Conference abbott::cruise_travel

297.0. "Need info on Carla Costa - Italian Style Cruisin' Carla Costa - Info on relatively unknown line " by RDVAX::FAUST_CLANCY () Fri Jul 19 1991 19:01

     My husband and I are planning to take a cruise the second week in December 
on the Carla Costa.  The idea is to depart from San Juan and one stop MUST
stop at Caracas, Venezuela.  The other islands and stops don't really matter.
The Caracas stop is ONLY offered by two lines that I know of: Costa and Carnival.
I have been on Carnival three times already and even though I love the line and
it's fun ships, I'm curious about other lines.  The brochure of the Costa line
is absolutely exquisite, their menu looks gourmet, with divine-sounding pasta
like "Lobster Ravioli" in White Truffle Champagne sauce.  If anyone can do it up
correctly in the food department, I'm counting on the Italians to get it right!!
I'm worried about the age of the other cruisers, in the brochure they do look
a bit "geriatric".  It wouldnh't bother us too, too much if all passengers were
retired, as long as they aren't octagenarians!

     Has anyone been on the Carla Costa recently? (or within the last year?)
What about any other cruise lines that stop at Caracas?  (I don't know why I
want to go there so badly except I love Latin music.......The name Caracas sounds
so exotic.....the latin music is so funky ...besides you don't have to HAVE 
a reason, right??)   What's Caracas REALLY like?  Where's a good place to go
to hear great music?  I hear you can buy fake Louis Vuitton luggage for cheap!

    What did you pay for your cruise if you went?  How to get a good deal on
ours?  

     We are planning on spending a week on the island of P.R. after our cruise
staying at one or two paradores on the other side of the island.  This month's
copy of Travel & Leisure has great maps of ALL THE ISLANDS IN THE CARRIBBEAN
(and the world).  It even gives addresses, phone numbers and room rates of
one of the paradores (a now defunct coffee plantation, recycled into, what I
hope is a comfortable, beautiful and charming villa.)  We have stayed in 
paradores in Portugal and other countries, and were delighted with them as
hotels as well as restaurants.  We've already been fore-warned that San Juan
itself may prove to be disappointing, but we're only going to be there one
or two days.  It's the beautiful rainforests, El Yunque, and the phosphorescent
bay that I want to see.  Anybody ever stayed at a paradore in PR, or taken a
ferry to one of the outlying islands off the coast of PR? 
.
    Can't wait to read your replies....
    
    DFC

    I gues I'm a little late, but I just started reading this notes file. 
    My parents sailed thru the Panama Canal from Los Angeles (San Pedro) to
    Florida.  They loved the ship!  We saw them off and the rooms were very
    spacious.  They still rave about the ship.
    
    I cruised the Carribean (West Indies, Caracas, and St. Thomas) from San
    Juan a few years ago on the Cunard Princess.  It was a really nice
    ship, most thought very nice, but my first was on the P&O Canberra
    which is one of the largest with very nice layout and by far top
    quality.  Anyway as I said, the Cunard was considered to be very nice. 
    The food was fantastic, the rooms adequate, the entertainment fantastic
    and the ports wonderful.  I think there was a variety in ages.  Also we
    loved San Juan, find the little tucked away restaurants.  Only visited
    before and after cruise, didn't stay over, but beautiful, parrots
    flying in the trees in San Juan, narrow cobblestone streets lined with
    flowering balconies, and the most incredible (and fairly cheap) jewelry
    stores!
    
    I have never traveled on the Carnival or "younger set" cruise ships but
    would love to.  I cruised before that in the 70's and early 80's and we
    hung around with the crew (we were in our late teens, early 20's). 
    That's when singles night meant over 65!  Anyway we still had a great
    time and met lot's of nice people.  There's so much to do on a cruise
    in my opinion it's hard not to have fun as long as the ship offers top
    quality amenities.
    
    Good luck. 

    I forgot to mention a restaurant on Grenada (I think), might have been
    St. Martinique, THe Green Parrot.  Supposed to be very good.  Also you
    can get a taxi on Grenada for a whole day for probably $40.  Plus its
    fun, ours was so excited to get the business (because they strictly
    rely on tourism for their incomes, that he took us by his house and
    honked and waved at his family!
    
    If you go to Barbados there is a good restaurant on the east shore.