Jimbo

Don't go on Sunday though, just found out they are closed.:(

Jimbo:)

Doug, have you ever tried Cafe Bambula right in St. Johns?

Jimbo:)

I guess we will have to try the Lobster Shack, I know for sure they will be open on Sunday.

Jimbo:)

Nice closeup view. thanks , Yeah I edited my post after re-reading your post above. :)

Jimbo:)

It's unusual. La Bussola used to close on a Tuesday (Le Bistro was closed on a Monday. Makes sense.) Most of Antigua is actually open on Sundays.

 

Suggest you investigate Cecilia's or Catherine's Cafe. Cecilia is a retired Swedish model and is close to the airport on Dutchman's Bay and Catherine's Cafe is run by a French couple down by Nelson's Dockyard. It would be a longer taxi ride but the location is wonderful, as is the food.

I think if I remember right that airport is on the way to the Grand Pineapple Beach Resort, that is really farther then we would want to travel just for lunch. We did go to that resort for the day on on a cruise back in 2006.

Also did they every finish that huge soccer stadium building when we were there last time.

Back to square one, I was looking forward to La Bussola too.

I'm beginning to think Antigua shuts down on Sundays.:eek:

Jimbo:)

Curses! La Bussola no longer does lunch. It's open for dinner except Sunday. They are installing a proper pizza oven and may consider opening for lunch in three or four weeks, they say.

So you are saying they are closed completely on Sundays? Because that is the only day we are in Antigua. We are there on March 4th, that would be 24 days from today.

Jimbo:)

Hemmingway won't work, we are there on a Sunday and I believe they will be closed.

Lobster Shack I believe is open now, you can find them on Facebook.

Will check out La Bussola now, looks like both Coconut Grove or Peppers n Limz on Dickenson Bay are great locations.

Is La Bussola location at Runaway Bay just past Sandals or like trip advisor shows more inland. Confused of where this place is?

Is Runaway Bay closer then Dickenson Bay from St.Johns port?

Any others to consider?

Edit: La Bussola looks amazing, do you know if it is open on Sundays. It's my birthday that day and was considering going to Portofino's on the ship for dinner but this looks alot nicer. Besides we are already booked our first night on the ship at Portofino's.

I can't seem to find prices anywhere for this place?

Jimbo:)

Thanks for the info, any suggestions then close to the pier for lunch?

Jimbo:)

The Bay House Restaurant

Trade Winds Hotel, Dickenson Bay, Antigua

Or

Lobster Shack at Runaway Bay

Distance from port and taxi cost each way?

This would be for lunch. Anyone been to either or both?

Jimbo:)

My sister has been dying to go back to Grand Cayman! We also really liked Roatan. My father has been really curious about trying Celebrity, ever since he saw the red carpet rolled out for the guests at one of the ports. :D Our only concern is that we've heard from several people that there aren't a lot of young people on the ship (not like that really matters - we were among the only 100 minors aboard the Grandeur of the Seas and had an amazing time) and that there isn't much to do after 10 PM.

 

I've seen the Solstice in port, and she looks nice. Have you sailed Celebrity? How do you think it compares to other cruiselines?

Have never done Celebrity, even though we had it booked one time but switched to a Royal Caribbean ship when we found a better deal closer to home that required no air fare.

We have cruised on Carnival, Princess, Disney, Royal Caribbean and Holland America.

From what I read and Celebrity also really being Royal Caribbean product, don't really think you will see much difference, I have heard though that the food is much better on Celebrity and they have some really nice pay restaurants onboard Solstice also.

Jimbo:)

This cruise would work better for you, it's a newer ship also. Plus it goes to 4 ports. Roatan is one of the greatest places for snorkeling in the world and there is the Costa Maya Beach Resort in Costa Maya that is beautiful http://www.costamayabeachresort.com/ and you can never go wrong with Grand Caymen and Cozumel.

Celebrity Solstice

Sunday, March 18, 2012 Fort Lauderdale - Florida -- 04:30 PM

Monday, March 19, 2012 At Sea -- --

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 George Town - Grand Cayman 07:00 AM 04:00 PM

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Cozumel - Mexico 09:00 AM 06:00 PM

Thursday, March 22, 2012 Roatan - Honduras 08:30 AM 05:00 PM

Friday, March 23, 2012 Puerto Costa Maya - Mexico 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Saturday, March 24, 2012 At Sea -- --

Sunday, March 25, 2012 Fort Lauderdale - Florida 07:00 AM --

Jimbo:)

What dates are spring break?

Explorer of the Seas...

Monday, March 19, 2012 Cape Liberty - Bayonne - N.j. -- 05:00 PM

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Cruising -- --

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Cruising -- --

Thursday, March 22, 2012 Labadee, Haiti 09:00 AM 05:00 PM

Friday, March 23, 2012 San Juan - Puerto Rico 02:00 PM 10:00 PM

Saturday, March 24, 2012 Philipsburg - St. Maarten 09:00 AM 05:00 PM

Sunday, March 25, 2012 St. Johns - Antigua 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Monday, March 26, 2012 Basseterre - St. Kitts 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Cruising -- --

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Cruising -- --

Thursday, March 29, 2012 Cruising -- --

Friday, March 30, 2012 Cape Liberty - Bayonne - N.j. 08:00 AM --

Jimbo:)

What dates are spring break?

