Krissfon

I never loan/front money for almost anyone. I gift it, it just works better that way mentally for me. I'm not well off but better off than many I know or am related to. I'd rather buy groceries/diapers than trust they'll use money responsibly. Here is my 2 cents: it sounds like you've made up your mind about showing up for the cruise expecting people who lied to you to be ready to pay you back the cost of the cruise plus have money to apply to their spending account. Change your expectations of them, they've shown you who they are. If you are intent on doing this trip for your GM and her sister then have cash in your hand to put on their account and know you will never see the money repaid. It is now a gift for all involved especially GM. She lives with them and knew at least some of their money situation and allowed it to happen anyway and even if she didn't once she found out she still insisted it continue on your dime. I hope you can enjoy your trip.

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You're pictures are sensational! I really loved the first sunset photo. Thank you so much for this review, I've read some of your other ones and have come to the conclusion that you need to travel more and review more just so you can share your photojournalism talents with us.

If you spent much of the week chatting about personal lives while letting her guard down and she was comfortable enough to give you her last name then she probably wouldn't have a problem with the friend request. If you got her last name in a roundabout way and used that little piece of information to find her then I'd say pass until you ever meet again

While we didn't purchase the internet for my daughter we did allow her to play games on the iPad during down time in the room. She was 8 at the time. We didn't allow her to take it out of the room though and it did fit in the safe while we were out. Mostly we were busy with activities, swimming, camp, restaurants and shows but sometimes we would want some quiet time without the crowds so we'd escape to the room and maybe order a snack from room service and just chill for an hour or so. Also, the weather was pretty cold for a day and a half since we left out of Baltimore. When we cruise again I'll let her bring her cell phone and probably be more lenient about bringing it out of the room so she can take pictures but I wouldn't let her take it somewhere like the camp.

You should check out the Melia day pass. It's right across from Balmoral island and has a really nice beach with amazing pools. What I like about the day pass is you can come and go as you please vs being on the excursion timing. If I get back to Nassau I'd either go back to Melia or try the Hilton colonial (since HC is walking distance vs cab to Melia)

When we went to Aruba we had heard how amazing the water is there and wanted to go to the beach but when we actually docked and felt the sun I knew there was no way I'd last any length of time in the sun and water. I'm pretty fair but my husband isn't so it didn't bother him as much. What we did instead was book with carnival a tour to a butterfly refuge and an aloe farm. I don't know if they still offer it but I would think young kids would enjoy seeing so many butterflies :) Whatever you decide you'll have a nice time. The island is beautiful, like a desert in the middle of an ocean.

I make my own salad dressing by putting oil in a small bowl then squeezing juice from a lemon wedge in it with a tiny bit of salt and pepper then stir it quick to emulsify it. I saw it on Food Network and have been doing it ever since!

My family found the bed in our balcony room 5141 this past May extremely uncomfortable and hard. The sleeper couch was more comfortable! I noticed when we were docked in Freeport that there was a large pile of mattresses just outside the ship. At the time I thought maybe some were being replaced. When I cruise again I'm definitely bringing a foam topper.

OP, I've been to Indonesia where I spent 3 weeks visiting a cousin who worked for the oil industry. What I learned was the driver available basically 24/7 was paid around $400/month (2001) and the live in maid available 24/6 made $30/month in Jakarta. The maid sent nearly all her money to her parents in southern Java to send her son to school because it's not free. It's absolutely a goal of many Indonesians to learn English so they can get jobs on cruise ships. The driver made a good living by their standards. My relatives with their really good American incomes and oil company benefits lived exceptionally well. You can't judge the wages people make on the ships through our priveledged American position in the world. I'm happy for the people who've been able to secure a job on the cruise ship because it means they've made it.

You know you're reading a really great story when you chuckle a lot and tear up a little all while looking at someone's amazing adventure! Thank you for writing this and please know that even though I've never met you or your beloved, I can feel the love you shared. I hope you continue to travel and share your future stories with us! Thank you!

