Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    
    Hi LeeAnne,
    
        I'm going on the Song of America this Sunday with a friend for a
    peaceful after final exams cruise.  When I get back, I'll tell everyone
    the latest news about the ship. 
    
      Carl S.
    

    LeeAnne,
    
    I went on Song of America about 4 years ago and I must tell you I have
    been on 7 cruise and this ship was one of the top 2 that I have been
    on.  I found the rooms to be bigger then most ships are.  The employees
    on this line are the greatest.  Believe me you will have the time of
    your life so just sit back and enjoy.  The pools are great and the food
    is tops.  Please let me know how you liked it.  
    
    Sandi
    WMOIS::BARDSLEY.SANDI

    LeeAnne,
    
      I have no specific information on refurbished Song of America. My
    wife and I cruised in Mar 87 on Song of AMerica when it was in the
    Eastern Caribbean. Really enjoyed cruise. 
    
    NOTE  It is unlikely you will stop at Labadee, unless the unrest in
    Haiti settles down by then. You may stop at Nassau, Bahamas or
    possibly at the new beach island for RCCL in the Bahamas.
    
    7 mile beach is very nice at Grand Caymen. The Song of America will
    be replaced by the new larger Majesty of the Seas in the end of April
    92. Have a good time.
    
    				Harold Cullison
    				DUSTER::CULLISON
    
    

  Hello Fellow Sea Voyagers,

    I just returned Sunday,  December 22 from my voyage on the Song of
America.  One thing I noticed was that the rooms were about the same size
as on the Sovereign of the Seas, small.  But, what made a noticeable
difference was that one bed folded down from the wall and the other converted
into a couch, which gave plenty of walking room during non sleeping hours.  A
few couples were complaining because they could not push their beds together.

  The service was excellent as R.C.C.L. is known for.  Top notch food, 
entertainment and everything.  My two favorite meals were the filet
mignon and the lobster tails.  The waiters and busboys did their famous
babalou dance with flaming desserts, trying their best to keep in tune
with the music. 

    CocoCay has replaced Labadee which is another island owned by R.C.C.L.  
Unfortunately, due to bad weather, that stop was canceled.  The other
ports of call were Jamaica, Grand Caymen, and Mexico.  Diving was excellent.
I highly recommend either the diving or the the snorkeling excursions while
in Grand Caymen or Cozumal Mexico.  They also have some great party boats
excursions in Jamaica.  But, expect to come back a little tipsy after your
done with the fine Jamaican rum punch!

  If anyone has any questions feel free to write!

   Happy Cruising!

   Carl Scarborough

  ASDG::SCARBOROUGH

   Hi Carl,

       Glad to hear you had a great time. Only 11 more days until we go!
 Did you have an inside or outside cabin? The brochure claims that all inside
 cabin beds convert to queen size.

       Is Cococay in the Bahamas? We received our cruise packet and it 
 contains an embarkation card for the Bahamas. The itinerary still says Labadee
 though. Well, no matter, I'm quite sure we'll have a good time wherever we
 end up. 
 
       We've already decided what tours we are going to take at each island.
 Snorkling in Grand Caymen and Cozumel, and Dunn's River Falls in Jamaica.
 Any comments, advice?

    
    Hi LeeAnne,
    
       Cocomay is in the Bahamas.  It's also an island owned, operated and
    used exclusively for R.C.C.L. passengers.  I would say you will be 
    definitely using Cocomay as your port of call instead of Labadee!
        
    I had an outside cabin.  I believe your right about the inside cabins.
    
    For tips I would recommend the following:
    
    1: It's easier to set up a credit account at the beginning of the
       cruise for bar drinks and wine purchases.  They automatically
       add a 15% gratuity to your bill.  For instance if your drink
       is $3.00, your receipt will say $3.00, but at the end of the
       week you be charged $3.45 for that drink.
    
    2: During dinner, ask for the bar tender Sugar-Belly for your drinks.
       He's probably the best bartender on board and is very happy to
       please.  You'll never be dissappointed.
    
    3: The air condition in the dining room is kept on the high side, while
       your room is more on the warm side.  It would be a good idea to wear
       a long sleeve garment while in the dining room.  We had an epidemic
       aboard the ship due to all the temperature changes.  It was 80 outside
       one day and  very cool in the dining room.  That did a few people in,
       including myself near the end of the cruise.  
    
