helencw
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Posts posted by helencw
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Browse and Stream was fine for watching youtube kids videos on the Seascape Aug 27 sailing.
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I just came back from the Seascape. You can buy a wristband from the photo desk on deck 5.
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We just said he couldn't make it because of work. So far, no extra charges. Enjoying cruise now. Will report back if this changes.
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I am on this cruise. The captain hasn't mentioned it.
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Thanks, kingbobofthenorth, for the good advice!
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Thanks for your advice, everyone.
I don't understand what PTC advises. When we board, shouldn't we tell them that one person is not boarding? Otherwise would they announce the no shows before embarkation over the loadspeaker?
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Hi,
My family is cruising on Sunday Aug 27 from the Seascape in 2 staterooms. One person in a 2 person stateroom cannot make it due to work. Should we let him be a no show when we board?
Thanks for your advice on how to handle this!
Helen
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I'm back from a Carnival Magic cruise to Bermuda. I did Onpoint testing 2 days before the cruise. They send a zoom link and you could use a cell phone or any other device. The tester was on time, pleasant, and efficient. They send a confirmation of results by email.
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For Thenford Grey, try his email.
His vans are comfortable with air conditioning. A few years ago Thenford Grey was our guide for an island tour with beach. He is very knowledgable and personable. My mother adored him!
Last week my son and I went on the multibeach snorkel tour. We had a driver and tour guide, Mr Henry Williams, a certified diver Mandela, and his assistant Gregory. It was absolutely wonderful!
They told us that anytime we wanted to stop we just had to ask. They drove us around Basseterre describing everything, and showed us so many beautiful spectacular views on the way to the snorkle beach. We stopped many times and they helped us take lots of photos. My son wanted to see a monkey and they knew about the guy with the donkey and monkey at Timothy Hill.
We snorkeled at White House Bay (they let you go at your pace, as far and as long as you want) and dived down to show us urchins, flounders, octopus, and we even saw a turtle!
We asked to be dropped off at Cockleshell beach, and they said "stay as long as you want, we'll be here when you're ready to leave".
On the way back, they stopped by the road and showed us more sights. I asked about their black sand beaches, and they said they will stop and show me one.
This was a spectacular tour!
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Hi, we were on the Carnival Fascination Jul 31 sailing. It was great! We sail all the different lines (RCL, NCL, MSC, HAL. CCL, Princess) and like them all.
We went to Lindquist beach. It is between Coki and Sapphire on the east coast. A shared taxi van is $10 per person. I asked the driver for the tel number of his taxi company, just in case. It's 340-774-7457.
Admission is $5 per person. The lady at the admission booth said she would call a taxi for us when we wanted to leave.
It's beautiful, quiet, not crowded, and unspoiled by development. Clear blue water. There were available picnic tables with natural shade throughout the time we were there (about 11:30- 2 pm). Bring your own drinks and food.
Life guard on duty. Very nice new showers and toilet facilities.
When returning, a policeman asked if we needed a taxi. He flagged one down for us from the road at the bus stop. The taxi driver said he is not usually allowed to stop there, but he did so since it was a policeman and his friend.
Even though we were the only passengers, it was still $10 per person. On the way back to the ship the driver took the scenic route along the coast back to the ship.
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It’s easier to see on a desktop.
If you don’t have a Google Account, open one.
Open up google maps and sign in
If you are in the Lite version of Google Maps, switch to the Full version. Scroll down for instructions.
https://support.google.com/maps/answer/3031966
On the upper left type in your search. (For example, Parrot Club)
A window opens showing the location and information, like address, tel, opening hours
Click on the star above the word SAVE
On my android cellphone the google maps app was pre-installed.
When you open up google maps on your phone, and you are signed in, your starred locations should show.
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We’re back from a great cruise. Here is a google map of San Juan. You can do a search for what you are looking for, mark your places with a star, and use it on your phone as a guide for walking around. If you click on that location, you get more info like the tel number and website.
https://goo.gl/maps/Li73AMaht672
If you are staying at the Sheraton, it is shown on the map, on Calle Marina opposite the docks. The CVS has an entrance 1 block west.
Two blocks north of the Sheraton is a street called Recinto Sur, running east west. It is full of restaurants, including Mojitos (#323) and Raices (#315). We had a delicious dinner at Mojitos. The portions are large. The prices of the restaurants on this street seem to be similar. Here is the menu from Mojitos:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m2ybqlfe71dyx7f/20160730_192157.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/s77og5qvxy05l9g/20160730_192215.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/m6ipyla4ydabjws/20160730_192236.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/dxm1hoobfspjd13/20160730_192247.jpg?dl=0
From the Sheraton, if you walk 4 blocks west along the water you arrive at Rotunda del Municipio and the start of Paseo de la Princesa. There were food trucks and kiosks. Filled crepes were about $2.50, hot dogs $2.25, hamburgers $3, empanadas $3, other treats $1 to $3:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gdv3dkhy1eu3h90/20160730_200305.jpg?dl=0
If you walk north 3 blocks from the Rotunda del Municipio you arrive at Plaza de Armas. There is El Meson (sandwiches), Wendy’s, Subways, Walgreens, another pharmacy, and Supermax (grocery store) where they have a good selection of wines.
