LE

There are a few benches near the parking lot but I think those closest to Smoking Rooster aren't in the shade.

We're sure hoping we have to sit in the sun. Looking at the weather forecast, it appears we might be getting off the ship in the rain. :')

Our plans are to head to Magens Bay for a wedding vows renewal ceremony, going back to celebrate where we were married there on the beach 20 years ago. We're of course very excited!

If the rain comes, so be it. We won't let it dampen our celebration - plan B in a local church will carry us on!:halo:

Thanks again for yours and fellow cruisers or locals here on this board who help with many a celebrations!

This board is so good. You all have been very helpful. Thanks so much. I'm sure we can work it out from all the good info here. For clarification, we plan to meet him at 9:30 a.m. I see the restaurant opens at 10:00 a.m. so can't meet up inside. We'll catch him in back parking area.

But the large building is still there with lots of parking and easy to find and get in/out of. I suggested this because of the location and the picture available on the Havensight website the OP can see.

 

Smoking Rooster is one of our favorites...great stuffed baked potatoes and love their Banana Pudding...I believe there is parking in the rear...the OP's friend could possibly make his way there...As I said much easier to play it by ear once there using texting.

We already told him Smoking Rooster, so don't think we'll change it. We can walk that far with no problem. But we mentioned to him we'd meet at the restaurant's entrance. In looking at the map, I was wondering about that, as it does look like parking is in the back like you say. Should I tell him we'll meet him in the back where the parking is, or will he be able to drive up to the entrance? Sorry if I sound confused - likely am. :):)

Al Cohen Discount Mall is now a bowling alley. The most popular meeting places are the restaurants Tap and Still or Smoking Rooster.

Looking at Google maps, Smoking Rooster looks fairly close to walk to from the ship. You think our friend could find a parking place around there? Guess we could buy a BBQ sandwich or two to give them some business. Any thoughts ?

DH & I renewed our vows at Magen's Bay in March. Lovely beach. Super clean restrooms. Plenty of space. Hope you had a great day!

We will also be renewing our vows at Magens Bay next week. We married there 20 years ago and promised to return and renew them every 10 years, which we did in 2008.

On both occasions, we did it away from the main beach area down among the trees to the south. But we've been hearing that the hurricane did a number down there and you wouldn't recognize it the same as it was.

Did you find it being that bad of condition from the hurricane?

Thanks so much for your good info. May I pick your thoughts one more time?

I am thinking we'll take you up on advising him to look for a parking spot in the Al Cohen Discount Liquor Mall parking area and to wait there with his phone on. Then as we're ready to leave the ship we can phone/text him and have him drive on inside the Havensight Mall and pick us up at some designated location we need to come up with.

So my next question is what might be a good location for us to have him drive in and meet us? I have looked at the maps and wonder if he would be able to drive in to the Tourist Information building, or if not there, would you suggest a location that might work good for us? Closest to the ship as he might be able to drive to.

Thanks. How long would you estimate time wise to walk to there from the ship? My wife is a little frail, so I was hoping for them to meet us maybe a bit closer. Is it hard, or maybe not possible, finding a place to park inside the Havensight Mall area?

We're going to be arriving in St. Thomas on the Carnival "Fascination" and be picked up by a local friend. He apparently isn't that familiar with the Havensight Dock and Mall area, so is asking where he should meet us. Anyone know enough about the area to suggest a good place for us to meet up with him?

Hearing different reports on present condition of the Megan Bay area. Not just the main beach area but the area with trees as you travel down the road toward the south bend in the beach. Where a lot of tree were in the past. Some reports sound like several trees down there were knocked out and you wouldn't recognize it anywhere like it used to be. Did it get hit that hard with the hurricanes last year? Anyone recently been there to speak of the overall area condition?

Thanks for sharing. Tough start but you came through like a champ. Activities sounded interesting. Though we're not divers, we're looking forward to some snorkeling. Stay well!

Thanks everyone for your advice and info. We just ordered the collapsible cooler in the link below to take with us. We're a bit concerned with AAL 50 lbs. limit on checked luggage, so was thinking possibly a disposable cooler. We'll be bringing along our own snorkel gear and some other extra items for our planned marriage vow renewal ceremony on the beach of Magens Bay, so weight likely to be a factor. Your inputs very good, and appreciated, so we'll make it work.

https://www.amazon.com/OPUX-Insulated-Collapsible-Leakproof-Construction/dp/B07D3F3P1Q

Do you think we can buy a cheap styrofoam cooler in San Juan the right size and all for carrying drinks on board and use during Fascination cruise? We'd discard it after disembarked.

