4FRCruising

Heads up if you are Platinum & Diamond, even though your luggage tags say “Priority”-they are NOT. Checked at guest services on my recent cruise on the Sunshine when I didn’t have luggage by about 5:30. Was told Platinum & Diamond do NOT get priority luggage....only those that PAY for it -faster to the fun-get priority luggage. Just looked at my luggage tag & only says Priority not Priority w/Faster to Fun also marked on it like on previous cruises.

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Wish they would offer something diabetic friendly. Strawberries & chocolate are not.

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Karl with a K.

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Has anyone used this service? After airport pickup do they go straight to the port or make stops at hotels? I know Cortrans comes highly recommended...checking them out too.

TIA for your help/replies

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Why does it bother you? Same ownership, same company. Do you really think it makes a difference to the owners if they feed him breakfast at one or the other?

 

Guests from both hotel ride the same shuttle van. Does that bother you?

Not the same ownership. Fairfield Inn is a Marriott property & Homewood Suites is a Hilton property.

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Fairfield Inn has a Wendy's and Dunkin Donuts in the parking lot.

 

Springhill Suites has a Burger King right in front, a Chipotle about 100 yards east. Or cross at the traffic light from BK and a McDonalds and Taco Bell are about another 75 yards walk.

 

Many hotels in the Oakwood Plaza area will shuttle you to the full service restaurants (Moonlite Diner, Ale House, TGIFridays, Red Lobster if you dare) which are one half to one mile from the hotel cluster at the Stirling Road entrance--for the offer of a gratuity of course. Not entirely sure about the Springhill Suites.

 

 

As they are both from the same parent company I'm pretty sure the breakfasts are identical: the "hot" food is confined to what you place in the microwave or toaster; any semblance to cooked-to-order is purely coincidental. (Happy to be corrected on this if so).

Thanks so much for your help/info. Just as an FYI-last time I stayed at Hyatt on 17th & went to Outback for dinner & that was a very difficult walk/distance for me. That is why I'm so concerned about distance to food. Good to know about the possibility of a shuttle to-love Fridays.

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Trying to decide between Fairfield Inn or Springhill Suites for my 9/23 cruise on the Splendor. I'm especially interested to know just how short (or long) a walk it is to food. Burger King or Wendy's is fine....I just can't walk a very long distance (1 block might be about the longest if I'm having a good day). Also which has a better breakfast - thought I saw that one of them had omelettes.

Thanks for your help:)

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I always stay in a 1A porthole cabin. Was in 1212 on the Glory this past April. Nice & roomy for a solo. 1212 is nice since bed is in corner up against the wall (can't roll & fall out that way lol). I usually stay in 2216....bed is closer to the portholes in that one & not against the wall so I sort of "flip" over instead of roll. I think one time they actually had 2 singles pushed together in that one (might have been last year on the Glory) but they took the couch out.

Hope that all helps

BTW I have 2217 booked on the Splendor for Sept (will be my 24th on Carnival).

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I was also solo, and gave them 5.00 each way. I was so glad to see them because the other stop was in Grand Turk, and while the pier is not so long there, I barely made it, and was hobbling by the time I got back on board.

Thanks...like to make sure I have the correct bills with me.

Grand Turk was waaay too long for me and I no longer get off the ship there. Last time I did, I made it to sit near the pool where I met some friends. Friends were with me trying to get back to the ship-they had to get port security to wheel me back to the gangway & then ships security wheeled me back to my cabin.

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It is a "very" long pier, I mean very very long! I cant walk far, so almost did not get off, but then I saw the pedicabs. They will pedal you back and forth for a tip. I did not see any benches along the way on the pier. Once you get into the shop area though there are benches here and there. The pool are did look very nice.

Thanks-at least knowing there are pedicabs gives me hope for being able to get off here (plus knowing there are places to sit where the shops are). What would be a reasonable tip (I'm a solo)?

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Can anyone tell me if it is a long pier at Amber Cove? Benches to stop & sit/rest on the way to the shops (like Roatan)?

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Strange question for you....how long are the piers at each port? I'm asking because I have a problem walking/being able to stand (example-pier at Cozumel) is too long for me so I stay on the ship. If there are a lot of places to sit along the way, then I'm ok (I can manage Roatan since there are benches along the path up to the shops).

Thanks

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Comfort suites north (Mineola...I know the spelling isn't right lol but you get the idea) has a Valero gas station about 1/4 block (on the corner where you turn in to the hotel) that has snacks,soda,wine,some warm food etc. There is also a Subways about 1/2 block past the Valero. I'll be staying here for my 4th time when I sail on the Glory late in April. Not a scenic area, but clean & quiet. Breakfast is free & good too. You sign up for the port shuttle when you check in.

