evenstar1976

1 minute ago, lisa6191 said:

 

We just did this last week and loved it. We didn't have any small spaces to crawl through. The hardest part was the uneven footing when the water was shallow - it was pretty hard to keep your balance without touching the walls, which they don't want you to do. I definitely recommend taking the walking sticks they offer.

 

A lot of people had a really hard time on the ferry with motion sickness. We did fine but be prepared for that. If you can sit on the outside deck on the upper level it is much better.

Thanks for the response.  Not had a problem with motion sickness yet but always better to be prepared

3 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

The ones we were in were actually quite large.  Dark and you stay with your group, but they don't take you into the smaller cenotes.

Thanks.  Never been before and trying to decide on  shore excursions.  Way too many to choose from but seeing some lower prices for Black Friday.

On 8/20/2018 at 9:07 AM, melissa84 said:

We did "Amazing Secret River & Playa Del Carmen" and it was an amazing time. We booked through the cruise line - we were the first group off the boat at 7:00 and the last ones on at 4:45 (all aboard time was at 4:30). Ferry to the mainland, then about a 25 minute ride to the location - the last 15 minutes are very bumpy, back/dirt roads. They will provide towels, so no need to carry them from the boat.

 

The walk down to the river entrance is a dirt path, quite a bit of steps, and the river itself is very rocky and uneven on the bottom. There is not a paved walk, or handrails like at Carlsbad Carverns or a park like that. The river itself is about 85% wading - between ankle and knee deep - but the bottom is very uneven and you need to step carefully to not fall. The deep parts are not terribly deep, a 6'+ person might be able to touch bottom for most of it. You are required to wear a life jacket, so just float along over the deep parts. There are a couple of sections where you have to crawl under some rocks, or squeeze over/past a tight way.

 

The guide was very helpful and made sure that everyone was safe. He gave extra help to anyone that he thought might feel unsteady with the rocks or to people who were nervous or weak swimmers.

 

Lunch was included - typical excursion lunch of chicken, rice, tortillas, fruit and salad.

 

Definitely plan to buy the pictures - $99 for all of the pictures they take, plus a lot of professional pictures of the inside.

 

You will have about an hour to walk around and shop in Playa del Carmen but there will be no time at all in Cozumel - straight off the ferry to the waiting ship. Do not miss your return ferry.

 

We really enjoyed it.

How tight are the tight spaces you mentioned.  Would love to do this but not sure about small spaces.

On 10/28/2019 at 7:41 AM, crewsweeper said:

They give you snorkel, mask, wet suit life/snorkel jacket, fins and head lamp.  Be brave, it's fantastic.

Is it a tight space?  I would like to try something like this but get a little claustrophobic 

If you dig down into the sand a little bit, you will see pinker sand.  It gets bleached out by the sun.

I called RC today.  Found out that a copy of the death certificate was fine.  Now to remind dad to make a copy and get it to me.  At least he wasn't crazy that he didn't have a cremation certificate.  The funeral home that took care of it and the funeral home who did the cremation were two different places.  The one that did the cremation sent them a copy and they kept it for their files.  The one that did the cremation is going to send me another copy.  So I think I am all set.

Just to make it through this process alone on my March cruise.

I have done that.  The form Royal sent me says death certificate and cremation certificate.  Wasn't sure if a copy of them was fine.  Looking into what a cremation certificate is.  I have the contact info for the funeral home.  I plan on giving them a call.

Those who have done a burial at sea- is a copy of the death certificate fine? My dad doesn't want to send me the original, which I understand.  

Do you need a cremation certificate and what is that?  Dad is not sure he got anything from the funeral home that did the cremation.

Thanks for the responses.  I wish I could have family with me, but I'm the only one who likes cruises and can take the time to do this.  We were all together in last June to do the main sprinkling of her ashes in Colorado.  But since my grandpa's ashes were spread at sea, we wanted to have part of her there too.

Hopefully this can be done no the 1st part of the cruise.  I've had her ashes since summer high up on a shelf in my closet.  Been worried about my sneaky cats finding a way to get up there and knock her down!

5 minutes ago, Coralc said:

You can order a death certificate from the county recorder in the county that she passed away in. The mortuary will have a copy of the cremation certificate if your grandfather can't find them. You should expect that all of the documents will be required. 

My dad is the one who can't find them.  I will give him a few days to look for them since my cruise is in March.  I know which funeral home she was cremated at since I have that container with her ashes in it.  It's good to know that I can contact county recorder's office.  I was not sure that I could get a copy not being a spouse or child but a grandchild.

9 minutes ago, barb in ga said:

I did this for my brother on Freedom; we were told that an urn was not required if the ashes were to be directly scattered into the sea. If you use an urn, it must be biodegradable. We had no issue transporting them in the container provided by the funeral home.

 

I wrote in advance, and was assisted by the Concierge, who arranged for us to be escorted  by a ship security person and one other from the ship's personnel. The most memorable part was the printed certificate that was delivered to my cabin the next day with the name of the ship, the captain's signature,  the date and time and the latitude and longitude of the event, along with my brother's name and dates of birth and death. 

