flacousa

Given that they are an elderly couple, I have some sympathy and think that Norwegian could have been more supportive. But frankly NO cruise line is going to allow people to board without proper documentation, To me it is obvious that said documentation should ALWAYS be with you and NEVER packed in luggage..

They had proper documentation the drivers license that is all you need to travel in Mexico and the Caribbean, many travelers don't use a passport but a birth certificate and the only time you will need a passport or birth certificate is for re-entry to the US which they had waiting on the ship inside their luggage, the old geezers didn't scream loud enough at the terminal to get the right person attention and that is my pinion

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Oops, here’s the link, https://www.amazon.com/AQUAVUE-Voyager-Clear-Bottom-Inflatable/dp/B00TGTFOAC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1515535749&sr=8-2&keywords=snorkel+raft

Make sure to use a flotation device on the kid just in case he falls off the raft

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The westend beach at Roatan

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Thanks all. My original plan was to go to West Bay and snorkel off the shore, but I was concerned about the distance one might have to snorkel to get out to the best views and thought a boat might make it easier.

As far as a boat making it easier is debatable and I'll give you two examples, couple years ago I went snorkeling at Goff Cay in Belize, the place was almost in the open Gulf with just a small island, the boat dropped us off one one side of the island and we drifted with current for about a quarter mile and the boat moved there to picked us up and it made for an effortless swim. Last month I went snorkeling at Christ of the Abyss in key largo, the boat tied up to the furthest mooring ball about 100 yards, we swam with the current toward the statue and the swim back to the boat against the current was not easy.

Would you say that snorkeling from the beach in West Bay (between Infinity Bay and the wall) is fairly doable for someone in moderate physical shape?

Is hard to say, it depends how far out you go and sea conditions at that time.

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We've had good luck getting off the ship and walking down the pier then negotiating with a couple guys holding snorkle /glass botton boat tour. usally we get a deal around $25-$30 U.S.each for 2. You may be able to do better with 5 and may even end up with your own boat.The boats are about 20 foot and everone sits on benches around the glass bottom.

 

To get to them you walk down the sidewalk about 100-200yds past the MEGA grocery store and launch from a small hotel, so no taxi expense. They take you on two-three drift snorkle spots up the coast toward chankanaab.

 

We always bring our own gear and are in Coz the first week of January for a stop and will do this for our 4th time.

 

We always stop at the MEGA grocery on our walk back to pick up incedentals, its like walmart and has good prices on everything.

I saw one of those boats near the NCL pier on the left hand side and was told $30 for 4 hours, bring your own gear and snacks, that's what I'll do next time in Cozumel

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Just got back from St Thomas. We took a taxi to Coki beach and the snorkelling was amazing. You can feed the fish and they eat right from your hand! There were chairs / umbrellas and restaurants with good food and music. Great day.

The problem with Coki beach is you won't be seen fish in their natural habitat, it is a bare beach, no corals not even rocks for fish to linger, the reason hundred of fish are there if for the handout of whatever food people bring, I rather go where fish are swimming in their natural settings but that is just me

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My wife and I will be visiting Roatan in January for the first time. I want to take a boat snorkeling excursion and it looks like there are a lot of options. I want something that includes transportation from Mahogany Bay. Beach time is nice but not necessary; the same goes for food and drink options.

 

 

 

So here are some questions:

 

• 
   
  
• How does the snorkeling compare on different sides of the island? Is one side preferable to another?
   
  
• Have you used any of the shore excursioneer site's snorkel options, and if so, which one? Would you recommend it?
   
  
• I'm considering this three-site snorkel excursion on the south side of the island. Has anyone taken this trip or visited the locations (French Cay marine park, Coco view reef wall, Prince Albert shipwreck or Big French Cay)? If so, what'd you think?
   
  

Best snorkeling I've done in Roatan is on the West End, right of the beach there is a nice reef, and it is FREE just swim out and you will be amazed just took a taxi there and back, here is a video someone posted on YouTube to give you an idea of what is there.

