littlered87

some more of port lucaya ...alot of stuff was closed because it was a sunday

these big lizard things are EVERYWHERE

heres a map of the shopping centers there

we did some shopping and then you walk a few blocks and youll see a blue police building and you walk around the other side of it to the beach

after dinner we headed to the comedy show but neither of us felt great so we went back to our room to sit out on the balcony when we got to our room this is what we found

the ship was super rocky at this time so we just laid in bed for the rest of night and watched tv & we were so worried wed be seasick the rest of the trip :( however it was only that night and thankfully one of the couples we sat with at dinner gave us some dramamine, neither of us has ever gotten motion sickness so we didnt even think to pack it, they were our lifesavers:D

I do have the fun times & menus from each night & i will post them at the end

by the way our cabin was almost at the very back of the ship & we were inbetween cabin levels (above & below) so we didnt hear alot of noise except when the ship docked/anchored

We woke up the next morning when we were docking in freeport , we decided to do our own thing here & get a taxi ..so we took a taxi to Port Lucaya marketplace and beach ...it was $10 per person round trip & they give you a ticket for your return taxi ...

this is what one of their bus stops looks like

We started watching sail away from the lido and then we went & spent some time on our balcony

then we got ready & went to dinner... i thought the hallways looked neat..

we LOVED half moon cay!!! it was our absolute FAV...

Day 2 Embarkation

We got up early & got on our shuttle to the port, which by the way if you do the stay park & cruise package was included round trip for 2. We got to the port, after clearing security and leaving our luggage there we went to the window to get our s&s cards, this is where we had a problem. We got everything done & went to sit & wait to board...being this was our first cruise we had no idea what to expect.. We hear a dingg and then the woman starts talking about boarding..then goes weddings vip diamond etc... well then she starts calling zone numbers..we were wondering how people figured out their zone number.... even though we were some of the first people at the port...we werent given a zone card!! so we were LAST out of every person in that terminal to board the ship :eek:.. Finally about 1ish we were on board and found our way to the lido deck to get some lunch ...we stood in line for about 20 mins with all our carry ons etc..after eating and having a few DODs we explored a little of the ship and then made our way to our cabin to drop off the carry ons. We had balcony cabin U202.. Not to small, balcony had 2 chairs & a small table ..the bathroom however is tiny!

We decided to go to cocoa beach for the day and eat dinner at fish lips we ate out on the patio overlooking the ocean food was delishhh! i had tilapia on sweet potatoes with a vanilla bean sauce..

Okay so this is quite late, but my laptop that had all the pics had been acting up!... I loved reading other peoples reviews before our first cruise esp. ones with pictures! And im so ready to go on our upcoming cruise i want to relive those memories Sooo..

Day 1 we drove to Port Canaveral... 10 hour drive and stayed at the Radisson Resort at the Port , we used their stay, park & cruise package. This place was awesome!! They gave us a room right outside the jacuzzi & pool. If anyones interested in staying here we paid $160.

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THAT is the exact sign the guy at my table was telling me about!!!

Did you never get an answer about a clothing optional BEACH?

 

