Christie

I know you mentioned it earlier in the thread- but wanting to verify before I go shopping this weekend.  What should I purchase ahead of time?  Just mask and fins?  What about a regulator?  Would a bag to carry the stuff in help too? 
(There's this tik tok about having ADD and hyperfixation and basically it's like "I have this new hobby, all I can think about is this new hobby, I've bought premium products for this hobby...."  This is me to a tee lol).  

I know you mentioned it earlier in the thread- but wanting to verify before I go shopping this weekend.  What should I purchase ahead of time?  Just mask and fins?  What about a regulator?  Would a bag to carry the stuff in help too? 
(There's this tik tok about having ADD and hyperfixation and basically it's like "I have this new hobby, all I can think about is this new hobby, I've bought premium products for this hobby...."  This is me to a tee lol).  

Went to Divers Direct in Orlando today. Walt was super nice and didn’t take advantage of my “need the best gear” personality. Excited for our cruise in a few weeks 

Went to Divers Direct in Orlando today. Walt was super nice and didn’t take advantage of my “need the best gear” personality. Excited for our cruise in a few weeks 

Went to Divers Direct in Orlando today. Walt was super nice and didn’t take advantage of my “need the best gear” personality. Excited for our cruise in a few weeks 

@ChristieI'll look forward to reading about your experiences, especially in St Thomas.  I'm PADI Certified, but a looooonnnng time ago -- and my last dives were in 2016 in Australia, so I'm taking a refresher dive locally and have signed up for the St Thomas scuba trip when I'm there on Oasis in December.

You all are the best. Thank you!

I just think about the millions of dollars it costs to sail and think surely they aren't even breaking even with current capacities.  

Hey there! 
 
Haha, I actually wouldn’t mind doing an onboard clinic and recoup some travel costs. One one cruise, my mom got acupuncture and the lady was also a chiropractor. They snuck me down to the spa to swap adjustments with her 🙂 
The kids sure don’t keep, do they? Poor thing is so excited to be back on a ship.  She’s most excited to be an explorer in adventure ocean.  
 
Yea, sorry I kinda disappeared for a while. Went through several hard years with Kenzie’s autism diagnosis and intensive therapy and I finally feel like I’m getting my feet back underneath me. In all transparency, it was hard to read about peoples’ amazing vacations while we were in the thick of it.
 
Sorry to derail the thread. If I decide to do it, I’ll post a review with a flipped itinerary (Coco Cay at the end) and Eastern Caribbean ports. 

Hey there! 
 
Haha, I actually wouldn’t mind doing an onboard clinic and recoup some travel costs. One one cruise, my mom got acupuncture and the lady was also a chiropractor. They snuck me down to the spa to swap adjustments with her 🙂 
The kids sure don’t keep, do they? Poor thing is so excited to be back on a ship.  She’s most excited to be an explorer in adventure ocean.  
 
Yea, sorry I kinda disappeared for a while. Went through several hard years with Kenzie’s autism diagnosis and intensive therapy and I finally feel like I’m getting my feet back underneath me. In all transparency, it was hard to read about peoples’ amazing vacations while we were in the thick of it.
 
Sorry to derail the thread. If I decide to do it, I’ll post a review with a flipped itinerary (Coco Cay at the end) and Eastern Caribbean ports. 

I understand your point, but I also feel like this would take up *several* weekends at home- I'm a doctor with a busy schedule and it sounds exhausting to try to "fit in" at home.  I'm not a lounge by the pool type of person on vacation.  I enjoy the evening stuff on the ships but am often finding myself "what to do" during the morning/early afternoon.
 

If you ever need something from guest services (fix your bill or what not), do it in the concierge lounge. No wait! Also, Freedom had a line at Guest services for gold card holders and diamond and above this week.

If you ever need something from guest services (fix your bill or what not), do it in the concierge lounge. No wait! Also, Freedom had a line at Guest services for gold card holders and diamond and above this week.

If you ever need something from guest services (fix your bill or what not), do it in the concierge lounge. No wait! Also, Freedom had a line at Guest services for gold card holders and diamond and above this week.

What happened next?? Don't leave me hanging!  Highly considering doing this for our upcoming Liberty cruise and was looking to see how much of our cruise it would take up.  

What happened next?? Don't leave me hanging!  Highly considering doing this for our upcoming Liberty cruise and was looking to see how much of our cruise it would take up.  

Agreed. Flight is my absolute favorite!! I wish I could buy a sound track 

Agreed. Flight is my absolute favorite!! I wish I could buy a sound track 

I would think the only viable option would be a head strap.  You'll be wearing a chest pad and your hands will obviously be occupied.  Try it- they may ask you to take it off for safety reasons though. 

We take a cab over to that place every time we visit Cozumel and stock up on chocolate.  

We take a cab over to that place every time we visit Cozumel and stock up on chocolate.  

I use insuremytrip.com to compare different medical only trip insurance plans.  It compares the different plans for you.  I've found these plans to be very reasonable and offers me a peace of mind to not get some huge medical bill on board.  

I use insuremytrip.com to compare different medical only trip insurance plans.  It compares the different plans for you.  I've found these plans to be very reasonable and offers me a peace of mind to not get some huge medical bill on board.  

Hi Steven,
Like Matt said, we went to St Bart's in July on a St Maarten stop day. We weren't confident with the reliability of the ferries (and it's a good thing because they didn't have one coming back in the afternoon on the day we were there) so we pre booked flights on WinAir out of SXM. Port time was 8-5 (all aboard at 4:30) and our flights were at 9:30 and 2:20 respectively. 15 min flight time. 
First things first, you have to be ok with missing the ship and getting yourself to the next port. Start off your day knowing that. Everything went perfect for us until the flight back. The plane didn't show up until 3:20, but at St Bart's there's no screens or anything telling you what is going on. We were sweating. 
The taxi to and from SXM is about 20-25 min and will cost you $8-$10 per person depending on how the drivers are feeling. 
SXM has all of the typical airport stuff. St Bart's airport is very tiny and just someone checking your passport. Customs coming back into SXM has a decent line. If your docked time is 8-5, I would not do any flight later than 2:30. 
I'm a private pilot so I'm used to small planes. I've even flown hot air balloons and gliders. I still thought I was going to die. St Bart's airport is just beyond a decent hill and we basically nose dove in. You can see into and out of the cockpit from the seats. 
Depending on the time of year, there may be a separate ship time and local time. If this is the case, you probably can't make it. Google "time in St Maarten". If it's the same time as US eastern time, everything is good to go. If it's different, you run the risk of the captain sticking with ship time and the island being an hour ahead. This really complicates things because you're not quite sure until you're onboard (and can ask- by the way our genie told us one thing and then we had him call up on the bridge and they said another thing)  
Also, the shops in St Bart's are only open 10-1 and then they take a siesta until 4. 
All of that being said, would I do it again? Yup.  It was a ton of fun. Bring your passport and be ok with flying to the next island to meet your ship ?
 

Nobody knows expensive bingo until they go on a Disney cruise