slabeaume

Half Moon Cay can have some interesting snorkeling. As others have mentioned, if it's calm the left side along the rocks and by the man made reef areas can be ok. We take our own snorkel gear, so find it fun to check it out. We often see a turtle or 2 there, often see at least 1 baracuda, I've even seen an octopus there on 2 different cruises. If you'd like to see what's out there, here's a link to my day there last Nov. http://frombeachestopeachesandbeyond.blogspot.com/2016/12/12-16-half-moon-cay-day-we-had-all-our.html

I'd read that the best shore snorkeling on Grand Turk was Pillory Beach. We took a taxi there last Nov. It was a pretty place, but the snorkeling was actually much better right by the cruise ship port---and there are free lounge chairs there. My pictures from that day are here: http://frombeachestopeachesandbeyond.blogspot.com/2016/12/12-6-16-grand-turk-11am-530pm-off-to.html

Amber Cove was a no go for snorkeling. The water was very dirty. Did see some people wading in the water from a beach to the left of the docks (looking towards land from the ship), but didn't see anyone snorkeling. We spent the day at the free pool---it was very nice. http://frombeachestopeachesandbeyond.blogspot.com/2016/12/12-7-16-amber-cove-dominican-republic.html

We were on the Koningsdam in Dec., too. Loved the ship. Had a few problems, but it didn't prevent me from having a wonderful time---although waiting outside our door for over an hour waiting for them to come change the battery in the door lock so we could get in our room was a bit trying, especially since we were wet from snorkeling all day at the port we were at. We also had a few problems with the beverage department that took about 3 days to fix, but that was minor.

Since I was also on this cruise, I really enjoyed reading this blog. Once I started it, I realized who you were! We were the couple who you and Ken talked to in the pool at Amber Cove, Kurt and Debbie. I'm going to bookmark your blog to remember where to go for snorkeling since we are doing the same cruise B2B with another one next November, again on the Koningsdam, 21 days. We love the ship! It was nice meeting you guys. Thanks for all the photos. Fantastic! Maybe we will see you on another cruise someday.

Loved talking with you guys, too. Hope we do get to cruise with you guys again.

Thanks everyone! I enjoy reading others reviews so hoped this would be enjoyable to someone else.

My blog from our Dec. 4-14, 2016 Koningsdam Caribbean cruise. Had a fantastic time!

http://travelingwithsue.blogspot.com/2016/12/2016-dec.html

Lots of beaches and snorkeling. Hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed living it!

We were on that cruise, too. Glad to hear the person from Half Moon Cay was able to rejoin the cruise. We've been on over 10 cruises, not all with HAL, and there have been evacs on every one of them. As for the people being older, I find them very interesting. Most have led really interesting lives and are interesting to talk to.

I looked forward to your reports every day! I guess tomorrow I'll have to board her myself to continue the adventure. I won't have internet then, but ---as you may have noticed from my signature---- I'll be blogging all about the trip once we're back on land. your posts have been quite informative. thanks!

New York Deli and Pizzeria menus

 

 

Great looking menus here! Thanks!

Grand Dutch Cafe menus

 

 

 

a little hard to read the menu. Are the food items free? Do they change daily or is this a set menu?

ahhh, good old Rocco's Taco's! Think it's more about the ambience then the actual food, but I like the food, too.

Will be boarding the Koningsdam right after you disembark. Looking forward to hearing your take one her.

Nice to hear a good review. We'll be on the Koningsdam in about 3 weeks. Can hardly wait!

We've used that Budget location at 17th st. Causeway several times. It is literally across the street from the port and in a little strip mall---maybe a mile or 2 away from the HAL docks. There are actually 2 Budget Codes for that location, one that includes the shuttle and one that doesn't--so they tell me. We've used the shuttle many times and it's great. But we're usually dropping off a car there and shuttling to the port. I wouldn't recommend one person going and the others staying with the luggage because it can be a big hassle getting back into the port area.

Here's the direct line and hours for that Budget:

Port Everglades/ft. Lauderdale

1515 Se 17th St Causeway

Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316, US

Ph: 954-761-7231

08:00 AM - 02:00 PM

Every time I've called "ours", she has never answered. So I end up booking through the HAL site. When a price reduction happens, I've been able to call the reservation number and have it taken care of. We've been emailed upsell offers on most of our cruises---a couple really good ones that I took advantage of and a few really high ones that we let go.

We have a VE guarantee, too. Couldnt see paying another $1000 to pick the room. So we'll hope for the best!

I haven't done this with someone leaving after the first part of a cruise, but have had someone join us in the middle of a cruise. It required some special paperwork and attention---like does the Jone's Act apply. Also had to have a room assignment and not a guarantee. And a letter to authorities for boarding later then embarkation day. Sounds like it would be much easier the way you want to do it since you're looking at embarking and disembarking one of the cruisers on the scheduled days. Just brought this up to show some seemingly easy arrangements can be done---- in a complicated way. Holland customer service people were really helpful in my quest.

Last year we took a car taxi to Eden/Spice beach. We noticed there were water taxis to Klein Beach from there. I was wondering if there were water taxi's from the cruise area to Eden? Any that go to both Klein and Eden?

We went to Blue Bay when we were there about a year ago. It wasn't my first---or 2nd or 3rd or even 4th choice---but with the cost of taxis, that's as much as we wanted to spend. It turned out to be a great spot---even for snorkeling. I have pictures of our cruise and lots and lots of snorkeling here:

http://travelingwithsue.blogspot.com/2015/05/2015-april-17-may-1-southern-caribbean.html

Curacao was near the end of our cruise if you'd care to check it out.

Let me join in with the "eager to read your blog" group! We'll be boarding the K-dam on Dec. 4th for the first time.

Technically the SBP is never free, you are actually paying for it in your fare. We originally booked a 25 day Med cruise for roughly $4300 P/P with the SBP as part of the fare. Then we checked the fares later and were able to get a fare of $2700. If the cost of the SBP is about $55.00/day or $1375 for the cruise, you are technically paying for it.

The one time we got the SBP free the price of our room had gone down. So I got the SBP and paid less for the cruise then when I originally booked it. Wish we'd find a deal like that again!

We were on the Maasdam cruise in April of 2015 when it came down with the norovirus and it lasted the last 9 days of our cruise, plus the next 2 cruises. Worst part about it for us was the self serve laundrymat was closed as well as the jacuzzis were emptied for the whole time. Fortunately we didn't get it, but I felt sorry for how much harder all the crew had to work. Every night they were scrubbing walls, rails, elevators,... as well as their usual jobs.

When we were docked there in Nov., we told the driver we wanted to go to Fort Zachary to the beach, so he let us off just outside the base gate. When we walked back, they picked us up by the gate and we rode into town. I presume if we didn't want to go to town we could have waited for the incoming bus. Maybe it's different if you aren't going to the beach.

I like seeing other people's pictures of their cruises so I have links to my photo blog in my signature. Other's must like seeing them, too, as I've had a lot of page views of them.

I'm really enjoying your live report, Dave. Sure wish we were on that cruise! Loved snorkeling on Bonaire!

Great report on Dominica.

The first time we were there, we tendered into a different area -- not much of anything at the dock.

Then on our last cruise, we were quite a distance from the tender pier and the seas were very rough. So skipped going into the new area.

I believe DAve was on Samana, Dominican Republic, not Dominica. Looked like a fun excursion. It looks like they were taken to a place way above the beach we were taken to on our snorkel excursion off Samana several years ago. Looks like the port area has grown up a lot since we were there following hurricane Tomas.