Explorer of the Seas...

Monday, March 19, 2012 Cape Liberty - Bayonne - N.j. -- 05:00 PM

Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Cruising -- --

Wednesday, March 21, 2012 Cruising -- --

Thursday, March 22, 2012 Labadee, Haiti 09:00 AM 05:00 PM

Friday, March 23, 2012 San Juan - Puerto Rico 02:00 PM 10:00 PM

Saturday, March 24, 2012 Philipsburg - St. Maarten 09:00 AM 05:00 PM

Sunday, March 25, 2012 St. Johns - Antigua 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Monday, March 26, 2012 Basseterre - St. Kitts 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 Cruising -- --

Wednesday, March 28, 2012 Cruising -- --

Thursday, March 29, 2012 Cruising -- --

Friday, March 30, 2012 Cape Liberty - Bayonne - N.j. 08:00 AM --

Jimbo:)

I saw a cruise director schedule, stating that Jimmy Rhodes will be CD until March.

Until or through March.....He may be getting off the day we board? Does anyone know for sure?

Jimbo:)

If you get a chance to talk to the Cruise Director is Jimmy Rhodes, can you ask him if he will be onboard for the February 27th sailing and if not who will be the cruise director then.

Thanks

Jimbo:)

Anyway knowing for sure that Carlos Javier Ortiz will be the Concierge on Explorer of the Seas on 2-27-12 and not on vacation at that time?

Jimbo:)

Hi, thanks for a great review. I am going on the Adventure in May and was worried it was a "downgrade" from the Freedom which we have just got off. But it looks great....

Thanks again.

It is a kind of a downgrade, It's a Voyager class ship not a Freedom class. A few less bells and whistles. Adventure is older then Freedom.

Jimbo:)

Cruising from Port Everglades? Flying in at least one day early? You have lots of options.

 

Palm Beach (PBI) is just up the road, and Miami (MIA) is just south - although there are some shuttle options, renting a car will be your best bet (cheaper and more convenient).

 

Farther out, but still possible are Orlando (MCO) - about a 3.5 hour drive, and Tampa (TPA) - about a 5 hour drive.

 

Good luck! :)

We will be renting a car the day before our cruise in Orlando and driving to Port Everglades the next day to catch our ship.. Rather then returning the car to the Ft. Lauderdale Airport is there a Car rental agency outside the airport near the port that would take us to the ship that is close to the port?

We are doing 4 or 5 day pre-cruise in Disney, plus the air fare is less $$$ flying into Orlando rather then Ft. Lauderdale.

Jimbo:)

Closet car rental agencies to Port Everglades or car rental agencies that have free transfer to the the port in Ft. Lauderdale?

Thinking of a one-way rental from Orlando Airport, to tack on a few days at Disney before cruising on Allure of the Seas in October.

Jimbo:)

And you WILL see some of the water (sea) beyond the wake Jimbo, :D because YOU will have the best view of all from YOUR boardwalk balcony on deck 10! But the photo I posted before was taken from deck 15 and the OP's cabin is deck 14, so they will also see more of the wake than what is shown in the photo. It's all good! ;) :D Here is a photo of the view I had from cabin 10729...

 

I like your view from deck 10, I know I don't like that view from deck 15, and still not sure I or the OP would like the view from deck 14 with that huge white cat walk looking thing.

Remember when you first stepped foot in a Voyager Class ship and entered the Promenade for the very first time? Remember how high the deck 8's Promenade Cabins Bay window were looking up. That was just 3 decks up from the Promenade, I can't even imagine how high those deck 14's Boardwalk Balconies are from the Boardwalk.

I guess people down on the boardwalk from the deck 14 balconies will look just like people on the Pier in one of the ports when you are on the Promenade deck looking down. :eek:

Jimbo:)

Yup! They said they want to see the wake....and I think they will have a nice view of it! :D

 

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Think I would like to aleast see some of the water(sea) beyond the wake, not just like looking straight down at the wake like I was jumping into it.:eek:

Jimbo:)

Hi Bonnie, I think the OP wants a straight out view of the ocean too though.

Btw, we are still on deck 10 :)

Jimbo:)

We use the generic Bonine which is mecalizine, much cheaper , also over the counter , usually just ask your pharmacist. It works for us.

Dramamine Less Drowsy, Bonine and Meclizine HCL

Average cost:

Dramamine Less Drowsy: $4 for 8 Pills

Bonine: $7 for 16 pills

Meclizine HCL: $7 for 100 pills

Active Ingredient in all three: 25mg Meclizine Hydrocloride

Drug class: Antiemetic, antihistamine, anti-motion sickness.

Uses: Prevents motion sickness and treatment for Vertigo.

What the drug does:

Reduces sensitivity of nerve endings in inner ear and blocks messages to brain’s vomiting center.

Skin and sunlight: No problems expected.

As you can see, Dramamine Less Drowsy, Bonine and Meclizine HCL are identical. You are paying for the “Brand” name. Buying the generic Meclizine HCL will save you a whole bunch of money.

Inner Harbor, best seafood and crabcakes, where should we go?

Jimbo:)