Curious about cruises

Thank you for this information!  It looks like that is a main location for the Flashpoint Band.  Flashpoint Band is playing there during the "Welcome Cocktail" time from 5:15 to 6:15 so that makes sense.  We will make it a point to always check out what is playing in the Meraviglia Lounge.

I understand the jkgourmet's sentiments!  I completely feel the same way, and we had planned to drive, and I already had the parking reserved.

My first-time cruise friends, at the last minute, said they needed to fly, and we could use their points so it would not cost anything for us.  I pointed out that we could miss the cruise, but since we do have travel insurance, we can get reimbursed in case that happens, so they could make the call.

The only reason I agreed to fly instead of driving, though, was we have a direct flight that leaves at 5:45 a.m. and arrives at 7:45 a.m. on American.  So, I believe the direct flight plane will be sitting at our airport overnight which greatly reduces the likelihood that we would not arrive in time to get on the boat.There is always that chance, though, which our friends were willing to take.  My husband and I always either fly down the day before or drive, because it takes the stress out of the trip.  If my husband and I don't make it, it will not be as huge a disappointment because we have been cruising every year for 14 years.

Will it cost more on Super Bowl Sunday due to road closures? 

I checked, and I had forgotten to check Display.  I signed up for 4 - me and my husband and our friends.  Thanks for checking for me.  Did you sign up for the repeat customer's reception?  If so, how do you do that?

I have signed up for the Roll Call (unless for some reason it didn't take).  We went on the MSC Poesia about 8 years ago, and it was one of our favorite cruises ever.  We loved the international feel and all the dance lessons.  I am sitting here trying to map out our evenings after printing out the daily programs from one of the posts in December. 

Would it be possible to go to the MDR afterwards at our regular dinner time if he was still hungry and have our regular MDR meal?

Which of the following musical groups play music conducive for ballroom dancing?  Hot Swing Trio, Hot Swing Duo, Flashpoint Band, Jazz Trio, Irina & Music Life Trio?

A first-time cruise couple is going with my husband and I on the Feb 2nd Meraviglia cruise with Bella balconies.  We are seasoned cruisers and have enjoyed all our meals on the Carnival/NCL/RC/Costa/MSC cruises we have taken before.  We just always take advice from our waiters and order based on their suggestions to avoid the less well prepared items.

However, I have read that MDR food options are hits and misses, with quite a number of very negative reviews on the food.  I want our friends to have the best cruise experience possible and to want to go on other cruises based on what they experienced on the Meraviglia.  Thus, I am thinking about recommending we book the Tryptic or Butcher/Ocean Cay/Sonor trio meals. 

Can anyone recommend specific nights for the specialty restaurants based on the MDR menus for the nights so that we avoid the 'misses'? 

Also, my husband is a big eater and enjoys ordering multiple appetizers and desserts, so I am concerned with him still being hungry after eating at the specialty restaurants, especially Kaito.  Do big eaters leave wanting more food after the dining experiences since they consist of one appetizer, one entree and one desert?

Also, what have been your favorite MDR items?  Thank you for advising us in this area of our cruise!!

If we dock by 8:30, can we get to St. George and then to Hamilton in a day?  I was thinking about trying to catch the 9 a.m. ferry to St. George and then catch the 1 p.m. or later back to the dockyard.  Then either get back on dock for a bite and take the ferry to Hamilton for Harbor Nights or just get straight on ferry to Hamilton and try to get to the zoo before 4:00.

We will be docked from Wednesday morning, so hope to use the ferry on Wednesday, and use a scooter all day Thursday, and then explore the dockyard on Friday morning before we leave.  Does this sound like a good plan.  My husband is a very experienced motorcyclist, and we plan to avoid city driving during 'rush hours.'  Thanks!

Has anyone taken a taxi and spent the day at Yucatan Beach Villas? Their website shows that you can get day passes. http://www.yucatanbeachvillas.com

Would you be able to catch a colectivo there and back?

Am curious to find out what you all ended up doing. It appears to me that Eladios and Flamingos are the most often recommended places for this. I found an old thread that mentioned Yucatan Beach Villas, and I found their website. They have a day pass option with transportation, but I have not been able to find any recent reviews. The Villas are located 20 minutes from the port per their website.

I would recommend the Tropicante as well for a laid back, easy day of relaxing. Good food and beer, and it's inexpensive. You are in the middle of the malecon so you can do your touristy shopping from the sidewalk vendors whenever you want to get up and walk around.

My husband and I did the Native Choice tour in Costa Maya to see the ruins and have a Mayan lunch. We really enjoyed the tour. There were only adults on the trip, but I think that it would be fine for youngsters. The drive there is not too long. Most people snoozed in the van on the way back. We had time to be dropped off at the Tropicante Hotel for some drinks and a quick dip in the ocean.

