dz63
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Posts posted by dz63
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Thanks everyone for your helpful information and advice.
The two excursions we were thinking of are:
1. Underground Mine and Gold Panning excursion
2. Mendenhall Glacier
It looks like a 15 minute window between these two excursions is not recommended and since it is unlikely Princess will get us to the next excursion in the advent the first one runs late makes it necessary for me to look into other options.
We have an early departure (all aboard at 3:30 for a 4:00 sailing) which does make it tight to see as much as we would like in Juneau. Perhaps a better option for us would be to take the shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier (which is independent from the cruise line) in the morning where we could possibly get an earlier start (8:00-9:00) and get back between 11:30-noon. Then we would have time for a quick lunch and take in the 12:30 Underground Mine and Gold Panning Excursion offered by Princess. Does this option seem more feasible?
I know the shuttle runs every 30 minutes but I am not sure how early in the morning they start. Our ship arrives at 6:00 in the morning so we could possibly head over to Mendenhall Glacier around 8:00 (to give us more time), but this possibility would only work if the shuttle is running that early.
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Thanks everyone for your helpful information and advice.
The two excursions we were thinking of are:
1. Underground Mine and Gold Panning excursion
2. Mendenhall Glacier
It looks like a 15 minute window between these two excursions is not recommended and since it is unlikely Princess will get us to the next excursion in the advent the first one runs late makes it necessary for me to look into other options.
We have an early departure (all aboard at 3:30 for a 4:00 sailing) which does make it tight to see as much as we would like in Juneau. Perhaps a better option for us would be to take the shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier (which is independent from the cruise line) in the morning where we could possibly get an earlier start (8:00-9:00) and get back between 11:30-noon. Then we would have time for a quick lunch and take in the 12:30 Underground Mine and Gold Panning Excursion offered by Princess. Does this option seem more feasible?
I know the shuttle runs every 30 minutes but I am not sure how early in the morning they start. Our ship arrives at 6:00 in the morning so we could possibly head over to Mendenhall Glacier around 8:00 (to give us more time), but this possibility would only work if the shuttle is running that early.
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We will be sailing on the Crown Princess, Alaska route in May. In Juneau there are two excursions that are offered through the cruise line that interest us. The first excursion returns at 11:45 and the second excursion departs at 12:00. Is a 15-minute window between excursions feasible? If for some reason the first excursion runs late would Princess still get us to the second excursion?
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We will be sailing on the Crown Princess, Alaska route in May. In Juneau there are two excursions that are offered through the cruise line that interest us. The first excursion returns at 11:45 and the second excursion departs at 12:00. Is a 15-minute window between excursions feasible? If for some reason the first excursion runs late would Princess still get us to the second excursion?
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Doing an Alaskan Cruise on the Crown Princess in May.
Are any of the pools covered or heated?
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Thanks, dz. Unfortunately, I don't think that East Island Excursions does that tour any more. :( It is listed on their website; but says that it is "Not Available."
I hope the unavailability of the Bio Bay Tour offered by East Island Excursion is only a temporary thing. That was such a great experience and convenient way to get to the island.
I did a quick search and found Island Adventures BioBay Tours offer the Bio Bay tour in Vieques by electric pontoon boat. When we did this excursion with East Island, we were taken to Island Adventures where we had dinner, we're given an orientation and then were taken over to the bay--I assume this is the same Island Adventures that operated that Bio Bay tour we experienced. Whereas East Island Excursions provided the transportation over to Vieques, I don't think Island Adventures does. Also with East Island we were able to visit the Bio Bay in Vieques without having to stay there overnight.
I haven't come across any other operators that offer the Bio Bay by electric powered pontoon boat. If neither of these companies work out, it looks like your back at the kayak option again!
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All of the Bio Bay tours I've seen have been with kayaks. My DH and I have tried kayaking before on other excursions and have decided for the sake of our marriage that we will not do it again (at least not in the same kayak). Is there a tour operator who uses another means of transportation to get to the bay? Or, is there one that offers individual kayaks? Thanks!
We did the Bio Bay in Vieques with East Island Excursions. This tour company took us into the bay by an electric powered pontoon boat--there were no kayaks. When we did this excursion back in 2009 we could actually go into the water and swim among the glowing dinoflagellates--however this is no longer allowed.
We had a rental car and it was a 1 1/2 hour drive for us to get from our hotel in Isla Verda to the Puerto del Ray Marina in Fajardo.
