GoofyCrew

Has anyone used the Tampa TECO #30 bus between the airport and downtown recently? Reliable? Convenient? Safe? Says it is $2/pp so trying to decide if this would be an option versus a cab. Obviously a cab would be quicker because we wouldn't encounter any other stops but if there are substantial savings, maybe it would be worth it. (I've read conflicting info of cab charges per mile and flat fee of $25.)

Also, we will be arriving a day early for our cruise. For our day in Tampa is the Streetcar a good mode of transportation? We don't have any big plans - get some lunch (brewery???), sight-seeing, stop at a CVS/Walgreens to get essentials for the cruise.

Thanks in advance!

My understanding is that they put a $100 hold/per person on your CC to establish an account when you board. They will continue to maintain a hold of that beyond what you are charging, but what isn't actually spent never gets charged. (Just like a hotel putting a hold on your CC when you check in.)

The reason I asked is because on my last cruise I had reservations for the MDR. There was only one line and I was told to wait in the line with everyone else....so my thoughts were, "what's the difference of having a reservation if I still have to wait in line with all the others that don't have a reservation".

 

Did you go to the front of the line and tell them you had reservations?

 

Harriet

We are sailing on the Sun next week and we have reservations for the MDR for most nights (a couple of specialties the other nights).

This concerns me because I made the reservations so that we could be seated as soon as possible when we arrive, since we are sailing with our children.

Can anyone elaborate? If you wait in the same line, how do they know that you have reservations? Can you go to the front of the line? I don't want to be rude, but...

One week from today!!!!!

Keep in mind that you will also have to pay $12/per day/per child for gratuity.

I hadn't anticipated our children's gratuity being the same as an adults but, for most of the same reasons that they charge a 3rd/4th fare for them, are the same reasons they have a gratuity. It caught me off-guard, so be prepared. That was an extra $168 for us.

Bonine doesn't make you as drowsy, less side effects. Take it before bedtime and you are typically good for the next day.

Thank you!

Only 14 days until we set sail on the Sun!!!

Is there a difference between Bonine and Dramamine? Just different brand names? We have always used Dramamine but just curious if this Bonine is more effective?

And if no one else has said the mantra yet: take half the clothes and twice the money ! :)

LOL Got it! Thanks! :)

I googled NCL Island Beach Break and was able to find more information. It appears to be located on Water Caye. That is where we went last January through Carnival. It was well run and I would recommend it with the only negative being a bit of a walk to the bathrooms.

 

I read that after our trip, the owners of Bannister Island set up an exclusive contract for Carnival excursions and renamed it. A poster on another thread said RCCL is using it as well.

 

It sounds like the new owners are taking care of the island better than the previous, so whether you end up at Starfish/Bannister or Water Caye you should have a good time. Having a positive experience on any excursion is what you make of it so laugh off any hiccups and enjoy!

 

PS. The ferry picked us up and dropped us off on the ship. It was crowded but not uncomfortably so.

Thank you for the information!

We don't really plan on any hard-core snorkeling so that isn't a big deal for us. Just out of curiosity though, can you not snorkel because they don't rent equipment or will they not allow snorkeling even if you have your own equipment? My 11 DD thought about bringing her mask but, if she won't even be able to use it, I'd rather leave it home.

A bit worried about the tender boat to the island because I've heard that the fumes can be quite bad. Hoping it is a short ride??? I've read conflicting reports of 10 minutes and 30 minutes. I suppose it will all depend which of those islands we end up at.

And you are right - it will be what we make of it! Considering my DH birthday last year was a blizzard and we couldn't even leave the house, I'm sure even if things aren't perfect, it will be a remarkable improvement over that!

Our kids sale free promo was a better deal. Doesn't matter now anyway, too late to change it. ;)

My first thought was " That's hilarious"

Then, I thought about it some and ...... I'm not laughing.......

Sadly, they probably still do add a gratuity...someone had to connect the keg. Someone has to wash the glass. :rolleyes:

Yikes.

That makes walking past it an easy decision.

Yup.

I was also thinking of just buying a cheap plastic shower curtain at the dollar store and hanging that up inside the existing curtain. That way if I absolutely have to have something touch me at least I know it will be new and clean..:p

Brilliant! Can't believe that I didn't think of that. :D Thanks!!!

Yikes. That's a depressing list. Not an IPA in sight. Ah well. Sam Adams Boston Lager at least has flavor... So that is always an option...

Thank goodness for Sam Adams Boston Lager. Sigh.

