very angry with the internet situation on RCI now. I have pets (all seniors), and I only access the internet to make sure everything is ok at home. It used to be you could buy internet by the day and you got a free day of internet if you were Diamond. So my only option is that I have to purchase internet for the whole cruise at the going rate of $12.99/day?? 😡And my big Diamond perk is 10% of a pkg? 😡

Would sure like to see the menus from the Navigator. I realize that they have only had 1 full itinerary, but hoping someone might have it. TU Just trying to figure out dinner reservations.

1 minute ago, cruisemein said:

We are in our early sixties and felt quite safe, we walked to an Italian Restaurant and ate dinner and walked back around 9:30 or so, about 3 blocks from the hotel, seemed like there were quite a few tourists around.  There was also a nice bar right beside the hotel that we stopped into before heading to bed.

Thank you, that is very helpful!!!  I feel better now. You just don't know how things change and at our age, it's a bit different too.

On 3/6/2019 at 4:54 PM, cruisemein said:

Last Oct. we stayed at Hampton Inn Brickell, fits your criteria, except I don't believe they offer shuttle from the airport, we used Uber. They do shuttle to the Port and breakfast is included along with a free drink per person. Lots of great restaurants within walking distance.

Did you feel safe in that area at night? We are staying at the Courtyard on Second St/ We stayed there about 12 yrs ago and walked around fine, but there was a group of us. We are seniors (old but in shape), so a little more concerned. We are not stupid, we do keep a watchful eye out. 

On 10/3/2018 at 2:43 PM, Langley Cruisers said:

 

No offense, but can you not do this on your own? Ask for your protein with no sauce, ask for extra vegetables, and so on. Keto/low-carb diets can work very well on cruises if you are aware of the carb content of your food and drinks. I have successfully cruised with a low-carb lifestyle (Diabetic Type 2) and have actually lost weight on cruises (all those stairs!). It can absolutely be done.

 

Have fun. 😄

So I had just started Keto in Feb last year and went on a cruise in April. They were very good about bringing extra veggies (huge plates) but what you can't get them to do is leave the starch off. You have to have some willpower. Other than that, I found it quite easy. 

1 hour ago, ashleyhaugh said:

I don't drink coffee, and I don't do keto, but Trader Joe's sells shelf stable heavy whipping cream in 8oz cartons, if you have one around, that might be an option

Another great idea.. TU, though not the OP

3 hours ago, Woodmnky said:

Not quite the same, but we are Keto and plan on bringing some Premier Protein shakes to use for our coffee. My husband will be sad without his HWC, but he'll live.

That is a great idea. I do that at home, thought I do mix it with HWC. And I think they just brought make Caramel. Yum  Last year when I had just started Keto, I brought my own sweetener and just used half and half. Now, getting almond milk in the windjammer was a real trip. One time I was finished with my breakfast and had to wait 10 min for the guy to bring it to me.. lol.. I think he got lost. 

3 hours ago, OCruisers said:

Easier because it's a permanent  ladder so more stable.  

Thank you.

1 hour ago, island284 said:

We just showed up.  I believe a chair/lounger for the day was $10. I don’t remember the cost of the taxi. When you are ready to leave they will call a taxi but we saw the water taxi coming so we hopped on it.  It’s about a 10 minute walk from where the water taxi docks  back to the port. 

Awesome thank you!!

On 3/6/2019 at 11:56 AM, janetz said:

Another option which we did

Rent a golf cart at port and go on your own

You can rent the gear there and they give you a map 

Just riding around the island is fun 

BoniareCruisers.com

Wicked fun  😊

Are there good places that you can snorkel that you can reach on the golf cart?

On 11/22/2018 at 5:12 PM, island284 said:

We went to Spice Beach Club and snorkeled off the dock. We saw tons of fish. No coral or plants there. They don’t have a nice beach to enter into the water but we weren’t looking for a beach. Water shoes would be a must of you don’t go into the water off the dock/ladder. Food and beverages are available. We took a taxi there but I don’t remember how much. There is a water taxi that goes back to the docks . . . $5.00 each. Hope this gives you an idea. 

Did you have to make a reservation or did you just show up? I can't seem to find a way to contact them

13 hours ago, OCruisers said:

 

Good snorkeling YES!

We always have booked as a ship's excursion so don't know about the day passes.  

I found the ship's tour. It says easy in and out ladder? My husband has a problem with those small boat ladders. Is this better than that?

On 2/26/2019 at 10:54 AM, OCruisers said:

Consider ....

 

http://www.spicebonaire.com

Do they have day passes and good snorkeling?

43 minutes ago, canadianbear said:

I’m sorry I don’t think I wrote that right.  What I mean is I put my glasses in a case in my bag while I snorkel with prescription mask.  

