cawags

Carol,

 

We´re flying on Friday to Varadero and board on Monday I think in Havana.

 

See you around the ship!

 

steamboats

Looking forward to it.

Carol

Thanks steamboat. I had forgotten where I had seen mention of some formal wear. (nansi's post was it.) Someone else who did the cruise last year stated that it seemed almost no one dressed up. So does that mean almost no one went to the Captain's party, or that they just went "resort casual" at best?

 

cawags, I'm sure many of us would appreciate it if you wrote a review when you return from your cruise. I'd be very interested to hear what most people considered dressy enough to wear to the Captains party/formal night (esp. for my dh). I'd especially like to know if very many men were NOT wearing jackets. Plus if most of those who didn't at least wore a tie or if quite a few were even without ties?)

 

If anyone else who has done this cruise cares to chime in, please do!

 

Thank you for the replies!

I will let you know. Heading to Baltimore today. Fly to Jamaica in the morning. Spending 2 days on my favorite island before we board. Even if we don't do the Captains dinner I will check how the passengers dress. For me the formal thing should totally go away. My "prom" was 50 years ago. LOL. Not my thing! Been there done that.

Carol

From what I understand, when the Celestyal Crystal does it's Cuban (only) itinerary, people dress pretty casually for dinner and there are no formal nights, correct? Plus, a man can get away without ever wearing a coat and tie - ? If this is NOT correct, please set me straight. From the few photos I've seen, it appears most of the men shown seated at dining tables are in polo style shirts or Hawaiian/tropical print shirts. Women seem to mostly be in capris and tops - nothing fancy at all. Wondering if there is a dining room dress code requiring men to wear closed toed shoes? Would non-athletic, non-flip flop type "nice" leather sandals - of the style you usually only see in the tropics or Mediterranean in summer - be o.k. for men - ?) Are longish shorts allowed or jeans allowed in the main D.R. at any time?

 

My questions aren't intended to bring on a discussion of the merits or drawbacks of various dinner dress codes on cruise ships. I'm just trying to find out what the norm is on this particular ship when it goes to this destination.

Hope some of you with experience will reply!

Boarding Friday January 20. Not taking anything dressy. Plan on capris for dinner.

Upgrading is easy $11.80/pp/pd.

 

You can do the upgrade before you board, or once aboard with any bar or bartender.

 

Easy-peesy!

I called the Captain's Club about something else and they took care of it for me. Really easy.

So one down and now waiting to see if they will offer any discounts for our 2nd leg before we sail in March.

Carol

We love Jamaica and go at least once a year. Not on a cruise. If my first trip to Jamaica had been on a cruise we never would have gone back. Great island if you do your research. Not so much if you go to the tourist traps. But I don't do tourist traps in the US either.

Dunn's is now a huge tourist trap and we would not go again even for free.

If you want to relax, a day at one of the resorts would be a better idea.

Or hiring a driver for the day. I would stay away from the ships tours too many people.

Is the ship docking in Falmouth or Ocho Rios?

Carol

I believe we docked just about 8am and were off the ship by 9.

Nancy,

Thank you that's exactly what I needed to know.

Carol.

 

10pm the second day sure sounds great, but I'd still be on the alert for a last minute change on the departure time. Curious what MSC's dock time looks like on your Havana dates.

Nancy, do you happen to remember what time we could get off the ship the first day in Havana?

Thanks in advance

Carol

I am comparing prices between Choice Air and Air Canada directly right now for a Mediterranean cruise next Sept/Oct, with flights originating in Thunder Bay Canada and ending, and returning from Rome. The prices for business class are almost identical and about $800 per ticket less than flying from our airport in Duluth and $900 less than if we flew out of Minneapolis. For a 3 or 4 hour drive, those savings are significant for 2. However, did I read correctly that you can NOT select your seats when booking with Choice Air? I'm kind of confused. I'm assuming that I can select them immediately if booking with Air Canada directly.

Cannot speak for Choice Air/Air Canada but our Choice Air/Delta flights (business class) had seats assigned at booking. I actually went on the Delta site once I had the booking number and changed our seats. We saved a lot of money 💰. Flying out of our local (Harrisburg) airport and 2nd only booking 1 way.

Carol

Armed guards! Just out of curiosity where the hell did your stay?

LOL. Sounds like Jamaica in the early 1980's. Not that way anymore but a bit intimidating back then.

Carol

Thanks for the review. Nice hearing that Infinity is in nice condition.

Me too! We board her March 5 from Buenos Aires through the canal to Miami. 🎉🎉🎉😎

I used to frequent a message board for a popular Couples only AI, most posters there had the same attitude towards cruising. Most of them took a Carnival or NCL cruise and knew the AI's were superior.

 

It's all perspective I guess. Personally I like them both, but I'll never go back to Punta Cana again. Rudest staff and locals of any area I've ever been to. Horrible food also.

