Dectwins06

Did you call them directly or just ask during the chat? I’m sure that may just be their PC answer in writing.  I suggest calling as I was told we can access as early as 10am. 

I am flying in around midnight and heading to ship early on. These are both around 100 through priceline/hotwire so which would be better for 1 night pre-cruise? I'm not concerned with amenities at all as we probably won't have time to use them-unless we stay and possibly swim for a few in the morning, but doubt it. Any others ok? Acacia has come up, S&J as well..

We went with Bernard in Early June and they were working on it then. I really wasn't impressed and would rather do without the stop. They just had monkeys and other animals in cages and I didn't care for that. Maybe it will be nice when totally done though.

I understand!! I'm getting excited and nervous too!! So much to do and so little time to get it done. I'm working 2 weeks of crappy long hours. Plus this weekend is looking busy. When will I pack??

Never have this problem..booked a couple months in advance and right after put my suitcase on my bedroom floor and started packing...lmao! I get way to excited!

I went on an all girls cruise on RCL and loved it! We did 4 or 5 night. The entertainment was fun-hilarious when cruise director asked someone to get a thong and someone took off their undies...she meant Flip FLop! I'm sure the company you are with will make it fun whatever ship you take :)

I am trying Carnival again in March. I have done a few Disney Cruises, Princess (which is Carnival I believe?), RCCL, NCL. I am doing it again because of price and don't need the kids entertainment since I am going without! I wasn't real thrilled with the food or the crazy circus like décor and atmosphere the first time, but I am going in knowing it will be relaxing, great ports, fun people and I believe the food looks better than when I had it about 4 years ago :)

Wow, people make stuff up like crazy. In October when we left San Juan and ended in Miami, we did not need a passport. The person who suggested you'd need a passport to start in California and end in Florida is really confused. There's no such cruise. It's a violation of the Jones Act. Please don't provide people misinformation.

 

 

Carnival Destiny 2010

Carnival Liberty 2013

Carnival Victory 2013

Carnival Sensation B2B 2014

Carnival Splendor B2B 2014

Carnival Liberty 2015

Umm..I did NOT make this up! This was copied and pasted directly from the US Border and Customs Website! They were giving examples and according to them you do but there must be exemptions. https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/~/documents-needed-to-take-a-cruise

No a passport isn't needed....but being a constant traveler I would heartily recommend one. I'm not a fan of carrying an original birth certificate around...when you really need it it may have gone poof. And a drivers license relates your home address...an open invitation to thieves. With a passport, which is easily replaced if lost, you have a lot of peace of mind and it works wonderful as proof of identification without giving out information a thief can use.

 

Have a good trip...

Oh I agree with you 100%-I have them for me and all three of my young children as we go on a lot of cruises and travel other countries, etc. it's someone travelling with me that never travels! LOL..

I know that CCL's FAQ says that a passport is not necessary but this flies in the face of what the DHS regulations say and what is posted on the CBP website, so I am leery of it. You could use a passport card or Enhanced Drivers License for this cruise.

I know-have called a few times and they all say the same thing..that one is not needed. They must have an exemption??

So we do NOT need one? On the US Customs and border control website it actually says this:

"Most cruises beginning and ending in the U.S. are considered "Closed Loop," meaning they begin and end at the same port in the U.S. For instance, if you board a cruise ship at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and after visiting at least one foreign port of call, such as Bermuda, or Cancun, return back to Fort Lauderdale, you have taken a closed loop cruise.

If, on the other hand, you - say - board a cruise ship in San Diego, California, sail through the Panama Canal (stopping at a foreign port during the cruise), and end the cruise in Miami, Florida, you have not taken a closed loop cruise and the following information does not apply to you. As of June 1, 2009 you need a passport (including infants)."

I'm seeing everything now that we do need one...glad for these boards! I have one, but bf doesn't and I was so confident he didn't....OOPS!:eek:

I was reading through the boards and now questioning myself. The cruise leaves from Puerto Rico and ends in Port Canaveral visiting St Thomas and St Maarten. A poster said since not closed loop we need a passport? I was thinking since Puerto Rico was a US Territory and ends in US that we didn't? If so-I better get on it!!!

