Momis2

We have been on both and they are virtually the same. As for a 3 or 4 day I'd go with the 4 day. More time on board is always good:D

I have always purchased the pints with the plastic caps and put them in my cargo pockets, they pass right through the metal detector and you are on your way.

Watched the guy in line ahead of me try this on our last cruise and he was caught:eek:

I have traveled quite a bit as you can see from my sig below( It does not show all the non- cruise trips I have taken!) My piece of advice is to take twice as much cash and half as much clothes as you think you will need. You can always put the unspent cash back in the bank when you get home.:D

Swim with reef sharks in Bora Bora and buy myself a Tahitian Black pearl necklace.

Thanks for all the hotel suggestions but we live in Whittier which is just a short drive( about 30 minutes) drive up the freeway. DH was a Long Beach cop and made this drive twice a day for 20 years!

Thank you!

Does anyone know how much it costs per day to park at the terminal in Long Beach? It used to be $15.00 per day but prices may have gone up. DH and I usually take the shuttle when we cruise rather than drive our own car but we are only going for a quick 4-day get away. Our thought is that the parking will probably be less than the cost for a shuttle . Thanks in advance for your help.

If you go to the Caribbean side of Cozumel which is indeed lovely and empty, be aware that the ocean can be very rough( no lifeguards if you plan on swimming:eek:) and there are also many areas that are closed off to people because there are turtle nesting grounds. You can get a guide and car at the pier and have them take you around the island. Stop at the place where there are crocodiles and climb the tower to observe them. Go around to the lighthouse, climb to the top for the best view ever! It is the highest spot on the island.

Roatan... just off the ship is Mahogany Bay and a nice shopping area. You can walk or take a short ride to the swimming area. There are loungers, drinks , and food available but I think you will pay as Carnival runs this area. There are other places around the island to snorkel or hang out on the beach too but this one is nice and close.

Belize.. Cave tubing, seeing ruins , or snorkeling are all offered by Carnival but search online and you can find similar excursions for less.

Be aware that for all these ports, if you take a DYI tour , you'd better be back to the ship on time. They will not wait.

I am on this cruise also.:D It is a repositioning cruise of the Legend from Europe, actually. She did the TA to New York, then on to Tampa, thru the Panama Canal to L.A. and then on to Sydney crossing the International Dateline twice and crossing the Equator once. We will be stopping in Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora,Fiji, and New Caledonia before getting to Sydney. There are still OV cabins starting at $2749 and suites starting at $4949. More may open up the closer we get to final payment time in June.

We have done 4 repo cruises so far with one other one coming up in August. I have our travel agent on alert for any that she sees. Our first 3 were actually back to back to back cruises from Los Angeles to New York around the entire continent of South America. #4 was from Miami to L.A. through the Panama Canal and # 5 will be from L.A. to Sydney, Australia. The prices are very good and the ports are not the usual ones. You can be gone for a longer than normal amount of time but if that is not a problem, go for it!

We usually buy a Tag Heuer watch or two. The price is pretty much the same as at home but NO TAX:D and when you are spending 2K plus per watch that is a good savings.

Going on the Breeze Saturday. Last Saturday I had a Gallbladder attack. Thought I was having a heart attack. Went to hospital and had a Ultra Sound done. Have Gall stones. The only thing to take the pain away was Apple Juice mixed with Apple Cider Vinegar. I have not had an attack since. Is it alright to bring Apple Cider Vinegar on or do I have to smuggle it on? Thanks.

If the vinegar is sealed there should be no problem. Carnival does not like alcohol brought on board since it cuts into the profit they make selling it on the ship.Now some gallstone advice.... If you have gallstones and have had an attack, it is only a matter of time until you have another attack, unfortunately. I had 3 attacks within 2 weeks and got the surgery done right after the last one. I did not want to have one hit me while driving the freeway or anyplace else for that matter! Now I never have to worry about it again.:D

We were on the Splendor for 48 days straight on a South American cruise last year and loved the Thalassotherapy pool and steam rooms. They were never crowded and we even purchased a couples massage which was wonderful. I was so relaxed that I don't know how I got back to my cabin:D

Have bought many watches on our cruises.....Citizens and Tag Heuer to name 2 brands. all have been much cheaper in price than those in the stores ashore. Remember too, that you are NOT paying any tax or duty. When the watch costs in excess of $2400.00 that is quite a savings.

Hi try Pira Tours in Ushuaia. They arrange a trip that takes about 6 hours I seem to recall, that takes a maximum of 20 people at a time to Martillo Island where you can see and walk with 2 types of Penguins - Magellanic and a small group of Gentoo. I think it is the only Company that arranges this tour. it costs $100 plus and entrance fee of about $10 to the Harberton Ranch, where there is also a cafe and a small Museum with lots of whale bones.

