Klove cruise: Advice on cruise and ports of call

[baseballmom33]

This is our first cruise and the information on the boards is overwhelming. We are traveling with our 12 dd. I really don't know what to ask about tips for the ship. My main question is the port excursions and what is worth doing. We are on a limited budget. At Nassau I am wondering if it is worth splurging on the dolphin swim or is the dolphin encounter just as good. The one I am looking at is not at Atlantis. I don't mind splurging on one excursion but would like to know if this is worth the money or is there something else at Nassau that would just as fun. Maybe the submarine ride? If anyone has any tips, advice, ideas of what we should see or do at Nassau, Coco Cays or Key West I would appreciate it. I am a detailed planner so this trip is driving me crazy because I do not know how to plan our days. Thanks in advance for your help and for reading this long post.

[okbowler]

Coco Cays is the ships private island, and this will be a beach day, snorkling, swimming and tanning. At Key West I would take the Conch Train which would give you an overview of what KW has to offer, then go back to the things that interest you. You can get on & off of the train as often as you wish, and the price is reasonable. Nassau has a straw market & some free beaches. If you go to the ports of call section on CC you will find more ideas and up to date info on all your ports. Bill

[cb at sea]

Get a guidebook....libraries are free!... and read up on your ports before you start booking things! This way, you'll know all each place has to offer, and whether it's doable on your own.

 

And remember....you don't HAVE to get off the ship! Sometimes, port days are a great way to use the ship you've paid to use, without the crowds!

[Bonnie J.]

I have only seen the dolphin swim and encounter in Cozumel. The swim was spectacular, the encounter a waste of $$$. On the encounter everyone stands on a platform with water at your waist. A dolphin swims by a couple of times so you can pet it then squirts you. Aslo leaps out of the water in front of you. Think this was like $50 each - to pet a dolphin?

Maybe its nothing for me beacause here on the NC coast they swim by our house and in the breakers at the beach so seeing them playing is no big thing for us. But I've wanted to jump in the water with them when they are playing in our boat's wake!

With the swim its just you and a dolphin in the water with the dolphin pushing and pulling you around as you hold on to them. They do tricks with you. This is worth the price.

In Nassau you should go to the straw market just to see it. But you NEVER pay the price they say for anything! You are expected to bargain and they laugh at you when you don't. Always start below 1/2 of the price they say then you'll probably pay 1/2 the price! When you start to walk away they will come down on their last price!

You can also go to Atlantis just to see it and watch people lose the black, $1000 chips in the casino. Atlantis is the HUGE buildingS you see in front you, on the beach. They have a fantastic aquarium which is a lot to get in (maybe $25@?). They also have water rides, etc. If a tour includes the aquarium it may be worth it.

You can also try snorkeling but don't do that in Key West- its not great there at all. There is a conch train and another, (I forget name of other). On one you can get on and off then back on where ever you want for the one price. But it is also fun to walk around and watch people here.

Coco Caye is a fun beach day. What you don't do this cruise, you can do on your next cruise!

[EGG]

If you are on a limited budget, just go and enjoy the beach in both Coco Cays and Nassau. You can save the dolphins for another time. I see you are from Kansas, so the beach should be a treat.

 

Coco Cays is a private beach. Take the towels provided in your cabin, tender to shore, free lounge chairs are out all along the beach. Find a comfortable place. Food is also provided free. I never went with a child (my children were not so lucky) but I would enjoy the free things and leave the expensive activities for another cruise. You might get more info on the Private Islands port of call board.

 

Nassau has free beaches. You might want to not think Atlantis. Take the towels from your cabin and taxi to beach. We usually have a big breakfast so that we do not have to eat too much off the ship. We also found it interesting to walk around, but I am not sure your 12 year old will like this. But it does not hurt to have a short walk around to give her appreciation for another country. You can get a guidebook with maps to copy from the library. You might want to be prepared with a walk if it is not beach weather.

 

Enjoy

 

Another possibility is to go to your roll call and see if anyone there is setting up any private excursions. We've combined a private tour with a drop off at the beach with people from our roll calls and it costs less than what you pay for ship excursions.

 

If you do it yourself, plan to be back on the ship at least an hour before the time they tell you to be there. If that means getting up early, so be it. I know 12 year olds often like to sleep in but this is not the time to indulge.

 

We've never done the Dolphin. Been to the dolphin shows many times at Sea World, Great Adventure and other amusement parks.

[baseballmom33]

Great idea Bill. Others have mentioned the conch train. Sounds like that would be the perfect idea for us. Coca Cay is looking the perfect place to snorkel while I relax on the beach...lol. Thanks!

[baseballmom33]

cb at the sea... Thanks for the guide book tip. I didn't know they had them on the ports of call. I am a research personality so books are a perfect fit for me. Also I agree that we should enjoy the ship and not worry about using every minute touring the ports of call. Thanks!

[baseballmom33]

Bonnie J. and EGG. Thanks for the wonderful tips. I am glad to know the encounter is a waste of money. I would love to treat my dh and dd to the dolphin swim. I will watch and take pictures as I am not fond of water. I have heard Atlantis is fun to tour so we will see how our time looks. We get into port at 8 in the morning and do not leave till midnight seems like a long time to be at one port. Luckilymy dd likes to walk so we can do some sightseeing and visit the straw market. I checked out the roll call but unless I am doing something wrong, no one is signed in for that cruise. Thanks for all the tips. Keep the ideas coming. I am taking notes!

[diverdave]

Things to think about.

Coco Cay go to the beach and have fun We have had lunch with Matthew West, Will Mcginnus(from AudioA) and his wife, watched cruisers vs. bands volleyball matches.

and much more.

 

Nassau - They will probally have an autograph session during the day and my guess is that TobyMac will be the "main" show that night. FYI - if you go to late dinner you go to the first main show and if you have early dinner you go to the late show. Yes they do check your Seapass for dinning times. So keep this in mind when planning your day.

On previous cruise Toby got on and off the ship while in Nassau.

We have don the Sea Lion encounter at the Dolphin encounter. The Sea Lions were neat, DW enjoyed but yea overpriced.

 

Key West - doesn't do much for me although we have enjoyed the Aquarium there.

[baseballmom33]

Thanks for the tips. We were wondering how the shows worked but I didn't think about the conflict with dinner. Will our dinner time cause us to miss a band? I didn't think about seeing the musicians out on the islands. I think we are going snorkeling on Coco cay but that is all we have planned so hopefully we can hang out on the beach and see some of the musicians. If we see Johnny Diaz that will make my daughters day. I agree about key west, haven't found anything that looks interesting for to schedule. I would like to know if we can swim at the water park at Atlantis.

[diverdave]

Should have no problem meeting Johnny.

We met Johnny on the Music Boat in November. And we would see him about the boat.

You can swim at Atlantis, ....for a fee and I think its a large fee.

You will not miss any bands while your at dinner. The main artists do 2 shows, 1 during each seating.

The day you board you will get a schedule, of ot os like the Music Boat it will be like a small news paper.

[diverdave]

I hope you and your family has as wonderful of an experience as we have.

Hope we have a chance to meet.

One other tip.

If you are able to try to get to the dock before noon.

The lines will be much shorter.

[muti]

We did Atlantis last year and it was amazing. There are so many more things to see and do there than going to the beach.

 

Don't bother with tours of Key West. Everything is within walking distance. If you belong to AAA, you can get tour books that will give you great information about things to see. Save your money and put it toward something really cool.

[baseballmom33]

Thanks for the good tips. I think we will just walk around key west but it doesn't sound like there will be anything there that will appeal to us. Thanks Dawn