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I won't book on board when this happens. Rep won't have much to do. That's not quite enough incentive.

I checked with John Heald & he indicated that they didn't continue this but may change in the future after they review.

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I know they were doing this same program on Vista last week, and the future cruise rep believed that it was going fleet wide.

 

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Thanks for the info. Not a good thing for them to do-I usually give one of the vouchers to a friend and she usually decides to cruise with me because if it....so they may wind up actually losing a booking that way.

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Hoping someone going on the Glory can check on this for me.

John H had posted some time ago that they were "testing" a different plan for booking while onboard-no friends & family vouchers & a flat $50 OBC no matter the length of cruise booked.

Would like to know if they are still running this test - and if they are, how long that will last.

I'll be sailing on the Glory mid April and am hoping to book while on her. So trying to decide if I want to wait (if that test will be over) or just go ahead & book sooner.

Thanks in advance

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You CAN use gift card(s)-I did on the Glory in April for my Conquest September cruise.

I sail with Woodwind every time I go to Bonaire, but I have read good reviews here for Bonaire Vista tours. I recall that they go to the flamingo area.

 

You can search here or on Google.

 

 

 

Just so you know, tho, you can rarely get close; I have seen flocks of them in Curacao and Grand Turk. They are birds, after all, and spooky. Suggest you bring binoculars or a camera with a good lens.

 

 

 

Hope you are able to see a flock while you are there, it is quite a sight.

I'll check that all out. I'll make sure to pack the binoculars that Carnival gave me one year as a Platinum gift.

Best place to get close up & personal with flamingos is Ardastra Gardens I the Bahamas-got to go there once and see the marching flamingos. After the show one of the young ones kept coming up to us and trying to get a look in our purses lol (must have been a female).

When you turned right at the end of the pier there was a macadam walk path and there were several spots to sit... like park benches.

 

If you turned left and walked toward the shopping area, there was a few spots to sit too. Once you get to the little market area, there were also spots to sit. Just a thought, but how about renting a scooter... not a motorcycle kind, but like they have at the grocery stores. It may be a good idea... they are very compact and manoeuvrable and then you dont have to worry about a bench.. :)

I thought about the scooter thing-but really need to keep moving/walking-trying to build up strength & stamina (maybe that will be better by Sept). I make sure I carry electrolyte water enhancer to try to keep my BP from dropping too much too.

Helps a lot just knowing that there are places to sit[emoji41]

Hoping I can find a nice, easy tour that will let me see flamingos too (my favorite bird).

Picked this cruise so I could get to an island I haven't been to and would like to be able to see some of it.

Thanks again for all your info [emoji568]

The pier was pretty short actually.... nothing like Cozumel. I was pleasantly surprised with Bonaire. Very small and quaint... and didn't get hounded every twenty feet to but stuff.

Ohh...Tytytyty - feeling more confident now about being able to get off the ship [emoji41] I don't suppose I'd be lucky enough that there are lots of places to sit if I need to.

DW and I were just there. The pier ( south pier) is pretty close to town where there is a few shops and if you walk just about another 100 yds there is small area with a dozen vendors or so.... and there is another shopping area ( called a mall ) but its not like a Mall in the USA, its much smaller. There were benches periodically placed so if you need to sit down you can. We really liked Bonaire allot, especially because its so small and not commercialized.

 

We did a snorkeling tour with Woodwind. They were very good and they provided all the gear, drinks and food. The crew was very nice and helpful. We highly recommend them.

Thanks so much. Hopefully I will be able to manage that walk-I know the piers at Grand Turk & Cozumel are too long for me. I am so looking forward to this port - one of the few I've never been to. [emoji41]

Me too. First purchase got the email and had to call. Since than haven't had to do that. Cards are just sent now.

I had to do that when I got a $500 one. They said one for that amount must be signed for so needed to confirm the purchase and also mailing address (good thing-I changed from my home address to office address).

I agree. Even on Princess, we're given a plate of horrible canapes. I give them to the room steward and sometimes to our neighbor. Last timer I offered them to our neighbor and they declined so I put them on our stewards cart. If I had a choice most likely I wouldn't pick anything. I have to stay on a low sugar diet and I feel bad that I can't eat them, and DH feels bad eating them in front of me. Can't win for losing.

I'm on a low sugar & low carb diet. I just went to Guest Services and let them know so I got plain Strawberries (requested no cookies etc too but they still put a few on there). This time I'm going to request strawberries & Swiss Cheese [emoji41]

Wondering how long the pier is - can't walk a long distance unless there are places to sit.

Looking for shopping & excursion (love flamingoes) suggestions but keeping my walking/standing limitations in mind.

Thanks all [emoji41]

Also it is in the form of OBC-so you still pay for the cruise. Thinking it is non-refundable OBC but not sure