LynneL

:eek: PLEASE share where you got insurance for $25 pp. I know it is private information but whatever you are willing to share would be so helpful for so many of us. Is that medical coverage? Cancellation? Evacuation/repatriation? I never heard of such a low premium and certainly would be thrilled to have such a policy. You are right. At $25 per head, it is a no-brainer.

 

I called insure mytrip (dot) com. You can get quotes on line but I prefer to call. Our upcoming cruise is cheap ($425. Pp) & we have 4 going ages 60, 59, 57, & 5. The total for 4 was $96. It covered for emerg evac, which was my main concern as well as having to head home for emergency at home, baggage delay, etc. Give them a call & ask for a quote. They are very helpful. Also none of us had pre-existing medical conditions. I don't recall about medical coverage.

Any further word if people had trouble getting to the Port of Baltimore today? We are booked for next Sunday & we're concerned about these protests (looked more like a riot on the news). We are driving from NY. Will we have to be close to the area of protests or does the highway bypass it?

Unfortunately my good friend suffered a massive stroke in her sleep while on an NCL cruise. This happened while docked in Bermuda. She was taken from her cabin to the infirmary then to a hospital (I won't use the word rushed cause that's a whole 'nother story). I stayed with her to await her son & brother's arrival, which took a few days cause hospital told them to stay put until condition assessed more - didn't want them flying down as she was airlifted back. My family had to continue the cruise. She was kept on life support, eventually airlifted home with the hope doctors here would have different news, but passed away about 10 days later.

She did not have insurance. I did & either misinterpreted a social worker's comment at the hospital or she was misinformed. She told me my insurance only counted if my friend was my spouse or significant other. There I didn't file a claim & by the time I was buying insurance for my next trip was told I had been misinformed but I waited too long to file one.

The short - expect nothing from the cruise lines because that is basically what you'll get & I do understand that. However my friend bought a $25. beach cover up in the ship's gift shop before going to bed. The charge was put thru until the next day. I had already closed her account & mine as I knew we were leaving the ship. I had approx. $40. left on a non-refundable credit which they told me could not be transferred to my husband's acct. Least of my issues. They did contact my friend's cabin mates and ask them for payment, which they gave. Tacky!! They did let my husband use their desk phone to contact me while I was in Bermuda.

Insurance: She felt she never got it & never needed it. I bought it for the first time for that cruise, which was around my 25th cruise. Cost: approx. $50. Her airlift cost from the Bermuda hospital to home hospital was $15,000. There were airline costs for 3 of her family members to fly to Bermuda and back (her son flew in the medical plane with his mom, guess part of the $15K). Hotel rooms @ a discounted hospital rate of $250. per night plus taxes, meals, cabs, & some uncovered medical bills. I think it would be conservative to say $20,000. was spent. I did not get back for my part because I either listened to someone misinformed or I misheard. At a time like that $ is the last thing you have on your mind.

Advice: Buy insurance that covers airlift & costs. You don't need to be old to have to use it, she was in her 50s. Appendix could burst on a kid. Just hope it's the best "wasted" money ever spent. When you do buy it. Print at least the cover page with the info & if not noted there ask before you go what is the 24 hr. number to call if you do need to use it.

Enjoyed your comparison. I've sailed many times (20+) on Carnival, the last being 03/2014 and there never was the option of steakhouse items being served in the dining room for a $20. fee. What ship did you sail on that offered that & when did you sail?

I've only been to Mr. Sanchos where you could order as many appetizers & entrees as you wanted. At Nachi is it limited to just 1 appetizer, 1 entree, & dessert?

They all sound like great ideas that you can't go wrong with, the only 2cents I'm throwing in is you mayt want to reconsider on having a stranger from the ship tag along to do the photos (unless it is a professional photog. from the ship if you are def set on in the moment photos). Keep the moment special between you & your girlfriend.

If you aren't having a photoshoot with a professional, you can always have someone snap a picture of you after you gave the ring & just reinact the scene as you get down on one knee again or however you decide to do it & let them snap away. You don't want to be thinking "Is this person catching all this?" as you are having one of the most important moments of your life or feel like they are standing there listening in on a very romantic moment between the two of you. I bet if you ask anyone woman who is engaged if they remember the moment they'd say yes with or without pics.

