ZuzusPetals

2 hours ago, cinnam0n said:

Do any of these have a shuttle from the airport?

We looked at hotels for price and if they were close to a Metro stop because we knew we'd be using the Metro to sightsee. (Tripadvisor was great for finding places according to price, location, reviews, etc.) I was a bit leery of taking the Metro from the airport to our hotel (had Plan B for a taxi) but it was easy to find the information area (with a human attendant), look at the map and find the metro line we needed, and buy tickets (via a machine that takes credit/debit cards). One way to our stop would have been 5 Euro per person but we opted for the 8 Euro 24 hour unlimited use pass which we used the that afternoon and the next day!   https://www.tmb.cat/en/barcelona-transport/map/metro 

We're booked on a May 8th land/sea tour. We were told the Tundra Wilderness Tour (about 8 hours I think) is not offered until late May due to the probability of the roads being inaccessible. Our itinerary has us scheduled for the Natural History Tour which doesn't go as far into the park. It has this description: "Morning Natural History Tour Glimpse the epic sweep of Denali National Park on this guided tour that travels 30 miles to the Teklanika River. Hear about the history and culture that surrounds you at a Living History presentation while visiting Savage Cabin. Find out about the local native culture and their stories at Primrose Ridge. The tour is approximately 5 hours in duration..."  

If it's a Princess sponsored excursion it's possible that someone simply reworded it and said "educational" since "history and culture" are similar descriptions of what's included. One other thought is that it might not be a Princess tour/excursion - there are many independent tours available and if the person is part of a group someone might have booked a group tour with an outside vendor. Tricia 724 has good advice to check it out to be sure. 

I was on the Crown and the smoking areas seem to be the same as Skynight so nicely described. Here's something I discovered and your sister will appreciate if she's an early riser  - The smoking area on Deck 16 by the Tradewinds Bar has a COFFEE STATION set up around 6am.  I was going to the buffet for coffee and then to another area to smoke but after I found out about the coffee station that was my favorite way to start the day. It's close to the elevators and quickly accessible from any deck. There was usually only a few other people there that early. It was still dark and I could sit in peace and quiet - enjoy several cups of coffee, smoke, often see the ship come into port, and watch the sun rise - one of my favorite "me-time" memories. 

10 hours ago, elliair said:

I had never heard of the Ernesto Burger so I had to look it up.  I showed DH a picture of it - he said "WOW that's enough for 3 people!  Does it really look like this?"  I wonder if it's served on the Star Princess.  It's enough to make you wanna book a cruise on a ship where it's served!

 

 

The Salty Dog Gastropub introduces the "Ernesto", a uniquely crafted rib eye burger created exclusively for Princess by burger expert Chef Uchimura.

Ingredients: Fresh ground rib eye and short rib patty, grilled pork belly, cave aged gruyere, caramelized kimchi, beer battered jalapeno, charred onion aioli, smoked salt & pepper brioche bun

Yes, it really looks like this! The Ernesto I had in the Salty Dog was about 5" tall but the bun is about 4" in diameter so it's gigantic. However, as Land Lover mentioned, a half size would be plenty.  My only critique is that I ordered it cooked medium and the patty was quite raw in the middle. While I like my steak medium-rare and enjoy steak tartar I prefer hamburgers cooked a bit more.  Yes, definitely worth booking a cruise where it's served!

9 hours ago, Cruisegirl70 said:

Can please share which boot you got? 

There was a 30% off "coupon" at check-out when I bought them a month ago but I don't see it now. It might depend on the size and color you select. I got the yellow and my sister got the red (more of a burgundy) and we love them. Both of us feel they are true to size. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076KMGF2V/ref=twister_B07FZXWSTD?th=1&psc=1

If you don't like these you can do a search on Amazon for "women's waterproof boots" and get a lot of other options...many reasonably priced. Just read the fine print to make sure they're waterproof. Happy shopping!

