willland Posted June 3, 2015 Share Posted June 3, 2015 (edited) Next year we are headed to Colorado since we have never been out West yet. Can't wait for that trip. Colorado is great but if your plans aren't solid yet, consider Utah and the likes of Snowbird, Alta, Deer Valley, Park City, The Canyons, Brighton, and Solitude. As a matter of fact you can ski 6 of these 7 resorts all in one day via the Utah Interconnect. Bill Edited June 3, 2015 by willland 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted June 3, 2015 Moderators Share Posted June 3, 2015 ISLA ROATAN, HONDURAS We prefer to see the landscape, relax on the beach, snorkel, swim and have a couple of drinks. We are not big on shopping, or "adventures". Probably one of our favorite ports. We usually dock in Mahogany Bay, Roatan so all prices and directions will be from that port. If you enter through another port the basic instructions will still get you to this destination on the island. If you decide not to go anywhere Carnival does have a private beach right at the port. Upon entering the port ask directions to the "Taxi Stand". Upon arrival at the taxi stand you will need to give them the number of people in your party and they will quote you a price. We had four people in our party and paid $75 for all day use of the taxi and driver/guide that will take you anywhere you want to go. He will take you to Bananarama (which is where we go), or ziplining, or a monkey farm or shopping....or all of the above. The taxi driver/guide will remain within sight of you all day and is always available to take you where you want to go. We tell the driver to take us to Bananarama Beach Club. We have attached pics. There is a $10 per person fee to enter the "beach club", however chairs, restrooms, showers, bar waiter service and one free drink are included. Additionally, while on the beaches in these countries it is very common for locals to "peddle" their wares. We have bought some really nice items from locals including hammocks, mahogany pieces, sea shells and jewelry. Bananarama has a very well trained security staff and most of the locals know that they can not harass the patrons of Bananarama. The beach is beautiful, the drinks and service are excellent, the showers and restrooms are clean. The food is excellent and they do have a pretty varied menu, including brick oven pizza. The snorkeling from this beach is among the most beautiful we have ever seen. Once you are there and settled, if you want to see the best snorkeling from shore, when looking at the water go to your left, before you get to where the beach ends go out and start snorkeling. The reef will start at waist deep. If you don't feel like walking down the beach, you can swim straight out from Bananarama and reach the reef. Another alternative, which we have done, is to talk to one of the boat operators (see pics of boats) and negotiate a price for them to take you out to the reef. Our cost for three hours was $75 and we had six people. One of the things we love most about going to Bananarama is the thirty minute trip across the island. You actually cross the peak of the mountain and are surrounded by the Caribbean on three sides. Your driver will happily take you on back roads and other parts of the island that you may wish to see. The fishing village area also supports some reputable scuba diving operations, as well as smaller hotels. One thing to remember, all you have to do is tell your driver what time you have to be back to the boat, or what boat your on, they will know the times. He will get you there on time. They want to make sure all guests have a great time and make it back to the boat on time, that's how they make their money. Cruise ships have a huge economic impact on their island. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted June 30, 2015 Moderators Share Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) I promised to do this so here goes. Cozumel Mexico We have two places we like to go, if were with people who want to see a little more than just a nice quiet place on the water with a bar and restaurant we take them to Chankanaab. If they want a quiet place just to hang out, also with bar and restaurant but less people we go to Dzul-Ha, the Money Bar . Both places are right on the beach with snorkeling and places to sit in the shade and full service. They are only a few miles apart, you go straight through the cruise terminal area to the taxi stands and tell them where you want to go, it's set prices, no guessing. to either place is around $10-$12 one way for 2-4 people plus a tip. Either tell them Chankanaab which sounds like chok-ah-nob, if your going to the Money bar either say that or Dzul-Ha, they all know where your wanting to go. At either place there are taxis ready to get you back to the boat anytime you want to go, just walk to the street and grab one, there waiting, they will ask you what ship and know where to take you from that. First and our favorite is the Money Bar, we love it. It's free no fee's or charges to just go and sit in chairs under umbrellas right on the edge of the water, clean bathrooms and changing areas with an amazing looking thatch roof bar with really good food which they will gladly bring to the table. We usually sit right