Keithcheil

No such luck as three drinks each. Seemed to be one free drink for each 5USD spent. Not sure about snorkelling but I would imagine there would be a good chance it could be arranged. There was a glass bottomed boat that came to the shore from time to time to pick up people and the guys who sold those trips I would guess could point you in the right direction for a snorkelling trip

Spent a day at Lobster Alive which is on Carlisle Bay. Didn't eat there but hired two sun loungers and brolly at a total cost of 15USD which includes 3 free drinks either rum punch or soft drink but not beer and free wi-fi. Beer can be purchased individually or by the bucket of 4 for 10USD. Guy who collects the money is friendly and keeps the area of beach in front of the restaurant clean and tidy. We were on a cruise and decided to walk from the cruise terminal to the beach but it takes around 30 minutes. On our return we took a taxi at a cost of 8USD. Lobster Alive is next door to The Boatyard which is very popular with visitors but they charge 20USD per head to enter which I understand includes sun loungers and brolly and also free drinks plus a return taxi to the cruise terminal. Had we gone to the Boatyard which was our original intention we would have been 40USD as opposed to 23USD at Lobster Alive. We were glad we had chosen Lobster Alive as it was much quieter and not so busy as the Boatyard. The beach was lovely and the sea was crystal clear and I would recommend a visit to this beach for all beach lovers

Thanks all for advice regarding using currency in the Caribbean. I will now take more US dollars with me for the start of our cruise and use my credit card for any larger purchases

I intend taking a small amount of US dollars to start off our cruise on the Azura then exchange Sterling to US dollars as required at the ports we visit using local banks. I may also use a Halifax Clarity card to withdraw cash from ATM's as you get business exchange rate as opposed to holiday rate and there is no charge for withdrawing foreign currency with this card you only pay a small amount of interest if paid off quickly on return from holiday. This is what I normally do when on holiday in Europe and it works well for me, however this is the first time I have been to anywhere where the US dollar is commonly accepted. I understand some of the ports where we dock that the Euro is the preferred currency and I will allow for this. Any views on whether or not this is the best way to cater for our spending whilst in the Caribbean would be appreciated

We sail on the Ovation on the 10th May boarding at Barcelona and have been allocated a time of 1.30pm for boarding. We are staying in Barcelona overnight prior to cruising and will be vacating our hotel before 11am. If we make our way to the port before our allocated time will we be allowed to board earlier, or will be made to wait until 1.30pm?

Have now booked a Premium Drinks Package at the discounted rate of £32.38 per day for the whole of the 16 day cruise. Didn't want to wait much longer in case the discount offer was withdrawn. Considering the prices charged for individual drinks I won't have to drink too much in a day 5 or 6 drinks p/day to break even. Being a tight Scot I might even drink a few more per day just to make sure I get my monies worth. Thanks for the previous comments which helped me make my decision

I would take the plunge also but just don't want the package for the full 16 days. As has been pointed out by Clarea you can only take a shorter length of package on board and not in advance. My wife is teetotal and will only drink a few orange juices in a whole day so a package will not suit her, it would only be the one premium package that I would be paying for.

My wife and I are relative newcomers to cruising having only cruised once before with Cunard 5 years ago. We have booked a 16 night cruise on Ovation from Barcelona to Dubai. I note that on my cruise planner at present there is a 20% discount on the Premium Drinks Package making it £32.38 per day. I enjoy a drink but wouldn't wish to purchase the package for the full 16 nights that would be too much alcohol for the system to take. Would I be able to purchase it for say the last 8 to 10 days of the cruise? This discounted price seems to be reasonable compared to the individual prices charged on board for most of the alcoholic drinks.

Is there any possibility that the packages will be offered at a lower rate once on board, or would it be advisable to purchase now whilst the 20% offer is available

If I decide to take on board 2 bottles of wine on embarkation they will be in my suitcase and not in my carry on bag. Does this mean that they may possibly ask me to open my suitcase so that my bottles can be checked? I am new to cruising and find it unbelievable that Royal Caribbean can be so mean that they will not allow say one bottle of whisky for use in your cabin for a nightcap. One bottle of spirits is hardly going to affect your spend on liquor on board over a 14 night holiday. I am a spirit drinker and not a wine drinker but if wine is all I am allowed to take on board then wine it will have to be.

You can buy a bottle in duty free liquor store on board, however, it will be held for you and delivered the last night of the cruise for you to take home. You cannot purchase a bottle to take back to your cabin. You cannot bring liquor on board. You can bring two bottles of wine per cabin on board with you.

If you are allowed two bottles of wine per cabin, how can they tell that your bottles do in fact contain wine and not any other liquor?