dejagatkins

What do you eat and drink there to be sure you don't get Montezumas Revenge?

where does one find the excursion to Paradise Beach? I'm so afraid of food, water, and unknown drivers in Cozumel. Is there a RC excursion to Paradise Beach?

I was worried more about the taxi ride. Folks have said that they have been held ranson etc. But Cozumel govt is asking for exemption from the warning. I will keep my reservation and give it time. I have till April 2018

http://www.wsmv.com/story/36201849/us-department-of-state-expands-travel-warning-to-anyone-heading-to-mexico

This warning includes Cozumel

We have reservations for beach for the day here in April. I am wondering now with the Travel warning issues for that area, if we should cancel? We have to take a 10 minute taxi ride there and don't wish to be kidnapped! Thoughts?

1 hour ago, tiny260 said:

http://www.cozumelnachicocom.com/,

You have to prepay at least the deposit to reserve your spot. No this is not an official RCI excursion, but all the taxi drivers know where it is, 10-15 minuet drive, taxi's are done by zone in Cozumel, I can't remember what zone this is but it's not very expensive. When you walk in they will assign you a waiter, your waiter will take you to your Palapa/chairs, if you have an idea in mind when you think you want to leave, say 2:30 to go get some souvenirs, then tell your waiter 2:30 and they will have a taxi waiting. Or just tell them later when you want a taxi and it shouldn't be more than about 5 minuets.

My wife and I told the waiter we wanted a taxi, and before we could go to the restroom and get our stuff packed up he was back telling us our taxi was ready.

Thanks! Where do you find the taxis? Is it difficult? We've never gone out on our own. Always an RCI excursion but I'm so tired of standing in their 45 minute lines in the sun to get the show started. Would like to safely do something ourselves.

On 7/2/2017 at 1:31 PM, tiny260 said:

I concur, I was just there in early June, it's a private beach, so no outside vendors, Nachi Cocum, has people walking around trying to sell excursions, snorkeling, para sailing etc. but they are not aggressive in any way.

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you sign up for Nachi Cocum Cozer Beach Break? Is that a formal RCI excursion? I heard great things and am going in April 2018 but don't know where I find it to sign up?

41 minutes ago, Matt said:

I went there and frankly, did not love it. https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/03/15/excursion-focus-blue-waters-beach-escape-falmouth

Thanks! Cross that idea off then!!

34 minutes ago, BrianAlt said:

No, it's a different one that you can book on your own through Resort For a Day.  

http://www.resortforaday.com/Hilton-Rose-Hall-Day-Pass-Jamaica-Excursions-p/mbfmjahr.htm

Thanks!

14 minutes ago, BrianAlt said:

Hilton Rose Hall?  If so, I recommend you stick with your choice.  It's a private bus and you'll love the resort.

Thanks for the info. I had heard about Blue Water Beach Club . It is 10 min away thru the RC excursion choices. Is that Hilton Rose Hall?

Judging from all this and what is being said lately about Falmouth, I regret my upcoming 2018 April cruise there on the Allure. I was going to do a resort 10 minutes away but I think I will just shop in the compound and stay the rest of the day on this ship. I found Nassau to also be sketchy and I wasn't comfortable there last year. This year, we just took pictures of Atlantis from the room balcony but made that a pool day on ship. Too bad. Wish these cruise lines would choose better ports.

16 hours ago, DocLC said:

@JLMoran is correct when it comes to the Caribbean unless you're going out of San Juan.  There we only had one sea day.  The problem with leaving from Florida is the distance down into and back from the ports in the Caribbean, which isn't a problem when you start in San Juan.  Fewer sea days can also be had on some New England/Canada itineraries, depending on the embarkation port, and in Europe, where we had a 13 day cruise with only a single sea day.  We have a 12 day cruise coming up next month with only two sea days.

There are many here, and I'm one of them, that really likes the sea days as they give you a chance to enjoy the features of the ship, sleep in, relax, etc.  My wife on the other hand is eager to get off the ship and isn't such a fan.  We did a two night cruise to nowhere followed by a 7 night cruise and she had to get off the ship on turnaround day just to walk and have her feet on land.

We love sea days. The ship motion and sailing experience. Love that on our way back, we had 2 days at sea before we had to disembark.

1 hour ago, MikeK said:

Yes I understand its a choice and that's good.   When they water down the coffee or make the food less appealing in the MDR to steer you to pay extra for something that should be included in the price of the cruise then I have a problem

Me too!! A good basic cup of coffee should be free and not watered down. When I put the half and half in it looked like dishwater. I should still be able to get a standard regular brewed cup of coffee.  

