fstuff1

no. i cant swim so passed anything about snorkeling or diving

How far is the casino from the pier? Walkable?

What's interesting in Bimini?

how much is the water park? How much better than Atlantis?

2/25/24: 7 day Ascent in OV. Goes to San Juan (puerto rico), tortola, st kitts 6 day reflection in veranda. goes to Bimini (Bahamas), grand cayman and Cozumel. OV on Ascent is fine because i don't like the infinite verandas. I've been to every port listed many times except Bimini. I've never been there. Which would you choose? New ship or new port?

Tourism building on the left hand side after you enter the archway: Sample tour company booth: Pearl farm, rum distillery and vanilla plantation for $85 I booked my tour from Viator. Tour provider was Te Mara Nui: But they only did the Vanilla plantation and pearl farm. And it costs more! ($115) 😮 😞 All the tour company did was water taxi you to the locations. At the locations, they had their own (free) guides who were great. They were informative and engaging. For the vanilla plantation, I had the young granddaughter of the owner. She was excellent! So don't book in advance! Sad notes: Both the vanilla plantation and pearl farm is 1 person away from closing. For the vanilla plantation, it's when the grandfather dies. (He's now in his 70s) For the pearl farm, they're down to 1 person doing the special grafting to create pearl oysters. Covid took out the other 6 and they can't find replacements.

oh that sucks. It wasnt on the Daily. 😞 And i was back on the ship already enjoying my balcony

My cruise ship is 2.5k pax so too big for Bora Bora. We're tendering to Raiatea. I was told it was a 30 min ferry ride to Bora Bora. Anyone do this ferry? What did you think? And what was there to do in Bora Bora?

Did this small group tour ($69). Was excellent. My review:

I didn't do the $40 pier vendor tour in the pic. My 4hr island tour was from Tahiti Eden tours for $69. You can book it from viator. It's 6person max in a minivan. The owner (Fabrice) was my tour guide. He was excellent and the best tour guide I've had in recent memory (ie: post covid). Unlike my Moorea private tour, I would definitely pay extra over the cheaper pier vendor tour because of him

I didn't take them. I already had a third party excursion arranged already. But I met someone on the cruise that did and he liked it

Precovid, I was able to get LPC for 50% off while on board. Did that for the 2nd version on another ship. (I liked the 1st version better.) There's now a 3rd version but the novelty has passed for me. Never asked about the price.

While casino was closed, took pic of the placard.

It was cute. Anyone get pics of that female officer doing a cannonball into the pool while in uniform for the ceremony? And who was she?

i was on the previous sailing too but the last day was Kona and i was out on shore. But i remember day 3 or 4 for lunch, the buffet also had mussels

I was told by the matreD of the buffet that last day lunch will be mussels

Wished they put the theme of the buffet lunch and dinner on the Daily or app. On other ships, I think they do on the Daily

I didnt say mdr in my post for prime rib. i said buffet. it used to be in the buffet on embarkation night. But it could be different ship class to ship class. on M-class, i had free ribeye in the buffet twice this year. Once on Infinity in Feb and once on Summit in Aug. No ribeye on Solstice (s-class) since this thread was created in Feb.

If doing a b2b and under one reservation, can you stay in the same upgraded cabin for the 2nd leg of the cruise?

Currently on Solstice. $10 (minimum) is single odds. $25 is double. $50 is 3/4/5x :o

I'm also on this cruise but veranda. I have a safe. No safe for inside rooms? That's unacceptable. Any reason why it's missing?

Currently on Solstice (Oct). Still none of the meats you listed back in Feb. Embarkation night used to be prime rib at buffet. Lobster night used to have beef Wellington. Last lunch day buffet used to be ribeye. (See my other thread where I had free ribeye, last updated in Aug)

They don't. Used to be served on lobster night. No longer on the menu (solstice, last week). And 2nd lobster tail is same upcharge as other nights. :(

I'm currently on the Solstice and every few seconds i hear creaks from one wall or another in my cabin as we're sailing. I have a great cabin (angled balcony) so i don't want to move. I'm currently using a white noise app to mask the noise when i sleep. Any other suggestions?

Sorry to hear about being shut out of the free tour. they usually create new tours on subsequent sea days to accommodate more people. I was on the Joy twice this summer. 1st time they added the provisions area to the free tour, which was a nice surprise. 2nd time they didnt have it. I guess it depends on the hotel mgr? Didnt go to either Latitudes party since i already get free booze. I'm assuming since cruisenext is hosting the party, they gave a sales pitch for cruisenext certs. What else did they do?