Yes, there will be a Next Time. Next time we'll take all 4 kids, and probably other relatives and friends.
Next time we'll bring a few 6-packs of Cokes and Pepsis, as well as plastic insulated mugs for our coffee and tea.
We're currently planning the next cruise, likely on the same route as there is a lot we'd like to do again. We are not wedded to the Princess line - we heard good things about Norwegian and Royal Caribbean and would like to try them as well. The Norwegian itinerary skips Cozumel in favor of Nassau, which would be fun as we've never been there. Cozumel is great for diving but little else.
As for diving, Princess is one of the few lines (maybe the only one) to offer open-water dive certification. They send you a CD-ROM in advance with the course material, then you start your checkout in the pool as soon as you set sail. By the end of the cruise, you've done your deep-water dive and get your certification. This is preferable to getting the certification in Denver, as the water there is much warmer and the sights are better.
In Ocho Rios, next time we won't bother with a shore excursion. We'll take a taxi to Dunn's River Falls and stay there a few hours. When we return from there, some of us will try the parasailing or jet skis, while others will just go shopping.
In Grand Caymen, we're split between the stingray excursion, where you get to feed large stingrays, or the Atlantis submarine that goes down 150 feet.
If we go back to Cozumel, we'd like to visit the X-Caret Eco Park. Some lines allow a tour of Chichen Itza, but it's $220 and you have to fly there from Playa del Carmen. We'd rather save this for a Cancun vacation where we can rent a car and spend the day there.
Next time, we'll make a shopping list in advance to make sure we get something for everyone. Good gift items are T-shirts, Blue Mountain coffee, and wood carvings.
The store where I bought my watch also carries the latest in digital electronics such as cameras. According to the owner, the savings is about 30% over stateside prices. If you're looking for a top-of-the-line digital camera, 30% can be a welcome break.
Oh, and yes, next time we'll plan on flying in the day before so we don't run the risk of missing the boat.
Copyright © 2008 by Dana Cline
Last updated on 7/8/2008
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