Sunday, September 7, 2008

Continental announces a charge for checked baggage

More info at Continental web site.
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Friday, September 5, 2008

Southwest Airlines baggage policy

believe most of us are traveling on SWA from BWI.
Please post this to the Doherty Cruise Network when you get a chance for future reference



· Baggage Allowance: Beginning January 29, 2008, Southwest will allow two (2) checked pieces of baggage per ticketed Customer. Size and weight limitations apply.
· Excess Baggage: Effective January 29, 2008, you may check a third bag for a charge of $25. Your 4th through 9th bag or item will incur a charge of $50 per piece, and any bag or item thereafter will be $110 per piece.
· Weight and Size Allowance: Maximum weight is 50 pounds and maximum size is 62 inches (length + width + height) per checked piece of luggage. Effective March 1, 2005, overweight items from 51 to 70 pounds will be accepted for a charge of $25.00 per item. Items weighing from 71 to 100 pounds and oversized items in excess of 62 inches but not more than 80 inches (i.e., surfboards, bicycles, vaulting poles) will be accepted for a charge of $50.00 per item. Any item weighing more than 100 pounds must be shipped as Air Cargo. However, Customers cannot use SWA Cargo unless classified as a Known Shipper as defined by the TSA or TSA approved Indirect Air Carriers (IAC). For full details about shipping cargo, visit swacargo.com.
· Liability: Unless excess value is declared and charges paid at the time of checkin, Southwest Airlines' liability for lost, damaged or delayed baggage is limited to $3,000.00 per fare-paying Customer.
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Sunday, August 24, 2008

List of Holland America excursions at Grand Turk

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
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Gibbs Cay Stingray Encounter & Beach
Join this fun island experience as you swim with the stingrays at Gibbs Cay. Your adventure begins at the cruise terminal where you are... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2 hours Price : $$
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Discover Scuba
If you have always wanted to learn to dive, now is the time to discover scuba! The Turks and Caicos features the third largest barrier ... more info
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Duration: Approximately 3 hours Price : $$$
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Two-Tank Certified Dive
The Turks and Caicos features the third largest barrier reef in the world, which makes the islands a diver's paradise. You will be met ... more info
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Duration: Approximately 4 hours Price : $$$
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Ultimate Snorkeling Adventure
Join the ultimate snorkel experience! Your adventure begins at the cruise terminal where you are greeted by a friendly crew. Board the ... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2 1/4 hours Price : $
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The Grand Turk Experience - Your Way All Day
With your wristband as your admission ticket, enjoy and explore the island at your leisure on a fully-narrated tour of the highlights o... more info
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Duration: Varies Price : $
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Offshore Sportfishing
Join a local captain aboard a 27-foot offshore fishing boat to troll for a variety of sportfish that inhabit the waters surrounding Gra... more info
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Duration: Approximately 3 hours Price : $$$
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Grand Turk Semi-Sub Exploration & Snorkel *CANCELLED*
Travel six feet under the surface of the water in dry comfort while seeing the abundant sea life and coral reefs surrounding Grand Turk... more info
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Duration: Approximately 1 1/2 hours Price : $$$
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Grand Turk Snuba Adventure
Walk from the pier to the beach, where you'll receive a safety briefing and a description of what you will be seeing. SNUBA is a way fo... more info
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Duration: 2 Hours Price : $$
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Grand Turk Helmet Dive
Imagine an underwater world so totally unvisited that the reefs have no names. They just exist--vibrant, colorful and filled with the m... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2 hours Price : $$
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Grand Turk Semi-Sub Exploration *CANCELLED*
Travel six feet under the surface of the water in dry comfort while viewing the abundant sea life and coral reefs surrounding Grand Tur... more info
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Duration: Approximatley 1 1/2 hours Price : $$
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Mangrove Clear Kayaking & Snorkeling
Your kayak experience begins when you travel to the kayak start point at South Creek, where you will be met by your kayak guide. He/she... more info
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Duration: Approximately 3 hours Price : $$
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Light Tackle Fishing
Both experienced fly anglers and beginners will love this chance to catch a hard-hitting flats fish. Board transportation for the short... more info
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Duration: Approximately 3 hours Price : $$$$
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Mini-Boat Adventure & Snorkeling
Set out from the launching area in your personal watercraft. First, you will receive comprehensive instructions about the safety and op... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2½ Hours Price : $$
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Power Snorkel Adventure
Board a comfortable air-conditioned bus that will take you to one of Grand Turk's beautiful, white-sand beaches. Your guide will provid... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2¼ Hours Price : $$
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Grand Turk 4WD Safari
Experience the natural history and cultural heritage of Grand Turk in a safari-themed 4x4 vehicle. Learn about Grand Turk's rich histor... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2 hours Price : $$
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Horseback Ride & Swim
Depart the pier in air-conditioned comfort for a scenic 20- minute bus ride along the coast and across the island, passing Governor's B... more info
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Duration: Approximately 1½ Hours Price : $$
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Dune Buggy Safari
If you are adventurous at heart, climb behind the wheel of a purpose-built, tubular frame dune. Head off down the narrow tracks that sk... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2 hours Price : $$
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Grand Turk Bike, Hike and Swim
Join an exhilarating adventure as you tour this small island with a large history by bike! You will navigate towards town, making your ... more info
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Duration: Approximately 3 1/2 hours Price : $$
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Grand Turk by Horse-Drawn Carriage
Join your entertaining guide for a fun, whimsical, narrated, historical tour of Cockburn Town and the countryside by horse-drawn carria... more info
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Duration: Approximately 1¼ - 1½ Hours Price : $$
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Governor's Beach Break
Escape to Grand Turk's Governor's Beach for a relaxing day of sun worshiping, swimming and snorkeling! The round trip transportation on... more info
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Duration: Varies Price : $
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Reef Snorkel and Stingray Safari
This combination tour lets you experience the two premier attractions in the picturesque turquoise waters around Grand Turk: pristine c... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2 1/2 hours Price : $$
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Catamaran Sailaway - Cotton Cay Beach and Snorkel
This tour offers the best combination of sailing on one of the most beautiful catamarans in the Caribbean, white sand beaches and extra... more info
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Duration: Approximately 3 hours Price : $$
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Grand Turk Eco-Safari
Discover hidden wonders in areas not usually visited by tourist on this excursion that takes you to the most pristine areas of Grand Tu... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2 - 2 1/4 hours Price : $
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A Taste of Grand Turk
Your sojourn to this last bastion of Caribbean life begins with your driver/guide greeting you at the port. It’s on... more info
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Duration: Approximately 2¾ Hours Price : $$
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Description of the Grand Turks