 

Barb

 

 

Thanks for this.  That would be nice to have.  My father has one for my grandpa went he was buried at sea on board the USS Ronald Reagan.  He was a WWII vet.  They had a nice ceremony.  They sent my dad a nice DVD and we got photos of it from their ship's website.  It would be nice to have one for my grandma.

I have the original container from the funeral home.  It will fly with me when I go.  I have a small paper urn since it is only part of her ashes.  Did you have to present a death certificate, etc?

Thanks.  I will check out that thread

Has anyone had experience with this on Royal Caribbean?  I have some of my grandmother's ashes that she wanted spread at sea.  My grandparents loved cruising so my family thought this would be a great way to remember her.  I've already contacted RC and have the permission and know to contact the front desk on the first day.  Do I really need to have the death certificate and cremation certificate.  My dad is not sure where he put them.  I have purchased a biodegradable urn.  Did anyone have to show a certificate showing it was biodegradable.  But I am traveling by myself this cruise and my siblings would like to see some video of this.  Can I have someone else besides me there if I can get someone from my roll call to come if they are not on my reservation?  Do you think someone on the crew would be willing to take some video?  I'm not planning on doing anything much besides tossing the urn.  Maybe reading some memories my parents and siblings are sending me since we did the main memorial this past summer.

Thanks in advance for your help.

There are two Newark Amtrak stations - Newark Airport and Newark Penn Station. Newark Airport station has no vehicle access. You have to get dropped at the P4 Airtrain station and take the free Airtrain to the station. Newark Penn Station is a major transportation hub with better Amtrak service. You can get transportation to NPS from the Cape Liberty taxi dispatcher for $50-60 or call Uber.

 

Where are you going in CT?

Which is easier to get to? I did the airport Penn station when I flew in to Newark last summer. Was pretty easy to get to the regular Newark Penn station. I am very familiar with the regular Newark Penn station. Took the train lots when I'd visit my brother when I used to live in Newark. I'm getting off in Meriden.

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I am traveling to Connecticut via Amtrak after my cruise. I am coming back into Bayonne on Anthem of the Seas on June 17. I was just reading about the travel delays and train delays and cancellations. What is the best way to get to Penn Station? How long does it take? Is it possible to get to Penn Station to catch a train that leaves at 10:27 am?

Thanks. I was just going to ask about how to get from the terminal to Penn Station. I'm traveling up to Connecticut after my cruise. Any suggestions on how to get to the train station? Is Penn Station Newark the closest Amtrak station?

I love my glass figurines that I got there. My nana used to have a glass collection. So whenever I dust that shelf I get reminded of my trip to Bermuda and my nana! Looking forward to going back a getting a few more!

Can't say about traffic but I just flew out of Newark on Wednesday. The security line at the airport was huge. All the way down the whole length of the check in terminal! Took nearly an hour to clear. Seriously looking at TSA pre check. That line was much shorter.

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So I just confirmed my bookings. Doing this route first: St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Barbados. And this one 2nd-St. Maarten, Bonaire, Curacao, and Aruba. Very excited by this.

Now to start doing some research before I have to get busy with end of the school year things. It's going to be a short summer as my school year ends here in NJ on June 12 and I have to report to my new school in AZ on July 24!! At least I will have cruise plans and ports to look into to distract me from the stress of finish school, packing, and moving cross country!

If I do turn this into a b2b, any suggestions on what to do about laundry. This will be my first cruise where I am flying into the port, so I need to be conscious of what I pack.

st Marteen check out Bernard Tours. Island tours takes you to the airport. Free beer, rum lunch soda and water. St. Kitts. Thenford Grey Tour. tour of the island takes you to the fort. Antigua tour the island through the cruise ship.

 

Book the hotel in San Juan. They are a little pricey..

I have done the tour with Bernard before. It was good. Might look for something different. Thanks for the other suggestions. I will look into them.

So I looked at Alaska cruises. Thinking I will stick to cruising on the Adventure. I am thinking of making a B2B! I am definitely going to do the ABC route. Thinking the St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Antigua, St. Lucia, and Barbados Going to take a new teaching job that will pay more money!

What are your favorite activities to do on these islands? Any recommendations on private tours or ship tours?

I know you were talking about a balcony, but if you have the time and can do a B2B, with such a port heavy itinerary, maybe look into a PR...

 

PS hotels are VERY expensive in SJ, taxi's aren't that much...

I've been in the PR rooms before. I don't mind them. I suppose I could book a B2B and change the 2nd cruise if I find that my budget can't afford it. Have a hold on cabins right now. Another kink in the plans us that I may be switching schools and moving will take up money.

Have you thought about a B2B out of San Juan? Airfare is the same if you are there for 1 week or 2? I wish I woulda thought about that when we went on The Adventure OTS out of SJ...

 

However, if you really enjoy @ sea days, the AOS might not be the way to go...

I will have to look into that. Not sure I can afford 2 cruises in a row though. Need to find a friend who wants to cone with me. None of mine really want to go with me. [emoji33] Crazy people don't know what they are missing.

I do like sea days but visiting new ports is also very interesting.

Just for laughs I went looking at longer cruises today. Anyone do a Baltic cruise? Looks interesting. Think I might have to add it to my bucket list of cruises. If I thought my budget could handle it, I just might book it!