KarlK

Is not "closed loop" leaving and returning from U.S. Port? No one in my family has ever gotten a passport and we have done 5 cruises to Eastern and Western Caribbean ports. Birth Certificate should be all you need.

Not having a TV at home, getting one at sea or in hotels is a perk, even with 1 channel. My kids use their phones to watch stuff, I use my laptop (I just can't talk myself into getting a phone). My laptop stays home on cruises, as vacation is a break from these devices. Then again, like others have said, I rarely am in my room. Out by 6AM for coffee, and might, not everday will I see my room again before 9PM (Port days I return to the room after port to drop off new found treasures). 🙂

Yep, to each his own but it does not factor in my decisions. Then again, myself and no one in my immediate family has gotten it. Or any local neighbors. In the last 4 years we have had 3 minor cases with the 24 of us at work (simple flu like symptoms out for 10 days). We also only had 1 case in our towns Senior Center and no one passed in our town of it. In fact, personally, I don't know of anyone who was hospitalized.

Taking food OFF and ON board: I have only been on 4 cruises (5th coming March 2025, last was in 2012) but two examples of food travels: At the Belize port we took a tour to the Belikin Brewery. It was a great tour, drank tons of free beer in the tap room. I looked over at my 12-year old daughter who was given a soft drink, just as she pulled from her pocket, unbeknownst to us a napkin holding 10 strips of ships bacon. The second food smuggle was in Grand Cayman when we were running late for the ship while dining, we took the order to go, getting bag on board with two huge bags of dripping stewed cowsfoot, oxtail and curried goat. Needless to say, dinner was nice and we ate in our room that night.

Cozumel is fun to wander on the wild side, fewer people by far and awesome rock formations and bigger crashing waves. Good wild beach combing. Roatan one can do the same things by doing the East side. Punta Gorda, Garifuna culture, a few long deserted beaches.

Keep her running, I am on her in March 2025

We hit Roatan in 2012 and have plans to visit again this coming March of 2025.In 2012 we visited a school and a childrens home (Majken Broby) to drop off donations and school supplies. We then went high into the hills for some overlooks, ate some baleadas from a little open air cafe and finished off with a quick West Bay visit. We wanted to see the West Bay beaches, but also were not keen for the crowds in that area. Next year upon our return we want to do the East end of the island. Interested in Punta Gorda and the Garifuna culture. We also are interested in the brewery on the island, since this was not an option last time. We also were able to hook up with our tour guide of 12 years ago (Juan Carlos of islandertours).

Anyone ever do a day in Punta Gorda or play on the East side of the island? Camp Bay beaches?

I do consider myself a foodie with a passion for the odd and rare. The first thing I do when planning port stops is food. When in Grand Cayman how can one not do turtle or find jerk chicken from a street vendor. Maybe a small cafe serving stewed cowsfoot! When in Belize, one has to track down gibnut/paca! WONDERFUL, and some rice and beans with oxtail or Chimole/black soup, fry jacks or conch! When in Coz or Mahahual (or perhaps my fave foodie Mexico town Ensenada) gotta do seafood, Urchin cerviche, shark tacos, whole fried fish or Octopus When in Roatan, going crazy on baleadas, find a shot of gifiti to toss back, eat a plate of Lionfish And if a port has a brewery, like Cayman, Roatan or Belize, it is a stop!!!

Jaime's will be limited, both at Blue Reef and at Luna, capping off how many they handle. Krazy Lobster takes all. Jaime has an All-Inclusive deal, Krazy is just PAYG I believe. Both have good reviews as I see

Exactly. We are among those that do not pre pay any gratuities and have them removed. We tip directly who we see fit. We also do not use the MDR. We are on vacation so I only pack shorts and it takes too long. We buffet all the way. Did MDR only our first cruise of the 4 we have done and have never done specialty sit down restaurant due to cost.

Have always wanted to do Halifax, Fortress Louisburg, Maine etc. cruise. I wish they were available in other times of the year. My job restricts any vacation time July-Nov. It is on my bucket list someday. For now, a winter cruise every couple year in the C aribbean is working 🙂

We always seem to cruise in a group of 7-10 folks. I think among our group ages 19-65 only 4 have passports. We only cruise the Caribbean, so that works. Those 4 never brings theirs on shore (I am told by them). It might be a good idea if you are on a Euro cruise I imagine.

Towels are pretty light weight. I have never seen one too heavy to move off a lounge chair before. I have no issue in finding a chair and moving a towel.

I find it totally acceptable. Then again, I am a 99 cent Gas Station coffee swiller.

We just booked a cruise for March of 2025, it will be our 4th. We try to cruise every 3-4 years if financially viable. We did take time away from cruising for 8 years, feeling a child under 8 does not benefit from a cruise that much. We often (atleast in Belize and Roatan) try to visit both a local grocery store, local neighborhood, local school and even visited an orphanage on Roatan. A visit to a local zoo or recognized natural Park is also educational. I know my kids loved wandering Cozumels undeveloped side of the island as well, crashing waves, rock formations, little critters all new to them. As young teenagers now, they still learn stuff. Basically, we tend to make the trip educational for the kiddos and not just waterslides and beaches

I think I have a stop at Costa Maya nailed down to one of these two. I imagine pressure from "Beach vendors" is the same. Both are same area, both have food recommendations. Any words, warnings or opinions from this crowd?

In my young 60s, retirement not in view. I wish it was, very tired and sore, still doing physical work. I am able to swing enough time and money for a cruise every 2-3 years. Would love to be done by 70. Good news, cruise coming up March of 2025, less than a year!

So true, the windjammer is so crazy on embarkation. We eat a huge brunch enroute to the port, that we can get on board and relax without food being any priority. Sail away is a great time to explore the ship staying inside and away from the crowds up top.

There are things I should bring and don't, and things I do bring. I don't bring a tie and I don't even bring a long pair of pants. It is shorts, it is winter and I am on vacation down south. I have a few times only brought sandals. One serious thing I have forgotten on 3 of my 4 cruises are sunglasses, just never wear them at home, but find they help in the Caribbean. Now, as for essential AND fun, I need books, one won't do. Gotta be paper not on a screen. So 2 books are lugged around and get read several times a day. Oh, and I always bring my appetite. I don't own a phone and would not even consider hauling my laptop along, it is one of the things I need a vacation from.

Does the Wet Lizard still provide various tours these days? Has anyone taken one and have a review?

Who have folks used to tour the local brewery? Years ago I simply booked through the Wet Lizard.

Wife and I do not have any phone, except for the old landline in the house. It has never been an issue cruising for us.

exactly! I remove then pay cash to whom I see fit though out the cruise. Some receiving only after the week. I rarely use MDR so daily tipping there is a waste. Some cruises I drink, others I do not, so bartenders may or may not receive. Plus I have had some bad room keep in the past, VERY rare, but it has happened. I like having the control who gets my hard earned money

Do people actually cruise for the food? I will admit, I am a pizza in the windjammer over MDR kinda guy. I hit great foods while in port, a true goal of mine, be it stewed cows foot in the Caymans, gibnut in Belize, Mexican seafood off the boats in Ensenada. Mass knocking out meals on a boat cannot compare to a land based restaurant. Even back in the day when I would go to the MDR, I would not say the steak or lobster was prepared spectacular. Is what it is, never horrible, but fine dining in this day an age of more people on board means more money is past history.