SMOKEY0202

for me i used the private driver(Leo Brown) that was recommended by Matt and many others on the blog. he is reasonably priced and you cant go wrong with him. he will definitely make your day enjoyable and EVERYONE there knows him as if a celebrity no matter where he took us that day. each visit i always contact him because he makes the day that rewarding. he can even accommodate big groups which is cool. its all how you want to make your day. in december i took a friend on the memorable day with Leo and he still talks about the great time he experienced. i am headed there again in 2 weeks and cant wait to see him again.

with me i am high risk candidate according to the guidelines from CDC but i am not going to live in a bubble. i leave in less than a month for a 10 night Caribbean sailing and my suitcase is packed and cant wait for some much needed relaxation. after that will be back a short time then off for European cruise with some time on land before and after cruise. i am by far not elderly and continue plan on enjoying life to the fullest. heck maybe the ship will be so empty thats more for me to enjoy without chaos. i personally cant be in dry dock too long and if i am going to get sick it could be literally anywhere whether home based or cruise based.

i would do research yourself online and also work with your private driver. remember island is divided into french and dutch side with so much to do. if never seen planes fly over Maho beach that is a highlight for sure. it really depends on your personal interests because there is something for everyone to do from an island drive venture with stops at landmarks etc,zip line, beach adventure, snorkeling to a foodie adventure. every time i go there my private driver i continuously use the same person always make the day rewarding and different each time.

st maarten is amazing all around and the beach is worth the visit. if you want to see both the island and beach without the crowds on a tour why not consider a private driver and customize it to what you want without having to wait on the group thru a tour company and do it your way. plan your day and how much time where you want to go and enjoy spending to capture those memories. plus still get beach time out of it.

check with your Europe hotel. for my numerous times there, many hotels offer the adapter when you literally check in for a mere $5 deposit for your stay.

for Rome i have used Walks of Italy, When in Rome tours, Vinebliss trip, Avventure Bellissime. research what you want to do and utilize Project Expedition for options available. you can see who the tour operator will be for that specific option. if you book directly thru Project Expedition they use reliable reputable tour operators. even reach out to the tour company directly with any questions or concerns or Project Expedition. sometimes excursions i did were not only cheaper but much better than what i heard from people who did ship excursions. I travel to different parts of Europe every year and very rarely use a shore excursion from ship unless its a tender.

remember when looking to buy travel insurance remember its what YOU are specifically needing. we all have different needs when it comes to insurance. plus there are just one time plans or yearly plans. if you travel alot then the yearly might be the better option. there are reputable companies such as allianz and travel guard but also thoroughly read the policy carefully. Twangster did a live blog on his battle with filing a claim and how it definitely wasnt a simple one two three process here is your money for your claim. after his unpleasant ordeal, many of us were reviewing our own policies to see what "truly" is covered and not covered. do you research then call different companies and ask those important question before making a final decision.

look into Bellaitalia tour company for options. they come highly recommended with reasonable options.

this option is only available for European sailings. on recent European sailing heard from other passengers it wasnt worth it because you still had to leave cabin in morning on disembarkation day and limited timeframe for stay awhile. plus if you had carry ons etc be prepared to drag them around. its better to get off ship and enjoy more of the region while you have the opportunity. just think what you could in the region that day for price being charged for stay awhile option and capture those last minute memories.

when working with private tour companies just verify guarantee back to ship on time and read reviews online from other people who have used that particular company. as far as Rome, it can be busy at some of the main attractions for one and second you must allow a good hour drive each way back and forth to the port. if you go with ship excursion there is going to be probably a large number of people so you are going to be on a group agenda which to me isnt always the best if you want to spend more time doing something and go at your own pace. just weigh all your options before you assume your only option is utilizing a ship excursion. i have done many excursions thru tour operators in Europe ports that were much more quality, small groups and cheaper than a ship excursion and ending up being much more rewarding with so many memories.

Europe sailings have some great private companies, these companies are well aware of ships arrival and departure. each time i have used there was never a problem with a company. you will receive ample communication from the company with time and all way beforehand plus emails directly from them if any changes and reminders while you are on the ship. there was always a guide waiting patiently until all guests for private tour arrived from ship. company knows ship has to be cleared by port authority and passengers will all be eager to disembark so dont worry at all.

i have done Europe sailings and truly feel they are rewarding in so many aspects. there is so much to do and explore in each port plus all the activities on the ship. you could do both by opting for a pre/post cruise option that you way you experience both desires. look at itineraries of which is one you really like then research what you would want to do in each port and as your pre/post cruise. i would work with a really good travel agent because person can guide you and assist in all your planning to make a memorable trip. if you do a cruise out of Civitavecchia port then you could experience Rome as a pre/post cruise since commute to port is about a hour away. other benefit is you can explore Rome at your own pace instead of as a shore excursion with a time restraint.

