Kodiak99

While on the encore last April we sat in the lake for a while before proceeding. I don’t think it’s unusual.

We cruised the canal on the Encore in April. The only one of those ports we stopped at was Puerto Quetzal. We did Antigua on your own (or something like that). It was a nice tour bus up to Antigua. It was probably my favorite excursion. I would caution that the streets in Antigua are VERY uneven and make walking difficult. Make sure to wear good shoes, not sandals.

I agree. Tampa does not have enough space to accommodate the number of passengers trying to embark and disembark. They need to invest in their port if they want passengers to come. Pack your patience, especially for disembarkation. In November, they only had 2 customs officers for the Dawn, and they were processing people on the ship because the port is not large enough.

I am really looking forward to your review. We are sailing on Grandeur in January. It will be our first RCI. We usually sail NCL and have done Disney as well. You mentioned that you purchased the drink package when you figured it met your break even. Can you explain what that figure is? I’m trying do decide if I should purchase or go a la carte. Thanks

Just seeking opinions from others. We have done several Caribbean cruises and are booked for the Panama Canal next April. Would others recommend Australia or the Mediterranean for our next cruise? Both would be new to us. Just wondering what others think. Thanks