messengerc21

Hi, Just got the following note from my TA....Which would you prefer and recommend for my Post Stay in June?

I spoke with Paul Gauguin this morning, and I have finalized pricing for 2020 for your post-cruise accommodations! All of the packages will include your transfers and daily breakfast. For Moorea, it will be a ferry transfer and for Bora Bora, it will be a flight transfer. If you are staying in Moorea or Bora Bora, Paul Gauguin also includes a post-day room upon your arrival back to Tahiti before your flight home. Here is that information below:

Tahiti 3-Night Post Stay at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort and Spa

Option 1: $1,605 per person at the Standard Lagoon Overwater Bungalow Location

Option 2: $1,675 per person at the Superior Lagoon Overwater Bungalow

Moorea 3- Night Post Stay at the Intercontinental Moorea Resort and Spa

Option 1: $1,235 per person at Standard Beach Bungalow

Option 2: $1,285 per person at Premium Partial Overwater Bungalow (preferred view)

Bora Bora 3- Night Post Stay at the Intercontinental Le Moana Resort

Option 1: $2,385 per person at the Overwater Bungalow

Option 2: $2,525 per person at the Horizon Overwater Bungalow (Premium location farther into the water)

Hi,  We are on the PG on June 6th Sailing out of Lautoka, Fiji. Looking at Private Tours and not finding much of anything for Suva, Savusavu Fiji or Vava'u, Tonga. Were open to just about anything except Diving. I booked Pure Snorkeling in Bora Bora and will probably go with ATV in Moorea. Any help in Tonga and Fiji would be greatly appreciated! Any Thoughts here Big Kahuna? Mark

I'm curious to know which company this is...don't think it's a problem to discuss tour companies on here, believe it's only travel agents you can't discuss but I could be wrong. Any hints on which company you're recommending?

Thx, Cathy

Hi Cathy, This one in St Maarten........Soualiga Destinations Capt Bob Cass Search Tripadvisor under St. Maarten. Mark

Thanks for the responses so far.

 

Are the best TAs usually smaller shops? Has anyone had good luck with an (unnamed) 'big box'?

Yes!!! I have my 2 favorites that I will contact once I see a Cruise and Price I like. Sometimes they can beat it, sometimes they can't. I certainly have used many smaller companies that have had some great "group rates" along with some nice perks! Rule of thumb......Shop around and be leery of Companies that charge Cancellation fees. That said I have had to cancel only one or two Cruises in my life and many times I have booked with a large Online Company that does charge cancellation fees.

I have read from some that rooms aren't discounted only perks vary. That simply is not true! It is in some cases, but I have usually managed to get pretty good to outstanding buys with good perks by buying early enough and shopping around! Mark

Having been to these Ports many times, and took my 26yr old Son in 2016. We hired a Guide/Taxi I found on Trip Advisor for St. Maarten. I had him take us to Orient Beach in the Morning for around 3 hours, we swam, ate and my Son rented a Jet Ski....Had a nice time. Then he picked us up around noon or so and took us to Maho. We were there around an Hour or so. Saw about 6 planes come in. Not much of a Beach as it has been washed away and was Crowded. Then he took us to Phillipsburg, we had about an hour and a half before we needed to get back to the ship......Take a Cab or the Water Taxi. Nice time and very Reasonable!

In St. Thomas, My wife loves to shop there in the Morning, then we had Lunch and got a Cab to Emerald Beach, which is very nice and not crowded. This Beach is on the other side of Downtown ( Where the Allure, Oasis Dock) not where the others go, below Bluebeards ( Havenstaed...pardon the spelling) worked out well....I don't think there is enough time to take the ferry and shop Downtown......Just a couple of thoughts.....Have a Great Time! Mark

Hi Mark,

Thank you for the great suggestions !! I like your ideas about PV. Sounds like a nice, relaxing way to spend a few hours. We are hoping to get a "feel" for PV to see if we'd like to make that a destination for a future vacation.

 

I was curious about going out to Rock Point but wasn't sure on how much time it would take. Now I know :cool:. My hubby really wants to visit Cabo Wabo. I heard that place can be a bit of a zoo. Any thoughts?

 

Cheryl

Hi Cheryl, Cabo Wabo would be fun.....Plenty of others to choose from as well. As far as PV, once you cross the River on the Foot Bridge and head towards the Ocean, There is a lot of places to choose from. You will see "The Malecon" which is a large cement sidewalk that goes along the Ocean....Turn right (north) and it is a great walk back with loads of shopping and places to stop for a Margarita or??? Enjoy!!! One minor suggestion is on your first stop, hit a Bank ATM and draw out some peso's. Much cheaper at those and you will get more using Peso's than the exchange at various shops and Restaurants!! Enjoy! Also, don't worry about the Ice in Drinks, Very Safe! Never been sick! Mark

Hi Cheryl, Not knowing your interest, other than no Beach, Here's what we like to do in a short period of time. In PV, I would get a Cab out on the street ( They are cheaper) and take it to the Mercado as it is a fun area to shop around in, then by the Mercado walk over the foot bridge in to Old Town ( Other wise known as Zona Romantica) This is a Wonderful area to walk around as well, Head towards the Ocean and there are numerous places to eat and have a Margarita. Cab back when your ready.

