1/14/07 Western Caribbean on Radience

[DougL]

Hi All,
My wife and I are doing a Western Caribbean this time. Any thoughts on these ports:

Date Port Arrive Depart Activity
14-Jan Fort Lauderdale, Florida 5:00 PM
15-Jan Key West, Florida 7:00 AM 2:00 PM Docked
16-Jan Cozumel, Mexico 9:00 AM 4:00 PM Docked
17-Jan George Town, Grand Cayman 10:00 AM 6:00 PM Tendered
18-Jan Montego Bay, Jamaica 7:00 AM 4:00 PM Docked
19-Jan At Sea
20-Jan Fort Lauderdale, Florida 7:00 AM

We are extending our vacation by flying down to Ft Lauderdale a day early and leaving a day later. We were on the Radience in 2003. Any changes to the ship since?

[PS]

Hi DougL,

My wife and I were on the Navigator last Dec to Western Caribbean. We did the western itinery 2 years in a row on the same ship. Ports were Grand Cayman, Cosumel, Ocho Rios, Labadee.

You must go to Stingray City in Grand Cayman. It is definitely an once in a life time experience. The dutyfree camera stores in Georgetown also offer very good prices if you are into photography.

Jamaica is the poorest of the ports on your itinery. It you need to buy T-shirts or other souvenirs. Do it there as they will be more expensive in Mexico and Grand Cayman.

Cozumel offers fantastic snorkeling and fishing excursions and the streets are lined with countless jewelley shops.

[rbum]

DougL, went to western caribbean last sept on Rhapsody. Ocho Rios and Montego Bay about the same, expect pressure to buy things, Dunns River falls big attraction there. Never been to Key West, heard mixed reviews, must be pretty touristy. You will love Cozumela and Cayman. Be sure and do Sting Ray City, awesome. Great snorkling there as well. Have a great trip. RickyB

[DougL]

Thanks for the help PS and rbum.
I'm down to counting down the hours before we fly out. It has been snowing every week here in Denver since just before Christmas. I need to see the sun for more than a day or two.

Thanks again!
-Doug

[oeshpdog2]

My wife and I just did the Radiance cruise to the Western Caribbean (Same ports of call). Everything was great. The ship is fantastic. Jamaica was the only port that I heard mixed reviews from fellow passengers We did a private (self-planned) excursion to a resort/spa for the day which was great and in a very controlled environment.

If you do a RCI excursion such as hiking up the falls etc., be prepared for the locals who will be trying to get you to buy some of their "special" tobacco. That seemed to be a common theme.

We had a driver who took us straight to the resort and back to the ship and it was relaxing and beautiful.

Grand Cayman has some of the bluest water we have ever seen. We found a nice quiet beach and hung out for a while and did a little shopping. You can find some bargains there if you do some research.

Cozumel is still recovering from the hurricane over a year ago and you will probably tender in so be prepared for some delays in the process and for your excursion to maybe be shortened.

Enjoy!!!