jerseymermaid

we are going in December to Princess Cay, Falmouth, Grand Cayman and then to Cozumel. We are hoping that the air temperature and water temperature will be good for swimming and touring. Hopefully not to Hot, but comfortable.

226 and counting!!!Can't wait..

Worked fine this morning

Just tried, working for me in New Jersey..

I just heard that you may get a discount for specialty dining if you book it for your first night of cruising. Has anyone else ever heard of this? Is it true? Thanks in advance.

Just got off the Regal last Sunday. We had two mini suites.

 

Ours

 

Our Cabin_2296 by Howard , on Flickr

 

Our three grandchildren had a mini suite next door to ours.

 

Their Cabin _3147 by Howard , on Flickr

 

She is still in a crib at home sleeping in a bed for the first time with pillows on the floor. She rolled

 

out of bed one night,never woke up and slept on the floor the rest of the night.:D

 

 

Rolled out of bed and never woke up_3155 by Howard , on Flickr

 

 

Their First Cruise DSC_2221 by Howard , on Flickr

 

 

Marina Deck 15 is very convenient to Horizon Court and the pools on Lido Deck 16

 

Howard

We are going on our cruise Dec 2, 2018 and we upgraded to a mini suite, our rm # is M231. Hoping it is not to noisy with the Lido deck above us. Did you notice any noise or disturbance where you were? Thank you.

Caroline, Twinkletoes (and others)...I do understand your comments re: vendors asking you to stop and look at what they have, or asking as you walk about if you need this, that or the other. I'm don't know about the culture of the islands on the rest of the cruise ship docking itinerary, but as expanation of Jamaica, especially in the cities, what you are experiencing is really no different than what Jamaicans themselves experience. (consider it a compliment?)

 

When my hsuband (a Jamaican) and I go to the capital city of our parish (think of it as similar to a state in the US, or a province in Canada) to shop for clothes, household items, groceries, etc....as one walks the sidewalks there are always 'roaming vendors' to encounter...those who do not have shops or stalls of their own, but rather carry their wares in a basket or box or whatever.) These items can be anything from q-tips, shoe polish and washclothes to heads of garlic and bunches of scallions to belts and flip-flops to phone cards etc. We're asked if we need anything that they have...if we do, we buy it...if we don't we just say "No thanks" and we continue on our way as do they.

 

If we go to the open air market to get fruits and vegetables and he's picking out carrots from one table, the vendor next to the one where we are is calling out "Ras (nickname because of the way he wears his hair), come see mi cabbage dem" (come and look at my cabbage) and should we then stop at that table, another vendor may call out "Ras, why yuh nuh wan buy mi mango?" (why don't you want to buy my mangos?) and the next one is offering a slice of watermelon to try hoping that we'll find it good and though not on our 'shopping list' we impulse buy and take home a whole or even half a melon..and the orange vendor peels an orange for us to eat on the spot hoping that a bag of his oranges goes home with us. Sometimes we purchase these items, sometimes we don't...it all depends on whether we have the money or not, or find the item something we need or don't.

 

Jamaicans call out to Jamaicans to 'advertise' what they have...you are just encountering the way it's done here. However, if one doesn't know the culture, I can see why you think you're being targeted as a "tourist."

 

One day while in the Ocho Rios craft market at the end of the Dunn's River Falls excursion, I sat with the vendors to chat. I watched tourists pass through...some looking at stalls, some rushing past as if something was going to bite them should they slow down. Some of the vendors would call out "Come, stop, look at my things"...90% of the visitors wouldn't say a word, wouldn't give acknowledgement....5% would growl out a "NO!!!...5% would browse briefly (some buying, some not).

 

The vendors asked me (being 'foreign born') - why the tourists were rushing, why they were rude not to even look up, or why they were so angry with their reponses. I explained as best I could that if they were rushing it most likely was for one of two reasons...they had an itinerary to stick to, a time limit for their stops and had to rush to the tour bus to get to their next stop. Or they were rushing because they heard scare stories about aggressive vendors. Or they were told not to make eye-contact because (heaven forbid) someone would ask them to buy something. Or they snarled a "NO!!" because they were having a bad day, or for any of the already mentioned reasons.

