m steve

You can buy it online at Igourmet.com.

for many years. They have a tasting shop and sales room close to the pier. The prices are better in St. Thomas.

which is a fine PR rum. Select the oldest rum you can aford for the most flavor. Avoid the white/gold rums that are available in the states. Only good for mixing.

We booked Levi but wanted to leave the ship a bit late-around 9 am so he had a second van and driver for the 4 of us. Wonderful tour even with occasional rain. Driver guidedus on the trails at the falls and took us to the best sights. Had lunch at a nice restaurant near falls and had him join us. Great strong rum drinks. He took us back to town about 2:30 so we could do a little shopping and dropped us at supermarket where we bought the hot sauces and coffee at reasonable prices compared to shops along the road. We each gave him $50 so he got a reasonable tip forthe short count passengers. We passed Levi several times and his van was loaded. I would definately recommend them over the ship's tour.

Read that there will a gay pride event at the Ritz this Sat (27th) Anyone know anything about it?

Didn't mean to denigrate the lobster in Britain or even France. I just didn't think that the lobster tails on shipboard would be considered the real thing except by Americans from the Blue states.

has claws and is steamed whole fresh and alive screaming in their Neptune language while they turn red. Best place to eat a lobster is in New England or a top quality steak house. Lobster should be a minimum of 2 lbs and up to 5-6 lbs. No the bigger ones are not tough and are really tasty and worth the effort. The body and claws have excellent meat, some of which you have to work a little to find. Ship board tails are usually from warm water clawless crustations and don't have mush taste since they have been frozen for weeks or months. You can find these in Sams or Costco and are easy to cook. On lobster night there are usually really good choices for dinner. And for those into competitive eating to see how many of these things they can eat, they probably never eat a real steamed lobster. Even most shrimp have more flavor. I am a lobster snob and won't waste my time on inferior food.

Why can't a ship operate like a quality restaurant and let you make reservations as you wish. I might like a table for 2 at 7 pm one evening and then for 4 at 7:30 another night or just book at 7:30 every night for 2 or 4 depending who we are traveling with. I never go to early seating and 8 is a little late as we can end up having too many cocktails before dinner. If the dining room can't make your requested time then they can offer alternates or other dining rooms.

Sailed on May 20th and just returned. The aft cabin was excellent on deck 4 with lots of privacy and a deep balcony. New linens were the best of any cruise (taken 10) but ammentities in cabin were minimal. Cabin steward was a delight-Julia from Estonia. Uses bar coupons and they worked well except for 1 bartender in Sachmos who wouldn't go over posted value. All the others did.

Some negs. Shoping for watches I found better prices on line and no need to exceed my DF allowance. Liquor prices were ok. Dining room a big disappointment especially the quality off the beef but the Golden Fleece was terrific and ate there 4 times. Meat was flavorful and tender and they gave you real steak knives with sharp edge. Could not finish the porterhouse but the cut it up and we had it with drinks the next day. Beautiful Dover Sole. Ate it twice.

The library was a joke. About 100 used paperbacks and a few hardbacks that looked like passengers left them on board. If you plan on reading bring your own books. Even the librarian was embarrassed at the selection atnd they only are open 2 hours a day.

Went to one show and it was so bad we walked out. Cruise director was overly loud and obnoxious and dressed like he was auditioning for a road company of "Guys and Dolls".

Too many people allowed in dining room in shorts. May be because they were so fat the maitre D was afraid to stop them. I have never seen so many obese people on a ship. It looked like they were handed the menu and said "YES!"

Well it's back to Princess or Celebrity or HAL for us.

Are they in the balcony cabins?

I'm in Ocala, Marion Co. next door. No activity or bars here. Very closeted in the bible belt. All council members are Republicans if that gives you a message but no anti activity here except in churches. Every fast food or chain restaurant and a few locals that are decent. Some of the big developers here are gay.

the Princess mini suites are about the same size as other cruise lines veranda cabin, full width couch like X or Hal, 2 tvs? and a tub. It's just that the standard veranda cabins are small. They charge about $600 more for it.

I've shopped their twice and feel that their prices are good, not great and be ready to negotiate and walk out. List price is about 2-3 times what you will actually pay so if they want $4000, offer $1000 and deal from there.

It doesn't matter what ship or line they overcook them until the could jump onto the bun w/o the cooks assistance. I know that this is for safety reasons but I would rather take my chances with a moist one than the cardboard they serve.

I would like to see the cruise ship open inventory on their web sites. This way if there is a certain ship and cruise you are interested in you can see if there is anything available and can compare sailings and prices. I know that the TAs can get this info but it would be easier if we could make the choice and then we could comparison shop the TAs .

I have used several agents and sometimes my local gets the best deal with perks and sometimes I do better getting miles booking w/ United. I never book directly w/the cruise line.

If you buy minis just to smuggle on board it would be cheaper to buy a bottle from room service. You get 50ml for about $2-3. A bottle is 1000ml and is about $20-25. Thats 20x mini cost. Just take what you want and put it well wrapped in your luggage and nothing will happen. I pay less than $10 for a 1.75 of vodka (brand) so minis don't pay. Never have been stopped at initial boarding and we take 2 1.75's.

On their tour sheet they stop at one distillery. I would like to see Trios Rivers, Bally, Clement and any other quality rhumeries. I gues if we can get 4 people we should be able to get a cab to take us on a tour. I'm on the 11/15 Volendam.

I'll be sailing on Volendam in November and wonder if any one else is interested in a rum tour then. We'll be there from 7:30-2;00 pm.

Does he have a web site? What was his charge for a regular car, not a jeep?Thanks.

I booked by phone w/ Alamo for $28 from 9 am til 2 pm. We need to take a cab to airport and they will drive us back. I have rented from Hertz in the past and they try to rip you off. That was the local franchisee and Hertz us sent a refund for the difference between guaranteed rate and what they charged us.:)

Just pack carefully w/ clothes wrapped around bottles so they don't break. You can also put big plastic bags around just in case. Many vodkas and rums come in plastic 1.75 bottles. No one says anything if there are bottles on the counter in your room. :)

I checked overstock.com and they listed several models at discounted prices. Go to their site, click watches and then select Omega and it will give you list and selling prices. You can use this as a guide when you get there or as a bagaining chip. If you belong to United Mileage plus and go thru their web site and use your United card you get 3 miles for every $ you spend.

I would really do a good amount of research before you go and check the price on the specific model you want. I have3 had some good deals there but on the whole there seems to be better prices on line such as overstock.com.

Movado seems to be on sale on every island and also on line. Omega is not that well discounted so check around at several shops qnd negotiate. I've bought Seiko brands at their outlet storesfor less than Caribbean duty free.

I think the finest old rums come from Martinique and I would love to tour a few of the rhummeries. Is there a scheduled tour that I can take? I would like to buy some aged rum to take home. Do they sell at the Rhummeries or is there a recommended shop? Trois Riveres is my favorite. Better than cognac.:confused: