snyniew

I'm curious how this tour turned out. We're booked on a private tour with them in April and would love to hear your thoughts.

I was with Helen last year and she is a very nice woman and had a good time however I don't think I would book with her again. This March I've booked with Bumpiing Tours. The tour cost $10 more but includes the cost of the site passes while on Helen's tour you need to pay for those yourself. Also if you plan on stopping at Champagne Reef you'll need to bring your own snorkeling equipment or rent it there for $10, this is included w/ Bumpiing Tours. The final thing is that Helen does not go into the sites with you but stays out front so not really a guide. Bumpiing Tours actually goes with you and guides you in the Gorge or goes snorkeling.

I think last year w/ how many people from our RollCall that signed up for her tour overwhelmed her and she wanted to please everyone that it fell short with trying to do too much. However if you are looking for a nice cab driver to take you to a few spots and be warm and welcoming she is your person. But if you are looking for a more hands on guide you'll want to look elsewhere.

On the Summit last year I never had a problem getting a drink & a bottle of water @ the same time

I would pick a B2B for a Southern Caribbean cruise. I know on Celebrity Summit it has 2 different itineraries so the only port that is a duplicate is St.Thomas. I don't know if other lines also have different itineraries when doing B2B.

I love the Summit as I was on her last year and am taking my 18 year old niece with me this March. She understands that there may not be too many kids on board but with it being a Southern Caribbean cruise we will be in port most days so only leaving one sea day. I know last March when I cruised there were more kids on board as it was Canada's March break. If you are going during spring break time you may encounter more kids on board than you may normally.

Looks nice, unfortunately I'm not paying over $600.00/night for a hotel :)! I hope you got a much better deal!

Yes, booked a while ago & got Jr suite for just over $200 all fees included. Very happy as it seems now it's sold out except for the Presidential suite & priced @ that $600/day rate

I've booked Chateau Cervantes for my trip in March. It has good reviews on TripAdvisor and on CC so I'm giving it a try. Right in OSJ and close to restaurants and the Pier.

I was on the Summit last March and had a great time. I didn't see too many scooters but happened to go during Canada's March break so maybe that made a difference. There was a great mix of all ages but I'd say mainly in 40's to late 50's. I was up at Revelations almost every night, some nights were busier that others but usually went to bed after 1:30 pm each night.

I will be back on the Summit this March w/ my nice. So far our rollcall seems to have a mix of people in their 30's to 60's.

You should join our rollcall. There are a few of us who are doing an all day sail w/ Kuralu Catamarans in Tortola. We have 4 signed up currently and he needs a minimum 6 to sail. We have confirmed that he will be running on that Easter Sunday.

Contact Levi Baron @ Bumpiing Tours. Website is http://www.bumpiingtours.com he has different tours you can choose from to suit your needs. Very highly rated on Trip Advisor as a tour guide in Dominica.

I'm scheduled on his tour when I go to Dominica in March on Celebrity Summit.

There is a free trolley that will take you to the Forts right from the pier in OSJ

You can print off the luggage tags when you print your Express Pass before you leave. Celebrity also will mail them to you but you have to request that. Once you do your online check-in and it's with-in 45 days (not sure on that) you can request luggage tags be mailed to you.

I had a wonderful taxi driver last year in San Juan and he does do private tours as well. You can contact him and see if you can arrange some personalized tour that will end up with an airport drop off. His nae is Luis M Aponte ph. 787-943-7077

Last March when I was there I had a horrible time using the data on my phone. Lucky for me the hotel had WiFi so my days before the cruise was fine. However when I was there the prior year as a cruise stop the reception for phone calls was fine.

You can do it before. I've done it on both my cruises with Celebrity and just called up and said I wanted to upgrade. There was no issue even with the first one where I had booked w/ a TA.

Cruising Chick - Bistro on 5 is always open on boarding days. Must have been a bit since you cruised. Trays in the buffet went away a bit over a year ago. If you have a physical disability they will provide you a tray. They went away because people would pile their trays full of food and leave much of it. Food waste went down significantly according to the food people on Constellation.

They still had the trays available when I was on the Summit last March so taking them away must be more of a recent thing rather than over a year ago.

I just quickly looked at celebrity....reflection has balcony for about $1100 pp including......yes....including drinks package,tips,obc and Internet....ship is gorgeous and a steal at that price..... .there is so much to see and do on your first cruise on even the most modest of ships that you will never get around to most of it....whatever you decide have a wonderful time....I was married for 24 yrs before our honeymoon!

She has already booked her flights so going on the Reflection probably wouldn't work as the Allure is leaving on a Sunday. However the Silhouette does leave on the 22nd out of Ft. Lauderdale so that would be an option.

I personally would probably choose Celebrity for a honeymoon cruise if it's over a holiday as there are going to be less children on Celebrity vs RCCL. If the prices are better and the perks you can get may be a more budget friendly and more romantic experience for them.

