CruisinMama7

On our list to do in 2 weeks. Husband loves crab, are there other choices if you don't eat crab.

Here's her website and you can download the current menu. BTW - it was the best King crab I've ever tasted! I can't wait to go back again next summer.

http://kingcrabshack.com/index.html

We were there the end of May and loved their new location..I believe they had just made the move.

Oh, snap! Tracy moved? Guess I'll have to look it up on the internet to find her new address. Hopefully, she is still located near the docks.

Read earlier there are 3 shacks now! Tracy is growing by leaps & bounds. The word is spreading around that it's good eating. Best King crab I've ever tasted. Of course, it's frozen, but still better than what I can get at the grocery store down here in the lower 48.

Those dates are the only extended cruises offered out of Galveston at the present time. The Port of Galveston announced plans that a 3rd cruise terminal is going to be built to accommodate a larger ship (RCCL has committed to bring in a larger ship). And since we're getting a third Carnival ship, the Freedom, I wouldn't be surprised if the longer itineraries are added sometime in the future. Carnival also announced they're going to build a new cruise port of call on an island right off Haiti, much like they did with Mahogany Bay in Roatan, Honduras, and other locales. Add all that together, I can just feel big changes in the wind for Galveston's future cruise industry. After all, Galveston is the 4th largest cruise port in the USA now. :-)

As mentioned already, lobster is served in the MDR on elegant night. You can also order lobster in the steakhouse and the quality is soooooo much better than the MDR lobster. I ordered the Turf and Surf in the Magic's steakhouse and it was the best steak and lobster that I've ever tasted. :-)

According to the steakhouse staff, whatever the dress code is in the MDR for the evening also applies to the steakhouse. I asked directly, "Are jeans allowed"? The answer was "Yes, jeans are allowed".

Here is another option if the train is sold out. We used Dyea Dave for the bus trip to Emerald Lake and then took the southbound train back to Skagway. In the small bus/van, we got to stop along the way for pics & lunch at Carcross. It was a great day!

You can find him on the web at dyeadavetours dot com.

We also try to get the L-shaped balconies on the ships that have them. They are the same price as the regular balconies. The ones on deck 7 are the quietest, as they are sandwiched between floors of cabins. Deck 6 has the lounge under it, and deck 8 has Lido over it.

I just priced an L-shaped balcony on the Carnival website for the Freedom and they are no longer priced as a regular balcony. The L-shaped balconies are now considered a "Premium Balcony", for which there is an additional $29.30 per person, per day charge. Bummer! :(

Next week at this exact time, I will be on the open sea! We sail on Saturday, 5/10, and can't freakin' wait! :)

Congratulations to all of us short timers! FINALLY, IT'S OUR TURN! YAY!!! :cool:

Happy cruising all!

Using many of the suggestions here, I'm getting closer to final choices for our upcoming Alaska trip. It would be WONDERFUL to take all of the flight adventures you have described, but my husband, sister, and I have decided we really can only do ONE.

 

We've narrowed it down to:

1. Mt. McKinley Glacier Landing by Airplane

2. Talkeetna Ruth Glacier Landing by Airplane

3. Taku Lodge Feast & 5-Glacier Seaplane Discovery (Juneau)

4. Helicopter Flightseeing and sled dogs in Juneau

5. Misty Fjords Floatplane tour (Ketchikan)

 

Which ONE would you recommend?

I've done both #4 and #5. My vote goes to #4, especially if you're a dog lover. Yes, it's expensive, but I justified the cost as looking at it as two excursions rolled into one. The helicopter ride alone is breathtaking & is a totally different experience than being in a float plane. Although the Misty Fjords flightseeing was great, it didn't compare to the helicopter ride to a glacier followed by the dog sledding.

The helicopter ride/dog sled had been on my bucket list for a long time, so it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me. That may also explain my preference for this particular activity. JMHO

Happy cruising!

