mcarney

19 minutes ago, Tom-n-Cheryl said:

 

To my knowledge, I don't think that anyone has taken on the task of managing a spreadsheet for this project.  (stepping one foot back)  😄

 

Tom

Thanks ... I wasn't sure if just the format was the same as Celebrity or if the OP had created a spreadsheet as well ... too bad, as it's difficult to search on the thread.

I apologize for asking a question - but is there a spreadsheet or something like the Celebrity board? How do you 'search' or 'filter' to find the specific ship and cabin

9 hours ago, BigJon said:

I was in Cartagena last week on the Disney Wonder. Definitely agree on the price before you get in the taxi. Inside the port is slightly higher than outside the port. As I approached the taxi area, a guy asked me where I wanted to go, and I said the clock tower. He told me it would be $20 for 3 people. I told him "no thanks", and he immediately said, "$15". I told him "how about $12", and he grimaced a little, and said "okay". The taxi drivers in the port area wear a blue shirt with TAXI written all over it. He took us straight to the clock tower, but he tried to get us to let him take us on a tour, that included La Popa. We did a tour like that the first time we went to Cartagena, so I told him we just needed a ride to town. Once we did our walking tour of the old town, as I got near the clock tower, a guy approached me and asked if we needed a cab ride to the port, and I said "how much", and he told me $10. We followed him outside the clock tower entrance wall to a taxi, and once we got in I asked the driver if the total price was $10, and he said "yes". That guy did not have the TAXI shirt, and his car was slightly smaller, but it was fine. I was wondering if he would drop us off outside the port, but he dropped us off inside the port. They take US dollars.......jonathan

Thank you!  We will be in Cartagena in February and we were just thinking of stopping by the fort for pictures and then on to the walled city (I'm assuming that is the clock tower) to tool around, maybe some lunch and then before boarding, go to the free wildlife place at the port.

This help a lot --- go outside of port for taxi, negotiate and agree on a price before getting in the car - thank you again!

On ‎10‎/‎5‎/‎2018 at 12:19 AM, lillulu said:

 

Not sure if you are interested in doing it on your own. They do give a map with information. We made a friend who lives in Cartegena and this is what he had sent me about doing the trip on our own since we are not in port very long. We also wanted to have time to explore the animals at the port before getting back on the ship.

 

 

The port is only about 10 - 15 minutes from the port so it is easy to get to the Old Town and back without worry of missing the ship. The Old Town is a must see in Cartagena. You can do your own tour and take in the majority of what you want to see and do and be able to do it at your own pace and more cheaply. There are taxis at the port which are authorized and safe. Here are some ideas:

• As you enter the port terminal, there will be someone giving out maps of the city and answering questions. They will give you free maps that are great for getting around the Old Town.

• Walk through the store (the big yellow old house) (visit it in more detail when you return)

• When you get outside the front of the store follow the signs to the taxi area.

• There will be guides that hound you to go on a tour. Even when you say that you want a taxi they will try to take you on a tour.

• Tell the taxi you want to be taken to the Old Town with a stop on the way to take pictures of the fort. To visit the Fort takes a fair amount of time and can be quite hot to climb. Most everyone stops in front to be able to take pictures. Ask the taxi driver how much and there should be a sign saying $20 to the Old Town. Agree before you go and tell him it is a one way fare. Don’t’ let them try to sell you some tour or that they’ll drive you around and also bring you back. The normal fare downtown is about $3 but since they’re inside the port they charge a lot more.

• You can have him drop you off at the clock tower which is one of the main entrances to the Old Town. From there you can do your own walking tour using the map. It has descriptions of the sights on the map. You can do a big loop and see the majority of the sights.

• Along the way you can get a snack, or something to drink as there are many places. There are also several shops if you want to shop any.

• You can come back. Either get any yellow taxi inside the Old Town or by going out the clock tower where you came in and going across the street to in front of the Convention Center. Just tell them that you're going back to the port and that you'll pay $5. They'll want more but if they don't accept it, look for another taxi. It will take on 10 - 15 minutes to get back to the port. As you return, you will go through Manga and there are many beautiful old colonial houses to see.

