blue_water

I’d suggest a more personal experience with a respected driver. Our favorite trusted taxi/excursion driver just took 3 girls from Cozumel to the Tulum ruins and other spots for their day in the Riviera Maya. And others to Chichen Itza. I wouldn’t want to do that on a shared bus…

Thank you guys! As beautiful as I remember! 🙏

Meant to add the risk is if you cannot get there and you reserve a tee time, with a cancellation within 14 days you forfeit the entire $$ payment. You can email just prior to your cruise and ask if you can just show up if not a busy day too…Or reserve last minute after checking the weather…

Yes Hard Rock in Playacar is your best bet. Great 18-hole course just a 5 - 10 minute taxi from the PDC ferry terminal. All-inclusive price (green fees, cart, food and drinks) is $250/pp. Add $50/pp for club rental, $15/pp for shoes. Bring your own balls, gloves, and tees. https://hotel.hardrock.com/riviera-maya/world-class-golf.aspx Great course and you will enjoy your day. The ferry crossing can be rough, just depends on the conditions. When conditions are extreme (a Norte coming through) the ports and ferries are closed, as has happened twice this year. Other than that we’d have no concern with this self-excursion, as long as your port times are long enough? Taxi would be ~$150 pesos each way…

Is there a less expensive transfer from FLL to Riverside? We’re meeting friends at the hotel pre-cruise who will be using the Park n Go for parking so we won’t need a transfer between the hotel and cruise terminal…

Long Bay, Beef Island was the last beach with no amenities, and popular with locals and land visitors with cruise ships in port. A very beautiful, natural beach at the end of an easy to miss dirt road, close to Trellis Bay and the airport. I remember @crewsweeper had posted some time ago that there were lounges/umbrellas there, if I recall correctly the cruise line had started offering an excursion there then? Now there are food vendors and it sounds like it’s lost its charm as a “getaway beach”, but the islands are indeed getting smaller as more and more enjoy cruising. Would appreciate any photos or videos of this bay today!

To add, 17th Street and the Riverside Hotel come up often. For any hotel recs I know I’d need to check prices on their airport shuttle for our flight arrival and departure. If the Park n Go is the best choice for long-term parking and shuttle to terminal 25, hotel parking would not be a question of course…

We are two couples, one flying/out of FLL, the other couple driving in and parking for ~12nights… Celebrity 10-night cruise is not until 3/25, just starting to research early…We cruised out of PE 12 years ago and stayed in Danai Beach then. This cruise we’d like to stay closer to the port, I think, reading in other threads about favorite hotels closer to the port area where it sounds like more restaurants and shops are. Any recommendations there would be appreciated. We used Priceline successfully years ago when cruising from Miami, and plan to try that option when we are able to book if that makes sense here? Thank you for any suggestions and guidance…

I’d just take a jitney (small bus) to your restaurant of choice and enjoy the ride. $1.25/pp each way, exact change appreciated. We took the #10 jitney to the Twisted Lime in Sandyport, Poop Deck is also there. Just ask drivers at the Bay St/Frederick St bus stop which bus to hop on! Much more interesting than a taxi as you meet some of the wonderful people of the island! 👍 You can also switch buses if interested and take a ride through the nicer neighborhoods.. We also really enjoyed dining at Johnny Canoe’s off Cable Beach near Baha Mar. great burger, as well as grouper dishes. You can also go to the Baha Mar casino if you want…

Just info for anyone following! 😉

That should be “Chez Bamboo” in Spanish Town ☺️

We’d definitely choose the Sensations 8:30 ferry over, and the Speedy’s 3:30 return. Hook up with one of the taxi drivers and use him/her to help make your day an enjoyable one! Savannah Bay is gorgeous, and one of the last remaining beaches not yet invaded by cruise line excursions. The driver can tell you the best time to head to the Baths. Have a bite Mad Dog’s after, or stop in Spanish Town and relax at aches Bamboo before boarding the return ferry. Another great option is renting a car from Mahogany, but using a driver gives you an edge, and taxi fares within the Valley area are just $5 - $6/pp… Another poster has less time in port, and so cannot take advantage of this amazing day!

I cannot answer about the ferry used by the cruise lines, they may charter one as well… The cost for a self-excursion to the Baths (ferry + taxis) is ~$50/pp. With your shorter port time, whether you join the cruise line excursion or go on your own, you will likely encounter crowds while going through the boulders… so our choice would be a beach on Tortola…But that’s just us… The Cozumel/Playa Del Carmen ferry can be one of the roughest in high seas. They often shut down the ports in heavier weather…The ferry to VG can also be rough, but is typically not that bad… Nit much help I’m afraid…the Baths are just more of a challenge (to enjoy the right way) unless you have 9+ hours in port…

To answer your second question, Aristocat and Kuralu I mentioned provide shared excursions, or private if you have the $$$. They alternate between Jost, Diamond Cay, and Norman Island, Indians… Sunshinepowerboats is a true private excursion option with excellent reviews. With this charter, you could also hit the B Line on Little Jost, and Sandy Spit! Or even the Norman Island Caves and the Indians for snorkeling. https://sunshinepowerboats.com/

There is a lengthy thread on that outfit (versus Rebel Yell, e.g.)…That’s something we’ve never heard of or have seen reviews on so I just mentioned it above…

Sure! I’d be curious if Foxy’s on Jost still offers the water taxi between CGB and Jost, and if so the cost. If higher than you want you can always look for others on your Roll Call to share the cost… When we took a water taxi years ago we could be dropped and picked up in either White Bay or Great Harbor which was nice.

