PRC

Until then, the standard (Labadee/Jamaica (Falmouth)/Cozumel.)

Not showing to change until May 6.

(oh... and I made a typo... Nassau not Labadee )

Allure is showing that next summer's western runs will not use Falmouth, instead they'll be doing a 4 port itinerary: Nassau/Roatan/Costa Maya/Cozumel

Royal financed most of the Falmouth port complex.  They needed a place to bring their Oasis Class ships, as Ocho and MoBay could not take them.  Seems strange that they would walk away from that.  The article that is being circulated from a Jamaica source is very short on detail, naming "Allure of the Seas", "The Celebrity", and "a Royal Caribbean ship".  

Agreed that Falmouth outside the gate is a mess.  Not too many places I feel unsafe, but Falmouth and Belize City top the list.  

These light up!

https://ocean-time.myshopify.com/

last visit I did the caves and walking tour combo.  The walking tour after the caves in downtown was informative, and I think the best part of the day was hanging out in town after.  it is a great town, walkable from the pier, lots of shops and eateries.  great place.  Next visit I plan to just walk to town and hang out.

Don't know if 16yo's would enjoy that or not, YMMV ;)

I've enjoyed bridge tours, but I can't get too upset.

last one I did was on Navigator.  Security was checking off names and there were a few not called.  They said they were scheduled for a later one and just wanted to go early. Security said no, as they are limited to 16ppl max, and there were NINE FULL GROUPS OF 16 TO TOUR THE BRIDGE!  

I can see where it is getting out of hand ;)

You mean there are actually people who still want to go to Ensenada, Acapulco, and PV???

That's like a 7 night cruise to Nassau, Freeport, and Nassau again!

:P

Personally I like Sabor.  

Being from Tejas until retiring this past year, I'm fairly familiar with both Mexican and Tex-Mex, and Sabor is really neither.  It uses some familiar names on the menu but the textures and flavors are, to me anyways, something completely different.  Very very good, just unique.  

My only challenge with it is that this over-indulgent American thinks the portion sizes are a little small.  (however that's for my own good) :P

I can't recall about either pool, but back when we did Alaska on Radiance the hot tubs were quite popular.  Early September the nights were upper 30's ans the hot tubs were bellowing "steam"

More days is always a good thing, but I think in this scenario I would stick with Freedom.  She's a great ship, and as Doc said, so much more to offer.  

At that time, just check in and get ready to board the ship!  

Pay no mind to the "recommended" boarding times they send, no one will be turned away.  Usually boarding begins at 10:30 or so, I would plan on arriving at 10 and just check in.

On 5/26/2017 at 2:45 PM, lollilb said:

What time can you pick towels up from on port days? Eg if we dock at 8am are we better grabbing towels the night before to be quick off the ship? 

You can get, exchange for fresh, and return towels up on the pool deck any time every day, from the minute you board.  No, they won't be manning the towel station at 3am, but definately from early early morning till extremely late.

That said, if i wanted to take a towel with me in the morning, I would have it in my room the evening before.  Odds are they will be available down at the gangway, but like was mentioned earlier, if for some reason they're not, its a long walk back up!

1 hour ago, whitsmom said:

Do we have to sign out our towels for excursions or will they hand them out when you leave for the excursion?  They used to hand them out as we got off the ship but I haven't cruised in several years and I'm guessing that this has now changed.

This is a great example of the lack of consistency, not only between ships, but within a ship.

For example, last month on Navigator, at the pool deck they would scan your card once for every towel you wanted, but down at the gangway on deck 1 they were just handing them out like candy at all 4 port stops.  

On the Freedom class ships, there was the area on Deck 12 forward that was labeled "The St. Tropez Deck".  It was topless, more popular in Europe of course.

Freedom and Liberty lost this when the new rooms were added to Deck 12.  Indy still has it, and its marked as such.  I made the mistake of walking up there with my camera to get some shots of passing Cuba a while back and there were a few boyfriends making sure of where I was aiming the lens!

Just now, FManke said:

Sounds like they could use a place like that again.

The Solarium cafe is now the late nite snack place.  I do miss the seaview though, as I'm not a sushi eater and the location was great in the evenings.

I just remembered... Brilliance was a little different.  She started out almost exclusively in Europe, and her "seaview cafe" was mostly a fish n chips type place.

Chops was there from the start.  

Giovannis used to be Portofino (another Italian venue, just replaced fleetwide by Giovannis)

Izumi was originally the Seaview Cafe.  Fries, rings, nachos, deserts, munchies type stuff.  Free/no cover.

Seaview was a lot of fun.  it was the late nite snack place, and one night in Alaska we went up to grab a bite, the Osmond Brothers (the middle 3) were there for the same reason after their performances.  No fan-dom, just a bunch of people sitting outside at midnight, snacking and having fun!

In all cases yes.  

The fleet is not 100% consistent, but on most ships you get as many as you want and they scan your seapass card.  You can swap out as many times as you want, and take them ashore no problem.  

At the end, you turn them in.  They scan your card again for the returns.  If you show to have not returned any, they will be billed to your account.  Always check to be sure they scan them back in and ask the attendant to verify you have zero outstanding.

No.  They will be provided.  swap out for fresh as many times as you want.

1 hour ago, jce2 said:

And in U.S. dollars, excellent!!  My wife and I are doing the Walking tour downtown (which apparently no one has ever done!) and was hoping if they herd us back to the ship too soon we could jus skip the return bus and grab a later cab.  I know from google maps there is a taxi stand right at the plaza so this will be perfect! 

You can flag a taxi down in downtown San Miguel anywhere.  

Seriously, Cozumel is a NO WORRIES place.  Good people, good times.  

8 hours ago, whenismynextcruise said:

not sure what time you will be there but Mallory Square sunset time is a great experience too. 

Sadly, Key West usually kicks the cruise ships out before sunset these days.  Its a big draw for land tourists and they want Mallory Square free and clear for the view.

Taxi's in Coz are perfectly safe.  Been taking them for years and never had an issue.

Last year I even did the stupid thing of leaving my backpack in the taxi.  It had my Android tablet, camera case, etc.  I figured it was gone as I couldn't even remember the cab number.  Told the "red hat" guy who coordinated the taxis for a given area, and he was on the radio tracking it down for me.  I had it back with all contents safe and sound within half an hour!

Key West is fun.  Not an excursion-type place like Kla said.  Bar hop, eateries, Mel Fisher treasure museum, "interesting" people on the streets, its a great day.

Ah sailing from Galveston...I just retired from Houston last year.  

Galveston's terminal can be frustrating at times, but relax and go with the flow, it will all work out!  

Enjoy the ship!  Don't feel like you have to squeeze everything in.  

Read the Compass ("newspaper") every day, it will have all the info you need.  

Cozumel is a blast.  Very friendly, very safe.  Same for Costa Maya. Been a while since I've been to Progreso.

Lots of good people here, you'll get good info.

Ship?  Solo?  Couple?  kids?