BAYS, BURROS, BEACHES, BUTTERFLIES AND BOTANICAL GARDENS-pre trip report - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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BAYS, BURROS, BEACHES, BUTTERFLIES AND BOTANICAL GARDENS-pre trip report
BAYS, BURROS, BEACHES, BUTTERFLIES AND BOTANICAL GARDENS
WHO: Don Willis (aka duck addict) 64 Y.O. Male Where: Southern Caribbean Medley on the Star Princess
When: Spring 2011
Why: I looked at my current countdown and it said “since” instead of until (and I had saved up enough for another trip). I had done an inside passage Alaska cruise in May, and a quick weekend jaunt to Disneyland in early October, but the wander lust (and lack of countdown) put me on the internet searching for new vistas.
I got notice today that my TA was mailing my cruise documents , so I thought I ought to start my pre-trip report.
I love Disney cruises, but they are not port heavy : (I love visiting other lands ) so I searched several cruise lines for itineraries that looked promising. In addition, as much as I love DCL, it can be pricey. The cruise portion of this trip is $250 less than DCL’s eastern, and is 3 days longer.. I read a LOT of cruise reports and finally decided on Princess cruises (I have a good friend that has done 25+ and highly recommends them) and was ready to book. I called my trusty TA ( Jo Vagos) and she did some research and emailed me several options. I really liked the look of the Southern Caribbean Medley. She then noted that if I took the earlier (by 10 days) cruise, I would also get an onboard coupon book, and lower deposit amount, and onboard credit of$85.00.
Two days later I booked the earlier (with room credit ) cruise, inside stateroom) on the Star Princess.
Ahead of me are:
Fly day ahead , includes hotel and transfers from airport to hotel, and hotel to port (Fort Lauderdale). I no longer fly the day of the cruise, as I (1) don’t sleep on planes , and (2) arriving the day before there is not the mental worry about getting there on time, and I am rested before the cruise starts (Did a red-eye once and was worthless the first day of the cruise)
Two sea days
Aruba
Bonaire
Grenada
Dominica
St Thomas, US Virgin Islands
Sea day
Princess cays (their private beach in Bahamas)
Transfers to airport.
I chose to book entire package through the cruiseline but using my TA.
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In honor of my boarding pass and luggage tags arriving today, here is part two of planning.
Now it was time of observe the Passporter tradition of Uber Planning.
To do adequate planning, one needs multiple sources. I first went to my local huge chain bookstore and perused the books on the Caribbean. I chose Caribbean Ports of Call (Eastern & Southern Regions) by Kay Showker with Mary Brennan. On to the internet, my yahoo searches yielded lots of results on each island, and I ‘joined’ cruise critic and began reading the forums on Princess Cruise line, registered in a ‘roll call’ for my particular cruise (so far there 13 rooms communicating and we have a sail away party meet scheduled ), and ventured further into the forums on each port. On top of that I was reading many reviews (no matter what the cruise line) on the Caribbean islands and itineraries.Spending daily (yes, daily) time visiting on the various forums, I got my first surprise. Princess cruises had added a new ‘perk’. They added a special ‘veterans’ onboard credit. It went into effect on Veteran’s day 2010 (two weeks before I booked) and gives a $50, $100 or $150 onboard credit (depending on cruise length) to active duty military, retired military or veterans with an honorable discharge and at least two years active duty. I applied and received a $100 onboard credit , in addition to the $85 I already had. The only limitation is that it cannot be used for tips. (I guess I will have to have a FAB or two on the cruise).
Being retired, I do not book a new venture until I have enough $$ set aside to pay for it when I book it. Reservation in hand, I paid off the cruise immediately. This opened up my planning door more, as I could now download the excursion list (an almost 60 page PDF file). I printed the book, as well as maps of each island so I could start more research. Princess is nice in that you can pre-reserve spaces up to 5 days before the cruise, and are not charged until on board. You confirm your reservation onboard, or make changes. Changes, for the most part, are allowed up to the closing time onboard for a given port’s excursions. My biggest surprise is the cost. There were MANY excursions in the $40-60 range.
Oh this sounds like a fun trip! on all the ship board credits and other bargains. Looking forward to more.
__________________
ºOº ~*~
Oct '99: CSR ~ May '02: CR ~ Nov '04: SOG ~ May '06: SOG ~ Dec '07: Solo @ Pop ~ May '08: Pop w/friends ~ Oct '08: SOG ~ Dec '09: Pop w/LeAnn ~ Sept '10: Solo @ Pop ~ Spring '11: AKL ~ Jan '12: Pop for 1/2 Marathon ~ Sept '12: 1st trip for DL 1/2 Marathon? ~ Feb '13: Pop w/pals? ~ Mar '13: Tokyo Disney w/PP's?
