GMRPHRN

Thanks for this info

Looking forward to the rest of your report. Cruising in 2 weeks!!!!

I am taking this cruise in two weeks. Can you answer some questions about what clothing to pack? What was the weather like on the excursions? What was the temp like on the ship? I'm used to cruises to the Caribbean where shorts and t-shirts rule the day. I am generally a warm person (are you? - just need a reference point when you answer) but would like to know if leggings and long sleeve shirts would be better. I have a balcony and plan to spend lots of time sitting on it. Would you recommend sweatshirts? In the MDR for the formal dinners did people still dress up? If I plan to wear a summer dress should I plan on a jacket for the MDR? I have booked the lighthouse totem eagles tour in Ketichican but have recently seen some poor reviews and am reconsidering. Was just walking around the town a good fit for you? Thanks so much for your answers.

I had a problem with S&S a few years back. I paid for the cruise for my 2 kids and my SIL who stayed in a cabin with one of my children with me and 1 child in the other. I checked her in online with her on credit card and the kids and me on mine. However, when one of our ports were canceled and they refunded port fees they refunded hers to her S&S even though I had paid for the cruise. I went to GS with her but they seemed to have a hard time understanding what we wanted. She ended up paying me back for the credit by using her S&S to make purchases for my child that would have come off my account. Then last year I sailed with only the 2 kids and my 18yo son in a cabin by himself. Checked us all in using my credit card but once on the ship they denied him charging ability and had to go to GS to apply my card again. So sometimes all goes as planned and sometimes it doesn't.

Thanks for the info. I like the low deposits because if I am trying to book a cruise but not 100% committed (when it is a year or more out) I am not forking over that much money up front.

Here’s my experience with the Lighthouse, Totems and Eagles excursion. We boarded a bus on the pier, we drove to a decrepit boat yard and boarded a dilapidated tour boat that was listing to one side, we’ve been in the marine industry for most of our adult lives, we know boats and this boat had seen better days years ago, it looked like a 5th grader had been doing the maintenance on the boat, pretty poor. Upon boarding the boat, it reeked of mold and mildew. After the engines started we could smell diesel fuel. Once we got underway the diesel smell went away somewhat but you could still smell it. For about 2 or 3 hours we cruised by Totem Bright park, the old lighthouse, a couple of Eagle nests. The narration during the excursion was done on a cassette tape that the guy driving the boat, I can’t say Capitan would have to change tapes when we got to a certain area. I’d never recommend this excursion to anyone.

Thank you so much for this info. The trip has good reviews on CCL's website. Unfortunately, I did not see any other excursions that interest me. I am not interested in getting on a plane or helicopter. Are any of the other land based tours better?

Just FYI. The biggest difference I have found with a tender port vs the other kind is timing. You can walk on and off the ship at a docked port multiple times while docked with ease. For example - excursion in the morning, back to ship for lunch, afternoon exploring and shopping. However, a tender port involves a long process of going back and forth to the ship and not worth doing more than one time. It is not advised for you to explore on your own at Belize anyway (safety) - just excursions and very little shopping at the port.

Do you like Adventure? I really enjoyed the Hike, Snorkel & Kayak adventure in St. Thomas. Lots to do in San Juan. I went ziplining there but it wasn't the best IMO. To me Amber Cove and Grand Turk were mostly beach days. Lots of great info on this site about cruising. If you haven't had the chance to parasail that's another good adventure. Remember if you do all day excursions you want drink as much on the ship so factor that in when deciding if it's worth it.

From NYC - definitely fly in the day before or even 2 days if you can swing it.

My family likes late seating simply because the early is too early. At home we eat between 7 and 8:30 depending on what is going on in our lives. Lunches vary per person and schedule. At home we still go to bed by 11pm most nights. On the ship I have often found that I am really hungry by dinner time and often am eating another meal called "Lupper" to tie me over. I am on vacation and am not opposed to eating more than 3 times a day. Bedtime on the cruise depends on how tired we are, what the evening entertainment offerings are, if we had a nap, etc. I am on vacation so I am not opposed to my schedule being all over the place.

Thanks for all the suggestions. Love Chocolate.

I am sorry to hijack this thread but since several of you mentioned being disappointed in the totem, lighthouse tour, I would like to ask some specifics as of why?

Showering at the gym is an excellent idea especially if you have multiple people (women) in a cabin. The showers are much bigger than in the room. Of course you have to slug some of your toiletries up there but I have used this option on several ships.

Just my experience. I went on a cruise with a condition where I could not stand for long periods (could walk but standing very difficult) I did all the things that were suggested - called guest with special needs, spoke to someone at guest services immediately after boarding and then told my steward. I was told on the ship that they could not arrange a place for me to sit for the drill (Conquest) but to stay in my cabin. Still I had to listen to my cabin # being called when I didn't show up and answer the door several times when people came to tell me to go up. IMO they do not have a good system for handling guests with disabilities for muster drills.

I've not sailed on the Splendor but on both the Glory and the Conquest we have stayed under the Dining Room on Lido (where the buffet is) sometimes during the day you can hear chairs being moved around. Did not have any trouble with noise at night, though.

We will be in port on June 5th of this year.

So I should bring quarters? Or do they take Sail & Sign cards?

My cruise docks in Victoria from 7:30pm until midnight. Despite my research I can't find much to do during this time in the port. Are the shops open? I am traveling with a teen so bar crawls , etc do not interest us. Wondering if it's worth it to skip late dinner on the ship and eat somewhere on shore. Of course, it's a visit to Canada so we do want to at least get off and say we did. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Great thread! Thanks for all the posts. I was wondering about the ship, also. I normally cruise Caribbean and we are in shorts and t-shirts on the ships during the day. Is this still the case as long as you are not on deck? Or maybe leggings and long-sleeve t-shirts are a better choice. Sailing May 30th. Thanks again.

I enjoy decorating my door. It is quirky but mostly when walking down that long hall to your room it is so easy to spot. Few have employed the practice on my recent cruises but this doesn't deter me. I have not found the doors to be magnetic but I could be wrong. I used that sticky tacky stuff that teachers use that comes right off (sometimes too soon). No, it doesn't leave a residue. It's a little harmless fun.

Adding my 2 cents. Stayed last year at Fort Lauderdale: Hyatt Place Ft. Lauderdale 17th Street Convention Center. Located next door to a couple of restaurants and a reasonable walk to Publix. Shuttle from airport and again to pier in the morning. Three of us stayed in a large room with a sofa for the 3rd guest and had a pleasant stay. Loved the Conquest!

The dryers as in most public used facilities are very inadequate I've found. You would be advised to launder small loads to assure they get dry. You can also get small packs of Tide where travel size items are sold (Wal-Mart?) which can be rationed for smaller loads. If you are just doing your unmentionables you can also find small packs of Woolite for washing in the sink (sold conveniently with a sink stopper) at Amazon.

I disagree about this being a bad idea. I have used the transports several times. How early you get to the airport is dependent on how early you get off the ship and to the bus. There have always been buses waiting when we disembarked and I have never had to sit on the bus long before it departed.

Yesterday in his live post JH mentioned it would be close to the 21st or later before he had the movies for May.

I loved Josh last year on the Conquest. He is my favorite CD so far. Glad he is enjoying his family time, though.

Just an FYI. If it is a tender port it is usually a long process to get back to the ship and coming and going more than once is not ideal. Still you can return at anytime just like a non-tender.