I see at least 10 excursions on their site, but nothing for Jost…🤷🏼 But you have a nice long day in port which makes for a nice a day on JVD…. There are a few options…and perhaps an independent excursions site that we cannot comment on… 1) Aristocat and Kuralu offer very nice daysails on a cat that stops in White Bay for a couple hours. 2) The typical way of getting to Jost without a day sail, and to get the most time there, is taking a 20 - 25-minute taxi to the West End ferry (Horizons), taking the 20-25-minute ferry to Great Harbor, Jost, and a 5-minute taxi over the hill to White Bay. The taxi fare from the cruise dock to West End depends on the number of people. For 2 ppl the taxi fare is $32/pp roundtrip. The ferry is $40/pp roundtrip. The taxi fare for 2ppl between Great Harbor and White Bay ($10 - $12/pp roundtrip). So for 2 ppl, the total is $168 (+ taxi tips). You would have to take the 10AM ferry over, and the 2PM back, giving you ~2.5 hrs in White Bay, and time to hit Pusser’s Road Town Pub near the ship, or shopping… 3) This is a water taxi between Cane Garden Bay and Jost. If available, you would need to take a 20-minute shared taxi to CGB, and a taxi I back after $12/pp each way).

We would be fine with the 2PM departure from Great Harbor, but I understand your hesitation…

There are TONS of posts in threads just below yours on the 4 or 5 options for getting to White Bay, Jost from Road Town. Are you asking about a self-excursion? Or a cruise line excursion? Your port date and times also help give useful feedback because of the time and distance involved…😄

Roundtrip for 1 person, at the 2-person rate… The $50 earlier included the $40 ferry + $5 taxi between Great Harbor. That may be $6/pp, not sure… But the $32/pp taxi between the dock and ferry was not included there… To clarify, The taxi fare from the cruise dock to West End depends on the number of people. For 2 ppl the taxi fare is $32/pp roundtrip. The ferry is $40/pp roundtrip. The taxi fare for 2ppl between Great Harbor and White Bay ($10 - $12/pp roundtrip). So for 2 ppl, the total (PER PERSON) is ~$32 + 40 + $12 = $84, Orr $160 for a couple (+ taxi tips)

There is no day pass for the Baha Mar Resort (no beach or resort pool access) There is a day pass for the Baha Bay Water Park. $160/adult, $65/ child (under48”). https://prod-b2c-bmr.vivaticket.com/tickets.html You can enjoy the casino and some restaurants at the resort with or without the Baha Bay pass……

Not sure what time the beach bars and restaurants open in CGB, but that beach is your best bet because there are several beach bars in this large bay. At least one or two should be open early to take advantage of the number of day visitors that will choose that beach for their day. Some of your fellow passengers will book through the cruise line, but it is very easy to go on your own. Just hop a shared safari taxi going to CGB and you’ll pay the lowest taxi fare of $12/pp each way. Depending on the number of cruise passengers in port that day you will likely see several 20+ passenger taxis unloading folks at CGB. The taxis will return in time to get you back to the dock. If you want to return early and shop taxis stop in, and you can just ask where you are renting.

I would have zero concerns areas. We stayed next to Baha Mar for two weeks, and bussed into town several times. Very safe and no worries at all. You can visit the beautiful Baha Mar casino and enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants. Just walk over to Bay Street and Frederick where the buses originate and hop the #10 jitney. The fare is $1.25/pp each way, exact change appreciated, and just tell the driver Baha Mar. You will see bus stops where the bus will pick you up for your return. One recommendation - stop by the Daq Shack in the vendor area that you walk by in your way to Baha Mar. Truly amazing daiquiris! Really nothing to worry about!

You are ALWAYS required to carry your original passport when traveling internationally. The Security Alert did not create that requirement, that’s just the law everywhere. Is that enforced at most cruise ports? No. But folks traveling internationally should know it is a requirement just to be savvy travelers… But no change to answer your question… For newer travelers, it’s good to know that in most countries an e-copy or photocopy is not a valid ID, and of course you cannot fly in an emergency. And in many countries a color photocopy is illegal. So just noting that for those who are not aware… We ALWAYS carry our ORIGINAL passport with us when in public - whether on a cruise or land vacation but that’s us. The obvious reason we don’t leave our passport in our cabin is in case we need an alternate departure. We’ve had two medical emergencies while traveling, and in the event of ANY type of emergency you cannot fly without your original passport… Of course it’s your choice. That’s a hot topic in many travel forums and most folks don’t see a need to carry a passport. I would not recommend carrying a copy, and be sure to carry a VALID government photo ID. We’ve seen some “seasoned” travelers carrying an expired drivers license as their sole ID! 🤷🏼

The day pass is $125 USD pp, $220 USD/couple, and $55 USD/child (3 - 12 yrs). You can have access to a room for $157 USD which is great for a large family or two families to share. When I inquired they stated limited alcohol selections, but I confirmed they do serve day visitors mixed drinks, rum punch, beers and frozen daiquiris…