Here we go again. The Callmecrazy Cruise- Part Two...
Last edited Mon Nov 9, 2015, 05:47 PM - Edit history (1)
Some of you may remember my New Year 2014 Cruise.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018551198
Well it's time to go do it again. Once again my BIL put me on his gambling junket and got me a cabin on the Celebrity Reflection heading to the Eastern Caribbean. Seven days, starting the day after Christmas and returning to Miami on Jan 2.
http://www.celebritycruises.com/ships/celebrity-reflection
Currently the cost of this cruise is about $1,400 per person, but because I have a gaming rating I pay only taxes and gratuities. Total price for me...$188.62! How could I say no to a week in the Carib in Dec/Jan for that price?
The incidentals are where they get ya. Coffee, tea, water and juices are free but soda and alcohol are charged to your room unless you purchase a drink package. They can get a little pricey, but if you are a big drinker they can be worth the cost. I purchased an alcohol package last time and it was a waste of money. I didn't drink nearly enough to justify the price. I think I'll just pay by the drink this time.
Internet. First time it's been offered on a cruise I'm taking and OUCH! $60.00 for 90 minutes a day. I'm getting the unlimited package for the whole week @ $200. Expensive but cheaper than the daily rate. And I think it's satellite internet so it's probably dial-up speed. But I gotta have it. Last time, I was getting antsy not being able to check into my online life while on the ship. Plus, I have two Fantasy League teams to keep track of.
Excursions: These are the little guided tours you can take while in port. Last time, I went swimming with stingrays in the Caymen Islands and rode the zipline on Labadee Island in Haiti. The zipline was a blast.
So far I've decided on a zipline tour through the rain forest in Puerto Rico. One of the lines is almost 600 feet long and 350 feet high. Takin my 6yo nephew with me on this one.
St. Thomas and St Maarten are the other two destinations on the trip. I plan on mostly shopping on St.Thomas. You get double the duty free rate there(almost $1200). So I have to find something to do on St. Maarten.
Has anyone taken this trip before? Got any ideas for sightseeing? There are many "swim with the dolphins" and "glass bottom boat and snorkeling" tours, but a few of them got poor ratings. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Something family friendly?
UPDATE: I've decided to go scuba diving on St.Thomas. Sounds like fun.
More to come...
= new reply since forum marked as read
I took an eastern Caribbean cruise with Princess. I loved it. I would do it again in an instant. We left from Ft. Lauderdale.
I am not a gambler so I wasn't aware you get some crazy discount.
We did the glass bottom boat. It was okay to do once. I wouldn't do it again. But it's one of those things you should try. I mean, hey, you're in a boat in the Caribbean, right? - what's not to like? 
Also on St Maarten we went to a butterfly farm. That was cute too, a 6 year old might enjoy that.
On St. Thomas we did the aerial tram and the views you get from up there are spectacular. I would do that - it's fun. Plus there's a bar at the top. 
I enjoyed every second of that cruise. It was my second cruise. My first was in the Mediterranean where we went to like 10 different cities. That was great too. But the Caribbean is more my speed. 
And, yes, I liked the food. I am a vegetarian and I was happily surprised at the variety of things that even I could eat.
I hope you have a fantastic time.
It's a tour for beginners and sounds like fun, according to the reviews.
