Cuckoo7

Yes, we went last week and were charged the 1-4 people rate for a couple, alone in a Nissan Versa.  It was $8.  On the way back (as posters have said, plenty of taxis available), we were quoted $10 but didn't argue.  Streets are all torn up for repair in a significant portion down there.

Not too long - 10-15 minutes maybe.  Few stops between the port the Southernmost point.  Here's a map:

https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov/326/Duval-Loop

26 minutes ago, THL1313 said:

Hi, We are going on Vista over Thanksgiving, do you know when the conversion from red frog to pig and anchor is planned?  

 

I think it's due for a dry dock early next year.  I'm pretty sure he said it'd be then.

On 10/20/2023 at 1:21 PM, MistyRo76 said:

We liked the Red Frog Pub in the evenings when we sailed Vista several years ago. It wasn't usually too busy and service was quick. 

 

We like it too.  Unfortunately, we were told by a bartender last week that it's going away in its current form.  They will be removing the brewery and converting it to a Guy's Pig & Anchor Smokehouse/Brewhouse.

18 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

No not to snorkel but if you choose El Cid you have to have a pass to enter - it is a hotel. A long time ago we did just purchase food and drink but I don’t know if that is possible any more.

 

We were there about a year ago, and the pass was $25 with a $12 food/beverage credit.  You get use of snorkel gear for an hour.

I won $5000 on a game like this on the Dream a couple of years ago.  They don't have it anymore.  Hit it on the 3rd try.  I thought I was pretty cool until I found out later it was programmed to go off at a certain time.

We did this one last year...  URL says cave-tubing, but it's not.  Short sightseeing, then the ruins, then a lunch at a local restaurant on the way back.

https://shoreexcursioneer.com/belize/altun-ha-mayan-ruins-city-sightseeing-cave-tubing.html

We weren't the first tender off and had to wait for another couple.  Never felt rushed, though, and we were back with plenty of time to spare.  I think they have a "back to cruise ship" guarantee.

They go to the sports bar, I believe.  

On 9/21/2023 at 6:01 AM, Knights on the Beach said:

I'm just happy there are chips & salsa - something that's been sadly lacking from my cruises in recent years. 

It's more like pico.  I was looking forward to chips and salsa but was disappointed.  As noted by some others, pizza was horrible.  Nuggets were solid.

Junkanoo is an easy walk from the port and has chairs/umbrellas to rent, as well as facilities and places to purchase food/drinks.

It's been a few years, but we used them and they were excellent. Victor was fast and thorough with email communication prior to the tour, making sure we understood all of the details.  Our guide was Francisco, and he was friendly and professional.  We felt safe everywhere he took us, all of the beautiful spots on the island, and he gave us tips on how to bargain with vendors and what to get to eat and drink.  We also enjoyed the interesting bits of information and history along the way.  You get to decide where you want to go and for how long.  The freedom worked out very well for us.  We had several photo stops and shopping before going to the monkey business. This was definitely the highlight of the trip.  A guide takes you through the various cages, and you can go in and interact with monkeys, parrots, a sloth and more.  It's really a one of a kind experience.

We tried to do this about a month ago and were denied by multiple entities, including the PVP we've used for several bookings.  It was a casino offer, so we even tried with them, but were told that it was use it or lose it on the deposit. 

It'll be interesting to see if it amounts to anything for the cruise itself.  The questions included stuff about incentives to get us into the casino more such as casino food and increased comps.  I'm not at the level to get a lot of comps (bottle of wine once and a steakhouse selection in the MDR), so we'll see if that changes.

Received one as well.  Sail date is July 29th.

Some of the softest sand you'll find. No water shoes needed.

2 hours ago, CruiseMomTX said:

Key West - plan to get off and explore, chocolate covered key lime pie on a stick is a must and maybe lunch somewhere, hubby would love to try some good cuban food or get some seafood

Great idea.  We went to Blue Heaven for key lime and it was fantastic.  Also consider visiting the Hemingway House.  It's pretty cool.

2 hours ago, CruiseMomTX said:

 

Freeport- plan to just get off and walk around the port area then get back on and enjoy the pools onboard

This is what we've done twice, but there are some beach excursions I've heard good things about.  Since we hit the beach at two other stops, didn't feel it necessary to do here.

2 hours ago, CruiseMomTX said:

 

Half Moon Cay - have never been her so not sure, how early is the first tender so we can get a good spot on the beach (we are Platinum)?  Is there just one main beach area?  Are food and drinks included (we will have the drink package)?