I have never seen it on the Triumph or any Carnival ship. Royal is the only cruise l;ine I have seen carring DDP

Thanks much for the info, TXFATGUY! Guess I'll have to be packing my goodies in my carry-on.:( Only 7 more days & I finally get to see the new Triumph changes. YAY! First on the agenda...Guy's Burgers. I so cannot wait!

I see we're from the same neck of the woods. We used to live in Lewisville about 20 years ago and now we live in Justin!

Happy cruisin'!

The only place we now park while cruising is Park N Cruise. We've used other lots in the past, but prefer PNC hands-down. We drop off our luggage first and then go park inside a covered building. We walk together to the cruise terminal, each with our own carry-on. It can't get any easier. Also, I like the fact that my car is totally protected from both the human and weather elements. I highly recommend this company.

Does anybody know if the Triumph sells DIET Dr Pepper? I know they sell regular Dr Pepper, but don't recall seeing Diet DP when I sailed on her two years ago. If Triumph does sell DDP, it saves me having to lug a heavy carry-on full of DDP bottles. But I sure don't want to chance it on a whim & be stuck without.:eek: True DP addicts know what I'm talking about.:cool: TYIA for any replies.

Been a couple of years since we did the AI, but I remember the food being good. I think we had Coconut shrimp and some grilled shrimp and some other fish plus guac and chips and salsa...

Were the coconut & grilled shrimp served from the buffet table or did you order these items from the menu?

Congratulations! You'll love your balcony! You'll get great sunrise or sunset pictures from your balcony, depending which side you booked.

We usually book a port side balcony stateroom. In order to just get on a ship, I booked an interior for our next cruise. Now I'm regretting it, even if it is a short 5 day. First cruise we booked was an interior. It was OK, but I just didn't know any better. So, I've got my fingers crossed for a call from the "upsell fairy" for a fair price on an OV or balcony.

Again, congratulations & enjoy your cruise and the view!

The Magic's dry dock is scheduled for Spring 2015.

A couple of days ago, I sent Pedro an email inquiring about costs for a private driver. Pedro replied to my email within 12 hours, not only one time but twice.

Here is Pedro Flores' current contact information:

Email address: pedropepchix@hotmail.com

Telephone: 9992 31 27 11

Pedro quoted me the following prices:

Private driver - English speaking driver, Merida, ruins, anywhere, your choice - 5 hours service - $150

OR

Taxi to Merida - no English speaking driver (most likely) - $70

His emails are typed in broken English & portions are hard to decipher, but you can understand most of what he's trying to say.

Although I won't be using Pedro's private driver services, I will be picking up a taxi at the AutoProgreso bus terminal. Since I don't want to invest a large amount of time riding the bus to and from the port, I've decided to go with the quicker taxi.

I wanted to update those cruisers who are interested in obtaining a private driver for the day in Progreso with Pedro's information.

Happy Cruising!

He was just one of the regular cab drivers there at the ship pier..Just walk on through the shopping area. I am sure they will take 2 people..I'll see if I have a photo of Fernando.Not much help from the back.

Thanks so much for the info, overthehillcruiser! BTW - I just wanted to tell you that I've seen your cruise pictures that you've posted on various threads & have always enjoyed them. You not only give helpful information to others, but you also supply a picture or two.:cool: And you know the old saying...a picture can say 1,000 words!:) WTG!!!!

I cannot say exactly how long it has taken me, since I usually catch a collectivo in Porgreso to get home or am meeting someone in Progreso.

OK, John, I lied...I thought of another question to ask! :o You mentioned a buzz word & it got me to thinking. ;) Am I right in assuming that a collectivo is a taxi? Do you know how much a round trip taxi from Progreso to Merida costs? If not, can I obtain this information at the AutoProgreso terminal in Progreso? Is that where the taxis are located, in addition to the buses?

I would rather take a taxi to Merida because it would be quicker & I could beat the bus traffic, plus it would also ensure a quicker return to the ship. However, the cheaper way is the bus. Do you have any recommendations for a particular taxi company or taxi driver that I should use?

Thanks so much for answering all of my questions, John. You've been a wealth of information and our trip to Merida will be much more enjoyable because of you. :)

"Este es un autobus para Progreso?" "Is this the bus for Progreso" will probably get you the information you need.