We stayed at Mare Nostrum - Street Sant Pau, 2, LaRambla. It was a great location, the price was reasonable, the service was friendly, although the room was small it was clean and quiet, and the included breakfast was hearty! From the airport we took the Metro and when we got off on LaRambla the door was literally across the street. They held our luggage after check-out so we could sightsee a bit more before going to the port around 2pm. Even though the port appears to be at the end of LaRambla it was quite a distance. We shared an Uber with some other guests and it was about 20 Euro.  https://hostalmarenostrum.com/en/ 

On ‎4‎/‎1‎/‎2019 at 8:17 AM, PittsburghNative said:

 

I’m in the midst of trying to find waterproof hiking shoes. I’m not wanting to spend over $100 since all we wear in South Florida are flip flops, but I may just have to bite the bullet because I will hate to be walking in wet shoes all day.

 

 

I'm a southern girl too and didn't want to invest in waterproof/warm boots I'll never wear again. I found a good selection on Amazon...some obviously better than others but all reasonably priced IMHO. Make sure to check all the details! I ended up with great looking ankle boots - waterproof, good tread on the bottom, laces for adjustments, "fur" insides and a removable fur insert - for $30 and with the % off (after season sale?) they were $20 with free shipping!  Hope you find something!

IDK about NCL and it might depend on where you're going before/after the cruise/land portions. We're taking a land/sea tour with Princess (cruise first). When the cruise ends THEY transport our luggage from the ship to the Princess hotel in Denali. We've been told to take a carry-on bag for the 9 hour train ride. I hope this helps. Check your NCL itinerary - that should have more info about what to expect on your trip. Have fun!

This thread has made my day!  Last summer my grandson and I celebrated his graduation in the Mediterranean on the Crown Princess (great cruise!). We went to the Salty Dog Gastropub and had the Ernesto - it was fabulous! My sister and I are booked for Alaska on the Island Princess and I was disappointed that there is no Salty Dog, and I assumed no chance of getting an Ernesto.   I'm almost as happy about experiencing the Ernesto again as I am seeing AK for the first time!  I'll be scouring the menus everyday to see when the MDR has it.  Thank you for sharing this info!! 

I haven't been on the Royal but I assume the Lotus Pool is the same as on the other ships, a pool for adults only. On the Crown I used the Lotus pool every day without purchasing the Sanctuary Retreat or spa services. There is a gate near the pool to enter the Sanctuary if you've paid for it. The pool has an entrance from one of the top decks so you don't have to go through the spa to get to it. There are outside showers and towels available for anyone. There are a few lounge chairs around the pool but they didn't get much sun so most people used the upper deck to sun, where there were lots of chairs and still considered an adult only area. I don't recall ever seeing a bar person enter the area, probably because drinks are offered within the Sanctuary, so stop by the bar on the way or bring bottled water.     

We were on the Crown Princess in the Mediterranean last summer and thoroughly enjoyed it. One thing I highly recommend is the Salty Dog Gastropub. It's a specialty restaurant but it was $12pp vs. $29pp for the other specialties altho you are limited to two plates pp and some items are more like appetizers. The "Ernesto" is akin to a spiritual experience....voted "Best Burger at Sea" by Cruise Critic and rightly deserves it. (See Crown Princess Specialty Dining for a photo and full menu.)  We didn't try the lobster mac & cheese but a lot of people were ordering it, and also the crab cakes. We had the calamari and charred asparagus and they were divine! Our favorite dessert was the Strawberry and Cream.  We didn't go to the Salty Dog until the end of the cruise and would have gone back if we had time. Don't miss this hidden gem!

On ‎2‎/‎25‎/‎2019 at 8:27 PM, bigeagle12 said:

Will be on the Crown in March and have never done anytime on Princess.  How does it work?

 

When does it start?

 Can you reserve a table for same time every night?

Sounds like one dining room open early and then another after early traditional dining is done.

Any suggestions .. we like to eat early between 5:30 and 6. 

We were on the Crown last summer and toward the end of the cruise we decided to try The Salty Dog Gastropub. We wished we found it sooner as it was FABULOUS and we wanted to go back and try other menu items.  It's a specialty restaurant but it cost $12 pp vs. $29 for the other offerings. You HAVE to try the "Ernesto"...it was magnificent! Also, highly recommend the grilled asparagus, the calamari and the strawberries and cream dessert. We're going to Alaska on the Island Princess and so disappointed there is no Salty Dog. 