    4: Be very careful in Jamaica.  There's a tourist area near the ship
       where everyone is hounding you for a cab.  There will be a big
       Jamaican woman there with a big bowl of fruit on her head with
       her husband.  If you take their picture, no matter how distant away
       and they spot you, she'll rush over and insist for money.
    
    5: Wear a t-shirt while snorkling.  You can get really burnt without
       realizing it. 
    
    6: Try the Filet Mignon for dinner.  It's excellent.  Don't be afraid 
       to ask for second portions.  I had two portions of the lobster tails
       one night and two portions of the filet mignon the other.  I 
       occasionally got more than one dessert. 
    
    7: Try to cash the travelers checks you need Friday evening instead of
       Saturday evening.  Saturday evening they'll be an line about half an
       hour to 45 minutes long of people cashing their travelers checks for
       tips, bills and whatever.
    
      Well, that's all I can think of at the moment.  If I think of
      anything else important I'll ad another reply.  
    
      Godspeed.....
    
      Carl Scarborough
    
      Wild and Crazy guy who still feels the ship rocking!
    
    
                                

    Hi LeeAnne,
    
    I've been on the Song of America. I had an
    inside stateroom. I believe the confusion is due to fact inside
    staterooms have a different layout than outside even though the
    size is the same I believe. The most expensive outside rooms are
    larger also.
    
    Brochure is correct about inside cabins allowing a queen.
    Inside has two small beds on opposite walls from one another. They
    are  both couches during the day. The backrest of the couch folds up
    against the wall any time you want. One of the beds can slid over
    to the other to form a nice queen bed. When you get to your stateroom
    the beds are usually made up separate which provides a nice walkway
    in between. There is a little fold down table against the back wall
    between the beds. If you have the beds made as a queen then the 
    disadvantage is the walkway shifts to one side of the large bed and
    does not line up well with the rest of the room. You also lose use
    of the small table because it has to be left folded up. If the bed
    is left as a queen during the day it really screws up the cabin 
    layout. If your cabin
    steward will break down your queen in the morning and make into two
    couches then it works ok, they may not do that. My wife and I just
    had ours made up as separate  beds, the couches were nice during the
    day. When we went to sleep I simply slide one bed over to make a
    queen with two sets of sheets. The beds are really light and slide
    easily.
    
    OUtside cabins have two separate beds at right angles. I believe they
    can be made as a queen also, at least on the Sovereign they could be.
    They just slide one over and turn it 90 degrees, the queen ends
    up being against the window. I really believe the
    rooms are basically the same from Sovereign to Song of AMerica. I have
    stayed in an inside cabine on Song of A. and inside and outside on
    Sovereign. 
    
    CocoCay, or  whatever is in the Bahama chain of islands. I believe it was
    created to serve the 3/4 night cruises to Bahamas for RCCL. If you
    like a beach day then it is much better than Nassua which is where
    you get stuck at on the Sovereign since Labadee is not open.
    
    
    7 mile beach at Grand Caymen is very nice, beautiful beach.
    
    Dunn's river falls is a lot of fun. It is very slippery etc. You can
    walk down walkway only on side but most fun is with guide going up.
    Guide will carry your camera and shoot pictures of you and whoever you
    are with. You can go barefoot but is slippery. If you can have those
    pull on shoes for water with treads then that is ideal. Need tip for
    quide so bring a little cash, does not have to be Jamaican money.
    I believe you have to use a quide to go up falls unless you are using
    the walkway only, cannot remember for sure. Probably will get
    offerred drugs somewhere in Jamaica, they can be obnoxious about it.
    
    NO info on Cozumel.
    
    Also be careful with Sun especially on the ship on days at sea. The
    air temperature is usually around 80 degrees with a breeze because
    ship is moving. YOu may not feel as hot as being on an island with
    95 degrees weather and little wind but you are really getting a lot
    of sun. ON one cruise we went on a 12 year old girl got Second degree
    burns and had to stay in her cabin in pain the whole cruise ! Just
    use common since.
    
