bcarney

We did Hell years and years ago, we took a van though. I didn't know catamarans could go there. I'm looking for something like a sail-around-the-island type excursion, something that has me on the water for a while.

Can anyone recommend a non-RCL catamaran excursions in Cayman Islands? We've done the Stingray City excursions too many times, and I'd like to find something little different. Any suggestions would be welcomed.

We'll be on this cruise as well. First RCL cruise since before The Plague, July 2019.

I second this!

I wonder if the cabin that suddenly lost their "obstructed view" designation was billed the difference in fares? LOL

It's during Spring Break when what seems like a quarter of our state's population heads down to Florida, so prices go through the roof. It was also on a mainstream airline; the "budget" lines don't have those dates posted yet. And TBH I've never had a good experience on the budget lines - you'll never see me on a SouthWest flight again.

I'm in Michigan, and airfare to Orlando during the time we can cruise is over $1,200 per head for the 4 of us. I'd attempt driving, but last fall we took an NCL cruise out of New Orleans (pre-Covid booked certificates were about to expire) and drove, we disembarked at 8:15am and didn't get home until 4:30am the next morning. Miami is about 500 miles farther away. We've driven and sailed from Baltimore once before, but unfortunately the only cruise during my available timeframe is a 12 day and I'm reluctant to take the kids out of school. The planets just aren't aligning for me.

Pre-Covid we used to have a cruise or two booked all the time. I did some mock bookings last night, and now that the kids are considered "adults" by RC between that and airfare we've been priced out of cruising. It's $10K just for a cruise with an interior room, and airfare. No excursions, tips, dining, etc.

Dominica. We stoped there on our first cruise, on Carnival. Very similar to St. Lucia.

I just got off an NCL cruise. I'm planning on writing up a contrast/compare later, but I have to say the number of cabin staff on Breakaway was the largest I've seen. If I had to estimate, my steward had 10 rooms tops. Our rooms were half way between the mid ship elevators and the aft, and I passed at least 5 stewards along the way. I also think that the bartenders pre-paid tips are all pooled, and the divided up by the number of transactions each bartender makes. They were hustling and working non-stop when on duty, and I rarely had to wait for a drink. There had to be some sort of incentive to work at that level for so long. @BrianB I see you liked Breakway based on the number of cruises taken on it. I have to admit, I really liked the ship and Royal could take a few lessons from NCL.

I saw the Kids Sail Free promo and was excited! Went to RoyalCaribbean.com and found the perfect cruise. Started a mock booking, and it asked for number of passengers. Then I realized my kids are no longer kids as they aged out into Adult-fare over COVID. (sigh, and a little misty-eyed)

Can't speak for the USVIs, but we used AT&T in Roatan and Mexico last week. att.com/RoamLatAm

I just got off an NCL cruise (my first post-COVID, a postponed cruise from the week in March 2020 when the world went off the rails) where we did the video muster drill. They emailed us three times before the cruise to watch the video, and then asked us if we did when we showed up to the muster station. On top of that, when you first turn on the TV in your cabin you are forced to watch the video again before you can change channels. I changed cabins (we booked two, one for my kids and one for DW and I) and we had to view the video again on the TV after switching rooms. I don't know if Royal does it this way, but if you're on a B2+B I'd imagine you can just flip on the TV and let it run while you are getting ready for the day. In any case, watching the video is far better than standing in the heat with a thousand other people. I'm glad that RCL pioneered this (Matt had a podcast about it a long time ago).

I just sailed NCL. Royal's app, website, and IT Department stands head and shoulders above NCL's. We couldn't even link two reservations on NCL - my wife and I had to log on at the same time to make restaurant reservations for us and the kids.

@Tmoe71 We'll be on the NCL Breakaway in port with you that day! We're taking the Jolly Roger Catamaran that morning, if you happen to be doing that as well, say hello!

Ain't that the truth. On our first cruise my wife and I planned one excursion in the morning, and one in the afternoon at each port. By day three we were exhausted. We cruise in a much more relaxed way now.

Thanks, @WAAAYTOOO. It's been a while, lots of life changes, COVID, etc. Now post election both my wife and I are looking at unemployment, so this NCL cruise might be our last for a while. We'll see what time brings us.

Thank you everyone. We got lucky! We were on Maya Chan's waitlist, and they contacted us to let us know some people canceled and now we're heading there. Looking forward to it!

Subject line asks it all: What to do in Costa Maya if Maya Chan is fully booked? Almaplena Eco resort seemed like a comparable option, but the reviews are either 10 or 0 and nothing in between, and that concerns me. Any other suggestions for a Maya Chan-like experience?

I'm (sadly) on an NCL cruise in a few weeks, and we looked at Maya Lost Mayan Kingdom. I did a quick look through my browser history and can't find the source, but read that it is permanently closed.

They should have waited until I won this week's PowerBall. I would have bid $225M. ?

Stop worrying about pinching pennies, and spend the money to stay in Old San Juan. A $100 difference isn't going to make or break you, but will add SOOOO much more to your vacation memories. Remember, it's one of the oldest cities in the western hemisphere, full of history and charm. I can't recommend staying there highly enough!

Don't do that, book at Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa Ybor City and explore that part of the city, then take their shuttle (or a Lyft) the mile or so to the port. Ybor City is walkable and you'll have a great evening preceding your cruise.

In the county I live in we have a population of 292,406 people. Our Health Department has posted that there have been less than 5 people hospitalized for COVID-19 during last three weeks. Yet we are still stuck under what amounts to house arrest by our Dictator Governor. None of this makes any sense anymore.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. Looks like I'll be on an NCL cruise in the future, but I doubt I can get all my family members in the same place again.