LuLu

~~~~

hah no, theres a topless beach in miami though right? im still not completely convinced ill take my top off in public but we shall see :D

Just remember, your neighbors can see your balcony reflected in the glass on their side! I spent one cruise trying to avoid the view of big, hairy, naked guy next door. :eek:

 

The tops optional deck was still around in 2006, but was gone by the time we cruised in 2007 so I think it was removed in that time frame. DH used to go up there early in the mornings to read when there was no one there and would laugh at the steady parade of guys coming up to sightsee, only to find one lone guy up there and no topless ladies.

:D too funny!!!

thanks for the responses! not that naked people bother me just didnt want to stumble upon them unsuspectingly & im most certainly not comfortable enough with my body for all that but we did get a balcony room lol

Okay, weird question, i am a server at a restaurant and i have a table of regulars that comes in every sunday to see me, anyways long story short he knows were going on a cruise next week & i was telling him i had never been to a clothing optional beach & that i was intrigued to see the one in miami and he told me the cruise ship should have a clothing optional deck like up above the running track that you have to climb a ladder to... is this true?:eek:

We're taking the non drowsy dramamine. Ive never had motion sickness, hubby does only on spinny rides at amusment parks.. We didnt bring anything on our 1st cruise... The first day we were fine.. until dinner (late seating)the ship started really rocking and we both felt nauseous, luckily a couple at our dinner table gave us their dramamine that they carried just in case but even they were sick and had never been sea sick before..we went to bed early that night. We took dramamine each night before bed & were fine for the rest of the cruise. I might have to see if i can find those ginger capsules instead though

This is only an estimate because its for our upcoming cruise on the Victory,but as long as we stay within this budget ill be happy

Balcony room w/military rate including tax,fees, & grat $906 + $25obc

Clothes $100 (hit up rue 21 with coupons-got 100 off!!)

Gas from Ga to miami $200

Pre cruise hotel $124

Parking $44

Excursions $160 & $104

Alcohol $100

Soda cards $69

Pictures $300

Souvineers $175

had to renew one of our passports $120

Underwater camera $60

Tips (porters & shuttles)$20

Faster to the fun $50

Food pre/post cruise $150

Tolls $35

Food in ports $60

Taxi $20

Misc $100

=$2,897

loving this thread..and wish i had seen one like this before our first cruise because there are so many different views here! here is ours from our first cruise on carnival ecstasy last year 5 day to the bahamas for 2

Luggage (were young this was our first real vacay) $200

Clothes $200

Gas from Tn to Fl $160

Tolls in Fl $20

Pre cruise stay park & cruise packing @ Radisson Resort $160

Cruise-Balcony room incl tax & fees & gratuities $1261

Soda Cards (2) $69

Excursion HMC(using 20%off) $99

Private tour of nassau $60

Taxi to port lucaya $20

Food in ports $30

Souvineers (ship & ports) $150

Nails done at spa (because salt water ruins nail polish) $20

Tips for porters & shuttles $20

Alcohol $80 not big drinkers

Casino $20 we had never been in one & played a few slot machines

Photos $ 284 (:eek: im a little embarrassed to admit that)

Pre cruise food $100

and we stayed an extra week in orlando and did universal, IOA, wet n wild and several other things but aside from this the total for the cruise alone

= $ 2953

I find this thread fascinating since I budget like crazy before we cruise because I know how much money I have therefore how much I can spend. I like to pre-pay as much as possible.

 

But I have to say one thing you are all forgetting in your budgets is any new clothes needed for the trip :D

You nailed it! This thread is very interesting & im about to post both of our cruises but i was sitting here thinking am i really the ONLY one who bought new clothes?

Thank you both for the info about the B2!

does anyone know anything about the Hilton Garden Inn Miami- West Hotel?

also curious about this, ..are they able to make up drill dates?

does anyone know anything about the B2? give me the good & bad...is it close to port? close to south beach?

thanks for the pic review! looking forward to the rest

I just so happen to live (well did before army life) in the part of TN that contains the Ocoee & blue hole!! & I also happen to be extremely fair skinned & ohh the burn from a day out there! Loving this review , can't wait to be on the Victory in a few weeks!

Hilarious! Looking forward to the rest of your review, we did the same iten. on the ecstasy last year

thanks for all the input.. i think we've decided to take our chances walking and just hope that the crime rates dont rise against tourists any higher... i'd like to go at my own pace because i love taking photos!

Where is the website? Why does it say *******.com?

Google bahamas-treasures click on walking tour on the left hand side it should say something like brent jes.com when it pops up... its an amazing very detailed walking tour with photos to show you youre in the right direction. i printed it to take with us in september

Depends on how many in your party. Keep in mind that while you are "touring" with a cabbie, he could be picking up fare after fare after fare.. as long as the ships are in.

It's $35 for a 30 minute ride from the airport for 2 ppl..

 

If you want a second opinion .. ask sandra ferguson for a quote.

 

www.bahamas-treasures.com/fergiestaxi

 

As for walking.. it's safe during the day.. just don't flash your money or jewelry.

thats actually who gave me the quote. its just me & my hubby. thanks! hopefully the rate wont rise anymore and we'll be able to do the walking tour