Javelina87

I always tape a luggage tag on my case of water and drop it off along with my suitcases and it always shows up at the cabin. Bottle of wine I do put in my carry-on

I used to do that but the last Carnival cruise we took, out of New Orleans, we had to had carry ALL drinks on. They opened our soda boxes and checked that all the cams were actually soft drinks and then tapped them back.

Three piece of course. I guess I will be starting a new tradition of dry cleaning before our elegant night.

3 piece - bathing suit and 2 flip flops.

I have seen several people and I think they look sharp!

 

If you want to do it, go for it! Be prepared to get (positive) attention.

Amen on the positive attention. We took my youngest son, who was active duty Marines, on a cruise some time back. On dress nights he wore his blue dress uniform, which to me is a show stopper on just about everyone that has ever worn it. During dinner, people continuously stopped at the table to chat with him and then later at the clubs people bought him drinks all night. Thanks to all the men and women that have served their country in the armed forces!

My mom got a jade fish at the square and a beautiful embroidered tote bag (purse) at the pier. Although I didn't buy anything, I saw the typical items - shoes, T shirts, bags. There were a few vendors that you could see as soon as you got off the tender and then there are some on the back side of the buildings facing the beach.

If you fly into Hobby Lobby airport, do you come out with extra luggage, because you find a lot of stuff that you didn't even know existed, but now you absolutely have to have? ;)

I can definitely tell you have been to Hobby Lobby, as have I. [emoji2]

Fixed it for you. :D

 

We call UK Football "Diving".

After reading your reply, I had to do some diving to figure out what you were talking about. Living in Kentucky, UK meant something entirely different. Lol

The vendors take US $, but I recommend small bills as they may not have change. I did read somewhere about someone using the ATM in Trujillo and getting the local currency.

 

When we did the tram tour we tipped the driver and the tour guide $5 each. I didn't go inside the cathedral in the town square, but some people did and left a couple of $ in the donation box. If you want to tour the fort (we would have if we hadn't been on the tram tour) it's a $3 entrance fee.

 

No idea about tipping in the restaurants as we didn't eat in town.

A past guest said they had to take buses instead of the tram. How about your tour? Thanks.

We've had from inside to mini suite. It totally depends on the cruise. We had a mini suite on our Alaska cruise because we were to only ones with a balcony and we were in a large group. We have a balcony for our cruise next Saturday because the price was what I've paid for an inside. We have a balcony going to Hawaii next year. Then a lot of Caribbean cruises we have taken an inside guarantee so we can afford to take more cruises. Mainly, just get me on the ship.

Having just finished 7 days on the Golden Princess, I'm determined to book our next cruise on a ship that has a well-engineered buffet. Any thoughts out there?

 

I'm told the Golden's approach of pitting grazer against grazer isn't repeated on later ships. Does that mean you have to go with the newest and largest ships? I really don't want the Regal or Royal and would like to try one of the smaller ships (Pacific, Ocean, Island, Coral) but I guess those aren't likely to have updated buffets. Thanks in advance.

 

Jim

We were on the Golden Princess last year and absolutely HATED the way the buffet lines are laid out. We cruised on the Caribbean Princess earlier this year and they were identical. That has to be the worst layout, ever!

We'll be in Trujillo on November 5, so please keep the information coming! It's great to hear that the port seems decent!

Are you on the roll call for that cruise? We will also be on that cruise. I'm ready!

I am just back from the 10/11 Jewel sailing, so we have now experienced Trujillo firsthand! Some of our experiences are going to be unusual, because there was a HUGE amount of fanfare over our arrival - getting off the "tender boats" (more on that later), we were greeted by a red carpet type experience - photographers, media, lots of locals clapping and cheering. It was cool! I didn't see this, but apparently, the VP of Honduras came and there was a ceremony with the captain of the Jewel. So, we certainly felt welcomed!

 

The town itself is charming. We felt like we were getting to experience authentic Honduras, as there weren't any of the usual tourist trap places - no Margaritavilles or Diamond Internationals to be found (yet... I'm sure it's only a matter of time. We enjoyed that aspect of the stop, but if you are the sort of traveler who seeks out the familiar, you won't find it here). There was a shopping area that you had to walk through upon disembarkation, but it was at least half empty. We didn't spend too much time there, but prices seemed reasonable.