It was a 45 minute ride on a fast power catamaran from the Puerto Del Rey Marina to get to the island of Vieques. Once in Vieques we were shuttled over to Island Adventures where we had dinner and then rode on a rickety old bus to Mosquito Bay where we boarded the electric pontoon boat.
Watch our video of our Bio Bay experience below:
[YOUTUBE]1M59TwyRxWs[/YOUTUBE]
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I saw a river rafting excursion offered by Princess and wonder if anyone has booked a similar tour locally (probably for less). Any suggestions welcome.
We have done the River Rafting (floating on inner tubes) twice--the first time was with Island Marketing and the second time with Peat Taylor Tours. We had a positive experience each time.
I have written a review with photos as well as put together a YouTube video of our most recent river rafting adventure. If you are interested, please check out the links below:
River Rafting Review:
Video:
[YOUTUBE]uN0stc_n5TE[/YOUTUBE]
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We have visited both the Blue Falls and Dunns River Falls. What makes Dunns River Falls so fascinating is the fact you can actually climb up 600 feet over cool, cascading water. The trek up the falls offers an amazing opportunity to climb up steep boulders, push your way through gushing water and even slide down a natural waterslide. However, Dunns River Falls is a popular tourist attraction and therefore it is a busy place. During our last visit here, we waited 50 minutes for a guide who then rushed up the falls so that he could go on with another group.
Unlike Dunns, you cannot climb up the falls at the Blue Hole, but if you love adventure, then this is the place for you! The Blue Hole features beautiful turquoise waters, hidden caves, thrilling cliff jumps and exciting plunges off a Tarzan rope swing. Rather than waiting for a guide and then being rushed up the falls like we were at Dunns, we had a full 1 1/2 hours to enjoy this secluded piece of paradise with guides who very attentive and treated us like V.I.P.'s. Moreover, there were no crowds of people here either!
If you have never been to Jamaica before, and really would like to experience the excitement of climbing up a falls, than Dunns River is something worth doing. However, if you would like to experience something more secluded that offers more thrilling adventure, than the Blue Hole is perfect for that. Between these two spots and based on our experience, our family much preferred our time at the Blue Hole. In fact, our visit to the Blue Hole was the highlight of our Jamaican vacation!
I have written reviews with photos as well as put together YouTube video's of both Dunns River Falls and the Blue Hole. If you are interested to learn more about our experience with these two spots, then please check out my reviews and video's.
Dunns River Falls
Review:
Video:
[YOUTUBE]1ELKsoLnx50[/YOUTUBE]
Blue Hole
Review:
Video:
[YOUTUBE]vGaWG_6i45o[/YOUTUBE]
Check out this CC link for more information about the Blue Hole and Dunns River Falls:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1911338
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Ditto - Bump
Thank you in advance for any help
If you are coming down to Soufriere by van from Castries or returning to Castries from Soufriere by land, then you will be driving on curvy and winding roads for a good 60-90 minutes. If you are prone to motion sickness, this drive could get to you. Going down the drive is broken up by stops which really helps with the long drive on the winding roads--but the return drive is long. My sons and I do not normally get car sick, but my younger two sons and I did feel a touch of motion sickness on the return journey. If you are on Spencer's Land, Sea & Beach Adventure, then the drive down to Soufriere and return is by speedboat which avoids the ride on the curvy and winding west coast road. Sites and attractions such as Sulphur Springs and Toraille Waterfall are located right in Soufriere. Therefore the drive in Soufriere to get to the attractions would be short--you would likely not be driving around in the van for more than 20 minutes at a time.
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The question may be irrelevant as Freedom will probably move to Port Everglades before I go on her again, but how was tendering at Coco Cay on such a large ship? I've been there 3 times, but each time was on Majesty. In 2007 we were there at the same time as Soverign and tendering was a disaster, but I think they have improved that since then.
The tendering process ran smoothly and was not a disaster at all. We did have to wait on the tender for 10 minutes or so before it head to shore.
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Having a hard time finding private tour recommendations. Can anyone help? We'll be on Carnival Breeze next Jan.
Sent from my iPad using Forums
We've just returned from La Romana and used Pro Excursions for our getaway to Saona Island as well as the 1/2 buggy expedition. Loved both excursions. They were very well run and organized and they really took good care of us---highly recommend them!
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Getting excited to embark on FOS in one week! Random question: Which of the ports on the eastern itinerary have tenders? Thanks in advance!
Visiting CocoCay, St. Thomas and St. Maarten, the only port we had to tender at was CocoCay.
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WOW! I think this will be a stay on the ship day. They're higher than Grand Caymen.