    I am not sure about Song of AMerica but Sovereign just recently 
    expanded the use of their onboard drink cards, you can now use
    them to buy photos, gifts on board, shore excursions etc. For
    drinks/wine 15% built in which usually works out a lot cheaper
    than tip as you go. Really convinient, our card was active to 3 AM
    the last day of cruise, we charged drinks that late in disco. When
    we got up 4 hours later our itemized printout of all that booze etc
    was at our cabin door. No need to do anything else unless there
    was something wrong with the bill.
    
    Song of America was an excellent ship and cruise when we went on
    it in Mar 87. Then it went the same route as the Sovereign does
    now, St. Thomas, Labadee, San Juan, PR. NOTE Come April
    Song of AMerica will be replaced by the new Sovereign size ship
    Majesty of the Seas. I believe Song of AMerica will cruise
    the Mexican Riveria or something like that.
    
    Cannot remember specifics of room a/c for Song of A., on Sovereign
    you have temp. controls that really work, you can keep room warm or
    cool or whatever. It is always a good idea to have a light wrap for
    any cruise, some rooms can really be chilly sometimes, varies from
    ship to ship etc.
    
    Any questions just let me know.
    
    					Harold
    

   Thanks so much for your replies! 9 days to go.... the cruise is all we can
 think about, and talk about. Just can't wait.

    Only one more question. I really had my heart set on climbing the falls
 in Jamaica, but I am 5 months pregnant and a couple of people have said 
 that the climb is a little treacherous. I am in good health and good shape,
 but do you have to be an athelete to make this climb comfortably?


  Thanks for the opinions.


  LeeAnne 

    You do NOT need to be an athlete at all. It is a very slow climb.
    There are some really old people doing it. It can be very slippery,
    other than that not bad at all. It is a lot of fun and I do  not
    think you will have any problem at all. If you did, at any time you
    want you could simply step over to the side and use the stairs. There
    are stairs running the whole length of the falls.
    
    					Harold
    
    
    					

    Hi LeeAnne,
    
    Five months pregnant, I would refrain from climbing the falls, for
    three reasons...
    
    	1) Very slippery.  A fall on a rock the wrong way is not worth the
           thrill of the climb.
    
    	2) The falls are a much overrated tourist trap.  The image that I
           had of the falls was that it would be a romantic place where we
           could relax, enjoy the quietness of the area, the birds, sound
           of the water...etc (you get my drift).  Instead, it was about as
           romantic as a carnival waterride.  Guides, other tourists,
           people trying to sell you everything under the sun.  It
           certainly was not what the brochures show.
    
    	3) This tour is overpriced for what you get.
    
    Please remember, this is my personal opinion.  I for one would not
    return to the falls the next time I'm in Ochos Rios, as a matter-of-fact I
    would simply head to a good resort and spend my day on the beach.
    
    Joe
    
    

    Hi LeeAnne,

.......response from Harold on Joe's response which is accurate.
    
    Five months pregnant, I would refrain from climbing the falls, for
    three reasons...
    
    	1) Very slippery.  A fall on a rock the wrong way is not worth the
           thrill of the climb.
		>>It is very slippery. I went up in bare feet and I was ok
		>>but I do not recommend that. Flip/Flops are very dangerous.
		>>THe form fitting pull on slipper things with treads on
		>>bottoms that are used around pools and cost about $10
		>>will In my opinion give you good traction and make it
		>>reasonably safe if you are careful. The advantage of these
		>>is they hug the shape of your foot giving you excellent
		>>feel with good traction, important because your are
		>>constantly walking over slippery rocks.

    	2) The falls are a much overrated tourist trap.  The image that I
           had of the falls was that it would be a romantic place where we
           could relax, enjoy the quietness of the area, the birds, sound
           of the water...etc (you get my drift).  Instead, it was about as
           romantic as a carnival waterride.  Guides, other tourists,
           people trying to sell you everything under the sun.  It
           certainly was not what the brochures show.
		>>It is correct it is
		>>not quiet and there are continous groups going up. There
		>>will be one guy wanting to take your picture with a funny
		>>hat on (fruit I think), it is polaroid and it will cost
		>>your $5 for one, just say no if you do not want it. Your guide
		>>should take plenty of pictures of you and your significant
		>>other etc. Actually at one point the falls goes under a
		>>busy road if I remember correctly. 
    