17 minutes ago, cherylandtk said:

You’re wrong.  But I say that with a smile.  😁. IF the OBC shows up online in your personalizer, you can, indeed, use it to pay for your excursions before boarding.  The line you quoted just means you must pay for the items in your cart in order to keep them.  You can use a credit card or OBC to do so.  (But you’re right about the Dining...cannot use OBC to prepay for that.  Only excursions have this feature of prepaying with OBC).

Thank you for clarifying the issue! I appreciate your kindness in pointing out my misunderstanding with a smile. I wasn't positive and not afraid to admit I can be wrong...now and then.  

On ‎2‎/‎17‎/‎2019 at 3:53 PM, Herring choker said:

If you are stopping in a port where you can purchase wine, we always bring a bottle each back on board. We have never had a problem. If you take it to the dining room they will probably charge you corkage but you can drink it in your room. 

Herring choker,

This is a game changer!! Please tell me this is true! Did security on the ship as you reboarded know it was wine or perhaps it slipped through as a water bottle?  

I am aware that we can bring 1 bottle of wine or champagne per adult at the beginning of the cruise but I've never heard that you can bring back additional bottles from the ports the ship visits. From some port stops I've brought back rum and tequila that they had to hold until the end of the cruise and I figured they'd do the same with ANY alcohol. Please tell me this has just been a well hidden secret for those of us who don't want to pay $50 for a $10 bottle of wine on the ship. 

Waiting with baited wine breath for your reply....LOL.   

You can use OBC for anything however I think you have to wait until you get on the ship to make the reservations if you are "paying" for them with OBC. Under my OBC it says, "Please note that purchased and gifted Onboard Credits for this booking will be available onboard even though they are not visible on this list." We were going to make a dining reservation using the OBC and under the dining information it specifically says you have to wait until you board the ship and call DINE, or pay for it in advance of the sailing date.

I haven't tried to book an excursion before boarding so I'm not positive if you can/can't use the OBC to reserve one in advance. Under "Onboard Reservation Balance" it says, "Items and reservations in your Onboard Reservation cart are not added to your booking until paid." I interpret that as being the same as the dining reservation -  you can't use the OBC for anything UNTIL you board the ship. I could be wrong.     

Lots of good ideas given. Here's a few things my sister and I like to do:

Walk up and down every deck and all the stairwells. There are often great works of art and other interesting things to see. If we do this early in the cruise it helps us get oriented to the layout of the ship. We like to take a peek in the theater and clubs while there's no one around to see what they look like...scope out good places to sit during the shows.

Check the daily schedule for classes and other activities. Sometimes they offer crafts...several years ago I made a bead lanyard that I love and use on every cruise. Last cruise I went to the classes on basic sign language.

I like to get up early and found they had a coffee station set up on the deck above the pool at 6am (so you don't have to go to the buffet area for that first cup of coffee). It was wonderful to sit out in the open air in the quiet atmosphere. I met several nice people there, many up early to take photos of the sunrise and always happy to share their cruise experiences.

I keep journals on all my adventures. Take a small notebook and find a place to sit and write down a few things everyday. I cherish reading them back later and bask in all the little things I would have forgotten.

Every ship has a library and I've been in several that have a daily puzzle and other things besides books, like board games. You might have to stay in the library to use them or perhaps you can check them out. I often see people on upper decks playing games or cards but they might bring their own.

We like to walk the Promenade Deck all the way around the ship. Some have the distance available so you can walk around several times to get to a mile. I also like to sit on that deck (to read, write, people watch, or have a glass of wine) because from there you can hear the water swooshing by and it's very soothing.

And then there's always "nothing"....just sit in a lounge chair, close your eyes and love being where you are at that moment in time.  Happy Cruising!!

No need to worry anymore, they closed the port. My cruise friends in FL, stay safe. I'll see you next time!

 

http://cruiseradio.net/hurricane-puts-port-canaveral-mandatory-evacuation/

Graptor,

I looked at the link you listed...if you click on "You can find other cruise itinerary changes here" you will see that the Valor is NOT on the list. It's true that the port is closing but it will reopen as soon as it's safe. The hurricane is predicted to be well north by Saturday morning, and the 10/8 cruise (which I'm also on) very well might leave as scheduled....or they could cut a day off and leave on Sunday. :confused:

If you bought travel insurance you can cancel without penalty but if the cruise goes out and you're not there you will not get a refund. :(

I read your other posts and I see where you have to make a decision about flying/driving, etc. so you do what you have to do, but don't believe the cruise is cancelled until you hear it directly from Carnival.

