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I did a "private group tour" with Top Komodo back in 2015 if you are on a private tour/excursion you had to make prior arrangements with the ship's Guest Relations Manager. Only passengers with a tour could go ashore. He wanted to see some proof of the excursion (email from tour operator will do), give us a meeting place/time, and escort our group to the tender, etc. Top Komodos' tour included Komodo Island, a local village, lunch onboard, and a visit to a pink sand beach. Overall for the price (compared to HAL's excursion price) it was a great tour. At Komodo Island you walk in single file on a trail with a guide at the front and back. You stay on the trail; there was absolutely no wandering off on your own. We saw several Komodo dragons, most of the ones we saw were at an established water hole. Now the village that we visited (i.e. just walked through) was pretty filthy (both on land and in the water); and to visit we just tied onto a bunch of other boats at their dock. After touring the village we got back to the boat and they couldn't start the engine. Top Komodo had three boats there so they just tied ours onto one of the other ones to go to the pink sand beach. On the way over they served the "hot lunch" onboard, let's just say the lunch was OK but the cooking area on the boat wouldn't have passed any US Coast Guard "cleanliness inspections", etc. The pink sand beach was very clean which kind of surprised me as just across the bay the water was dirty in front of the village. They dropped us off back at Komodo Island to take a tender back to the ship. As I said before, it was a great tour; however, I know that was 9 years ago and things could have changed since then.

OK, turn up your sound......😀

I just got back from a cruise on the Enchanted Princes (10 Aug 2024 - 24 Aug 2024). During the cruise they had a "medical emergency announcement" asking for a blood donor with specific type of blood. However, to be a candidate for a blood donation, you had to have your "blood donor card". This is actually the second time that this has happened on a Princess Cruise that I was on. Just sayin': Requests for a blood donation on a cruise are extremely rare but they actually have happened. If you are a blood donor and would be willing to help out in an emergency you should be sure to take your blood donor card on Princess Cruises, etc.

FWIW, apparently the shore excursion might really be on sale now. It is now listed as $134.95 per person. I booked it. I paid for 1 with my Carnival shareholder benefit shipboard credit and the other with AARP's Princess gift card (which saved 8% more).....😁

The pizza on Princess ships is good; however, Holland America (and their pizza is good too) has a pizza option that is the best and Princess should adopt it: Build Your Own Pizza.... Holland America New York Deli & Pizza Menu

The sale I get the biggest laugh at is the "reduced deposit sale". It doesn't reduce your overall price for the cruise at all. 🤣

Just sayin': There are Buckeye fans all over the world and on most cruises too. Most wear Ohio State hats or t-shirts. My wife and myself usually wear Ohio State slippers on our cruises: The universal Buckeye recognition is "OH" and you say "IO". Sometimes it's "Go Bucks"...."Beat Michigan" though. OHI05V2.main_160x160.avif

Yeah, FWIW, I was booked on back to back (i.e. Singapore to Dubai to Barcelona) Celebrity cruises back in 2020. The price came down on the excursions; I cancelled and rebooked. Overall it was quite a savings to, one excursion was a 3 night trip the the Taj Mahal. Then it was all for naught, the cruises were cancelled due to COVID.

When is a sale not really a sale? Earlier this year I booked a 2 week cruise on the Enchanted Princess 10 - 24 Aug 2024. It departs Port Everglades and ends in Brooklyn NY. I looked at the "NYC tour with drop off at the airport" excursion. It was $159.95 and they offered it for all 3 NYC airports. On 3 Jul 24 I received an email from Princess on a "4th of July Excursion Sale". Up To 20% Off excursions!!! Sale ends 7 July 2024. My excursion was now $189.95 discounted to $159.95. Today 8 July 24 the excursion isn't on sale anymore and is again priced at $159.95. Just sayin': You have to watch Princess Cruise Line's (supposedly) sales.

You might want to consider this place: TownPlace Suites Boston Logan/Chelsea 30 Eastern Ave. I'm staying 1 night(tonight) before a HAL cruise. I booked this place for ($188.00 + $22.00 taxes = $210 (Marriott Senior Discount). Now I booked the cheapest room that they had and it is still a suite with a full kitchen. The price even includes airport transfers and a breakfast. I'll see how good the breakfast is tomorrow morning. Their shuttle was prompt and it is only about 10 minutes from the airport. I priced Uber from the hotel to the cruise port and it was in the $21 range; however, that didn't include a tip. Now that was an afternoon price: I guess the morning price could be a little more. There is a silver line bus stop (i.e. Eastern Ave) is just across the street. You can take the silver line busses to the cruise port for $2.75 pp; however, it will involve carrying your own luggage and changing busses. Everything is the room is clean and everything works including the air conditioner. The listed check in time is 4 PM; however, I arrived at 1 PM and got a room, The only negative is that the isn't a whole lot of restaurants/stores within easy walking distance. Just sayin': This place is a "steal" in Boston for $210.