This place is amazingly beautiful.  The beach is one long area with loungers galore.  There's not a lot of shade, though, so consider clamshell.  We actually brought a cheap, collapsible umbrella we bought off of Amazon.

Free lunch is provided (burgers, hot dogs and stuff like that).  It was very underwhelming to say the least.  There are drink waiters and you can pay with your sign and sail, but Cheers doesn't work here.  

2 hours ago, CruiseMomTX said:

 

Nassau - We stayed at the Cove Atlantis years ago and also did the waterpark several years ago with our kids on a port day.  Can you just go and walk around the resort for free or use the beach not the waterpark?  Are there good beached walking distance to the port?  I think I saw a day pass for the RIU how is that? I guess you would taxi there and back?

Can't answer about Atlantis or RIU, but Junkanoo beach is within walking distance to the port (about 10-15 minutes) and is free to access.  Chairs/umbrellas maybe 20-25 bucks.  The beach can get a little packed, but we enjoyed it, then walked to the Fish Fry area for some great food.

Yes and yes.  It's about a 10-15 minute walk, I'd say, from the cruise port, with the Straw Market on the way.  We rented a couple of chairs from one of the restaurants/bars.  I think it was like 20 bucks for the chairs and umbrella.

There is not a lot of shade on HMC from my memory.  You have to go pretty far down the beach to find shade.  Last time we went, we brought our own pop-up umbrella.  Sorry can't answer about mats/tubes.

Lunch is very underwhelming, but the island is beautiful.  It's a fantastic beach day.

On 6/14/2023 at 5:51 PM, 527don said:

Greetings,

can someone tell me the walking distance from the port to the queen's staircase and the fort ?  I am with my mom who is in her late 80's...

thx don

I'd say it's about a mile, not really doable for someone of that age. 

On 4/30/2023 at 2:06 PM, jaga04 said:

Another thing to consider is that if you want to go into attractions, you will have to park the golf cart in a parking spot, like any other vehicle.  Parking isn't easy in Old Town.  

This.  If you're able-bodied, I'd recommend walking.  We walked all the way to the Southernmost Point and back.  It's not a difficult walk at all and is a little over a mile each way, I think.  Much easier to stop wherever we wanted for a drink, key lime pie, Hemingway house, etc.

On 4/18/2023 at 6:30 PM, snorkler8 said:

We are taking our son, wife and grandson on a cruise in May.  It's been a long time since we have been to this port.  Is it feasible for us to have a beach day with our grandson while his mom and dad do an excursion to the ruins?  We will have stroller...I just can't remember how long of a walk it is to a beach.  TIA!

Replied in your other thread, but just in case you don't see it...  It is not a long walk at all, maybe a block and a half to two blocks. 

Probably not much help, as I've only been to Progresso once, but we did a cheap beach day there.  You take the free bus from the port, down the 4-mile pier, and park a couple of blocks from the beach.  There's a little market area where the bus stops for trinkets and such.  The beach is pretty good, and chair/umbrella rentals are reasonable.  We walked a bit down the boardwalk and negotiated free chairs/umbrellas for agreement to buy food and drink from the restaurant.  Incessant vendors were really the only negative.

The next time we go, we will probably take the trip to Merida.  My understanding is that the bus ride isn't too expensive and Merida is a pretty cool historical city.

I had read horror stories for years about Nassau but finally got to go twice in the past year.  I loved it and found the locals to be really awesome.  We walked around quite a bit, including the other way from the port up to the Queen's Staircase and the forts - never felt unsafe nor did we encounter anyone less than pleasant.

7 minutes ago, MistyRo76 said:

Hi! Was looking for info on Arawak Cay (aka The Fish Fry) and came across your post. Just trying to get the lay of the land - if we did Junkanoo beach, the Fish Fry is only about another 10-15 walk from there? Are there any decent free/inexpensive beaches near the Fish Fry that would be worth checking out? 

Yeah, we were on the western side of Junkanoo, and it's not an overly long walk at all to the Fish Fry. Just watch out for cars on that road (think it's called Esplanade) because they were whipping in and out. We walked all the way to the end and then back-tracked to the one we thought we'd like, which just so happened to be the one in the video above.  There will be folks at just about every restaurant trying to get you to come in.

Just past Junkanoo, the beach disappears and then there's another one.  I'm not sure if that's technically another beach or not.  We didn't see much there in terms of facilities, though, just folks on towels.

Lot of shops in the port.  There are the port staples such as Del Sol and Diamonds International, but also some pretty good little craft shops with interesting stuff.  We've also bought rum, coffee and some really tasty chocolate.