ham_bone

I have been on trips where we couldnt have the divider opened and on trips where we have had as many as 4 in a row opened - both trips on the same ship. The last trip we did was on the Oasis and we were told no. before that was on the freedom and it was ok. I think it has to do with security levels. Ask your stateroom attendant and if they say you cant, ask at the desk & they may send maintenance to do it.

Does jet blue have a yearly fee? That's why I haven't changed yet.

yup. right now JB's card is an amex. I am told they are going to a visa or mc without an annual fee. JB rewards are nice because you can use them for travel packages or flights. My friend takes a nice trip (has cruised) every other year for free with his JB points.

this is now coming along too...

MANGRIA

i am cruising next month with my "free" cruise. deck 2 oceanview was free plus little extra and the taxes & fees & the wife prepaid gratuities (i usually dont do that). booked interior room across hall for my 2 freeloaders (teens). just dumped the rest of my points as on board credits to cover drink package and excursions. not totally thrilled with the process because the promotional rates dont apply to your trip and no perks can be added. also was told at booking upgrades would be available but am now told thats not happening. this will be the 1st cruise i have been on where no upgrades were offered.

I am dumping this card for a jetblue card as soon as they switch away from amex.

good luck

if they will let you cash points out $500 at a time to pay off a promo rate trip then do that!

was NOT an option for us. I originally wanted 2 connected interior rooms and was told they would not do that. our w whole trip (less transportation) coulda been covered by points if that was the case but they shot me down.

Info on the #2 tour says you will be at Maho about 40. Seems to me we were there a bit longer than that.

We saw quite a few planes come and go when we were there, but none were large planes. My husband was a little disappointed with that, but he still enjoyed the time there and got many photos.

That stop really wasn't my thing, after the first plane or 2, I was done. The area was very crowded. It was interesting seeing a few people get blasted at the fence from the planes landing.

We were still very satisfied with the tour and the price.

cool. seems to be the consensus is you get to see the sights but not spend too much time at maho. hate to skip out on this tour but am afraid we will miss what we really wanted to see the most. it'd be like going to an amusement park and the ride you really wanted to try is busted.

After your opening comment in this thread, I hope that she is driving. :)

 

I will refer you to a post that I made here back in 2007.

 

gary

thanks. yes, the prob is i have to talk her into driving. i will navigate;)

plenty of quiet, shaded spots on the oasis (even more so than freedom & voyager class). the solarium has 2 levels and we never found it to be over crowded. only had couple instances where a family kept bringing their toddlers in until enough people complained to security and they were removed.

also, theres spots in the cental park area to just sit and relax where you can forget you are even on a ship- not that you want to.

enjoy the oasis, its a great ship

ive read about benard tours not spending enough time or missing jets at maho.

anything to that?

we really want to see some more sights but maho is our top priority

also, whats this rum punch all about?

I agree with Gary. I wouldn't spend the entire day at Maho.

Our first and second time there was one of the most enjoyable islands ever.

Both times I rented a car, went to Orient then to Margot for the atmosphere then to Maho and back to the ship.

Lots of funny stories, got blocked in in a parking lot in Margot and three of us picked up the front of a small car and moved it so we could get to Maho. Walked the nude beach nude so I could say I did it. It was amazing, laughed the whole time. Maho is fun for an hour maybe two.

Ok, after a long story we are going back in December. I think I am going to rent a car and go back to Margot, Maho and try and find something new besides Orient.

Knowing you are not renting a car I would take a taxi to margot, then to Maho and finally back to the ship.

 

Hope all that helps!

thanks. So who did you rent the car from? she is starting to budge on the idea of renting:D

$120 for minivan ride.

may just rent a car ad try to see something or grab brunch in orlando before flight

thanks. email sent.

there should be a page (like the roll calls) for people to group up for a ride. Can probably get a limo service for less than the bus transfers

can anyone recommend a good car/van service from port canaveral to orlando airport? the last I used drove around port picking people up for well over an hour before we even left for the airport. by the time we got there, dealt with tsa on a sunday, and checked in, we almost missed our flight.

I am travelling in a group of 4 (2 adults & 2 teens) and we have a 2:00 flight.

Thanks

Where are you leaving from? We are embarking in Civitavecchia so plan on picking up some good local Italian wines. In Canada we pay $20 plus, in Italy less than 5 euros. Really anything is good there.