And on your return to the airport, get your luggage inspected and stamped by the agricultural scanning prior to getting on line for tickets, luggage drop off, security, etc. Just a heads up, enjoy your cruise.

Not up on this - When and where do you get luggage inspected and stamped by agricultural scanning before heading to the airport, if this is what is meant?

Sounds like it's a mixed bag. In my case it will have taken 9 days if I receive it today, as scheduled.

I ordered 5 $100 gift cards on September 2nd. Received an email on the 4th advising that due to the value it would be shipped UPS and that I'd receive an email with tracking number once my order shipped. After reading your post here, and it now being 9 days later, I went ahead and just now phoned the number they gave and spoke to a nice lady who said the order shipped on the 8th and was scheduled for pickup today, the 11th (I didn't receive an email with tracking number, as their email on the 4th said I would).

So you're probably good so long as you can give it a couple of weeks at the outside, and maybe you'll get it in 5 days if it goes good for you.

OK...I see they have the hard cards this evening, so went ahead and ordered 5 of the $100 ones. Of course, there's the shipping charge of $2.95, which I didn't have to pay with earlier purchase of the e-gift cards. These days, wouldn't e-gift cards be easier and cheaper for them than sending out the hard versions? Too much of a good thing, I guess.

Didn't catch that. Thanks.

Didn't catch that. Thanks.

No longer an option

Way back when...when we cruised on the Norway, my late wife participated in a renewal of vows ceremony conducted by the chaplain on the ship. We did it as a group with maybe 10 or 12 couples showing up in one of the ball rooms. It wasn't private or elegant with all the frills, but it was free and had a special meaning to those of us who participated. A very nice gesture on the part of the cruise line and the chaplain they had invited on the cruise. They gave us personalized vow renewal certificates signed and dated by the chaplain. Most of us reached in our pockets afterwards, went up and thanked him and slipped a $20. Not sure, but from the sound of it cruise lines today likely not to offer such these days. Anybody know for sure?

We are renewing our marriage vows next month in St. Thomas - there on the beach at Megans Bay where we were married 20 years ago. We promised ourselves back then that we would return to the same spot every 10 years and renew our vows. 10 years ago we went back there and did a ceremony with just the two of us. This time we contacted a local minister of our faith who is arranging things and will conduct the ceremony. It will cost a few bucks, but such a special occasion will be worth it. We have a great marriage, and a renewal of vows ceremony just keep putting more icing on the cake. You can guess, we highly recommend it - whether it's on the ship or in one of the ports.

Still waiting for the e-gift cards, which haven't seen for a while. Find them to be easy to get and there's no concern that way with mail/UPS. Our cruise is getting closer, so may have to go with the hard guys.

For NancyC: Sign on to AARP website and find Reward for Good. There they offer a variety of tests that if you take them they give you an amount of Reward for Good points. Then find their gift cards and see if they are offering any Carnival CL gift cards. If so, their offer will be the $500 CCL gift card for $450 and the $100 for $90, so long as you have 1000 Reward for Good points to use for each $100 purchased. You will have to take quite a few tests to get up to 1000 points, but it goes pretty quickly. If in your case, you thing it's worth the savings, go for it!

A twelve pack of water, and tradition dictates some type of champagne and sweet (usually chocolate covered strawberries) on debarkation night. We enjoy that package from our balcony as sailing out of port!

Like your tradition. Might give it a go, though we don't do champagne - a toast in any event, even with water. Who doesn't like chocolate covered strawberries.

My boarding pass says 1:00 to 1:30 P.M., but I don't recall choosing it. I did purchase FTTF, but I don't see where that is indicated on the boarding pass. How do they know I have FTTF? Maybe when they scan it?

Just got our answer: TA agent made final payment with our credit card which we had authorized up front. No query if we'd like to prepay gratuities or not.

If you booked with TA company, do they typically ask you if you'd like to prepay tips before you make final payment for cruise? Our final payment coming up this month and haven't heard from TA company. Maybe you have to initiate it with them, or most of them?

Love your writing. The Eco-Adventure tour at Harrison Cave sounds great for you young folks, though not sure DW and I could handle it. Did you get any appreciation for the regular tour? It sounds like we might be able to handle the tram ride version - what do you think? Though your adventure really sounds like the way to really enjoy it! Thanks for taking time to describe it all so well.

Is the Hub chat generally preferred over walkie-talkies for keeping in touch? Haven't cruised in ages, but seem to remember bringing walkie-talkies.