LOL about Punta Cana. We were just in Puerta Plata DR in November. (Also did Punta Cana many years ago). We will never return to the Dominican Republic. Worst experience ever! We only went because friends bugged us to go. They love it. Sad part was we had gone to Sandals Ochi the week before. No comparison. As I said AI's are not all the same. In this case not even close!

We have done AI's over 40 times. When we were working we wanted vacations. We wanted to get there, relax and do nothing. AI's where our choice. One thing all AI's are not created equal. We only do couples/adults only resorts and are not fans of large resorts.

AI's Just like cruise lines are not all the same. you need to know the product. Some are party hearty and others are more laid back.

We are new to cruising only started after we retired. Cruising to us is go go go. This is fine, a "road trip" and we only unpack once but we still do our 2 week AI every year. The AI is where we completely relax and unwind. The cruises are where we explore.

Amsterdam is an amazing city. If I could manage an extra day I would do that. If not, as suggested check celebrity's excursions ending at the airport and the later flight. They deal with your luggage.

We sailed from Amsterdam last year. We went in a day prior and my only regret was we didn't have more time in that amazing city.

Sounds great! We get home on the 29th. Going on RCI to St. Maartin, Barbados, St Croix, Dominica and Grenada. We have been to most of these several times. First time in Grenada and St Croix. Main reason for going is husband wants to see sperm whale in Dominica.

 

We are doing Panama Canal Jan. 2018 on Princess.

Hope you get to see the whales. 🐳

Hopefully they take away is twitter account and keep him on meds to stay calm.

Just realized we will be getting on a ship while you are in Cuba. We leave from San Juan Jan 22.

Where are you heading and which line? I will get home from Cuba January 27 and we fly to Buenos Aires on March 3. We will be on Celebrity Infinity for 28 days. So excited. I get to check another thing off my list. The Panama Canal.

Great way to celebrate your birthday! We have been watching this cruise for a couple years now and waiting for it to be open to US citizens. I know some people did it before they were supposed to. We considered it but just did not feel we should.

 

The couple going with us are fearful Trump will cause an issue for us going. I think he makes bold statements at first and then modifies. I don't think Cuba will be the first things he wants to change, if at all.

As far as Trump. The way he runs his mouth I worry more about him ticking off other countries and they shut us off. That's why I'm glad we leave when we do.

I will look forward to your report. I am flexible about the excursions but may figure out possible options. I can't wait! We were originally going in March but when dates were extended my husband wanted to go in June instead.

I kind of fell into this trip. A high school friend had just come back and we were chatting about it at our monthly get together. Turns out another class mate knew about this group organizing this trip and I jumped in. Happens to be over ny birthday. Another item to check off my bucket list.

I did get a response from the cruise line telling me P2P paper work was included in the cruise fare.

 

We are leaving on the June 9 sailing. I have not received any info about excursion cancellations. Is this happening to you and what is being done about it?

 

I would love to hear about your experience once you return.

That's what we were told also about the P to P paperwork.

I'll gladly post after we return.

As far as the excursions, I had read somewhere that they seem to come on go on this cruise. We are playing it by ear. We will be in Cuba so it can't be all bad.

Okay thank you! The cruise line does say they will provide a letter at the conclusion of the cruise.

I absolutely plan on attending the lectures and the included tours.

 

Now, I just hope Trump doesn't mess me up.

I am on this cruise on the January 20 sailing.

We had paid the people to people fee when we booked. After receiving the info that the cruise line will now be taking care of it we requested and received a refund.

When are you leaving?

Have you been getting notifications of excursions being cancelled?

As far as Trump. I'm going. LOL.

We sail on Inauguration Day.

I'm also watching and concerned about my March South America cruise leaving from Argentina. They have currently suspended the reciprocity fee for Americans. We sail March 5 and I keep checking that it doesn't get reinstated. If it does we will be scrambling for that one.

Thank you both. I just wasn't sure.

Regards

Carol.

I'm already taken care of this isn't for me.

A friend is trying to book a cruise we are on in March. She needs to fly into Santiago, Chile. Booking with the airlines the flights are outrageous. Looking at the Choice air the prices are 2/3 less.

Question is if she books with a big box (who quoted her the normal airline price) can she book the air using the CA site herself? Or does your TA have to do it for you. My TA did mine so I don't know. Anyone have any experience like this?

Thanks in advance

Probably ship specific, on the Summit in June, our steward delivered it to the cabin the last night.

Same for us on our May Summit sailing.

Carol

I tuck it in my bra. My partner puts his in his pocket.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

LOL. I was beginning to think I was the only one who did this. Started using the bra thing when I was working. Works great 👍.

Hi

Is there any advantage of upgrading before you get on board or is it the same price

Thanks Terry

I'm going to do it before we sail in March. Only $300 OBC and I have plans for that. 😁 Want all these incidentals done before we board.

Carol

It starts as soon as you board! In fact, on the Summit we boarded around 11:00, and went straight to the Martini Bar.

 

 

 

 

Marie

We did too! Drinks were already flowing. 🍸🍸🍸

Carol.