Caribbean Allan

The private excursion company that had the van and met us for or day in Falmouth was “Excursion Ocho Rios” and the driver was the owner, Richard Brooks.  A vey nice, pleasant and fun man.  

My wife had knee surgery and we had to do the same thing.  There are two private companies that rent the scooters for cruise ships.  We read the reviews and picked Special Needs At Seas”.  Humm….  Maybe it was because of the reviews, I don’t know, but of the about 20 scooters we saw at sea, 100% of them were from this one company.  They were wonderful.  They were staged outside in a covered area not too far from baggage-off.  Our Uber driver was able to pull up and drop us off right there.  (In Galveston for Radiance Of The Seas).  My wife was able do drive it right into the building for check-in, and then all the way into the ship.  That was so much nicer than the “scooter delivered to the cabin”, that we read about elsewhere, but never saw.  There are several styles to choose from.  We ordered the smallest size scooter that will carry a 240 pound person and we were able to get it into the door of our regular sized balcony cabin.  For the sake of this comment, I will call it “the medium sized scooter”.  They do call it a different name.  Please know that due to the skinny hallways outside the cabin, we could not simply turn the corner and drive it right in.  I always had to bring it in or take it out of the cabin for her.  It did involve slightly picking up one end.  But it really was no big deal as it’s not that heavy.  There are times that my wife wanted to go places on her own, and she did!  She was able to go every place on her own.  The Solarium, Viking Crown Lounge, and others.  If she wanted to go our cabin to grab something or take a nap, she parked it near the end of the short hall at the atrium, and walked the length of cabins to our room.  We found it amazing that there was ALWAYS a place to park it, if desired.  There were seemingly an endless number of nooks, crannies, alcoves, or wide areas in which to park it.  We did drive it into the main dining room once, and it was doable, but way too tight.  After that first time, she just parked out outside the entrance doors. We charged it only at night, even though some of those alcoves had electrical outlets.  In Falmouth, Jamaica, she drove it off the ship and all the way to a far-away parking lot where we met our private excursion company / taxi with whom we arranged a van. It really wasn’t that expensive at all, and was cheaper than Royal Caribbean’s offerings.  The driver and I easily picked up the scooter and put it in the back of the van.  My wife used it throughout the day.  We loved that scooter, and it made the cruise just as fun as cruises in the past.  Do not hesitate to rent a scooter.  Have fun!  

Even on the largest of ships, such as tje Oasis class ships, we never really have a problem finding each of our family members.  This is because we know them so very well.  I know where to look for each of them because I know what they like to do,   Even so,  i have to admit that to play it safe, we do all agree to meet about 45 minutes before dinner, just to make sure we do hook up.  But as it turned out, it rarely turned out to be necessary.  

I went to the Passport Office in San Francisco.  I was there as soon as they opened and got my updated /renewal passport about 4 hours later.  Unfortunatly, there are not many Passport Offices around.  For example, I belive there are only two of them in all of California.   I know this  won’t help you now, but others might find this useful.  

I have not received a refund yet for my March 15 cruise.  I had immediately called when the cruise cancellation happened, which was just a day or two before the cruise.  At that time I told them I wanted a refund.  I didn't get the refund.  So about a week later I called and again told the lady I wanted a refund.  (Not a credit certificate).  Shortly thereafter, I got an email that stated refund requests or certificates would be received by April 22.  I got a credit certificate in the email, but no refund.  I filled out the online form to exchange the certificate for a refund.  Still no refund.  I called the phone number and they said it will take 30 days more!

Today is May 3, which is EXACTLY 7 weeks from the start of my cancelled cruise.  Still no refund!!!

I would certainly email all parties involved, such as the travel agent, the travel agent's headquarters, and even the cruise line.  Explain that you have been, and are still trying to cancel via phone but there is no answer.  It is important that you document this as much as possible.  Email seems to work for documentation on so many things these days.  So I would certainly do that for sure.  But in the meantime, I would also send a written notice of wanting to cancel via overnight mail, and make sure you check the box to require a signature for delivery.   Even if the mail gets back to you un-opened because they refused to sign the envelope, you have your documentation.  If the envelope comes back to you un-delivered, then keep that UNOPENED envelope as proof if you need it in small claims court.  You can open the envelope in the judge's presence.  

For those people who still want to go on their cruise, but is still within the window of opportunity to cancel, (ie… more than 90 days out),  why not just cancel your reservation, but in the back of your mind, know that if you change your mind, there will still be room on the ship?  This is because there are not a lot of people making cruise reservations right now.  It is highly likely that your exact same cabin will still be available months from now.  (Unless you have a nice one, such as a suite, and somebody gets upgraded to it.  Even so, there would be other cabins available, including on sailings that are currently sold out. I'd  be willing to bet my house that in the foreseeable future, great sales with MAJOR discounts will be had on all sailings, everywhere.  I wouldn't be surprised if by next year, there are many ships idle and anchored.  

