TTEllis

Just now, sailingkiwi said:

I'm sailing solo on the Grand Princess in January. What is the best way to book dining if I am wanting to join others at a table?

Just tell the Maitre'd when you walk in the Michaegelo Dining Room your solo and you would be happy to sit at a table with others. He or she will walk you to a big table with your fellow cruisers and seat you. Nice hello all, big smile and your in. Done it dozens of times, never a problem. 

Have fun no worries.😎

On 2/26/2024 at 8:15 PM, Celandine said:

@TTEllis yeah the people factor is actually why I have hesitated to return to Carnival, I enjoyed many cruises with them and they have introduced things that I am interested in but all of my negative people encounters happened with them, and most on my last cruise with them because the crew were part of it. 
 

having been away from all cruises for 6 years I expect things are different, but I quite agree Alaska on Princess, I can’t lose! 

I loved the Carnival Fantasy Class Ships back in the 90's True "Fun Ships". I sailed twice on the Sensation it was a blast. Got on the Destiny in 1997 Inaugural last Carnival Cruise. 

Jumped to Princess on the advice of a good travel agent and have never looked back.

I was on the Carnival Destiny 4th of July 1997, it was a nightmare. Knew I could find another level of cruising and did with Princess. It's just like anything else you get what you pay for. Have fun sailing Princess solo. 

Alaska on Princess solo you need to forget about everything else and go have a time on your Alaska Cruise. 🤜🤛🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Emerald Princess solo there's so much to do all day and night long you can't do everything. Explorers, Crooners and Adagio are awesome bars especially solo. Solo I prefer watching show's in Explorers Lounge more than I do the Princess Theatre. For several reasons mostly bar service and it's easy to get to the restroom and in and out of your seat. Princess Theatre is a nightmare.

Crooners and Adagio are the finest martini bars I've ever been in. Great venues on the ship to hangout solo and enjoy a cocktail or two. 

The Emerald Princess is so solo friendly after my first sailing on it, 2007 Inaugural I went back and did it 4 more time's. 

I would cruise on her again solo I'm just trying to cruise different ships. 

It really doesn't matter what ship you cruise with Princess if you want to cruise solo like I do and do your own thing whenever you want Princess is the only way to go. Has been the only way to go for quite sometime. 

Have fun cruising Princess solo welcome to the party.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I cruised on the Grand Princess solo 14 days Eastern and Southern Caribbean back in 2012. 2-7 day cruises back to back. Other than the crummy passenger list and my first experience with a crew that was angry and hostile, everything else was great. Not a bad ship undergone extensive renovations over the year's. Grand Princess to Alaska you can't lose it's going to be nice. 

Nope I'm saying he takes you from the pier straight to Long Bay Beach on the other side of the island it's beautiful. Spend the morning on the beach get back in the van go straight to Turners right through the rainforest not the scenic route and spend the rest of the afternoon ON THE BEACH.  I've done this twice, been to Antigua almost a dozen times and going with Lawrence is tough to beat. 

Lawrence will personalize your tour but your not going to find a better day than starting out at Long Bay swimming all morning at the beach packing up around noon and heading straight to Turners Beach. We had all afternoon on Turners it was great.

Long Bay and Turners and I've been to A LOT of beaches on Antigua are my favorite the idea I get to go to both on the same tour is all me. Nice people nice bus nice drinks. 

If you don't want to take a tour and want to spend all day on the beach go straight to Turner's from the pier.

You'll figure it out. Have fun.😎

10 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Best option…. Try Nevis with

https://bluewatersafaris.com/tour/nevis-beach-getaway/

 

Book early

 

They use Lime beach bar, but take the short walk down the beach to “Sunshine’s” to enjoy a few Killer Bees.  Also their menu is good and priced fairly.  WiFi is available and free.  Sunshine’s also offer Killer Bees as a takeaway -

Link - https://www.facebook.com/sunshinenevis/

Enjoy

 

Nice, Thank you.🤜🤛

On 7/1/2023 at 4:52 PM, PORT ROYAL said:

TTE Protocol is to rock up, flash cash, don’t tell them one is from Carnival (lie), take lift, press down, set up a bar tab, enjoy.

Hey PORT ROYAL, 

Let me ask you something. I'm trying to get back to St. Kitts this Thanksgiving(November-December) on another ship visit.

I was going to try something different this visit to St. Kitts and go over to Nevis something I've never done. 

