PAcruiser19372

Thank you everyone.  That's what cruise critic does best!

Hello.  Have cruised many times over the years, except for the pause during the Covid years, however have never been on Celebrity so hoping someone can help me understand how their drink packages work.  I'll preface by saying that neither my wife or I drink, however we're still alot of fun!  That being said I'm used to buying a soda card to get my sodas during the cruise and my wife gets her coffee card and is happy.  I think i understand that you must purchase a drink package on Celebrity and with even the non alcohol packages being $26.99 @, so basically $54.00.   That is a lot of money for a couple of sodas and one or two coffees.  So after all that my question is; must you purchase a drink package be it alcohol or non alcohol.  Do they have a simple soda or coffee card for purchase and if not can you just pay for your individual sodas or coffees?  Thanks!

I'm sorry i have no experience with Blue Bay Dive but have used Curious2Dive before.  Similar experience that you might be looking for.  They pick you up at the ship and drop you back off.  This allowed for my family to do other things while i was able to go diving and then we all caught up later.  Might be worth checking out.

10 minutes ago, PORT ROYAL said:

Something difficult but much better?     Catherine’s Café…. Book lunch/stay in advance

Thank you but for this port looking to keep it simple and for once just do a ship excursion but was curious about this beach.

Royal Caribbean is offering 3 separate tours to this beach.  First one is transportation, chairs and lunch.  Second is transportation and chairs.  Third is transportation only.  This is one Island i was looking to do a ship excursion and have never even heard of Runaway Beach, thus the ask.  In the past Beach Limerz was the destination but with new owners looking for something different.

Haven't been to Labadee in years.  Are beach chairs still available at no charge?  Seeing on the ship excursions that you can get chairs for $53.00@ which to me sounds crazy.  I think I'm allergic to spending over $100 for two beach chairs.  If that's the case we'll just walk around, have lunch and go back to the ship.  Any helpful info to share is appreciated.

Considering this also if anyone has experience.

Haven't been paying much attention to CC but with an upcoming cruise in November getting back on.  Was sorry to hear about Dee, had snorkeled with them 3 times, the last in late 2019.  Any update on her health?

1 hour ago, SkierRobUMN said:

Thats actually quite a bit. Basically everywhere on the ship that is not outdoors or your cabin. It’s pretty ridiculous. 
 

I’ll be watching how things progress and if they don’t relax this in the coming months I’ll be canceling my Christmas cruise. 

Same, after being maskless for a few weeks now, had to wear one in a doctors office waiting for my wife.  HATED it and will also cancel upcoming cruise if I have to wear a mask inside.  Thought being vaxed would get you this "perk".  Might have to switch to Celebrity or one of the others.

Thanks, makes me feel better.  I did the helmet dive/walk there on my baby steps to scuba and I remember walking and holding onto the railing and being pushed around a little.  I'll probably stick to the plan and just be proactive and ask them that day about the current and if they think I will be ok that day.. Thanks again!

27 minutes ago, mitsugirly said:

 

 

It is either going to be Coki or Secret Harbor. I'm just trying to decide at this point.

 

Why do you say you are going to have to rethink it now?

You had mentioned how your husband had struggled there.  I'm 62 and out of shape but have enjoyed my discover scuba but not looking for anything that present a real challenge or is dangerous if you know what I mean. 

Are you going to be trying Coki again?  I sound like you, will do a discover scuba, have no interest in getting certified, am content with a DS on a cruise at one port and was thinking i was going to do DS at Coki since my wife could sit on the beach while i was in the water.  Going to have to re-think this now  😞

I'm thinking of Calabaza in Barbados that wants you to use certain sunscreen to protect the turtles and they do not allow you to wear flippers while in the water around the turtles.  Glad to see it wasn't just me!

Wow!  And the company that provided the snorkeling allowed this?  I'm both saddened and amazed anyone would do that. 

On 1/29/2020 at 9:50 AM, jimbo5544 said:

 

The tour left right from the docks, the catamaran was nice and we made our way out heading towards Nevis ands stopped near a small island.  Snorkeling was GREAT, swam with many sea turtles and rode one that was at least 400 pounds.  After snorkeling, we boarded back on the boat and headed over to the Nevis beach.  The music was playing and the booze was flowing, over to Nevis, on the beach there and the return.  The crew really got into dancing with some of the guests on the return. I have some pics in one of my reviews from a Vista sailing if you want to see them.