I would recommend the Costa Maya tour over a tour to San Gervasio in Cozumel. That being said, we have rented a VW beetle for the day to drive around Cozumel and we stopped at San Gervasio for about an hour, and we really enjoyed doing the ruins as a small part of the day.

We have relaxed at Tropicante twice on cruise stops. My husband and I really enjoy talking to Steve as he is so friendly and easy going. The food is good, the beer is cold, and the conversation is entertaining. It is a great place to people watch as well. You can always stroll the malecon and visit both places! Enjoy your trip!

Can you get a taxi to take you to Reserva Ecológica El Corchito ? If so, can you find a taxi to bring you back to the ship? Or can you get them to wait? How much would the approximate cost be?

There are two boats docked at Progreso on February 8 so there will be 6300 cruisers in port that day. Does this make a difference in being able to get a taxi?

I have been doing some internet surfing about Caye Caulker and found these comments on different sites on Caye Caulker fishing which were from a period of over the last five years. Don't know anything personally, but perhaps this will help. You can take the water taxi over to Caye Caulker if you are in port long enough.

"For fishing, I'd recommend Piggy (Porfilio Guzman), you can reach him at 501-226-0152 or just ask around, everyone on the island knows him."

"could not remember Piggy's name. You should find him at the Lazy Iguana Hotel on Caulker.."

"I have had some excellent days with a chap known as Piggy. Best got hold of through a hotel called Iguana Reef Hotel."

"2012: So we had arranged to go with Pops as we loved the post from Jane. My husband and I just got home last week and are still excited from our vacation. We are planning on when we shall return as we speak! Pops was defiantly the highlight of our trip, he took us out on an amazing day"

"After the most amazing vacation on Caye Caulker, Belize we came back home with many many highlights, but we all agreed on the 1 thing we would do again and again and that is the fishing adventure we went on with a local guy named Paps"

"I had a great day fishing with Ken – he was friendly and obviously knew the area very well. I saw a lot of fish and I would definitely recommend him"

"Caught permit with Ken Coc (Chasin Tail boat)"

"There is really no wade fishing around CC - it is all done on a skiff. I used Angler's Abroad and was very happy. Both Ken and Parnell have excellent reputations and it is clear why"

"My second day guided fishing was on the 21st May, fishing from Caye Caulker. I fished with Ken, arranged via Anglers Abroad Fly Shop"

Thanks so much for this information! I went out and read the website, and it provides valuable information! We will catch and release and will have no net. Just looking to do something different from our last 2 Roatan stops and away from the crowds at the beach.

Are there any good spots to do shore fishing in Cozumel? In port from 8 to 5, and I am thinking of renting a car or jeep and wondering if this would be a good option for my DH who loves to fish. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

Has anyone ever rented a canoe from the Caye Caulker Sea Dreams Hotel? If so, what was the cost, and where did you canoe? Thank you!

Do you know how crowded do the mini buses tend to be? My DH and I are thinking about bringing 2 fishing rods and a tackle box and beach bag so that we can try some shore fishing . Will the buses be so crowded that this would cause a problem? Thanks!

Can anyone explain how the mini buses work, especially on how to catch one to get back to Coxen Hole? I am interested in getting to and back from Sandy Bay and/or West End.

Thank you,

Is it feasible to catch the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi at 9 am and return on the 3 p.m. taxi if our port day is 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Central Time) on the Dawn in February?

Are there local snorkel companies available on Ambergris Caye once we got there?

Given this time frame, does it make any sense to try to shore fish once we got there? If so, does anyone know if this is the best way to get a one-day fishing license: https://www.coastalzonebelize.org/ ?

Thank you!

Trying to find out about fishing opportunities on Feb 20th in Costa Maya. Emailed Steve Uhl at Tropicante and learned that fishing boat is available on their beach for $75 an hour up to 4 fishermen.

It would be very expensive for just my husband but wondered if anyone knew of other options or if there were any readers that would want to share the trip that day.

Thank you!

We were there last week with Phil Lafayette tour, and the highest jump was truly a cliff jump and was reserved for the guides only. All the others are available to jump from. You won't be disappointed with all the other jumps. It was a ton of fun!

The cost is somewhat dependent on your departure point. We went last week to Blue Hole from Falmouth with Phil Lafayette (http://jamaicaphil.com), and his price was $50 per adult for Blue Hole inclusive of any entry fee that might have been charged.

We chose Phil as his prices were among the most economical and he had good tripadvisor and cruise critic recommendations so we felt safe. We were with two other couples that had booked with him through his website in an air-conditioned van. We were very pleased with our day, and we never felt rushed and got back in plenty of time to shop at the port before getting back on the Freedom of the Seas.