    	3) This tour is overpriced for what you get.
		>>When I went to the falls it was one part of a package
		>>tour so I do not know what I paid for the falls portion,
		>>the money was spent so I did it.
		>>Our package was the so called luxurious yacht package 
		>>with snorkeling, dunns river and free drinks and snacks.
		>>It was reasonably fun but overpriced and definitely
		>>overrated by the cruise staff. Caution, everybody on
		>>this package expects a tip !! You pay good money
		>>then everybody has there hand out at the end, that
		>>is a ripoff. I didn't mind giving the guy money for
		>>the falls because they actually do work for it and
		>>they only make money on tips. 
    
    Please remember, this is my personal opinion.  I for one would not
    return to the falls the next time I'm in Ochos Rios, as a matter-of-fact I
    would simply head to a good resort and spend my day on the beach.
	>>If I vist Ochos Rios again on a cruise I might very well just
	>>stay on ship. Most everyone goes on excursions so the pool area
	>>is usually pretty quiet and nice. If you got a good recommendation
	>>on a resort then that would probably be fun also.     

	Everything that Joe said is true, but as he said some people
	look at it differently. Generally almost all cruise ship
	excursions are overpriced. There are a lot of people taking
	a bite out of those excursion dollars.    

	I think you can do it safely if you have good traction. I thought
	it was fun, probably overrated also. YOu might ask other people
	on ship (some have probably gone before), also cruise staff when
	one on one, not in front of group trying to sale the excursions.

In closing I do not want to make a specific recommendation. Hopefully
you have some information to think about and you can make your own
decision. I doubt if the general excursion to the falls would sale
out so you can always wait to the end to make up your mind.

			Have a good cruise, Harold

    
    

    Virtually any excursion you take on a cruise is a ripoff in terms of
    value for the dollar. Almost anything you try on your own will be
    cheaper. On the otherhand, you can get ripped-off even more
    significantly doing something on you own if you're not sure what you
    want to do (particularily in Jamaica) and in addition, you can spend
    your entire excursion being apprehensive. The real advantage of doing
    an excursion organized by the cruise line (or any organized tourist
    activity for that matter) is some sense of security in unknown
    situations. It probably will be fun (not necessarily memorable), its
    likely to be safe, you'll probably make it back to the ship on time,
    and if you do happen to hurt yourself, someone might show some
    interest. All these things are related to the fact that these people
    are business folks and they'd like you to enjoy yourself so you'll
    come back (unhappy or broken people don't) not to mention bad publicity
    you may spread via notes files when you get home.
    
    Having said all that, Joe is right; its a tourist trap - so is most of
    Jamaica! I happened to enjoy it. The guides are aware of your abilities
    and will assist you as much as they feel is required for a big tip.
    They will do their best to take pictures of you without others
    included. Good sense in terms of nonslip shoes is good advice to anyone
    who wants to try this and doesn't want to fall on their butt but this
    applies to anything in life (particularily tourism).
    
    Almost anywhere other than Jamaica, I'd suggest hiring a taxi and doing
    your own thing but the folks in Jamaica like to bug tourists and saying
    NO doesn't always result in your being left alone.
    
    Staying on the ship, booze cruises, and the beach are probably options
    but you can do those thimgs almost anywhere. You only live twice or was
    that nine times... Plan ahead and do it to it.
    

 Well, after reading all the replies here and talking it over with my huband,
 I've decided that I really want to try to climb the falls. Since I have
 never been to Jamaica before, I feel I have to be able to say that I saw
 the falls. If we get started and I think it's too treacherous, I will go
 over and take the stairs. We have the water boots that a few of you mentioned,
 so we should have pretty good footing.

  Thank you all for your opinions and advice. It was a real help. I think if
 we decided not to go on the Falls tour, we probably wouldn't bother to get
 off the ship. Jamaica sounds like a scary place for tourists to be on their
 own.

 Tonight we start packing and we're off first thing Sat. morning.
 
 I'll post a trip report when I get back.



 LeeAnne

    The replies here are a little old.  I think we are going to Bermuda in
    the fall on this ship and want to have some more up-to-date info
    regarding the activities/entertainment/food/service, etc.
    
    Thanks!
    

    Hi.
    