Just follow the link for the price list. It depends on whether you want food. Yes the chairs were included and there were palapas along the beach that are also included. By the pools there's plenty of trees and vegetation so I just pulled a chair in the shade. I didn't notice any hammocks but I wasn't looking for them either.

Here's a link to the booking for Melia

https://www.bookatourcaribbean.com/MeliaNassauDayPass

We did the day pass with lunch at O'grille and were very happy with our day. My 9 year old loved it, especially the fresh water pool. It's beautiful there.

Hi, here's a link with prices for you:

https://www.bookatourcaribbean.com/MeliaNassauDayPass

We just returned and had a great time. Our ship didn't arrive in port until 11 so we didn't get to the resort until after 12. It only takes about 20 minutes by cab. My daughter loved our day there. The beach was calm and clear aqua blue sea with tropical fish swimming around us. We went in the fresh water pools which were a nice change from all the salt water. The pools have amazing waterfalls throughout and they're spread around the resort so it didn't feel crowded. We paid for a pass with O'grille lunch, it was an ok lunch of burgers fries and various salads. I've heard they don't kick you out right at 5 when the pass ends but we were ready to go by then after all the swimming and sun. I would do this again without hesitation! I can't comment on a city tour except that the can driver answered all our questions as we were passing through Nassau both times.

Hi Maddle,

We just walked off the ship and through the cruise center. Right along the road are a long line of taxis. We went in the van kind. It was $20 total for the 3 of us each way. Outside of the hotel were a couple taxis just waiting around for people. I've read where some have had the hotel call for a taxi when one wasn't there. It's about 20 minutes from ship to hotel but traffic can get very busy during peak times. 2 van taxis would work for your group. Good luck! Have fun

Hi, my husband, 9 yo daughter and I just got back from our cruise and did the day pass at the Melia. It was really great! I booked online paid a deposit then paid the rest cash when we arrived. I booked just the day pass originally for $35/adult but it was only $4 more to add lunch at O'Grille. We didn't get into port until 11 and weren't allowed off until closer to 12. After catching a cab we got there around 12:30. We swam in the ocean for a while, then checked out the fresh water pool. Around 2:30 we went to find o'grille but the lady working there pointed us to an outdoor buffet near the pool and bathrooms. Works for us! The food was ok - basic burgers, fries with a really good salad. The waitress brings your drinks. This took a while and she messed up my kids drink. No biggie, she drank gingerale instead of lemonade :) there were about 5 desserts to try. We got one that looked like pudding with whipped cream on top and gave it to the kid, turns out it was rum pudding. Oh well, one bite of that and the kid made a sour face. We stayed until around 4:30. It was very sunny and we were feeling it. Taxi back was smooth. I would definitely do this again!

Heres the link:

https://www.bookatourcaribbean.com/MeliaNassauDayPass

Current speculation is summer 2017 in March, and the rest of the year in May. But DCL tends to release when they want to, not on a set schedule. And what they release may not be the full schedule.

Thank you for the response! OP: this is a very informative post :)

From what I've seen opening day pricing has been the best. Shoulder season is less expensive and repo cruises usually run less than a normal loop cruise.

Hi, do you know when Disney releases the cruise prices? Thanks

Thank you for this review, I traveled to Indonesia in 2001 for 3 weeks. My cousin and her husband were ex-pats for an oil company and love when people would come and visit. Your pictures brought back so many memories and I could actually feel SE Asia again! I'm a little sad because I cancelled my plans for 4 days in Malaysia at a resort on Langkawi Island due to a small respiratory infection from Jakarta's air quality. Your pictures are simply amazing and I'm glad you had a great time while alone. My 4 days in Bali alone wouldn't be how I would choose to do that island again :)

PS Because of my very limited Indonesian vocabulary I was able to greet my room steward, who was from there, on my first cruise and made his whole face light up. Travel rocks :p