Ask Bahama Mama - The Official Q&A Thread for "Freeps Ahoy!", an FRN Caribbean Cruise

Free Republic Network | 11/01/2002 | MinuteGal

[DoughtyOne]

 

Ask Bahama Mama!

Hey Mon, and Freepers of all ages:

Picture me, your own Bahama Mama, lolling on a sun-drenched beach on Freeper Island.
Warm, sparkling blue waters all around.  Palm trees waving.  Coconut rum punch nearby.
It's a Freeper holiday.

I'm here to answer all those nagging little questions you may have
about our week-long "Freeps Ahoy" cruise to the Caribbean,
May 31st aboard Carnival's "Triumph", a beautiful and fun Ship.

Things such as: What do I bring to wear?...  Are there any hair dryers in the cabins?...
What are tipping guidelines?...  Can my special diet be accommodated?...
How much cash should I bring?...

Bahama Mama will answer all your questions.  Use the links provided on this page for information on cabins,
fare and reservations, plus other topics of interest and "chat" about our cruise getaway.
This "Bahama Mama" thread will be for questions and answers only.
Please keep on topic.  Some answers may take a little time to research, so be patient.
Bahama Mama will respond to each of you.

If you want a private reply to a special query, send a freepmail to Bahama Mama's stateside moniker, "MinuteGal".

Do I hear reggae music nearby?  I'm off to investigate.  It's such an effort to pull myself off the beach.

Fellow Freepers, follow your heart's desire for a relaxing getaway in the sun.  Register now!
On embarkation day, I'll be waitin' aboard ship to welcome y'all with a big warm tropical hug!

Remember, post your questions to BAHAMA MAMA on this thread.
I'm here to insure smooth-sailing for every Freeper signing on for our fun-filled Caribbean adventure!

Freeper cruises rock!!!

Bahama Mama's mainland alter ego...
( Leni / MinuteGal )
 

Bahama Mama thinks all Freepers belong on a beach like this.
Who could argue with that? Register today.
 

This page is for questions and answers only.  If you have general comments
please go to the Cruise Announcement page to make them.
Thank you.
 

Freeps Ahoy Links

Cruise Announcement - Comments welcomed here
Cruise Staterooms, Categories and Rates
Registration Form
The Carnival ship Triumph
More about Cruise Staterooms
Deck Floor Plans
Cruise Map
Destinations
More about Triumph

[Bahbah]

"make sure you'll be IN the Carnival terminal waiting room by 3:00 PM on Saturday, May 31"

Uh oh, my plane is scheduled to land in Miami at 2:54. I don't know how long it takes to get to the ship, but I'll bet it's longer than 6 minutes. Do I need to re-schedule the flight?

[Bahbah]

After inial stupidity inducing panic, I called and changed my reservation so I will arrive the night before. Are some FReepers staying at the Embassy Suites at the airport, if you know?

[MinuteGal]

Hi, you have freepmail. Thanks,

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

Covering tops for swim suits are required when walking through public areas going to and from the ship's pools. For our beach party, there are dressing rooms available. I wear my bathing suit to the beach, but wear a terry cloth shorts set or muu-muu type cover-up going there and returning. Van or cab transportation located within walking distance of the dock gets us to the beach, and it's respectful of the locals to wear appropriate dress.

Another tip: All cruise ship infirmaries do a brisk business the second or third day out to sea. Too many passengers, tempted by the enticing moveable feasts aboard cruise ships, tend to over-eat, over-drink, over-exercise, over-sun or under-sleep right off the bat. Take it easy the first couple days, pace yourselves, and you'll enjoy every moment of every day on board.<p.Leni

[BreitbartSentMe]

I have been compiling info on what shore excursions are available both through Carnival and with local tour operators. I also have been trying to track down prices whenever I could. I have spent a lot on time on various websites, expecially CruiseCritics.com (yes, Strela, I saw you there too...) making sure that these local tour companies are safe and reputable. I only included on my list ones that came highly recommended by people who have actually used them recently. I can post the list here, if you think that's best Leni, or I can email them to anyone who wants to take a look.

FYI, I have just finished booking a customized tour package for Ocho Rios for my party of 4, however they said that they can include others from our ship, if anyone is interested. We are being picked up at the dock in an air-conditioned van, being taken directly to Dunns River Falls for a climb there (before the massive crowds show up), then a ride through Fern Gully, a stop at the Wassi Pottery Art location for shopping, a stop for lunch if we want (on our own) and then on to White River for a tubing adventure. Total cost, including admission to Dunns River Falls is $50 per person. If anyone wants to join us, FReepmail me and let me know.

[MinuteGal]

Many thanks for going to all this work for the benefit of our cruisers!

Why don't you post a list highlighting some shore tours you particularly recommend? If anyone is interested, they can freepmail you for the details.

I've been to Dunns River Falls several times, so this time I want to take the tour up to Noel Coward's mountain home overlooking the Caribbean which is said to have one of the most magnificent "back yard" views in the entire world.

The tour you're organizing is outstanding, also. Folks, contact B_D if you're interested in a great time with great sights on his tour.

Bahama Mama has been busy with cruise plans and answering cruise questions, so she hasn't had too much time to research a Noel Coward tour for herself, oh my. If you have anything on this, let us know. You can be Bahama Papa for a while!