Some day they will realize that not all beer drinkers want lite/light beer. Same as a wine drinker, I am willing to pay more for better flavor/quality. They just need to offer it...

Can you bring your own mug/glass to have filled ? I am not talking 64 oz but I have insulated tervis mugs I enjoy using that run about 24 oz ? Would that be aceptable to ask them to fill ?

Was wondering the same thing about the 24 oz. Tervis cups. We love ours!

I was just searching for Bannister Island and some recent reviews state that it is now called Starfish Island and it is owned by Carnival.

Does anyone know which island the NCL excursion goes to? This date of our cruise is my DH 40th birthday. I don't want the excursion to be a total flop so I just want to make sure we aren't going to be trapped in a fume-filled boat or on an over-crowded slum of a beach somewhere. :confused:

I'm not familiar with Coco P!um but Bannister was purchased by new owners about a year ago. It was featured on an episode of Island Hunters, I believe. You may be able to search for the episode online. You may also find reviews on TripAdvisor. But disregard any reviews attached to the previous owners.

 

And if you can get an excursion through the ship, the ferry boat should pick you up straight from the ship and bring you back so you can avoid the mainland. But check to make sure.

 

Good luck!

I wonder if this is the island excursion we booked directly through NCL. They didn't give an island name, but it sounds like we are supposed to be picked up directly from the ship and transported to the island (at least I HOPE that is the way it is...I have no desire to go to the mainland for shopping).

In Costa Maya we went to the Chacchoben ruins, which was great. It's about an hour bus ride, but i think it was worth it. I'd like to go back someday and spend more time wandering the site.

Thanks for your review! We leave on the same cruise on the Sun in about 2 weeks. Our first cruise - we are getting so excited!

We are doing the Chacchoben ruins excursion in Costa Maya also. You said bus - how large? We will have our kids along so I am just trying to gauge what we are in for. I've heard the road is a bit, um, rustic, so maybe a bus will seem safer. :rolleyes: We won't be doing the beach excursion portion, just the ruins.

Great info, I was wondering the same thing. Hoping to avoid eating on shore - worried about getting sick from the food. :/

To my understanding NOLA is one of the few ports where checking in drinks is not allowed and you need to carry them. Tampa is also one, and IIRC a port in Texas, can't remember exactly.

So, just so I am understanding this correctly (this is our first cruise...), when we sail out of Tampa we will have to carry on our water/pop along with our carry on luggage? Just trying to make sure we will have enough hands to physically do this. Don't want to find out at the dock! We will each have a carry on (including the kids) from our flight down, plus one large checked suitcase.

We have the Kids Sail Free Promo so it is going to be hard to beat that. The prices for 1 & 2 have dropped but, by the time we pay for 3 & 4 again, we would be paying more in the long run. Bummer, but oh well! Getting excited!!! Sounds like we couldn't change now anyway, due to final payment already being made.

I have an oceanview room booked and the shower has the 'dreaded' curtain instead of a door. (Usually book balcony level but decided to change things up this time).

We have a balcony on our cruise next month and, based on what I've read, we will also have to deal with the dreaded curtain. I'm not looking forward to showering with a curtain that has been sucked up to goodness-knows how many cruisers prior to me. ;)

It sounds strange, but we usually bring some assorted size metal binder clips along when we travel - they have worked great for everything from chip bag clips, to keeping curtains shut, to keeping cords out of the way. Thinking a few of the larger ones clipped on the bottom might be heavier than clothespins? Or maybe a small suction cup on either side of the opening with a string strung between them (although this will likely make the shower even smaller)?

Yes they show playoff games also

Thanks!

I guess we will have to cruise to Alaska to enjoy some Alaskan beer on a ship. ;) Thankfully they just started distributing to our area of the Midwest earlier this year.

I'm going to guess that Corona will be consider the 'local' beer for the Western Carribbean.

I am sure DH and I will be quite happy for a week even if our only 'real' choice is Sam Adams. We have never met a Sam Adams of any variety that we didn't like! :D

To properly taste and enjoy a "real" beer, lagers should be served at around 45 degrees F, ales 48 to 50 and stouts between 50 and 55. Any colder and you lose a lot of flavor and body.

Junk beers are best served near the freezing point due to the numbing of the palate so you can't taste the "off" flavor.

Sounds great! And what selection of these fabulous 'non-light' real beers can we expect on the Sun? Anyone know if they offer craft beer? What can you get in the bucket?