ericstacie

When you walk through the port or outside the terminal are there independent cab drivers and tour operators offering tours?  We are interested in going to the Secret Beach. Thanks in advance. 

Thanks

I will say I likely would just do the land on my own if I was to go again. But can answer any questions for how that part worked.

We are on the same trip next week. When we are on the land Will we be spending most of our free time on our own exploring or should we plan on taking all of the supplemental trips and tours that they offer? Thanks

Veteran cruisers like everyone here but 1st time in Alaska. In the Caribbean there are dozens of independent operators hawking tours as soon as you get off the boat as we all know. Is it the same in in Alaska? Particularly Skagway and Juneau? Thanks in advance.

Is anything open at AC into the evening, like bars and the pool? When does it close?

Do taxis run all night? Do they ever close the gate at the port? Has anyone been to PP at night?

Any information is helpful thanks. Charlie are you doing OYO or going with the tour group? I wonder what percentage does OYO

I suspect the word "mandatory" came from ericstacie rather than Fathom.

I know what my TA told me; that is why I called Fathom twice and with different answers. Anyway, I am not interested in splitting hairs, just getting two questions answered in reference to the original post.

- How much cash did a past traveler take and how expensive is everything? Or how much is someone taking with them?

Does anyone know the taxi rates for an all day tour for a vehicle big enough to fit 3 people?

Thanks.

Laura closed the forum to new questions. Anyway, I'd rather get the perspective from a past visitor rather than a corporate guy with the corporate response.

Since the Fathom will be docked here two nights we should have plenty of time in port. The day is a no brainer, but the night has me wondering.

Is anything open into the evening, like bars and the pool? When does it close?

Do taxis run all night? Do they ever close the gate at the port? Has anyone been to PP at night?

Can we get on/off the ship anytime we wish or are there certain times?

Our TA didn't have this info. Thanks

It was in the Booking Confirmation email that I received 12/22/16.

 

The Booking Itinerary says: "March 14 Sangtiago de Cuba" and under that "Tender Required".

 

I booked directly with Fathom.

 

Charlie

We are on the same cruise. They gave us a price we couldn't refuse. We were told originally that we would be on the mandatory bus tour but when I paid and went to check in I found that the self guide option was the only one that was free. Go figure. I called fathom and confirmed the self guide option.

We have seen some interesting sites on the various websites so I guess we will get a cab for the day like we do in every other port.

How much cash is everyone taking on shore? Has anyone figured out what the negotiated taxi rates are?

If your looking for a pokeman on your cruise you should look at your life and get one!!!!

That's hilarious. Maybe one day I will have a great life spending my days as a troll lurking around CC making dumb comments on random posts and seeking approval for my wittiness from faceless people on the internet.

I originally asked a question specifically to people who have ACTUALLY been there since mid-July. I even specifically asked to not be criticized knowing the CC creeps and trolls would have something unproductive to say.

Its funny how people can have hundreds of posts without actually contributing anything to the community.

For anyone who actually is reading this thread to find the answer to the original question there are several stops in port and in town and the locals are doing it too.

Is it worth the roaming charges?

 

I would leave the phone on the ship and try to enjoy the day.

Its 2016 so most plans have free international texting and data. Connectivity is a part of life now so it enhances our experience not detracts from it.

To each their own. Many of our fellow travelers find joy in sitting around drinking 1/2 the day away in a tourist trap. I'd rather explore hidden parks, town squares, churches, and local landmarks in a port with my kids (while looking for imaginary creatures).

Thanks for posting this! I was trying to post the url, but the wifi on the ship is slow right now and kept freezing. [emoji1]

 

 

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Thanks for the solid intel. We will be there in October and after a couple hours on the golf cart exploring I will settle in for catching stuff. I will skip the wifi at sea on the boat part and just play in port. Any rare high level stuff at any of your stops or just the common ones?

Has anyone been there in the last month and turned on the app? Please don't criticize me for asking

Has anyone been there in the last month and turned on the app? Please don't criticize me for asking

Has anyone been there in the last month and turned on the app? Please don't criticize me for asking

Who else is there besides Bodden? We'll be there in a few weeks.

