tampadonna

We tendered to the terminal - if remember correctly, and they met us just outside the terminal. So no "water taxi" - just the tender to shore. It was a boat ride both ways - about 45 minutes I believe. Two different locations for snorkeling, about an hour for each. what we loved about the tour was the full day adventure - boats, snorkeling, tarpon, lunch - all of it. It also was not a cattle boat with just the 12 of us. We saw a ships tour nearby shark alley, and there were a LOT of people. We enjoyed immensely.

Thanks so much for all your input. We have purchased some gloves that will work with phones/cameras - and a neighbor had stocking caps (toucks) from his company that he gave us (YEAH!) We have layers planned and are pulling things to get it all together right now. We leave in a week and are super excited. Thanks for the input all.

Thanks so much for that information! It is a great help in developing our plan!

Yes I am a Floridian, and no I don't have a lot of cold weather gear. Everyone says we need hat and gloves (especially for the ship days at the glaciers, but what does that mean? Can anyone provide a recommendation. I think I read a suggestion for glove liners. But will that be enough? I have some knit gloves but not sure if that will work. DH's hands and feet get cold easily. Any recommendations for these warm weather cruisers would be greatly appreciated.

We are taking a cruisetour (EB4) and leave Denali Princess Lidge at 12:15 pm travelling by motorcoach to the Mt. McKinley Wilderness Lodge. Does anyone know if the coach (not train) stops in Talkeetna on the way in? Or will we need to pick up the shuttle at the Lodge and travel back into Talkeetna?

Interested in answer because we are trying to arrange a flightseeing tour on day we arrive at Princess Mt. McKinley Lodge. Any help/experience would be greatly appreciated.

We have used Park N Cruise on Sea Ray Drive several times. Very professional and friendly staff and they get you parked and to the ship in a timely manner and also are waiting on you when you disembark the ship to get you back to your vehicle and on your way home.

 

Prices are better than parking at the port itself and you can usually find a 5% or 10% discount on their website as well.

 

We have always been very pleased - using them again in 16 days!

Agree wholeheartedly with Park n Cruise. Easy/efficienct/friendly and affordable. Have used several times in the past - most recently on a Christmas Cruise with Carnival. Booked in advance with an internet code and it was about $76 for the week.

The Zip line is at victor Bodden's location - he calls it Mayan Jungle Canopy. It was fantastic (we did it the week of Christmas). There are 12 zips of different lengths. There are lots of stairs to get to the top, to the beginning of the zip lines but WELL worth it. They have worked on it over the last few years and it is a wonderful zip line course. After the zip line it was time to visit the animals at monkey jungle - capuchin monkeys, toucans, macaws, lemurs. Lots of cool creatures. Then on to the beach at Bannanrama.

OK - couple of things from our perspective. Be prepared to tip lots of folks - driver for the day, zip line guys, monkey business guide, and anyone at the beach. The beach was jammed the day we were there - check the # of ships in town.

We had a FANTASTIC guide for the day - Lionel. He gave us lots of information about the island, the people, his family, etc. He was also very accommodating - 2 of the husbands did not want to stay at the beach - he took them back to the ship and returned for us a little later. I would gladly ask for him again!

I thought they were very reasonable - $5 margaritas (generous), food ran from $5-10 per entree. If you look at their website (sandalsandskisdotcom) you can see a link to their menu. Loved it and would recommend it. Try local tequila shots - they were great!

We just returned from a week on the Carnival Magic Christmas week. We had arranged for loungers with Tropicante - and it was fabulous! I concur with the relaxed no pressure approach. Enjoyed a beach massage at a VERY reasonable price, great guacamole and super drinks. Had a great conversation about Mexican real estate with Steve Uhl the owner, and did some tequila tasting. Local tequila that was so smooth and wonderful. It was a great relaxing day - we cannot say enough about Tropicante. All as advertised and more.

Just got back from a week on the Carnival Magic and in our stop in Belize City we booked a tour with Belize Exotic Adventures (discoverbelize.bz) and it was FANTASTIC. The tour is Coral Garden, Tarpon Feeding, Shark Ray Alley and Cay Caulker Beach Break. We had a family group of 12, and were able to reserve a private boat and it was everything we could have dreamed for and more. The boat price for a similar tour was $109, and our fee was $65 (plus tips). Nicholai and Sheena met us at the terminal, walked us to the van, we paid day of (not required in advance) then off to the boat. Natalie was our tour master - and was fantastically funny, attentive and looked out for all of us. She gave us great inforamtion about Belize City, about the islands as we boated to Caye Caulker and about the Caye as well.

With her four staff, they got us loaded, provided snorkel gear (great quality) and off we went to Caye Caulker. A great boat ride, beautiful day and lots of fun. We stopped at the Caye, walked into town to the restaurant (Rose's Restaurant) and ordered our lunch in advance to have it waiting when we returned. There was lots of great variety. Fruits, water and other goodies were loaded - then off to the reef.

We snorkeled around the Coral Garden, then off to feed the Sharks/rays. It was wonderful to see the sharks and rays in their environment. We snorkled safely and had a chance to interact with the sealife.

Off to feed the tarpons (and yes they have teeth which I found out the hard way.:eek:) Then off to lunch. Great lunch, relaxed setting with a great rinse off before lunch. Then back to Belize City.

All in all a wonderful day. I can't say enough about Belize Exotic Adventures, the tour and Natalie our guide. If you are there - try it out

While the Columbia is primarily Spanish food - there are LOTS of options on the menu. Beef, chicken, fish (love the sea bass). The 1905 salad is a meal in itself. Many options

Another option is Bernini (on 7th Ave). Italian food. Restaurant is an old bank.

Our extended family is looking at a family cruise Christmas 2016. We could have up to 31 people ages 5 to 80. The two choices that are being considered are the Carnival Magic and Royal Caribbean Rhapsody of the Seas. Ports are identical, but would love your opinions - especially if you have cruised both.

I have to admit I'm not a Carnival fan generally, but am willing to be convinced. Some of the family have done over 50 cruises - lots of lines, some not so many. I'm in the 20+ club. Would love your thoughts and input! Thanks in advance.