Cricket551

We get cheers and get most of our drinks at lido (Red Frog), some at Red Frog Pub (if ship has it) and some at the atrium bar.  We decided a $1 per drink, even if its a water.  We just add it to the receipt, never have cash on board. 

Ive never seen anyone even look at the receipts, they just leave them laying on the bar.  I decided this past trip to look over the print out copy and realized there was a couple of the drinks with no tip line. Now I'm wondering if we should use cash, but I really don't want to have to carry cash around. IDK anyone else notice this? I do not plan to stop leaving the tip, just curious.

How exciting! We are on the same cruise! I cant wait for it to be here.  But now have something to look forward to after the cruise! We also have the cheers package and plan to have a great time!

I always bring a couple of small cross bodies purses.  In different colors and designs to match what I have on that day or my dinner wear.  I keep my phone, lip stuff, cigarettes and a lighter in it.

I use my phone for checking the fun times, making dinner reservations, taking photos, and checking the time.

I do use a lanyard for my card. I find it easier than keeping the card in the purse.

Hubby and I (we are both around 50 and active) will be on Carnival Radiance Feb 2025.  Our stops: Kahului, Maui 10am-11pm - Honolulu Oahu 9am-11pm, Nawiliwili, Kauni 7am- 4pm and Hilo, Hawaii 9am-6pm.  I have done some reading on the boards as well as looked at what Carnival offers as excursions and I just don't know what to pick!  This is a retirement cruise for my hubby and something he has wanted to do for sometime.  We are familiar with cruising just not Hawaii.  

I would love to do a luau and we have 2  late ports: Kahului(Friday) and Honolulu(Saturday).  I have done some searching on the web but seem to be more confused then before.  Seems a lot of them don't offer luaus on Saturdays? And seems the ones in Kahulu are to far from port? Any thoughts or ideas here would be appreciated!

I know we want to see The volcano national park in Hilo, I'm wondering if this being a good distance from port if it would be better to use a ship excursion or if someone could recommend a tour group?

I don't think we would be interested in renting a car and driving our selfs. We could potently do a private tour with a guide, or a group tour if someone had recommendations?

I think this will be a one and done trip for us and I just want to make the most of our times in port. Any ideas, suggestions would be appreciated!

I have tried a few times to figure this out on my own. I know about the search feature but apparently I don't know how to use it. I have a cruise booked in Feb.2025 for Hawaii.  I have been trying to find Jammans Hawaii review with absolutely zero luck! Id also read any other Hawaii reviews. (if I could figure out how to find them)

 I'm very sorry for asking but could someone find this link and share it.  Please and thank you

Hello! We are planning on being Jamaica Aug 2023.  This is on my moms bucket list! Anyway I didn't realize that it mattered which port you stopped in to make going to the blue hole accessible!  We are porting at Montego Bay(8am-4pm). We really wanted to go to the blue hole and do the tubing, like you did!  I have reached out to a couple of tour operators, one responded saying he did not recommend  this due to driving time and another said I could book with them.

 Reading your review its sounds like you had a similar drive.  What hours were you in port? Did you worry about timing? I don't want to cause myself stress over missing the ship, just trying to understand fully my options!

Thank you

Hello! I’m trying to find an excursion (probably private) that will take us to the spots that we would like to see on both the North and South Side.  We will be in port 7am-3pm so should have time.  Hubby does not like the idea of golf carts (sadly).  I did find one that would be perfect 5.5 hours, private and we can pick the spots for $420, that seems a little high to me.  I’ve found another that is 3 hours but has a very specific route even though its private and seems like we would just be driving by all the places instead of stopping to at least look at and take pictures of, this one is $240.  My question is does anyone have any advice or a tour or guide they could recommend?

We would just like to see the sites of the island, stop at some for pictures other to explore for a few minutes.

We also received an "upgrade" offer.  We are in an interior on lido.  The upgrade is for deck 9 in a balcony for $272.  We just really like interior as well as being on at least lido deck.  The price difference isn't bad.  But the "upgrade" is below the lido and I would be afraid that would not be a pleasant area!

Anyway I personally think an "upgrade" is something that you would find worth the additional cost!  If you are happy in your current stateroom I'd save my money and spend it elsewhere!

happy cruising!

Anybody have a review they could share on a visit to Animal Flower Cave? We are very interested in checking it out! Would love to hear about someones experience visiting!

Thanks

Tara

Thank you so much!! I figured I was giving myself plenty of time Just wanted someone who had been there to confirm it worked for them!!

They responded immediately! I asked many questions as well! I'm sorry you are having this issue!

Hello!  I have a question for anyone that has done the 7 day San Juan cruise! On Sunday after the cruise our flight time is 4:10pm. I was thinking we should leave old San Juan area no later than 2pm.  Google map suggests it takes about 15 minutes to get to the airport. I'm giving us 30 minutes or so, expecting to arrive about 2:30, which gives us 1 hour and 40 minutes to get through customs and to our gate! Does this sound reasonable? Should I allow more time? We have never flown in or out of San Juan so just not sure what to expect there! I don't want to cut anything to close!

I figured we would get off the ship (check our bags at one of the places Ive read will keep them) and walk around a bit, maybe grab some lunch.  IDK just don't want to sit at the airport all day if we don't have to!

Thanks for any replies! I understand everyone's experience is unique, Just curious what others did in similar situations! 

