micheecruise

Look up Captain Marvin Grand Cayman....they do the Stingray excursion. When we went a few years back, they were awesome, it was a nice SMALL group of us ;)

I travel in two weeks from SJU PR arriving to same port. I dont have passport. Cant get an original birth certificate because take to long. I only have photo copy and drivers licence. Has anyone traveled with copy? Is it ok? :loudcry:

Not sure you would need a passport if you are an American Citizen. You should call the cruise line (and air line) or check with a TA about this issue. If you need to have a passport, you would have to go to a passport office and get it same day, expedited thru mail probably would not be fast enough.

On every cruise, we have flown in the day of embarkation. Once had an issue where one of our suitcases was on a different flight, but it arrived in Fort Lauderdale on time, and a porter from the airport brought it to the cruise port.

With that being said, I decided this time around to cancel my air transportation with the cruise line and book directly myself arriving in FL the evening before. We'll spend a little over $100 for a hotel at the airport, but it will be peace of mind.

My oldest is 16 and doesn't have his licence yet. At what age do they require you to have photo Id to get back on the ship?

 

I don't want to bring his passport off and the only thing he has with his photo on now is his health card (Ontario). He should have his beginners license by our march cruise. But just want to know if it's needed. If it is I can make certain he gets it before we leave.

 

 

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You sometimes need to show a photo ID to get onto the dock that leads to the ship, minors should not have to. You only use your Sign & Sail Card to board the ship.

Glad I saw this thread. It's been a few years since we've cruised and I didn't know that this procedure had changed.

@micheecruise,

 

That is a good idea, I inquired and was told connecting cabins cannot be guaranteed. Knowing Murphy as I do, he'd be the guy in charge of our rooms so you can imagine how that would play out.

 

I did get a quote from one TA for a NCL 7 night cruise with an aft Haven cabin on deck 11. I'll get the Ultimate Beverage Package, the Specialty Dining Package, the Internet Package, a $50 Per Port Shore Excursion Credit and the kids travel free (except for taxes).

I also get a $150 ship credit.

 

Total is $7,800

 

Does this seem reasonable or can a better deal be had?

I believe that you can do much better than $7800.00 You could get connecting ocean view rooms and spend (about) half that amount. It sounds like you are booking through a travel agent? I would give the cruise line a call directly. And regarding all those extras, I believe that NCL is having a promo right now and you can get the same extras from them directly. I am going on a 7 day CCL cruise in Nov, we have connecting rooms (they are deluxe Ocean View) and including air fare our total is about $4500.

We always get connecting cabins, one for the kids and the other for me and hubby :)

It gives us extra space, and will cost less then a suite. You also have two bathrooms when you have the connecting rooms. In the evening, we put a shoe between the doors so that it doesn't shut tight.

My husband and I are first time cruisers. We are looking at booking our excursions and I have always wanted to swim with the dolphins. We are cruising through Carnival and we are looking at doing the VIP dolphin experience in Cozumel. It is pretty expensive which I don't mind if it is worth it. I just keep hearing it might we overrated and not worth the $300. Please help! If there is an excursion in cozumel that you would recommend please let me know!

My family and I did a dolphin excursion in the Bahamas a few years back. It was entertaining, but I wouldn't do it again.

With that being said, we did an ATV excursion in Cozumel that took us to ruins that were not excavated. We loved it and it was worth every penny!!

We have definitely cut back on the excursion portion of our cruises....a family of four for the stuff we like to do is usually $80-120 each.

Grand Turk has a beautiful beach right in port, and Nassau has a free beach (Junkanoo Beach) within walking distance from the port. San Juan, you can walk to the fort (although it is up hill the entire way). St. Thomas is fairly inexpensive to take a cab to one of the many beautiful beaches. Our last cruise, as well as this one, we pick one "big" excursion, the rest of the ports we do stuff on our own. We have also used tour companies outside of the cruise ship for excursions.

