bellybutton

I have a tour booked with Victor Bodden for 7 people the beginning of May.I have read so many good things about the tour guides and who to ask for.It does not seem that any of them had a negative review.It seems that I am safe getting whatever tour guide is given to us.Has anyone had a bad tour guide through Bodden that I should tell him I do not want?

You don't want Leo, you had to probe him to talk.

Just spent almost 2 hours reading most of this thread and am still a bit confused. We are considering staying a night in Tampa after our cruise, since we won't have a car we are looking for a nice (newer) hotel with nice pool near restaurants/mall/activities we can walk to or catch a quick cab ride to. From this thread I am considering the westshore area due to it's proximity to the mall that has the movie theater and Maggiano's restaurant ( love it) - Can anyone tell me if this is a good choice, what our options for hotels are that are nearby, is it a safe area to walk back from Mall at night and if there are any other areas to consider. Also, what would taxi from pier cost to this area and are they easy to get? How about taxi to the airport in the morning?

 

Thank you so much, first time we are flying and cruising, we usually leave from our home port of NY, it's all a bit overwhelming. :(

 

Thanks so much for the help!

We have always stayed at the Double Tree Westshore in Tampa. It is close to both malls. They pick you up at the airport and last time they took you to the port. People on here say the port shuttle is hit or miss now, we will see in a week. I have read a taxi is about $23-$25 from the Double Tree to the port.

We had a wonderful time in Roatan last week! Tex was our guide for our day booked with Victor Bodden Tours. We went ziplining at Pirates (I think), which was really wonderful. Tex then took us by his house where we sat on his private dock watching the dolphins perform for another excursion. The dolphins were probably only 150 feet or so from us. This was really neat and free. After this we went to see Victor's monkeys and other animals and then over to Half Moon Bay for lunch and snorkeling. This resort is beautiful and very accomodating. We had a waiter that took care of us from the time we showed up until we left.

Tex was a wonderful guide! His father lived in Texas for a while and Tex is his given name. He is laid back, very easy to understand and has a great sense of humor. He told us alot about the island without having to be prompted and went out of the way to show us beautiful sites for photos.

Victor lets you request a certain guide and you would not be sorry if you requested Tex as yours. This was our favorite port because of this tour!

Sounds like you had a great time! Was there a charge for Half Moon? What did beers,drinks and lunch run? How was the snorkeling?

Has anyone booked this through Carnival? Did you still have time to go ashore and look around??

We booked online with no money up front. That way you know that you have a driver. I am looking forward to using his tour I have read many good reviews. I was able to ask about my guide in advance too.

 

HEY RHONDA see you in a few weeks. We will be on the Legend that week too. Can't wait!!:D :D :D :D

Hey cheesehead1, below is a link to our roll call, come on over and join us! If you have kids they can get to know other kids before the cruise, it makes it alot more fun for them. Come on over! Rhonda

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=13667011#post13667011

Looks pretty, how much does drinks and food run?

Hi, I just did this tour on Monday....it was great...I recommend for all ages as you can do whatever you want to do!!! My husband loved the ziplining...if anyone doesn't want to zipline.....he will take you shopping or site seeing while the others are zipping....I waited and took pictures of my husband.....if you go make sure you have lunch at the barefeet restaurant...it is right on the beach and is great.....ronnie the bartender/owner is very nice and has a great little place....

Which beach?

Ken, do you know what rental company is down by the port/hotels that tuggers was talking about?

Thanks Tuggers

When you rented the car did you rent at the airport? What rental company is down by the port/hotel? I might just check into that!!

Thanks again for all your extra work!!

Crud!

I have just written an email (I hate to do that but time you know) to the President and CEO of Hostmark Ltd the new owners telling him I am upset over having to chase the hotel manager and asking for clarification. I also copied the Preident of Hilton and some other honcho at Hilton whose name I've forgotten.

Maybe I'll get something back. I've already gotten delivery receipts now I'll wait for the read receipts.

You can't say I don't try!!!:D

You Go Girl! I can't wait to see what they write you!

bellybutton, wouldn't you be better off to cancel and book through through the online site I gave you???

Not this time because we booked with points hubby had.

I just spoke with the Doubletree - Westshore. They offer free shuttle to/from the airport. There is a $10 fee per person for the shuttle to the cruise terminal.

 

We're not renting a car, so this will be a good deal for us!

 

Thanks for the recommendation!

Well I guess we will be taking a cab then since I will not pay $40 from the Weshshore to the port. I am bummed because that wasn't the way it use to be:rolleyes:

Just boardrd the Legend today and mini golf has been installed!! Looks very nice. Look for our review after a week when we return!!

Check for the CO2 lounge too please! and the big screen on lido!!

I was reading this on a review site of the Legend. I didn't realize there was a CO2 lounge for the kids already. Is there?

"Camp Carnival is centered on a 2,400-square-foot enclosed play area on Deck 5, away from adult activities. The supervised program, divided by age groups, offers children's activities for ages 2 to 15 with a bottom-of-the-sea theme. Tunnels connect different play areas. The Gigabytes game arcade is on Deck 4; Teens have their own CO2 lounge on Deck 10."

bellybutton, I have tried to get in touch with the new manager, Robert Penney but have so far only talked to desk clerks and voice mail.

