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View Full Version : 29th march - 2nd week b 2 b 2nd holiday pt 2


bodget
April 8th, 2009, 12:24 PM
florida-8 ships in port if I remember correctly.
if your b 2 b make sure you remember your intransit card or you'll end up going through full customs again.
left on time no probs.
H.M.C. + grand turk. this would be my 1st complaint.our 2 week cruise was sold as a 14 day holiday not back to back,if they want to encourange more brits or for that matter 14 day cruisers they need to look at itinaries.not the fact that they squeeze more money out of travellers because they control the trips and indeed the islands of hmc or grand turk.
grand caymen - went on stingray and rum point trip with nativeway.a few problems with this tour.the guide struggled to attract the rays into the group of 11 due to the other boats (about 6) feeding from the off,the guide seemed reluctant to feed.as a result very few people got to see a ray close up.the main result of this was the photographer jumped ship to photograph another group.never to be seen again.nobody gave us details of how to get photo's from the photo guy (even though my wife and I were fortunate to have our photo taken close up) so theres proberbly better opperators out there,or maybe we just got a bad day? run point was beautiful and the food provided as part of the trip was good.
cozumel - went on our own to the dolphins,about a 10 min taxi ride,10 $.be warned when the cruise ships are in they don't allow use of the combo leaflets distributed at the cruise terminal by hawkers.make your mind up if you want to play with the dolphins before going in as you then get free entry.if you pay in 1st then change your mind you still pay full wack.did the middle package and we both loved it overpriced - of course but still loved interacting with these beautiful creatures.
disenbarking was painless and took the car rental bus back to the airport for the hire car.
drove upto cocoa beach - nice place went upto cape canaveral and watched the two cruise boats depart.

overview.
superb holiday and would recommend without hesitation.food superb and the head chef what a guy, looks like shrek but what a touch.
sea days were well run and I won the belly flop comp !!!! cruise excursions were overpriced but well run,most ports of call had alternative operators available.boat was full both weeks but never seemed crowded even on sea days.internet was expensive but connection was quick.if you know your going to use it take the packages on offer from the off not 1/2 way through the week.this sun (12th) there are 400 kids on board so enjoy !! kids looked well entertained and a large group seemed to stay with the group all week a sign I think that they were enjoying it.
2nd complaint all shows were repeated 2nd week this needs looking at if holland want 14 day cruises.

LordSpain
April 8th, 2009, 01:35 PM
Anybody up for a little syntax?

Krazy Kruizers
April 8th, 2009, 01:41 PM
I laughed on our last cruise -- our intransit cards were never collected!!

We are used to the shows and entertainers being repeated on the second cruise. This has been going on for years on all the cruise lines. We have done quite a few back-to-back cruises on HAL, Princess, Cunard and NCL.

bodget
April 8th, 2009, 08:36 PM
theres always one isn't there? idiot. and all the americans I met were ok

timothy998
April 9th, 2009, 12:21 AM
Bodget, it was good to meet you at the M&G on the 23rd during your first week. There were only about 100 kids that week & ours truly enjoyed Club HAL. I don't know how they'll handle 400 kids, but it is the week after Easter so many must have the week off. Departure was crazy the 29th as there were 7 ships but the port had only planned for 4 or 5.

bodget
April 9th, 2009, 05:55 AM
we walked off at 9.30 and was at the airport by 10 on the car rental bus,hope you all got home safe

bob + chris

timothy998
April 9th, 2009, 08:44 AM
Yes, thanks, we left the 29th along with what seemed about 30,000 others from the five other non-HAL ships in port. We went to Sawgrass to do the airboat ride but the heavens opened as we arrived & they cancelled all the rides for the day, so after a slow lunch between there & MIA we got to sit through a flight delay back to Chicago. All in all we had a wonderful time and the kids are asking when we can cruise again (and so am I!)

bodget
April 9th, 2009, 11:53 AM
best holiday we've had by a long way