 

All expressed the same sentiment...(and again this is cultural)...it's rude not to greet people, one can say no without being angry or afraid. It is considered "old world" manners here to look someone in the eye and greet each other in passing (Good morning, good day, good afternoon, good evening, good night). Looking someone in the eye and saying "No thank you, we already purchased something like that earlier"...or "You're things look lovely but we don't need anything, thank you.".....or "No thanks but I wish you better luck with another prospective buyer and hope you have a good day." Anything at all to show manners...to acknowledge the vendor as a human being with feelings.

 

I bless the fact every day that being a vendor in a craft market, or on the sidewalk is NOT how I have to make my living. I have yet, after nine years of living in the country, been able to come up with an opening line that would make someone want to stop and see my wares (and most likely nothing different than they haven't already looked at or passed by.)

 

"Beggars" are a whole different issue of course, with a different way of response (yet still not dehumanizing.)

 

I wish there was more info given out on planes and cruise ships to explain more of the culture of the island, or cultural practices of the people...maybe it would give more understanding before landing or docking so that at least one would understand why certain things are encountered.

 

For those not wanting to encounter any interaction on the streets or beaches, the all-inclusive hotel/resort day passes will allow you some time to visit the island and have no interaction with Jamaicans unless they are in staff uniform and there to help with food or drinks, or the vendors that have been 'approved' by the hotel or resort to set up a craft area...and again, you shop or you don't, it's up to you...

 

For those who want to experience a Jamaican city or town (Ochi or MoBay or Negril) and want to take in beach time or a craft market, or an open air market...let your guide know you want them to be there with you to give you tips or advice or advise you on prices...there should be no extra charge for this, it's part of your day's outing. If you're on a big tour bus, and your group is large, and it's the type tour where the bus driver just drops you off and picks you up, you may not have this option, I'm not sure...but it doesn't hurt to ask the driver if they are allowed to accompany you.

 

It's your vacation, you should enjoy it, you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions (a hundred of them if need be!!) so that you can feel comfortable both before and during your stop. It all falls in line with what Twinkletoes said about taking the time to find out as much information as possible 'ahead of time'.

 

And Twinkletoes, I LOVED this comment of yours...very, very correct:

 

What may scare me, or not interest me, may be something that someone else doesn't have a problem with...or wants to do.

 

Everyone is different, everyone has different tastes and desires of what to experience...and every experience is possible here. Everyone here on this message board, is on the right track...you have a chance to ask questions, to read first hand information from others, to plot and plan your day so that it is right in line with what you desire...and maybe, just maybe, when encountering others with questions about Jamaica, or worries about the island or the Jamaican people themselves, you can pass on some tips, or refer them to message boards like this one...or they're lucky enough to deal with a travel agent who has themselves an understanding about the cultural ways of any location where their people will be stopping, and have spent time themselves actually interacting within a particular country and takes time to help plan those port stops to fit an individuals needs.

 

I hope none of you reading this feels like I'm "lecturing" :(...I'm just trying to give some info from "the other side of the fence so to speak. :)

Thank you for trying to clear up some people's confusion.

I have an I phone 6S , Verizon is my company. So if I disable data, turn on airplane mode and enable wifi will I be able to text and make calls with out being charged? Thanks for your help..

After reading that article about the Canadian couple, I went out and bought a pair of Fit Kicks, don't know much about them but they look comfortable and are very light weight. We don't go on our cruise till Dec 2018, so I will try them out ahead of time. If anyone has any info on Fit Kicks, I would be glad to hear it. Thanks.

Am going first time on Princess. We are going to the Western Caribbean,- Princess Cay, Falmouth Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Have a few questions about the ports.

How are the waters for swimming?