Grand Turk Island is part of the Turks & Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory comprised of 40 islands and cays (pronounced keyes). This beach paradise has been blessed with crystal-clear, turquoise waters and smooth powder white beaches. Seven miles long and 1.5 miles wide, Grand Turk has served as the seat of government for the territory and the British Governor since 1766. The island is renowned for its inspiring and colorful British-Bermudian colonial architecture yet exudes its own quaint Caribbean charm.

Located approximately 575 miles southeast of Miami, and 30 miles south of the Bahamas, Grand Turk enjoys a very comfortable climate year round due to a constant trade wind and averages 350 days of sunshine per year. Approximately 3,700 people call Grand Turk home.

The island's first language is English although you'll hear certain phrases that vary from English and unique proverbs and terms which lend a distinctly Turks & Caicos flavor to the spoken word. The U.S. dollar is the official currency and there are several banks with ATMs on the island.

What to do on Grand Turk?
Grand Turk offers some of the Caribbean's most fascinating dive and snorkel sites and beaches. The island also offers a variety of other water and land-based excursions including trips to nearby islands and cays, some of which are inhabited by stingrays and the endangered Turks & Caicos rock iguana. The shallow banks surrounding the Turks islands are also a winter calving ground for humpback whales. Horseback ride and swim, horse and buggy trips, and world class sport fishing are also available.

On land, the island offers unique points of interest including a historic lighthouse and natural salt basins that are home to a variety of wading birds. The historic downtown area of Cockburn Town features many homes built in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries; the national museum, an old prison, Columbus' alleged landing site and many pristine beaches including Governor’s Beach.
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Map of St. John's

http://www.cinnamonbay.com/dreamweaver%20rootfolder/dreamweaver%20rootfolder/images/viismap.pdf
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Sierra club info on St. John

http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/national/brochure/09403a.asp
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Kevin's initial note about St. John's

I checked out the following about the day of our arrival at St. Thomas and came up with this preliminary idea and the choices below.

We arrive at St Thomas at 8 AM and can be off the ship by 9 or so with no problem, earlier if Capn. Doherty has us running on HIS schedule.