Congrats & so sweet that you are giving so much thought to all of this.

There only time I ever heard of a problem with switching cabins (besides having enough beds as someone mentioned when switching a triple & a quad) is if passengers are moving children all into one room or underage children in with say a 21 year old who can legally buy alcohol. Then this may be an issue if the cabins are not next to or across from each other. Otherwise we've moved people around without issue.

How does one reserve a spot at ropicante and get there from port?

Anyone who went to Tropicante can you answer the above?

Number of years ago I was swimming in the pool & hit my hand/engagement ring on the ladder of the pool. As I lifted my hand up to see if I cut it I saw the prong broke on my ring & the diamond fell out somewhere in the pool. A fellow passenger saw the look of panic on my face, asked what happened and promptly cleared the pool of all swimmers - and not one of them complained. She asked children who had snorkle masks to let her borrow them & then distributed them to her husband & a couple of others in her group. We searched for a while to no avail and again not one complaint from passengers about being asked to stay out of the pool while we looked.

Just as my husband arrived on the scene (busy eating at the buffet - lol) & we discussed with staff about emptying the pool & hoping the diamond would get caught on the filter grid & pray it didn't go thru. Next thing a young girl about 12 yrs old popped her head out from the water & screamed "I found it!!!" & cupped her hand onto my husband's passing the diamond along! My husband got a napkin and said he was locking it in the safe until the end of the cruise. I never even saw this child go into the pool, it had only been the people the woman had directed in. I kept insisting to my husband that I wanted to see the diamond because I was sure he put this child up to saying she found it so the cruise wouldn't be ruined (1st sea day). At any rate this little mermaid angel heped us out & yes, we did make sure we took her cabin # to drop off a letter of thanks & a reward.

Just off the Glory where tablecloths used only 2 nights in main dining room. Actually the tables looked very nice without them. They have put all new wood table tops on the tables, wine bottles with little slate on a twine with the table # on it, etc. I didn't think I'd like the new look but I did.

Our waiter didn't think it was a cost savings not to use them since they had to replace all the table tops, which was not cheap. Does save on laundry. He believes this won't go much further on other ships because of all the carrying on people are doing about it.

People don't like change. Human nature. Don't get stressed until you go & see it. It really isn't all that monumental.

Received my first up-sell on my 19th Carnival cruise just last week. They sent an e-mail 4 days before the sailing (my husband saw others on cruise critic mentioning they were contacted before us). We repeatedly called back but only got voice message. By the time I spoke to the rep the next afternoon everything was sold out. However, the rep kept me in mind if anyone canceled & 2 days before we left he called again. Aft wrap around balcony!!! LOVED it!!

It's been a few years since I did that but we just showed up at Mr. Sanchos with our print-out in hand and paid our balance. Had a fun time & looking to do it again in March.

I'm sure there is someone out there with more recent experience but prob. the same.

Anyone have answers about food & drink at Mahogany Bay Beach? Last time at Roatan I did a tour so in March planning to stay at beach. Is it a mad dash for beach chairs & umbrellas or plenty? Food options there or is it quick to go back & forth to ship without paying $12. pp for chair ride?

I'm not sure that they lose $ on me since we tend to travel peak times so we pay a decent rate for cruise fare. I am not a huge eater so they gain there. For spending, I drink very little & don't gamble. Only gift shop purchases is booze to take home for hubby & parties. Years ago when sailing & our kids were young I spent a lot on pictures. No more.

However, my husband LOVES to gamble! Sun getting a bit hot "maybe hit the casino for a while". Doesn't like shows, spends each evening in the casino. Cha-ching, cha-ching for Carnival!!

Carnival wouldn't keep building ships if they weren't making money regardless of how frugile you are.

Ah!!

 

I don't want to be the only weirdo!!

 

Need to think about this then - I was looking forward to getting dressed up, but not if I am the only one! :eek:

You won't be nor look like a "weirdo." It's been maybe 3 years since my last Carnival cruise (my upcoming one will be my 19th on Carnival) but in the past there has always been at least a couple of men dressed in a tux. Not many, I'll admit, & my husband used to be one of them but he was never alone. Now he's been slacking on the the formal dressing up - lol.

