thescot123

A must buy is a $12 Honduras soccer shirt.

Has anyone used Rony's Tours for the South Shore Zip and Dip? I am noticing some price discrepancies on the website when trying to book. It shows one price and then when you go to book it asks you what beach access you want and it would add 10-30.00 more per person. I am going to email tomorrow but wanted to see if anyone has had recent experience. We are either going through Rony or Victor and it looks like the Southshore zipline is a little bit better. We do want to stay close to west bay and I thought the beach price would be worked into the excursion. Or I figured they would drop you off at a free entrance. Both seem to have the same base price. Any tips would be appreciated as I continue to research more before making our final decision.

I have never used Rony but use Victor Bodden. His tours mentions an additional charge of $10 to $40 pp when going to the beach. This is the resort fee that you have to pay. As an example, in April when I asked about going to Infinity Bay, the resort fee was $25. So instead we went to one that was $10. This gave us access to the resort, use of facilities and a beach chair. These fees vary depending on the time of year and the resort that you go to. Victor spells out these additional costs on his website. Not too sure why Rony's tour does not spell it out. Victor in their Fun N'Sun tour, which is a shared bus, take people to Bannarama resort which costs $10.

The best cruise directors that I have had in the past include Pedro and Paul Scally. I understand that Paul has since left NCL.

Didn't care for Kyle. Look forward to seeing who are CD is on the Jewel in Oct.

Doing the same route and would recommend the following in each port.

Costa Maya - Tropicante in Mahahual

Roatan - Victor Bodden Tours either private mini bus or Fun n'Sun tour. Also Maya Key is nice place.

Belize - Caye Caulker, Mayan Ruins Lamanai

Cozumel - The Money Bar.

Is there decent shore entry snorkeling at tropicante??

I have never seen anyone snorkel in front of the Tropicante . There is a reef nearby but only accessible by boat. Steve can arrange a snorkeling boat for about $25 for 1 hour . It leaves right next door .

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When getting off the NCL Sky in Miami a customs officer asked me "why are you traveling alone and why I can't get anyone to go with me". This made me mad inside but being that he was in authority I decided to keep my mouth shut.

Hello Everyone,

My husband passed away in June and at this time I'm not ready to cruise w/o him yet. However, I do enjoy looking over the possibility of cruising in the future. I didn't realize that cruise lines have solo pricing. How do I find those deals? Are they on line with an on line TA, do I need to go directly to the cruise line either on line or by phone?

Also,which cruise companies offer this to solo's?

I appreciate any and all advice.

Sorry for your loss. I lost my mother to cancer last year so know what you are going thru. I have cruised solo many times mainly with NCL . I usually get a good price thru Costco travel. They have a deal with NCL and offers price lower than thru NCLs website. They also give me $100 OBC to spend. Also Costco offers cruise insurance thru Travelguard which again is cheaper than going to the insurances website.

To keep costs down, as NCL usually charges double for solo, I go for the cheapest inside cabin . Not an issue for me since I don't spending time in the cabin.

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You can't go wrong by going to the Tropicante.

Just email Steve Uhl at steveuhl@sandalsandskis.com and tell him how many loungers to reserve. He operates an excellent place and can arrange all types of things from snorkel boats, diving etc.

I sent him an email yesterday to reserve for my Oct cruise and he sent an email back within 3 hours.

The taxis are just outside the gates of the cruise terminal near the Tequila factory. It should cost about $3 to get to Mahahual.

Enjoy as it is paradise and one of my most favorite stops.

Last week, I booked my 6th solo cruise, this time on the NCL Jewel. I still get nervous about cruising solo but those fears usually disappear once on board.

Took my sister and brother-in-law on a April cruise and had fun. It is hard in family to get everyone together as some are overseas and my younger sister has no vacation time and can only travel when schools are out.

For me, I find that going to the CC Meet & Greet usually helps me meet other people some of which I may share a shore excursion with.

Found that are is at least one fell Scottish person on this cruise.

Have noticed that NCL is also offering the same tour with a swim with the sharks and a trip to Caye Caulker. The strange thing is that NCL offered it years ago but then removed it which made me start using Coral Breeze tours. Would not use Corlal Breeze tours as they now operate outside the tourism village, run a smaller open top boat and cancel tours about 1 week before your trip.

This is the first time in years that I have seen it get added back to their shore excursion list. I would do the tour as it is fun and Caye Caulker is wonderful to walk around. It is a shame that they don't tell you how long you have on that quaint island. From the tour description, it sounds like they are skipping the snorkeling bit and only let you get into the water to be with the rays/sharks. The water is about 4 to 5 feet. The tour used to take to the Coral Gardens where you also had a snorkeling portion of about 45 minutes. I guess they have decided to make cuts in what is offered.

Not too sure who they are using for the tour but it costs $109 which is the price that I used to pay a few years back with NCL. The only difference now is that it does not include a meal. Their are also no reviews which must mean that it has recently been added.