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Full face masks are good for shallow snorkeling no more than approximately 10 feet deep

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Nearsight and farsighted Optical Corrective Lenses Scuba Snorkeling Mask, AB, -1.5 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OGS3CSY/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_tai_QlEnAbRV5SNZA

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We will be on the Oosterdam Panama Canal cruise departing San Diego on 4 March 2018, arriving Fort Lauderdale 20 March. Will we have to clear Customs in Fort Lauderdale?

 

 

 

Will we be able to use Luggage Direct "Onboard Airline Check-In"?

 

 

 

Our port calls include: Mexico (2), Guatemala,Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Aruba, and Half Moon Cay.

 

 

 

Thanks for any advice and recent experience!

 

rfp

Just like any other cruise that makes stops at foreign ports you have to go through Customs

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I bought my mask with +4 I was told that with no RX it's already magnifies 25% so at least when I go to pet a shark I will be able to see it, lol:D

That is my thinking and why I suggested a +4 for an inexpensive mask, in your case it has to be better than a plain no prescription mask

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My wife has a prescription mask but when she first started snorkeling she luckily found that an old pair of glasses with the temples removed fit inside a regular snorkel mask (one with a single large glass rather than one for each eye) but I agree that a prescription mask will work better. As I recall the Divers Direct price you'll pay about $50 for the mask and $25 for each Rx lens so rough order of magnitude Neill be about $100.

Unfortunately Divers Direct and the company I suggested only go up to +4 for farsightedness, for nearsightedness they go -1 to -10 and the OP is farsighted just like me but his is more severe

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Help! Going on a cruise in January and I was thinking I could just wear the snorkel mask over my glasses. I wanted to buy prescription ones but the highest is +4.50 I need at least a +6.00 I really would like to see some fish. My prescription is +5.50 right +7.00 left. Anyone have any experience or ideas please

 

I got mine from Amazon brand name is Promate $56 but for farsightedness they only go up to +4

I understand you need a stronger prescription but a mask with +4 is better than a mask with no magnification, the mask is well made and fits my needs of +2 and +2.5

For a one time snorkeling tour I can't see spending what your prescription will cost, my son is scuba diver and he paid over $400 for a prescription similar to yours

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I find the inside cabins in the Jade,the Sun and the Star bigger than the megasized Escape, there is hardly any closet space and drawers in the Escape so much so that life preserves are not kept in the room, we spent 15 days on the Jade from Barcelona to Tampa and had no complaints about the ship, I wish we could say the same about last week 7 day cruise on the Escape where the list is long from the repeated shows in the Theater to the slippery pool area floor when wet

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Just remember they are only good for surface or near surface snorkeling if you try to go deep there is no way to squeeze your nose to equalize

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Wow, I'm so glad that my experience has helped others! I haven't cruised since the Allure but will be heading out in May.. I'm definitely prepared this time, lol! I will heed my own cancel but promise to be back on the ship on time! Oh, and no kids this time, lol!

Thanks to you we no longer disembark without our passports, we never know when from no fault of our own miss the boat and be in the same predicament.

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Some people pack a corkscrew to open carry aboard wine bottles what I have is a Swiss Army knife that has a corkscrew plus a knife and tools, I pack it in the toiletry bag inside the checked in luggage.

Doesn't happen anymore. Thank Osamma and his cretin accomplices for that.

 

DHS requires a final passenger manifest about a week before sailing. Oh, there can be deletions, but NO ADDITIONS! in addition to the cruise line screening (past problem, or 'trespassed' passengers), The manifest is screened for anyone on the "No Fly List" (actually the 'Travel Restricted List'). It also goes through review by a number of TLA (Three Letter Agency reviews (wants, warrants, watch lists, etc.).

 

If "Cruise security doesn't seem all that tight . . . " Then we're doing our job correctly.

The cruise I'm interested leaves Sunday from port of Tampa, last night Friday I called the cruise line and they told me I have until the end of day today Saturday to book on the phone so the week ahead manifesto doesn't hold water.

