CheckersMidwest

Our daughter was allowed to move up. It does depend on how full the clubs are but we had no problem. She was 14, a freshman in high school but she played varsity sports and was a cheerleader.(So mixed with grades 9-12 regularly) She ran with the older kids on a regular basis, not the younger junior high age kids at all. She was light years more mature and would not have enjoyed the Circle C stuff. (However, when she was 12, she did like Circle C).

How much is the taxi from the cruise port to these? They're all close so probably the same price......they're about 25 KM....30 hour Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus Dreams Dominicus La Ramona Viva Wyndham

Yes, you are absolutely right! Thank you

Sometimes, the bartender hands me a fountain pop. Sometimes it's a glass of ice & a can. Yes, you can use the machines but when I was on the Celebration last fall, the machines were always out of order all over the ship. Although, the ones at the back by the Pig & Anchor worked but the pepsi tasted really weird. Some of them ran carbonation only (if you scanned a credit card to pay for a pop....then you paid for a nasty carbonated water. So really not effecient or convenient.)

For those worried about travel advisories. Have you looked at the US passport / travel site? There are advisories for just about everywhere! Different levels 1, 2, 3, etc. I'm going on an 8 day in May to Aruba, Dominican, & Curacao. Guess what? They're all on the list !

When in May is the Magic scheduled for dry dock? I'm booked on the May 4 sailing.

We always choose early dining since that's about the time we eat dinner at home. I wouldn't eat late, especially when the kids were little & in bed by 8:30. We made it to all the shows on the Celebration (and all the other ships) without any trouble after eating.

I've sailed the Sunrise multiple times - but only because we had crazy cheap (almost free) offers for that ship. I've been on the Magic once , sailing again in May. The Sunrise is fine. I prefer the Magic. It's bigger (but not giant like the Celebration. I wasn't a fan.), has lots to offer.

Pop (Pepsi specifically) is my coffee too. I get it !

I have always preferred Pepsi to Coke, so was very happy when they switched !

We had a Havana Cabana on the Panorama. It was our first cruise out of California. We went in July. A couple important things to us: At night, around 6:00 it got cold. We sat outside to eat and they used patio warmers. In July. The first sea day and the sea day coming back, it was cold on the deck & a lot of people stayed inside. Definitely not the typical Caribbean or even Mexico weather we're used to in July. Mexico itself was warm and we enjoyed it. We don't care to sail out of California again though. We are from Missouri where everything that didn't stay open during covid, opened back up in May. We flew to Mexico for vacation, took a cruise, our daughter got married, had a new grand baby.......then summer 21 we sailed out of California. ALL they talked about - the cruise director too, was "we're back" and we're finally 'out' and the majority of the passengers were from California. Literally all they talked about - first time out since covid and all we could think about was 'what have you people been doing?!' I know it was different everywhere, but the whole vibe , atmosphere, everything was different than any other cruise we've taken. Not bad. Just very different.

I have read a few times that there are TWO buffets. The SNACK buffet has the hamburgers, fries, etc and the other one has a lot of food. People didn’t realize there was another option until others talked about their experience

Do any hotels offer a day pass in La Ramona? I saw a video of people at the Hilton on Bahibe beach area.

Yes! We booked it for like 3:00 before sail away. We figured it wasn't as busy then and wouldn't risk it being full later on.

It's been years since we've been to La Ramona. Is this the port that has the ski lift kind of thing that takes you to the beach right by the ship?

We have always purchased FTTF for both cabins - one for us & one for our young adult children. The cabin without FTTF will not have it printed on their boarding passes nor their sign & sail cards.

This will be fun ! I took my daughter's girl scout troop to Disney once. They loved it. I had each girl list their top 3 things they wanted to do & I made sure we hit all of them. That meant we had to miss a few things we walked by but the girls understood we had a mission or not everyone would get to see/do what they most wanted. I am sure you've been together a long time and already know 'who' needs chaperoned the most 😄 ! (Referring to an above post stating how kids can be....this is a Girl Scout leader. She's already been through it all too!) I did have moms come along - they were the challenge. They didn't pay attention when we talked about the itinerary so we could see those most wanted things....always wanted to know why/when we were doing something.....they were on their phones the whole time....stopped at most smoke spots (we kept walking by the way). The girls were great!

Nothing with a heating element allowed in the cabins . It's against Fire Code.

We've always been able to imessage. Occasionally, facebook messenger as well. With the phone in Airplane mode.

One of the MAIN reasons we always buy FTTF (last time necessary, will be platinum next cruise)....is because you have Priority Boarding. Sailed out of Miami several times with it....always show up around 10:30, show them my boarding pass & they whisk me through Priority check in. We'll also be on the Celebration Sunday - see you there ! I got noon check in....I plan to arrive at 10:30. If I have to wait for some reason until noon, I'll just sit around there & wait. No different that sitting around the hotel room waiting. I have heard that check in times were pushed back for this sailing due to a Coast Guard inspection Sunday - earliest offered , even to Diamond & Platinum, was 11:00.

Oh, I am aware of the differences in ship time & local - this is our 11th cruise. Their website says to book local time, so was trying to figure out what local time would be.... I contacted them and they said their time and ship time would be the same when we visit in October.

Booking Bernard's tours.....it stresses booking island time and not ship time. If Carnival says we dock at 8:00 am ship time......what time is it in St Maarten?!

I will need to check in at home too. Usually we are disconnected while on vacation but this time our daughter is pregnant and I'll need to check in or they will need to get a hold of us in an emergency. I am aware of the International Day Plan through ATT. Used it in Europe last summer & worked great. On the ship.....if I do the wifi plan & use Facetime or messenger video chat........how do I do that? Is the phone still on airplane mode? Same to text another iphone?

We've sailed both Caribbean and Alaska. They are NOT the same cruise experience. It is chilly on board, especially with the wind from sailing when out on deck. You are outside A LOT because you want to see the countryside and wildlife. Once you enter the passage, there is land on both sides of the ship throughout most of the cruise. The pool was open but rarely was anyone in it. We did use the hot tub the day we were in the Fjord after our excursion. The hot water was great but it was freezing outside. (snowing!). On shore, it was chilly in the mornings but by afternoon a short sleeve shirt was all you needed, it did get warm. I packed jeans, tshirts, and sweatshirts. I used them all. For the glacier excursion in the Fjord where it snowed, I had a Columbia winter coat with the zip out liner. I used both pieces. Gloves and scarf. I used a hoody & rain coat for the sea mist during the whale watching excursion. I don't think I wore shorts once. The atmosphere is different too. There is still sail away.....but it is much more lax. Not the party crowd or atmosphere of Caribbean cruises. Shows were the same, comedians, piano bar, etc same.

I have FTTF for our Celebration cruise in October. Purchased it some time ago. Keep checking.