lax19

A few years back we went with Antigua Paddles and had a great time (http://www.antiguapaddles.com/). A relaxing kayak trip through the mangroves and then some beach/snorkeling time. Excellent hosts and guide.

I guess if you are a twin and your twin was on the other ship, you could swap cards and visit the other ship.:D

Maybe you could drag your mattress out on the balcony and sleep there. Teh sound of the wake might be more pleasant.

There's shade every time an airplane goes over :D

Sunset bar is located on the beach and I think they have covered seating.

Also throughout the afternoon,the milk and cookie ladies serve cold milk and warm cookies in the Piazza!

Contact Eduardo Martinez at Blue Baja Los Cabos (http://www.facebook.com/eduardomartinezbluebajaloscabos/timeline)

bluebajaloscabos@hotmail.com

His office is about 3 minutes from the tender pier.

He's a reseller of tours, but can hook you up with most anything you would want to do.

Thank you Shogun, I am fluent in Portuguese and will translate the menu if there is not a Portuguese speaking waiter.

When we were on the Emerald at the beginning of November, one of the Cruise Director Staff was from Rio. If she is still there, she might be able to help with the daily activities.

I agree with midlandgas. Plenty of sun during the morning/early afternoon when heading westbound. Plenty of afternoon sun when heading eastbound.

I liked the straight up and down as it provides more privacy.

Day: 1 Embarkation Continued

11/03/15

 

During this peak time was when the horrible design of the buffet truly showed. The buffet is set up as one long counter with multiple repetitions of some areas.

 

On the past couple of Carnival ships we have been on, the buffet was much more logical. There are different sections instead of just one long buffet counter.

 

Also I don't understand how Norwegian seems to be one of the few major cruise lines without a 24 hour pizza station. They had pizza out during lunch/dinner, but not the true pizza station like you get on Carnival/Royal.

Thank you for your observations.

Buffet layout must vary from ship to ship. NCL's Jewel has a better layout with different sections as does the Dawn and the Star. Was there 24 hour pizza delivery anywhere ($5) available? I really liked this on the Dawn.

We are going on a 4 day cruise in January 2016. Just to Catalina and Ensenada. My son has his passport and his wife has her birth certificate which is acceptable. But our PVP told him that because he's only 24 and his wife is 20 that it might be a good idea for them to bring their marriage license just to be safe. Has anyone ever heard of this before? It just seems silly. Even if they weren't married they could travel together and she's over 18.

From the Carnival Website:

https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2544/kw/age%20restrictions/related/1

Guests Under the Age of 21 MUST travel with a relative or guardian of 25 years of age or older

Exception: Legally married couples, including same gender couples

• Proper documentation must be submitted.
  
• Documentation includes: marriage license issued by the County Clerk’s Office; legal proof of civil union; for newly married couples: a copy of the marriage license application or certificate signed by the official that performed the ceremony.
  

Since both are under 25 and his wife is under 21, your PVP is ensuring that they can board. Kudos to the PVP.

For Disney Cruise Lines

http://www.disneyauditions.com/

As soon as I finally decided which hotel to stay in, I find out it is closing. The Alhambra Beach Resort is rated number one in Fort Lauderdale by Tripadvisor, but will soon be gone. Apparently the property was purchased by Marriott, and they will probably build a monster hotel there.

Now I have to find another hotel in the same area, that is not priced above my means.

Have you tried the Drift Hotel next door? We stayed there two weeks ago and were very pleased.

I'm all good with casual, but unless you lost your luggage, shorts at dinner in the MDR is for amateurs.

Since I don't get paid to dine, I must be an amateur. Shorts for me!:D

But it's a warm rain :p

Last week in Cozumel, we had rain all day. Ranging from little drips to downpours. The sun finally came out about an hour before departure.

Just off the Emerald - Cabin B748 (Baja Deck , Aft Balcony, Port side). The balcony was about 8 by 8 (using my calibrated foot). No obstructions. We had two chairs, two loungers and a small table. Completely covered, but full sun til noonish when heading westbound and in the afternoon when heading eastbound.

Were other passengers able to get off earlier? We've got a 10:50 am flight and I'm going to stress about it for the next 5 weeks...

My experience from disembarkation from the Emerald Saturday the 7th.

We left our stateroom at 8:15 - Deck 11 (Baja) with our luggage. No problem getting an elevator or walking off the ship (just went with the flow). Once in the terminal, we skipped the line for the elevator and took the escalator down. The line for Customs and Immigration was short (I think three people ahead of us). Waited about ten minutes for a cab and we were at the airport at 9:15. (we had to wait an hour before we could check our bags for our 12:15 flight). No line for SWA check in. Again skipped the elevator and took the stairs down to security. Security went quickly (about 15 minutes). We were at our gate at about 10:45. There were three ships in port (one was the Oasis) as well as the end of the boat show.

Here's a picture form the cruise ship taken last Wednesday (11/4). This should give a relative location.

We stayed at the Drift Hotel last weekend before our cruise. It's a little "mom and pop" place, but very comfortable, quiet and about two blocks from the beach. The owners take great pride in the grounds and rooms. It's within walking distance to all the Fort Lauderdale Beach hot spots (2 blocks north of Los Olas Blvd). We booked through hotels.com. Cab fare was about $25 from the airport and $20 to the port. A small breakfast is included.

Here's a picture of the Caribbean Princess I took today from the water taxi. The southbound route heads down to Hollywood Beach.

I'll be in B748 next week on the Emerald. I'll provide some info when I return.

One of my favorite things, apart from whiskers on kittens and warm woolen mittens, is the fact that in an aft cabin you get to see the port slowly disappear in the dusk as the ship leaves for her next destination.

 

Back there you also forget that there is 950 feet of ship attached to your cabin.

There are over 4,000 people on the other side of that door. Hundreds of them are cooking and serving food right now. Bands are tuning up and dancers exercising.

The deck stewards are stacking up the loungers. The Captain's only got another hour of his watch to do and is thinking "Dinner" much as we are. The crew in the laundry just keep on with their mighty task which is never completed, seldom seeing the sea or a passenger. Unsung heroes all.

 

 

Looking forward to a similar view next week on the Emerald! Thank you for your detailed and stunning review of Florence. I recently finished Dan Brown's book "Inferno" which take place in Florence. Seeing your pictures and reading your description tied it very nicely with the book.

Uhmmm..It's a cruise!

It has, however, produced some interesting cruise logistics with Hawaiian Island cruises visiting Kiribati and Ensenada as well as California, Oregon and Washington wine themed cruises including Vancouver.:)

Regards,

Tom

I looks as if the US laws have benefited the economy of several foreign cities! :)

, if we took the same approach to automobiles, we would be denied the ability to drive those automobiles produced all over the world. It is a protectionist thing with me.

Regards,

Tom

Tom isn't it a matter of where the vehicle is registered, not where it is manufactured? Several US domestic airlines fly aircraft made in Canada and Europe all over the US.

I would guess that a bus that is registered in Canada could not take people from Detroit to Chicago, but a US registered bus can (even if the bus was made in Japan).

From John Heald's Facebook Page:

CARNIVAL LIBERTY STATEMENT

September 7, 2015 – 12:50 pm EDT

Earlier today, while the Carnival Liberty was docked in St. Thomas, there was a fire in the ship’s engine room. There were no reported injuries to guests or crew. All guests are ashore in St. Thomas. [Crews are working to extinguish the fire.]

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Updates will be provided as additional information becomes available.

Carnival Liberty is on the second day of a seven-day Caribbean cruise that departed San Juan yesterday.