I think it got too popular... The last time we were in St Maarten, there was 6 ships which bottlenecked the island with 30,000 people inundating the place. Traffic was at a standstill and people everywhere... I bet port fees have increased as well...

 

Carnival is still going, but I bet they are going a little less because of the ship traffic.

I am on the Valor in March and there are only 2 ships in St Maarten that day-woot!

I didn't see a PM..don't even know how that works-lol. My email is hmontgomery@gmail.com. Yes-from what I read on here, people say you can check your luggage with the porters, board the ship and eat lunch around 11:30 (just not able to get into rooms until later) I guess we are within walking distance to all the forts and OSJ so lots to see and walk around exploring.

Bernards was a great trip. They stop at a couple of places that you can take pictures. The one place we stopped we got a great picture with our ship Getaway in the background. I'm going back in March and a must is Sarafinas-great pastries and very cute French bakery! Maho beach is a beach, but not really a great swimming beach-more of a look at the people and their things getting blown in the water! They have a great bar there too!

I'm in 9266 Lido which probably has all the noise-lol! That is a good deal. I have never used LMT but would be great for 100 and breakfast. Then we are going to get to ship around 11:30 to drop off our bags, eat lunch and then explore OSJ...Have you been on the Roll Call? It is quiet there but hope it picks up!

Here is a picture from our cruise..maybe it gets bad, but it was great the day we went. I feel I had to defend it a little as to not scare everyone away :)

I just want to point out that I have been to St Thomas a number of times and actually stayed in St John for a week with someone that owns a beautiful house there so have snorkeled there too. St John's is nicer and I think we saw almost everything out there-Turtles, Nurse Sharks, Tarpin, man-o-war, jellyfish! Coki isn't the "best" snorkeling by far, but it was fine for seeing some different beautiful colored fish not far from shore and it was a great beach with no trash or anything when we were there. I guess it just depends on the time.

I am ON Lido deck...is that really bad for the noise then?? 9266 LOL...I was just happy that I could almost roll out of the cabin into the pool area:D

Kevin,

We are on the same cruise! I am going to keep checking priceline..was up to 126 with no luck on 4* so maybe closer sail time, it will go down-I hope! If not, will probably do the express which I do believe is Radisson. I love this itinerary..it's like we get 3 great ports including San Juan-or 4 as we are staying in Orlando until 7pm as well. It should be a great time!

We were not there first thing. We did see a couple larger planes take off. We had missed the biggest one, but the ones we saw still blew people and their belongings into the ocean. It was a fun time! We also had a few bigger planes coming in and a lot of small puddle jumpers...very cool!

Wow. We were there in June and had a blast! We got there early though and the cab driver got out and sent us over to his friend who hooked us up with 2 chairs (for a fee of course) and umbrella. It was fairly busy after a while, but we just wanted to go in the water and snorkel. There were some really nice size fish out and my son was so excited and loved it! The only downside was that they had no running water that day so no bathrooms worked-ack! Waitresses came by-had Conch fritters and hot dogs and chicken. It was all decent and the drinks were cold!

I did Bernards-I thought it was great and we had a lot of fun!

I was on the Getaway in June and we stopped at St Thomas and St Maarten. I'm on the Valor and doing the ports again-love them.

In St Thomas we went to Coki Beach to snorkel the last time. I thought it was pretty good snorkeling. I love St John though so I am going to do that this time. It is worth the trip!

In St Maarten we did Bernards tour. It was great for our first time. We went to Maho Beach, a lizard area, a few nice lookouts, Sarafinas Bakery for some awesome pastries. I would highly recommend going there-so good! Then we went Orient Bay which is a very beautiful beach (not good snorkeling though)

Thanks to the boards I found out taxi from Port Canaveral to MCO ran 100 dollars! I had no idea! I found a rental through Avis with code for under 40 so thank you for the info! Now I can take a later flight, run around and sight see and not get stuck at the airport! Most of the companies seemed to charge 35 for just one way, but Avis did not. Just a tip for those that were looking around :)