BeachChica

Great! Thanks Bird Travels and Karen! Just trying go to get my notes in order. We had friends travel on the Allure recently and they had no idea about the JR breakfast so trying to make sure I’m prepared! 😊

Great thanks! Has anyone see the Cruise Compass posted for the Western Itinerary?

Great thread and pics! Getting excited about my cruise in Nov, we haven't sailed with RCCL in several years.

Couple questions -

Was Johnny Rockets free for Breakfast? I thought I read that somewhere (just a charge for lunch and dinner)

Was the Headliner show the same each time or should I book multiple nights because the show will be different?

I am curious too what other food places are free (besides the main ones like the MDR and Windjammer)

Thank you!

Does anyone know if the Headliner show is the same for the couple showings or would they be different and then you should book multiple shows?

Hello,

We will be in Nassau for the day in November. We'd like to take our 4 year old daughter snorkeling from a boat. She's a great swimmer. Several years ago we booked a tour that left right from the port, was a ride out through the channel, and they stopped at the end of the channel to snorkel. The snorkeling was pretty decent right there. Anyone know who does a tour like this? Or open to other recommendations.

Thank you,

We are planning on going to Turtle Beach next week when we are in Jamaica. I was under the impression that the beach was very close to the port (walking distance). Is it necessary to taxi it?

 

 

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jcathers1 - if you're on the Seaside you'll be right at Turtle Beach. (We just got back from our Seaside cruise :) ) Just walk straight off the ship towards the taxi's and out of the port security gate.(don't go all the way to main street).Take an immediate left at security gate and walk towards fishing boats and along the water to the right. There will be an entrance to the end of Turtle Beach there and a booth to pay the small admission fee. We did have a local that walked with us, which was fine (if you don't want anyone just tell them). He brought us drinks throughout the day and stopped by periodically to see if we needed anything. Gets you chairs if you want to rent them, etc. We just tipped him at the end of the day. Overall it was a nice day. The beach feels safe (I wouldn't venture outside the gates though).

Following.

We've been to Turtle Beach right at the port. You can just walk there when you get off the ship. I think the entrance fee was like $2 for adults $1 for children. There may have been an additional fee for chair rentals, I can remember. No umbrellas but there were trees. There are people offering to bring you beer buckets etc. The beach was just Ok but I feel like that's typical for Jamaica from what I've seen. Interested in feedback on Bamboo Beach as we thought about trying something else this trip. Not sure if it would be cleaner.

BeachChica: We will be traveling with a toddler (2 year old) this summer. Do you have any suggestions to make it easier? Anything you especially liked or would do different? Thanks!

Wineandbeach - we always travel with our daughter. She's 3 1/2 now but this was her 4th cruise. She loves the beach. The water is nice there and it stays shallow for a bit. Definitely pack beach toys and bring a stroller. She's a picky eater so I just made her a PB&J from the ship and bring water for her. Let me know if you have any questions about this port or any of the others. You can PM me also.

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Eden Rock is great snorkeling right near the port. No beach but there is an area there to sit. There is a dive shop right there and some restaurants nearby.

As far as a beach, we just returned from Grand Cayman and decided on the Calico Jacks area on 7 mile beach. Just grabbed a taxi there $5pp each way and less hassle than dealing with the local bus. Plenty of taxis/buses waiting to take you back to the port. Definitely crowded on 7 mile beach but got 2 chairs and an umbrella for $30 and had a nice day there. Got less crowded early afternoon as many cruise passengers with earlier departure times headed back to their ship and we were able to move to a slightly better chair location along the water.

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Good to know. We are planning to head there since Maya Chan is booked. We are hoping it isn't too busy because there are a lot more people in port than originally thought due to the closing of some of the eastern caribbean ports. I did email them for a reservation but waiting to hear back.

None of the ports were too busy when we went last week. (We had an itinerary change also). Surprisingly even in Cozumel there were only 2 ships in port when we were there.

There were 3 ships in Costa Maya when were were there, the beach was busy but not crowded at Blue Kay.

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Is there a choice of drink? Do you have to pay $7 upfront or roll into tab?

I think we could have ordered anything for the drink. We ordered beers but he mentioned Marguarita’s etc. Not sure on rolling the tab. We just paid I️t but I think they would want you to pay I t up front to get the band.

