WhiteSoxFan

I may be wrong, but I can't recall being able to walk around the aft. The deck plans for deck 2 looks like you can walk around the aft, but we know that's not the case. Pictures I find don't provide much in the way of confirmation. So we'll place this one in the 'may be possible, your experience may vary' category.

I agree with Doc here.  On both the Jewel and the Brilliance we walked around the aft on the promenade deck.

Pack half as many clothes and twice as much swimwear.

 

Pack all t-shirts and polo shirts that are made from dry-fit type material.  You can roll it nice and tight in your suitcase and it never wrinkles.

On another note, is it just me or are there ridiculously few cabins available for this Thanksgiving cruise?  Not many balcony cabins of any type it seems.

I was on the Freedom in January and do not remember seeing this.  I've been lax in scanning my Compasses.  I will scan then this weekend (8 night also) and send them to Matt so you have something more current to checkout.  If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.  

Excited!  I just booked.  Ocean balcony on deck 11, port side just aft of the elevators.  We've had a similar location (starboard) on the Alllure and love it.

 

This is the second earliest I've ever booked a cruise.  Only 617 days to go, lol.

Thanks to both of you.  

Can you share the email address you used to get this information?  

After spending thousands on a cruise, airfare, drinks onboard, excursions, etc.  I consider the gratuity portion to be such a minor aspect of my vacation that, unless I received truly horrible service, I would not ever consider adjusting downward.  I usually tip additional, in cash, to anyone who did a good job. As stated above, the lion's share of these people's income is from those tips and they work some pretty long hours to make our vacations special.

Personally, I think flying to Puerto Rico and not saying in Old San Juan is like going to Paris and not seeing the Eiffel Tower...

Last time we were in SJ the Sheraton OSJ had a two night minimum stay and we only needed one night.  We had four of us and I found Ciqala Suites, not to far away from the convention center.  We had a full blown apartment.  2 bedrooms, kitchen, 2 baths, washer/dryer all for less than the price of two regular rooms.  Heck, less than some of the rooms on the beach.  We took a taxi to OSJ, saw the sites, then taxi'd back.  

If you arrive early enough, drop your bags with the porter and instead of heading to the north end to go through check-in turn and go south.  At the end of the terminal is a staircase you can go up and get up close to the ship for some good pictures.  Like so:  https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipOkL_0nEz8KIiYsMAu2GNjvKlASJ1zOMMUPxRx4  (Sorry, it's a PITA to embed a photo from google photos.)

 

When done there just walk across the upper level to the check in.  The terminal in Tampa is one of the nicest I've ever been in. https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipPT3dEtDMCCIWMc66ujwyavyq_3eXLQdWIRXTOz

WhiteSoxFan, that was a really cool photo. Good to know that only 30 seconds is needed to get what seems like a more than adequate exposure.

 

I appreciate the offer for info. Is your trip also departing from Fort Lauderdale / Port Everglades? I've never been there, and we're debating whether to fly in the day before or two days before to have a chance to look around; so any suggestions on things to do there the day before would be appreciated (besides going to the beach, I'm sure that on spring break week all of the beaches are crazy crowded). Also any advice about that port terminal and getting through it (besides arriving at 10:30 or 11; I've already told my family it's 10:30 or bust ;) ). And I'll definitely review those Cruise Compass copies!

 

Is your itinerary the one that starts or ends at Labadee? Ours starts at Basseterre, St. Kitts for the first port; then St. Maarten, San Juan, and finally Labadee. I can't imagine that the activities differ between that itinerary and the one that goes in the opposite order, but just in case...

One note about those star shots.  You need to do a lot of tweaking in a program like Lightroom or Photoshop to get the best results out of the picture.  

 

We start in Labadee and end in St. Kitts.  

 

I can't be of much help for you on the Ft. Lauderdale pre-cruise as we are flying in early, but to Orlando.  We get much better options and pricing to MCO vs FLL.  Plus my parents live in Ocala and I'm driving up there to pick them up.  So my daughter and BF flying in from Seattle), parents and us will be staying a night at Disney before getting up bright and early (actually dark and early) and driving down to Port Everglades.  I'll drop the crew and bags off then the wife and I will return the car and taxi back to the port.  It looks like Terminal 29 will be a bit of a CF to drive into and drop the bags as early as we'll be there because there will still be a lot of people getting off the ship but once that is done it should be smooth sailing (I hope(pun intended)).

They are merely trying to do a little social engineering to get the arrivals spread out.  Arrive when you like. When we went out of Tampa we got there about 10:15AM,  breezed right through and were onboard just after 11:00 if I recall correctly.

Whilst you may use the hand rail for a Gorrilapod or a small tripod where would still be too much motion of the vessel to allow for a long exposure shot that you are talking about to allow any sort of sharpness in the stars.

^ This is true.  Way too much motion to get a good picture.