I stayed in on on the Summit which is the same configuration. Deck 3 3112-I'm not sure. I stayed in 3118 & had a nice large porthole w/ lots of light & very little noise. Very close to get to martini bar, main dining room rendezvous bar & when disembarking in ports. Easy to just take the stairs instead of waiting for the elevator

la de da-you said Fascination-but you didn't say when you are cruising on the Fascination, because in a few months, she is leaving Jacksonville and she will be sailing out of San Juan, and you will most definitely need a pass port.

 

 

If they are US Citizens it shouldn't matter if it's sailing out of Jacksonville or San Juan, San Juan is a US territory so it's dealt with just like any other US departure port.

My first cruise I only did the ship sponsored excursions. I wanted to be guaranteed that I wouldn't miss the ship or they would get me to the next port. Second I didn't want to take the time to research the ports we were going to and find reputable tour operators.

My second cruise I was on the same path until a few people on the roll call said they were doing some private excursions and so I joined them. I also took a little bit of time and read up on some of the ports and what others on CC said so it was a mix of both.

For my upcoming cruise again it's a mix of ship and private excursions. I'm doing the ship excursions primarily because I have onboard credit that needs to be used. Also having a few cruises under my belt and somewhat know what to expect on getting back to the ship I'm finding it fun to try and find my own excursions that may be a little less crowded and less expensive.

It all really is up to you and what your comfort level is and how much time and effort you want to put into it. Either way I'm sure you will both enjoy your first cruise.

Last year I stayed at the Condado Plaza Hilton and it was nice but want to explore more of OSJ. This year I'll be staying at the Chateau Cervantes in Old San Juan. I choose this one since it's right in Old San Juan and will give my niece a lot of things to explore within walking distance. Depending on what cruise line you are sailing on some of the hotels in Old San Juan are within walking distance of the pier. If you are on RCCL or X they go out of Pan American Pier so you'd have to take a taxi.

I was on the Summit last March for a Southern Caribbean cruise in an Oceanview cabin and loved it. Didn't feel too small and with having so many days in port I wasn't in my room that much any way. Also for going in the day before there were many people that I knew who flew in the day of the cruise. It's a little easier to do since the ship doesn't leave until 8:30 pm so you have more time than when the ship departs at 4pm.

Also another thing to consider is that when you book an Oceanview on Celebrity you get the choice of a Classic Alcohol package for 2, prepaid gratuities or $300 on board credit. Add that into what you're paying and it may be a better deal to book w/ Celebrity vs. Carnival where you aren't getting the choice of those perks.

Oh, and I don't know if anyone has brought it up on the other post but what is your stance on smoking? Are you smokers or non-smokers. If non-smokers how sensitive are you to smoke. Celebrity has a very restrictive smoking policy where there are only a few designated spots for smoking and no smoking in the casino. So that may also factor into your decision.

Last March I stated at the Condado Plaza Hilton, slightly more that what you are looking for but a nice hotel and had pools and a beach and taxi fare since it's priced per zone is decent.

For next March I've booked a room at Chateau Cervantes. It's gotten good reviews on here as well as Trip Advisor. It's a small boutique hotel right in Old San Juan. Figured for next March I'd rather be in Old San Juan since my niece is coming and she hasn't experienced anything yet. Gives us plenty to do within walking distance as well as there is a free trolley in Old San Juan. The taxi fare should be pretty much the same to the Pan American pier than it was from my hotel last year.

I will start with that fact that I've never sailed Royal so this is all from a co-worker. He has always sailed Royal and enjoyed it but decided to change this summer and sail on the Solstice as the Royal ship was the same he sailed on on March.

He was very happy with his experience on Celebrity and had some slight differences that made him say they may have found a new line to cruise with. He is a taller guy and said on all the Royal ships he's had to duck to shower. He was surprised to find that on Celebrity he didn't have to duck in order to shower. He also said the service was slightly above what he's experience on Royal. And for him the most important was he thought the food was just a bit better as well. All in all he really loved the Celebrity experience and thought it was more of luxury cruise (I know marketing playing a role) than what he's experienced before.

How is the Summit, like age or is it need of repair in certain areas, overall age of the passengers, and activities you can do during the night

I didn't notice the age of the ship as everything we well kept and very nice. I always found something to do and didn't make it back to my room until 1:30 or later every night. That may depend on your sailing but our rollcall had a great group and we would meet up every night and go to the later show and then up to Revelations for dancing. It was never packed with people but enough to have a fun time.

I'm 42, no kids and did the Summit last March for SC and loved it. I choose Celebrity initially for the fact that there will usually be less kids on board and so far I've been right about that. Not that I mind kids but when on vacation I don't want to be over run with kids running and screaming.

Other than formal night I don't really dress up any more than I would at home, nice pair of capris and nice shirt. Other than that I think you can't go wrong with either ship so I'd base it on which has the best itinerary for you.

I'm actually booked on the Summit next mark with the itinerary you are looking at. I do enjoy the fact that I can get the beverage package included (depending on your room category) since when on vacation I do tend to like to have a few drinks throughout the day and I drink a ton of water so the bottled water I drink almost covers the drink package w/ out the wine or martini's I may partake in.