The hotel was sold in October. I was there in November for an overnight stay and left the car. When I returned on December 11th there was no problem getting a shuttle. At no charge. But until I can speak to the new manager I won't say it hasn't changed.

As I previously wrote on here, if you buy through buyreservations.com, you are purchasing a pkg which includes the hotel pre or post cruise, parking and transport. Unless you talk to Mr Penney, I would go that route to be sure. And the price is pretty good with them, just no Hilton points.

Hope this manager comes through and doesn't ignore me. This has been a hotel I have stayed at for the last 5 years and I will hate to stop recommending it! Won't say much good for either his tenure or the new companies if there is no response.

Thanks for giving it a try! We are still going to stay there because we had a great experience last time. I hope for the same this time!

bellybutton, I have stayed there probably 10 times in the last two years and never heard this, including on a stay in Sept and Nov/Dec 07. I will call Monday and speak with a manager I know and find out for sure. When I called for the shuttle on Dec 8th they were nice as you please, did not even ask for my name, said they would send the shuttle. It came in 10 minutes and they took me right to my car in the lot. Still never asked for my name or anything.

You can buy it through buyreservations.com and it's a pkg for sure. I do that when rates are high but these last two trips were booked through Hilton. The buyreservations.com is for the room and 2 weeks parking plus shuttles and, right now, it's $129.

Sounds good, I will be watching for your reply!

Do they have waverunners or parasailing?

We got back on December 8th. Where have you read this? And it was Doubletree Westshore? I find it hard to believe.

On here on a few posts, here is one link http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=632311

If it's Doubletree Westshore they have wonderful shuttle service from/to the airport and the port. Drivers are very, very nice and if you ask they will load up on warm chocolate chip cookies to help with the long (:rolleyes: ) ride!

On my last trip back I was bringing company home from the cruise and with a long cruise and extra people we had much too much luggage for my wagon. The shuttle driver actually went and got nylon rope to tie some of the excess luggage to the luggage rack! (yes, we did look like country comes to town but we got home without renting an extra car!) Of course, he got a VERY nice tip!:)

Thanks Tuggers, We stayed at the Double Tree Westshore back in 06 and they had those services. I have been reading so many posts lately that they don't offer the rides to the port any longer. Was your last trip recent?

well we are already booked at the double tree. (3 rooms) I guess I will have to break down and call them.

What did they say?

Ken,

We went to the Bayside area last year when we left on the Valor in Miami , it was a blast down there. This year we are leaving from Tampa on the Legend. Is there an area in Tampa that is like Bayside??

Thanks

Now that I have spent all weekend reading 32 pages, I still have some questions. I will be on the Legend 4/27/08 with the wife, son, and daughter. My son is 12 and Daughter is 6. So I have some questions about the kids groups. The capers I have seen state that there is a "nominal charge" for the slumber parties. They run from 10pm to 3 am. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this, and what it costs?

Also, for the older kid, I was told there is an arcade... is that an additional charge? Should he be packing a ton of quarters?

 

I have also seen mention of people stating how many rooms are left on their cruise. Several people have asked how to determine the "fullness" of your cruise, and yet there have been no answers. So I am going to ask the same question... how can you tell how booked your cruise is? How many cabins are left?

 

Finally, I hear talk about Sushi...Is the sushi included, or is it additional like coffee shops, or ice cream shops on RCCL?

 

Thanks for all the great posts, and thanks in advance for any answers.

I can answer two of your questions.

The arcade works off of tokens that can be purchased with the sign and sail card.

Sushi is included in the cruise price.

Thanks for all the great posts, and thanks in advance for any answers.

Now that I have spent all weekend reading 32 pages, I still have some questions. I will be on the Legend 4/27/08 with the wife, son, and daughter. My son is 12 and Daughter is 6. So I have some questions about the kids groups. The capers I have seen state that there is a "nominal charge" for the slumber parties. They run from 10pm to 3 am. I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with this, and what it costs?

Also, for the older kid, I was told there is an arcade... is that an additional charge? Should he be packing a ton of quarters?

 

I have also seen mention of people stating how many rooms are left on their cruise. Several people have asked how to determine the "fullness" of your cruise, and yet there have been no answers. So I am going to ask the same question... how can you tell how booked your cruise is? How many cabins are left

 

 

Finally, I hear talk about Sushi...Is the sushi included, or is it additional like coffee shops, or ice cream shops on RCCL? .

I can answer two of your questions.

The arcade works off of tokens that can be purchased with the sign and sail card.

Sushi is included in the cruise price.

Thanks for all the great posts, and thanks in advance for any answers.

well we are already booked at the double tree. (3 rooms) I guess I will have to break down and call them.

We stayed there 2 years ago(not that it helps) before your cruise and left our car in the lot and they took us to the port and planned on doing it again this year in March. let me know what they say but I think they are still taking people to the port. They also pick you up!