cruiseguys2009

We are staying for two nights pre cruise in April, just before sailing over Easter on The Royal Princess.  As we are Floridians and live close to all four of our Ports (Miami, Ft Lauderdale, Tampa and Port Canaveral), this is the first cruise EVER, that we are flying to the other coast to sail from.   I am so excited and feel it is going to be awesome to enjoy The Queen Mary before our Royal Princess cruise. 

This April, we are sailing on The Royal Princess and arriving two days before sailing, on a Thursday.  We booked The Queen Mary for two nights for nostalgia reasons and it's proximity to the entertainment district of which they also have a shuttle from and back to the hotel. 

There is no shuttle from The Queen Mary to the San Pedro World Cruise Center where The Royal Princess sails from, so we intend to take Uber ($15) to the ship.  The only cruise ships that sail out of the Pier next to The Queen Mary are "Carnival" specific ships. 

Yes, if you booked thru Casino's at Sea or a land based Host, then your special Casino Cards will be waiting for your in your stateroom, and based upon the expected gaming level, your drink accommodations while gaming will also be attached, however, if you have the drink package, there is no need for the comp drinks from the Casino.  They honor that at all bars and outlets.  Have fun!

Finally, the long awaited Halloween 2018 portrait of JW (cruiseguys) as Snow (Joe) White, being given the poison apple by the incredible Captain Kate, the first American Female Captain of a cruise liner.  Much more to come from Halloween 2018 aboard The Celebrity Equinox.  It was an off the chain, rip roaring event, well planned and executed and attended by hundreds of passengers in costume. 

Captain Kate is an amazing,  articulate,  and one of the most accessible Captains we have ever experienced in our 55 sailings across all cruise lines since 2009. 

We also got the opportunity to meet her adorable kitty cat Bug Naked in person. 

Constellation, Equinox, Reflection

Sorry, My Bad. I'm sailing on The Equinox, Edge and Reflection and did not think about the others.

However, with that being said, the In Room Dining menu is exactly the same on all three.

Can anyone post a copy of this?

 

 

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If you download the Celebrity Cruise app to your phone, once it recognizes you, your reservations number, sail date and your cabin, it will provide all the menus including In Room Dining for your cabin category. I've got all my menus planned for breakfast in bed and what I am ordering in the MDR for dinner.

Thank you for all the great information. If you snorkel where the ship docks or along the golf cart tour do you need a local license/permit? I have read that you do not need them with a Celebrity excursion, but I don’t understand what is required if you are on your own.

 

 

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We just provided our Drivers License and Credit Card. We brought along our Mask, Fins and Snorkel gear and stopped twice to snorkel and was not worried a bit. I really don't foresee need for a special license for snorkeling along the public areas specifically placed for this activity

Check out Bonaire roadrunners. Guided tour for 5 hours ended at spice beach for a couple of hours. You drive a twizy. Super fun like driving a golf cart we had ours going over 80 Kim’s per hour. Did north tour. Most of the way is one way so you whip around curvy hilly roads. It is like being on a go cart track. An alternative to golf carts. It was hot but you do get a great breeze

I saw that but I am too afraid and scared to do this. And..... since I don't like roller coasters, tight curves, speed and off road vehicles, this would not be for Jerome and myself.

Don't need to buy it. Woodwind provides everything, they sanitize it and they fit the snorkel mask to your face. No leakage at all.

For beginners, ask if Dee will be there when you go. She is awesome and very patient with beginners.

He was talking about snorkeling on the golf cart tour not on woodwind.

We'd love to do both but they have some of the worlds best snorkeling and not really from the beach. Have to take a tour or the ferry boat.

 

Maybe if we go a few more times, just too hard to pass up the snorkeling in Bonaire.

 

Touring in golf carts sound like a lot of fun. We have quite a few people from our roll call signed up for them.

 

enjoy

The snorkeling is awesome and we did that a few years ago. The past three out of four cruises in the last two years we have done the carts and each time there is something new to discover that we missed the last time. And everyone in Bonaire is so friendly!!!

Keep in mind, it is very hot out there. So if you cannot do heat here's an alternative.

 

We did a similar tour through Celeb excursions on a small size bus. Air conditioning ! It too was excellent!

 

Going back to ABC next yr on EDGE...can't wait.

You know, it never occurred to me as we are from South Florida and are used to the heat. Though once we rounded the corner to the east side of the island on the carts, the waves and breeze picked up and it was thrilling. Yes, in November, January and March, the three other times we were in Bonaire in the past three years, it was warm. But, we stopped our golf cart at several beaches and took a dip to cool off, then stopped at the slave huts, and later, loved the bars for libations while we dipped our toes in the ocean drinking our cocktails.

I can definitely understand though if some are susceptible to heat. Thanks for chiming in, nice hearing from you!

Also forgot to mention we do not own snorkeling gear. I'll need to check into how expensive this is to buy.

A mask and a snorkel and fins. Walmart carries all of it. I would hesitate to purchase it on amazon because I like to try on a mask for the snug fit around my face before purchasing it.