 

Outside of the gates, there were LOTS of locals, both Honduran and ex-pat, who were offering tours of various sorts. We had already booked with Victor Bodden, so we didn't pay close attention to what they were offering. Friends of ours met an American and paid him $150 for their group of 8 (4 adults, 4 kids) to do a driving tour of the city (they said he was very informative) and then they went to his house, which was up on the mountain overlooking the bay for drinks and snacks. The tour we booked with Victor Bodden was the lagoon and mangroves boat tour, and it was... rustic! The boat itself was in good shape, although it didn't look like much, but the seats were uncomfortable, there were not enough life jackets (EEK!), and the tour guide did not speak much English, so not so much with the "guide" part. Victor was there in Trujillo, and after the trip was over, he asked us for our feedback. He was very responsive, and knowing his reputation, I am sure he'll get the kinks worked out quickly. This was a common theme among people we talked to about their experiences in Trujillo - things were less than ideal, but everyone was very friendly and wanting feedback about how to make it better. Oh, and prices were quite reasonable everywhere we went - food, drinks, local products. I didn't feel like they were trying to rip us off.

 

Oh.. and the tender boats. There were none! This is another thing that I'm sure will be operational sooner rather than later, but there were no local tender boats, so we tendered in on the lifeboats from the Jewel! Definitely a unique experience!

 

Overall, we really enjoyed our day in Trujillo, but I do think it is important to keep an open mind and realize that they are trying to figure things out from their end just as much as we are from ours.

I read somewhere that the public beaches are going to be closed when the cruise ships are in. Did you see any public beaches with easy access? We don't want to stay at the beach long enough to pay for a resort day trip but would like to wade in a little. [emoji6]

I am just back from the 10/11 Jewel sailing, so we have now experienced Trujillo firsthand! Some of our experiences are going to be unusual, because there was a HUGE amount of fanfare over our arrival - getting off the "tender boats" (more on that later), we were greeted by a red carpet type experience - photographers, media, lots of locals clapping and cheering. It was cool! I didn't see this, but apparently, the VP of Honduras came and there was a ceremony with the captain of the Jewel. So, we certainly felt welcomed!

 

The town itself is charming. We felt like we were getting to experience authentic Honduras, as there weren't any of the usual tourist trap places - no Margaritavilles or Diamond Internationals to be found (yet... I'm sure it's only a matter of time. We enjoyed that aspect of the stop, but if you are the sort of traveler who seeks out the familiar, you won't find it here). There was a shopping area that you had to walk through upon disembarkation, but it was at least half empty. We didn't spend too much time there, but prices seemed reasonable.

 

Outside of the gates, there were LOTS of locals, both Honduran and ex-pat, who were offering tours of various sorts. We had already booked with Victor Bodden, so we didn't pay close attention to what they were offering. Friends of ours met an American and paid him $150 for their group of 8 (4 adults, 4 kids) to do a driving tour of the city (they said he was very informative) and then they went to his house, which was up on the mountain overlooking the bay for drinks and snacks. The tour we booked with Victor Bodden was the lagoon and mangroves boat tour, and it was... rustic! The boat itself was in good shape, although it didn't look like much, but the seats were uncomfortable, there were not enough life jackets (EEK!), and the tour guide did not speak much English, so not so much with the "guide" part. Victor was there in Trujillo, and after the trip was over, he asked us for our feedback. He was very responsive, and knowing his reputation, I am sure he'll get the kinks worked out quickly. This was a common theme among people we talked to about their experiences in Trujillo - things were less than ideal, but everyone was very friendly and wanting feedback about how to make it better. Oh, and prices were quite reasonable everywhere we went - food, drinks, local products. I didn't feel like they were trying to rip us off.

 

Oh.. and the tender boats. There were none! This is another thing that I'm sure will be operational sooner rather than later, but there were no local tender boats, so we tendered in on the lifeboats from the Jewel! Definitely a unique experience!

 

Overall, we really enjoyed our day in Trujillo, but I do think it is important to keep an open mind and realize that they are trying to figure things out from their end just as much as we are from ours.

I read somewhere that the public beaches are going to be closed when the cruise ships are in. Did you see any public beaches with easy access? We don't want to stay at the beach long enough to pay for a resort day trip but would like to wade in a little. [emoji6]

I've been on quite a few cruises that require tendering in, including Belize this last April, and I've never been on a lifeboat. Guess I haven't been to the right ports.

