paggs

Park Café roast beef sandwich was very good regardless of someone earlier saying it wasn't.

I actually liked food at the Dog House but it seemed to never be opened when I wanted something. Maybe I'm weird but a good hotdog is a treat for me.

I hope that worked!! Geez, perhaps the hardest thing I have done today!

Day 1

well I have the pictures. If anyone can tell me how to get them small enough to keep the site happy I will be glad to post them.

trying to keep the software happy. It's a challenge!

Good golly Bob--give them a chance to load!!

Eastern cruise 3/18-25

Every day except one. Hope this helps someone!

Does being a sailor in the US Navy count as cruise days?

I suspect most cruise lines smoking policies were changed after significant complaints by non-smokers. In order to sail at capacity the cruise lines had to stop allowing smoking in cabins so they could be sold to either non-smoking or smoking passengers. Also Carnival tried a non-smoking ship at one point (Paradise) but changed to allow it to have some smoking areas. I know it didn't work at the time but I'd like to see this tried again today - maybe now it would work since the smoking population is now less 17% the population of the US.

We sailed on the Paradise twice and loved it. But here is what we were hearing while on board "Non smokers don't drink and party as much as smokers so late night bar revenue was way down."

Will we ever see a non-smoking ship again? I seriously doubt it even though I really liked the concept and the atmosphere.

I believe many years past that SCOTUS ruled that had you known you would have truly been injured you would have never signed the waiver thus making the waiver of liability a voidable document. Waivers appear to settle the problems with the people who think they mean something, but don't totally removed the issuer from liability. But as said earlier, anyone can sue for anything and it's frequently cheaper to settle than litigate.

you won't have any restrictions relating to what you send to room via porters. You will have normal restrictions with carryon regarding being able to fit through the scanners

We got hit up by some time share scratch off scheme in 2004. It was hard to get away from them since we were uninformed.

Never again!

It's nothing new. Happened to us in February 2004 on St Maarten

And don't forget to negotiate a price from what they ask.

I bought souvenir license plates for the kids in Curacao. The proprietor and I started negotiating. He wanted $5 apiece and I said $3. He said no way. I started to walk. He asked me how many I was buying as I was putting them back. I told him 8 of them. He took the $3 each. Bought a watch on the same island that my jeweler wife didn't have available in the US for substantially less than asking.

Enjoy your cruise!

You didn't name it as an option, but Princess Cay Bahamas fits your liking. Nice beach and lunch on the island. That is Princess Cruises private beach. We did our 1st, 2nd and 4th cruise on Carnival. Rest were Princess and we seem to prefer Princess better.

Grand Cayman 7 Mile Beach is beyond description. It's simply beautiful. Every cruise line likes to go to Cozumel but only thing there is Mayan ruins and shopping and a day trip is needed for ruins, IMO. But, local food is truly "local"--something you won't get anywhere else.

Funny story about sidewalk café in Cozumel. Wife was looking at the menu and exclaimed "OMG these prices are high!" They were in pesos. Cheeseburger cost her about $6 US. That 700 price tag caught her a little off guard!

I have done just about every cabin combination there is and I seem to go back to inside cabin and cruise more often. But, that's just me. I only sleep and shower there.

Enjoy your cruise! You will become addicted like the rest of us!

Don't expect a shuttle to be offered to the Miami port from FLL area. By taxi it's about $75-90.

Is zip lining in St Thomas good or should I look elsewhere?

While I've never had anyone follow me (us) around, it is sometimes difficult to get the non-stop talkers to stop talking. It happens on cruise ships and on airplanes. I've found ear buds or small head phones being placed in my ears and "You'll have to excuse me, I have to catch up on the latest embalming techniques symposium" works wonders. Sometimes I don't even need the ear buds, I just turn back to my iPad loaded with mystery novels. . . LOL

 

Smooth Sailing! :) :) :)

Gee Ger_77 you say that like catching up on embalming techniques is a bad thing. Unless we are one mortician to another?

ours is March 20

Pack half of what you think you need.

Take twice as much cash as you think you will need.

And, you'll be fine.

I would think a budget of $1000 per port should get you by!

2001 on Carnival Paradise. IT was a smoke free ship at the time and fairly new. Sailed western Caribbean out of Miami and had a blast. Needless to say we are quasi-addicted. We have #7 planned for March.

My two cents on this dilemma: I always buy Early Bird when I fly Southwest, as much because I want my choice of a decent seat as not wanting to fool around with doing non-vacationy things while I'm on vacation. I take that fee into account when I compare them with other flights.

I agree with this and it's what we do. Early bird check in relieves the stress of it not getting done. It helps you to get to the front of the line so you have a better selection of seats. And, on the Boeing 737 I don't like sitting behind the wing. Plus it better guarantees that you all sit together if that is important.

I also factor the cost into the flight cost and then don't worry about it.

Just my nickel's worth