 That makes sense. TU I thought you had something there.

On 2/15/2019 at 3:23 PM, Greek cruiser said:

Yes! The doors and the walls inside your cabins, too! 

Thank you!!

On 3/9/2019 at 11:47 AM, canadianbear said:

When I go I take an old pair of glasses & the case to put them in while snorkeling.  Dee & crew are fantastic & will make sure you are comfortable in the mask.   They also offer caps which I used as I have wavy uncontrollable hair so that helped immensely too.   

 

Enjoy!  

Do you mind explaining how you do this? Don't you get water in your mask??

On 3/8/2019 at 3:22 AM, jean87510 said:

I'm using aqua fun bonaire. It's a 2 stop snorkeling trip.  He takes a small group out for 3-4 hours. No lunch. $55 a person. We have our own stuff but I think he has snorkeling equipment. 

Thank you, I will look into it. We also have our own equipment so that would be great. 🙂

On 10/25/2018 at 10:20 AM, jean87510 said:

I am glad I read this.  We had a morning excursion booked in April with woodwind.  We have been snorkeling for years and use our own equipment plus my husband has free diving fins.  The way I read the reviews after yours, it appears that this is more for the inexperienced and those looking for a good sail and lunch for a few hours.  Plus staying with a group is not to my liking as I have been kicked before in groups of 8-10 and it isn't worth it to me.  I do have another excursion booked but its just my husband and I so far.  The boat only holds 4-6 and they are pretty open to where we want to go for 3 hours.  We have been to Bonaire before but not to Klein Bonaire so we are pretty excited about it.  We would have done the ferry but there were a couple of reefs that my husband wanted to see so the new company is going to accommodate us.

I'm curious, we are also going in April and have the Woodwind booked as we have done them on the old boat. What other tour are you doing in April?? We are experienced snorkelers.

On 10/27/2018 at 1:22 AM, bren61 said:

If you haven't cruised NCL in quite some time, I'm not sure what you will think of the entertainment on the NCL's ships compared to RCCL.  Our last cruises were on NCL Getaway & Breakaway and have an upcoming cruise on the Escape in January, but after we take that cruise we will be going back to RCCL due to the entertainment.  It is my "personal" opinion is that NCL does have an edge on the food, but I don't think that any cruise line can beat RCCL's entertainment, and that is very important to us.  Many years ago we cruised the Hawaiian Islands on NCL Prid,e of America and although we loved the itinerary, we were not happy with anything else on the ship (food, entertainment or service).  We decided to give NCL another chance approximately 8 years later and went on a 7 night cruise on the Getaway out of Miami and really enjoyed our cruise, loved the food especially.  We are from PA, so we decided to book a 14 nighter on the Breakaway out of NYC, and were really disappointed  in the lack and quality of entertainment for a 14 day cruise.  We are going to give the Escape a try, being that we really prefer driving to port, and it being more convenient, so fingers crossed that they will have more of a variety on this cruise ship.  I guess we were just spoiled by the fantastic ice, aqua, theater & Broadway shows, even the comedians and other entertainment that is picked up at various ports throughout the cruise are top notch on RCCL.  Don't get me wrong, NCL may be a great fit for lots of folks, you may love it, but it's just not for us.  We really miss the 70 & 80 dance party nights, promenade parades, the flowrider,  I Fly,  quest, pool side contests, etc.  They just make cruising so much more fun, if that's your thing.  You mentioned you are senior aged, (old),  well my husband is 65 & retired and I am 57 and although we don't always participate in all of the "fun stuff" on RCCL, we enjoy watching others, if it's something we can no longer do,(eg, flowrider-my husband had a shoulder replacement and I have a bad knee).  I guess for us, we needed the change, to appreciate what we obviously were taking for granted.  Wishing you a great cruise on whichever ship you decide to go on.  Oh and by the way, you will love Alaska, we did an 8 day tour on our own before doing a 7 day cruise on Princess and it has been our favorite vacation so far.

 

Thank you for your honest opinion. I do appreciate that. We have not yet sailed on the Oasis class ships which I think has the really good entertainment. Some day maybe we will get there. We are going on the Navigator in April and pretty excited to see all the refurb. In the end we booked the Ovation. My husband made the decision. Because we are Diamond, he likes his cocktails in the evening and was a bit cheaper believe or not. I really do appreciate your views. Thank you and happy sailing!!

19 minutes ago, Alter Ego said:

Where are you sailing out of?  I thought there was a fee for some items out of China that were free on other Quantum class ships (iFly and North Star.)

 

Isn’t there also a fee if you don’t show up for your appointment or did they stop that?

We are doing the Alaska sailing in August 2019

VERY HELPFUL, thank you!!