noah53

You Made a Great Choice!

I sailed with Carefree Birding in 2015 and pretty much the same itinerary. I loved it and saw over 150 life species. We were accompanied by James Currie of the "Nikkon Birding Adventure" show. I can't express how great it was to see so many birds in that period of time & so easy. I usually hire my own guides when I travel, but this was awesome. In Panama, there were so many birds that it was hard to see them all. The local guides were very knowledgeable (ears/eyes) Here is a total of species seen @ each port.

Grand Cayman -- 36 species

Colombia -- 91 species/7hrs

Panama -- 89 species/6hrs

Costa Rica -- 60 species/6hrs (even though it was a wet day!)

Belize -- 77 species/6hrs

Cozumel -- 70 species/ 5 hrs.

Ken & Linda of Carefree Birding are so much fun and really take care of everyone. They balance each other well. Ken wore his signature pink Crocs most times! James Currie was one of the presenters for the Celebrity cruise. He's a very interesting guy from South Africa with lots of stories.

 

If you want specifics, feel free to email me: jackcin at juno dot com

 

Say hi to Ken & Linda for me!

Cinda Crosley

near Austin, TX

Thanks for the species #s, they are impressive and will be mostly lifers for us. Did you enter them on ebird?

Funny, I have many crocs too, pink is definitely one of them. Will have questions for you when I have some free time, thanks.

We have booked 11 day Western Caribbean cruise on Celebrity Reflection with Carefree Birding (Ken & Linda) for Jan 29th 2017. This is our 2nd cruise and first time birding south of Florida. Sure we will be overwhelmed with life birds. Birding trip is fully booked but others are available in later 2018 & 19. This will be so handy cuz we are attending SpaceCoast bird festival and then just drive down to Ft Lauderdale for cruise.

We have just booked birding tour with Carefree Birding tours for Jan 29 2018 on Celebrity Reflection. My original plan was 7 day cruise with few shore birdings with local guides but it soon became an 11 day cruise with Carefree, Kevin Karlson will be a guide. Will visit Grand Cayman, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cozumel and Panama. This is our first trip south of Florida so we are sure to get lots of life birds.

Good to know which areas to avoid as a non-smoker.

We just booked an interior cabin on Reflection for Jan 29th, I would prefer a balcony but prices were just too steep. Gonna enjoy every minute on cruise in spite of no water in view some of the time LOL.

Yes Dec 11th Brilliance cruise in Key West on 12th. I didn't understand what ***** meant. Do they run some sort of shuttle to downtown area then?

Which dock is used? See older threads listing Pier B or outer mole. Only Brilliance and Victory in port that day.

My husband would be interested in a tour, are any offered?

Last evening the Royal rep said smoking was on PORT side but I was a non-believer in that info, thanks for real story.

Thanks for heads up on discounts, saved 10% on shore excursion and 30% on refreshment package (Rhapsody of Seas)

-D1 Balcony cabin - is there a mini-frig

-Smoking - where is it allowed / which side of ship - want to avoid

-Swimming pools - how deep is main pool & solarium pool & which one is heated

-Elevator access to Viking Crown lounge from observatory - see regular front elevator on deck 10 and then 2 elevators further forward on deck 11

-MDR - is menu for Dec posted anywhere yet

Thanks in advance

Thanks, got 10% off Chichen Itza tour for Dec 10th.

We will be in 7586 Dec 10th, do I understand correctly that sofa will be nearest to window?

We did a tour with royal to chichen itza. It was a very long bus ride back and forth. Then ferry back and across also. Felt a little rushed at the ruins, but got to see most of the ruins. Also our guide was quite informative. Was well worth the travel time as we do not have a land vacation in Mexico in our future also. This was a great trip and would do it again if circumstances are the same.

 

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Thanks, we have booked the bus tour to Chichen Itza. Still wonder what the difference is with the van tour.

Rhapsody of the Seas- which pool is heated, main or Solarium?

We have not been to any Mayan ruins and are prepared for long travel and short time there but get to see Chichen itza. Yes ferry and either bus or van are the choices. There is no land vacation in cards for us so we are making the best of what's available. Water and more water will be in our bag in December. Also planning to do Lamanai & boat tour in Belize.

Both are offered on Rhapsody of the Seas Dec 10th, van $255, bus $161 Canadian $. Anyone been on van and is it better and worth $ difference?

First cruise, splurged on grand suite on upper deck. Read somewhere that there is AC intake nearby that makes it very noisy on balcony, perhaps around U101. Anyone have any idea if U107 will be okay?