on the water where you go in to swim and snorkel, this is about 50' or so from the bar, and to the other side about the same distance is my favorite place. Two rows of beautiful palm trees with hammocks between the trees about 25' from the water. It's perfect, I have a standard plan order a bucket of beer, 6 beers in a bucket full of ice with limes sticking out the tops, have one and go snorkel, get out have another beer and head to the hammocks, repeat, often ! OK that's just me, substitute with whatever makes you happy. some pics. Edited June 30, 2015 by dtel 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JJkizak Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Last weekend, my wife and I took a cruise on Royal Caribbean to the Bahamas. We stopped at Nassau and CocoCay (Royal Caribbean's private island). We had a fantastic trip except on the morning of Day 1, during the first few minutes of snorkeling, my GoPro began acting strange. When it shut off, I realized something was wrong. When I came to the surface, I noticed there was water inside the waterproof housing. Crap. I swam back to the boat and discovered there was a very small crack in the housing which caused it to leak water inside. The camera and LCD Backpack is now dead. I had several conversations with Customer Support and a Supervisor to see if it would be covered under warranty since the housing failed, not the actual camera. Since it was 1yr 4months, it was beyond the 1yr warranty and they do not cover water damage. They say it is the customer's responsibility to ensure that the case is waterproof before using it underwater. Not sure I agree with that but whatever. Initially GoPro offered a 20% discount towards a new camera and they said that was an exception. After sharing with them that there are 40% discount cards for sale on Ebay, they offered me a 40% off coupon once I return the damaged Hero 3+ Black camera to them. It stinks that the camera and LCD died but the upside is I'll be upgrading to the Hero4 Silver with a 1yr warranty and only have $260 out of pocket as opposed to $400 out of pocket. Be sure to change the resolution on the video to 1080p. Here are some highlights of our trip A crack in the housing? That means they got cheap on the type of plastic used. I would not purchase that item again. JJK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frzninvt Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) We just got back from our Boston to Bermuda cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines. This was mine and my daughter's first cruise and we had a great time. My wife had been on a couple of other cruises. We docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard which is loaded with history. We did the Atlantic Reef Fishing and Bermuda Triangle Shipwreck snorkel excursions. I have to edit the GoPro footage of the snorkel adventure. Water was clear and visibility was stellar. Snorkeled over the Montana (19th century paddle steamer) and Constellation (wooden ship) shipwrecks. We stayed on the 12th deck facing the bow in an owner's suite a two bedroom, two bathroom cabin with a butler and the service was stellar! The priority boarding and disembarkation was worth the extra funds for the owner's suite. We did not mess around we also got the Ultimate Dining and Beverage package so all drinks and specialty restaurants did not cost us any additional funds. We hit them all! I'll post some pictures this evening. Planning on the Western Caribbean cruise next year leaving out of Miami. Gorgeous photos DTEL's wife and nice GoPro video Youthman I was so busy exploring I did not bring the GoPro with me every time I ventured out. Edited July 1, 2015 by Frzninvt 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Youthman Posted June 30, 2015 Author Moderators Share Posted June 30, 2015 A crack in the housing? That means they got cheap on the type of plastic used. I would not purchase that item again. JJK Too late....I already purchased a GoPro Hero4 Silver. In their defense.....I may have cracked it during this trip 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Youthman Posted June 30, 2015 Author Moderators Share Posted June 30, 2015 Love chilling with the wife in the hammocks by the ocean. Very peaceful and relaxing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dude Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Very nice of you to share with us. Looks like you guys had a great time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Beautiful photos. Glad you enjoyed your trip. Cozumel Mexico Flew there to dive in 87 and 91. Best diving I have ever experienced. Huge difference in the island when I went back in 91. Hurricane Gilbert reeked havoc with 170mph winds in 88. Twenty-four hours before Gilbert hit landfall he was packing 185mph winds. Bill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Really like the cruise video, photos,etc. That snowboarding video was scary! Thought you would never get help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted June 30, 2015 Moderators Share Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) We were lucky the first time we went, it was with my sister and mother so they gave us some ideas of what was going on. Since then we have