HouNew2Cruise

I just had chicken and fries for $7.50, which was fresh cut up chicken strips fried. I was going to get shrimp and fries, which I think was 9, but the waitress said it was sticks. I assumed she meant preprocessed into a stick, like a fish stick. So I did the chicken, which was supposed to be the same thing. Although that was fresh, so maybe it was just fried she meant.

Coke $1.50, local beer $2.50. The menu shows prices in Belize currency, but you just divide by 2 for US. They do give you change in Belize currency, so bring smaller bills.

They did have fresh water shower outside. They had one person bathrooms inside, so you can change there after you dried off.

Island time, I think we were going to be there for 90 minutes. We probably stayed for 50, as we were all ready to head back.

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I just got back from NCL Jade today. My friend and I just tendered to the port, and walked outside the port to try and get on the Coral Breeze Shark Ray Alley tour. However, they could not take two more people. They suggested I walk down the street to a guy from Splash Wave tours.

That Splash Wave Tour guy was just to the left outside of the gate, probably a 75 yards down the street against the port wall, with a table/umbrella combo. We told him we wanted to go to Hol chan to snorkel and Shark Ray Alley. We had our own gear, and asked him what the price would be. He quoted us 60 each. That worked for us. I think we got a better deal than they would normally give.

He walked us out to the pier outside of the port, which was a 5 minute walk. We paid the Splash Wave Tour lady there and tipped the guy that walked us over.

We had to wait about 20 minutes before departing, as we were early trying to get on an excursion without reservations. The other people showed up, and it looks like they walked with a different guy. They settled up their bills. They got them their fins there. We all (about 10 people and 2 tour operators and boat captain) got on the 25 (?) ft boat and we headed to caye caulker.

Normal ride to caye caulker. Stopped there for 10 minutes for bathroom breaks. Then headed to Hol chan. Snorkeled there for about 40 minutes. Saw a sea turtle, mana rays, sting ray, and various fish. It was pretty good. You had to stay near the guide and he took us a certain way. There were about 5 other boats there.

Then a short boat ride to shark Ray alley. We got to snorkel there too with the sharks and rays. We had about 40 minutes there too and the Sharks were abundant. I really liked that. I had been before where it was a little shallower and you just waded, that had less sharks. This time I think we only had one other boat near us.

Then back to caye caulker for lunch if you wanted it. You preordered it when you first arrived during the short bathroom break before the snorkeling.

On the way back from caye caulker, you go through the split and feed the tarpons. Just like I have done on other excursions to there.

Overall it was my best Belize excursion. We might have gotten a better than normal deal, as their website shows 70, but still would be a good tour. I would recommend Splash Wave Tours. Just don't judge the book by the cover, as they are not flashy. They get the job done.

Btw, Coral Breeze Tours had left after us from the same pier outside of the port and they came to the same place we were eating lunch. I imagine they did pretty much the exact same excursion.

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Great review, thanks for sharing.

 

 

 

Can I ask about Bananarama, is there much shade on the beach? We are thinking of going here but we don't dock until 10am and I'm worried all the shady areas will be full by the time we get there. I don't want to sit directly in the sun, it will be enough being in the water.

 

 

 

Also, do they set the return time to the ship or can you chose to go whenever you want?

 

 

 

Thank you.

The beach chairs closer to the bar deck do get the most shade, but as the day progresses, noon and on, they lost the shade. You can also move to the chairs/ tables on the deck and get shade. That's what I do.

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Well, when I have gone out of NOLA, it is about an hour after you leave port, and you are still on the river.

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Any info re doing this privately would be appreciated.

Google West Bay Beach Break

That's what I use when I don't use the ships excursion to Tabayana. You don't stay at Tabayana with the beach break, but I take a quick walk down the same beach to snorkel in front of Tabayana.

For 46 bucks, I give up a buffet bbq type lunch and water/tea, and a shorter walk to the place I snorkel. I still have to pay for the beer at both places.

West Bay Beach is excellent snorkeling from the beach. I gone their with NCL ship excursion to Tabyana twice and twice with a West Bay Beach Break not with the ship that took me to Bananarama. Tabyana is more expensive with the ship, but the beach chairs are in an area where the vendors are kept out. Bananarama has a smaller beach area, and you might have to say no every once in a while to a vendor. But, "no" is pretty easy, or has been for me.

I think both have lockers you can rent. Tabyana is close to where the good snorkeling is located off the beach. If I am at Bananarama, I just walk down the beach to around that location to swim out to the reef.

