bucky0926

I was thinking of getting a TG6 but here is what I am frightened of (yes frightened).  That I will get a dud and ruin my card with memories already on it.  That where I purchase the camera from won't be qualified for the warranty (someone on Amazon complained of that but didn't mention which vendor they got it from-maybe even Amazon themselves).  That I will go to send it back but won't be allowed to by the usps or ups because it has a Lion battery and then be stuck with a $500.00 paperweight.  That I will have to buy lots of extra batteries and a charger that have to be oem to keep warranty in tact that will cost a lot.  That I won't be able to switch out the batteries while snorkeling each day as I am out there in the water approx 3 hours per day on a beach 7+ hours without a bucket of tap water or even running water.  If I can't clean it properly how can I change batteries in the middle of the day?  So then I won't be able to use it every time I get in the water?  Not happy that I have to invest $500.00 on camera, $277 on a housing, and then numerous funds on things like lens cap and a battery charger (which IMO should be included), batteries, a case, etc.  This will wind up being a $1000 investment that I will have to get retrofitted with new gaskets every year.  Your pictures are great (yes very nice color-not the traditionally greenish from less expensive cameras) but I go on two cruises a year and that is really the only time I get to snorkel.  Am I being overly nervous?  

I wish I could just rent a camera each time and be done with it...  In fact I wish the cruise lines would just rent them and then I wouldn't even have to pack it.  Should I just bite the bullet and take the chance?  With my luck i would get it all set up and then they would announce the arrival the the next best thing...

I am looking for a good camera I can take snorkeling without breaking the bank so no $1500+ housings please. Someone said get an Olympus T6 with the optional housing so in case of a failure you are still covered.  What do you use and why?  thanks

I used to book with Travel guard but now they are allianz and just from listening to their announcements prior to buying new insurance they sound more difficult to use.  Has anone been able to confirm this?

21 hours ago, mahdnc said:

 

I have seen the Hot Glass Class on sale, but CaroleSS's advice is very good: book now and if you see a sale afterward, you can always cancel and rebook to lock in the savings. 

 

My family made the wavy bowl as well as several other pieces on Christmas Day 2019 while on Solstice. We packed it very carefully in our carry-on luggage and managed to get off the ship at Sydney and flew home to Chicago without breaking it. The Hot Glass Class doesn't offer anything to pack it in other then maybe some bubble wrap. So you're pretty much on your own. If you know that you're going to make a wavy bowl ahead of time (we didn't), you can at least come prepared with materials and a plan. If you'd like, I can measure the dimensions of our wavy bowl if you're thinking of bringing some kind of rigid box or container to house it in. 

 

 Yes, if you could supply the approximate dimensions that would be helpful.  I have quite a while until this cruise and am sure I will order something from Amazon that would be appropriate to take it home in.  Would be heartbroken if it broke.

One last series of questions:  I see right now that there is a 5% discount (113.99 for one and 208.99 for two).  Do the prices ever go down? Or am I better off just securing my spot now and not worry about additional money off? 

For anyone who has made the wavy bowl: How hard was it getting it off the ship?  I am an overpacker but do self assist when leaving.  Will I be able to safely pack this in my luggage or be prepared to somehow carry this off with my third hand?  LOL 

Hubby and I just booked our first Celebrity cruise aboard Equinox for 2024.  I am very interested in these hot glass classes but have lots of questions.  How many people are in the class at the same time (I get that we will not all be blowing at the same time from SusieAV8R).  Can we both be in there at the same time?  How many others will be with us?  Is the 20 minutes for each person to "create" their piece or the whole group together?  Is this done during sea days or will I be forced to do this on port days?  I'm trying to wrap my head around this but have no schema on what actually goes on.  Can someone who has taken the class please tell me how it works?  Thanks in advance

Was the snorkeling good?  This sounds right up my alley but I would hate to go to a resort where there is no reef from the beach.  Thanks

I don't like the slot machines and don't like that table games (unless you bet big) don't gather as many points as the slots do.  I probably drop more money in the casino than the average slot player yet they get the offers and I get zip.  I sail Royal Caribbean.  Not fair.

Husband not happy about upcharge for a second lobster as he usually has 4 or 5.