Below is the description from the NCL site.

Depart directly from the cruise pier on a comfortable motor vessel for a scenic approximately 50 minute boat ride to the charming tropical island of Caye Caulker. This historic little island is located along the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef, where the beautiful coral formations teaming with marine life, lay only a few hundred yards from the sandy beach. Your shark and ray encounter takes place on a shallow sand bar inside the reef. You’ll enter the water in small groups with your expert guide who will entice the gentle, friendly marine animals to come close for your personal encounter. While floating or standing on the bottom, let your hands slide along the smooth sides of the sharks and rays as they swim by in close proximity. You’ll be amazed how eager they are to visit you.

After your exciting encounter, board your waiting vessel for the short ride to the Barefoot Caribe Dock and Las Olas Restaurant, where you can purchase a local meal or snack along and various beverages. This rustic venue has several thatched roof structures along the edge of the Caribbean, where you can sit and relax in a swinging chair or hang out in a hammock, enjoying the refreshing sea breeze. You can also explore the small island of Caye Caulker, home to a quaint fishing village and very friendly locals. Buy locally produced gift items from vendors along the unpaved "front street" or try something different – you can hand feed Tarpons. These large fish love to grab a sardine right out of your hand, as you stand or kneel on the dock. On your return to the pier on the boat your attentive crew will serve you complementary rum punch (for those 21 years and older) or plain fruit punch while you listen to rhythmic Caribbean vibes. This fun and exciting day in paradise will be long remembered.

Thanks for all you updates. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is not Kyle as really don't like his style.

Hello, I don't know who the cruise director will be on this date but I am sailing with you! I can't wait!

Is this you first time on NCL?

Can't wait to see the Jewel as this will be my first time on her. On my last two NCL cruises we had Kyle as a cruise director. He is not my favorite as he tends to have a dry sense of humor. I tend prefer younger European cruise directors as they tend to have better jokes and can make people laugh. We had Paul Scally, from the UK, once and he was very funny despite some of his jokes being on the risky side.

Tony

Caye Caulker is worth the bumpy boat ride. Have been there multiple times and enjoy the peace and quiet. Did use Coral Breeze Tours but had problems with them in April as they canceled our tour last minute leaving us scrambling. Also they now operate outside the tourism village and run smaller open top boat. They used to have a bigger partially covered boat called the Great White.

Not too sure who I would use to go back there in future. Also not too sure about use the water taxis as it is up to you to monitor your time.

Does anyone know who the current cruise director on the NCL Jewel is? Also wondering if this person will also be on my Oct 20th 2013 cruise.

Used Machu Picchu for the 1st time on my NCL cruise in April 14th. It was very easy to find the place, the GPS got us going down Jackson Ave which was very easy and scenic. Arrived at them at 10.30am, which was too early. They prefer you get there at between 11am and 12 noon. We decided to visit a new huge Walmart just a few blocks away to waste 30 minutes. This was fine as this Walmart was big and allowed us to get last minute cruise stuff.

We went back at around 11am, and Angel helped us unload our car. The only uncomfortable thing was that they took my car keys for the duration of the cruise. Maybe this was allow for them to arrange cars but everything was fine. angel was a very pleasant man and had some stories to tell us while we drove to the port.

After the cruise, we gave them a call and they picked us up within about 10 minutes. My car was arranged in a way that it was ready to pick up.

Would use them again as your care is covered and secured. A lot better than leaving your car in that huge open whale lot and have to deal with traffic around the port area.

Oh ok. Hi Tony. We were constantly running in to Joyce and Ken every where we went. She was one of the people who offered to let us use their battery charger if it worked (and it didn't :(), but we had excursions with them and it was nice to see a familiar face all the time. Do you know what their screen name is on our roll call? Not many have came back and posted their thoughts on the cruise I have noticed (on our roll call).

 

Yea, I know what gangham video you are talking about. hehe I watched it a couple of times prior to leaving and was hoping to catch that myself.

 

 

 

You might need to retract that statement...I spent this entire cruise completley turned around and never figuring it out. LOL My husband laughed at me every day. He was my personal GPS every where we went. :p

 

I sthe Bimini Bar like the Bier Garten on the Star? (Since you said above the pool).

Ken and Joyces screename is Jmacway

Tony

Thanks for the comments and you are welcome on the links. More to come on Almaplena tonight. :D

 

 

 

I've watched your photos. The are a great memory of the cruise. I sat out on the deck for a long time watching the welcome back crowd and got a few videos myself but missed the gangham style when they did it. :(

 

Did I meet you on the cruise? I know every where I went I was running in to Joyce and Kristen (or was it Kirsten? I'm not sure I ever got that right).

Yes, you did meet me briefly at the Meet & Greet. I was sitting with Joyce and Ken who were on my previous cruise.

I was glad to video the Gangham style dance as I had seen them perform this a few weeks earlier on Youtube and wanted to experience for myself.