We just did the golf carts yesterday. They were amazing. We did both the north and south tour and enjoyed the north tour much better. The flamingos were great and they are much closer on the north tour. Someone mentioned that a third person can sit in the back. This is not true. They are only for 2 people. The only thing in the back is a little basket to store your things. A person can’t sit there. We did the woodwinds tour last year and loved that as well. One thing you can do is the golf carts in the morning (but only one tour) and the Woodwind tour in the afternoon. That would be very doable to do both.

Thank you for letting us know about the third person. I checked with the cart company and they did have 4 person golf carts but no longer. They took them out of service recently, only 2 person carts now. What a great idea to do both, however, in the case of taylortime05, 7AM arrival and 3PM departure cuts it close, could be busy busy busy! Our arrival on November 1st is 7AM to 4PM, but we still have to be back on the ship by 3PM.

Did you find the north tour longer? What did you feel in your opinion made it better? I am curious to compare notes.

We are in Bonaire for first time from 7 - 3 pm on Dec 18 on Reflection. Right now we have woodwind snorkeling reserved. Do you think the golf carts is a better excursion for 1st time to the island? I might stay with woodwind for this trip since they have gotten wonderful reviews and do the golf cart the next time.

6 of one and half a dozen of the other. With Woodwind, which is awesome by the way, a person is not seeing the country/island, just the water and about an hours worth of shopping before getting back on the ship. With the Golf carts we get to immerse ourselves in the country, stopping along the way on special beaches to snorkel or sun bathe, see the salt mountains, the flamingo sanctuary and then enjoy a local lunch at a food truck or three, then libations ocean front in beachie shacks reminiscent of real Tiki huts. Before cancelling anything, check with the golf cart company because chances are, the golf carts are already sold out for your sailing.

Thanks for the positive feed back

We booked this for our February 2019 stop there and have never done it Really looking forward to it

Thank you. It is really so awesome and now with so many Celebrity Ships doing the ABC islands, this is one excursion we thoroughly enjoyed and truly recommend. And don't forget snorkeling equipment! Amazing shallow waters along the way. Plus, no real traffic worries, which was my concern. The island as such, is a small, close knit community, that everyone watches out for the golf carts. No chance of getting lost either as all roads lead to the port! Enjoy! Know that you are lucky as they sell out months in advance.

Jerome and I are so excited to be back sailing on The Celebrity Equinox over Halloween. My costume this year is a Male Drag Version of Snow White (I'm calling myself "Joe" White, Ha!)

I am really hoping to get a professional photo of Snow and Captain Kate and she is handing me an Apple! Won't that be fabulous? I would love to post that and have it framed in my cruise memory wall.

Every Halloween we cruise and enjoy the festivities and my hair, make up and fabulous fake nails are always done by the real professionals in the Salons on board. Thankfully the Premium Beverage Package gets me thru it!

I think Captain Kate will get a hoot out of it.

Here's a pic of my costume for The 2018 Celebrity Equinox Halloween Party:

Bonaire or Belize?

Bonaire, thanks for catching that just corrected it. In Belize we did the Chocchoben Myan Ruins thru Celebrity and it was one of the best informative excursions we have ever done. I was talking about Chacchoben with a friend at the same time I was writing my review of the Bonaire Golf Carts. And to think, I have not had a martini yet!

There is a great self guided five star TripAdvisor rated excursion in Bonaire via Golf Carts. The two person golf cart is picked up right at the port, about a minute away, complete with a guided map to go either north or south. The journey is fabulous and we have done this several times and highly recommend it. It's only $95 for the cart for the day, with a $100 deposit. You pay when you pick up the cart, not before. Reservations are required and many times we have been disappointed because they sell out months in advance.

My favorite is the southern tour of Bonaire because of the beaches, flamingo sanctuary, the abandoned hotel with the famous "Wings" graffiti we took pictures in front of and the three restaurants and bars we came upon. There are food trucks along the way to sample local cuisine and the best part is, these "Locals" who own the food trucks are from the USA, France, Belgium, New Zealand, everywhere. This Country and island is so eco-environment conscious it is refreshing. We highly recommend the golf cart self guided excursion on Bonaire.

We booked this time way back in January for our upcoming Celebrity Equinox cruise in a couple of weeks, when we were on another cruise. We were in Bonaire and on that sailing, so many folks knew about the golf carts that they were sold out, me and my big mouth a couple of years ago when I first reviewed them! This is one of the most popular, "In the Know" ways to enjoy Bonaire. For information you can contact info@bonairecruisers.com. Debbie will take good care of you and tell her that you heard about it on Cruise Critic.

Here are some videos, actually this is your video guide to drive around the island as the carts all have cell phone charging stations. You are given a map too, but this is more fun.

South Bonaire Golf Cart Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5-5a4YVSGY&feature=youtu.be

North Bonaire Golf Cart Tour

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akNLPd8gtKI

Since I was extremely censored and my pics were deliberately removed because they were shared from my other social media page (the one that is forbidden to mention), I no longer feel comfortable contributing to Cruise Critic. We, as a matter of fact, leave for our 4th Adventure in two years on The Norwegian Escape this Saturday, August 5th. We can be found on the new Cruise Video channel that was just launched and is part of the YouTube network. And, funny, Cruise Critic has a large presence on that forbidden to mention social media site, but that doesn't seem to bother them, only unless one mentions it here.

