*OFFICIAL* CC Member Cruise Freedom 4/21/12 8 Days of Freedom!

[ajhunt2]

We are in port in DR from 9-5. You definately aren't going to be able to do anything else in port like shopping or anything.

 

But I'm sure we can shorten or rearrange some things. I need to get Shelley to get back on here and tell us more since she's been working and contacting them about the trip.

[Kissyfur19]

Hi everyone!! We are down to 170 days to go!

 

Sorry I've been so MIA....I am hoping things have finally calmed down a bit that I can spend some more time on here. Hope everyone is starting to get excited about our cruise.

[ajhunt2]

Just bumping this up to see if everyone is still around. I know it's been quiet lately but wanted to say that we are now in the double digits!!!!

 

99 days til we cruise!!

[conradevan]

Hi all, just 95 days left!!! Last time our group had a bar crawl (Spread over a couple days) Here is the list of bars I was able to find and the deck they are on

 

Fish and Chips - 9 (Not sure if they sell alcohol, but I heard they have great food)

Time Main pool and bar -9

Endless aft pool and bar -9

International Aft lounge - 5

Swingtime Jazz Club - 5

Scotts Piano Bar - 5

Bar Nouveau Wine Bar -5

70's Dance Club - 5

Centuries Promenade - 5 (Always a bar in the center)

Babylon Casino -5 (Not sure on this one either, but what is a casino w/o a bar

Players Sports Bar - 5

Habana Cigar Bar - 4

 

IF you are interested we will try to have a meeting once we get on board

[ajhunt2]

Wow, I was just looking at this board and how long ago it was booked for me. I've had this booked for 11 months now and still have 66 days to go before it's even here!! Wow.

[ajhunt2]

47 days!!!!!

[conradevan]

apparently nobody knows that I exist so I'm going to post a lot. I am the DH of ajhunt2, so HI

[Kissyfur19]

Hi All! Just sharing this again. There seems to be some more interest as we get closer to our sailing. See below. Note that the price has changed to $90 per person. SeaVis has made arrangements for transportation and the cost now includes transportation from LaRoma to Bayahibe and back.

 

Email me at Kissyfur19 at AOL dot com. Or catch me on Facebook.

 

Hey guys - I just posted this on our Roll Call Thread too, but thought I would share here too!

 

We are looking at doing a group excursion to Sanoa Island for our stop in the DR. I read abotu this tour from another roll call thread who took this cruise in the spring on the Miracle. I had sent an email to SeaVis and below is the response that I received back. This trip includes a stop at the sandbar to snorkel/swim with the giant starfish that flock to this sandbar....a stop at an island village for shopping & a grilled lobster lunch...and lastly a 2 hour stop at the beach on Sanoa Island.

 

Price for the trip is $80pp and we would be responsible for our own transportation from the ship port to Bayahibe.

 

Would anyone be interested?

 

Hi Shelley,

thanks for your email. The tour they did was the Saona Crusoe VIP (http://www.seavisbayahibe.com/Saona_e.htm ), however the time table was changed to fit the port times of the ship. Do you have the port times for 04/24/2011. We don't have a contract with Carnival (only with the Aida), this means that you need to arrange your own transport from the cruise port to Bayahibe and back. This is not a problem, certified taxis are lined up at the port and any drivers knows Bayahibe (20 minutes). The taxi costs are +- $12 pp for the round trip (with todays prices, they might vary in 2012).

 

The tour:

We'll leave Bayahibe in fast speedboats, we'll visit 2 different beaches and the Piscina Natural (a sand bank in the sea). The total (aggregated) boat time is +- 2 hours. We stay in the Piscina Natural +- 30 minutes, than we go to the little village Mano Juan, with plenty of traditional little craft shops, we'll stay +- 2 hours here (we will lunch here). The last beach (Canto de la Playa) is really beautiful and remote, we'll stay there +- 1.5 hours. I've added the itinerary below.

 

Itinerary:

09:30am: departure Bayahibe

10:00am: rocks of penon (history of Taino Indians)

10:15am: piscina natural (starfish)

10:50am: mangroves

11:30am: fishermen village Mano Juan (beach, shopping, village tour, private museum)

12:30pm: lunch (1/2 lbs lobster, pork chops, hot dogs, various salads, rice, french bread, fruits, wine)

01:30pm: Canto de la Playa (beach, snorkeling)

03:15pm: departure for Bayahibe

04:00pm: arrival in Bayahibe

 

Below are some pictures of Canto de la Playa beach on Sanoa Island:

 

 

[Kissyfur19]

Hi All! Just sharing this again. There seems to be some more interest as we get closer to our sailing. See below. Note that the price has changed to $90 per person. SeaVis has made arrangements for transportation and the cost now includes transportation from LaRoma to Bayahibe and back.