Just got off the 11/2 sailing to Western Carribean and will comment on a couple issues. Smoking was limited to deck 11 and deck 12. Deck 11 smoking area was by the pool deck, 6 tables with 4 chairs each, making finding space challenging just about every day of the week. The area was in the corner of the deck by the gym. On deck 12 the smoking area was less crowded but unknown and difficult to access for mobility challenged individuals. 2 elevators to the deck but then a 2 inch transom to gain access to the open deck from either of the restaurants. It is behind Cagney's and las temblas, and above the Great outdoors acccessible by stairs. Only smoking areas on the ship other than the casino, which was limited to the machines and tables. there were ashtrays on the Bar but by Tuesday they were removed and smoking was not allowed there.

Even with the ship being built this century, it doesn't give a lot of consideration to the ADA, toilets in handicapped bathrooms are regular not elevated. Handicapped bathrooms are located in Crew hallways and again have an elevated entrance/exit maiking it painful for wheelchair and scooter usage, if they have very limited ability to walk. most of the transoms were covered by metal and created bumps, scooters and wheelchairs with hard wheels had trouble negotiating these as well.

I was also on the same cruise as you and like to comment on some of what you wrote.

On the smoking I can't comment since quitting 5 years ago but I like to address your remarks on ADA; first of all even though the majority of passengers are Americans the ship like most ships that sail from US ports are not registered in the US the Norwegian Sun is registered in the Bahamas, Nassau, therefore they argue not bound to conform with the ADA (Americans with disabilities act) the doorways around the Ramblas bar that lead to the balcony or open deck are water tight doors and need that high transom to keep water out when sailing in rough seas.

I can't comment on Handicap bathrooms throughout the ship since I didn't have a need for one.

I'm not a disabled person neither is my wife but to our surprise when boarding we were assigned a Handicap cabin #10105 it was twice the size of a regular inside cabin, the toilet appeared to be higher than normal and surrounded by hand rails, the shower has a flat drain that surrounds the shower area to allow a wheel chair in, it also has a folding bench attached to the wall, the whole inside of the bathroom is surrounded by hand rails.

Despite all the problems you encountered I hope you had a great time, this was our first time on Norwegian and truly enjoyed the experience.

Just a word of caution. Covering vents that are not intended to be covered can create a fire. Restricting airflow will overheat a system. You don't want to do that, specially on a ship or airplane. In my line of work, this practice is prohibited and grounds for termination because of how dangerous it is.

 

Please don't do that. A cabin that's a bit drafty is a smaller inconvenience than a ship on fire.

 

 

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Drafty my S. With the prospect of spending 8 days in an icebox fire would have been a welcome relief (just kidding); unlike hotel's thermostats that actually turn the A/C on and off the ship thermostat only open and closes an inefficient damper.

How many of you pack duct tape for a cruise, I just put a roll in my luggage for tomorrow's cruise and this is why.

In September we took a cruise on Carnival Liberty to the Caribbean, we booked an inside room and from day one I complained to the cabin steward that the room was extremely cold even after setting thermostat to warmest setting, she called maintenance and we couldn't tell if anyone came to take care of the problem, next day I again complained with the same results, near the end of the cruise I got ugly with her and finally a maintenance man came in to adjust the damper, made no difference so finally after he left I took the grill down and shoved a towel in it and took care of my problem (I removed it on debarkation day). Now I'm prepared if it happens again I'll duct tape the sucker up.

BTW a cruise in August on the same ship the balcony room was hot.

Will be there 11/5/14 with fingers crossed, I'll report back

Just called CCL, due in regular time Sun, taking their time saving fuel.

Not only the fuel but the passengers who had schedule flights back home would have to be put up in hotels overnight so why not just keep them in the ship.

Has anybody heard from anyone on this cruise or has the ships internet service mysteriously shut down.

@EricLupher7News is twitting from the ship

I just finished reading all 35 pages before posting.

 

Talk about conflicting information, I was flipping between CNN and HLN this morning and one of the talking heads said the quarantine period should be 30-31 days instead of 21. :eek::eek:

 

I cruise at the end of the month and have stocked up on chlorine wipes and Lysol spray for my cabin, and will be washing my hands a little more. I refuse to let this ruin my cruise.

Got news for you, it is not in your hands, you can wipe the cabin to your hearts content but if one of your fellow cruisers comes down with Ebola your cruise will be ruined and you can take that to the bank.