BalekFekete

If you're arriving in San Juan for a port of call, getting out to El Yunque and back could be a challenge. Add to that the fact that the damage from last year is still quite significant. My wife and I will be in San Juan at the very beginning of next month and have opted to stay in town rather than venture out.

As the previous poster said, there are the forts which are - for the ages you're talking - probably lost on them. :) However, if it's a nice day, outside El Morro there are always dozens of people flying kites...could consider packing some and letting that add to the experience of seeing the fort.

So sorry that my initial question turned into this.

 

We will be on Oasis for our Day 5 and it will port in San Juan from 7 am - 1 pm, so we will not be leaving from San Juan on the cruise.

So, I just trying to determine which Fort is closer to visit. I am hoping to visit both if time permits.

If you're in moderately good health, you can easily walk both forts in the time you're in port with room to spare. Note that it is a bit of a strenuous walk up to El Morro, especially if you're in the middle of the summer. Be sure to bring some waters off the ship and stay hydrated. :)

I use the 5 drink break-even that everyone has mentioned, and never have a problem hitting that thereby making it worthwhile. One to two Mimosas with breakfast, two glasses of wine with dinner, and one drink with evening entertainment is an absolute certainty every day whether in port or at sea. For me it's a no-brainer and, for the DW, as others have said it brings the benefit of trying something new out without the risk of wasting the money. Another no-brainer. :)

I can only recommend the one you really *must* (and already have set up) snorkel at and one to avoid.

Bonaire is an underwater paradise, plain and simple. Just about anywhere around the island is a diving/snorkelling spot so you won't be disappointed.

Labadee, on the other hand, really doesn't have much to offer at all. Yes, there is one excursion you can book - we did it years ago - but it's underwhelming especially if you're going to be comparing it against Bonaire.

The other two I'm afraid I haven't visited personally so can't comment on. I'm sure there are some good posts somewhere on the forums here that'd point you in the right direction. :)

Enjoy the trip!

We have gone on 20 cruises with Royal in the last 12 months...

I'm sure there's a 12-step program out there for ya' if interested. (Don't mind me...just the jealousy typing ;) )

Labadee snorkeling isn't really snorkeling per se but our 15yo son and I (both certified divers) enjoyed floating along looking at the life in the lagoon (on the ship side; one w the cabanas.) Out by the divider ropes we spent quite awhile following well camouflaged little fish just getting their next meal or defending their tiny territories. It's not spectacular colors or pretty coral, but interesting and relaxing. Bring your own stuff and relax.

This is my DW and my plan when we arrive in Labadee come 01 August after diving in Bermuda and St. Maarten earlier in the cruise. A nice, relaxing day trolling around the lagoon sounds perfect to me...

Towels? Security? See, that first night I'd look over at the DW and, in my most seductive voice possible, say "Think we can top them?" :confused: :')

First and foremost, happy anniversary. Great way to spend it without a doubt!

Following the thread and very appreciative of the Compass's given the DW and I are sailing the same itinerary come 26 July. Can. Not. Wait!

I wish quest was cancelled. Its is deplorable to watch adults act like drunk fools. Women lifting shirts to take off braziers in full view of hundreds of fellow passengers, doing provocative gyrations some times in mini skirts. Cross dressing. Men wearing the bras. Im a christian, why do i have to be subjected to this on my vacation. St

Id sinners. Your going straight to hell for allowing this.

 

 

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Do you know if the Deluxe Drink Package is accepted in Hell? Inquiring minds need to know. :rolleyes:

T-minus 80 days until boarding the Anthem, and while I wish I hadn't stumbled across this thread until AFTER I finished eating lunch, I'm certainly going to A. bring some cleaning supplies with me and B. pay a hellva lot more attention to the state of the cabin upon arrival. I've been blindly unaware of the potential for this type of filth, but won't be moving forward. Thanks OP.

Certainly seems reasonable and, if some makes a concerted effort, can take advantage of exceptions to continue to use the vendor.

Quick question from a soon-to-be diver - has anyone had issues booking dives directly through a cruise line (RCI for my next cruise) but have them cancel it due to e.g. insufficient people last minute? Pricing on the cruise is actually competitive to going straight through the dive center, and the benefit of knowing you can't miss the boat isn't totally without value. :)

Thanks in advance for the insight...

The floating class (i.e. ANY class works for me!) :)

I don't have a large span of experience to pull on, but the DW and I enjoyed our time on the Freedom class a bit more than the Oasis class...just seemed more intimate. Then again *looks at booking for July* I'll just go back to my starting comment - there isn't a bad class of ship IMHO.

Thanks for the reply Capt!