• When you get back, they will drop you off in front of the port store and it's nice to look around the park and see the birds and other animals. The people in the store are very nice and the prices are fixed (except for the jewelry) and they take credit cards. There is a simulated emerald museum that also has a nice display of emeralds (not for sale.)

• In the Old Town there will be many tourists and, like any place with tourists, watch your belongings. There are tourist police all around and it is very safe. Also lots of people want to sell you things and can be very pushy. Just say no and ignore them. The taxis will also try to take you to shopping places and show you other things but there’s always a charge or they have some connection to make money.

I know this is an older post, but maybe someone will know --- is the $3 or $5 taxi to/from the Old Town per person or per taxi ride (up to 2 or 4 people)?

Thank you!

I would like to know these things as well

I'd like to know as well ... going to be in Aruba in February

10 hours ago, wishing4wind said:

Yes!v Fusion tables are going away so I have a google map now! 

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rn6U7Nz9iJQJ2H5O82PVQ59awp_tZatm&usp=sharing

Also, for cruisers to go snorkelling my best recommendation is to go to Plaza Resort, a short walking distance south of the pier. There's a small charge but the snorkelling is great, so convenient and the water is always warm, especially in Feb. 

 

Thank you!  We decided to book with Woodwind on their 4 hour tour (morning tour), so we might be 'snorkeled' out afterwards - what other things would you suggest we do for a few hours before going back to the ship?

On 3/23/2018 at 10:27 PM, wishing4wind said:

This isn't a .pdf, but it may help with planning ahead. I created it with my favorite things to do on Bonaire - blue dots marks are scuba/snorkeling sites, red are activities, yellow is shopping and green are restaurants. Click on the markers and you can launch the website to learn more. https://fusiontables.google.com/embedviz?q=select+col2+from+1pOKNHAMGZmM1kiEKX1B_VUqm3p62fYUP5fYakJ8v&viz=MAP&h=false&lat=12.168377307193646&lng=-68.28971888085937&t=1&z=12&l=col2&y=2&tmplt=2&hml=ONE_COL_LAT_LNG There's more I need to add, but it's a start. I created it for my guests at my vacation rental, especially those who are coming for the first time to Bonaire.

This is GREAT!!!  Question - I know that Bonaire is one of the best places to scuba - but what about snorkeling from the beach/shore?  If we rent a golf cart, which of the blue markers are best for snorkeling?  Also, we will be there mid February - is the water temperature nice and warm or is it chilly?

Thank you so much!

6 hours ago, Da629 said:

They are changing from AARP Rewards for Good to just AARP Rewards. I spoke with  an AARP representative who said that the program is changing and the current points will expire, but the new program points will add up quickly they'll be more connected to the fitness apps and be able to easily accessible by phone app.

Will they sell Carnival gift cards on the new program?  This sounds just like when Verizon changed their program and of course, their new program no longer sells the Carnival gift cards.

Not yet, but someday! ;)

Love the island and the people.

I keep saying I'm moving to St. Thomas... you know the house that you overlook when going up the cable car ... the one that has a infinity pool ... we joke st work that will be my house one day 😊

Forgot to mention TTOL, ask there about Brewers and the surf school in Josiah’s, it’s an active site for all things BVI -

http://www.traveltalkonline.com/ubbthreads.php/forums/7/1/british-virgin-islands.html

Cool .... thank you! Do you live there?

You can see several YouTube videos showing the grottos, and find helpful details on the entire day in many threads here. it’s just an experience you probably won’t see elsewhere in the Carib. I would instead recommend it on a land-based visit when you have more control over the crowds, but that doesn’t help here...

 

As to other excursion options, if you research this forum you’ll find many excellent excursion choices, including snorkeling the Indians and Norman Caves, the cat to White Bay, Jost, a nice tour of Tortola with lunch at CGB and a tour of the Callwood distillery, not to mention the gorgeous beaches on Tortola like Brewers Bay, Long Bay (Beef Island), and Smuggler’s Cove (see the Gorgeous Beaches... thread), surf lessons, hiking, pub crawl, sharing the cost of a private boat charter with others on your roll call, many choices...