West Bay Beach is one of my favorite excursions, because of the great snorkeling.

how far is the other airport.. seems that is where United likes to fly..

It is about 30 minutes from Hobby (southwest) and an hour from IAH (United)

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Since none of the five posts after mine answered my question, I am asking it again:

 

Does the Bayport terminal have a CAS line for check-in?

Yes. Although, they did not have a boarding card different than the number everyone was getting. That was strange.

Thanks for the info!! Why is Moneybar better? Is it because you can snorkel off the shore? The beach looks small to me or it just the pictures I've seen?

I'm not runner5, but...Moneybar does have a small "beach" area with beach chairs. They do have a number of tables to sit at as well and free wifi. No cover charge. Snorkeling right out in front, where the boats bring people to snorkel. I like it better than Chank. But I only want the snorkeling, wifi, and drinks/food and my table in the shade.

Chank does have a cover charge, about 20 bucks a pop. They have a big "beach" area. They have other things there too. It's big place.

You have a better chance of being in a less crowded area with Chank though.

I assume they won't since they are an older ship. However, I haven't really heard if there's talk about rolling this out on all the ships. I sure hope so. We will be on the Dawn in June and it sure would be nice to have.

They had it on the Jewel last week. I think they upgraded during dry dock, whenever that was for the Jewel. They did not have it on the Jewel last year about the same week.

I just did it this week on the NCL Jewel. I enjoyed it. You should see mitsugirly's review, as it covers everything. We did not have as many sharks that day, as there were a lot of people there from other tours too. Our excursion group was bigger too I think, as we had 4 groups split off from the boat to the water. Our boat did have a covered section, so I could ride in the shade there and back.

We did get to touch the shark. The shark man did grab one for everyone to come see. There were a lot of sting rays. They just swim all around you. They held them too, so you could touch them. I also touched them as they swam by.

My group also walked over to the reef to see a few things. On the walk over there, I did see a bigger nurse shark swimming. About twice as big as the ones they hold. That was cool.

I was able to touch the bottom all of the time. I think it was 5 feet deep at the most where we were. It would have been nice to have a snorkel and fins though. If I go back, then I am taking those. They just give you a mask. I did have water shoes thanks to mitsugirly's review.

I booked on the ship to use OBC I had. I think you can get the excursion for about 40 less through a private company.

It was a good trip and I would go back to do it again.

While we're on the subject of O'Sheehans (which I LOVE), does anyone know if the menu is the same in Blue Lagoon as it is in O'Sheehans?

 

I have sailed the Breakaway and Epic recently, but will be sailing on the Dawn and Star within the next year, so I was just wondering.

Blue Lagoon did not have mozzarella sticks nor brownie sundae (awesome). I did not know what I was missing until I finally got on a ship with O'Sheehans.

Here are the only differences courtesy of the wayback machine as of 6/28/14

old:

Complimentary Spa Access for Two • •

VIP Royal Treatment • •

Cigar & Cigarette Offers • •

Complimentary Private Transportation To/From Ship* •

new:

Reward Points For Play • • • •

Complimentary Spa Credit for Two • •

The rest of them, not shown, were the same.

We went with island marketing for the snorkeling. They took us out 100 yards and swam back to the island. They didn't take us to a reef at all. I can't imagine how anyone wrote a legitimate positive review. Long boat ride for a little beach and rum drinks. We felt robbed.

I had the same experience about a year ago. I would not go back there.

Money Bar is great. No reservations needed. Just grab a cab from the port. Grab a table when you get there. Order a drink and some chips and salsa, and kick back. Then snorkel some. You can watch some of the snorkel boats come in, and snorkel at the same place.

There is a floating marker on the left end of the pier, maybe a hundred yards that you can swim to. It is concrete structure under the water, where a large group of fish will be. Then you can swim with the current a long a small reef on the bottom that goes in front of Money Bar. It is probably 50 yards out from the shore. When you get to the end, you can swim back to the shore.

I did get to see a big stingray on the bottom, about 30 yards out. Then it started to swim towards the shore, and couldn't keep up.

Then get another drink and some food. Then repeat.

I will be heading back there when I am back in cozumel.

Seriously, is there really no difference between a $20 cab ride and a $109 tour through RCI?

Dolphin Push, Pull and Swim, Manatee Interaction at Chankanaab - CZ79

Activity Type: Wilderness & Wildlife Tours | Shows & Entertainment | Beach and/or Water-Related Activities | Adventure Tours

Approximate Duration: 3 hour(s) 30 minute(s)

Prices starting from:

*105.75 USD (Adult)

*105.75 USD (Child)

Highlights:

• Dolphin Swim: Take a joyous boogie board ride, swim with, and even kiss a beautiful and friendly dolphin.

