kristap

Yeah.  I have a cruise next cert for $500.  Even with the "discount", I can't find a cruise with NCL that would be an equitable value compared to Royal, Princess, or even Celebrity! If you use CruisePlum.com, you can compare apples to apples (number of days, departure port, age of ship, and balcony), and sorting by cheapest total cost, NCL doesn't usually appear until the 2nd or 3rd page of results. Plus, they've gotten rid of much of the elements that made me love them in the first place, like some of their Broadway shows.  Oh well.  I was "forced" to try Royal and I love them! (Also discovered that I don't need a drink package...my party of 3 adults on a 7-day had a bill for a grand total of $150 for drinks.) I intend on trying Celebrity and Princess, and maybe a Carnival at some point too. 

Hello all! I'd like to do a Discover Scuba experience at Chankanaab. There's Aquadventure, the one on the Chankanaab website, but there's also a different vendor offering scuba via Viator.  Has anyone used either or both vendors?  Any positive or negative experiences with either?  I'm looking at Aquadventure because their price includes park admission and is a bit cheaper than the Viator option (which doesn't include park admission.) There's also a $10 massage add-on to the scuba / Chankanaab option that I'd love feedback on if you have any.  I am SO close to pulling the trigger! Thanks!

I went solo to Chankanaab and quite enjoyed it.  The snorkeling was perfectly adequate and quite close to shore, plus there are underwater statues, and they have a dive shop on site if you care to rent a tank.  There are other things to do there too, like a sea lion show and tequila tasting and a walk with Mayan ruin replicas, but the beach area is gorgeous with shaded seats and hammocks.  There were also free lockers available to use, which I found helpful as a solo.  I would steer clear of the "with lunch" option, though.  The lunch is served at one buffet, and the lines are so long they spiral inside and out of the building, and it's not even good.  There are 3rd party restaurants on-site that offer a better value. That said, as a solo, I've found that the price of the excursion through the ship is approximately the same price as going independently, and if I can get a free drink at least...Hey! Bonus!

Good. That menu was annoying!

19 hours ago, runnerandme said:

We just got off Wonder also. I caught a bug (bronchitis) on the last day,started the dreaded cough on the way home.I had a good cruise, but would not choose to go on this large of a ship again. They only waiting time we had was at the elevators. Not a big deal. Never went to the dining room. The buffet was good. Park City cafe was just a little crowded but food was good. Now I will take a second Covid test thanks Kristap for the info.

Oh no! I got sick on mine too.  I got a BOGO: Strep + Covid.  There were a TON of people who got sick from Wonder.  And apart from just having SO MANY PEOPLE I do wonder if the Solarium isn't a giant incubator.  It's so hot in there and so closed in... Anyway, Feel better soon!

First off, she is a GORGEOUS ship! I had a wonderful time on her! The live performers were top-notch, the parties on point! Loved the shows (except Effectors...cool special effects, terrible storyline.) The food was better than the last time I went on Wonder in May 2022.  Wonderland was a highlight!  I met some awesome people.  Overall, I had a blast!

But perhaps this ship is cursed just a bit... The sailing before us, there was a kid overboard.  This trip, there were reportedly ELEVEN medical emergencies in a 7-day sailing.  That's excessive, no? And there were TONS of people who are reporting getting Covid from the ship.  (I am one of them.)

I had an amazing time, but I don't think I'll sail Oasis class again.  They're too big.  Getting from Pt. A to Pt B could be arduous if your destinations were diagonal from each other (Ex: Start on Deck 15 forward in the Solarium) but want to go to Deck 4 aft for a show or event.). I do very much enjoy Royal! But I think I'll start moving my way down rather than up.  Freedom class is next on the agenda!