You will get a better deal going with a tour operator. Both Cosol and Spencer Ambrose Tours come highly rated on these boards. A land tour that includes a short stop at Jalousie/Sugar Beach runs at $75/person. For a longer stay at the beach, Spencer Ambrose offers speedboat transportation to Jalousie Beach for $85 or a land and sea combo for $100--and to top things off, all these tours include lunch, snacks and beverages!
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Just wondering if anyone who has recently been to Coco Key answer a few questions for me
- what was cost of the big slide and was it worth it?
- i ave 2 girls (17 and 10) what other things willl they enjoy
thanks!
I booked the waterslide and Aqua Park combo for $32 for my boys. This combo included one hour at the Aqua Park and unlimited use of the waterslide. My sons were 15 and 19 and they enjoyed it.
I have attached our video of our day in CocoCay. The waterslide and Aqua Park are featured in it.
[YOUTUBE]-4FrXrPViE4[/YOUTUBE]
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I love the private island days. I haven't been to Coco Cay and I see there are a lot different activities for those who want. Has anyone done the big slide or the "water park"? Is it for kids and do you pay on the island? My kids are 10 and 11. Do I have to do this with them or is it safe for them alone? Thanks for any information :)
My boys have done the Aqua Water Park and the waterslide. I prebooked the Aqua Park prior to our arrival. The Aqua Park attracted kids and adults.
Click on my video to see photo's and video clips of our day in CocoCay.
[YOUTUBE]-4FrXrPViE4[/YOUTUBE]
You can also check out this link for more info about the waterpark.
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For your interest: I have finally completed our video presentation of our cruise stop in CocoCay. There are clips of the Aqua Park and the waterslide in it.
[YOUTUBE]-4FrXrPViE4[/YOUTUBE]
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For anyone interested, here is our family video highlighting our activities and adventures aboard Freedom of the Seas.
[YOUTUBE]ZjiHJx6Qsak[/YOUTUBE]
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Thanks so much for answering all my questions and sharing your detailed pictorial review. Love your photos! It was quite helpful, as we will also be visiting the island of Barbados and Antigua...as well as St. Lucia. Out of these three, which was your favorite?!
Glad to help!
In regards to which island was my favorite--that is tough as they all have their own uniqueness--but if I really had to pick one, I would say St. Lucia. St. Lucia is much more lush than Barbados and Antigua. Between the Pitons, waterfalls, rolling hills and mountains, St. Lucia has a scenic and rich natural beauty which I feel is unparalleled to Barbados or Antigua. However Barbados is more developed and both Barbados and Antigua have nicer beaches.
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dz63...
Thanks for your very informative reply. We decided to go with Spencer's Land, Sea & Beach Adventure and are really looking forward to it! :)
(Is there anything at the larger banana plantation that we will miss out on by going to the smaller one on this tour? ...more scenic, better presentation? Also, what type of scenery was there on your drive through Castries? Thanks.)
Spencer's Land, Sea & Beach Adventure is a great choice! You are to sure to enjoy that excursion!
In regards to the banana plantations, I have not been to the banana plantation in Soufriere, but I would guess the presentation would be the same. At the Roseau Banana Plantation we got out of the van and saw the banana plants along the side of the road. Here Spencer explained the cultivation and harvesting procedure of bananas. We also got to sample some of this yummy, fresh fruit! The banana plantations here are basically a grove of banana plants, so I don't think you would miss out in visiting a larger one over a smaller one.
In regards to the type of scenery we saw driving through Castries, in all honesty I do not recall seeing that much of Castries. I do remember driving on a road where we could see the back and other side of our cruise ship as we made our way out of the city.
I have written a detailed pictorial review of our West Coast Island Delight excursion which you may find helpful. You may read that, beginning at post #104 here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1038334&page=6
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Does any body know if the muster drill is at the life boats or in a lounge?
We were in stateroom #9228 and for us the muster drill was held in Pharoah's Palace Lounge.
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Thank you everyone for your replies.
I ended up booking the "Land, Sea & Beach Tour" with Spencer Ambrose. The reason for doing this was mainly because we have Land Tours booked on the two islands before this one, and the guys (my son and one of his best friends) decided that they want to experience something a little different, and thought that the speed boat would be a fun option. Another reason for choosing this tour, was that my son's friend also wanted to experience a true local Island Meal. This tour will also give us a little more time at each stop, especially the beach, which I hear has the best snorkeling that people have experienced in the Southern Caribbean. (We prefer to snorkel from the shore.)