Tony

Thanks for taking the time to post the reviews and photos. Your camera takes wonderful photos. I bought a new camera, Sony HX20V, which has impressed me in the zoom capabilities and the quality of video it can take. I was on the cruise with you and thought that it was one of the best cruises ever. I was surprised that a lot of people let after the meet & greet. It appears that there was some slot pull going on which pulled people away. For me, the staff/crew did a wonderful job during our cruise. Kudos goes out to them as they work very hard. Will be back on the Star in April with my sister and brother-in-law. I have uploaded most of the videos from my camera into Youtube for people to enjoy. Most were from the Cozumel Welcome Back Party, White Hot Party and the impressive Bernado, the singing cook. These videos make me laugh every time that I watch them. One of the videos, where they dance Gangnam Style, has received over 800 views on Youtube. Hope NCL Executives see these reviews and give the staff/crew a special praise. Tony

I am a male who has done over 6 solo cruises. Regardless of gender, I would recommend the following tips.

1. Be aware of your surroundings and listen to your gut feelings.

2. Remember, safety in numbers, I sign up for the cruise critic meet & greet and share excursions with fellow cruisers.

3. Avoid getting too drunk as it can lower your inhibitions and put you at risk. 4. If unfamiliar with a port, then use a ship based shore excursion or share with others.

Enjoy your solo cruise as I have never looked back. For me a cruise is an excellent place to unwind from life stresses, meet excellent cruise staff/officers and visit exotic ports cheaply.

My co-worker, a married female, just took a solo cruise on the Ruby Princess. Her husband is tired of cruising but won't let this stop her from getting her cruise fix so she goes alone.

Enjoy

Tony

Have just reserved my 3rd stay at the Tropicante. Steve, the owner, makes an effort to meet everyone. For us we are not big drinkers or eaters so an all- inclusive like Maya Chan would be a waste of money.

Also kinda like being around other cruisers and to people watch. You can get 60 min massages for $25.

Thanks for all your recommendations and help. Have decided to give them a try and just sent in my reservation.

On my recent cruise, I did see their shuttle bus as I was waiting for mine back to the Holiday Inn. Would use the Holiday Inn again, but due to the French Quarter music festival, they are fully booked. We have to stay at as Slidell hotel due to this festival.

Thanks

Thanks for the update. May consider using them for my April cruise. Is it easy to find their warehouse? Do you avoid cruise ship traffic when going to his warehouse.

You say it is a metal warehouse. Is it secure and free of birds like pigeons that can crap on the car?

On my Dec cruise, I am staying near the port but the traffic stresses me out.

Just did a Google Street View of the Machu Picchu. Is the parking under the awning where is shows some buses or does he own that warehouse looking building next door. It does not seem to show much parking from Google Street View. How many cars can he store?

It shows $14 per day but seems to mention the first day at being $30. Is that just for hotel passengers? I will be staying at a hotel in Slidel but need parking the day of the cruise.

Yes, you should get 14 points for the cruise. After this cruise, I will be Gold....then I am on the TA in April (21st) for 16 nights....which will put me to Platinum after that cruise....unless I cruise between Dec and April and make Platinum before the cruise

 

Sorry to hear about the family death.

 

Dec 9-16 will be my 5th cruise this year just since April. I normally only do 2 a year, but the deals were just to good to pass up

 

I didn't want a bunch of kids on the cruise. My tolerance for children just isn't real high anymore....esp when the parents don't make them behave.

Thanks. I know the feeling about tolerance with kids. I prefer to not to have too many but the cruise price was too hard to pass up. Also, have been to the UK three times this year has left me with limited vacation. That is the reason for this date along with the fact that we have 1 1/2 weeks off work starting Dec 23rd, so don't go back to work after this cruise.

Would like to cruise or go some during our extended Xmas break but the rates are either double or near triple.

It would have cost me over $1400 to go the week of Xmas instead of $660 the week before. My mind tells me to save the money as I could get two cruises for the cost of cruising at Xmas.

Sounds like you will get to platinum status before me. Way to go!!!!!!

I have 32 points and after this cruise will be at 46 points which is two points short of platinum. I have a cruise in April which will add another 7 making me get the new status WOO WOO.

I ended up going with Costco also....final price was $630.49....booked in their "group" and was given $100 OBC (so IMO the price was $530.49).....will also get double points with NCL since it is a latitude insider offer.....I looked at the Dec 16 sailing....however, I really wanted to sail over my birthday (Dec 13) and I figured that Dec 16 will have more kids on board.....

You got a slightly better deal than me. Mine was also a inside latitudes offer. When you say you get double points, does that mean 14 points for a 7 day cruise instead of the usual 7 points? This will help me get closer to Gold status with NCL. Already have silver status and will check those perks on my Dec 16th cruise. Have a family cruise in April 14th on the same boat.

I didn't think about the amount of kids on the boat on Dec 16th. Anyhow, at least I will on a boat and away from work. This is will be my first cruise this year, usually do two but family death changed one of my cruise plans.