At Supermax I also bought individually wrapped sesame and sesame, flax and sunflower snacks ($2.75 a bag of 12 or 13 pieces). Good for excursions, some protein and low calorie. (I’m originally from China and they have the same snacks there).
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o60l9m06nwelu3u/20160731_200305.jpg?dl=0
We stayed at the Gallery Inn where there is free continental breakfast, but if you walk around, there are breakfast pastries in lots of locations.
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Fluffula, last year my son and I went to Mojitos Restaurant on Recinto Sur #323 for dinner.
https://www.facebook.com/Mojitos-Restaurant-1566342686934952/
I remember it as being not expensive but good authentic Puerto Rican food, and not noisy.
I will be in San Juan next week and planning to go back to this place. I will try to remember to post back on cc.
For breakfast we usually walk around and stop for a pastry or donut.
For lunch we usually have something quick and inexpensive, like pizza.
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Hi Mitsugirly, I'm happy to help if I can. You've helped so many of us on this forum!
Yes, there are a lot of pools. We saw a few and they were very pleasant, large and with good views. The resort is huge and spread over a hill. The funicular is a way of getting to the different levels.
http://www.elconresort.com/map-directions/
You can see it on this map:
http://www.elconresort.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Resort-Map-Updated-092013.pdf
The boat to Palomino Island runs back and forth throughout the day. No reservations needed. The schedule is in the activities program and on a billboard on the dock.
We didn’t snorkel but I saw a few fish in the sandy part, so it looked like there were possibilities further out. (We were leaving and I didn’t want wet gear in the suitcase.) Here’s what the website says about shore snorkeling:
http://www.elconresort.com/play/palomino-island/diving-snorkeling/
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Hey Mitsugirly,
I’ll try to attach some photos from El Conquistador (haven’t tried this on cc before- not sure if it will work)
Infinity pool
https://www.dropbox.com/s/5d6hm7v315ik1jr/100_2494.JPG?dl=0
view from the room terrace at Casitas
The furnicular down to marina was a lot of fun, with great views
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hanqcasrm3hd7zu/100_2554.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/g7wn88j9b0uydux/100_2544.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zgor8p37qqt1vc3/100_2549.JPG?dl=0
We timed ourselves for the 2nd boat to Palomino Island according to the hotel schedule. When we got to the dock there was a mother and daughter there already. They were there waiting for the scheduled 1st boat which never arrived! Soon after lots more people arrived, and the boat arrived. It was the first run even though according to the schedule it should have been the 2nd.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d0z3b9996coh8kt/100_2529%20boat%20to%20Palomino%20Island.JPG?dl=0
The Island was very nice. Lots of chairs in shade and sun, soft sand. We swam a little but didn’t stay long, since we were going to get on a cruise that day.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hpl17oy1mb43l9z/2015-03-15%2010.59.33.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8axwt8059yjerdk/2015-03-15%2010.57.12.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ixssh5bguqca41c/2015-03-15%2010.56.16.jpg?dl=0
We had been to El Yunque rainforest previously and it’s wonderful and special. While we enjoyed Palomino Island, I wouldn’t miss the rainforest.
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hi Mitsugirly,
In March 2015 I had originally booked the BioIsland early tour for myself and my 14 year old son, but they contacted me and changed the time to 7:45. That was going to be their first tour of the night.
I arrived at SJU on the Saturday of Easter week about 1 pm, rented a car from Enterprise, stopped for a fast food (sorry that's what my son likes) lunch along the way, and arrived about 2:30 at Casitas, which is part of El Conquistador.
Our room was ready. We rested for a little bit, and went to the infinity pool. It was beautiful and peaceful (hardly anyone there), with a view of the ocean.
The hotel has a map on how to drive to Las Croabas Park, the meeting point for kayaking and boats for bio bay.
On the way there we stopped at a roadside shack for empanadas and drinks for our dinner.
Las Croabas was packed locals and tourists! Maybe because it was Saturday night during Easter. In fact I got stuck in a minor traffic jam looking for a spot in the parking lot. I was a bit nervous and called BioIsland from my cell phone. There was no answer, I left of message, and someone called me back in about 5 minutes, telling me there was plenty of time. I did find street parking not too far away.
The boat tour itself was very restful, so the later time was not a problem for us. There was a later tour after ours.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful time and cruise!
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My son and I loved it!