After all is said and done is it worth the time and $$$ to commit to spending the day on Nevis? Or would I be better off staying on St. Kitts and doing the day pass again? Thanks Todd

On 2/24/2024 at 12:43 PM, Roxxy said:

Its a tradition for us to go to Coconuts in Fort Lauderdale.  Has everything you're looking for

https://www.coconutsfortlauderdale.com/

 

Great seafood right on the causeway.

 

I've stay at the Courtyard Marriott right across the street from Coconuts many times, been eating at Coconuts since it opened about 12 year's ago. It's a great location on Seabreeze, easy walking distance to Las Olas and A1A. I think  the food is very over priced, the food was good but nothing special. Service sucked. 

I don't go back there anymore there's too many other great restaurants on Las Olas or upstairs at BeachPlace, or in one of the hotels to eat at Coconuts anymore. 

It's the place to be seen and unless your a local and a regular customer and I'm not, it's not worth it. 

1 hour ago, Grenouille21 said:

 

Thanks. Not interested in a land tour. Hours of driving around in a van or bus is not how I want to spend my precious little time in the Caribbean. 

Lawrence of Antigua is not a land tour. 

We spent the day at 2 of the nicest beaches Turners and Long Bay on opposite ends of the island twice with Lawrence it was GREAT!! After 8-9 visits to Antigua at this point I'm not sure I would spend my day with anyone else.

Good job Bob!!

I don't use alcohol either, I just drink beer and vodka martinis and there happens to be alcohol in them.🥰

No shortage of complainers on any cruise. Hope you had a good time on the Sky Princess. 🤜🤛

Part TWO it is. 😎

2001 Golden Princess Inaugural my first Princess Cruise. Princess Patters there's a Solo Meet and Greet in the Wheelhouse bar. I showed up asked the bartenders about the Meet and Greet they looked at me like I was kidding that was almost 23 years ago and I've never been back to anything solo related ever again. There weren't any solos when I started cruising solo especially on Princess.

I've done a dozen or so nice sailings since never saw another single male female or otherwise😱 ever. 

It's not going to be like that anymore everybody wants to do everything by themselves including cruising. 

The cruise lines are starting to cater financially to solo travellers they don't have a choice, we're the only ones who have any money.

Princess Buffet World Fresh Marketplace (WFM) formerly the Horizon Court. It's not only top shelf as a solo I've never once had a problem ever finding a table or seat on sea days. Never a wait nobody running over top of each other like Carnival and RCCL good grief what a joke. 

WFM it's never failed me especially late night dinner, the vibe is absolutely wonderful up there especially solo. 

Another thing about the WFM I set my backpack down on a chair or table. I'm by myself, I leave to go get lunch at the buffet the thought of coming back to the table and my sh!t sitting in the floor or gone altogether (exactly RCCL or Carnival) never entered my mind. 

Explorers Lounge solo only way to go very rarely when there's a show in Explorers unless you get there at least an hour early(at least) there's no seats left solo I always find a single never a problem and I love Explorers Lounge because of the killer bar service.

Princess Theater doesn't have that I went to a couple shows last time between not being able to get out of the theater and take a whizz and not being able to get another beer it's just not me. 

One of if not the best thing about cruising Princess solo, my cabin and everything in it is just mine. 

I have this incredible room steward come in twice a day and clean everything up those guys are a DIFFERENT KIND of Awesome. 

What else do you want. 

I could go on. This is all your getting tonight I'm tard I'm going to bed.

Night night

Todd, Princess Elite solo.🤜🤛🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I got this.😎

You all let me know when your ready for Part 2, on why cruising Princess Cruise Lines solo is so AWESOME!!

Le'me know I'll give you Part 2.🤜🤛

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I certainly hope Part 1 gave you a little hint on how AWESOME Princess Cruises is. 

On 2/20/2024 at 11:10 PM, Wanderlust2018 said:

 

I just spent 21 nights as a solo cruiser - 7 nights on Sky and 14 nights on Caribbean. 

 

I am very curious about your solo experience on Princess. What made Princess "awesome" for you as a solo?

Sorry for the delayed response you asked alot of question. I certainly hope this post satisfies your curiosity.

Here goes it. 

First and foremost if your going to travel and have lots of fun, you better know how to do it. Especially solo.

I've been doing everything solo for decades when it comes to travelling. I have the time of my life I'm a PRO. An OLD PRO.

