kroberts0525

We ended up hiring a driver who took us around in a very nice van. It was $110 total for the two of us, booked online. He took us to the rum tasting, to take pictures at a couple places in town and at the old fort, lunch on a beach and pictures from up the side of the mountain. Then we returned to enjoy the pool in the port. I lived in South America and have traveled extensively but I was sort of glad we had a guide to move us quickly through the streets because things were chaotic...motorcycle taxis weaving in and out of traffic, such a huge police presence. Our guide was friendly but I wish his command of English or ours of Spanish would have been a bit better. I had lots of questions! The fort was beautiful and for a $2 fee we were given a headset with explanations for what we were looking at. I think the city will get better as they get their tourism game better organized. 

23 hours ago, Markanddonna said:

Thanks for this advice. Isn't it sad that MSC is so convoluted and dysfunctional that we have to resort to doing this?

How does this make MSC dysfunctional? In an effort to spread out the chaos of everyone arriving at once, guests are given a boarding time. If everyone stuck to their boarding time, things should go smoothly. If everyone does whatever they want because they are too entitled to follow the boarding time they were assigned, things become dysfunctional, guest become frustrated and then they post about how terrible MSC is. 

Thank you! 

Yes, thank you! 

Hello,

Is the walk from Taino Bay to Puerto Plata safe? I have seen reviews of the new port (which looks lovely) but no one has ventured beyond the gates. We thought it would be nice to walk into Puerto Plata for a couple hours. Thanks!

Thanks all. I will contact the tour company and see what they say. I have a few months to figure it out! Our flight out of Miami does not leave until 9 pm so we need something to fill the day and this Everglades tour looked like the ticket with a full day of activities and airport drop off at 5. Carnival offers an Everglades tour with airport transport (much larger group than the one I'd like to book privately) but it is on the first, not last day of the cruise.

Might be a silly question, but our December Sunrise cruise itinerary says 8 am arrival to Miami. Is that when the ship actually arrives in port? We are looking to book an Everglades tour that would pick us up at 7:30 so we would like to debark by 7.

In Wisconsin we have a state registry of vaccines. Like, after I received my COVID shots at Walgreens notification was sent into the vaccine registry and I am able to print off a copy. The registry keeps track through social security numbers. If possible, I would bring everything else already mentioned and this.

100% agree.

I would stay in Miami Beach and perhaps take a rideshare to Wynwood to see the murals (also lots of great restaurants in that area, our favorite is Le Chick..great outdoor patio). We recently spent five days at Iberostar Berkeley, near Lincoln Road Mall. Lots of shops and restaurants and the hotel has an arrangement with the very expensive hotel across the street that allows guests free beach chairs. If you like it more quiet, stay in the South of Fifth neighborhood. That is what we are doing before our December cruise. Bayside Market looks like Miami's version of a cruise port. Hooter's, Hard Rock and other chain restaurants. IMO,there are so many better options!

Keep in mind that you have a lot of daylight in AK, giving you lots of evening time to grab a blanket and sit on the balcony, watching wildlife go by. Also, unlike many Caribbean cruises, rather than water, there is often actually interesting and beautiful scenery going by in the inside passage. I've cruised with and without a balcony, but for AK, it sure was nice to have.

I called my bank (in suburban Milwaukee) and although they did not have Canadian dollars on hand, they directed me to another nearby branch where I exchanged at the going rate without fees. The teller also told me that whatever was not spent, they would exchange back to dollars upon our return.

Check out the Maparium at the Mary Baker Eddy Library. It is really unique!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60745-d144269-Reviews-The_Mapparium-Boston_Massachusetts.html

We are travelling from Boston to Montreal on HA, departing August 12. In past cruises, one of our favorite activities was to simply hire a driver at the port and have him/her show us around. For instance, in Jamaica we once hired a driver who took us on a delightful four hour journey, complete with our elementary aged children leaving their email addresses so that they could correspond with our driver's young children. I was hoping I might be able to find an arrangement like this in Halifax and PEI but now that the departure date is approaching I am getting nervous. Will we be able to find someone or should I look into the large bus tours?

Thank you! I am taking my 12 year old son on this trip August 12, complete with the Bird Island excursion, so I am really enjoying your perspective and photos.

We did a land tour of the East coast two years ago and our favorite activity was taking the ferry to Peak's island and renting golf carts to drive around the island. Also, as others have said, Portland is a great foodie town.

Prefect! Thank you. I am not stressing about not knowing the cabin # but feel better knowing what time to head over to the port. I'll check my luggage tags, but we just booked yesterday. I am usually a precise vacation planner but this was a spontaneous, last minute trip.

I apologize if this seems like a silly question, but I do not see it anywhere on our paperwork. We are leaving for Canada/NE out of Boston in August at 4:00. What time should we arrive for check in? We do not know our cabin # yet as we selected the GTY option.

Also....battery operated candles. Target has tea lights in their dollar section.

We will be the only ship in port when we arrive in Falmouth, Jamaica the first week in February. Will it be possible to get a last minute excursion to the blue hole or something similar? I understand there are different rules about excursion operators having to stay away from the gated port area in Falmouth. Is this accurate? Are any tour operators allowed near the port or must everything be pre-arranged?

Can you find someone to take you to Stingray City by just walking off the boat or must it be pre-arranged?

The RCI shuttle Does Not guarantee to get you to the ship on time. We had a flight delay when we flew in on set sail day once. The shuttle had left, we sat with the nice but totally incompetent RCI shuttle ladies at the airport for 45 minutes while they "looked into things". They finally told us, "looks like you aren't going to make this sailing". I was livid that we wasted 45 valuable minutes waiting for them. We jumped in a cab (think it was around $100 with tip...maybe more...I remember tipping generously) but we got there.

It is probably too late to make changes so I would just hope for the best, get your bag and get in a taxi. Don't make yourself sick worrying about it.

We've always just eaten with the kids and booked early seating because it is my understanding that for My Time Family Dining the kids have to eat off the children's menu. I thought that was how the assured that they would get the kids fed and out on time. Am I wrong? My son, even at 5, enjoyed trying new foods, especially in the nonthreatening atmosphere of the cruise ship where food is so abundant that if you don't care for the item you ordered, it is not a big deal. Also the dining room always has a lot of action going on.

For those who've been there....Would kids 7,8 and 10 be physically able to enjoy the Blue Hole? What about my 72 year old (but fairly good shape) father? How much climbing is involved?

We loved the Blue Lagoon dolphin experience. After your "dolphin time" you are allowed to relax on their beach was clean and beautiful. It also had inflatables for the kids both on land and in the water. Was my 6 year old's favorite activity.