Pika8347

20 hours ago, canadian_cheap said:

What sort of price range would one be looking at with E&J?

According to the their email, it's $35 pp and $15 for optional lunch. He's asked for a $30 deposit, which seems totally reasonable. 

Can anyone confirm if you paid the deposit prior to arrival? He asked me to pay via PayPal and I just don't want to be scammed. 

YES! We loved this tour! It is exactly as described in the promo video and a there is medium amount of uphill walking to the statue. Be advised there was a good amount of alcohol (shots on the bus, rum tasting, more shots) and I would consider this more of an adult tour, but YMMV.

As pictured below, seven of my colleagues finished the entire bottle of rum -I don't drink liquor.  Still a wonderful time and we will do it again, but I'm not taking my 13 & 15 year boys on this tour. 

YES! We just did it on 3/27 and it was a blast! Gondola tour to see the Christ statue, rum factory, lunch, cigar making and a short stop to see some donkeys near the port. Absolutely worth the money. It is outside the port gates and down the road a little ways, but the map contained detailed instructions. 

After 1:30 p.m. is access for everyone.

Luggage just depends. Last week on Magic, I received my bag at 4:00 and wife received her bags at 10. 

8 hours ago, Sabalon said:

I am on the magic right now and can say without a doubt they’ve figured out a way to keep it from working for anything but the hub app.  !!!!

so no, iMessage is not working until you get one of the no -social media internet plans. 

Any issues staying connected on the Hub app? We just returned Sunday and many of us had trouble getting and staying connected. 

9 hours ago, mfs2k said:

This thread cracks me up. 

Right?!?!? It's literally a 'pass the popcorn' meme!

On 2/8/2024 at 8:45 AM, AmberMarie said:

 

I wanted to clarify, because I also want the digitals. The $199 pixel package that includes ten photos and the canvas... there are no digitals included, and the digitals would still be 22 each? 

$22 per digital seems really high, but maybe this is the going rate? I really don't want the actual prints either but rather the digital version so I can print when I get home. Is that type of package available? 

Don't discuss politics, religion or money. Period.

However, don't forget that elections have consequences (good and bad). 

Totally disagree. I've done three (prior Covid) spring break cruises with my boys (11 & 13) and we never noticed rowdier or bad behavior. Yes, there were definitely more kids, and yes, they pushed every elevator button before they got off on their floor, but I say that's par for the course and I just rolled my eyes as we stopped on every floor. 

2 hours ago, chesfarm said:

The Magic doesn't have morning room service anymore. They don't have much of anything anymore. Just getting off this morning. It wasn't my best cruise. 😞

Can you give us any more details on your Magic cruise, i.e. do you mean cutbacks? Lack of service? Cleanliness? 

16 minutes ago, JGmf said:

@sid_9169 Thanks a ton for doing this live review (and also every other live review that I've thoroughly enjoyed!!).

 

Unless my wife kills me first, my first solo is in April, coincidentally porting in San Juan, so I extra-appreciate all of the legwork (literally) you've done for me.

 

Gracias.

Totally agree with this. Very helpful!

Sid, can you explain the ‘free’ dinner at the Chibang restaurant?
 

Is this free for everyone the first time they try it or was this offer only for the Celebration ship? Or did I totally misread and there’s a charge each time?

1 hour ago, sid_9169 said:

I'm in the second row at Alchemy, but that big tip to "Brad" came in handy, as I got to order almost immediately...

Sid, when you say “big tip” are you talking $20? I’ve always wanted to do this.

On 12/26/2023 at 2:56 PM, stobe1 said:

We did a back to back cruise many moons ago and tried a little experiment where the 1st week we did Cheers and the 2nd week we did pay-as-we-go and did a comparison. We spent waaay more the second week after we factored in the alcohol, water, sodas, Gatorades, coffee, etc... 

 

For us Cheers just makes sense.

Do you mind sharing how much ‘more’? Are we talking $200?

1 hour ago, Ashpalo said:

Great review! Thanks for taking us along!

Agree! Always a treat to read his reviews!

There is nice transport group entitled 'salt water moms' that run transports between HOU/IAH. I tried to use them last year and called in January, but they were already booked for March! Super friendly and good prices. Personally, I would NOT trust the bus to get you there on time. 

On 1/4/2024 at 3:54 PM, TxTeach79 said:

 Time to grab some bushwhackers

 

 

 

So is there a lot time after the cyclebike to do another short tour, say a quick city tour? Looks like this excursion ends at 12:00. Is that accurate? We're in port on 3/28 08:00-16:00 so I'm trying to impress the wife with my school Principal planning skills, lol!  

From what I've seen most cruise lines dropped St. Kitts due to crime. However, having been there in years past it was absolutely THE best port I've ever sailed. I really enjoyed the history of Independence square and Irish town where indentured servants ended staying on their way to the US. According to wikipedia:

The Irish emigrated to the islands with the English, both as merchants and Irish indentured servants. One of the earliest known Irish settlers, merchant Gregory French of Galway, was there in 1630 when tried for "certain speeches ... tending to the dishonour" of King Charles I.^[2] In an incident at Kinsale in 1634, Irish emigrants were "ready to go ... to the West Indies ..[on a ship which] could have carried 150 passengers thence, for which passage there is commonly paid £6 per head ... and the freight of goods from Ireland to St Christopher, or other parts of the West Indies, is £3 to £4 per ton."^[2] 

On 8/29/2023 at 4:47 PM, Dobby36 said:

When we got off there last a couple years ago there were so many folks handing flyers for $free play and the casinos were easy to find and well,armed along the main strip to the right when exiting the port area. 
 

Not sure I recommend one over another.  We tried three throughout the day, they all has ship crew there spending money like proverbial sailors in port! All were moderately sized, and quite smoky.  But fun times had to be sure.  

Do you mind referencing 'moderately priced'? Like, $5 blackjack and $5 craps or $15 minimums?Just curious. 

On 9/1/2023 at 5:06 PM, Cherries Jubilee said:

I’d been thinking about this myself. I wish they made the small ones in the oat milk versions. I can’t drink any lactose.

 

edit: turns out they do make travel oat creamer. It’s ridiculously overpriced but I might have to try it and see if the taste is worth it!

Not trying to be snarky, but have you tried a lactose pill? They really work!

Yep! It works,

16 hours ago, AwesomO said:

it was really good! we had Jackie for the tour. She customized it to do whatever we wanted, even if we wanted to change something once we got there. Really flexible, friendly, and informative! Great value too. I definitely recommend it!

Great! I’ll email her today!

On 2/3/2023 at 9:16 PM, AwesomO said:

just booked our private tour as well after reading this! looking forward to it. 

Any update on your tour? If so, how was it?

On 4/23/2023 at 6:09 PM, c-leg5 said:

I think you would need to contact because it depends on number of people (therefore size of vehicle), number of hours, where you want to go/distance. I thought he used to have pricing guidance on his website? 
 

We generally use ToursPlaza and they have pricing listed as guidance.

 

If you don’t have many people, and know exactly where you want to go, (so don’t need a guide that speaks English) you can probably negotiate a better rate from a taxi outside the port area. If you need help, a private driver arranged in advance is a better way to go.

Price was $60 per person for zip line and was negotiated by our tour guide prior to arrival. 

On 4/23/2023 at 5:54 PM, c-leg5 said:

 

Thanks, after years and years of never seeing a review that is the second recommendation for that location in the last month!  I thought you might have gone to that location as it is convenient for the chocolate factory.
 

I am wondering if they are new owners and advertising more.

Could be! We also did the Chocolate tour. It's probably the same owners, lol!