snorkel4ever

Thank you so much. We will linger on ship & have a leisurely breakfast, before heading out.

We will be on the Allure, docking at 7 am on a Monday morning. Planning on doing some shopping, John Waitling rum & Graycliff chocolate tour. What time do shops actually open on Monday mornings? Is it worth getting off ship at 7 am or wait until 9 or later? Thanks.:)

Thanks to all for recommendations. She tried BB (Bumble & Bumble) De-frizz recommended by Seventeen magazine & it did not work. Will try to pick up something recommended above in Miami.

Any recommendations from those in Florida /US for shampoo/hair products for hot/humid weather? My teenage daughter has long layered fine hair that frizzes and goes wild. She also has a tendency towards oily hair so trying to avoid layering of multiple products. No luck with products at home. Will be in Miami for few days prior to Caribbean cruise, so can pick up at CVS, Bayside or Publix. We live in very dry western Canada - so not much experience with this issue. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thanks everyone for the feedback. we are going in 3 weeks... can't wait!

Thanks so much for map! This is very close to map I had viewed before - but your version has the legend! I'm also using your recommendation for BZ cave tubing and have booked for our cruise in August. Your detailed info about excursion was so helpful.

Does anyone have a Belize Port Shopping map they can share? I've been unsuccessful trying to obtain one that contains names of stores after doing web search. The best one had a map with numbered locations indicated - but didn't name/indicate what the name of the numbered items were... We will have a short period of time to shop after a cave tubing excursion that day, so want to research/short list places to try to find wooden kitchen items/ lencan pottery in advance. Plan to visit the local flea market just outside the port gates if there is time - but are there any stores in the port area that may carry some of these items? Does anyone know if Lencan pottery bowls are kitchen safe to store food items in, or are they purely decorative?

We are sailing on Allure this August. Does anyone know if the "Pets at sea" store on board carries "Toothless" from the How To Train Your Dragon movie/television show. Any other characters or dragon "stuffies" available on the Allure? We tried unsuccessfully to obtain the limited edition Toothless dragon at build a bear - but they were sold out. The shipping costs to order on line from the US (not available in Canada) were very high - so hoping we can get on board the Allure. Any way to pre-order or reserve one on cruise?

Thanks for any info!

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. They are greatly appreciated!

A number of cc posters have made references to purchasing pre-cruise supplies near Miami port prior to boarding - rather than packing in their checked luggage from their home city airport. What types of things do you buy in Miami? Are the prices comparable or more expensive ? We usually bring our own travel size toiletries, but will likely get some Bonine , soft drinks or Gatorade. (Carnival allows I think it is 6 or maybe 12/person.) Someone mentioned a 3 in 1 laundry sheet product. Anyone know brand name and where to get this? Any must haves or unique harder to find items in Miami that aren't easily available elsewhere? Thanks for your help!

I am confused about Dress Barn. It is not listed in the Sawgrass mall directory - however it has happened to me before that the mall directory listing is not current. Does anyone know if there actually is a Dress Barn at Sawgrass? When I inquire using the Dress Barn store locator- Sawgrass does not come up. A different mall in Ft. Lauderdale is indicated- but Dress barn is not listed on that mall's directory either?? Can anyone confirm where Dress Barn is actually located? Thanks so much to everyone for their help!

My daughter will be with us so she can try on, maybe even wear to formal night on cruise. Options for shopping are so much better in US than Alberta (Canada). Just wanted more diversity/choice and the opportunity for her to try on/ see how if looks as opposed to ordering blindly on-line. Is there a specific store (other than major department stores) that would be a good choice, that I could even maybe contact in advance? Thought there was a women's career type store in Sawgrass Mall - but can't find it in directory any longer. Suggestions most appreciated!

I am looking for a ladies tuxedo or smart pant suit for my daughter's graduation. (She hates dresses and is 1X size.) Will be in Miami for a couple of days pre-cruise. Any stores in Bayside market or other close by mall? Willing to go to Ft. Lauderdale if Sawgrass is better option. Any suggestions of specific store names /malls would be appreciated! Live outside the US and am unfamiliar with some of the store names listed in mall directories. Thanks.

The reason I want to purchase some liquor on the first cruise is that it likely won't be available in the second cruise - hence the problem of how to legally bring on board Allure. If we keep it separate, attach room(luggage tag) to it at time of check in, can RCI stow it in same location that they keep liquors purchased in ports? Is there something else that has to be "actively" done or documented? Thanks for responding.

