sewingbee

Hubby and I did the ultimate Caribbean with Celebrity cruises in November last year. it was different everyday, not beach, beach, beach. mainly central America and grand Cayman, Key west. So we had a mixture of wildlife, sloth sanctuary, swam with Manatees, fed stingrays (Honduras & Costa Rica) towns (Cartagena & Key West) Panama canal visit, and only 1 beach day in Costa Maya, Mexico. Suited us brilliantly with only 2 sea days in 14. Celebrity are excellent to cruise with, definitely a cut above!  Managed all our own tours easily, loved it!

Ha ha yes! I'm so excited all sense has gone out of the window!

We are on this cruise and I'm doing the same research. it appears from an earlier thread that even ships tours have to rely on using the cable car to go back down and the queue can be a 90 min wait. Think we will walk down (carefully!) or get the first tender in and then not spend too long at the top so we can be back down before the queue builds.

If you're flying in from the UK, Julie, the Guest Relations Manager would appreciate any English papers you may pick up at the airport.

 

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Will do, any specific papers she'd like? don't mind getting a couple.

we've booked a trip with nativeway watersports and you can do variations, so you can avoid the snorkelling. I can't manage an ordinary snorkel but I've now a full face mask which is brilliant! just like breathing normally, and water doesn't get in, I love it, maybe your son would like it with one of those. I tested mine in the local pool first!

we are boarding on Friday as you get off! so excited now, thanks for this review it's given us a good taste of what's to come on our first cruise

Ha ha usually 12 weeks in advance for cheapest fares. Also look at a company called megabus. They do trains as well ,at rock bottom prices for select trains, which if you are flexible time wise, can be a bargain. I've lots of experience in London so if you need any more help just shout!

trains in the UK are very expensive unless booked in advance. so you'd need to be very organised and choose train times as well. Once in London daily payment is fine but I wouldn't do it for longer train journeys.The schools in the UK go back at the start of September so It will still be busy and good weather but not as many families.

Is the Eye like a ferris wheel or since the car is enclosed do you feel a little more secure? I'm not a ferris wheel fan but it looks like the views would be amazing. I've read that the Shard is overpriced.

don't bother with the shard, look at 'the sky Garden' instead.it's a building known as the 'walkie-talkie' opposite the shard on other bank, so surrounded by tower of london, the gerkin, the shard, and lots of other landmarks. best of all it's free! you do need to book admission though, the calendar doesn't open too far in advance, abou t2-3 weeks, so you need to be on the ball about booking a slot but once you are in you can stay as long as you like. there's a bar and food, but the views are amazing. Not many things in London are free but this is one of the best!

My Visa has the 4 semi circles on it, it sounds like it is contactless?

 

At many of the stores/restaurants here, you can tap the store/restaurant's machine with your credit/debit card to pay.

yes that sounds right , looks like wifi symbol

you can now use your contactless debit card on the underground, just tap on and off like with an oyster, saves the hassle of paying a £5 deposit for your card and then claiming it back at the end of your visit. Also saves worrying about whether you've put enough on the oyster. Cost is the same and after you reach the day rate there is no additional charge. Can't remember the cap for a day but TFL should have it on their website. Just don't forget to tap in and out!

Thanks everyone, super excited now!

We are hiring a car post cruise, from Port Everglades to Miami before our evening flight. We would like to visit South Beach and wondered if anyone can recommend a safe place to park just for the day, in that area. Hubby is worrying about leaving our suitcases in the boot whilst we wander around.

we've the same problem with an all day wait. We've decided to self disembark and Uber to the luggage lounge at South beach. Leave our bags there $10 each then wander south beach, lunch etc. bus to airport ready to fly at 5pm. Bag storage at the airport is the same price but its a 10 mile walk across the airport to drop them then pick them up! so luggage lounge is best for us.

I second Lush products too, not heavy to carry and a bar of shampoo will last me several holidays, no danger of leakage either! Conditioner ok if your hair is not too thick - mine is fine and flyaway so its usually good enough on mine.

Venice is a brilliant place to visit and very easy to do by yourself. Some months there's a shuttle bus from the cruise port to the piazza Roma where the main station is, from there you can get the vaparetto and explore the city. It's only a small city and very walkable. If there's no shuttle bus it is still only a short walk to the main terminus. You will get lost but that's half the fun! try to see the main sites like St Mark's square at dawn or late evening if you are there overnight, it's totally different to the busy chaos of the daytime. I've been to venice a few times now and it's still my favourite place on earth, it's so unique it's hard not to fall in love with it! Enjoy!

Just noticed that the clocks change by 1 hour on 5th Nov (I sail on the 3rd) so will the ship alter the time to winter time as well?

Thank-you, I'm in the UK so now I just need to work out eastern time, all this maths!:)

hi, i understand that I live my life by ship time on my cruise but am unsure as to how ship time is determined. Is it set at port of embarkation? Only matters because I'm looking at booking tours direct and need to give them a local time for their reference. I need to allow enough time to get off etc. My ship leaves from Fort Lauderdale, and sails the western Caribbean. Thanks