We were on this tour last March and it was one of the best I have ever taken anywhere. We were able to walk among the penguins( thousands of them). There were the 2 kinds mentioned above plus a King penguin who must have gotten off course. Yes, the tour is pricey but you are in a very small group and only a VERY few people are allowed on the island each day. This is not a tour that any cruise line would be able to offer for this reason. We had ample time when we got back to Ushuaia to walk around and have dinner in a small Irish pub of all places! If you do this , get the king crab as it is a speciality of this region. We went to Punta Arenas also and saw only a handful of penguins and no penguin chicks at all.

We have bought several watches on various cruises and never felt like we paid too much. DH recently bought a Tag Heuer Link dress watch for less than $ 2200.00 and I just checked Amazon and saw it on sale for $2995.00 down from $4400.00. Plus you pay NO tax on whatever you purchase on the ship.

hot sauce tasting at peppers :D

Tell me more about this!! DH is a hot sauce fanatic and we will be in Key West this January.

Prime Time shuttle will take you to the port with no problem. Call ahead to place a reservation and they will pick you up at your hotel. You can also book them to take you to LAX after the cruise.

We were in most of those ports last February and March. Try to get together with those on your roll call so you can get tours out of town.

Go see penguins outside of Punta Arenas at Otway Sound. It is a long drive but worth it if you are there at the right time of year.

Go to Estancia Harberton outside of Ushuaia . There is a private island there where you will walk among 2 or 3 kinds of penguins.I cannot remember the name of it but maybe someone will chime in here. It is also a long drive but you will see absolutely beautiful country on the way.

Go to the waterfalls outside of Puerto Montt, Petrohue Falls. It is a moderate length ride out of town but you will go thru countryside and farmland that looks like rural Germany, not Chile. The volcano can be elusive to see...depends on the weather.

Punta Tombo near Puerto Madryn is another penguin breeding area. We saw thousands of them plus, rheas( like a small ostrich) and vincunas which are sort of like a llama. We wanted to go to the area where elephant seals could been seen but the road had washed out.

We did not go to Punta del Este.

We loved Montevideo. Very European feeling city. Right off the dock and across the street is a huge hall with many barbeque restaurants( parilladas) inside. The beef is incredible. Tender steaks, ribs, chops, lamb,sausages....if you are a meat lover , this is the place for you!.

The beers are enormous. We ordered 2 not realizing they are not 12 ounces like we would have at home. Each is a liter!! Luckily this was After our walking tour. Do take a walking tour, not just a cab ride. There are tourist police who will see to it that you do not stray into the"bad" areas. The architecture is amazing. There are lots of pedestrian walking streets with no cars. Be sure that you see the tomb where General Artigas who liberated Uruguay is buried , the Palacio Salvo - a wild-looking Art Deco building that is the second tallest in all South America, and spend some time in Ciudad Viejo(old town) .

Get a guide book( I like Fodors South America) they have decent info on sights to see, places to eat and maps that are small enough to make copies of and keep in your pocket. Get some money for each country that you visit!!! They will accept dollars in larger places( not the smaller vendors) but you will get change back in that countries currency.

Have a great time.I don't know your age but I am 63 and I had no problems anywhere . I would go back in a heartbeat, myself.:D

Sue

653 and 654 John and Sue .Whittier ,Calif.

I am sailing on her from L.A. to N.Y.C. We leave Feb.3 and get to New York Mar.23. As far as I know she is not scheduled for upgrades in 2013 at all.

We did the Bannister Island snorkle and Manatee watch with Coral Breeze Tours and LOVED it!! They use Hammerhead Tours which is right where the tenders drop you at the dock.They took great care of us on the boat and in the water. We saw tons of fish , wild manatees , and had a nice break afterwards on Bannister Island where there is a fresh water shower, restroom facilities, food for purchase and a great little bar. Back at the tourist area, we stopped at the Wet Lizard and had lobster fritters(YUM) and a couple more Belikin beers. We also bought some Marie Sharps hot sauce which is to die for if you are a chili-head like we are. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Hope you have a cruise planned to celebrate these long years of service! Definitely well-deserved since police officers aren't always appreciated as the good ones should be. Enjoy his retirement!:)

Yes, we have a great cruise booked and paid for. We are going on a 48 day cruise around the Horn of South America. The hard part now is waiting!

Because my DH is a police officer, I never know if he will come home alive each work day. We cruise because we love it and it is the only time I know that I won't get a midnight phone call telling me that he has been hurt or worse! I am SO glad that he is finally going to retire after 20 years.

We have to wait until next February for our next cruise:( But we will have 48 days of balcony bliss as we travel from Los Angeles to New York around the Horn of South America:D. I booked port side so we will be facing land all the way. We have enjoyed ALL the balcony pleasures that others have mentioned and we shall see what South America brings.