As far as Cabo, you can get a water taxi to the Rock Point which is fun, Takes around 30-45 minutes, then walk around Town a bit to get the feel of it....Much more Touristy than PV. Lots of places to eat and drink, whether around the Marina or Towards town.

We have Cruised to both many times and have spent weeks at a time in both. PV is our favorite "Go To Place"! Feel free to message me with further questions and/or recommendations for Local Restaurants! Mark

4!!!! Need our Vacation!!! Sailing out of SF on Monday for 14 days to Alaska on The Sun.

We did a Tour that I found on Tripadvisor that took us to a Turtle Farm and we Released Baby Turtles on The Beach, Then took a Boat Tour in the Mangroves and lastly they took us to a Village on The Ocean and we had a Marvelous Lunch. Glad we did this as there is not a lot to see or do in Town.

Hi All, We are thinking of Doing a Back to Back on The Equinox in Jan 2019. I have only done this once before on The Allure. How does Celebrity handle this? I will try to book the same room. On Royal, we were escorted off, then back on and treated to a nice Lunch in their Italian Restaurant. Thanks for any Feedback!!!

Hi All, I've been Reading different accounts on this and would appreciate some answers. I got the Dining package as one of Two Perks for Our 14 Day Cruise on The Sun next May to Alaska. Questions are:

1) Do we Book when we Get on Board? How Booked out do they get?

2) Are Tips additional (Seems that is mentioned on Website)

3) Good at any of the Restaurants On-Board?

Thanks in Advance to Clear this up! Mark

Nice Video! Thanks for Sharing! Couldn't make out the Restaurant name....Do you Remember it? Thanks, Mark

Thank you for your response. We are really looking forward to seeing this . You have been the only one to respond to any of my posts, so thank you how will I know if I'm on the roll call for this princess Cruise?

 

Sent from my SM-G900T using Forums mobile app

I Think I responded as well! There is usually someone on your Cruise that organizes it and contacts Princess prior with a count and coordinates the meeting and time. Just ask about it on The date of sailing that you have. Any other questions about your Cruise, let me know. Mark

We chose the Specialty Dining Option as one of our Perks. How does that work? Do we make Reservations once on Board or can it be done day be day as we want? Thanks!

I'm curious to know if there are a lot of mosquitoes at the Sanctuary? We're looking into this excursion also.

There were some as I got 2 Bites, but I did use Repellent there and the other stops in Mexico, with the exception of Cabo, as I didn't see the need. Mark

Just got back from our 10 Day Cruise and yes, we did the Turtle Excursion with a Private Company.

Very Enjoyable, We Toured the Compound and were able to touch some of the Adults that they have in Holding Ponds. We then went to the Beach and were able to Release a Couple on the Sand and they shortly were carried off by the Surf. You also see where they have the nests that are marked and penned up.

We also did a Boat Tour of the Mangrove area next to The Reserve for 80 Pesos for the 2 of us. Well worth it to see the various species of Birds, Baby Crocks and Tilapia that were there. Lasted about a half hour. Then Proceeded to a remote Town close by and had a Great Lunch at a Restaurant that was Beach-side. Tour outfit was DaniTours. Hope this Helps out for those of you Heading here!! Mark

Hi, We are leaving on The Grand to Mexico this Sunday and The Turtle Sanctuary is on The List to see by the Private Guide I hired. I will let you know about it when I return on Oct 5!!!! Mark

we are sailing the Carnival Miracle to Cabo san Lucas, Matzalan, and Puerto Vairta next summer. How many of these ports are tender ports?

Only Cabo is a Tender Port....

Agree with the Above Two. Have Gone to Mexico Countless Times and Always go to an ATM. But not just any ATM!!! Go to a Major Bank and use one there!!! Have been Security Issues at Random ATM'S!!! Mark

Looking at three very similar Caribbean cruises early 2017. The only difference I see is one port. Antigua St Maarten or St Kitts.

 

Does anyone see a tie breaker ?

Don't Remember Antigua, Love ST. Maarten, lots to do!! St. Kitts, had one of the best tours ever with Royston.....Check out Tripadvisor!!!

Yes, it looks like it. I was looking at a picture of the ship. I didn't realize that L202 was that close behind the bridge, and had no "forward" view.

 

it would probably be a really hot deck as no breeze would make it around the bridge area, ewww not good.

We are on the same Sailing as you and I bought the lowest category Balcony Guarantee and got C320......Happy to have it!!! Mark

I looked on Jo Junies site and it shows 2 hours at Orient and 2 hours at Maho. I would like to spend at least 3 hours at Orient and 1 at Maho. Are you able to customize?

Yes, No Problem as we Customized our Trip!!! Mark

Mark,

 

Great tour for $35 pp. How many people total?

 

Thanks,

 

gary

There were 7 of us in a Van that held !3+....Mark

Thanks Mark, I just emailed you!

Hi All, Just got back and JoJunie did an outstanding Job! Spent 3 hours at Orient, 45 minutes or so at Maho and a Couple of Hours in Phillipsburg. The Driver was far more than just Transportation! Had Cold Drinks (Beer, Water and Rum Punch) in a cooler and Talked about The Island and what we were seeing all the way! Great Deal for $35pp. Mark

Would appreciate your feedback in which port of call u would prefer to call on again . Beaches are not a priority. Thanx in advance.

Loved St Kitts!!! We Toured with Royston, One of The Best!!! See The Reviews on Tripadvisor! Mark