Rode a turtle?

36 minutes ago, MrCruzeaddict said:

We're sailing on the Serenade in a couple of weeks. Do they have the Coke Freestyle machines on this ship?/

 

Thanks in Advance

 

Jdarmo

I've been on Serenade a few times but not since last April and at that time they did not.

Are you using a travel agent?  I've had this situation a number of times and just let my travel agent handle it and it's always worked out for the early seating.

Hello, we did the tour with Stan of JNJ tours back in 2016.  He was waiting for us with his sign at the port so no worries finding him.  We actually had a group of 11 of us from our roll call on Cruise Critic.  I guess we were a good group as none of us were kept waiting at any of the stops. Stan was a great host and after our tour he dropped half of us off at a beach for a bit while he dropped the others back at the ship and then returned to pick us up.  I was the one who arranged our tour with Stan and everything went very smooth.  I must say that our group on the roll call was the best I've ever been involved with.  None of us knew each other and my wife has done 3 other European cruises since with a group of the ladies from the cruise.  Anyway, I would not hesitate to book with Stan.  Good Luck!

We had a similar situation of Princess a few years ago, carpet was absolutely soaked when my wife woke up to go to the bathroom.  We lost the use of the cabin for the day.  Fortunately we had an early excursion that day and cabin was ready when we returned.  They offered us a bottle of wine for the inconvenience (neither of us drink).  Coincidentally I contracted Norovirus a couple of days later.  Had a number of issues that cruise but the that was the last straw, never went on another Princess cruise.

Regarding Woodwind, all you have to do is look at them on Trip Advisor, one 5 star rating after another.  The  boat described above was their older boat.  They have had a newer cat for close to a year now.  Dee is the reason my wife now snorkels.  After a few unsuccessful attempts at snorkeling we went on Woodwind in 2016 and Dee made sure my wife was comfortable and that she had a good time.  My wife now has her own snorkeling gear (mask and fins) and can snorkel with the best of them.  Btw my wife is 72.  We were just with Woodwind this past April and Dee must have remembered us from 3 years ago as she told me how much my wife had improved.  On this last trip I watched Dee literally pull a woman on a noodle during the snorkeling.  This woman cried afterwards and hugged Dee for being there for her and having such a good time, she was so grateful.  We are booked with them in December and our taking our 3 grandkids, ages 6 thru 13.  Ulf, Dee's husband told me he's had as young as 3 on the boat.  I can't say enough good things about Woodwind.  Another thought is the reason she was probably saying don't swim is that this is drift snorkeling, no need to swim.

22 hours ago, Hatteras51 said:

Take a look at Black Pearl/Blue Melody. Their snorkel tours are much more laid back, and are small groups. I've never seen kids on them, so you'd have to check on that. They go to the Malmok area and Boca Catalina,  not the shipwreck.  Also, look up Tranquilo.  This is a sailboat that sails to the other side of the island. They dock in 3 - 4 ft. water, and also have a drift snorkel on the way back.

Thank you, will check them out!

Following this also as we're taking our grandkids and hoping to snorkel in Aruba.  I can concur the current at the Antilla wreck is strong.  We did it a couple months ago but my wife stayed on the boat and I'm glad she did.  We're taking them snorkeling in Bonaire on this cruise with Woodwind and that was a no brainer but wanted to add a snorkel stop in Aruba and not sure who to use.

For snorkeling with turtles i would go with Calabaza on Barbados.  They are a first class operation.  Have been with them a couple of times and booked with them again next year.  Last year as soon as I jumped in the water a large turtle was with our guide.  They are very protective of the turtles.  Check them out on Trip Advisor or go to the Barbados section on Cruise Critic.  Good luck and have fun!

We did the Royal Caribbean ship tour that included everything you're looking for in December.  Going there again in two weeks and just going to a beach.  Have snorkeled and done sea tours while there on previous trips but the last one was exactly what you're looking for. Hope that helps!

Guys, my apologies to the both of you. At my age i should know better than to assume and I was guilty of that so again please accept my apologies.  Part of getting caught up in social media and was guilty.