My grandmother, mother and I went on Wonder of the Seas.  While we did get the 3-night package, I would not recommend it at all.  Two out of three restaurants were disappointing.  (Surprisingly, Wonderland was the one restaurant where I really enjoyed all the food, from apps to mains and dessert!) We drank as if we had the drink package, and in the end, we spent about $300 total on drinks for a seven night sailing, which is a heck of a lot cheaper than the $1500 that the drink package would have cost! I'd recommend ala carte all day! If you want to get ahead of the budget, you can even purchase onboard credit ahead of time so it feels like you're getting things for free.

Hi all.  Just wondering, can you rent a kayak without an excursion at Coco Cay?  Thanks!

And this is why I ordered a long pair of swim pants in addition to a long-sleeve rash guard.  I'll probably remove them once I'm done snorkeling, but I hope that will be enough to not get stung by a jellyfish.

On 8/6/2023 at 10:26 AM, blue_water said:

I would consider Magens the calmest and easiest entry of the three.

 

Unless Godfrey has agreements at each beach the chair rental will be at the daily rate. But yes ask there, or others may answer here… Not a big deal to make your mom and grandmother comfortable…

 

I thought that the tour group “voted” on the beach choice but I may be wrong…
 

Yes, I'm sure they do.  It's good to have an informed vote, though. 🙂  Thanks!

Following, but also to piggyback off this thread: How easy is it to get into the water? Is there a hill or drop-off, or is it fairly flat?  Thanks!

5 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

Not recently. One of the comedians we saw on Wonder in early June had been onboard for at least a month. Some things have changed from the past.

How were they?

Oh! Good to know! Thanks! Guess I'll sit near the exit if I can so if they're terrible, I can just leave.  Like that poor unfortunate dude on NCL Prima who had to resort to jazz hands to indicate a joke was made and we should laugh.  Cringe.  (Ironically, it is hillarious that he was so unfunny in retrospect, though!)

I know this is subjective, but how are the comedians on Wonder of the Seas? Are the shows worth seeing?  Thanks!

Is there enough time to bother with the beach at the end?  (I've seen videos where he goes to a different beach than Orient (Grand Case, or something?) and they only have an hour at that beach. Not talking about Maho.  45 mins is plenty for Maho.)

1 minute ago, TTEllis said:

Don't stay on the ship, St. Thomas is not San Juan P.R.😁 St. Thomas is a place you want to get out and enjoy the island. Figure it out. 

Oh I didn't mean I wouldn't get off.  I just meant I might not go to the beach.  Seems like it's the beach that's expensive...

54 minutes ago, TTEllis said:

Your math is correct. Do you plan on drinking and having lunch at the Sunset Grille??😳

There's no way whatsoever not to drink on St. Thomas especially on a beach Secret Harbor is no exception.

$5.50 a pop for Stella's. My lunch and bar tab came to $120+tip. 

OMG! Yeah, I'm gonna look for a tour instead... the "On your own" thing is not worth it IMHO.

3 minutes ago, Ms411 said:

you can stop for snacks, food, drinks at a grocery store before getting in the taxi so you can save money instead of eating at a restaurant.

Yeah, our ship doesn't get there until 12:30pm anyway, so I'll probably grab an early and large lunch, maybe take a can of Pringles with me, and just get a drink if I go to the beach at all...

Man, St. Thomas is turning out to be an expensive day! For 3 adults, I estimate about $140 JUST for transportation from/to Crown Bay, 3 chairs and an umbrella.  That's not including food or drinks or tips. 

Hello all! I will be going on Wonder of the Seas on Sept 3 of this year, but we won't dock in St. Thomas until 12:30 (leaving at 8:00pm).  Does anyone have any tour+beach excursion recommendations?  Godfrey has not responded back to me, which makes me think he might be sold out.  I'm not really interested in a shopping stop, but I would like to go to the overlook and get a Bushwhacker or Banana Daquari, and I'd like to go to a beach for a couple of hours, preferably not Magen's Bay because of the cost with MB.  Any recommendations for tours?  Are there tour operators in port for such a thing?  Thanks!