Thank you ... those are all of the places that I've researched ... guess I'm just tired of looking (been booked since January 2017) ... unfortunately, Tortola is at the end of our cruise ports and most Poole are probably just wanting a relaxing day ... does Brewers Bay have chairs and umbrella rentals? My boyfriend is not a big sun person. Where are the surf lessons? That's something different for sure.

How are the beaches now that it's been some time since the hurricanes? We will be in Tortola November 13th on the Breeze and we are trying to find something to do that doesn't break the bank, but still leaves us with something to remember Tortola with.

Thank you

Ok ... I'm going to ask it --- what's the big deal about The Baths? Am I missing something? Just a bunch of rock formations and the 'possibility' of snorkeling if the current isn't too rough .. I also hear it gets super crowded.

Please enlighten me ... we will be there in November and trying to find an excursion is frustrating as you know what.

TIA

Let's see.... I think we waited up to a half hour. I'm not sure exactly, but it doesn't seem like it was longer than that. I don't think we set an exact time to meet him, so we just went out and asked for him and we were off the ship pretty early. We paid $30/pp plus $2 entry fee to something (nutmeg factory, I think). I want to say that the other group that came with us paid $50/pp, so they ended up paying more for their group of three than we did for our group of four.

Ok, thank you ... he quoted me $40/pp for 5-6 hours, so still not too bad - I think we are going to book him and be done with it ... Grenada and Tortola are giving me heartburn trying to find something to do ... ugh - now to narrow down Tortola

There were four of us and we booked in advance with him. The day of, he did ask what we wanted to see, but we really just wanted the highlights, so we didn't request anything special (although I highly recommend the Jouvay Chocolate Factory). The other party that ended up with us was three - parents and a teenage boy. There was more than enough room for all of us in the van. The teenage boy did get motion sick 3/4 of the way through, though (not b/c of Cutty, just b/c of the roads), so if you are prone to motion sickness, bring meds for it. Cutty will also let you sit up front, which will help with that. I can't remember exactly how many hours the tour was, but it was a good chunk of the day. We got back with a little time left over to walk the area near the port. You pay at the end of the tour, cash.

Awesome ... he gave me some suggestions for places of interest and I added 1 more (might have been on his list and he just didn't list it) ... said it would be apx 5-6 hours. Good to know about motion sick and sitting up front... one of the people going with us tends to get motion sick on smaller boats, so not sure if she'll have problems...

We have 5 people at the moment ... how long did you have to wait for him to fill up the van with the other people?

How much did he quote you vs what the other people paid?

We did a tour with Cutty Tours. We had to wait a little bit for him to get other passengers before we left the port terminal, but he did a great job! He took us to the rainforest and lured a monkey down to sit on our shoulders. We went to the Jouvay chocolate factory (a favorite for me!), the nutmeg factory, and other sites.

How many were in your party? Did you arrange the tour with Cutty in advance or find him at the port? I've been communicating with him and thinking of booking him for our group of 5. Did he customize the tour for you? How many hours was the tour? Any information would be great. TIA

We had a sticker that said "Suite Guest" on our card. I even started a thread about it here as I was unsure of its purpose.

I would assume it's the same reason why they have FTTF stickers >>> easy identification of who has what perk ... FTTF gets priority embarkation, early access to cabins, priority tenders, priority GS line and debarkation and suites only get priorty embarkation, priorty tenders and debarkation

Yeah sometime between last summer and this past spring they changed room availability. Previously our luggage tags had FTTF on them, this past spring, and the cruise we're booked on in a little over a week have nothing on them. Just Priority on the boarding passes, like everyone else.

As of December 2017, Carnival implemented new boarding passes and luggage tags ... one reason is because people were confused when both priorty and FTTF were printed on both... I suppose that's why guests thought they had FTTF when they really didn't

Now ...

Diamond/Platinum - boarding passes and luggage tags are stamped PRIORTY

FTTF - boarding passes and luggage tags are stamped with FTTF

Suites - boarding passes are stamped with PRIORITY and luggage tags are blank

PRIORITY = check in, boarding and luggage ONLY

D/P/FTTF are the only guests who have early access to cabins

We will be in G28 on july 12th cruise. Did you get to go to your room as soon as you boarded the ship? Also did the balcony have recliners or straight back chairs on it and how many? Cant wait to be on the cruise.

