Touptite

I'm going on my first cruise with Princess (I sailed with Celebrity and MSC before), and I have a few questions regarding the Medallion app. Sorry if it's a repeat question, but this feed has 97 pages! WOW!
 

• For the check-in?
• Using the app on the cruise (to order drinks, for example)

We are a group of 7 needing transportation from Coxen Hole Cruise Port to West End for a 3 hour snorkeling trip.

I read that there are taxis at the port but is there anything that could fit our entire group?

If so, what would be the round trip cost?

Where are they located?

Can we reserve one in advance?

Thank you!

If your OBC is refundable then you can get it in cash from Guest Relations.

Hi Cathy,

Can you do this at anytime during the cruise? First day for example.

Thanks !

Annie

I finally chose to book The Island Experience Tour with the beach excursion. Can you tell me if you can snorkel at the beach ?

If you booked your cruise in Canadian $ then the charge to your Canadian credit card for the obc you just purchased should remain $122.40. It will show as $100US on your seapass account. You just need to go to GR during your cruise and ask for the cash from your account. There will not be a 5% service fee since it's refundable obc. Keep the email printout in case the credit doesn't show up once onboard.

Great, thanks a lot :)

So, I just purchased 4 X $25 OBC at $122.40 CAD. I'll wait to see what's charged on my credit card. If it works, I'll buy some more.

I just have one last question because I'm a bit confused. If I go to the GR desk with my certificate to withdraw in cash, will they charge me 5% exchange rate?

Can someone tell me the difference between "Specialty Restaurant OBC" and regular ones ? Here's what I'm referring to: http://www.celebritycruises.com/bonvoyage/cruise-onboard-credit/onbdcr/item-code-c173

I'm wondering because we are from Canada and I know we want to eat at the Normandie (before it closes) but I don't want to reserve right now... so I'm looking at the OBC option only for this. I'm wondering it this (at 55.10$ CAD) will cover the extra cost for one person at the Normandie or if I'd better purchase regular OBC.

That would be great Redsox. I'm only going next January. I'll be looking for your review. Have a nice trip.

I'd like to know about that tour company as well. Their prices are unbeatable and their TripAdvisors reviews are good but there's no information here. Anyone has feedback ?

Looking for a nice beach close to port with facilities (bathrooms, chairs, umbrellas & food). Should we go for Valley Church beach or Dickenson Bay ?

What are the pros and cons ?

Cost (taxi, chairs, food) for the 2 of us ?

Thanks for your help! :)

I'm trying to figure out where's the best spot to rent beach chairs and umbrellas (with the use of bathrooms) and possibility to buy drinks taking into consideration that we'd like to go eat at Cuz's for lunch.

I heard about the Boatyard but it's seems to be to noisy for us. I also checked out Lobster Alive. Is there anything else ? If I end up choosing one of the above, will they keep our chairs while we go out to eat ?

How far is Cuz's from there ? Can we walk on the beach ?

If booked through a TA you should tell them to book the upgrade and if booked pre-cruise both passengers will have to. It won't appear on the website like it will if you booked through Celebrity. If you booked the cruise through Celebrity there would be a comment on the My bookings spot and you can upgrade on line. The other way is to do it once on board

Ok, I'll ask my TA again because they told me I needed to wait to do it on Celebrity's website and I could only see the regular price, not just the upgrade.

What about the cabins? Any comments?

Hi,

I just booked those 2 cabins for my family. Is there anything special I should know ?

I also got the classic beverage package with 123 promo and I'd like to upgrade to the premium. How does this works?

Thanks !

Annie

We are going to be on the same cruise. We booked it while on board last week. We plan on taking a water taxi over to St. John and going to Trunk Bay. This is a national park but has one of the nicest beaches I have seen. Well worth the visit. It is about a 20-25 minute water taxi ride.

Yeah, I saw that excursion on Celebrity's website... looks amazing! I think it will definitely make the list! I was thinking about booking this through them because I'm not familiar with all this. We can obviously talk about this later but maybe we can share the water taxi ride? I didn't know there was such a thing as "water taxi". That's sound fun :) lollll

Anyway, I'm glad you'll be on the same cruise... we'll probably see each other I guess. I found the roll call so we can write to each other there maybe?

Thank you all for your good tips and recommandations. I'm getting use to this forum more and more and with your help I'm finding my way around. (I even found how to make the little countdown signature, proud of myself! loll)

I'll take all those names in note and I think I'll do my research and list of must port by port... it's going to be less confusing. So first on my list: Barbados!

Have a good night all and if you have more recommandations, don't hesitate ;)

You do have a roll call.

 

Here it is:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1985656

Oh thanks ! I think I would have never found it without you... I guess I wasn't looking in the right section. ;) I signed up! :D

Our strategy is to alternate days of ambitious excursions in ports of call with easy days, so you might think about something extensive in Barbados, Antigua and St. Thomas. In St. Lucia and St. Martin, keep it more spontaneous and laid back-- just get off the ship to buy some souvenirs, maybe get a cab tour, maybe make it a "sea day" and don't even get off the ship-- it's more enjoyable when the ship is almost empty.

 

Generally, private tours are less costly than shipboard excursions, though you may need to commit to these early to avoid sellouts. The roll call is a great place to hook up with fellow cruisers-- there's strength in numbers, and you'll undoubtedly find some veterans who are happy to take newbie cruisers under their wing. For help in finding yours, check the sticky thread towards the top of the Celebrity forum titled "ROLL CALLS - What Are They and How Do You Find Yours?" Or just click this link to get there:):cool:.