We are non-drinkers, so that right there saves us a BUNDLE!! :D

We are cruising in early November and have a stop in Amber Cove. I was considering booking an excursion, but not thru the ship. If you have used an outside vendor, who were they and what was your experience with them? I have found two, and reviews are mixed.

Any feedback is appreciated! :D

The pool and hot tubs at the rear of the ship are usually less crowded, it's usually much quieter back there too. Thats where youll find Tandoor

We plan on taking advantage of the pool at the rear of the ship, I found that on our last cruise being around the main pool was just a bit much and want something a little more quiet (but not as quiet as the Serenity area :D)

My questions is, Is the Tandoor restaurant free?

Thanks!!

I have an 11 yo daughter that will be 12 in October. She is very mature and very responsible. (Only Child)..

I am wondering if she will be too old for Camp Ocean and if I needed to see if she can bump to Circle C

I have read on these boards that they will bump her if she is close to the cut off age. The last cruise we went in 2013, my youngest was 10 1/2, they would not allow her to be with the older kids (her sister is 2 yrs older). They told us that if she was a year older they would have allowed it. It may depend on the staff that is running the camp on your ship.

Regarding the structure of Circle C, it is definitely less so than for the younger kids. They do have activities, but it was my experience that they kids would meet up at the Circle C spot, hang out a bit, do the planned activity, then sorta go on their own. We talked to our daughter before we went on the cruise regarding our "rules", etc. and never had any problems.

The surrounding areas left a bit to be desired.

Did you feel unsafe, or just a bit run down away from the beach area? Were there locals on the beach trying to sell you stuff and braid hair?

Do they allow access to restroom facilities?

Do you know what those hotels charge to use their facilities? Even an approximate amount?

Thanks!!

Do those hotels charge you to use the beach?

Please don't misunderstand this, but how do you know she followed the rules on where she could go and what she could do?

 

Doubtless you trust her and she has I hope earned that trust, but do you realy know what she dd and where she went when she wasn't with you.

Why would you even say that?

Some of things people say on here is just unbelievable.

They do it for all...but ignore it. You can start boarding once the ship is cleared of departing vacationers. They will start boarding around 11:30 or so!

Okay, thanks!!!

I saw a few posts that people mentioned "their scheduled embarkation time". Does RCI do that for all ships or just the big ones?

Interesting thread....

I couldn't imagine being on the ship and one of my children getting left behind! I think they would have to sedate me and strap me down! :eek:

A few years back in Freeport, we were on a excursion (booked thru the ship) and we were running late. Our driver was in touch with the authorities at the port every few minutes giving them updates of where we were. When we arrived, they HURRIED us on to the ship, and as soon as the 10 of us were on the ship they pulled up the plank and the ship pulled away!

The games in the arcade you will use your sea pass card, no quarters.

You will not have trouble making a flight at 1:20 if you decide NOT to do the self-assist debarkation.

The CD makes ZERO difference to me :)

We lived in the northern suburbs of Houston a few years back, I think you might find it more enjoyable to sight see in Galveston for a few hours before your flight out of Hobby. Galveston is a cute little town. Houston is not a city like NY or Philadelphia, not a "walking" city. Not sure what you would do with your luggage though.

My 10 year old was never in the cabin by themselves so I never had to tell them that. They Never rode the elevators by themselves because I never let the wander the ship.

 

But I also don't let them wander around my town by themselves either. Since the ship is a city, your rules should reflect the same rules you have at home.

 

Ships are a small city, with neighbors of all kinds, good and bad. However, many parents let their guard down thinking 4000 new neighbors are all good.

Why do I always feel like I have to defend everything I post on these boards?:( It wasn't a matter of letting my daughters wander around the ship (as you put it), but if they needed to run to the cabin for something I didn't feel like I had to escort them every single minute on the ship, or if they wanted to go up to the Lido deck to grab an ice cream, they were okay to do that.