tried different places in each port to find what we like. Part of the problem is you only have one day in each port and hate to waste it, so it's nice to have a good place to start. This is the other place in Cozumel we like, is Chankanaab. It's a state/government park for tourist and is well kept, it does have a charge to get in, I think it was $21 per person to get in. It can be a little more crowded at times but never bad, it has about the same snorkeling as the money bar because it's only a couple of miles away. the overall Snorkeling in Cozumel is not quite as nice as Roatan but it's just because the reef is not quite as built up. The reef at Cozumel took a real beating from a hurricane about 10 years ago ( as Willland said above ) and is slowly rebuilding itself, but there is no shortage of fish to see. We went there not long after that hurricane and it was so bad on the island most of the trees were missing the leaves or knocked down, they were torn off from the winds. I have seen the same on the Mississippi coast as well and know what it looks like. The fee to the park is only to get in, drinks/food is still separate of course. Chankanaab has the beach with thatch roof covered chairs not to far from the water but behind that is trails. The trails wind though a pretty good size area that is planted with all kinds of native plants and trees along with "replicas" of Mayan statues and carvings. The trails are nice just to see the size of what we normally think of as house plants but how the naturally grow, which is giant in some cases. OH and don't be surprised to see MANY types of lizards and Iguanas running wild, some of the huge. I wasn't expecting this until one ran out into the walkway to get a banana peeling some left, see pic. There were many different kind including the ones that stand up on there back legs and run toward you, this did NOT make my wife happy as she ran away. Well I did tell her don't worry they won't attack you, I was just guessing to get her to calm down, I was apparently wrong. She should know better by now, how should I know about Mexican lizards ? Some pic's, grandkids included at times Edited July 1, 2015 by dtel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted June 30, 2015 Moderators Share Posted June 30, 2015 (edited) Jamaica One of my favorites, we tend to go to Doctors Cave, it on the beach, it cost a few dollars to get in but it's a nice place right on the main street where most of the shops are and Margaritaville if interested. At the cruise terminal they have a stand where you can sign up to be on a medium size bus for one flat rate, I think it was $15 per person a day, but you can get on a off at different stops all day. You do not want to drive in Jamaica, they drive terrible, really bad, you want someone from there to drive or you may run over a Jamaican as they will just walk out right in front of you. Even with someone else driving be ready to stop quickly, it's almost like bumpercars, there crazy ! We usually go to the beach and snorkel and hang out, later we just walk along the street looking at all the little shops. while my wife was in a little local shop the lady who runs it was talking to me outside and I asked where can I get a beer. She just smiled and said come in, in the back of every little shop is a refrigerator with cold beer and local rum's, she gave me one and added it to my wife's bill. As we talked whenever I had an empty she would take it and get me a new cold Red Stripe there local beer, every shop had this so it worked out great. I hung out on the street talking with people and taking pic's as the wife looked around, a great service really. Ok remember this is Jamaica, so I have to say this, I think I was the only person on the island without weed, because EVERYONE asked if I wanted some. At the time it was illegal there but only slightly hidden if at all, and being a tourist the last place you want to be is in jail in Jamaica. The pic of the old dude with long hair told me come on I live right there above the shop we can go sit in my living room so we will be off the street, no problem mon. I didn't just for the record. Later we walked down to where Margaretville to sit and take a break. If interested there is a water slide that starts on the roof and shoots you out into the water towards some inflatable toys out there, I didn't but the grandkids went out there. Later we caught the bus back to the terminal. it's roughly the same every trip, we have also just rode the bus around just to see some of the countryside. Nice beaches, reef and scenery and very nice people, you will meet some characters but everyone has always been nice. Oh one last thing, everyone is very laid back, after eating and drinks we asked for a bill at Margaretville so we could leave, NO ONE had a clue what we had and really didn't care, we had to try and remember it all for them and they were barely interested in writing it down. No problem mon, really and they just don't care either. Edited June 30, 2015 by dtel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 the lady who runs it was talking to me outside and I asked where can I get a beer. She just smiled and said come in, in the back of every little shop is a refrigerator with cold beer and local rum's, That’s fun…when i was in Mexico, my then wife was looking at some jewelry--i asked the worker guy to recommend a Tequila. he reaches under the counter and pulls out two bottles and a shot glass and starts pouring. i’m a germaphobe and my wife was shocked that i drank the shots. I told her that Tequila probably killed any germs. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted July 1, 2015 Moderators Share Posted July 1, 2015 the lady who runs it was talking to me outside and I asked where can I get a beer. She just smiled and said come in, in the back of every little shop is a refrigerator with cold beer and local rum's, That’s fun…when i was in Mexico, my then wife was looking at some jewelry--i asked the worker guy to recommend a Tequila. he reaches under the counter and pulls out two bottles and a shot glass and starts pouring. i’m a germaphobe and my wife was shocked that i drank the shots. I told her that Tequila probably killed any germs. Well of course it does!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted July 1, 2015 Moderators Share Posted July 1, 2015 i’m a germaphobe and my wife was shocked that i drank the shots. I told her that Tequila probably killed any germs. True, or it just made it where you didn't care, sure wouldn't want a germ that can float around in tequila and be fine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiet_Hollow Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 Thanks for the cruise tips so far! Enjoying this thread immensly...lot's of good travel info all around. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted July 1, 2015 Moderators Share Posted July 1, 2015 Your welcome, when people get a chance to go off like this, it's better to have some kind of plan, wasting a day being stuck some where you don't want to be is much worse when you have limited days. It's the reason for posting this, there may be better places ? But it's the best we have found for us, not terribly crowded or expensive and has what we were expecting for being on a island, great water and scenery while still being relaxed and comfertable. I say this because someone on this forum helped us find some nice spots on the next place, Grand Cayman. There was a forum member named "Go Faster" I think it was, who lives on the island so I emailed him and he told me where to go for what we were looking for. He was right and it was everything he said. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel's wife Posted July 1, 2015 Moderators Share Posted July 1, 2015 I just want to add to dtel's Jamaica post....the first time we visited Jamaica I was skeptical, maybe even a little afraid. It was the first third world country we had ever visited, so I really didn't know what to expect. With each visit Jamaica quickly became one of my favorite islands to visit in the Western Caribbean. The landscape is beautiful, the people are so laid back and accommodating and the beaches are beautiful. So, please do not let your first impressions of any of these islands influence your opinions. Each of them are truly unique in their own special way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted July 2, 2015 Share Posted July 2, 2015 (edited) I love cruises. I prefer long ones with lots of sea days. To me, being underway is the vacation--i love that more than the port calls. Nothing more relaxing than being underway; besides the casino is open then. Took a 15 day trip from Los Angeles to Hawaii to Ensendada to Los Angeles. Day One hit a nice storm…20+ seas and 70 knot winds. Love being on deck at night--pitch black out there…i imagine the ship taking on water or falling overboard--i try to scare myself for fun. Edited July 2, 2015 by BigStewMan 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted July 2, 2015 Moderators Share Posted July 2, 2015 We just got back from our Boston to Bermuda cruise on Norwegian Cruise Lines. I have no idea how I missed that post ? I just seen it, I must have just added a post without reading. We have never been to Bermuda, one day we will. That sounds like a great trip with an amazing room, owner's suite and dining and beverage package, very nice first class. We have never tried a suite but I know they are very nice. The best rooms we have tried was either the balcony and once a cove balcony which is the closest deck to the water, about 30' above the water, I think 3rd floor ? The only thing that could be bad about the cove balcony is if were to get rough they would lock the door going out. But really if the waves and water is splashing up there you would be nuts to go out anyway. It never got that rough but you could catch a little moisture on occasion. The dining package would be nice especially on boats that have many specialty restaurants like that. The drink package is also nice, we have done that twice and it was fun. Were not really regular drinkers but while on vacation why not, it's nice to just try any drink you want without worrying about any surprise cost later, and there are many different bars each with there own menus, it was fun trying things I may not otherwise. Sounds like you had a good trip, might have to try Bermuda one day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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