Hi,

I figured the ship would be almost empty on port days... I try to take advantage of this. Thanks for the link for the roll call but I don't have one yet :( I'll keep looking ;)

If you don't want to have things all booked you might at least want to make a 'plan A' and 'plan B' for each port. Otherwise you might miss something you'd really want to see or do.

 

One that we loved and I would highly suggest booking in advance is Cosol tours in St. Lucie. Obviously I'm not the only one who liked it as the reviews are great. It included an amazing local lunch and a bit of swimming time towards the end.

That's why I'm asking for your advice to know what to put on the "plan" ;)

I'll check out Cosol tours. Thanks a lot !

Congrats! And another for takin a chill pill:D talk with the others, and plan out things based on the group, if the group does not want to go or do something then do it on your own.

 

BEWARE:eek: over planning has been the downfall of many a vacation, which is why you will see people that have sailed the same ship 2,3,4 times, and visited the same ports 4,5,6 times. On our next cruise it with be our 7th time into Cayman and Cozumel, but our first time into the other 4 ports.

It might be my only cruise (if I can't convince my husband to come with me next time). That's why I want to plan and maximise the experience ! loll

Welcome. When is your sailing?

 

That was our first cruise/ship and itinerary. We have been hooked ever since. This coming April we will have been on 6 cruises in 3 years and another cruise planned for December.

 

Like Driveshaft said, find and join your roll call. You'll meet others who are sailing with you.

 

IMO, those islands are a must for an excursion of some sort. Great ports and it would be a shame to visit and not venture out and see them. If you find you can't tour them all, atleast tour Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua. While St. Maarten and St. Thomas are beautiful and worth exploring, chances are you'll be hooked on cruising after this and those two ports are offered more frequently on other itineraries. The other islands are harder to get on an itinerary.

Thanks Want2Cruise. We are departing only on February 7, 2015... So a year from now. But I like to plan vacations. It's a good way to enjoy them longer :)

I hope I'll be hooked also ;) I'll just need to convince DH after that it's fun and not dangerous! loll

Great tip about Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua... thanks!

We have booked excursions on the ship and off the ship. You can check the port of call boards/caribbean, pull up your islands and see what others have done and who they did it with:).. Sometimes we don't book anything and get off the ship, find a tour bus or a guide and just go for a few hour tour and then shop and explore the town when we get back. 9/10 times there is always someone waiting to take you somewhere when you get off the ship. We are doing a back to back on the Summit (same itinerary) next year and I will do a combination of all of the above.

Thanks Cruzngrl... So I can wait until the last minute and there will still be excursions available ?

First of all chill... Then find your roll call. Also if you want tips on that ship and that itinerary look at the Summit roll call for Feb 22, 2014. We leave Saturday for the same stops. Personally we were on the Summit last year for the alternate itinerary so it's back again this year. There are a lot of ideas for excursions especially the self booked ones. I think you will do fine.

Hi Driveshaft,

Just wanted to clarify that I'm not freaking out... I'm just really excited. It's a dream come true. I checked the roll call and didn't find any usefull info as what to see/do.

On what websites do you mainly get the info about the self booked excursions ? I did check Tripadvisor but is there others?

Thanks!

Magen's Bay in st Thomas is fantastic beautiful beach! One if the top ten in the world. The fort and wall in San Juan is magnificent as well. There is a trolley around old San Juan you can take for a tip.

 

from my mobile device

Thanks 1dopeymecruiser! I'll do some research on the Magen's Bay.

Do you have any more info about the trolley in San Juan? Website or where to take it?

Thanks again!

I really need help... I'm a newbie!

This is going to be our first cruise. I just booked today the Southern Caribbean Cruise on the Celebrity Summit (Bridgetown, Barbados - Castries, St. Lucia - St. Johns, Antigua - Philipsburg, St. Maarten - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas - San Juan, Puerto Rico) and I'm SOOOOO excited but I need your help!

Fisrt of all, background: I'm (35) going with my mother-in-law (65), my mom (66) and dad (65). (I call them my retired crew! :D loll) I've been to the caribbeans several times (them, never) but it's my first time on a cruise and first time those 5 different islands... in 5 days! OMG Too much to see, not enough time, not enough energy :eek:

Where to start? :confused:

What to see? What are the musts in all those places? :confused:

Book a tour or go by ourselves? :confused:

I don't want us to be exhausted at the end of all this.

I'd like to do half day exploration of the islands and get back to enjoy the boat also. (I don't mind going for entire days but not all of them.)

My mom would prefer to "go with the flow" and see how she feels in the morning before deciding what to do on that day so I guess booking excursions all 5 days is out of the question! lolll

Thanks a lot! (Not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight... too excited :D)

I really need help... I'm a newbie!

This is going to be our first cruise. I just booked today the Southern Caribbean Cruise on the Celebrity Summit (Bridgetown, Barbados - Castries, St. Lucia - St. Johns, Antigua - Philipsburg, St. Maarten - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas - San Juan, Puerto Rico) and I'm SOOOOO excited but I need your help!

Fisrt of all, background: I'm (35) going with my mother-in-law (65), my mom (66) and dad (65). (I call them my retired crew! :D loll) I've been to the caribbeans several times (them, never) but it's my first time on a cruise and first time those 5 different islands... in 5 days! OMG Too much to see, not enough time, not enough energy :eek:

Where to start? :confused:

What to see? What are the musts in all those places? :confused:

Book a tour or go by ourselves? :confused:

I don't want us to be exhausted at the end of all this.

I'd like to do half day exploration of the islands and get back to enjoy the boat also. (I don't mind going for entire days but not all of them.)

My mom would prefer to "go with the flow" and see how she feels in the morning before deciding what to do on that day so I guess booking excursions all 5 days is out of the question! lolll

Thanks a lot! (Not sure I'll be able to sleep tonight... too excited :D)