mattpro
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Posts posted by mattpro
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Not an answer to your questions ............. BUT ............. there is a Marriot resort on St. Kitt's where for $35 p/p you can have use of their wonderful property ( pool, cabanas on beach-no shells and a pay for restaurant), which is a short taxi ride from the ship.
Just another option which will lower your total cost.
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Photo copy of your passport or valid U.S. drivers license will suffice.
Taxis are readily available in each port and knowing what you would like to see makes it much easier for you to negotiate a readily acceptable price.
TripAdvisor search would also be prudent.
Have done this cruise many times and you should find it really enjoyable, both on and off the ship.
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If you want brownie points for life from your daughter I would strongly suggest the spring break trip on the Harmony for you.
A lifetime opportunity is now at hand - big smiley:)
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In St. Maarten there are 2 popular ways to get into town where there are nice beaches and shopping.
The first is by water taxi which charge $7 each for unlimited travel back and forth.
The second (the crew always do this) is to walk on a sidewalk into town (15 - 20 minutes). You get off the ship and walk all the way to the back of the shopping area and walk through the gate next to the exit for buses and taxis.
If you want to get a taxi to go to Maho Beach (where the planes fly over your head - Dutch side) or to Orient Beach ( French side) the taxis on Back Street are less expensive than the taxis in the port area.
If going to either of these beaches it would be prudent to leave at least an hour before the time you want to get back to the ship ( think traffic).
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Taxis
Keep in mind if you're flying into San Juan the taxis are regulated to the cruise ship ( Pan American pier).
The charge this past May was $19.00 for a single person, plus one dollar for each bag - 10% tip is usual.
Not sure of price for 2 folks, but shouldn't be much more - if anything.
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A nice way to get a feel for the islands you are visiting is to go to uTube and plug in the name of your island and preference.
You'll be surprised at the amount of great videos that are shown.
Have a nice, enjoyable vacation and congratulations to the both of you.
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Very nice review ...... great pictures.
Thank you
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dani
You should definitely check out the island of Aruba.
Their motto: One happy Island.
It may be more costly but there are all inclusive's such as Riu situated on Palm Beach that are truly wonderful.
Do a google search of Aruba to see all that the island has to offer you.
As far as weather goes - it is always sunny and 80 degrees with a breeze.
They only average 19" of rain a year and are about 19 miles north of Venezuela, hence the lack of hurricanes.
As far as cruises go I would say that you would feel "safe" on all the ports of both itineraries you listed and if you're looking for a diversity of interesting things to do, I would definitely agree with a previous poster that St. Lucia is the place to go.
Enjoy your vacation
P.S. When I saw your "handle" I thought you might be related to Daniel (same last name) ,the professional poker player, who is a nice guy and has boo-koo bucks and would tell you to do both trips and send him the bill.
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Arguably the nicest beach in the Caribbean is Mullet Bay, St. Maarten - a crescent shaped beach with soft white sand, turquoise water so clear that you can stand in the water shoulder high and look down and see your toes while the fish swim in between your legs.
http://www.viator.com/St-Maarten-attractions/Maho-and-Mullet-Bay-map/d728-a2475?pref=02
My most favorite island is Aruba and their world class Palm Beach. The weather is 85 and sunny year-round with a breeze that prevents you from broiling as you lay out, turquoise water with small wavelets where you can lay on your back and float, fall asleep and wake up an hour later when your head hits a boundary rope.
http://www.aruba.com/things-to-do/palm-beach
In Curacao there is an excellent beach at Lion's Dive.
When in St. Lucia a day at Sandals resort on Rodney Bay is an excellent choice.
http://www.sandals.com/main/grande/gl-home/
You will enjoy all the sun, sand and water in the Caribbean.
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There is no Promenade on the ship you are on.
If you want coffee before 7 a.m. or after 12 midnight you'll have to call for room service.
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I've flown into MCO a day ahead of time - stayed at Cocoa Beach.
From CC message board I heard of goportcaneveral dot com that offered travel to Cocoa Beach - a night's stay at Palms International on the beach - p/u the next day to take me to the ship - then p/u from the ship back to MCO when the cruise was over.
Total cost transportation and room for the night = $139.00
Would go this route again if sailing out of this port.
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Started cruising RCL 5/2012 with 7 day cruises then progressed to B2B (14 days) in 2013.
In 2014 and 2015 graduated to B3B (21 days) and have booked and paid for a B7B (52 days) on the AOS for Feb-Mar 2017.
Cruising is very addictive - LOL
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Regarding Columbus Cove
It is the ONLY beach that there is NO NEED for water shoes.