Freepers, the town of Ocho Rios itself is pretty third-world, crummy and dull. This may be one of the places you'll want to take a shore excursion if you want to take only one.

Jamaica is an incredibly beautiful, scenic island, breathtaking in many places. Up on the Blue Mountain rain forest lookout points you'll swear you're in Paradise.

Lots of Kodak moments on this island!

Bahama Mama

[MinuteGal]

If and when you book a shore tour, make sure the timing of it coincides with the ship's departure schedule.

Here's the "at anchor" schedules for the port towns we'll be visiting:

Monday, June 2 - Cozumel, Mejico - 7:AM till midnight.
Wednesday, June 4 - George Town, Grand Cayman - 7:30 AM till 4:30 PM
Thursday, June 5 - Ocho Rios, Jamaica -8:AM - 3:30 PM.

Don't despair at early morning departures for tours. The tour buses are nicely air-conditioned inside, but outside, it's TROPIC! The earlier the tours the better.

There's a tour counter on the ship. Here you can sign up for an excursion from a Carnival approved list of tour companies. You'll find a brochure and form to fill out for these trips in your cabin upon arrival. Remember, you can't wait to the last minute to sign up. Some tours fill up quickly after we leave Miami.

Hourwise, there are short tours and longer ones. The prices are reasonable. All cruise lines, including Carnival, only deal with tried-and-true tour providers.

Here's another tip.....before I leave for shore excursions or shopping in the port towns, I always tuck a cabin face cloth in my tote bag. I found it very useful for a drippy brow on many occasions.

Cold bottled water is available just about everywhere you go. Don't be shy about re-hydrating yourself as you roam around like a mad dog Englishman in the noonday sun.

Bahama Mama

[hoosiermama]

Bought my industrial sized sun-block at Costco's yesterday. Glad to hear there are shaded areas. :)


ME TOO!

I'm so excited! I can hardly wait. Everything is laid out on the bed ready to toss in the suitcases! Got a great buy on shoes yesterday. Brand names for just $5.00 (We'll not talk about how many pairs I bought) Got some neat beach shoes, sandles, plus the deck shoes I went in to get. Saved a couple of hundred dollars. "THe more you buy the more you save" is my motto!

[hoosiermama]

ALso got some ALoe Vera (With pain medication) and cocoa butter. Just in case!

[Colonel Jim]

See you guys on the boat! I cant wate. Wanda has placed me in the Wyndham Miami Airport Hotell, is this right?

[DoughtyOne]

I believe it is Jim, but MinuteGal is the official Ghuru of all things Cruise related. She'll be along shortly to confirm.

[MinuteGal]

Hi, Jim! You have freepmail.

Bahama Mama

[hoosiermama]

My son left for ALaska today. He'll be fishing off Kodiak until late September! A return trip as he spent the summer there a few years back.

See yoy on the boat!

[MinuteGal]

Bahama Mama is winding down this Q & A thread. So, if you have any more questions, post them here now. Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be the last day for queries.

The general cruise thread will remain up till after the cruise. There may be some posts on it from sea from time to time!

After the voyage is over, our Cruise Committee webmaster, Doughty One, will start a new apres-cruise thread for neat comments and photos from our cruisers.

Hope y'all found these Bahama Mama threads useful in planning for a smooth trip. Your questions and comments were great! Thanks to all who participated.

Freeps Ahoy!

Bahama Mama (rarin' to go!).

[strela]

So, if you have any more questions, post them here now.

Why isn't it Saturday already? ;)

Thanks for all you've done in providing answers in this thread.

[BreitbartSentMe]

Why isn't it Saturday already? ;)

Well, I guess we'll just have to wait, since I hear that your Popeil Quantum Singularity device is in the shop.

......fingers tapping on the desk.......

Are we there yet?

[BobFromNJ]

Last minute question!!

I am staying at the hotel. How do I get to the hotel and then to the ship?? sounds dumb but I forgot/never asked.

[BreitbartSentMe]

I'm not Minute_Gal, however, I found the info in post #200 on the main Cruise Announcement thread. See you Friday!!

[MinuteGal]

If you have the Embassy Suites Hotel package, you have free transportation from the airport to the hotel on Friday.....and then from the hotel to the cruise terminal on Saturday morning.

The transportation area at the airport is supposed to be right outside where you pick up your luggage (or ask a red cap). Ask for the van/bus (?) to the Embassy. The vans are not necessarily marked "Embassy" as the hotel outsources the service.

Be sure to have your hotel reservation papers handy if you need them before boarding (they are in your document packet). You will be taken directly to the Embassy.

The vans leave from the airport to the hotel approximately every 20 minutes.

There'll be 20 of us early-birds happily waiting for you and your wife at the hotel. We'll all go together the next morning to the ship.

Any further questions, don't hesitate to post here.

Bahama Mama

[BreitbartSentMe]

Leni,

Any idea what time the main group is going over to the ship on Saturday? I'm hearing that you can board earlier than they say officially, more around noon, and that getting there earlier usually means that the lines are not as long, and you can get that drink of the day earlier! I'm leaning towards heading over around 10-10:30 to try and be one of the first ones on board. They have a buffet lunch set up for all the passengers who are embarking there, and it's a great time to get some pictures of the ship in, before the main crowds board.