 

If not though you can get good pics at about 30 seconds exposure if it is a dark location.  Anything longer and you start getting the star trails.

 

This is 30 second at F4 in the Tennessee boondocks.

 

 

 

BTW I am taking the same cruise leaving on the 20th of this month. If you need any specific information just ask and I'll try to accommodate.  I will bring back the Compasses and scan for Matt to put on the site.

I agree, taxi.  It's not really set up to walk.  No sidewalks and a lot of traffic.

We switched times on this eastern Caribbean cruise, but you don't need to do any math for subtracting hours. Whatever is listed for port time is Ship's time regardless if the ship's time matches up with the actual port time. Does that make sense?

What I think you are trying to say that if the ship is listed in port from 8:00AM - 5:00PM that this is ships time, not necessarily local time, which could be 7:00-4:00 or 9:00-6:00.

 

As we were told when we went to Cozumel on my first cruise, "Do not ask a local what time it is or you will become one".

Here is a link to my google drive folder that has Compasses (daily planner) from two recent 8-day sailings.  https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_n-B8ozLmplZXpoWFdBdUJlWEU

 

They are photos that I got from live reports so not the best and not complete but better than nothing.  Please report back about your trip and if possible, bring back the Compasses.  :)

You don't mention if you have My TIme Dining or traditional.  If traditional the I definitely would check out the table location early on to see if you like it.  If you have MTD you can make a reservation and possibly put in a request.  Your table number will be on your Seapass card if you have traditional dining.

 

Other than that I would get there early as you noted, grab lunch, check the dining room for your table or reserve one for MTD, explore the ship and familiarize and orient yourself.  You don't say if your are on the Harmony or the Freedom but both have plenty to explore.

 

Definitely take a swimsuit in your carry-on and try the flowrider the first day when there are short lines.  

 

I assume you have a rental car that you are returning in FLL?  I have done this twice in the past, and will again two weeks after you.  We usually leave Disney about 6:00AM.  By the time you return the car and get back to the port you can be there about 10:30-10:45.  For me this is the perfect time to balance getting on board early and not waiting too long.  I recommend taking a taxi or Uber to the port as the free shuttle form the rental center to the port can be crowded and a long wait.  Plus you do not know what order they will hit all the ships.  It is about $15.00 for a taxi but worth it.

I agree with everything that Matt said. Regardless of the last time off the ship they want you our of your cabin as early as possible.  It is a daunting task to clean and prepare all the cabins on turnaround day so they want as much time as possible.

We are driving down from Orlando on the morning of our cruise.  I plan to drop off part of the group and all the bags and then return the car to the FLL rental center.  Opinions on the best way back, taxi or Uber?The cost doesn't concern me as much as the ease and quickness.  They have a free shuttle back but my experience is that the frequency is inconsistent and, with so many ships on port, it could take a while to get to ours.

The shuttle will likely only safe you about $20 and you'll end up being on their schedule than yours. My suggestion would be to look for a hotel with an airport shuttle, but plan on trying a taxi or Uber to the ship. I'm a fan of Cambria Suites and they do offer an airport shuttle, but they're at the high end of your price range

I agree about the schedule.  In the past when I have stayed at hotels with shuttles they don't leave the hotel until 11:00AM or 12:00PM.  I'm usually checked in and waiting to board by then.  I just took a taxi. (Pre-Uber days)

I have yet to sail on a Quantum class but All thing being equal, form a ship perspective only, It is probably the Allure for me. I am sure the Harmony would surpass it as soon as I sailed on her.

 

The things that stand out for me are:

 

Wide promenade

Central Park & Boardwalk

The Solarium (except for the "pool")

The variety of free food options

The Shows.

 

That being said I have loved every ship I've been on and would go on them again from the Majesty, 2 Brilliance class, 3 Voyager class and the Freedom.

What I've discovered in 10 cruises that when it comes to clothes what I should pack is less than I think.   :)

If you want some of those "premium" standard cabins like the Ben & Jerry Sweet or Freedom/Voyager deck 7 or deck 10 corners I'd be looking at them when they become available for booking.  

I don't know when it started, but it's become obvious just recently.  I don't like it.  It smacks of Carnival's website - "want a bathroom with that cabin?  Just $15 more!"

I just recently noticed this as I haven't been on looking at cruise pricing for a while.  I'm not a fan.  I miss the old days when you could go to certain sites and see every available cabin in a given category that was available.  I managed to snag a few good aft cabins that way.  

 

Now you can spend a few hours trying to weigh all the options between category, location and pricing.

I just finished an 8 night on the Freedom on 11/20. I've got the Cruise Compass, the Adventure Ocean Kids Planner and the menus. I'm halfway through scanning them for Matt to post on the website.

Thanks, I appreciate it.  How did you enjoy it?  What did you do on St. Kitts?