I normally don't take ship excursions but haven't really found anything of interest on another popular site that tells you about things to do.  Was thinking about Pearl Island or Blue Lagoon.  If I did Pearl Island we would not be taking the tour specifically with the snorkeling as we have our own equipment and from what I am reading, (please correct if I am wrong)you can swim out to the reef locations and we really don't need a guide.  Haven't seen anything about snorkeling from Blue Lagoon so not really sure if there is decent (or any) good snorkeling sites from there.  However, I do like Blue Lagoon for the simple fact that you can come back at your leisure as I understand the ferry is not time specific (please correct if wrong).  If anyone has any other suggestions for snorkeling I am certainly open.  Usually just snorkel from shore and hang out on the beach but if there are any good boat tours with nice stops would be willing to consider that as well. Thanks in advance.

Both times I went to Roatan I used guides I found just outside the cruise port.  Both times the guide stayed with us the whole day.  Just last week we used Larson, who had his own car and took us where we wanted to go.  He charged $50.00 for the day (we gave extra as a tip and also bought him lunch).  He will watch your stuff on the beach and take you where ever you want to go.  They carry badges with their license numbers to be a guide and I found this is the best way to tour.  Use Larson he was very accomodating and suggested a great spot for snorkeling.  Plus he is dedicated to just you and your party.  Don't go on a bus with those you don't know.

Thank you everyone.  Didn't know that the antigen test is just another name for the rapid test.  If rapid test is acceptable then we will get that one.

Just now, GTO-Girl said:

Is this for an unvaccinated person??

No a vaxed couple.  Got this from RCI:

Where do you go to get a PCR test with results guaranteed back in 2 days?  My only test was a PCR test in Sept. when I caught a cold and wanted to make sure it was not Covid (it wasn't).  It took 3 days to get the results...  I don't care if I have to pay, I just want timely results.  What is everyone else doing?

Bummed protocols going on till April, we cruise March 12.  I would cancel but hubby wants to go.  They won't be getting my money in the casino either since I can't smoke.  Last cruise for us until all this covid stuff is over.

Was on a Carnival cruise  many years ago and my husband brought his dive knife on in the luggage and it was never found (larger than 4 inches).  However on the same cruise my child safety scissors with a blunt tip were confiscated as they considered it a "weapon."  I generally use it to cut tags off my new cruise clothes.  We had a good laugh about that one.

He doesn't bring his dive knife any longer as he has NEVER used it once.

Is there a good place to snorkel at Coco?  If so what part of the island do you call home for the best access to the snorkeling?  Thanks

On 7/25/2019 at 10:10 AM, BENHANDEL said:

I know this is not necessarily carnival-specific, but we will be on the Breeze and this forum gets so much more activity than the port boards!

 

Has anyone done the private transportation and tour through buttsup? We will have a group of 9 and the price for our own tour is about what carnival would charge per person. I have communicated with the company, but I wonder if people felt like they got a "good" tour guide and if it was worth the extra money. Thanks in advance!

My husband, son and myself did the private tour with butts up because at the time we wanted to do the cave tubing, zip lining and quads (ATV) and we were worried about the time constraints.  When we got there he tried to talk me into going out with the group from the ship and I complained that was not what I had booked and he backed down rather fast and got us a car with a private driver and a guide.  We were the first ones in the caves that day and it was great.  As we were leaving you could see the big groups starting to come.  We then went zip lining and last was the quads and then the food at their place.  We tipped generously and had a great day.  Just make sure you spell out exactly what you want and you shouldn't have a problem.  I remember it fondly every time I was my husbands t-shirt that he bought.

On 11/3/2019 at 9:37 AM, principessalia said:

Has anyone used the tour operator Viator?

I'm interested in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkeling Tour; also any reviews on Viator in general...

 

Thanks 

I found their operators less than knowledgeable and gave me wrong information more than once.  If I can't speak with the actual tour operator then I'm not interested. 

Going to Roatan in March of 2020 and would like to find the guide Eddie Murphy (he told us its his nickname since he looks like Eddie Murphy).  He was a great guide years ago when we were there with our son.  Would love to contact him if anyone else has used him and has his contact info.  Thanks

My husband and I have cruised CCL, RCI, and Holland.  I have never cruised with Princess.  We are considering the Caribbean Princess for a 14 circle the Caribean cruise. 

So are there comedy shows on this ship?  We love the Punchliner on CCL.  What is the smoking policy?  Are there places at the pools to smoke? (Yes, I  know its bad for me).  Is there an overhang or shade at any of the pools?  I don't want to sit at a table I would prefer a lounge chair that will be in the shade.  And if there are how early do I have to wake up to claim my chair?  Most importantly is there a dedicated Texas Holdem Table at the Casino?  I don't care if they deal it or if it is electronic but if DH doesn't have this then all bets are off.  Is there an equivalent of "faster to the fun" on Princess that I should be aware of?  Is there my time dining?  Thank for your help....

