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Mariner of the Seas Cruise Compass March 2013

spelican

By spelican,
in Royal Caribbean International

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spelican

spelican

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This document details the procedure for departing from the ship.

It took as two full hours in Galveston. Unfortunately, we have had the same slow departure process after each of our cruises out of Galveston. This time it was blamed on the Federal budget cuts, but frankly, it was exactly the same.

Departure Pg 1.pdf

Departure Pg 2.pdf

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spelican

spelican

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Very expensive drink prices. These prices are from our receipts not including the 15% gratuity added to everything onboard:

 

Bud Light Aluminum bottle $5.25

Miller Lite aluminum bottle $5.25

16 oz draft beer $5.50

20 oz draft beer $5.95

Corona $4.75

Guiness can $5.95

Fosters can $6.95

Glass cabernet $9.00

Bacardi Rum drink $5.75

Absolut Vodka drink $6.00

Scewdriver $5.25

Patron Silver shot $7.75

Patron Reposado shot $8.75

Grey Goose martini $9.50

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spelican

spelican

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It is always an amazing sight to see two huge Royal Caribbean shops docked next door to each other at the dock in Cozumel.

 

Paradise Beach in Cozumel was a reasonable $15 cab fare each way for four people. It only took approximately 15 minutes to get there, and only cost a $12 admission fee for a chair and umbrella on the beach. Food and drink prices were very reasonable and the servers on the beach were wonderful. The beach was beautiful, and they had a gigantic swimming pool next to a very large palapa bar.

 

Here is a 360 degree view of the beach and water toys.

 

http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=2fc7d4ec-918a-4b4d-a21d-b13abe941133

199710852_CozumelDock.jpg.c4d5c7f4cf4892b8f6bccb7128af2eb3.jpg

282813538_CozumelDock2.jpg.e11e512b4c2188f263f574cfe96fb432.jpg

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spelican

spelican

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This was our first visit to Roatan. We found the locals to be very friendly, and the island was beautiful.

 

We started the day by watching a beautiful sunrise from our balcony on the ship. Prior to our arrival, we made our own arrangements with Cinthia Tours. Cinthia arranged for a driver to meet us with a six seat air conditioned vehicle for $15 all day roundtrip per person. Our driver Pablo could not have been nicer, and he drove us down to the West End area to explore for a while, and then brought our party over to the nicest beach areas. He steered us away from the tourist trap at Tabayana. RCI offered an excursion there for $60. With our $15 per person all day van with driver, we only had to pay $2 at Bananarama for a chair on the beach. We parked ourselves on beach chairs in front of the Thirsty Turtle Bar, which I cannot recommend highly enough. Great bartenders, excellent pizza, and a good selection of local beers and drinks.

 

Here is a 360 degree view from the bar at the Thirsty Turtle:

 

http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=199c5a45-0fd4-478a-b3f7-07066eafff32

271265622_DockedatRoatan.jpg.e273c117436336c0d790822bd443dbfb.jpg

1490028612_ThirstyTurtleStaff.jpg.006d71bf53c871f7f86ef5e15e77c723.jpg

288222210_RoatanSunrise.jpg.e3d08e5b01e9ba53738ba8e44c7c5c70.jpg

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spelican

spelican

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That's so nice of you to do that. Thirsty Turtle looks good. This is at West Bay?

I'm a tiny bit confused (what else is new?). Did you pay and eat at Bananarama or THirsty Turtle? Are they next to each other?

 

Thanks once again

 

Bananarama and the Thirsty Turtle were all part of one big complex as far as I could tell. Our driver took us to a parking lot where we paid $1 to park the van. Then we met a man near the beach who we paid $2 per person for beach chairs. There were several little eating establishments and bars right there on the beach. The Thirsty Turtle is where we bought our drinks and food for the most part. Although we did by several beers from vendors on the beach for a very cheap price (about $1.50 per can I think). Bananarama was just down the beach from Tabayana where most of the cruise ship excursions go.

 

The Thirsty Turtle even had a small band featuring a young man with a beautiful singing voice singing just about every reggae song I knew. Made for a really nice afternoon, even when it started raining a bit.

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spelican

spelican

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Our original plan was to take a water taxi from the Tourist Village to Caye Caulker for the afternoon. But due to some choppy seas and a slow tender process to and from the ship we decided to just visit the Tourist Village for a while.

 

We found a nice little bar on the water called "Pirate's Bar" that we set up camp in while the ladies did some shopping. They were offering two Belikin beers for $5 US and some outstanding Bloody Marys made with a touch Habanero hot sauce. Very tasty!

 

Here is a 360 degree view from my seat at Pirate's Bar:

 

http://photosynth.net/view.aspx?cid=8377d8bb-6774-4d21-b6e8-f27dee4d87f9

 

There was no food at this establishment, but a restaurant on the 2nd floor of a building across from it was doing a brisk business.

 

If you are searching for the water taxi location, it is within view of the Pirates Bar just a few yards away.

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spelican

spelican

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Here is a video clip of the Mariner of the Seas arrival at Coxen Hole in Roatan.

Transportation arranged outside of the ship sponsored tour operators meet you along the road outside of Entrance #7. Entrance #7 can be seen in this video. You bear to the left along the path leading away from the ship.

 

Morning Arrival at Coxen Hole, Roatan
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SLCfirsttimer

SLCfirsttimer

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This document details the procedure for departing from the ship.

It took as two full hours in Galveston. Unfortunately, we have had the same slow departure process after each of our cruises out of Galveston. This time it was blamed on the Federal budget cuts, but frankly, it was exactly the same.

 

What was your tag number for the departure?

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Galveston Cruiser

Galveston Cruiser

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This document details the procedure for departing from the ship.

It took as two full hours in Galveston. Unfortunately, we have had the same slow departure process after each of our cruises out of Galveston. This time it was blamed on the Federal budget cuts, but frankly, it was exactly the same.

 

The delays are not the Port of Galveston's fault or RCI, Carnival or Priincess.

ICE is spread so thin that the 130 customs agents must cover ALL of the port areas (Houston & Galveston) (cargo and cruise ships) plus airlines and any other port of entries.

The agents are fed up themselves as this has been an ongoing problem.

They also MUST ride together after meeting a central location in Houston.

 

One missing or late - everyone is late.

 

Complain to D.C.:mad:

The cruise lines do not want any delays, but they are not in control of the situation though they get the blame as does the port.

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