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Sun Review - October 9th - Southern

sonicbuffalo

By sonicbuffalo,
in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Beachgal528

Beachgal528

Posted
Posted
I feel bad that someone got ripped off by buying Emeralds. Let me say this, most Emeralds are full of inclusions. If you want one without inclusions or very few, you will pay dearly.

 

That being said, last year on St. Thomas, I bought my wife a Sapphire and Diamond ring that was sold to me in a ship recommended shop (although I didn't know it until the shopping specialist walked into the store). I paid $500 and got it appraised here in North Carolina for over $2400. I think you can get good deals if you know what you're doing.

 

Just be careful with what you buy. I will tell you what I bought my wife for this years anniversary later in my review. Maybe even a picture or two.

 

Wow...not only do we have the same room as y'all, we are from North Carolina too! Winston-Salem area...

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

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debnjoe1438

debnjoe1438

Posted
Posted
If you want to post pictures on the website, you must first upload them to a picture hosting site like photobucket. I pay for that but have found out if I would downsize the photos I could do it for free so I'm still learning too!

 

Not to get off the review, however once upon a time I could get the pictures from my Walgeens site and Facebook. The last few times I've tried I've ended up with a picture over here, however to big to add anything and wouldn't post.

 

Oh well, maybe by January, I'll have it figured out.:D Still enjoying your pictures. Thanks so much for taking the time to post. (I know it's time consuming)

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sns1009

sns1009

Posted
Posted (edited)

Thank you so much for the review! I know it takes a lot of time but it is so much appreciated!

 

We are taking the same cruise in March except they changed our Columbia stop for Guadeloupe and St Martin for Barbados. After seeing your Columbia pictures I'm a bit disappointed! The buildings are beautiful! It would have been neat to say I've been there :)

Edited by sns1009
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sonicbuffalo

sonicbuffalo

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Posted

DSC_3253_5743.jpg

 

DSC_3254_5744.jpg

 

the real vultures....not at all like the salespeople in the Emerald Store

 

DSC_3255_5745.jpg[/img]

 

DSC_3257_5747.jpg

 

the church steeple

 

DSC_3258_5748.jpg

 

DSC_3259_5749.jpg

 

notice the 2 women inside the right gate balancing fruits on their heads...I would have got closeups but of course they were vultures and wanted money

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Mrs. Squirrel

Mrs. Squirrel

Posted
Posted
I feel bad that someone got ripped off by buying Emeralds. Let me say this, most Emeralds are full of inclusions. If you want one without inclusions or very few, you will pay dearly.

 

Just to clarify, and then back to your awesome review, because this is about your trip! My new emerald is very nice. It is a beautiful, dark green color. It is just $1000 nice not 3.5 times that nice! I had no illusions when we had our appraisal done that it may come in less than we paid. The shock came in how much less! I would have been fine with a $500 or so difference. I bought it on vacation, afterall! I am, ultimately, satisfied with what the store and I worked out and consider the rest of the difference a 'stupid tax', as Dave Ramsey would say. What I am not happy about is that throughout the negotiations, it became clear to me that this business is shady, and I feel bad for others who may get ripped off.

 

For anyone reading my story, this experience does not sour me on Cartagena at all! We loved our time there and hope to get back sometime to explore the fort inside and out. I also bought the best coffee I've ever had in my life at one of the downtown shops. It is a great port stop with many beautiful things to see.

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Arzeena

Arzeena

Posted
Posted
Sales vultures in the Emerald Museum? Not any more than ANY jewelry store you would go into. I thought Claudia's tour was excellent. Of course on St. Thomas we got a tour for $15 pp. We got one on St. Martin to both sides of the island (French & Dutch) for $20 which included a stop at Orient Beach. Overall, because we filled up Claudia's bus to near capacity, we saved about $40 p.p. It was well worth it.

 

Right. The sales vultures are everywhere! Was just not expecting them in a "museum"!

Claudia's tour was very good, I agree, but we missed out on several things which I would have loved to see. In my opinion, that was not too cool.

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Arzeena

Arzeena

Posted
Posted
One more thing....just because I helped organize the tour (Chris Jones), I did not pay one penney less than you did for my wife and I + tip. I enjoyed hearing all about the history of Cartegena. I thought Claudia did a great job at that. Not only that but Claudia provided us each with a DVD of a tour she had done previously. Have you heard of any ship sponsored excursion to Cartegena doing that?

 

WOW! I am NOT accusing you of getting a cut! I am just expressing my opinion on what I think the tour was worth and on the places left out. That's all!

 

BTW...This DVD has been on you tube and is also on her website, if anyone wants to see.

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DMH15

DMH15

Posted
Posted
This is part of the reason I love CC.

I SO appreciate you posting your story. I have yet to buy expensive jewelry outside the US, but it is always tempting.

Now, I am obviously less tempted.

Thank you.

 

I did buy a ring that I love. But my story is a little different...

 

Used to be I went on cruises and bought gifts fir family members. I never really thought about the fact I didn't buy anything lasting for myself.

 

I used to live in a Conservation District, my home was built in 1931, and we had an annual home tour. One of my neighbors was on tge tour and her home was filled with pieces she had collected on her travels. From nicnacs to furnishings. Light bulb moment!