We use the safego, which you can find at Amazon just search vacation vault.  Mine has lasted over 15 years and still going strong.  It will fit wallet phones etc.  It will not fit a bridge camera or larger.  You lock it to a chair.

Go get yourself a vacation vault.  It is lockable to a chair and me and hubby usually lock it to both ours chairs.  This way someone would have to drag 2 chairs around and that would be suspcious.  It will fit cash, phones, cards, etc.  It will not fit a bridge camera or bigger.  We use the one that looks like safego although ours does not have a key.  My son used it at sleep away camp and he is in his 20's now so it has lasted a long time.

I was also on that cruise and enjoyed it. We (me and DH) are a lot more laid back. I can tell you that the pools on sea days were pretty crowded. We loved the tiny pool (looks like a whirlpool) as it pushes you around kind of like a lazy river. There are a ton of kids in it so be prepared to get kicked a number of times. We are both smokers so we usually set up shop in these recessed type cabanas right by the smoking section. It kept us out of the sun but still right by the pools as I found the deck slippery. The smoking sections was consistently being cleaned which we both liked because on the Anthem they hardly ever cleaned it and it looked like a frat house. They gave everyone eclipse glasses (crew and guests) and during the eclipse it was fun to watch everyone with the glasses on looking up at the sun. They also played the best music during the eclipse as every song was great with a theme (either sun, moon, darkness, etc). In fact I never really enjoyed the music around the pool except for the eclipse time. Laberdee was relaxing as we got off the ship early and walked all the way to the end (a cove I forget the name). We set up under trees and it didn't get crowded for another 2 hours or so. Yes the vendors are pushy but I guess being from NY I am kind of used to it. I told some of them to back off and they did (I didn't sense any resentment as OP did though). I did buy a nice beach coverup that started at $40 but I got for $10. I didn't even get off the ship in San Juan as its not one of my favorite ports. The ship was very relaxing when most are gone. My hubbie did get off to walk around a bit but said things haven't changed much. I would have like to have gone on the excursion like the OP did but with arrival into San Juan so late I also didn't want to go in the heat of the afternoon. St Marteen was great (its one of my favorite ports). We went to little bay (by Divi) where we were only one of 3 small groups from the cruise ship. $5 for a lounge chair and $5 for an umbrella. We got 2 of both and tipped the guy $3 for set up. We saw at least 7 boat loads of people who were dropped right at the top of the bay to go snorkeling. We snorkeled out to where they were (it was a long swim especially without fins) and it wasn't very impressive. The snorkeling was actually better by the dock where we were. The beach is an easy walk in and no water shoes were needed. It was so calm that day that we rented a paddleboard ($25 for an hour). And I actually got up and did it (yes I am proud of myself) and so did my DH. All the locals were helpful and I hope they can get back on their feet soon. Embarkation and debarkation (we did self assist also) was easy. We went to the windjammer often for lunch and never found it overly crowded. We could get to the food easy enough and getting a table was never an issue. DH is a breakfast guy and found it annoying that first he had to get salmon from the windjammer (lox to us NY'ers) and then go to another venue entirely to get an omelette with the lox. Shows were OK-we like our time in the casino. Hubbie didn't like that on Anthem they bought a round of drinks for everyone at the Texas hold'em table and on this cruise they only bought one round and then admonished everyone for asking. You can't get rated at an electronic hold'em table and it's just not right. He (and I) couldn't believe how it could be so different on the same cruise line. (And to honest they never had a problem getting drinks on Holland America or Carnival at the table). I guess this casino manager (even after learning that my husband was upset) was cheap and never offered to make it up to him and buy the table another round. I play blackjack and didn't lose a dollar or make a dollar so I guess I'm a winner since I played every night.

We went on this cruise to experience an Oasis class ship and while it is beautiful we have decided to go back to cruising for ports and not for the ship. Sorry to have hijacked this thread from the OP who did a much better job than I ever could.

Don't think St Martin will be on any itinerary for a long time. It was devastated. The port shops are all gone and the piers sustained heavy damage. Lots of the hotels are reporting that they will not be accepting reservations until May.

That is May of 2018. They need the dollars but have no infrastructure to support tourists.