If you are Diamond, Platinum or purchased FTTF, then you can go directly to your cabin as soon as you board of its before 1:30 ... otherwise, general access to cabins typically opens up around 1:30.

Jr. Suites have small balconies ... You'll have 2 regular chairs only

How has the movement/seasickness been on this deck?

 

I have a OV booked for 6/14 for my toddlers first cruise. I just realized it’s under the galley. We booked super last minute and it was the only OV room left.

 

I’m considering upgrading but concerned with being so high up. I’m also terrified of him on a balcony, especially with others falling overboard.

 

This is my 9th cruise, so I’m comfortable cruising but prefer low floors due to movement.

People don't "fall off" balconies/ships ... they either go over on purpose or someone forces them over ...

Yoy definitely will feel more movement the higher up you are and the further forward you are... but many people get whoosie midship and low ... you just never know.

The only think about being on the grand deck is there are only 2 elevators to the deck ... so unless you like to go up a bunch of steps or sont mind waiting ... it's all good ... we usually walk everywhere on the ship, but found ourselves taking the elevator more just because of being on deck 14. Personally, I would rather be on deck 14 than under/over the galley

The "port authority" (e.g. rent a cops) try every time to make us check our bags and I have to argue with them every time advising tgem they will fit through the scanners as we go out of that port all of the time ... even though length doesn't matter, but most people identify luggage by this number .. we carry a 25" and 26" and have always had plenty of room going through the scanners ...

With the statement above (have to check 2 hours before departure, otherwise guests will have to carry on) ... then obviously large or larger bags will fit or the bags WILL be hand searched ... no biggie . .. I don't understand why the port authority folks get so worked up and make guests check their bags, unless it's a control thing.

Soooo, above it was stated that the checked bag scanners are different or bigger ... is this really true or are all port authority scanners the same whether they are inside (for carry on) vs outside (checked) ... I'm really thinking these are the same scanners ... if the bags are bigger than 16x24 (laying flat), the alternate screening would be hand searched ... thoughts?

We'll be in G42 on Saturday

Thanks for the info mcarney!:cool:

You're welcome

Any more info or reviews on these new suites? Considering booking one for May, but concerned about the movement and the noise from above. Also, are there are perks with these Junior Suites such as priority embark, debark and priority tender boarding? Thanks.

Perks for all Suites (except owners and captain's suites)

Here is the latest info on the suite perks:

Priority Check-In and Express Boarding

Carnival’s Priority Check-In is an exclusive service designed to afford our guests traveling in deluxe suite accommodations with special check-in privileges. Cruise documents are stamped, 'Priority' and state, 'If you have priority check-in (listed on your documents), please proceed to the Priority lounge'. We provide Priority Check-In at all embarkation ports.

At time of booking, you will need to instruct guests that they must ask for ‘Priority Check-In’ upon arrival at the cruise terminal. Embarkation staff will ensure that guests are expedited through the check-in procedure as quickly as is possible, while providing quality service.

Priority Tender Boarding / Priority Debark at Ports of Call

Guests can take advantage of priority tender service from ship to shore (multiple departure times may be possible) so they can explore ashore as quickly as they want to. For non-tender ports, to make debarkation as smooth as possible, we also offer priority debark.

A letter will be placed in the guest's suite with instructions where to meet and the window of time this service is available. This service is not for those booked on a Carnival shore excursion as these guests are given separate instructions when and where to meet.

Priority Debarkation

Guests will receive a debarkation letter offering a choice of how they would prefer to disembark the ship. They will be given the option of Self Assist (where offered) or Priority Debarkation; for Priority Debarkation, guests will receive special luggage tags which will entitle them to leave the ship after the Self Assist guests but before the remainder of the guests.

Suite Amenities

In addition, guests in deluxe suite accommodations will receive:

• A high level of service provided by our most highly-rated stateroom stewards

• Two complimentary in-suite large bottles of water

• One complimentary bag of laundry

The following perks are not for those guests traveling in deluxe suite accommodations unless they are VIFP Diamond or Platinum guests or have purchased Faster to the Fun.

• First Access to Stateroom

• Priority Luggage

• Priority line at Guest Services desk

• Dedicated onboard Guest Services phone number