WisRiver, once again, you've armed me with valuable information! Thanks so much for passing along the Spanish translation of the actual phase that I'm supposed to say. Even with the handicap of not being able to read or speak Spanish, I feel more confident now that we can do this thing on our own, not get lost & still make the ship in time.

I promise this will be the last question that I ask.:o I've read conflicting reports as to how much time to allow for the return bus trip from Merida to Progreso. I realize that I should allow for a much more crowded bus on the return trip that will require additional stops. I've read allow anywhere from 45 minutes to 2-1/2 hours when leaving Merida before ship boarding time. Do you know approximately how much time I should allow to get back to Progreso on a typical Monday afternoon?

Thank you in advance for your input.

We live near Progreso in the winter. I have never used the Autoprogreso Cruise Tours, but use the Autoprogreso bus service between Progreso and Merida frequently. Here is a link to AP's website. http://www.autoprogreso.com/ Autoprogreso is not the "official' bus service between Merida and Progreso, but it is the only one. Busses leave Progreso from their terminal near the lighthouse, whichi is also where the shuttle from the pier drops off passengers. On cruise ship days there are usually several cruise ship passengers on the bus. In conversations they have decided to forgo the AP tour and explore on their own. Bus fare was $25 Mex (about $2), but I have not ridden the bus this year. Prices have gone up. The bus drops you off near the center of Merida. Busses run every 15 minutes and there is no reserved seating. I think there is a map with the bus route in Merida. Since central Merida has all one way streets, the bus back to Progreso is on a different street than arrival. Depending on traffic and number of stops, the ride takes about 45 minutes from terminal to terminal.

Thank you, thank you, thank you ever so much, WisRiver! Your clarification helped me immensely. Just knowing the streets are one-way & that the pick-up point for the return trip back to Progreso is in a different location than the original drop-off has saved me a mountain of stress!:eek:

If you don't mind, I have a few more questions please. Since I don't speak Spanish, how will I know which stop in Merida is the stop I want when getting off the bus (Plaza Grande)? Is it clearly evident or does the driver announce it shortly before the stop? The approximate $2 fare is a one-way ticket, correct? Do they accept dollar bills or should I exchange some $$$ into pesos beforehand? Again, your Progreso expertise is so appreciated & has a calming effect on my frazzled, control-freak wrecked nerves.:o

I told DH the one plus about hiring a private driver vs. taking the AutoProgreso bus was he could drink a beer on the way to Merida. I'm wondering if Fernando would take just 2 people? Only one way to find out is to contact him. Do you still have Fernando's contact information?

Thanks so much for the information!:)

Can anyone tell me if AutoProgreso is the "official" city bus to Merida? I know AP is a tour provider for all kinds of activities, but are they also the Merida "city bus"?

AP charges $10/pp to go to Merida (d/k if round trip or 1-way). I've been told there's a $3 round trip/pp bus to Merida. I know one bus makes several stops between Progreso & Merida. Does the AP bus do the same?

I'm trying to budget my time on a DIY tour of Merida & need to plan my return trip back to the ship. Thanks so much for any enlightenment.

We've been to Progreso several times, but have never gone to Merida. I would like to make arrangements for a private driver to Merida so we could leave immediately & not have to wait for a bus to load up before departing Progreso.

Does anybody have any recommendations on whom to contact? If you've done this sort of thing, did the driver stay with you the entire time or were you able to explore Merida at your own pace & met up with him later at a designated time?

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I want to thank y'all for your responses! I'm going to try all of your suggestions and see which one I am successful at. I'm very computer illiterate, so wish me luck.:rolleyes:

If you were sailing with me on the Triumph, I'd buy you a drink as a "thank-you".:)

Happy Cruising!!!

Because the search function is currently not working, can someone please tell me how to take a screen shot on one of the Carnival website pages? I booked the Easy Saver rate and want to have proof of lower pricing for OBC.

Thanks in advance for any help.