It seems like I just read your Alaska TR (maybe that is because I did just re-read it a few days ago) and now here you are off on another adventure....
BAYS, BURROS, BEACHES, BUTTERFLIES AND BOTANICAL GARDENS-part three
BAYS, BURROS, BEACHES, BUTTERFLIES AND BOTANICAL GARDENS-part three
So where did my planning take me? That is answered with the title to my TR.
Though I worked doing property taxes, (am trained as a lawyer)(boos and hisses as to my occupations are accepted ) , I got my bachelor’s degree in botany. I have a great love for trees, flowers, animals, etc., so as I plan those features attract my attention. I am also fascinated by the geology and physical geography of places. I am not a big activity (i.e. parasailing, zip line) person: , nor a great lounging on the beach type. However, love to look at and try to figure out why beaches are different from each other.
After reviewing the available excursions, my guide book, and internet sites for each stop, I found these items that interested me. Bays: Many of the bays provide great beaches, as well as grand vistas. Megan’s bay on St Thomas, and Cruz and Trunk bays on St Johns attracted me (I picked an excursion to St Johns that visits several bays)
Beaches: WOW
Aruba-some white sand and some black pebble beaches
Bonaire-White, pink and black sand beaches
Grenada-White sand at Grand Anse
Dominica-Black sand beaches (volcanic)-as well as swimming at waterfalls in the interior (going to the inland falls and then a black sand beach)
St Thomas-see ‘bays’
Princess cay-typical Bahamas sand beach
Burros: wild burros in the countryside and a donkey sanctuary on Aruba and Bonaire (got to take pictures of eeyore's cousins for my dear friend Chezp )
Butterflies: Butterfly gardens are on Aruba, Bonaire, Dominica (in the botanical gardens) and St Thomas
Botanical Gardens: St Peters Great house and Gardens in St Tomas, In Roseau, Dominica, and in Grenada-spice farms and gardens, as well as Bay gardens in the capital. Grenada will be a botanical day as I visit two spice gardens (okay, a rum factory, too )
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Sounds like some wonderful options Don!! Can't wait to hear which ones you chose! You will like FLL and Port Everglades - easy to get in and out of. Do you know your hotel? I can tell you what is in the area.
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instead of until 
(and I had saved up enough for another trip). I had done an inside passage Alaska cruise in May, and a quick weekend jaunt to Disneyland in early October, but the wander lust (and lack of countdown) put me on the internet searching for new vistas. 
cruises, but they are not port heavy 
: (I love visiting other lands 
) so I searched
several cruise lines for itineraries that looked promising. In addition, as much as I love DCL, it can be pricey. The cruise portion of this trip is $250 less than DCL’s eastern, and is 3 days longer.. I read a LOT of cruise reports
and finally decided on Princess cruises (I have a good friend that has done 25+ and highly recommends them) and was ready to book. I called 
my trusty TA (
Jo Vagos) and she did some research and emailed me several options. I really liked the look of the Southern Caribbean Medley. She then noted that if I took the earlier (by 10 days) cruise, I would also get an onboard coupon book, and lower deposit amount, and onboard credit of$85.00. 
, and (2) arriving the day before there is not the mental worry about getting there on time, and I am rested before the cruise starts (Did a red-eye once and was worthless the first day of the cruise)
Like
Thank
Pixie Dust
PassPorter Guide Author
![[SIGPIC]](signaturepics/sigpic18031_16.gif)
. 
and we have a sail away party meet scheduled 
), and ventured further into the forums on each port. On top of that I was reading many reviews (no matter what the cruise line) on the Caribbean islands and itineraries.Spending daily (yes, 
daily) time visiting on the various forums, I got my first surprise. Princess cruises had added a new ‘perk’. They added a special ‘veterans’ onboard credit. It went into effect on Veteran’s day 2010 (two weeks before I booked) and gives a $50, $100 or $150 onboard credit (depending on cruise length) to active duty military, retired military or veterans with an honorable discharge and at least two years active duty. I applied and received a $100 onboard credit 
or two on the cruise).
ºOº ~*~ 
) and now here you are off on another adventure....
That is answered with the title to my TR.
, (am trained as a lawyer
) , I got my bachelor’s degree in botany
. I have a great love for trees, flowers, animals, etc., so as I plan those features attract my attention. I am also fascinated by the geology and physical geography of places. I am not a big activity (i.e. parasailing, zip line) person
)
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