 

Email me at Kissyfur19 at AOL dot com. Or catch me on Facebook.

 

Hey guys - I just posted this on our Roll Call Thread too, but thought I would share here too!

 

We are looking at doing a group excursion to Sanoa Island for our stop in the DR. I read abotu this tour from another roll call thread who took this cruise in the spring on the Miracle. I had sent an email to SeaVis and below is the response that I received back. This trip includes a stop at the sandbar to snorkel/swim with the giant starfish that flock to this sandbar....a stop at an island village for shopping & a grilled lobster lunch...and lastly a 2 hour stop at the beach on Sanoa Island.

 

Price for the trip is $80pp and we would be responsible for our own transportation from the ship port to Bayahibe.

 

Would anyone be interested?

 

Hi Shelley,

thanks for your email. The tour they did was the Saona Crusoe VIP (http://www.seavisbayahibe.com/Saona_e.htm ), however the time table was changed to fit the port times of the ship. Do you have the port times for 04/24/2011. We don't have a contract with Carnival (only with the Aida), this means that you need to arrange your own transport from the cruise port to Bayahibe and back. This is not a problem, certified taxis are lined up at the port and any drivers knows Bayahibe (20 minutes). The taxi costs are +- $12 pp for the round trip (with todays prices, they might vary in 2012).

 

The tour:

We'll leave Bayahibe in fast speedboats, we'll visit 2 different beaches and the Piscina Natural (a sand bank in the sea). The total (aggregated) boat time is +- 2 hours. We stay in the Piscina Natural +- 30 minutes, than we go to the little village Mano Juan, with plenty of traditional little craft shops, we'll stay +- 2 hours here (we will lunch here). The last beach (Canto de la Playa) is really beautiful and remote, we'll stay there +- 1.5 hours. I've added the itinerary below.

 

Itinerary:

09:30am: departure Bayahibe

10:00am: rocks of penon (history of Taino Indians)

10:15am: piscina natural (starfish)

10:50am: mangroves

11:30am: fishermen village Mano Juan (beach, shopping, village tour, private museum)

12:30pm: lunch (1/2 lbs lobster, pork chops, hot dogs, various salads, rice, french bread, fruits, wine)

01:30pm: Canto de la Playa (beach, snorkeling)

03:15pm: departure for Bayahibe

04:00pm: arrival in Bayahibe

 

Below are some pictures of Canto de la Playa beach on Sanoa Island:

 

 

[Kissyfur19]

Hi All! Just sharing this again. There seems to be some more interest as we get closer to our sailing. See below. Note that the price has changed to $90 per person. SeaVis has made arrangements for transportation and the cost now includes transportation from LaRoma to Bayahibe and back.

 

Email me at Kissyfur19 at AOL dot com. Or catch me on Facebook.

 

Also - if you are interested in the tour above and have children, the fee for children under 12 is $50 (including transportation)

 

Transportation will be provided by TAXI CASA DE CAMPO. Once I have a full headcount, I will make arrangements for a meeting place for the group so that we can all depart together.

[Alphageek63]

Posted this over on the Facebook page, but I have heard that some people do not have access to that site. Here's what I posted:

 

I'm sort of late to the game, I missed out on the only excursion on Grand Turk that I saw discussed. Not being the type to sit by and not have plans, I contacted a dive company that specializes in trips over to Salt and Cotton Cays. While not on "the Wall," the distance (20 min boat ride) keeps most cruise ship excursions away, and the snorkeling over there is supposed to be top-notch and unspoiled. My understanding is that the water at the edge of the wall is 15' before dropping off to 7,000, both of which are WAY deeper than my lungs will allow me to go.

 

Here's what I negotiated with Salt Cay Divers:

 

Cotton Cay Snorkeling Trip

 

2 hrs of amazing snorkeling in front of a private island named Cotton Cay. The price is $65 and includes water and sodas and snorkeling gear ($55 if you have your own gear). Beat the crowds as Salt Cay Divers is one of the few operators that will take you to Cotton Cay. The other tour operators just take you a few to near-by reefs. This way there are no crowds and our boat will carry a maximum of 12 people. So want to escape the crowds and experience some of the best snorkeling the Turks islands have to offer? Join us departing at 9AM and returning at 11:45AM. We will have 2 hours in the water. We will be docked just to the left of the place your ship docks. Salt Cay Divers: Look for the boat with a black top and Carolina skiff.

 

Everything is weather dependent. Cash or traveler checks accept but no credit cards unless pre-booked and paid prior to the day of the adventure.

 

They need at least 4 people to make the run. If Diane and I are the only two who want to go, they will just park there and recruit until they find at least one other couple. I'd like to fill up the boat just with people from our group.

 

Anyone interested? Let me know ASAP!

 

Thanks,

 

Wayne Frick