Need ideas for excursions in Cozumel.

If we tender, can you go back and forth to ship whenever you want?

Have never snorkeled will they show new people how to snorkel?

do you need bug repellent?

i would like to thank everyone for there information, it is greatly appreciated.

I'm sorry. I am kinda new to this. So along with my 1 quart zip lock, can I also have a medicine bag with prescription medicine? I know it sounds stupid, have only done this once before quite awhile ago. Thanks for all your help.

Thanks for your great review. Will be sailing on the Regal December 2, 2018 first time onPrincess, can't wait very excited, doing the Western Caribbean. Thanks for all the info..

Jersey,

When you sign in on the Princess website, you will see your cabin listed, if it is club class, it will say. For instance, here is ours:

• Grand Princess, Dolphin deck
  
• Club Class Mini-Suite
  
• Stateroom D424, Category M1
  

Thank you, don't think we are club class.

If you mean at the buffet or dining rooms' date=' anyone can get tap water, tea, coffee, and lemonade with or without any package.[/quote']

I'm sorry I should have been more specific, i meant all day no matter where you were on the ship at whatever time.

Thank you

If you get the soda and more package, can you also get the free drinks as well? The water, iced tea and I believe lemonade?

Princess Cay is in the Bahamas...the weather is more "Florida-like" than in the Caribbean. It should be nice enough to sun without getting too hot...but IF there is a far-reaching "cold front", then it could be chillier...no real way to predict more than a week or so out! I've never seen either mosquitos or sand fleas at any of the beaches.....

 

You can google Eleuthera on a weather site to see what historical temps are!

Thank you

I would like to ask all you cruisers out there, when you go to the beach what do you do with your valuables (camera, phone, cc, cash etc). thank you.

Hi Jersey-

The difference between a club class mini and regular mini are placement on the ship - club class are mid ship closest to the elevators and having a special area in the dining room that is not supposed to have a wait time. There is an additional cost for the club class minis.

Here is a blurb from the Princess website:

A premium stateroom category featuring our best Mini-Suite staterooms, as well as the great amenities found in all Mini-Suites — plus premier dining benefits and luxurious perks. Each night, enjoy Club Class Dining, an exclusive dining area featuring expedited seating with no wait, expanded menu options, dedicated wait staff and tableside preparations. Other amenities include priority embarkation and disembarkation, a complimentary one-time wine set-up and so much more!^

Our suite number is M231 on deck 15, so not sure if club class or not. again we will see..

Hi Jersey-

The difference between a club class mini and regular mini are placement on the ship - club class are mid ship closest to the elevators and having a special area in the dining room that is not supposed to have a wait time. There is an additional cost for the club class minis.

Here is a blurb from the Princess website:

A premium stateroom category featuring our best Mini-Suite staterooms, as well as the great amenities found in all Mini-Suites — plus premier dining benefits and luxurious perks. Each night, enjoy Club Class Dining, an exclusive dining area featuring expedited seating with no wait, expanded menu options, dedicated wait staff and tableside preparations. Other amenities include priority embarkation and disembarkation, a complimentary one-time wine set-up and so much more!^s

Thank you,our suite is considered mid-ship so who knows, I will just wait and see. Again thanks for your come back.

Can you get Lobster for a meal in any of the included restaurants on the Regal? Can you ask for seconds?

I have a Mini Suite booked on the Regal in December. Could you please tell me what the difference is between a Club Class Mini and a regular Mini. I'm sorry, kinda new to cruising, Thank you.

Thank everyone for there input, it was just a thought.:):)

You can ship home things you buy there but I’m not sure you could take anything off the ship to home. EM

Thanks for your imput. Happy Cruising...

not sure if I ask this question here or not, but here goes. Does anyone know if you can ship things home from Grand Cayman? Thank you in advance.

We are going to be on Princess Cay in December, what is the weather like? Do they have mosquitoes? how bout sand flea or any of the annoying little pest?