       I am planning on going on the Song of America in October also .  I
    would like to know if anyone has any input on Bermuda and the wather. 
    This cruise will be going to Bermuda. 
    
      thanks,
     Aimee
    

    Bermuda is a fabulous (albeit very expensive) place and cruising is the
    best way to go there (since it's so expensive). You'll love it. I
    suggest you buy a bus pass to get around. Its cheap (by Bermuda
    standards) and they go everywhere. If you are very adventurous, you
    can rent mopeds but that is an excellent way to get maimed/killed.
    Weather in October will be fine unless there is a hurricane.

I agree with Jim about the bus pass, my daughter and I travelled about 
the island that way and we enjoyed it.  It was an educational 
experience as she got a chance to chat with some school children on 
the bus.

The weather was warm enough in October to swim.  Although, we did have 
rough seas on the return trip as we got caught in the tail end of a 
hurricane.  They had to clear everything off the shelves in the gift 
shop and bar lounges as the ship pitched.  It was an adventure!!

Ro

    I quess that would be an adventure. My fiance says it would be
    different to be caught in a Huricane.  I dont think I would like that. 
    I do have a question for any one that got there scuba diving
    certificate.  Darin wants to get his befor we go to Bermuda.  If anyone
    has any information on how about doing this let me know.  Im a little
    curious on the price. I would like to get mine too.
    
       Thanks
      aimee 

    Well, I just broke down and booked a 10-day on the RCCL S-O-A... and
    can hardley believe the rate.  Leaves Miami on 12/5/93, 10 day southern
    caribbean, returns to Puerto Rico on 12/15...Outside stateroom on the
    Upper Deck (near the top) for $1292 pp including RT airfare.
    
    Please, some recent cruisers, what else should I know about the S-O-A
    cruising the southern carib for 10 days?  Any and all info welcome.
    
    Steve

    I'm curious to hear about the Song of America too.  We just booked a
    trip with two of our friends leaving from NY and cruising to Bermuda
    in September.  I'd love to hear from anyone who's travelled on this
    boat recently, especially those who've done this trip to Bermuda.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Debbi

    I received the booklet from our agent in the mail over the weekend and
    it looks beautiful (although, don't they all!).  It must be a pretty
    nice ship because it was named Ship of The Year for 1992 and they have
    won several awards for their service.
    

    Hi,
      I have heard many good things about the ship from my travel agent.  I
    am going on the Song Of America on October 3, 1993 for my HoneyMoon.  I
    am very excited.  My fiance and I got a good deal.  We are paying
    890.00 per person.  It includes everything.  I am so excited to go to
    Bermuda I have herd many good things about it.  The weather , the
    people, the beaches and much, much , more.  We saved alot of money
    because we are not using airfare we are taking a bus to New York.  The
    bus leaves out of Worcester.  The only thing was the port taxes seemed
    a little more expensive.  Our cruise was 795.00 plus 95 port taxes.  It
    still works out great.  
         My fiance and I were going to take a gurantee which means that we
    pay for a specific cabin and if any other cabins are available you
    could get that one.  Which means you could have a chance to get a
    better cabin.  Our travel agent advised us not to take the gurantee
    because there are a few cabins that have two seperate beds.  At first I
    didnt think that would be a problem, and that we could push them
    together untill she told me that they were bolted to the floor.  It is
    a tough decision because she could put it down as a request that we are
    a honeymoon couple but she also said there wouldnt be any gurantees. 
    Knowing my luck my fiance and I would get stuck with a cabin with two
    separate beds. We can change our minds at any time to take the gurantee
    but I dont know if we want to take the chance.  My travel agent doesnt
    want to tell me to take the gurantee because she doesnt want to take
    the chance or the responsibility if we did get the wrong room.  I dont
    realy blame her.
       If any one knows much about scuba diving I would like to know.  I
    heard that Bermuda has these places to dive where ships had sunk more
    than fifty years ago.  My fiance and I are thinking of getting our
    scuba diving licence this summer. They say it is realy beautiful.
    
     Aimee

    Scratching my head?