The crew was very personable, joking and laughing with the passengers, but they also gave us good information about the phosphorescence and the eco system. Going through the mangrove, they know where certain animals usually hang out. They shone a flashlight near birds, turtles, and a boa. They were looking for a monkey, and they thought they spotted him, but it was hard to see.
We stayed quite a long time in the bay as the only boat. It was magical! They let us play with the water, stirring up the glowing organisms with our hand and sticks for as long as we wanted. We saw several glowing flying fish!
The stars (so amazing for us New Yorkers) were out and it was so peaceful and beautiful. The crew quizzed us on the stars and galaxies and we got it all wrong, haha.
While the boat was waiting for the last 2 passengers, we saw kayakers go by. They seemed to be having a lot of fun, so I think either way would be a great experience, just different, as the previous poster said.
We stayed just one night in Fajardo, at Casitas. It's a huge complex, with several pools (one inifinity), a tram to the marina, and boat to a private island beach. While it was very nice, I thought it may have been better to stay at a smaller place since we just had 1 day.
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In March 2015 we went on an electric boat with Bio Island to tour biobay in Fajardo.
http://bioislandpr.com/about_us.html
It was wonderful! It's a small quiet boat, with a captain who steered the boat, and a tour guide who gave a very good commentary. There were about a total of 6 passengers including my 14 year old son and myself.
There is a very long narrow mangrove channel to get into the bay, and it would have been stressful for me to have had to kayak in the dark in single file. It was very crowded that night, and there were a constant stream of kayaks rowing closely one after the other, so rowers have to focus to keep from bumping into other kayaks
For me, it was much better to be able to relax in the boat and listen to the commentary. The guide pointed out plants and animals with flashlights in the mangrove. When we got to the bay, all the kayaks had left, and our boat was there alone. We were able to put our hands in the water and given sticks to stir up the luminescence.
To get there from San Juan, I rented a car and we stayed in Fajardo 1 night.
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There's also a place to store your heavy luggage at Piazzale Roma, and you could take something light to your hotel of choice.
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I presented my printed ticket at the AVE luggage screening, and they told me they don't accept printouts that have been cut. I had trimmed them like an air boarding pass, but they want the full sheet. They told me to go to the machine kiosks, type in the confirmation number, and have the tickets reprinted. This was easy to do.
These machines have an option for English and you could buy tickets. I did not find long lines at the machines.
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Dan, when I used the machines for regional trains there was only an option for children (ragazzi) ages 4-14 for half price. You could choose English for the transaction.
I saw reductions (ridotto) for young adults on the faster more expensive trains, but I think you need a Freccia membership number.
I think I remember there was discount for the BIRG ticket to Rome (includes metro and buses in Rome) for children.
If you buy tickets from a person for trains or admissions, you could ask. I don't speak Italian, but if you try broken Italian or English, they would probably understand. My 14 year old is 6'1, and I'm 5'1, so when I asked riduzioni per quattordici anni? with a smile, I usually got smiles back or laughter! But they would give me a discount if there was one. You could ask something like riduzioni per studenti?
Sometimes I forgot to ask, but the prices for transport in Italy are very low.
I bought a 72 hour metro/bus pass in Rome, but there was no reduction for children over 11.
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Michelle,
Here is the website with schedule and costs for the ferry to the Calanques and If. There are a lot of reviews on tripadvisor.
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Hi, we docked in Genoa on Aug 10, and shared a car excursion to Cinque Terre with others on our roll call. We were driven to Porto Venere to get the ferries, but the water was rough and all ferries were canceled.
We then drove to Riomaggiore, the first town of Cinque Terre north of Porto Venere. After that we went by train to visit other towns, and met our driver at Monterosso, the 5th town going north.
Some of the trains were very crowded, especially with the ferries canceled. There were huge group ship excursions from our ship traveling on our train!
Cinque Terre was very exciting and beautiful, but very crowded and touristy.
Porto Venere was also beautiful, but less busy, and I think you would enjoy some time there. We saw some nice looking restaurants by the water. There are grape growing terraces all over the hills, with little cable carts that go up and down. So charming!
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We traveled Madrid to Barcelona on the AVE- TGV high speed train August 7. I searched for tickets on the Renfe Website (Spanish) 6 weeks before and found discounted tickets for 57.60 euros per person.
On a previous trip we flew from Barcelona to Sevilla on Vueling for under $100 per person.
We travel light (small carry-on per person for 2 weeks), and take buses and metros to airports or train stations.
Requesting Extra Key for Solo Cabin to Check on Recovering Daughter
in MSC Cruises
Posted
We had a great time! It is a beautiful ship and the crew are wonderful.
There was a glitch with the 2 fun passes that I bought pre-cruise. They did not show up on my account onboard. I went to the service desk where they sent an email shoreside. It was resolved the next day and the arcade charges were creditted back.
Best wishes to you and your friends for an enjoyable cruise!