1 hour ago, DocLC said:

I know sooner lines use a liquid coffee concentrate and I hope this isn't one of those cases. 

I always buy the nonalcoholic package the includes specialty coffee and I haven't noticed a decline there and never felt compelled to go to Starbucks, but I have no experience with the drip coffee. 

I did buy the overall beverage package. So one time we got an Irish coffee at the Promenade and that was good. But their regular coffee has changed for sure. One morning a lady was snarky and complaining and I spoke up and said  " I like their Seattle's Best"; Then after she was gone, I tried my own cup and it was very watery like she said. My hubby and I who always enjoy our coffee there, left them on the table and walked up. I'm guessing they will have to change back if they don't want a mob on their hands. We did find if we went very early, it was a more normal dilution. Not sure why.

I'm not a complainer. I just got off Oasis and am still reveling. But my one complaint (well besides CATS needs to go) :-D Is that the regular coffee was soo watered down this year. I felt like the ship was trying to force us to spend money on Starbucks. Then I heard they switched off of Seattle's Best. Maybe that is the reason but we found except for very early morning coffee in the Cafe Promenade, the rest of the day it was watered down. I felt a bit ill, because I could not get my usual dose of caffeine a few times per day unless I went to Starbucks. Did anyone else notice that recently? Some folks in the cafe were down right angry.

I just haven't seen the Chops lunch menu. But I will post a picture after my cruise next week. Chops filet mignon for dinner was in the normal price. It was the rubbed aged steaks that we didn't choose ,that has an extra charge.

I know! What food can possibly be bad coming out of Chops?? Definitely worth the lunch price to see what they offer! Dinner never disappoints!

8 minutes ago, Matt said:

Just booked Chops Lunch for my Harmony cruise in July.  You know, for research.

Well   I am "researching"  this next week so I wil send you all a picture of the menu :-D

Thanks! Booked it so my sister and I can take my dad to lunch for his filet mignon! 

Just a heads up that I've not seen the lunch menu. Not sure if the Filet Mignon is on the lunch fare

Just saw in my cruise planner for Allure that they are offering Chops for lunch at $19pp

 

worth it??

 

Last year on Oasis we ended up at WJ for lunch on sea days and I'd like to change it up with either MDR or Izumi this year!

 

We are also doing Giovannis and Samba for dinner so not sure if the Chops menu is worth the extra charge

 

Thanks!

We loved Chops for dinner last year so we booked it for a night this cruise next week also. When we heard you could also do lunch there, we jumped on it. The food exp the filet mignon is outstanding! 

Wife told me I didn't have to wear a tie after about our 3rd cruise ... haven't worn one since.

 

Slacks and a button down shirt is formal wear for me now.

I looked at our formal pictures and realized my husband looked so uncomfortable. Even though he wears ties from time to time, I thought it was ok to bring some balance into the comfort zone. Do you every feel out of place? I've looked at other pictures and the men with button down shirts,dress slacks and jackets look very nice and cruise appropriate to me.

I finally told my wife about our anniversary cruise in Oct. Yesterday was our half anniversary and so I had a tee shirt made with a picture of Serenade of the Seas on the front and on the back was 2017 and the dates and names of our ports of call.

She completely lost her mind!

I'm glad I don't have to keep this secret any longer and sneak around on Royal Caribbean blog! :D

That's so good! Now she can plan her clothes and enjoy the anticipation!

Considering they don't really enforce the rules, you can still wear it.

 

FWIW, the addition of shorts last week was only for casual night, so technically, you would not have been able to wear shorts for formal night ;)

So I'm a huge fan of dressing up...but we were considering letting my husband be more comfortable on formal night by dress, slack, dress shirt and jacket but NO tie. Can't remember last year, but do a lot of men who are dressed up, actually forgo the tie on formal night?

Personally, I LOVE Southwest .... The fact that Baltimore is a hub makes it so easy to get a non-stop flight to almost anywhere.

We do too. And we use them all the time. Just when I am planning a trip down to MCO for our cruise in a few days, I start to get paranoid about them losing my luggage. They never have, but I read they do lose luggage a lot. And I really want all my things for my cruise!! :-D

I wound up booking on United; the flights were a couple hundred cheaper than our usual choice, Delta.

 

I've never flown JetBlue; we've done Spirit before, but by the time all the luggage fees etc were tacked on the price was comparable to the 'traditional' airlines so we just stuck with Delta.

 

I flew Southwest once.  You couldn't pay me enough to fly on them again.

I have to ask. What don't you like about flying Southwest?