Taraks Travels

Yep...that's the same with me on that sailing also. Got all shows booked. Hoping that we're able to get our 2nd and 3rd specialty dining nights on the night we want once we board.

When we sailed on Freedom last year and the year before, ...we ate at Chops and ordered as much as we wanted. Perhaps this has changed?

Thanks @Zacharius...I didn't consider your first point...2nd, yes and 3rd I knew...just fun to collect them of the various places we've been.

Can anyone advise where in St. Thomas and St. Maarten you get your passports stamped? Kinda silly, I know but my Wife and I like to collect those when we travel.

You have to wait until you board. That's the trade off for getting a deal...or so I am told that's why.

Renting a golf cart on Water Island during our port stop in STT. Golf cart place opens at 9a...If we take the 8a ferry over, is there anything immediately available to see/do right at that ferry port on Water Island to burn 45 minutes?

We're on Symphony next month and have these port stops. I found this for St. Maarten...we had a lot of the RC excursions sold out so I was on my own to find something. They have great Trip Advisor Reviews... https://www.johnnysscooterrental.com/ For ST. Thomas, we're ferrying over to Water Island and renting a golf cart from Rachael's to explore and then hanging at Honeymoon Beach.

Who has used non RC sponsored vendors for excursions/sight seeing in St. Thomas and what was your experience with them?

While not on the RC cruise itineraries, Turks and Caicos...Grace Bay Beach is FANTASTIC...I know Carnival docks at Grand Turk but that is not Grace Bay. Those that have been to Grace Bay will tell you...it's unreal. So if a land based vacation is in your future and you want one of the best beaches out there...GO!

We were at PDCC Jan '22 and had a cold front come down...it was about 50 degrees when we docked...by afternoon it was in the 70s and comfy in the sun but it was still pretty windy. We had our teens with us and the waterpark was crazy cold! . Hoping for warmer temps next month for our 2/25 sailing and 3/3 visit to PDCC

This is great info @twangster, Thank you! Maybe I will regroup my thoughts on this and take in something closer to port.

Most of our sailings RC sponsored excursions are sold out...so I am working on trying to make my own plan/sight seeing excursion and need some help from those that have done this... We are docked at St Thomas from 7a-3p....Seems like it may be best to get off ship as early as possible and take a taxi early over to the Red Hook Terminal to go over to St Johns Cruz Bay Terminal. If we wait until the 10a Ferry from Charlotte Amalie as we would be sacrificing a couple hours of time between waiting for that 10a departure and the time it takes to get over there....and then have to catch return ferry from Cruze Bay back to Red Hook because times available every hour and we could catch 1p back to Red Hook....then taxi back to Charlotte Amalie.... Anybody done this and can advise how long of a taxi ride it is? Is the 1p return ferry enough time or should we consider the noon ferry back? Obviously don't want to miss the ship leaving... Or should we just stay on St Thomas and find something there? I enjoy taking photos and really would like to try to see as much as we can but realize it's a short day. Any advise is welcomed. TIA!

DBP is $72.99 + 50% off 2nd one, currently. When they take the 50% off, it has been going up to $77.99. Unlimited Dining is $225.99 3 Night Dining is $112.99 Chops +1 is $84.99 150CP , Chops is $54.99 Jamie's, Hooked $45.99 Izumi $28.99, Hibachi $54.99 Wonderland $50.99

That's not a bad idea. Thanks Maggie!

Ahhhh...thank you. And we did get a smoking deal at $102! Chops was $55, Chops + 1 was $85...so I thought $102 was really good! We really enjoyed Chops the previous 2 sailings on Freedom.

Hi all...Our check in for 2/25 sailing on Symphony opened today (done)....I got us checked in and it also opened up allowing to book shows. My question is, I'd like to book our dining and we purchased the 3N dining package and it's currently sitting on night 2. If i try to make reservations at one of the places, it's wanting to charge for it as if I was buying a single visit? Do I just need to wait until we board (as I have heard others say you HAVE to wait until boarding? Obviously don't wanna miss out on our other 2 nights dining if reservations fill up.

A friend of mine and her family just went out of Tampa last week and I'm pretty sure it went to Nassau, Bimini and Grand Bahama along with PDCC...I think they were on Serenade of The Seas...

I thought that too when first announced as my Wife is really picky and I'm a little more open about trying SOME things....the MDR didn't do much for us when we sailed on FOS and we went to WJ for most meals.....but, I was looking at them again...I think the Welcome menu and Caribbean Night have my interest. And while I'd prefer crab legs to lobster, I want to take advantage of that so I need to remember which night that is... My question now is...outside of the lobster, can you order a couple entrees in MDR and multiple appetizers like 2-3 shrimp cocktail?

If it goes down, call and cancel and rebuy at lower price...

That's a winner right there!

How in the heck can a ship this size turn fast enough to cause this? And as for a wave...you're talking about 200'+ off the water line on that deck! No way it was a wave and I find it hard to believe it could be from sharp turn. I wonder if it were a water pump of some sort to pool and it wasn't realized and just overfilled and flooded?

Mike - EDIT as I should have posted this to @WAYNO We used it 2x and had no issues. I do a lot of research prior to booking and the rates I got from them were within a few bucks of what I was able to find on travel sites as well as direct with the airline. The upside is, if there's an issue with flights, they will handle getting you where you need to go. As for hotels, I don't know if they do that..>I think they do but didn't use them for that part. I did find some okay deals on Air BnB for our cruise out of Miami...found a South Beach Studio for less than some of the hotels out by port.

Thank you!

Yeah...we have DBP and Refreshment so I am not sure either...LOL! She's a first timer going next week and freaking out over all the info so I'm trying to help her.

So what kind of water is included in base fare? Water filling stations and tap water?