My son at first did not want to go to the meet and greet (shy) his older brothers and I talked him into going the first night to the meet and greet and told him he could stay or leave as we decided!  He made instant friends with a group and they hung out all week!! He still messages with some in the group! As others have mentioned they can check themselves in and out, so they spent a lot of time at the ball court area!  We also had the rule he had to met us each evening for dinner!! He loved it!!

We have booked a private tour for the day!  I sent them an idea of what I would like to see and do while in port! We will be in port from 8am-9pm, there are two ships that day (best I can tell).

I really want to spend a little time at Animal Flower Cave, I really want to do Harrisons Cave Signature Tram Tour, as well as  stop at St. Nicholas Abbey for a visit, and would like to see the Baobab Trees at Queens Park in Bridgetown.  I've also added a stop at  Bathsheba, maybe around sunset for a beautiful view?  IDK does this seem possible?

I've read about Animal Flower Cave online but haven't seen anything about it on these boards, could someone share their experience?  Any suggestions, anything I'm missing, or am I trying for to much? I guess I'm asking for advice from someone who has been before!

On 6/14/2019 at 2:23 PM, Giventofly said:

It's a massive party barge that goes to Honeymoon Beach at Water Island.  If you're into the party barge scene, cool...but it's a LOT of people.

 

 

For me a better experience is to grab a taxi to the water island ferry dock.  the ferry is ten bucks, and the beach is walking distance down a little dirt road.  There are 2 awesome bar/restaurants on either end of the beach.

This sounds really interesting! Can you give me any more details? Like how long are the taxi and ferry rides? How would we know where to walk once we got off the ferry? Sorry just any additional details would be great! This really sounds like a nice way to spend the day! Thanks

We have this cruise booked for March 2020! Very excited! Thank you for your review!

AlohaLivin I would also love a copy of your map! My email is endo_1017@yahoo.com  Thank you so much

Yes could you please link the review! We have this ship and ports booked for 03/29/2020 and I love to read and research all that I can on the ship and ports! We just got off the Horizon about a week ago (that was a fabulous trip), we have also sailed on magic (my favorite ship) and Fantasy, Elation and Ecstasy (Hubby love this class).

Couple of questions if you don't mind I think I read that Fascination recently  went into drydock did they add a big screen on lido by chance?  We love the movies under the stars! Also the photos are they on the app like the newer ships or do you still find them on this ship? I liked the old way because you could get sizes other than 8x10s! I love the "fun size"

Thank you

Tara

Thank you for sharing the video! We have this excursion booked in April! I am so excited this looks very informative and fun!

We booked with Justin's ATV Rental and Tours.  We picked a private guide and two 4 wheelers for the day! However you can just book the ATVs!  You can Google them! We did have to pay an upfront deposit! Also our trip is not until April, so I do not yet have experience with this company in person, only emails!

I’m thinking aboutbooking a private tour of Curacao next April, though VIP tours. Our times in port are 1:30-10:30. I wascurious on others opinion of these plans. We would like to see and do as much as possible with the time allowed!! Doessomeone have a better idea or a location or excursion that they wouldrecommend?

I think what theysuggested offers a lot and sounds great but am worried about time and trying toover do it! Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Here is the list of what I sent and said we would reallylike to see..

Shete Boca

Caves of hato

salt lakes

Centre of Willemstad

Queen Emmabridge

Floating market

Piscado/Playa Grandi: I would love to snorkel with wildturtles

Boca Ascension: have to have a 4x4 to get here

Chistoffel park: I’m ok skipping this

Below is what VIP Tourssuggested….

- pick up around 2pm (30 mins after docking of your ship)

- then drive to the West Side and visit Shete Boca (entrance fee is US$ 9 perperson); I believe the latest they allow guests into the park is around 4pm

- Playa Piscado - swim with the turtles

- viewing point Playa Forti and Grote Knip

- Salt Lakes

- at the end of the tour Centre of Willemstad with Queen Emmabridge and theFloating Market (by the time we reach there itwill be dark already but you still will be able to see the centre. TheHandelskade (the colorful houses) and the walking bridge have lights on)

Chistoffel park - I would remove that from the list, you will be ableto see the park driving along. Also not all rental companies allow us to drivethrough. Furthermore, we need to keep the time in mind

Cavesof hato - if you really like to visit the HatoCaves, then we need to visit them before heading to the West side since theyclose around 5pm, they have guided tours always on the hour. Maybe we can makethe 3pm. You need to count about 50 minutes for the tour. It is about 30minutes from the pier away. Timewise it might be a bit tight visiting the HatoCaves and Shete Boca.

Again thank you to anyone that takes the time to read and respond!

What’s a side by side? You can rent an ATV or UTV from Justin’s, they’ll pick you up and drop you back off at the port.

 

Do you have an email or link for Justin? I am very interested in renting a ATV and a guide for the day! Thank you

We did the caves through an ATV tour. It was pretty neat. We saw a LOT

Do you remember who you did this through?? Thank you

On the same note if someone knows can you rent a 4 wheeler for the day? Not trying to steal your tread, very curious to the answer to both side by side and 4 wheeler!

We stayed 3 in a room and had no issues at all! It was my mother (62 at the time), My best friend (45 at the time) and my self (42 at the time). We had the main bed set up as twins and then there was a pull down bed. So we set it up like bunk beds and the other bed along the wall, this gave us a lot more floor space!

We don't really spend a lot of time in the room (this was an interior:eek:), but it really was no problem at all! I was worried prior but all worked out just fine! There was plenty of storage, we unpacked and put suitcases under the bed, we also brought on over the door shoe hanger to hold all our products, we each got two rows!

I hope you have a great time!