Thank you everyone!  Looks like I have several good options to pick from!  

I'm looking for suggestions on which company to hire for a private guide/driver for Cozumel.  We do not want to ride in a jeep, and would prefer a mini-van or larger even though we only have 3 people.  (One is elderly).  We want a "fun" and knowledgeable driver that wouldn't waste our time taking us "the long way around" and to "extra unplanned stops" where he might get a kickback, such as happened to us in Jamaica.  I mean, if we only have less than 8 hours in a country we don't want to waste our time!  We just need a good driver and I will tip him well.  ....any suggestions?

Also, I remember reading a year ago on these boards about a good Mexican restaurant right on a good beach on the East side of the Island.  The best food around.  I can't remember the name of it or where it is.  Any ideas on that?  Is it still open?

Please report back on it’s effectiveness!

I will!  Thank you!  I am so excited about this trip:  RCC Liberty Of The Seas, Lv Galveston, March 15, 2020.  I can't wait to hold a sloth and to snorkel that barrier reef!

Well,  After reading these posts, and then doing even more research on Tripadvisor and other cruise and traveler sites, this is the sum of what I've learned about these critters that leave intense itching:

1.  Sometimes they are not a problem, and sometimes they are.  Some seasons might be worse than others.

2.  They are picky biters!  Some people they won't bite, and other people they bite alot.

3.  They love salt on your skin.  So IMMEDIATELY put on protection immediatly after leaving the ocean water.

4.  Avoid damp sand near the water. 

5.  The tiny critters cannot fly against the wind.  So breezy days are your friend!

6.  They suffocate in oils or other "goop" people put on their skin.  So slathering this goop on helps ALOT.

7.  Insect repellent such as Backwoods or other 100% Deet helps ALOT.

8.  You can read up on all the goop people put on their skin, such as different types of oils, and Avon skin so soft.

So this is what I'm going to do:

1.  Not worry about the season, since I can't change it.  But I'm glad I'm going in early spring!

2.  Have goop in my swimsuit button-down pocket and put it on IMMEDIATELY upon walking out of the water.  Then find a place to rinse off and then goop up again. 

3.  Put Backwoods OFF ON TOP OF THE GOOP. 

4.  Which goop will I choose to use?   I'm going to use that which is sold locally, apparently "all over the place" locally for the purpose of keeping sand flies at bay:  Sunscreen that has cactus juiice as it's base.  But I'm not going to go shopping for the stuff while I'm in Roatan.  I want to put some on before I get off the boat, or at least before I get off the pier.  So I will buy at least one container online, prior to my cruise departure.

5.  Some people get bitten because they forget to keep the goop or oils on.  I will make it a point to stay slippery goopy and constantly put Backwoods Off on top of it.  Constantly.  Yes, it's bad for my body, but only for a day. 

6.  I will have clear aloe ready back at the cabin on the ship.  Maybe some .1% Hydrocordisone acetate or cream, also.

7.  I will notify the parents of the problem of sand flies if I happen to see a baby playing in the sand, and the baby appears to be with a tourist family. 

After all this preparation, I am going to make VERY sure that I enjoy my time in Roatan.  Apparently, it's such a great place to be that many people keep going back to visit, and even to retire there, even though they've been bit many times!

Thanks, all!

I've never been to Roatan, and I have an RCC port of call in March 2020.  I've read so much about sand flies that I'm wishing that I was not taking my elderly mother in law on this cruise.  I'm worried about her.  Yes, I have read all about how to protect ourselves.  BUT, in all the reading that I've done, I haven't found any recent posts or articles on the subject.  Everything I read was posted 3 or more years ago.  So I'm wondering if it's still a problem.  Is it?  

We took the public bus. No biggie.  Frequent Busses.  No stress.

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you!

I keep seeing photos people holding sloths, and monkeys on top of people's heads.  Is there any place where I can both hold a sloth and HOLD a monkey?  I'm not really interested in a monkey on top of my head.  I'd rather look at him while he's in my arms.  Thanks for any info! 

Thanks!

Thank you.  This is very helpful information!!

Hi,

Liberty Of The Seas arrives in Belize City at 8am.  I am trying to figure out how long I should allow to stand in line on the ship to take my turn on hopping on a tender boat, riding to shore, and then grabbing a taxi to go to the small municipal airport in Belize City.  (Not the larger international airport).  I have no idea how many tender boats are used, the frequency, or anything about he efficiency of the process.  I would really, really, appreciate a best case and worse case scenario.  I am anxiously awaiting your answers!  Thank you!!!!!!