If Cosol offered a speed boat option at least one-way, then we would have probably went with him. After all, he is still rated #1 on Trip Advisor and comes highly recommended here on Cruise Critic. But, having to do the van both ways, is what swayed the vote in Spencer's favor. Just hope that we don't miss out on too much by seeing some of the sites by sea instead of by land.
Well...
Here's to a great time in St. Lucia! Can't wait for our Southern Caribbean Cruise! :)
Hi tripster!
I just responded to you in another thread, but thought I would share this link as it may be helpful to anyone deciding between a Land or Boat tour.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=46833369&posted=1#post46833369
Have a great trip!
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dz63...
I love your video from you West Coast Island Tour with Spencer Ambrose! Being a land tour, I see that you got to make stops in several places prior to arriving in Soufriere. It seems like you miss out on these stops and photo ops when you do the Land, Sea & Beach Tour. (ex. the Capital and Fishing Villages) Did you enjoy those stops and were you glad that you had the opportunity to see them...or do you feel they were not worth seeing? I know that you do get to "see" a couple of the same places by sea, but not sure if that would be the same. Did you make land stops in Anse La Raye or Canaries on the Land, Sea & Beach Tour? Was Marigot Bay just seen from above on the land tour and from the water on the combined tour?
What did you like best about the West Coast Island Tour...and what did you like best about the Land, Sea & Beach Tour? Did you spend more time at the Sulfur Springs and the Waterfall on one of the tours than you did on the other? (I do know that you get more time at the beach on the Land, Sea & Beach Tour.)
This information will help me to make my final decision. I need to book soon!
Thanks!
Sorry tripster for the delay in response--I just came across your post now!
In regards to your questions, on Spencer's West Coast Island Delight tour, we did not make any stops in Castries. We did stop at the Morne Fortune Overlook where you can see your ship below. This stop is not included in Spencer's Land & Sea tour.
In the fishing villages of Anse La Raye and Canaries, we only stopped at an overlook for photo's. We did not go directly into the village or make a stop in the village itself. In the Land & Sea Tour you will still see these same villages but your perspective is from the sea instead.
On the West Coast Tour, we did not stop to view Marigot Bay from an overlook. On the coastal tour, we got to cruise directly into the bay.
On the West Coast Tour, we got approx. 15-20 minutes at Sulphur Springs and at the Waterfall and 45 minutes at Jalousie Beach. We have not been on Spencer's Land, Sea & Beach Adventure since he changed the itinerary--but on this tour you will get more time to spend at the Volcano as well as at the waterfall with up to 90 minutes at the beach.
Please note that there is a considerable amount of driving on Spencer's West Coast Tour as well as on Cosol's Island tour. Although you will see alot of the rugged and scenic countryside, you are travelling on steep and winding roads for approx. 1- 1 1/2 hours each way. Going down to Soufriere this drive is broken up by photo stops, but going back it is a long drive. If you are prone to motion sickness this could be a concern--both my son and I did start to feel a touch of motion sickness on the return trip.
So to summarize, in comparison between the West Coast tour and the Land, Sea & Beach Adventure this is what you will miss:
-the drive through Castries
-the Morne Fortune Overlook (this is also where the Governor's House is located)
-the long drive on winding roads to Soufriere and back
-the snake man (another photo opp where you can take your picture with a boa)
-stop at the Roseau Banana Plantation--which is a large banana plantation (on the Land & Sea tour you will stop at a small banana plantation in Soufriere instead).
On the Land & Sea Tour you will gain:
-faster transportation to Soufriere and back again as travel is by speedboat
-you will get to travel through Marigot Bay
-you will see the Natural Bridge and get up close to the Bat Cave
-more time to spend at the sites and at the beach
-you will still be able to see the fishing villages of Anse La Raye and Canaries but from the sea instead of by land
Both of these tours are good tours and you will see and learn alot--the main difference is the mode of transportation, amount of time spent at the sites and the price difference ($75 vs $100).
Hope this helps!
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Thank you SO much for so much information!! You have been a great help! [emoji4]
Your welcome!
I was glad I was able to help!:)
Time frame for booking more than one excursion in same port
in Alaska
Posted
Hi Budget Queen,
Thanks so much for your response. I really like your suggestion and I think this is the best way for us to go in order to maximize our experience in Juneau without feeling totally rushed!
A couple questions though:
1. How hard is it to get a taxi once leaving the ship especially that early in the morning? Are taxi's available right at the cruise terminal?
2. To take the shuttle back do we pay the driver at Mendenhall Glacier or do we need to make prior arrangements from the shuttle hub near the tram?