Soft white sand leading into the water and in the water.
There are 3 ways to access this beach which is located on the right side, all the way in the back.
Take the ferry over to the beach from the dock, near the front of the ship - walk through the entrance up to the first round-about and take the tram to the last stop at Columbus Cove - or walk on the path that goes past Barefoot Beach (gold card holders) and Nellie's Beach keeping to the right walking on a trail near the shoreline (may want to wear sneakers for this) past the Aqua Park and you arrive at Columbus Cove.
There is a covered food pavilion there for the BBQ, steel cymbal music from a live band and plenty of palm trees for shade over your lounger.
Though this is the nicest beach at Labadee not many cruisers make it back that far for a variety of reasons.
Enjoy your day at the beach.
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Ooops !!!
Meant the Connoisseur Lounge on deck 5 ( just past the elevators leading into the Pyramid (?) Lounge), not the Concierge Lounge located on deck 10.
Sorry for the confusion.
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The southern Caribbean is a wonderful itinerary to do a B2B on ......... many excellent ports and excursions , if that's your thing.
Personally, I prefer the Adventure because it has a Promenade, which means if you want a cup of coffee before 7:00 a.m. or after 12:00 midnight you don't have to call for room service.
Also, I'm a smoker (one of those) and the Adventure is the most smoke friendly ship in the fleet IMO.
Smoking is on the starboard side, which is the same side where the Diamond Lounge is located, meaning that you can (naturally smoke) have drinks and appetizers out on their veranda while you watch the rock climbers and basketball players on the court one deck below.
Outdoor smoking is allowed on the outside 4th deck, the pool deck (11) and deck 12.
Indoor smoking is allowed in the Concierge Lounge and the casino.
Aruba is my favorite island (have been going there since you were charged $20 cash to get off the island at the airport, which was the size of your local McDonald's) because the weather was always great, always a breeze on the beach, a turquoise sea with small wavelets , excellent restaurants, friendly people and a lot of things to see and do.
Favorite restaurant is Madame Jeanette's located near the low rise and hi-rise hotels in a residential area.
Windsurfing was initiated on Palm Beach in front of where they have built a Ritz Carlton (the same exact area that the Holloway girl went missing years ago).
Generally, the ship docks in Oranjstad early in the morning and doesn't leave until 11:00 p.m., so you have plenty of time to do whatever you want.
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There is only one machine ..... but ..... they serve on both sides .... with different flavors.
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Something fun to check out.
On the port side forward exit the pool deck 11 and walk down the stairs to the 10th floor.
On the landing between the floors look at the picture on display - from either top or bottom floor - then walk up close to the picture and see what you see.
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Well, each cruise is different with pax as well as the possibility of 2 ships being there on the same day.
However, since Columbus Cove is all the way in the back very few new cruisers even know it exists because all they hear about is Nellie's & Barefoot beach.
I believe if you're at the beach between 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. you should have your choice of location. Note - some folks even put their loungers right in the water.
The water slide ends just off Columbus Cove beach and the coaster ends very close too. The water park is right before you get to Columbus Cove beach.
As far as saving your loungers - it's just like on the loungers around the pool on the ship. Just put your towels and belonging on the loungers and no one will bother them while your swimming, eating and playing.
This is the only beach you do NOT have to wear any water shoes while the other beaches all have coral shards or worse (like the beaches closest to the zip line ).
This would be the best beach location for things that you want to do.
Enjoy your beach day
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Go to Columbus Cove all the way in the back on the right side.
Nicest sand beach on Labadee (much better than Nellie's or Barefoot beach - the beaches by the zip line are the worst) - plenty of loungers and palm trees - steel band and large covered area for the buffet, next to the water park and the dock for the ferry.
Accessible by walking, taking the free tram or taking the ferry boat from the dock near where you get off the ship.
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Unfortunately the answer to your question is no.
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The Rising Tide bar are on the Oasis Class ships and not on the Freedom Class ships.
For higher viewing ( but not that close ) you can go 6th or 7th floor on either end of the Promenade.
Also there are viewing balconies overlooking the Promenade located next to the elevators - both fore and aft.
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Oops !!!
Diamond or above to enter DL.
The ships I was referring to about the Viking Lounge were of the Freedom & Voyager Class.
Adventure of the Seas - Secret/s?
in Royal Caribbean International
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Men's & Ladies rooms on pool deck (#11) have floor to ceiling windows for your viewing pleasure.
Only available on Voyager class ships.
For smoker's the AOS is the most smoke friendly ship in the fleet.