 

Now I try and seek out some things for me. A few years ago in Crete and Greece I bought jewelry and leather. Later in Argentina I bought more leather. But my port stop in Montevideo was the best yet. I walked a while and found an incredible art studio. I actually bought a hammered silver ring that I adore. I did not have to worry about the stone because there isn't any. I get compliments on the ring all the time and I usually reply about where I bought it. Happy memories!

 

I also bought 3 other pieces at that gallery. A leather piece I call "flying man". Which sets on my desk in my bedroom. Guess he is grounded right now. Haha. I bought a beautiful glass paperweight. Love it. And I actually purchased a piece of framed original art of a ship with metal pieces. I had to have it sent FedEx. So wort it! It hangs above my compuer desk and it reminds me of my trip.

 

On my last trip, 11 night Sun So. Caribbean I only bought a dress and some killer leather sandals. Never found anything I loved in home decor. But I hope to next year on my PC cruise.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

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newmexicoNita

newmexicoNita

Posted
Posted
One more thing....just because I helped organize the tour (Chris Jones), I did not pay one penney less than you did for my wife and I + tip. I enjoyed hearing all about the history of Cartegena. I thought Claudia did a great job at that. Not only that but Claudia provided us each with a DVD of a tour she had done previously. Have you heard of any ship sponsored excursion to Cartegena doing that?

 

I have organized a few tours, in years past: you are right, we all pay the same thing. It is just fun to do the research.

 

As for buying Jewelry on ship or in port, we have only done this a couple of times: we did get hubby a really nice watch in St Thomas years ago. We got home, priced it and we only saved about 10% if that much, it certainly wasn't the huge, duty free bargain we were told it was. I bought some Tanzanite ear rings, also in St Thomas. I rarely wear them, they are so small: I think my 6 year old great granddaughter would enjoy them. I know I got royally ripped off. What we do enjoy is buying souvenirs from the street merchants. Some of my favorite ear rings I have bought for a couple of bucks that way.

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pajammatam

pajammatam

Posted
Posted
Thank you so much for the review! I know it takes a lot of time but it is so much appreciated!

 

We are taking the same cruise in March except they changed our Columbia stop for Guadeloupe and St Martin for Barbados. After seeing your Columbia pictures I'm a bit disappointed! The buildings are beautiful! It would have been neat to say I've been there :)

 

 

which date in March???

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sonicbuffalo

sonicbuffalo

Posted
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Posted
WOW! I am NOT accusing you of getting a cut! I am just expressing my opinion on what I think the tour was worth and on the places left out. That's all!

 

BTW...This DVD has been on you tube and is also on her website, if anyone wants to see.

 

Sorry Arzeena....I agree with much of what you said!

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medicalma'am

medicalma'am

Posted
Posted

My advice is NEVER BUY PRECIOUS OR SEMI-PRECIOUS STONES OUTSIDE THE U.S.! In the mid 80's I bought a ring in Cozumel. The center stone was not genuine, I found out 12 years later when it fell out. It was also mis-sized for the setting. Lesson learned.

 

We have laws that protect consumers in this country and we are naive enough to think other cultures have our same ethics. It just isn't so.

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halos

halos

Posted
Posted (edited)
I feel bad that someone got ripped off by buying Emeralds. Let me say this, most Emeralds are full of inclusions. If you want one without inclusions or very few, you will pay dearly.

 

That being said, last year on St. Thomas, I bought my wife a Sapphire and Diamond ring that was sold to me in a ship recommended shop (although I didn't know it until the shopping specialist walked into the store). I paid $500 and got it appraised here in North Carolina for over $2400. I think you can get good deals if you know what you're doing.

 

Just be careful with what you buy. I will tell you what I bought my wife for this years anniversary later in my review. Maybe even a picture or two.

 

USVI.....That is probably the difference and I would be more apt to trust buying something there than in Columbia for sure.

 

I did buy a ring that I love. But my story is a little different...

 

 

 

Used to be I went on cruises and bought gifts fir family members. I never really thought about the fact I didn't buy anything lasting for myself.

 

 

 

I used to live in a Conservation District, my home was built in 1931, and we had an annual home tour. One of my neighbors was on tge tour and her home was filled with pieces she had collected on her travels. From nicnacs to furnishings. Light bulb moment!

 

 

 

Now I try and seek out some things for me. A few years ago in Crete and Greece I bought jewelry and leather. Later in Argentina I bought more leather. But my port stop in Montevideo was the best yet. I walked a while and found an incredible art studio. I actually bought a hammered silver ring that I adore. I did not have to worry about the stone because there isn't any. I get compliments on the ring all the time and I usually reply about where I bought it. Happy memories!

 

 

 

I also bought 3 other pieces at that gallery. A leather piece I call "flying man". Which sets on my desk in my bedroom. Guess he is grounded right now. Haha. I bought a beautiful glass paperweight. Love it. And I actually purchased a piece of framed original art of a ship with metal pieces. I had to have it sent FedEx. So wort it! It hangs above my compuer desk and it reminds me of my trip.

 

 

 

On my last trip, 11 night Sun So. Caribbean I only bought a dress and some killer leather sandals. Never found anything I loved in home decor. But I hope to next year on my PC cruise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NICE :)

 

We often buy leather products as well as silver in Mexico...it's the precious stone purchases that would scare me.

Edited by halos
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