ALadyNCal

I was going to possibly look into hiring a private tour guide for the day.  My thought was it could maybe include pick up from the ship, drop off at the airport, possibly a lunch stop somewhere, seeing a sight or two, and since it's private, then the vehicle should safely store our luggage.  Otherwise, I will probably also be looking at the luggage locker links above.  Our flight is 7 pm (in March) on AA.  We won't have any lounge access but at least I know the airport will easily kill 2-3 hours 🙂

Well, it took a few weeks....but finally got a message back from the park via their Facebook page. They confirmed it: NO INTERNET AVAILABLE @ CHANKANAAB.

(was unable to edit previous post)

We sailed last week on EPIC and wanted to provide current info and our experience with the program. First, overview:

• There are three levels of wines and you can get 4/6/8 bottles. The selection list was the same as posted previously on this thread.
  
• They do charge 15% on top of prices.
  
• You can purchase it any time from any bar on the ship at any time. It does not have to be on day one – although we did purchase it then.
  
• Very rudimentary process – they literally hand write little vouchers for each individual wine you purchase. I was carrying six little slips in my purse.
  
• If you decide you want a different wine, it is easy to pick something else within your category. No need to stress too much over original list. Twice our friends were brought white wines when all they selected were red wines. They were sent back and properly replaced.
  
• In any restaurant (or bar), give the waiter/bartender one of your slips and they bring the bottle back and serve it.
  
• We purchased low level package. We tried two wines – the Merlot was a disappointment but the Zinfandel was very good. Our friends purchased the high level package and their selections were very good.
  

Recourse available if needed. What we did not expect was that MANY issues on the cruise would result in multiple bottles of complimentary wine. This is their automatic compensation for whatever goes awry – even to our friends who don’t drink. By day five, we could see there was NO WAY to consume our package of six bottles because of all the complimentary wine! At that point, we had only consumed two! Our friends only got through four of their six. We both were able to resolve the situation – although it did take LOTS of follow up and phone calls back and forth and waiting in the LONG line at guest services.

• We completely refunded our entire wine package (6 bottles) and were then re-charged for only the two that were consumed on a per bottle basis. Our little vouchers were turned back in. We were VERY relieved.
  
• Our friends consumed four of their six and were able to have their package modified/downgraded to the four bottle package. This resulted in a credit to their account for the remaining two bottles.
  

Miscellaneous comments:

• We were very surprised that the only way for the ship to keep track of this wine package was to hand write little slips of paper.
  
• We were very relieved to eventually get credit back but none of the complimentary bottles we received were very good.
  
• Because of the wine package offering and the corkage fee applies for wine consumed in the cabin, we chose not to carry on our own bottles. Generally we have always done so on past cruises.
  
• We NEVER saw a sommelier in the two main dining rooms or the three specialty restaurants we visited. Maybe we missed it but our table waiter handled all of our wine service at each venue.
  
• If you get the wine package, you do have recourse if you want to change your selections.
  

Hope this gives you a better idea of the wine package.

Thank you. Also -- how long is the drive between the Budget office and the NCL pier?

Planning to spend most of the day @ Chankanaab and would love to know if they have WIFI????

We are doing this with Budget too :) How long did it take to drop off the vehicle, get the shuttle, and get dropped at the pier?

Trying to decide if we should have DH drop most of us at the pier first or just have everyone go to Budget & do the shuttle. Thanks!

Last time I bought them the code UWQG67P was working just fine. I was told it is good through some time in mid April. You can buy the coupons up to a year in advance of your cruise as I understand it.

FYI, Here is the most recent wine list -- just came out in March.

http://www.ncl.com/sites/default/files/WineList_Fleetwide_03172014.pdf

Currently planning to get the Vivo Vino pkg. Question -- can you exchange wines after you purchase the package? If you select wine A, B, C, but decide A is best after you open it....can you switch the remaining selections to wine A?

Thanks :)

Can these certificates, and the credits for futures cruises sold when you're on board, only be used when booking direct with NCL or also with a cruise agency?

Great info -- thanks! Two questions: Was 11:45 boarding the earliest? Your group with Courtney Taylor -- how many were in your party? We were quoted $30 pp and I'm just comparing group size. Thanks :)

Their addresses are different, their pictures are different, and there are no reports on TA of encountering hundreds of cruise ship passengers, but we shall see. We are tubing with Courtney Taylor tours in the a.m. and being dropped off at Bamboo Blu afterwards to enjoy lunch and the ocean. Cherie

Wondering if there are tons of people? What is the approximate price for lunch at the restaurant? What facilities are you entitled to use?

Thanks for any help! The other beach mentioned to us was Reggae Beach but it appears to be JUST a beach with no facilities or food, whereas Bamboo Blu has the restaurant, etc.

IF there are rougher seas you will feel it more if you are all the way fwd. Generally it's fine tho. If you're worried, monitor the available cabins in your category between now and sailing. Possibly they can relocate you.

