storm1507

What cold weather in KY?  It's been one of the best winters in my memory.

It's been a few years, but the Fantasy was fine.   I wish it went somewhere other than Progreso during the winter.

Thanks Guest.   I think we have enough info now to try it on our own.

Yes, I've tried to get my wife to just relax and use her fins.   But, she is not completely comfortable yet.  Perhaps this trip.

By channel do you mean the 20-25' area on the map above?

Thanks TravelMom and Guest.   We'll do Bananarama if we don't have much time and Infinity if we have the time to enjoy the facilities a bit.

One more ?, is the snorkeling area actually marked with flags to indicate the areas?  If not, some other way to tell if an area is full of reef too shallow to snorkel comfortably?

Thanks Travel Mom,

With Romy's snorkeling choices ( will copy/paste below) which would you choose with our priorities?

Priorities...quality snorkeling with plenty of color, ease of snorkeling (wife can't swim, but loves to snorkel w/ a vest),we have our own equimpment, restrooms & shade when we want to take a break, $$$, less vendors and crowd.

Romy's options....

West Bay Beach - free access (beach chairs,rest room facilities not included)West Bay Beach Shore Snorkelling (snorkelling gear not included)West Bay Beach - Paradise Resort Day Pass (+ US$ 20 P/P)Off Shore Snorkelling by Boat (+ $30 P/P)West End Beach Village, Food, Shopping, Swimming etcWest Bay Beach – Mayan Princess Resort day pass (+ US$ 25 P/P)West Bay Beach – Infinity Bay resort day pass (+ US$ 25 P/P)West Bay Beach – Foster Resort day pass (+ US$ 10 P/P)West Bay Beach – Bananarama Resort day pass (+ US 10 P/P)West Bay Beach – The Beach Club day pass (+ US$ 10 P/P)

Thanks Travel Mom.

We will be going to Manawakie on our next cruise (probably with Rony's).    However, this is our second priority.   Could you advise the best snorkeling area for colorful coral and fish from the park?   

On 11/19/2019 at 2:42 PM, mitsugirly said:

 

But where can you find info on the canoe and mangroves? I don't see it listed.

 Hand dug canoes, hand whittled paddles, very difficult for my wife in the wind, not really very enjoyable and we love doing these type things.   Snorkeling wasn't anything special at all.   No colored reefs, not many fish.   The guides worked extremely hard in a difficult situation.

However, the sloths & monkeys were great.   I would just do that and save time and $$.

On 11/3/2016 at 1:21 PM, storm1507 said:

Triple digit dance today....999 days (about 2 yrs & 9 months) to go. I'll retire from my full time job and will go down to just a couple of days/week.

I've been counting for a good while now.   But, down to 10, yes 10 days!

FYI, the water was a bit too rough for us to feel comfortable snorkeling at the point area.   But, the most important info I can provide is after walking around the point DO NOT cut across land (stay on the beach) to make the walk back faster.   It's a trap.......SKEETERS!    Stay near the water and the developed areas.

14 hours ago, familyoutdoors said:

I guess you would say three. Our driver, the guy at the monkey/sloth area, and then the snorkel guys.

Thanks for the pics and the response.

Thanks for the info.   We are going in a few weeks.

How many different "guides" did you have?   Want to be prepared for tips.

You're welcome.   We are thinking about booking to PC for the first time and had saved that thread. 

I may ask about shade and snorkeling when you get back.

Enjoy.

Yes. I wanted to be able to enjoy my balcony. I hate being in the sun for extended periods of time. I don't understand the appeal of baking and roasting in the sun.

Skin cancer issues here and thinking about a cove since it provides some shade. First I had heard about picking one under a lifeboat for additional shade.

Thanks for the tip.

The people in 2314 apparently never looked up. Cabin 2314 on the Dream absolutely has a lifeboat above it. I booked that cabin because it was completely under a lifeboat.

Did you book this for more shade?

I started posting here a few years out, as of today my retirement is 145 days. But, I'll be out of the office for a good portion of that time, my last day in the office is only 82 days away. Best of all, when I count the days I have to be in the office...I'm down to a mere 44 days!

Congrats! I'm a little more than double your time, but that still makes me a short timer.

Hi Marshhawk. I hope you and hubbie are doing good.

On our last cruise...

I learned the weather is not always perfect in the Bahamas, including Half Moon. We still enjoyed it though.

I learned that a simple hotdog from the deli is a good meal amongst all the other stuff.

I learned that if you venture off the beaten path at Grand Turk you risk being carried away by a flock of skeeters.

I learned that the cabanas are a good place to lick your wounds and look at the awesome blue water at GT.

I learned (well reminded) at Amber Cove during the SxS excursion going through a local neighborhood that my wife and I are truly blessed and thankful.

Quite honestly, I'd be okay with not getting frequent advertisements the mail, in our email, or unsolicited phone calls. When we're ready to book our next cruise, we contact our PVP. I don't need Carnival or any other cruise line begging us to book a cruise.

Exactly my thoughts. I'm happy they don't pester me with e-mails or calls. I know when I want to book a cruise...don't need to be prodded.

The sting rays are in an enclosed area.

You should be able to get away from the crowds farther down the beach. I would think you could ride a tram and get close.

Trees are more like pine trees than palm, but still a great day to sit in the shade and relax.

Thanks.

No drinks for us. Shade, relaxing, food, and maybe snorkeling should cover everything.

Haven't been to HMC yet (going in Sept) and didn't snorkel when at PC, but people next to us loved the snorkeling.

 

I think it really depends on what you are looking for from the beach. It sounds like HMC is very picturesque with blue seas and powder white sand. It also looks fairly crowded with not much sun cover. PC had a very crowded section too, but also a more private side with nice shade trees.

 

I am absolutely looking forward to trying HMC and preferred Gold Rock Beach at Freeport to PC for soft sand and clear water. I also wouldn't mind returning to PC and trying the snorkeling:)

 

Another thing to keep in mind with cruises is that weather can dictate a change in itinerary, so I likely wouldn't have one port make or break the decision.

Which side of PC is the best for shade? My biggest factor in choosing a spot to go on a beach. Thanks.

Surprisingly to me, on my 2nd cruise I learned to relax. I'm getting better and better at it.

AM...drink coffee, watch sunrise, maybe talk to another early riser, wake up wife, eat b-fast, maybe gym or walk, people watch, shower, etc.

Lunch...then maybe some trivia, ice carving, listening to music on Lido in the shade, etc (whatever little show they have). I go to less and less of these each cruise. Sit somewhere and watch the ocean & people, look through some of the shops & pictures etc.

MDR and plenty of show options after that.

Tip...bug spray for Grand Turk. We got off the beaten path a little and it turned into a feeding frenzy. We were the helpless prey.

I'll post here because although not yet 50, there may be a lot of folks like us? Soon to be empty nesters or parents of active teens who as a family love to fish??

 

I don't know why there isn't a separate sub-forum for fisherfolk. Cruising is the IDEAL way to explore and fish the world. Because, um, you are always on the water! We had our Alaska trip 80% devoted to fishing and our upcoming Caribbean cruise will again be 80% fishing.

 

It would be nice to have a sub forum for fishing tips.

What ports are you fishing in on your upcoming cruise? Any places that you would recommend to give it a try?

We are doing the same cruise in a few weeks. Can you tell us what nights were the formal nights? Thanks!

It was the 2nd night, Monday, Nassau port day and 5th night, Thursday, Amber Cove port day.