Stevesan

A bit off the main topic of idiots raised by wolves, but I remember when an equivalent to the "UST" was offered gratis by providing three separate tours: Bridge, Kitchen and Engine Room. I realize a few goodies have been added, but $150 worth?

A Princess employee probably won an employee of the year award by suggesting the three be rolled into one "for profit" tour.:p

Booking a B2B as a single cruise realizes 3-5% savings.

A phone call to Princess post cruise will garner 2 credits in your Captain Circle account.

My last two cruises using walk off I was at FLL @8:45.

I keep reading reviews here and on TripAdvisor that the coral around Buck island is almost gone. Where did you go and what tour company?

I booked the ship's snorkel trip.

I know what I saw when I saw it.:)

Thanks, Dave.

I live in SW Houston, previously Alief. I have the Mapquest directions.

I've found two other options from I-45 to Bayport from exits 25 or 26. They are the simplest, albeit longest, routes. I'm wondering if it's occurred to Bayport Terminal management to have direction signs posted along the side roads.

The route you recommend is the shortest, but most complex.

At my age, simple is good.:D

BTW - A post from the first trip reported that only one lane was allocated for entering the parking lot, resulting in a half hour wait in line to enter. That included those who preordered.

Thank you for taking the time to post a reply to my question. I think St. Croix is going to be a definite (I keep reading about Buck Island).

 

I am not sure that St. Thomas will work out, since I think my husband has some kind of inshore fishing trip in mind there. What would be your third choice? Grenada, St. Kitts or Dominica? We did a fabulous SCUBA dive excursion in 2007 in Dominica, but it has been quite some time since we dived, so I think it will be snorkeling only this cruise, and I don't know how suitable the reef there is for snorkeling.

My Dominica snorkel visited a location over a submerged volcano. Bubbles are the attraction. Okay if you like bubbles.:rolleyes:

Dominica visit I took a whale/dolphin boat tour. It was a great trip. A large pod of dolphins accompanied us swimming under and alongside. We finally left them for a whale visit. I've forgotten the species but her blow hole was offset to the side. She had a calf half her size with her. Our boat captain told us she will nurse him for tie first TEN years of the youngsters life!!

We located the prey with a submerged sonic receiver.

St Kitts snorkeling isn't very good so took a catamaran tour to Nevis. Nice boat ride. Okay if you like beach time.

I've only done a land tour at Grenada.

Actually, it is now good for the length of the cruise on which it was purchased, even if all punches have been used.

Thank you. That's good to know.

In practice the Terrace (aft) pool is functionally a wading pool: too small for swimming.

But it's a nice peaceful location.

P.S. Caribbean Princess is cb, not cp.

Here's is her bridge cam:

http://webcam.princess.com/bridgecams/index.html

Are there any "To Bayport" signs between I-45 and the terminal?

no text

We will be sailing on the Celebrity Summit out of San Juan on April 12th. Our ports of call will be: St. Croix, St. Kitts, Dominica, Grenada and St. Thomas. If we wanted to make snorkeling the main event on 2 islands, which would be best? We are experienced snorkelers and don't mind arranging a private tour or taking a taxi to a spot on our own.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Kim

island #1 - St Croix boat snorkel. The coral is rampant, there's a cathedral like experience. I

Island $2 - St Thomas. More accurately, St John, for a boat snorkel. I recommend Rumbaba. Pick up is on St Thomas at Red Hook.

http://www.rumbabacharters.com/

I wish.

 

No, but the International Cafe, at the bottom of the Atrium on Plaza Deck (deck 5) has a menu of specialty coffees and all the usual suspects are there. They cost slightly less than the Starbucks' versions.

 

If you plan on having more than one a day, you might want to consider purchasing the coffee card. For about $33, this gives you 15 specialty coffees (15 punches) -- it works out to a better deal than buying them individually because it's only one punch whether you get a "small" or a "large" (which is about the size of a Starbucks Grande). You can purchase the card right there at the IC, and best part: if you don't use all your punches on that voyage, they're good on successive voyages.

 

The coffee card is also good for unlimited brewed coffee at the IC until the last punch out.

We have been on 5 cruises in the past, 4 with Carnival and 1 with Disney. Due to Princess now sailing from the Houston port we are looking into the February 8th cruise to Cozumel, Roatan, & Belize. We have never sailed with Princess so I am looking for any advice or opinions. We haven't booked yet, so my first question is when would be the best time to book? I did notice that todays price is slightly less than last week...would I benefit by waiting longer to book? It will be my wife and I along with another couple...we are all in our 30's and this will be our break from the kiddos. We are fans of interior rooms...all I plan to do in my room is sleep, so I like it to be as dark as possible. Is there a certain level that you can recommend for the stateroom?

 

I am looking for any and all advice concerning this ship or Princess in general.

 

Thanks,

Brandon

Early booking prices can be adjusted up until final payment date.

I recommend six specific inside cabins on Riviera deck. They are a tad larger, 182sft vs 162, and they have a much better layout.

There's only six and they are well known so they sell out early.

They are R403, R407 IB category and R507,R508, R514, R515 IC category.

http://www.princess.com/deckPlans.do?shipCode=CB

There are good pictures here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1728255

You're looking for Park N Cruise:

For some weird reason Cruise critic won't allow the complete link.

Enter: galvestonparkncruise

They are directly across the street from the terminal.

I recommend the covered parking.

Rumbaba is an excellent choice. fits your description to a T.:)

http://www.rumbabacharters.com/

On board with gratuity it is $33.35.

You are correct. I've corrected my "standard" reply.

Thank you.

The Money Bar.

http://moneybarbeachclub.com/

You might need a cab.

The Coffee Card:

Brewed coffee is $1.00/cup, most specialty coffees are $3.00, espresso $2.50.

$35 (+ gratuity) buys you a coffee card with fifteen punch outs for specialty coffees, and unlimited brewed coffee at the Cafe and other lounges that have brewed coffee. You can also use it in the dining rooms for specialty coffees. The server is directed to take two punch outs for double shot orders, some do, some don't.

Since the coffee card is for a discrete quantity it's not time limited. If there are punchouts remaining at the end of the cruise the card can carry over to the next cruise for specialty coffees only.

There are only 5 IB cabins on Aloha, and on the deck plans they look exactly the same size as every other Inside.

 

Do you have a cabin plan that shows this unique layout?

Good pix here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1728255

Different ship but exact same layout.

we have cruised twice before and have always splurged on a balcony. this time we are going to book an inside cabin so as to have more $$ for excursions, especially since I read that panama canal partial transit is best viewed from on deck. have no idea however what makes a good location for the cabin? (coral princess)suggestions? it will just be the two of us, thank you

There are six inside IB category cabins on Aloha deck that are slightly larger than standard. The main attraction is their layout. A divider separates the sleeping and dressing areas. The closets have doors.

If you do go to Xcaret, bring biodegradable sunscreen with you. If you have to buy it there, it's really expensive! And you aren't allowed to use regular sunscreen!

The same rule applies to Cozumel water activities, too.

Princess' shorex schedule travel time to and from Xcaret totals 3 hours.

WRONG!!!

I had a senior moment and confused Xcaret with Tulum. Xcaret is close to the Dock at Playa del Carmen. Total travel time, ferry and shuttle, is @ 2 hours.

My humble apology.

Enjoy! Xcaret is fun for adults and kids.

http://www.xcaret.com/

Princess' shorex schedule travel time to and from Xcaret totals 3 hours.

The last two times with early walk off I arrived at FLL @8:45.