It's your 25th anniversary, you were looking forward to it, go for it! You'll look classy & it will make your pictures special. I'm sure it will please your wife too that you went that extra mile to look great for her. Enjoy & all the best for your next 25 years!!!

My husband & I are going with another couple to Mr. Sanchos. The other couple doesn't drink so they don't want AI. My husband def wants AI. If my husband & I did AI could we eat on the AI side, then get our drinks & wander over to the pay as go side to meet up with other couple during course of the day? I see people mentioning they visited the pay as you go side from AI.

I understand how the beach club wouldn't want people bringing drinks to guests on other side who have not paid for them. Certainly not our intention at all! Can we just bring the drink we are drinking & sit on that side? A bit of a pain to be wandering back & forth but we do want to spend time with them without running up a poss big bill.

Yes the 30% off code worked for cozumel

 

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I went to the beach tours website that poster whiteyintampa listed & it mentioned a free discount card when booking thru them. I didn't see anything about 30% off for Mr. Sanchos though. I only saw AI + water park band for $57. as their special offer. Where are you seeing the 30% code? I'm obviously looking in a wrong spot.

Im going to be using Victor Boddens private tour as excursion. My question, How safe is Roatan? Trip advisory says not so safe in Roatan but tourist sites rent as bad. Whats not "as Bad'

My family and I used Victor Boddens tours a few years back. Felt very safe. Victory Bodden has a lot invested in his business & I don't believe the company would place people in situations that would cause a backlash on their bookings. In reading various posts here the gov't warnings seems to pertain to the mainland. The heiress that was murdered was someone that attempted to help addicts & was killed by someone she knew.

Hope you have a wonderful tour & enjoy a beautiful place.

bookbabe - How did you get to Royal Palms? Could we take a bus? If you took a cab, how much was the fare?

Thanks CCReight!

I have always booked directly with hotels. Trying to navigate the bidding system or hotwire deals where they tell you which property, etc. & am confused.

My husband & I are taking a cruise out of Port of Miami on 3/2/14 so looking for a 1 night stay pre-cruise. Was hoping to get something in $125. price range that provided airport shuttle and/or cruise ship shuttle. If they have a light breakfast that would be a bonus! Naturally I would expect to pay more if it were a more upscale property such as Embassy Suites.

We usually book LaQuinta on LeJuene Rd. & they provide all of the above. Clean, decent, place with a continental breakfast but I felt a price of $179. plus 13% tax was a lot for that property. Near a highway & nothing really in easy walking distance. Basically a place to put your head & get transportation, which is fine but not for that price.

So in short - Is there a way of entering what amenities I want to narrow it down? When I looked in Miami area there are so many areas I don't even know where, for example, Bayside (which people said had nice restaurants/shops) is considered. What area should I look into?

HELP!!! Suggestions???

Do any of the hotels mentioned have free airport shuttle & port shuttle? We usually stay at LaQuinta on LaJuene Rd. but rate about 1 1/2 yrs ago was $86. now $179. They do offer free airport p/up & free shuttle to pier though.

Thanks for the heads up.

To the best of my knowledge neither you, nor your children, need a passport on a closed loop cruise leaving from the US or PR. The entering the country they are referring to is if you are flying or driving into Mexico.

One issue I hope you don't ever have to contend with is if you had to fly home due to an emergency or had to get off the ship or were injured/sick in a foreign land. Then you would be in need of a passport. Unfortunately, I had such an issue on a recent cruise & was glad I had packed my passport & not just by birth certificate.

I guess you've never cruised from NY.

Actually I have cruised from NY many times. No one hassled me to tip as I approached with my bags, though I do always tip. In fact the last time I chased down the porter to tip him after he put my bags on the cart & quickly moved on.

To the OP, I have found that yes you can just put your bags on the cart. I've done it a few times. My thinking is why take them from car or cab & put them on the ground in front of the cart for the porter to pick them up? Let's just get the job done...who cares if it's the porter or us!!!

I do wind up tipping anyway even if we put them on the cart, but no one has yet to tell me not to load them.