We plan to purchase some tequila or rum on western Caribbean cruise that we disembark on same day we board the Allure for an eastern Caribbean cruise. (Not B2B with RCI) Is there a process for "checking" our previous liquor purchase with RCI staff when boarding Allure and then having it returned to us when we disembark? If there is no process / guarantee to have it returned - are there some secure lockers at port terminal or elsewhere where we could store it for a week? Any suggestions would be most welcome. (We will be flying home directly from Ft. Lauderdale airport after we disembark Allure.) Thanks in advance.:)

We are going on a western caribbean cruise the previous week and will likely purchase some Tequila or maybe rum. Disembarking one ship in Miami and travelling to Fort Lauderdale same day to board Allure for eastern Caribbean itinerary. When we board Allure, what is the process for "turning over the liquor for safe keeping" until we disembark and "re-claim at end of cruise"? Any suggestions for how to do this smoothly with the least amount of hassle? Can anyone comment on quality/taste of John Waitling rum in Nassau (planning on doing a tour) vs other types of rums in Western Caribbean ports. Does anyone have any smooth, rich or flavored rum or tequila brand suggestions?

Thanks everyone for the info and your help. Can't wait to cruise!:)

Thank you for quick response. I am a novice cruiser and have never tried going from one port to another for same day cruise. Carnival Dream arrives in Miami at 8:00. We were going to do priority disembark and have already arranged private transportation to take us from Miami port to Ft, Lauderdale. It sounds as if a 9:00 departure from the Miami port is unrealistic. Do you really think it will take up to 3 hours to leave Miami port if we get off ship early? We have never been to Miami port before. (Previously have sailed from Port Canaveral port only on Disney and RCI and was off ships & through customs in an hour) There have been conflicting reports as to how soon you can board Allure or how long it takes to embark after arrival at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale. How long do you think it will take to board Allure after arrival at port, if we arrive mid to late morning as opposed to early afternoon? How long is the time frame between check in completion and boarding? Is there a seating area? Info / suggestions most appreciated!

We will be arriving in Ft. Lauderdale around 10 am sunday Aug 17 (Disembarking from Carnival cruise in Miami). What can we do for a few hours before going to port? Or is it better just to go to port and wait to get on ship (Allure)? Is there anything to do in port - shopping, café etc? Don't want to spend hours standing around waiting in port before boarding... Any suggestions?

We are strongly considering using bzcavetubing in Belize, asked them a few ?' which raised more /'s. They indicated they wait for 10 people to get off cruise before they send them in van to start tour. Does anyone have any experience with going on tour with less than 10 people? Is the tour cancelled if they don't get a minimum of 10, or how long (how many tenders) will they wait for if they don't initially get 10 people? Want to have a couple of hours to shop in Belize for some kitchen type wood carvings (bowls/tongs), pottery or placemats, maybe colorful fabric. The tour is about 5 hours long - but it sounds as if the start of the tour may be delayed leaving no time for shopping in port area before tender back to ship. Does this company's gift shop have any of the items mentioned above? If so, would they be approximately the same price as the market at pier? Suggestions for locations to shop would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance for any info!

I am interested in buying wood carvings -small or salad bowls/tongs, sugar bowls etc. We are booked on the Maya Key ship excursion. Wondering if we can purchase these types of kitchen items (either wood or pottery) in Maya Key or in the port area of Mahogany Bay? Any suggestions for where to purchase close to port area would be most appreciated! Thanks.

Thanks so much for the info. Greatly appreciated!:)

Is there a better selection or price for wood carvings / pottery in Belize or Roatan? I am looking for multicolor wood bowls/salad tongs, sugar bowls, salt/pepper shakers etc. In Belize is the Handicraft Market Place or Mayan Center (women's cooperative craft store) better? Are both walking distance from pier? Any suggestions for where to buy in Mahogany Bay in Roatan? Any info would be most appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Will be in Freeport at end of March and want to see Gold Rock Beach at low tide. Anyone know when low tide is? The weather / tide chart website doesn't seem to be working properly and isn't displaying low tide time of day. Wondering if cruise excursion would be at high or low tide. Thanks in advance for help.

Interesting. RCI told me that this entertainment would be uploaded to entertainment site for reservation, & that would be the only way I would know for sure it was still being offered. Can anyone tell me what specific days/times these 2 shows would be offered on Eastern Caribbean cruise? I would like to avoid a conflict with other entertainment options offered around the same time. Thanks for the info everyone. You rock!