Liberty Of The Seas arrives at Belize City at 8:00am.  I would like to charter a helicopter out of Belize Municipal Airport.  This is the small city airport that is in town and not far away from the port.  It is not the international airport.  I am trying to figure out what would be a safe time for me to schedule the flight, without wasting the day by choosing a flight that leaves unnecessarily late in the morning.  In other words, I want to get off the ship, take the sight-seeing flight, and then go do other things in Belize before I get back on the ship. 

How much time should I allow to stand in line on the ship,  to tender, and make it to the airport?  I have no idea how many tender boats there are, or if the process is efficient, or if I could be stuck on the ship for an hour and a half.  Any help would be appreciated, as I don't want to schedule the flight and then find that I cannot meet the flight...

Thank you so much for providing a best and worst case scenario!

Which cruise line private island in the Caribbean is your favorite, and why?

Although I am a cruiser, I just happened to be working in Sitka for over two months. I left for home on June 17, 2017.

I can tell you that Super Cruiser's post is right on. All the suggestions are good. With one minor suggestion. As we get closer to salmon season, in fact it just started.... the bears are coming out of the woods. I can assure you that the locals would NEVER, EVER consider going on any type of a hike this time of year without bear spray attached to their hip. It is a bear-sized and bear-strength pepper spray that is available for about $37 each at a few places in town, including the sporting goods store. So although the trail by the Raptor Center is beautiful, as are other trails, I just wouldn't take the hike during Salmon season. So for all cruisers: Google samon runs up the Indian River other rivers in Sitka for your cruise dates, prior to a walk in the forest. This includes Totem Park. If you want to keep up on the bear sightings, the locals have set up a Facebook page where you can look up where the latest bear sightings in town have happend: https://www.********************/232225736811175/

Also, although you haven't asked, but other cruisers that are experienced in Sitka may suggest a walk through Totem Park to the Raptor Center. Everyone should know that the bridge over the Indian River was torn down in May 2017, and they have started to rebuild it with new. I'm sure it will be done this summer, I just don't know when. So if anyone plans on walking from downtown to the Raptor Center, then take another route that is not across the Indian River in Totem Park.

By the way, I did a beautiful glacier helicopter landing in Juneau with ERA. It was nice, because they didn't just go straight to the glacier. They took a round-about trip over snow capped mountains and down a georgous valley towards the glacier. I loved the route!

Although I am a cruiser, I just happened to be working in Sitka for over two months straight. I left Sitka for home on June 17, 2017. This is what I discovered:

1. The Sitka Visitor's Bureau has a web page with a "cruise ship calendar." It lists all the cruise ships that will dock, for the entire year.

http://www.sitka.org/includes/media/docs/Visit_Sitka_2017_Cruise_Ship_Calendar-1-.pdf

Just go to the calendar and find your ship. There is a legend on the side of the calendar that will explain the codes to which dock you'll be at. The Old Sitka Dock is about 10 minutes driving time away from downtown and other attractions. All the cruise ships that use this dock give their passengers a free bus ride to and from the dock. There are many buses that run frequently. The Petro Dock is for small ships of about 64 passengers or less. That is a 10 minute walk to downtown. The Oconnel Bridge docks is for both small and medium sized ships, and is a 3 minute walk to downtown. If your ship is slated for Crescent Harbor, then that means you will be tendered into Crescent Harbor. If the ship is listed on the calendar, then it's usually it's about a 5 to 8 minute tender to Crescent Harbor. I'm not sure where City Port Wall dock is. But it's probably near the Petro Dock and would be a short walk to town.

2. Ocasionally, there is a ship that pulls into town and is not shown on the cruise ship schedule. That is always a surprise, and happens about twice a month. The shop owners are always surprised, too, and they rely on the cruisers' business! If you know you have a cruise on a medium or large size ship, and it is not shown on the calendar, then I can assure you that you will be parked far away, and will be a very long tender of 10 minutes or more to Crescent Harbor.

3. If you do get tendered to Crescent Harbor, that is bad that you got tendered, but good, because that tendering dock is by far the closest you'll get to anything and everything. In fact, if you take the free shuttle from Old Sitka Dock, they will drop you off at Crescent Harbor. So it takes about as much time to get tendered into Crescent Harbor, and it does to take the free shuttle from Old Sitka Dock. (The Old Sitka dock might be a tad faster than shuttles one of the un-announced cruise ships that park very far away from Crescent Harbor).

Although I am a cruiser, I just happened to be be working in Sitka for two months, and just got back home a few days ago. Please be aware: There are many people that will say you can easily walk from the Raptor Center to downtown though Totem National Park. However, you should be aware, that around June 1, 2017 (please don't quote me on the exact date!) the footbridge over the Indian River, which is the main pathway back to downtown Sitka and the dock, was demoed. They are in the process of building a new bridge. So now it is a long walk, and worth a taxi or shuttle. I'm sorry, I don't know the completion date, but the process started about June 1.