twangster is one bot who can get clear shots of pictures all the time. thats why he is the one and only bot who in my book is a "celebrity" and geez i end up YOLO booking not 1 not 2 in some cases more because we are home basically wishing we were there cruising instead of dreaming that was us as we see all those pictures. reality cant be in dry dock too long........we cant be grateful enough for all twangster does taking the time with photography of such beautiful pictures. have to say sunset picture did make a beautiful canvas for our office at work so i can day dream every now and then instead of working but who would think i wasnt really working......he is a bot with many talents for sure.........cant wait for next live blog

Mahahual Travence +52 983 156 4783 is company you can utilize for transportation for Bacalar. remember to plan accordingly since distance is quite a way from port so you are back in plenty of time at pier.

its true supply and demand is what controls the prices. in my book just being out of dry dock on ANY cruise is well worth it. even us solo travelers take a hit with the prices too. reality its just the norm among any cruise line. they all pretty much follow same practices in some form or fashion. in regard to your issue that travel agents cant go to battle for you thats not true especially if its a good agent. remember WE dont pay their commissions at all, its the cruise lines who do. you have to find an agent you not only feel confident and trust but knows what you are looking for and expect so you can build a relationship on that so if for any reason a unsettling issues arises YOU arent one on the phone battling with RCL, its your agent. less headaches for you in the long run. recently i had issue where my reservation was cancelled and cabin sold to another passenger after i did final payment and check in. all i did was text my agent the problem and off she ran to combat for me. my travel agent immediately went to battle and got my cabin back. it was a mess for sure but not my battle nor headache, it was my travel agent's battle. when it was all said and done i got my cabin back with some obc. maybe you should try MEI since they are blog sponsor. reach out to Annette Jackson, she will place you with one of her agents that meets you needs and wants so you can have a smooth process of booking and memorable sailing. i am sure she can find the right person that is perfect fit for you.

I have done Cinque Terre excursion both on my own with the card and thru Royal Caribbean. It really depends on how travel savvy you are being able to do train to train for each village. With Royal excursion, both options with or without lunch will come down in cruise planner. I have noticed numerous times to region, you could easily do lunch on your own more affordable and choose what you desire. Food is quite reasonable in region. Difference with Royal excursion is it includes bus, train and boat with guide to handle tickets and peace of mind. With boat you get some amazing views as you sail along coast.

As far as transportation, Rome Cabs is very reliable and punctual. Never a problem with them everytime i use them for port transfers. In regards to hotels, Rome is overflowing with many options. Remember flying into FCO, there is some distance to city center. If you stay near Termini station, centrally located within walking distance to many popular attractions and can utilize bus and trains. Remember to read up on hotels on what amnenties are offered because can be different than in states like lack of AIR CONDITIONING or pools. Many European hotels have amazing architecture and history which makes your stay that more rewarding. Best Western offers some good options if want a brand name. Hotel Diana is a quaint typical European hotel with rooftop restaurant that offers some great views of the city near Termini station. Whatever option you choose for hotel it's going to be memorable. Reality is it's a good 1 hr commute to the port from Rome. Safe travels

disembark will be smooth since just walk off ship without going thru customs. last call was 9am for passengers to disembark. port area is 1 hr distance from Rome so everyone has to find some form of transportation since the area isnt "city like" compared to other Europe ports like Barcelona having options to explore. doing the train with such a large group PLUS all luggage might be a challenge. you might want to look into transfer options which really are reasonably priced and that eliminates stress getting to train with everyone and all the luggage. i always stay in Rome pre cruise a few nights then get a transfer to the port and back to Rome for a night stay before flying back. disembark option would be to do a transfer option that has a tour attached so not camping out at the airport for eternity. not much around the port area to explore where Rome gives you much more opportunities to explore and most transfer options provide storage for luggage too.

i just used Leo on December 8th sailing. he is so well worth it when visiting. you wont get such a down to earth person who creates memorable moments for your day in port from anyone else on island. he is known as "celebrity" by all the locals on the island. i do know he can accommodate larger groups just have to text him so he can plan with his partner. i didnt even hesitate about booking him again for next sailing in the spring as he took me back to port that day. even for me as solo traveler i couldnt have been more pleased for my day with Leo.

i can say actually meeting the "celebrity" behind the camera on majesty was such a honor on this sailing. another great live blog with some awesome pictures too. overall experience can say was good and even if sailing a "baby" ship, she may not have all those bells and whistles but the service received from crew is well worth it. crew is extremely passionate and truly takes time to bond with passengers. friendly greetings by crew around ship and being in bars having those bartenders remember passengers by name and drink of choice is uplifting when think how many passengers sailing to sailing. each ship has its own identity and for value to go to CocoCay in my books is a win win when i could in turn be at home not on a cruise ship at all having those cruise dry dock blues.............. safe travels and cant wait to the next live blog.

i just did cruise out of that port and best options available are staying in Rome in city center precruise. much more options while can visit Rome at same time then grab transportation to the port. Port doesnt have much around anyway and getting transportation was reasonable. everyone flying into to FCO has to get to port too so many transportation options available. Even numerous hotels in Rome have transportation going to port for their guests for reasonable fee.