Medfield98

3 hours ago, Trailcon said:

DW and I just returned from the 12  day repositioning cruise on Seranade of the Seas.  We were able to pick up and Uber right outside the terminal in Boston.

Trailcon-was the repositioning at beginning of Summer season in Boston or a few weeks ago?

Is Uber allowed to drop off directly at the ship. I was told they can only drop at a Dunkin Donut about 3 blocks away meaning you are stuck rolling your luggage and managing a cane if use one.

Celebrity is good but for Vet discount Princess is way better for ease of acceptance.  Once you provide your DD-214 every time you get a discount in form of on-board credit on every cruise. No paperwork or submissions as long as you sign in with Princess id. No 

With a bit of homework, you can find out the manufacture of the mattress and buy a very similar model without paying for the Princess name. The same manufacturer produces mattresses under several brand names.

 

 

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It would be helpful to the community if you gave the manufacture names as I asume you already did the homework/research. Rather than all of use researching what you already did.

Thanks

:DJust came back to Tampa on July 1st from Cuba. It was first time RCCL did an overnight in Cuba. The cruise was fantastic from start to finish. The ship was the smallest in fleet only 1600 passengers. The food was better than most. We have taken 15 + cruises on different lines. Shout out to Fernando and Cesar table 533. They couldn't do enough for us in the dining room.

We never changed our US dollars to Kooks their Cuban dollars. Found wherever we went in Havana they took the US dollars with a small amount over the amount asked for.

We did the three hour highlights of Havana bus tour on the second day with the cruise line. It had a bathroom on the bus and the bus was New with a/c. We saw a lot and Elio Cordero our guide spoke perfect English.

He spoke a little about the government but nothing crazy. Raul Castro will be retiring in February and no one knows who will govern.

People here make 20 month on average and the most 30 month as a doctor or lawyer. This is all government controlled. They get free education so their graduation rate is like 99%. Medical is free. Every family gets rice ration so no one is hungry. You don't have to join the communist party. Cubans study English in school.

We found everyone we spoke to very friendly.

We did venture across the street from terminal to the square and hired a horse and buggy to do a one hour tour around Havana. It was very enjoyable. The driver spoke very openly about the country once we were on our way. There is a new Havana section which is connected by an underwater tunnel. There are high rise buildings there. Much of the older buildings are in disrepair because money isn't going to the infrastructure.

Hopefully with a new leader things will improve. From what the people we met said they don't want big companies to come. They want to be able to start a small business which they can own and operate without the government interfering.

Right now there are few of these restaurants

The old cars pay 600 dollars a month to the government for their licenses. That's why they charge so much for their services.

If you can go see Cuba soon. The people will embrace you. It's like stepping back in time.

Wife & I going on Empress in October and concerned about being able to walk around town on own because new Trump rules may be in place by then? Will shlp block us for going on /off? Do the excurisions from ship care if hou leave a tour at end and go on your own back to ship?

I've been reading that disembarking in BA is a little hectic. We're on the Crown Princess, ending in BA on 2/1/17. We dock at 7am. Like most people, our flight isn't until later in the evening so we have the day to kill. We've found a private tour operator who'll pick us up at 8 that morning at the port, take us around for the day, then drop us off at the airport by 6pm that evening. So far, so good.

 

But now I'm reading that passengers can't walk off the ship with luggage in BA due to having to shuttle from the dock to the port building. And that once you get off the shuttle, you have to mill around looking for luggage, then wait in an immigration line before you can actually leave. All of which takes awhile.....

 

Those of you who disembarked in BA over the last year or so, was that your experience? How long did it take you to get to the point where you could actually leave the port and be on your way?

How did it work out for you? We are planning to disembark in Buenos Aires a day early during the first day of an overnight stop. Did you or anyone on this forum see how that is accomplished? When go thru customs/immigration and how get luggage? Can one leave the ship anytime or must wait for certain times. Can we even leave the ship with our luggage the first day of an overnight? We hoped we could spend the day touring then return to ship around 4pm to get our luggage from cabin then leave ship and head to airport-any of this possible?

I am finding ,based on calling several taxi companies, that cost is $27 POM to MIA flat rate plus tip.

Two taxis at about $30 each should do it - anything else will be more expensive and not as quick.

I have been checking costs and what to use also for 6 people. Called several Taxi companies and was told rate from POM to MIA is flat rate of $27 which includes $2 port fee as well as tolls. Only extra would ba a tip. For 6 people you would need a van which is same cost. You have to tell the taxi starter you want a van and if none handy they will call one. Again this is what I was told be two taxi companies that I called. So that is what we are going to do. For Uber you need XL service for more than 4 people. Estimated cost is $27-35 per Uber fare calulation site,. Tip not necessary. Uber site did not give info about about $2 port fee or tolls. So we will be taking the taxi van for $27 pls tip.

Not sure exactly what kind of information you're looking for. The main passenger cruise terminal is at the foot of Las Ramblas. You can start dropping your luggage as early as 1030 to 11 o'clock. We have done that before they got back in to spend the last few hours in beautiful Barcelona. Depending on what time your cruise leaves, you will need to be on board probably no later than 3 PM. There is also a little kiosk inside the terminal that sells water and wine that you can bring on board. It's a very easy boarding procedure. If there something specific you're looking for please ask

In which specific ship terminal number is the wine kiosk? Is it near all possible Celebrity docks. Is it easy to access once checked in and on the ship? Or is there a nearby wine store from the dock I could walk to?

If for just a beach without snorkeling or diving, then I definitely recommend Lac Bay. Waste deep turquoise water and white sand as far as you can walk out. The Hangout at Jibe City is heaven on Earth, in my opinion.

How get to Lac Bay. Cost? Do they rent chairs. Near Cruise dock? Sell drinks? etc. More info on this beach please.

Not worth the risk. Plenty of coffee available via room service and on decks. Please do not chance a fire. Do Not bring coffee makes on board as a courtsey to other passengers who do not want a fire to ruin their vacation.

That was about 5 years ago when I asked about that cabin so don't recall if we ended up booking that particular cabin so can't really answer your question. I seem to recall an angled balcony cabin on a Princess ship and think it was OK but to be safe you should find someone with a newer experience to ask.

The best jacket I found is sold by Princess on board . Bought one three years ago. Liked it so much that I bought another one this June.

What are the Alaska jackets like that are sold on board Princess ships. Everyone seems to really like them. Where can I see a picture? Are they a rain jacket or also to keep you warm? Warm when standing in front of ship in Glacier Bay, etc? How much do they cost and are they always available on-board if we take a chance and wait until our cruise in May 2014? Good looking enough to wear in winter in Massachusetts?

Were there any negatives to B744/745 Grand Class ships? Such as. Not as private due to angle? Windy? Widest angle end of balcony bulkhead block any view when looking out from inside the cabin? Is any view impeded when looking out from cabin? When sitting in shorter part of balcony, which looks private, can you see the ocean without standing- like can do in side balcony cabins?

Is mid to late October and bad time to take this cruise? If so what would be safe time weatherwise for high 50's to 60's and not a lot of chance of rain. Also how about time of year to avoid any problems with river levels.