SDMike -- thanks! Great to know it's comfortable. At first I was a little skeptical when I saw it doesn't pull out or fold out :cool:

Have the same question about the EPIC. We originally booked balcony cabins and upgraded to mini suites. This is the balcony sofa photo my TA sent me at time of booking. Definitely doesn't appear 'pull out' :confused: Will the mini suite be different? Our friend's will have their 16 y.o. daughter in their cabin. Thanks :)

Maybe if you ask nicely they'll give you a piece to try before you buy to see if you like/dont like the flavour.

Great to know -- thanks. Also, I think a couple in my group don't like spicy food. Is the jerk sauce is on the side so they can skip that part?

Thanks for the tubing info -- very helpful. Yes, have EXTENSIVELY read about the blue hole and discounted it for our group.

Would really have preferred a snorkel excursion but can't find any except for the one from the ship. I think we will have a great day tubing, lunch, and to the beach with our guide tho :)

Have a couple questions about tubing logistics :)

1. How long does the tubing take? Some places mention an hour or so. One person on TripAdvisor said it was $25 and only 30 minutes of tubing :confused:

2. Is all the tubing on the White River? Is this close to both Dunns River and the Blue Hole? I didn't realize all these things are close to each other?

We have booked a private guide for our group of 7. We are tentatively going to do tubing, lunch somewhere, and a beach stop. Thanks for any help!

.....on any particular ship?i

Which great promos do you recall? Were they only available on embarkation day? I know sometimes the spa has specials or extra minutes on the internet package, etc.

Share the promo info :)

Realize this thread is older but seemed to have the most feedback about Scotchies. For those who've been, is it mainly a tourist place? Someone on tripadvisor mentioned that you don't see locals eating there? Others also mentioned the meat is dry and wasn't marinated very long? :confused:

We are doing a full day with Courtney Taylor...wanted to stop here to check it out. Trying to decide on this or a beachfront lobster shack

SurferLou -- Were you successful with both iPhones and Android phones? Thanks :)

Couple more questions to add to this great thread!

* I read that room service coffee is not good (sad to hear). Is it better than the coffee maker packets in the cabin?

* I believe Manhattan has windows and views. Which other dining venues have views?

* Was anyone successful at using SKYPE with onboard internet? Just voice, not video calls.

* If you buy premium tix for Cirque, is it really necessary to line up early for good seats?

* What were the best promos/discounts offered on day one?

Thanks everyone :)

Looking for recent experience, esp on EPIC or newer ships. We don't have international calling for our cell phones so SKYPE is our only option for phone use. We don't need to do video calls, not sure if that makes a difference. Is it dependent on how busy the system is when you try or is it really still blocked?

I've seen a few threads that say it's blocked and a few people that say it worked for them.

We have to check in on my 82 y.o. Mom as well as a business number to monitor. Obviously I can look for wifi on shore, but only three possible chances to try out of 7 days would be stressful.

Thanks :)

Planning to spend most of the day @ Chankanaab and would love to know if they have WIFI???? I've googled & searched to no avail. Otherwise, I did find a list of free hotspots and hope some of them are in walking distance of the cruise pier :) Not sure of the date of the list, but here it is:

• Starbucks offers free Wi-Fi (for the first 15 minutes) in their store at the Punta Langosta Mall, across from the Punta Langosta pier.
  
  
• Carlos & Charlies offers free Wi-Fi in their restaurant/bar at the Punta Langosta Mall, across from the Punta Langosta pier.
  
  
• El Coffee offers free Wi-Fi in their restaurant/coffee house on Calle 3 Sur, between Avenida Rafael Melgar (the Malecon) and Avenida 5.
  
  
• Tony Rome's offers free Wi-Fi in their restaurant on Avenida 5, between Calle 3 Sur and A. R. Salas.
  
  
• Piratas offers free Wi-Fi in their bar/restaurant on Avenida 5 between A. R. Salas and Calle 1a Sur, on the main Plaza across from the Punta Langosta pier.
  
  
• Hard Rock Cafe offers free Wi-Fi in their restaurant/bar on Avenida Rafael Melgar (the Malecon), between Juarez and Calle 2 Norte.
  
  
• Corona Sports Bar offers free Wi-Fi in their cantina on Calle 1a Sur, between Ave. 5 and Ave. 10.
  
  
• Wet Wendy's Margarita House and Restaurant offers free Wi-Fi in their cantina on Ave. 5a, between Juarez and Calle 2 Norte.
  
  
• The Italian Coffee Company offers free Wi-Fi with purchase in their store on Avenida 30 and A. R. Salas, in the plaza near Burger King.
  
  
• Aqua Bar at the Hotel Flamingo offers free Wi-Fi in their bar, located on Calle 6 Norte between Avenida Rafael Melgar (the Malecon) and Ave. 5.
  
  
• Toro's Place Bar & Grill offers free Wi-Fi in their cantina on Avenida Rafael Melgar (the Malecon) and Calle 5 Sur.
  
  
• Rock 'N Java offers free Wi-Fi in their seaside cantina located at 602 Avenida Rafael Melgar
  

It is from this site -- they also list cell service info, internet cafes, as well as other Cozumel info

http://www.cruiseportinsider.com/cozumel.html#.UyysAYVLtNR