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Just got back from Blue Kay and had a great time. Just like the other posters said, $2pp cab ride from the port. (I wish you could get a cab inside the gates as it was a little bit of a hike to the cab station with a toddler). I️t was pretty dirty and bumpy outside the gates.

Cab driver dropped us off right at the office for Blue Kay. Nobody said anything to us so we just walked through and found some Loungers under a tree by the beach. I️t was pretty early when we got there. After a while a waiter came over and told us I️t was $7pp which included a wrist band, 1 drink and a cushion for the loungers. Not a bad deal. We ordered lunch there later as well. Wanted to walk down the strip a bit but I️t started to rain in the afternoon and we decided to just head back to the ship.

The only real problem we encountered was getting back to the ship. There were no cabs at Blue Kay. One of the waiters told us we needed to head farther down the beach to get one. (We didn’t really want to do this in the rain). A lady at a desk at the entrance tried to call for one but no one answered. Finally the waiter went out to the main street and flagged one down for us. $2pp back to the ship and they drop you off inside the gates this time which was nice. If you have any questions let me know.

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Taxi's will take you anywhere you ask them to. No need to navigate back. They will drop you off right there. :)

Great thanks! We leave for our cruise Saturday so I’m super excited to go to Blue Cay (we usually just hang out at the port area in Costa Maya). It will be a nice change and it looks beautiful there!

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Just back from costa maya went to blue kay after reading reviews on here, (thank you mitsigirly and others) took a cab from just outside port gates $2 each dropped us off right outside their reception not on the road, walked onto the beach found some wooden loungers we liked plenty of choice and sat down, after a couple of mins one of the servers found us and introduced herself we ordered 4 cokes $2.50 each and paid $2 each for the padded loungers which were very nice. Bought another couple of drinks throughout the day, we thought it was very laid back best part of the beach and had fairly good snorkelling just from the beach, when we had enough sun we left our stuff there and went for a walk along the malecon to see the other bars and shops, there were some nice bars and restaurants but the beds were very tight together and not a lot of beach space, definitely made the right choice in blue kay

Thanks for the great info!

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OK thank you! So I just take the Taxi to Blue Kay (sounds like they drop off right there now) and just plan to spend the day there for free (or $5 PP) as long as I buy some food/drink. Just want to make sure I have this right in my notes.

Was at Blue Kay last week.

Walked out of the port to taxi stand. Fare was $2 pp USD.

Did the taxi take you right to Blue Kay or did you need to navigate your way back there?

Is the beach beach & chair still free as long as you purchase food and drink there? Doing some research for an upcoming cruise but the original thread I read was a bit old.

Thank you.

For those looking for a quiet beach. Cemetery Beach is quiet and good snorkeling. No facilities though.

This time we’re going with a toddler so looking for something different 😊

Been to GC several times but this time with a Toddler (3 yo) and thinking of going to 7 Mike beach. Where would you recommend with her? Looking for a nice beach area not far from facilities and would like to get some chairs and an umbrella for shade! Sea grape/calico jacks? Sounds like Tiki is now private?

WE will be on Fantasy in November and hoping that the ship will get back to Tortola (really wanted to see the islands and the baths). I assume that St. Thomas is still taking ships as normal?

Thanks for the review are there umbrella's available on the island?

Great thanks for the info!

Agreed. I would think it's in the cruise industries best interest to get these islands back up and running as soon as possible so hopefully they are making great contributions to these relief efforts. Until then I'll keep praying that I will be able to visit this beautiful little islands.

Regarding the baths do you know if this is doable with a toddler? I saw some places where you have to pull yourself up a rock with a rope.

Thank you

Jessie

Ok thank you. We've been told the itinerary may change but still trying to do my research just in case. We've been all over the Caribbean but never to Tortola so we are saddened by all the devastation and that we may not make it there this trip.

We live in Florida and we're impacted by Hurricane Irma as well but I know the buildings and the storm conditions were much, much worse on these small islands. 😥

Hi,

 

If the NCL Escape departs at 3pm, will we have enough time to get to the baths and enjoy the day? (sounds like a math question!)

 

We have 2 young kids, 3 & 4 and wanted to see the baths on our own, not through the ship excursion.

 

Also, anything else you can recommend if the baths are too far?

 

Thanks

Jones76 - it's been a while since you've posted but wondering how you did with the kids. We will be visiting Tortola/VG in November with our 3 YO daughter (Hopefully after the terrible hurricane damage) and wondering if it will be doable and safe with her.

Thank you!

Jessie