I was just researching Ft. Charlotte and descriptions say it is within walking distance of the pier. Are there any other spots to see/tour that are close to the Port?

Lots of good advice here! I'll add a couple of things that haven't been mentioned.

If you go to Trip Advisor's website and type in "Things to do" near "Nassau" there will be a map that pinpoints the attractions. You can see how far away they are from the port. (And find out more about the attraction, with reviews from people who've been there.)

Near Ft. Charlotte is Ardastra Gardens. My sister and I walked there and it took about 30 minutes. We loved it! There are marching flamingos (at scheduled times) and flamingos and peacocks just walking free. Also a caged area to go in and feed birds out of your hand. The whole atmosphere was lovely! The entrance fee was $15 per adult a couple of years ago. Check their website for details.

Also near Ft. Charlotte is Arawak Cay, also know as "Fish Fry", which is a group of restaurants with "local" food offerings. Many places have free Wi-Fi with purchase so you can catch up on your iphone. OH, the restaurant where we ate only accepted cash! Bahamians take US currency so there's no need to convert money, although you might get change back in their currency!

You'll pass Junkanoo Beach, which is open to the public. Many of the reviews say it's crowded with a party atmosphere, but when we last went, it was empty. (We usually aren't there in summer.) There are gorgeous views of the harbor!

You'll be out of the busiest area of downtown so do be cautious. Don't be a flashy tourist, and keep your wallet/purse close. My sister and I walked the entire route and we never felt threatened. For a few bucks you can snag a taxi or bus back to the port if you're tired or uncomfortable.

Have Fun!!

Hey!

It's been a long time since I've had a massage on a cruise. They can be great but at $100-300+ for a 1-2 hour experience, I'd rather spend that amount of money on something more lasting, like an all day excursion at one of the port beaches.

I had a "couples massage" at a beach side cabana on Disney's private island and I got SO relaxed I fell asleep and missed it! That was a waste of $300. It wasn't any different from a single's massage, except you and your significant other are side by side, on separate tables.

I've had stone massages, which I personally did NOT like. The warm stones felt good but there wasn't the hands on like in a regular treatment.

I got deep tissue massage once and was sore for a week. I kept telling the masseuse she was hurting me but she was convinced she needed to get out all the knots. (They'd been there for years, and not coming out in one treatment. I felt like I'd been beaten and you sure don't want that on a cruise!)

Even though the cruise lines suggest you "book early because they fill up" I would NOT book a massage in advance. Often on the first day you can book with a big discount, and depending on the length of your cruise there will probably be "spa-day specials" where you can get a better price.

I can't find it but I'm fairly sure there is a program where you can purchase a pass to utilize the spa features for the length of your cruise....come and go anytime you please (during spa hours)! That would include the sauna, steam room, tiled warming chairs, whirlpool, etc.(but not special services like a massage or facial.) You can probably get the use of this for the entire cruise for less than one massage!

Keep in mind the cruise in itself is going to be relaxing! Don't stress out about trying to go to all the shows and activities....just do what you want and you'll have a good time. Don't forget Carnival has the Adult ONLY Serenity Retreat which doesn't cost a dime! And, you can find a deck chair or quiet places to relax all around the ship.

Obviously, the suggestion NOT to get a massage is my opinion, but I think that's what you asked for. If you really want to do it, then go for it!!

I would like it if anyone has some witty or catchy phrases for a door sign. My friend is a bubbly late 40 something thar is going on her first cruise. (Paradise) any ideas?:)

 

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I love door signs! My sister and I usually post some photos or at least some funky cut outs of our names.

For your bubbly friend ~ how about something regarding her being a "virgin cruiser"? like ~ "A Virgin in Paradise" or "Paradise is for Virgins" or if you don't like the use of "virgin" you can add some photos of the ports you're going to and photoshop your friend into the photos! Use her personality to come up with some ideas.....like if she's a diva, add a tiara on a photo of her and say "Queen of Paradise".

I hope you and your friend have a blast!