    Re:22 - Yes, Bermuda is REALLY beautiful.  It is the only island that I
    know of that has no poverty or crime.  The people there have one of the
    highest standards of living in the world.  Over on St. George's, there
    is a museum with all sorts of treasures on display that have been found
    on sunken ships.  I think the man's name is Tucker who has found a lot
    of these ships.  See, Bermuda sits on a bed of coral and it was very
    protected as a result of that from enemy ships.  There is only one way
    to dock in Bermuda so a lot of the ships would hit coral and sink.  The
    cruise ships can only get in via that one safe route.  It's very
    interesting stuff.  I do know they take groups out to view the sunken
    ships that have been discovered.  I wouold like to do that on my next
    trip there.  Just snorkelling was a treat--there are beautiful fish
    in the waters there.
    

    Hi,
       I know it seems like it would be a great experience to take a dive
    to see the ships.  Well thank you for your replys.  If any one eltce
    has any more input on Bermuda or the Song of America please let me
    know.  I am getting very psyched for this trip on our Honeymoon.  

    I was on Song of America in 87, very nice ship. Excellent size. 
    Typical RCCL, excellent cruise. This year is the first year that
    Song of America will cruise to Bermuda, previously the Nordic Prince
    cruised to Bermuda for RCCL. I hope to cruise to Bermuda myself 
    someday, so I have no information. I've been on 4 RCCL cruises, all
    were good. Been on 4 other cruises, 1 NCL Norway, 1 disney cruise,
    2 Regency. Best cruises were definitely RCCL. Regency is a good value
    when you get a really good deal which normally is easy on them.
    
    Have fun in Bermuda, wish I could go.
    
    						Harold C.
    

    Where does the Song of America depart from?  I've read in here both
    Miami and New York.  Do they (like some other ships) do half the
    year from Miami and the other half the NY-Bermuda route?  Also, is
    it a 7, 10, or 14 day trip?  I've tried doing a DIR/TITLE, but most of
    the notes seem out of date.
    
    Any help is appreciated!
    
    Linda                                

    The Song of America seems to be the gypsy of RCCL. It does some cruises 
    on the west coast of US and Mexico, a couple through the Panama Canal, 
    a few out of New York, and some out of Miami. It's former regular
    routes have been taken over by the larger, newer ships. If you are 
    willing to cruise on a somewhat older, smaller ship there are some good 
    deals. 
    
    Linda  

    Linda,
    
        HI I leave on Oct. 3 from NewYork.  The cruise is a 7 day cruise. 
    It will Port at St. Georges and then it will port on the other side of
    Bermuda Hamilton.  Which is great because I wont feel so rushed to go
    to one island one day and another island another.  All an all I think
    we are at sea for two days and at Bermuda for five.  Seems like a good
    way for me and my fiance to spend our honeymoon.  I cant wait another six
    months.
                   
      Aimee

    Linda,
    
    Just saw this.
    
    Song of America currently departs from NY for Bermuda cruises. It will
    do this for the rest of the Bermuda cruise season (apr to oct). SOA
    use to be in the Carribean both eastern and western and departed from
    Miami. It was replaced by the larger mega ships, Sovereign of Seas
    and then Majesty of the Seas. Before going to bermuda it was cruising
    the mexican reviera out of California. In October it may
    go back to the California, I would not expect it to go back to Miami
    in the near future. RCCL has all 3 of it's mega ships in the
    Carribean now. SOA has primarily done 7 night cruises. When a ship
    repositions from say a Bermuda cruise to say a California cruise then
    you may get an oddball length cruise through the panama canal for 10
    days or so. I have a RCCL catalog at home and I think it goes through
    the end of this year, I could check it if you want. RCCL usually has
    long cruises available in the carribbean. During the summer season
    (now) some of the smaller ships cruise in Europe.
    
    Where a specific ship is cruising depends on supply and demand etc.
    The Song of America has been moved to new areas to cruise for RCCL
    as they brought the newer and larger ships.
    
    Typically in the Summer RCCL like many other cruise lines repositions
    some of their ships from the caribbean to other areas. Example
    RCCL will have one ship for Alaska, one for Bermuda, 2 for Europe, the
    rest are left in the carribean mostly. During the winter most of the
    ships will be in warm waters. Not to much demand for alaska cruises
    in Dec. etc.
    
    7 day cruises are most popular. Probably 3 and 4 next. 8,10,14 etc.
    are less popular and tend to attract an older crowd. They typically
    are less expensive per day because air is paid only once.
    
    				harold c.