That is my question too. We will be there on Christmas day in a couple weeks. We live in Florida and go to the beach and spend time on the water on a regular basis. When I saw the Trujillo stop I figured there would be some interesting things to do in the mountains since they are right next to the coast (I we do not have them in FL). However I have not seen anything. Plus I am not particularly interested in a "city tour". Any ideas?

Google "St Thomas Diving Club" or look them up on Facebook. They were very accommodating, even taking us our of their way to see turtles at our request.

My daughter gets a doll dressed in native attire from every country she visits (including the Caribbean islands of course). The voodoo doll from Labadie was neat.

Thank you so much! We will def walk the extra 5 min to get a better price!

The mud volcano is a must see. Definitely walk outside past the initial taxi stand to the road. The cabbies will not want to take you to the mud volcano because it is so far, so just keep walking. Eventually someone will agree to take you.

The funny thing is that the cab drivers must get kickbacks from the stores because, like an earlier post said, they still take you to the old town, the newer shopping area, and the emerald place

I guarantee you will return to the ship saying WOW.

Cruising in a few days to the Southeren Caribbean. I see here some good words regarding Egbert. Does anyone have contact information for Egbert.

 

Thanks and have a wonderful day

We found his email and sent him several messages prior to getting there on Jan 2nd without any answer. We wrote him off and decided to use the ferry until we got off the boat and saw an older local guy with a black cap with EGBERT written on it. When I asked him why he didn't answer he shrugged and told me he never checks email.

Don't worry, he will be at the gate waiting

I'll just throw a tip out there for fellow current and prior servicemen that if you haven't incorporated the USO into your travel considerations, you may want to do so. Often, you might be going somewhere the USO doesn't really have a presence. But more than once, specifically in Germany and Rome, we have had FANTASTIC experiences with the USO putting together tours, assisting with transportation and hotels, etc. We're headed back to Rome at the end of this year, and you can bet that we're definitely going to be using the Rome USO before our cruise sails.

 

On a similar note, if I end up with a long layover in an airport with a USO, they can be nice to relax, grab a snack, and pass the time, whether I'm on military travel or not. I'm very appreciative of those that volunteer with the USO for us.

We are cruising out of FLL on Thanksgiving so I am lurking on the boards but we happen to be taking a land-based vacation in March to Rome and this is an AWESOME find. We will definitely check this out when we are at the Vatican.

I sailed on her i believe in 2000 or 2001 on a 3 night cruise to key west from port manatee. My wifes father crossed the atlantic on her as olympia and immigrated to canada from germany.

We also sail on her out of Port Manatee on our 1st cruise in the 90's. It was a trip to Playa del Carmen and Cozumel. At about 8am those wanting to go to Playa got off on a tender in the strait between Playa and Cozumel and you had to take the ferry back over on your own. Me and my wife were the only ones who got off. Everything was closed in Playa so we went to the beach and toured a time share for free breakfast and 2 bottles of liquor.

At the time I remember my 1st impression of the ship was "wow, how huge and majestic". I guess times change

We've booked a tour to lake Isabel, San Felipe fortress, rio dulce, and the waterfalls with tropical discovery tours. Rated A+ by BBB, based out of Miami.

I am on Ryndam 3/10 and we would like to go on the same tour. I just emailed TDT for a quote, but I am predicting it will be a little out of my price range. My question is: are there plenty of local tour operators at the dock to negotiate with and arrange a custom afternoon trip? I would prefer giving my $$ to a local guy directly who knows the lay of the land and what our options are within our time constraints VS a company based in the USA who would turn around and contract with the same guy at the dock.

Any info will help.

We have always packed lanyards for each person. Then, on board, take your cruise card to the casino to punch a hole in them and it is 10x easier keeping up/accounting for your card, especially for the kids.

We take that 1 step further. Throughout the year, keep your eye open for special events at the mall, school, etc where they happen to be giving them away. Yesterday we got 2 at a GMC promotion. Military recruiters also love giving them away also, and we get a ton from NASCAR races and the state fair. Then, when you get on the boat, everyone has a different lanyard to prevent a mix-up. We will have a party of 6 on our next cruise, and will easily have 6 that are unique enough the there should not be any confusion.

My .02