SKY - first time cruisers with questions

[jandtb]

We posted this in the first time cruisers section, but thought we'd post it here too just for any added information.

 

My husband and I booked our first cruise.. somewhat last minute and now have some questions. We're set to sail May 11 on the Sky to the Bahamas..

 

Your ship account - are you able to pay part of it off by cash and any remaining with credit? Or is it all credit?

 

Non-alcoholic drinks - can only 1 of us get a per day drink pass or do they require that each person in the room get the pass?

 

Alcoholic drinks - what is the average price for drinks?

 

Tipping - what is the norm? There is already the $12pp/day so is the rest as we see fit? If we chose to tip the steward per day, do we just leave it on the pillow (as we'd do for an all-inclusive vacation)? It's freestyle cruising so we come and go as we want so can we tip waiters, etc. as we want?

 

Excursions - we've booked through NCL to Atlantis - 2 1/2 hour tour and then when we are done we plan to walk around the area near the port afterwards. Any suggestions of what to do in Freeport, if anything, on own (and on a budget). Stirrup Cay - we intend to go to the beach.

 

Finally, the day we dock, we are headed to MIA - any advice as to the best/cheapest way to get there would be appreciated.

 

Thank you to everyone for their contributions.

[bentleys mom]

Freeport Excursion info:

 

We are on the same cruise as you are - which is also our first cruise. I'm not sure if any of these links will be of help with excursions in Freeport but thought I'd share them just in case ...

 

 

Freeport - Grand Bahamas -

http://www.trikkpony.com/

http://www.bahamas.com/grand-bahama-island/grand-bahama-island

http://www.sanddollarcruise.com/

http://www.grandbahamanaturetours.com/

 

Also, here is a link to the Miami port. I believe they list cab fares - http://www.miamidade.gov/portofmiami/directions_parking.asp

[asylum575]

Let's see if I can get them all.

1. You can go to the bursar station and pay off some or all of your bill on the last night. You will need to give a valid credit card upon check in.

2. I'm pretty sure one person can buy the unlimited drink cup. I'm not sure if a wristband goes along with it like the kids. BTW it's for the whole cruise, about $6-8 a day. If you drink alot of soda, it's worth it.

3. Domestic beers are about $4-5 and imports are $5-6. Mixed drinks range from $5 for well liquor to $10 for the fancy drinks in the souvernir glasses.

4. The $12/ a day per person covers the romm steward and assistant and wait staff. No other tips are necessary unless you really thought service was exceptional.

5. Atlantis is on Paradise Island which is either a ferry or cab from Nassau, where the ship will dock. If it's Freeport, that's news to me. I found Nassau vendors a little pushy and watch out for the guys trying to sell those funny little cigarettes. If you get caught, you're in big trouble.

6. Taxi from port to MIA is $24 flat fee. I normally just give $30. Easiest way to the airport, if you ask me.

 

7. And most of all, have a great time. I'm going in AUGUST.

[BIG_Steve]

Let's see if I can get them all.

1. You can go to the bursar station and pay off some or all of your bill on the last night. You will need to give a valid credit card upon check in.

2. I'm pretty sure one person can buy the unlimited drink cup. I'm not sure if a wristband goes along with it like the kids. BTW it's for the whole cruise, about $6-8 a day. If you drink alot of soda, it's worth it.

3. Domestic beers are about $4-5 and imports are $5-6. Mixed drinks range from $5 for well liquor to $10 for the fancy drinks in the souvernir glasses.

4. The $12/ a day per person covers the romm steward and assistant and wait staff. No other tips are necessary unless you really thought service was exceptional.

5. Atlantis is on Paradise Island which is either a ferry or cab from Nassau, where the ship will dock. If it's Freeport, that's news to me. I found Nassau vendors a little pushy and watch out for the guys trying to sell those funny little cigarettes. If you get caught, you're in big trouble.

6. Taxi from port to MIA is $24 flat fee. I normally just give $30. Easiest way to the airport, if you ask me.

 

7. And most of all, have a great time. I'm going in AUGUST.

 

 

We just went. Can't add much to what asylum wrote, except:

 

2) While you can most likely "get away" with more than 1 person using a soda card, they expect each person who wants unlimited Soda to buy their own card. I can't blame them. I have no clue what so ever as to what would happen if somehow someone were caught sharing the card.

 

3) I was drinking Pina Coladas on our cruise. A strong 12 oz drink in a plastic souvinir glass was $10.00. Refills in the glass were $8.00. Drinks in a regular glass are I think $7~$8. They are smaller. Wife had a Cosmoplitan. It was about $14.00. That was in a martini style glass.

 

In Freeport, you dock at an Industrial port. There is a tiny straw market, a store front gift shop, and a bar. That's it. For $5.00 pp, each way, you can share a shuttle to Lucaya. There is a larger straw market, regular shops, places to eat, a casino, beach, and private excursions there.

[asylum575]

I didn't realixe the Sky stopped at Freeport. I thought it was Nassau and GSC for the weekend and an added stop at Grand Bahama Island aon the 4 day.

We really don't drink much, but coming from NY, I didn't fing the drinks overpriced. Don't get me wrong, you can build up a whopping bill onboard with very little effort.

[curly28]

About the drinks - every evening there was somewhere to get 2 for 1 drinks. We had 2 for 1 martinis every night and I think one night some place had 2 for 1 mojitos. The martinis were 2 for $10 roughly and quite strong - a great deal! One night I even brought a martini back to my room and kept it in our fridge until the next day.

[dtracker]

We just went. Can't add much to what asylum wrote, except:

 

2) While you can most likely "get away" with more than 1 person using a soda card, they expect each person who wants unlimited Soda to buy their own card. I can't blame them. I have no clue what so ever as to what would happen if somehow someone were caught sharing the card.

 

They tie your hands behind your back and make you walk the plank, Big Steve! :rolleyes: I can tell you for sure many do only buy one soda package and both people share...just as many carry on their own sodas and stock their room. Human nature, I guess! IMHO, the soda cards are not worth it unless you are heavy soda drinkers (more than 3 sodas a day). The amount of soda you get each time is small, and the wait in the MDRs for a soda is substantial, I am told.

 

DT

[jandtb]

Thank you very much for everyone's comments so far - very helpful!:)

[BIG_Steve]

I didn't realixe the Sky stopped at Freeport. I thought it was Nassau and GSC for the weekend and an added stop at Grand Bahama Island aon the 4 day.

We really don't drink much, but coming from NY, I didn't fing the drinks overpriced. Don't get me wrong, you can build up a whopping bill onboard with very little effort.

 

Grand Bahama Island is the Freeport stop. Some can go on for hours about how Freeport is 20 miles from where the ship docks. But from a practical perspective the GBI and Freeport stop are the same thing.

[BIG_Steve]

Grand Bahama Island is the Freeport stop. Some can go on for hours about how Freeport is 20 miles from where the ship docks. But from a practical perspective the GBI and Freeport stop are the same thing.

 

Think of it this way. The New York Giants play in New Jersey. But no one knows the differance, except the taxpayers in NJ who built the stadium ;)