LinVirginia

Here's what happened for us. We are in a city (Richmond, VA) where airfares are steep and flights are almost always non-direct. I kept watching fares over a year before we were to sail and had chosen the flights I wanted by both price and time - R/T Seattle in August 2018. I checked daily and, the very day that the fares for our date opened, I found the lowest fare I ever saw, so low booking Comfort was less than the usual economy. Needless to say, I jumped on tickets and have noted, even the next day, that the fares were never anywhere near that low price again. My recommendation is for you to monitor fares for a month or two and choose the flights you want. Find out the day your flight opens for purchase (I found this out from checking when I could book on the airline site) and book early that day. This worked amazingly well with Delta for us. Good luck!

Don’t miss this earlier thread. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2623765&highlight=Binoculars

I think weight is a very important consideration!

When you leave the port area, there is a parade of taxis. What no one has mentioned is that there is a coordinator who matches what you want to do with cabbies. Look for him. We wanted to see primitive native art in Puerto Plata, quite nearby. We also wanted a cabbie who spoke English. We were told the cabbie spoke English - In actuality, the only English he really spoke was "my name is Raoul." But that really wasn't any problem. He was lovely and took us to gallery/store after store. Nice 3 hour diversion. I had downloaded several pictures from the web featuring the kinds of paintings I wanted to see and he hit the nail on the head as to the shops he took us to. I recommend you take pix of things you want to see in case you get a driver whose English is limited. It was truly a wonderful morning in an absolutely beautiful country.

I was disappointed about how far we had to walk to the taxis after the pedicab let us off at the immigration area. If you really have walking/breathing problems, see if you can negotiate a ride to the taxi area. I would recommend $10 if you get pedaled there!

I did a lot of review-reading on Amazon and initially ordered birding favorite Wingspan Optics Wingcatcher 8x42 weighing 1.5 lbs. for @ $130. When it arrived, I loved the clarity and functions, but, compared to my husband’s older, more-compact binoculars, I knew these were too heavy for me. I returned the Wingcatcher for the lighter Wingspan Spectator (8 x 32) at .94 lbs. who knew that 1/2 lb could make such a difference around my neck? These lighter ones are highly-rated, fog & waterproof, with a lifetime guarantee - and $35 cheaper. For me, the best reasonable binoculars are the ones light enough to effortlessly carry.

Great news. Thank you both.

just wondering if there are pedi-cabs/rickshaws for transport (for a fee or tips) from gangplank to taxis in Aruba? These piers are getting longer and DH could use some assistance here. Thx.

We are on the Koningsdam which is the only ship in port that Friday.

Just what I had hoped to hear. Thank you.

My husband has health issues that do not permit him to walk far without resting. We are on the only ship in port this day and I am wondering about the distance he would have to cover both to taxis and town. We have been on over 20 cruises but this is one of the first with his limited mobility and our first time to Bonaire. We are trying to decide about whether a rollator would be an asset and appreciate your expertise on specific distances. Also, are rickshaws, trolleys, etc., available to assist folks from gangplank to taxis for tips or a charge? Thank you for your help.

DH has heart and breathing problems. How far is the walk from dock to taxis? Are there riding jitneys or carts to assist? Thank you.

Got the answers I needed from posting this on the HAL board. Hurrah!

Thank you so much for these recent updates. This is really good news for us - and, as you surmised - it’s been 7 years since our last visit here. And that was well before mobility issues. Good news!:)

Thanks. Have done 2 of these 3 already. Will try the Harbor Authority now, too. Was hoping some recent visitor would remember seeing a golf cart, etc. thank you.

How would someone who has heart problems and can’t walk far without resting get from the ship to Curacao's taxi pick-up? I remember a long bridge from previous visits when we had no mobility issues. Are trolleys available to assist passengers? Here’s hoping there is some assistance available. Thank you.

I am in the process of contracting with one of the carriage tour companies to pick us up at the dock upon our early evening arrival. The contact noted that, of course, the carriage can't come directly to the dock but, rather, there is @ 1000 foot pedestrian walkway from the ship to where we could be picked up. My husband cannot walk 1000 feet without several stops to rest. My question is about how the SOLSTICE assists passengers getting from the dock to where taxis, tours, etc., are. Is there a tram? Thanks so much for your help with this before I book something.

How would someone who has heart problems and can’t walk far without resting get from the ship to the taxi pick-up? I remember a long bridge from previous visits when we had no mobility issues. Are trolleys available to assist passengers? Here’s hoping there is some assistance available. Thank you.

We took our DS, DDIL, and beloved GS on the Oasis 2 year’s ago to the Caribbean. My husband and I prefer Celebrity but I really thought our 8/year old GS would be better wow-ed by RCCL. I was expected to think the ship OK - even though we had both enjoyed 3 cruises 20 years ago on Royal. Loved, then, the pep and spirit. I thought that this was more of a cruise pleasing the others. I was quite interested in what such a huge ship as the Oasis would be like.

When we entered, it was nothing like any ship I had been on - the Oasis was like a shopping mall with fake stone and shop upon shop. Eck. However, we enjoyed so much of this not-like-anything-we-had-ever-experienced ship. Watching the surfers, taking in the shows, and watching the ice skating spectacular was wonderful. The 2/of us who never go to shows shipboard had the best time on RCCL. The food in the MDR was fine - I was impressed, expecting less. We never felt like we were in long lines - the huge passenger numbers were never obvious. I think for a family (multi-generational) trip including kids, a large RCCL ship would be perfect.

We are taking our grandson, now 11, on Celebrity - just the 3 of us (no mom & dad) to Alaska this August. I expect he’ll miss the RCCL hoopla he experienced at 8 but I know he’ll have a wonderful time with all we’ve planned.

Again, if I were to take the whole family again, I would choose a huge RCCL because of the incredible variety offered. For just us, Celebrity is perfect.

I hoped for specific days for Gala Nights from someone who has been on the 10-day Koningsdam Southern Route.

I have been on 20+ cruises and understand the general policies. This time I was looking for specifics!

just checking for specialty restaurant bookings. Thank you.

Thank you. A very thorough reply. I think DH will have to pass on this one while I go with Grandson.

I contacted one vendor and was told that the dock to the whale watch boat was long and that it would be a lengthy walk, difficult for someone with breathing issues. Just wondered if anyone here had used a company where the docks are short? DH has heart problems and cannot walk far without resting. Thank you.

i noticed that some specialty dining experiences have separate prices to include or not include wine pairings. How does the premium beverage package work with that? Thanks.

:mad:This excursion just OPENED TODAY! I had contacted the shore ex dept several times and was assured that someone would let me know the date it would open. HA! No word. Just happened to get lucky today and booked for 3 for August 24th Solstice sailing. How incompetent the folks seem - tho' sooo sincere. And what an awful website. Celebrity should be ashamed!!!

Will we see whales on this trip or would a whale watching trip once back to Juneau be in order? I have reserved one for 4:30 but a response by another poster has me second-guessing that choice.