 

I'm in Central PA so about 3 hours from ocean. I did a google search for scuba shops, but when I looked further it didn't seem like they sold items - just instructed. I'll expand my search and try again.

 

The swim shop mostly supplies one of the local colleges and high school swim teams. They had swim goggles, but not snorkeling masks. The snorkel itself looked different (not sure how to describe), and was for staying submerged while swimming laps but they said it was not suitable for ocean use.

If you're ever in the area, you can try Lang's Ski and Scuba in Newtown, PA. Small, family owned shop.

Hi everyone,

My DW and I are looking to get certified before an upcoming cruise, however, I'm worried about the timing the ship will arrive at the islands. If we can't get to any recommended dive shops in time, then it doesn't make sense to go through the course now but rather wait until a future itinerary that would fit a diving schedule.

The stop in Bermuda arrives at 8AM and arrives in St. Maarten at 12:15. I'm wondering if anyone has any insights on whether these times would allow or prevent diving at those locations?

Thanks in advance for the insight, both on any recommended shops as well as the timing situation!

Pity the site doesn't have a private message utility (at least not one I could find). Also interested to hear but agree with the above sentiment - the absence likely means they made the cruise...somehow. :)

Chiming in as I am very interested in responses here. DW and I have cruised twice on RCI and are now contemplating a trip on NCL this summer. Feedback is VERY much appreciated! :)

I am wondering about the drinks that are now included. When we were on the Liberty in 2013, we had the premium drink package. It included drinks/wine up to $10.00. This pretty much included everything we wanted.

Now I see they have increased those same drinks ie: frozen mojitos to $11something. I have heard $12 for most cocktails. Did they raise the price limit in the package? I would hate to buy the package at $57/day (which is $8/day higher then when we had it) AND still have to pay above the $10 limit.

I think what they may have done is add the gratuity (18% now) into the pricing scheme. If so, then the $11.80 mojito still backs out to be $10, give or take. Regardless, with the expansion of the cocktail limit to $12 in the packages, I think by and large it'll be a change invisible to those on the packages.

Had an email from RCI saying Indy is back sailing from Southampton for the 2015 season. Ive checked and as far as i can see shes not sailing across the pond anytime soon. Anyone got any more info on this or have RCI got it totally wrong?

Sure hope she's not - I'm sailing on the Indy in 15 days out of Fort Lauderdale for an eastern caribbean tour. I get there and she's not present and accounted for and I won't be pleased! :)

I'm actually going to copy/paste this drink menu into a word document and take it with us (after I change the comma's into decimal points). I don't think the prices are accurate, but it's a very nice list of drinks and what's in them.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2176366

Just did the same - cruising in 15 days with the Premium package bought and paid for, so be damned if I don't have a good choice of drinks to pick from. :p

My wife and I will be in San Juan on April 2nd and are interested in taking in the rain forest during the stop. I'd be interested in any good recommendations of tour guides to book since the tour offered by the cruise line is only rated mediocre (barely 3/5 stars). Only one to rule out is Ellis - he's already booked for the day.

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

Thanks to everyone for the insightful feedback. With all of it in mind, and having talked to a colleague here who is OW certified, I'm going to sit tight for this coming cruise and work towards the OW work next summer. Fortunately we have both several dive shops and a dive site (Dutch Springs) less than 15 minutes from the house. Should make for a relatively simple experience.

Hi all -

This looks like the place to try and get some feedback regarding the PADI Scuba Diver vs. Open Water certifications. After a bit of research I think I have the major differences understood...

Scuba Diver is less intensive to get (e.g. cruise we're doing in March has an excursion that certifies at the end w/ the two dives in St. Marteen) but also limits how deep we can go and requires an instructor or dive master at all times. I read somewhere it's OK for those who dive while on vacations, etc. and don't/won't go out specifically just to dive.

Open Water is the real deal. Deeper, without many of the restrictions per se. But also comes at cost of more time, more dives, and more money. :)

Am I off on anything?

Ultimately the DW and I are going on our second cruise soon. On our first two-plus years ago, we snorkeled in Laberdee and loved it! I can't help but imagine I'd very much enjoy the full picture that scuba brings...but I'm just wondering about which certification makes more sense. We have older children who'll keep us from any real time away for the next 5-8 years (this trip is special - 20th anniversary and DWs 40th birthday wrapped together :)). But once they're on their own, the travel/vacationing will be full steam ahead.

A lot of this is rhetorical...I know nobody can really help me decide. But I'm hoping there's someone on the board who was in a similar situation (or not) and walked me through your thought patterns. If not...then just typing it out is a bit cathartic anyways. :D

Thanks in advance for the insights, feedback and whatnot!