Sounds amazing. I hope to see italy some day. My cuz reps for a few vineyards there so we have discusse taking a trip there more than once.

We are just cruisin out of port canaveral this time. I am told theres actually some good florida wines and may look to grab a bottle of something local before we ship out. I like reds. Nothing too sweet. A great cab always makes me happy

Sweet. Thanks. Those diapers look cool but ill toss em in a cooler bag and hope the sirah port slips thru. Any good wine suggestions for a nice sipper to keep in room?

Thanks for that info! I usually packed one and carried one. Did they "inspect" your wine? I wanted to bring my latest obsession which is a sirah port and their site says no "fortified" wines. I suppose this could be considered fortified but I dont imagine this is what they are trying to avoid.

There's A LOT to do around Maho Beach besides watch the planes and patronize the two bars directly on the beach.

 

Maho Village is a happening place. The southern end of the complex is at the roundabout identified in this shot.

 

(click)

 

Besides the resorts, there is the largest casino on the island.

 

There are several dozen restaurants and shops, from high-end dining to a Subway or Gelato. Shops from simple souvenir stores to Italian Fashion and Haute Couture. A spa, hair salon and pharmacy are there. Even a small grocery store/market.

 

gary

THANK YOU for this info! very happy to see theres stuff to do around there id we decide to skip orient 1st.

By any chance do you know if any of those resorts (or something nearby) offer jet ski tours???

At the very least, you can skip the first day, which is only a partial day anyhow. That will save some money.

Yup. usually bring some wine on for 1st day anyways...

I've seen them selling at a discount onboard. It does not happen all the time, but I have seen it a few times.

Thanks again, I'll wait til I get aboard to see if I can get a better deal!

You must purchase for at least 4 days, and whenever you purchase, it must last to the end of the cruise. You cannot pick and choose days.

thanks for the heads up. know of any ways to get a discount on the package?

2003 called...they want their corporate website back.

YUP!

we are sailing next month and have not been able to use the "planner" at all.

the wife is beyond pissed about this whole experience of using our "free" cruise with our reward points and its appearing this will be our last cruise for a while...

I am cruising next month on freedom 7 day and it sounds like the drink package is def the way to go for me (yup Im a boozer, especially on vacation). that said, can you buy it just for sea days?

We did tour 2 in April. There were a lot of pros but I can't recommend the tour. We were cramped in the bus with 25 or so other people. It was one of the buses that had fold down middle seats (jump seats) that were incredibly uncomfortable. The biggest disappointment was Maho, which I had been looking forward to the most. Our guide (Mailman) told us that we would see 5-6 incoming international flights. We saw 1. Not sure why he would tell us this, the flight times are posted and once at the bar, could see he was wrong. The time we were told to be back on the bus was 5 minutes before another one was scheduled to come in. I was frustrated he didn't give us those extra minutes.

THANKS for this review. I am trying to decide what to do in StM this time around and really want to see maho. Our boys were too young last time there so we skipped maho but older now (19&17) so we are gonna check it out but we are back & forth with a tour vs cabs. Is there enough to do there or within walking distance?

Can you walk from mullet to maho?

 

How much is a can from port to mullet? Can from maho back to port?

 

Any decent public transportation that's cheaper?

 

Finally, any beaches you can just walk to from port? Or take a cheap water taxi to?

from what i have read:

Yes, you can walk from mullet to maho in 15 mins and theres a casino resort and golf course between them.

cheapest transportation is the bus but you have to take water taxi to main shopping area and catch bus near courthouse.

yes, there are beaches along the main drag where the water taxis drop you off and we have gone to the far end and rented jet skis there before. my wife refuses to do this again because we were bombarded with peddlers and beggars last time there.

I am really leaning to just talking her into the tour that hits orient then maho and renting skis at orient but we wanted more of a jet ski "tour"

my parents (late 50's and not athletic - walks/hikes only) have done this excursion multiple times in StM and other ports and love it.

You're driving now?

 

gary

nope. i meant it as riding along in a cab/bus.

Me and the boys are looking into a jet ski tour in the am to fill some time before heading to maho. something not too long but guided to see some cool stuff.

i guess i should change thread title to "what to do before heading to maho"