Sayonara.

To all our great and loyal fans:

Sorry for what seemed to be shirking my duties on the boards, but the last three to four weeks have been super hectic.

First, we no sooner came home from our awesome Norwegian Escape cruise number three, to me having to rush off to work (and being sequestered for the week in the hotel) for my last Official and most monumental event preparation of my career, my Crowning Achievement, that saw our property (and mostly ME in tow everywhere) host both Gigantic Leaders of the World. Though I am forbidden to go into details, it was an awesome, awe inspiring, and jaw dropping, tinkle in my pants every hour, three day sequestered and highly secure extravaganza. All I can officially say is that our President does not drink at all, nor do any of his family, however, the other country staying at the property...............well lets just say they can drink me under the table. With all of the Vodka and Scotch consumed during seven days, by the "Official Delegation", it was enough to fill the South China Seas. 'Nuf said.

After it was over, and the coast was clear, I was able to resume normal preparations for our Immense Annual Grand Easter Sunday Formal Brunch, serving over 3,300 in five seating's from 11AM, 1PM, 3PM, 5PM and 7PM. This was my final event, both of the Season (Mother's Day is not as big because of all the Northerners have gone home) and, it was also my final event of my career, as I also officially retired after 35 years in the Hotel Industry. I wanted no fanfair (That is unusual for me, mind you) but I had to be dragged, kicking and screaming out of the arms of the Corporate Management, as they were not about to let me go easy. They still think that I am merely on a vacation or sabbatical. It has been 4 days so far and all I have done is sleep (lots of stress-less sleep), eat, drink, work on the yard and drink, and then enjoy the pool, drink some more and of course, drink. Jerome is beside himself with all this time on my hands. He is off on his flying machines for the next ten days. What to do with myself. Drink! Bloody Mary and Vodka with Grapefruit in the morning, a Screwdriver (or three) for lunch, then happy hour Martini's and then get to composing on Cruise Critic. Yes, it should be a real hoot!

I have to get accustomed to not being available 24/7/365 for the property, but nonetheless, they keep interrupting my drink time. I will be posting loads more, and Jerome and I are incredibly excited to let everyone in on some exciting news..............................could it be yet another Norwegian Escape cruise? A fourth? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Hello, and thanks for all of your wonderful reviews.

I'm taking my daughter on The Escape the end of the month for a combined 18th birthday / graduation present. Would you mind if I use this pic for my FB cover photo?

 

I also wanted to tell you that my husband and his friend call myself and his friend's wife the President and Vice President of the BP Club (that's the Button Pusher's Club, lol). We'll gladly make you an honorary member. ;p

Honored to be a member.........................love to push buttons. Especially all the ones on the Elevator!

As Nancy Dow said, I have a Huuuuuuuge event this weekend at the hotel which will be, most likely, my crowning career achievement prior to my ultimate retirement upcoming on Easter Sunday. (If they let me go this time!, I have tried twice before to retire after 35 years but to no avail as they keep making me come back) Jerome is making me complete the first chapter of the review tonight so I will be posting later on as I am off today and home, unpacking (Yes, finally) and doing "House Chores" in between the many panic phone calls from work leading up to this monumental event. Though I cannot discuss the event, it is Huuuuuuuge.

Dreamily Remembering the Magnificent Escape tonight. Composing the Trilogy Adventures as I write. Here is what I remember in one photo:

Did you get Vibe passes and get to see Ruby every day? She was the BEST!!!

Not to give too much of the story away, but just between you and me, YES, we were able to obtain VIBE passes fairly and honestly (Not at all like the Jan Brady number two sailing) and loved it. Sad to report, Ruby as well as Minion and Michael are on the Getaway now and are going to The Joy from what everyone has said. Those Chinese will adore the foot massages! At least Rommell was still there with a new Michael and a whole fabulous and wildly rambunctious clan. Oh wait, did I say RAMBUNCTIOUS? Sorry, That was me!

Head's Up everyone! We are back this morning from The Escape. I will be putting together our Trilogy Adventure and just an advance teaser.......

The Third Adventure was just as ah-may-zing as the first. Let's just forget we ever sailed on the "Jan Brady" (Middle Kid Syndrome) second sailing.

Between Nancy Dow and Rusty (Baryton) I could not keep my head on straight (Gaylee on Top looking forward) and there is sooooooooooooooo much to tell.

I am getting unpacked and the first drops in the JW and Jerome's Adventures will begin tomorrow.

(I allowed Nancy to wear my crown temporarily for dinner, because I am now Sir Golden Lady Lose A Lot of The Motion of the Ocean, Queen of The Slots. I leveled up, and really hit the jackpots, and there is film at eleven to prove it! Wait until you read about JW (AKA Mad White Woman) literally shutting down the casino because no one could concentrate over my screams!

Remember, don't be drinking no coffee at work this week while reading the Trilogy!