I am just back from the 10/11 Jewel sailing, so we have now experienced Trujillo firsthand! Some of our experiences are going to be unusual, because there was a HUGE amount of fanfare over our arrival - getting off the "tender boats" (more on that later), we were greeted by a red carpet type experience - photographers, media, lots of locals clapping and cheering. It was cool! I didn't see this, but apparently, the VP of Honduras came and there was a ceremony with the captain of the Jewel. So, we certainly felt welcomed!

 

The town itself is charming. We felt like we were getting to experience authentic Honduras, as there weren't any of the usual tourist trap places - no Margaritavilles or Diamond Internationals to be found (yet... I'm sure it's only a matter of time. We enjoyed that aspect of the stop, but if you are the sort of traveler who seeks out the familiar, you won't find it here). There was a shopping area that you had to walk through upon disembarkation, but it was at least half empty. We didn't spend too much time there, but prices seemed reasonable.

 

Outside of the gates, there were LOTS of locals, both Honduran and ex-pat, who were offering tours of various sorts. We had already booked with Victor Bodden, so we didn't pay close attention to what they were offering. Friends of ours met an American and paid him $150 for their group of 8 (4 adults, 4 kids) to do a driving tour of the city (they said he was very informative) and then they went to his house, which was up on the mountain overlooking the bay for drinks and snacks. The tour we booked with Victor Bodden was the lagoon and mangroves boat tour, and it was... rustic! The boat itself was in good shape, although it didn't look like much, but the seats were uncomfortable, there were not enough life jackets (EEK!), and the tour guide did not speak much English, so not so much with the "guide" part. Victor was there in Trujillo, and after the trip was over, he asked us for our feedback. He was very responsive, and knowing his reputation, I am sure he'll get the kinks worked out quickly. This was a common theme among people we talked to about their experiences in Trujillo - things were less than ideal, but everyone was very friendly and wanting feedback about how to make it better. Oh, and prices were quite reasonable everywhere we went - food, drinks, local products. I didn't feel like they were trying to rip us off.

 

Oh.. and the tender boats. There were none! This is another thing that I'm sure will be operational sooner rather than later, but there were no local tender boats, so we tendered in on the lifeboats from the Jewel! Definitely a unique experience!

 

Overall, we really enjoyed our day in Trujillo, but I do think it is important to keep an open mind and realize that they are trying to figure things out from their end just as much as we are from ours.

Thanks for sharing all the info. Tendering in on the lifeboat - wow. We leave in 13 days and are looking forward to the new port.

We were on the Elation in August with 2 of my grandchildren. It was the 1st time we purchased FTTF. Having the grandkids with us, it was great, but I'm not sure if I would get it just for my husband and me. Almost everything I enjoyed about it (early boarding, room ready early, etc) was because we had kids along. Only you can decide if it is a good VALUE for you.

Hi Everyone,

 

I depart Saturday, October 11th on the Jewell. I will try to see what others enjoy during our visit to Trujillo (October 15th) and report back to you.

 

Larry

Thanks, Larry. We leave 11/1 so I'm looking forward to the info you will have to share.

I can leave the driving to someone else! (I'm a long haul truck driver.)

I'm right there with you on most of your comment - I enjoy SOME of the shows but skip almost evening else.

I should proofread before I post! 'Everything else.'

Wow, I read the original post and was surprised by all the comments. Maybe I misunderstood it. I thought it was about the inconsistent way the dress code was enforced in the dining room, not the reasoning behind the dress code.

Hey, it all goes to why you cruise.... to party and whoop it up or to enjoy the pleasure of ocean travel.

In some 30 years of sailing, I have only been to 7 shows, 1 midnight buffets and 3 deck parties..... and zero casinos. We skip the faux ( to us) captains welcome in total.. ( we don't know him and likewise he doesn't know us.. no emotion connection. Really like its a big deal for either of us?)

 

To me all that is fluff and not why I cruise. Then again there are people who are the exact opposite. Shows, bars, pool parties, meet the captain sort of stuff which is cool if that's you want in life.

 

I find the more I cruise the less I want in terms of activities and the more I want in enrichment of the journey and the conversations with fellow like passengers...

I'm right there with you on most of your comment - I enjoy SOME of the shows but skip almost evening else.