EandD'sMom

I thought I'd let people know that if you are traveling with anyone vulnerable to Nassau then watch for the scammers at the "skincare" companies giving "free" samples.  I don't know if I can say the name on here.

My husband and I took a tour while my older in-laws (late 80's)  walked around Nassau.  My mother-in-law was talked into getting a "free facial."  She is too nice and doesn't know how to stand up for herself.  They also got my father-in-law into getting his "free" facial.  Well, long story short, they talked my mother-in-law into signing up for skincare that they told her was 75.  She thought $75 dollars.  They got back to the ship and the credit card company contacted them and told my father-in-law that there was a suspicious charge for $7,500.  He disputed it and found out that while they were giving him his facial that they had gotten his wife to sign a paper saying she wanted this face cream.  We were hours away from sail away so he returned the cream and all the "free samples."  They took the stuff back.  Well, he gets back to his home and they keep mailing them skincare, which he promptly sends back.  They charged his credit card again.  His credit card company says they have to pay because the company has a "no returns" policy.  

This has been a big headache.  I didn't want anyone else going through this.  I feel guilty because we should've been keeping an eye on them the whole time.  These people pray on the elderly and this is a lot of money!  

We used Cheryl's Bahamas Taxi and Tours in January of this year.  It was worth every penny.  It's like we had our own personal taxi for the day.  It was $55 per hour for 2 adults and 2 kids.  We took 5 hour tour, but only needed 4 1/2 hours.

We went to Fort Fincastle/ 66 steps, the Pirate Museum,  Adastra Gardens and Zoo, and ate at Frankie Goes Bananas.  Our driver drove us everywhere and waited while we enjoyed the attractions.  He also told us about the area and provided Bahama mamas for my husband and I.  The kids got bottled water and juice.   We would do this again in a heartbeat.  

Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the buffet water dispensers ask you to not fill your water bottles at them? I still see people do it. It is gross when they don't use a clean glass. I do prefer to bring water on board. My kids drink a lot of it and it's nice to have in the room.

I am also disappointed with all the changes, not just this one. That's what's driving us away. We are finally platinum and now this? What's next? I don't want to have to start over with another cruise line.

When my 7 and 10 year olds were combined for activities in kids club, it was on the Pearl Alaska June 5-12 cruise. Even in the "off season" Jan. and Feb. when we usually cruise, I have not seen them combined before.

My experience is that they will not let them move up between groups. My kids are 4 years apart. They don't have any problems being apart now after 5 cruises. During certain times of kid's club, they have "free play" when my kids have gotten to play with each other. On my last cruise on Pearl, the "Freestyle Free Play" times were 9-10 am, 1-2 pm, 10-10:30 pm, and after hours late night fun zone. Also, on Pearl, alot of the games were combined for ages 6-9 and 10-12 year olds. My 7 year old told me he was practically in the group with my 10 year old. I guess it depends on how many kids there are in each age group. I hope I've helped a little.

Candice