Princess NO KIDS, July 4th 1997 I got on the largest cruise ship in the world at the time the Carnival Destiny. 600 unattended children several hundred from Brazil. Brand new ship at the time, total POS ship though. There were so many kids the jacuzzi's poolside had to be shut down twice because they were so full of soft serve ice cream. Fight in the disco. Last Carnival Cruise. 

I don't and never had any children and have absolutely no desire to babysit, hangout with, spend a couple of weeks on MY VACATION with anyone else's children.

Princess NO KIDS, I was on the Emerald Princess in 2013 for 10 days(my last 10 day cruise). I saw a mother pushing a baby stroller get read the absolute "riot act" by a handful of old ladies playing cards on Lido Deck for bringing a baby onboard.

I saw this lady pick her baby up out of the stroller and run away, never saw her again the remainder of the cruise NICE!!

First night on the ship KNOWING AHEAD OF TIME, I'm solo and I enjoy having dinner many nights by myself.

There are a very limited number of 2-top tables, first night I walk in the Michaegelo dining room and meet the Maitre'd I give him a $100 bill. 

While your sitting with someone that sucks or you have absolutely no interest in sitting with much less having dinner with in a lovely dining room on an awesome cruise ship, I'm sitting at a table by myself drinking Belvedere Martini's eating shrimp cocktail. While your standing outside the MDR waiting with everyone else for a table, yep I'm sitting at my own table pounding Belvedere Martini's. 

Pool Decks never ever a problem on Princess getting a nice deck chair, I take care of my poolside waiters I never have to do anything except have fun and do whatever I want to do. 

The bars on Princess Cruise Ship's are unparalleled, I'm not even going to get started on that other than to say Adagio on the Emerald Princess is one of my favorite bars anywhere. 

If you do Princess solo and you don't have a good time, chances are it's not Princess fault. RCCL everybody has there noses buried up each other's ass, worst vibe ever, and too many crummy kids.

Didn't have a good time on Princess it's Princess fault? Anyone looking to be spoon fed on a Princess Cruise because your solo, NCL might be more suited for you. I certainly hope I satisfied your curiosity. I could go on and on about how wonderful Princess is solo as far as I'm concerned on every cruise I take I hope I'm the only solo cruiser on the ship. Later 

Yes it's like a HoHo Bus!!😂😂😂😂

Get a US Passport regardless, how difficult can it be? A passport eliminates any misunderstanding, how much is that worth trying to get back in the country?

Figure it out.

Looks scary!! I've never had a whole lot of luck riding trams straight up mountains.🙈🙈🙈

I saw the trams God forbid your claustrophobic😁😁😁. 

I have enough trouble staying put in the safari van up and over Mount Charlotte Amalie much less sitting locked up in some pod being dragged up a mountain by a cable.🥺🥺🥺

It's why I keep going back. 

HoHo bus wawazzatt?? I have no idea what a HoHo bus is but it sounds like A LOT of fun.😁😁😁

I buy a round trip ticket at the bus station. I think it's $3.75 rt. Always works.

That's Awesome!! Thanks for all the pictures. Appreciate you. 

2 hours ago, Giantfan13 said:

Is this walking tour meeting place near the port or where the ship docks?

 

Cheers

Len

You meet your guide right outside of port security.

The walking tour is awesome. Our guide was awesome. We got to eat and drink walking around Willemsted learning all about the city. After it's over you can go to many of the sweet little family bars before you get back on the ship. I highly recommend this tour. 

32 minutes ago, mitsugirly said:

Here's my list with reviews and tons of pictures. You can check them out and if you have any questions, feel free to ask

 

ST THOMAS

Great pictures of Sapphire Beach I used to go there 20 years ago when nothing was there. Thanks for the pictures!!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Looks exactly like it did 20 year's ago except now there are people. Nice!!

I've used the great public transportation system on Aruba many times. I highly recommend it. I've posted in this forum about it many times. 

You'll figure it out. It's very simple very cost effective and very reliable transportation around the island and back to the ship. Your good.😎

On 1/16/2024 at 1:41 PM, Iheartsup said:

Hi Everyone!

We are going to be in St. Thomas in April and our port times are 11:00-7:00.  We want to go to a beach on our own to snorkel for a half day.  We would love some suggestions of safe beaches with good snorkeling from shore!  

We are also open to a half day/full day taxi shuttle service that will bring us to the beach and then downtown to shop and back to the ship! 

 

Thanks!

Secret Harbor.😎

PORT ROYAL you are one funny dude!!

When I'm on St. Kitts there's never a shortage of Weed!! I bring my own!!😂😂😂🥳🥳😎😎😁😁