• Manatee Interaction: Interact with the rarely accessible manatee in deeper water.

• Sea Lion Show: Watch this hilarious and loveable animal perform for you.

====

The above is what you are referring to.

Below is what the basic, cab there and pay $20 per person should be compared to.

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Chankanaab Shore Snorkel & Sea Lion Show - CZT4

Activity Type: Adventure Tours | Snorkel & SCUBA Tours | Beach and/or Water-Related Activities

Approximate Duration: 4 hour(s)

Prices starting from:

*45.75 USD (Adult)

*35.75 USD (Child)

NCL has one for beach only and one for beach and snorkel, but they go to the same beach. Tabyana Beach Party & Snorkel (+15). I did that my first time.

Now I can get to that beach area (West Bay) at 33 a person without NCL. Beach chair, bathrooms, not at Tabyana, but at a nearby place. I walk a little ways down the beach to snorkel right there at Tabyana. It's a great place to snorkel.

I read your posting there and it is extremely helpful. I have a question about flagging a waiter for the free drinks. I know it is easy to get one at a table game but I play mostly slots. In all my slot playing on NCL ships I don't remember seeing a drink waiter or other employee near slot areas. How would I get one?

We are thinking about accepting a CAS offer for Gem's November slot tournament.

You can also just walk up to the bar and get a drink there. While there, you will see the wait staff getting orders filled. Then let them know where you are playing, and they will find you. They are working for tips, so they will find you. Worse case, just tell a slot attendant, and they will get one for you.

So I'm wondering, do I need to have some kind of waterproof storage to keep on me for money, id, credit cards etc?

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

I just use a ziplock for the money and id, when I snorkel. Sometimes, it gets wet inside, but money dries out. You could always double bag it.

OP, just google "wizard of odds roulette" and it will tell you how it is played.

Need advice, looking for excursion in Roatan. Will be there in 2 weeks and still haven't booked anything. Family of 5 wanting to snorkel, however 4 of us have never been so thinking close to shore but hopefully decent for my husband since he has snorkled and this is the one thing he really wants to do. I saw a relatively inexpensive excursion, the West Bay Beach Break and wondering if anyone has done this, thanks in advance!

Yes I have, and will be doing it again in March.

Too bad that they do not have that anymore (adult scavenger hunt).....it was so much fun!!

I was on the Gem with the CD Sinead and he was a great doing the "Adult Scavenger Hunt.

People went crazy!! :D :D

 

Perhaps without something like the Spinnaker Lounge on the Breakaway, it is not possible to do this type of scenario. Not sure what they have in place of the Spinnaker on the Breakaway.

 

Don

They did The Quest in the comedy club on the Breakaway this past September, when I was there.

No rake of tournament chips. Lol. They will gouge the heck of the entries, which is basically a rake.

The last cruise I was on, after night one or two, the poker players just got together and ran their own game outside of the casino. The casino could not field a game after that. They just had their normal tournaments, but it sat empty other times.

That 10% rake is crazy.

Just yesterday I got an email from Total Rewards offering me a comped balcony stateroom on one of the April Epic cruises on either 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, or 4/30 sailing this month.

There is no way I could be able to go this soon.

It appears CAS have some rooms to fill.

BTW, I have never sailed with NCL or any cruise line. I have scheduled my first comped cruise with CAS for December.

Casinos at Sea complimentary Stateroom

I got a similar offer via Harrah's/CAS and I checked on the Spirit out of New Orleans. It does not cover port fees. Check your info that you got for that too.

GUEST FARE $160 per person

GOVERNMENT TAXES/FEES $94.76 per person

$509.52 for 2 people for the complimentary inside stateroom 7 day Spirit cruise out of NOLA, with the 4 extra port stops. I believe you would have to pay for 2 people anyway, so you might as well bring someone.

When I first got it, I assumed the 399 per person, or whatever it is on the NCL site would be covered and I would just pay the $94.76 per person. Then I called and found out differently.

They did tell me originally when I got the free certificate that it would be about 250 per person, for the complimentary stateroom. I had thought that was with the 12 per day DSC and 10 a day possible fuel charge, which would come out to about 250 with that 94.76.

I know now there isn't a fuel charge, but they have the ability to add it whenever.

So, it is about 250 per person, not including DSC.

It comes out to about 60% off of the NCL cruise fare, depending on which inside stateroom I would get.