St. John is one of the USVI and relatively undeveloped. Two-thirds of the Island was donated by a Rockefeller to the US Park Service. (USPS)

Comments from the internet I found: “ St John is beautiful, lots of great beaches and scenic lookouts, and the whole island is a national park, so its kept pristine.”

“ . . . the less-developed St. Johns is infinitely more pleasant in our opinion. I think that future cruise itineraries may even spend a day at each island. In any case, watch the ferry schedule closely since you need to allow time to return to the ship. The north shore beaches on St. Johns (Hawksbill, Trunk, Cinnamon) are run by the US National Park Service and are world famous. Open air taxis will take you from the Cruz Bay ferry dock to any of these for about $4 US, or you can hike from the park headquarters building to Honeymoon beach – the rangers can give you maps and specifics. Each north shore beach has good snorkeling around the peninsulas which separate them, and some have their own snorkel trails with underwater signage (but more people). The fish are protected here and are larger and more colorful than on some other islands – with luck you might even see a Hawksbill turtle or spotted moray, both of which I saw this time.”

We can take the Ferry to St. John. I vote for a short cab ride (5 miles) to Red Hook to take the 20 minute ride on calm waters from there for half the cost of the 45 minute ferry on rough waters at twice the price from Charlotte Amalie where we come into Port, and where, I suppose, the crowds will be greater. To return to the ship in time for the 5 PM push from the dock, we should get the ferry back at 3 PM, 4 PM latest.

We arrive off the Ferry at Cruz Bay and can take taxi or open air vehicles to the beaches at Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay or Caneel Bay. Each offer something different.

Trunk Bay is for a lazy day and has an underwater snorkel trail good for beginning snorkelers. Cinnamon Bay has more water sports and better snorkeling and also is part of a bigger USPS presence. The area has a couple of short hiking trails and some slave sugar plantation and other historic sites to see. Caneel Bay is a more resort-like area with a nice hotel on site and full amenities that you’d expect at a resort.

See some snippets below that I got from the net.

Cinnamon Bay
Swimming: CalmBeachside: Sand Food/Refreshments: Yes/RestaurantWater Sports Center: Yes Accessibility: Taxi, CarSnorkeling: Very GoodAmenities: Small Store, Archeological Site, Camp Ground, Restroom, Chairs, Showers Child Friendly: YesTaxi Availability: Almost Always, or Call Dispatcher
Cinnamon Bay, at about 1 mile, is the National Park's longest beach. This great beach offers snorkeling, swimming, volleyball and more. A watersports concession stand rents windsurfing equipment, kayaks and mountain bikes. There is good snorkeling around Cinnamon Bay Cay, a short swim from shore. The clear waters will tempt you to spend your time swimming and snorkeling, while the palm trees will call you to spread your beach blanket in the shade and relax. Across from the beach and campground entrance/parking area is a Hiking Trail through the Cinnamon Bay Plantation ruins. This is definitely a beach you can spend the whole day at.
Trunk Bay
Trunk Bay, part of the Virgin Islands National Park, is a great site for beginners. Its 225-yard, self-guided snorkeling trail is complete with underwater signs that describe the surrounding marine life. More advanced divers can head two miles out, where fantastic coral reefs bursting with sea creatures of all kinds await you.
At Carval Rock, schools of mackerel, tarpon and amberjack are common, and there are lovely coral formations in waters ranging from 20 to 70 feet. Be careful of currents on the north side: they can be quite strong during the tide change.
You can check out brightly colored angelfish, unusual puffer fish and even an occasional reef shark at Congo Bay. Depths range from 20 to 70 feet, making this a good spot for divers of varying abilities.
Off the coast of nearby Salt Island is the wreck of the Rhone, a Royal Mail packet ship that sank in 1867. Located in waters ranging in depth from 25 to 85 feet, it's now home to a dazzling array of beautiful fish.
Caneel Bay
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147411-d184543-Reviews-Caneel_Bay-Virgin_Islands_National_Park_St_John_U_S_Virgin_Islands.html
http://travel.wwte1.com/pub/agent.dll?qscr=dspv&itty=new&from=m&shtl=1&htid=16254&crti=&cadu1=2&eapid=11441-30001
Maps of the island and of Cruz Bay area are hyperlinked below:
http://www.virginislandsthisweek.com/us_virgin_islands_maps/st_john_island_map_1.html

http://www.virginislandsthisweek.com/us_virgin_islands_maps/cruz_bay_st_john_street_map.html

An article with a review of the St. John beaches I found:

http://www.virginislandsthisweek.com/featured_articles/st_john_beaches.html

FERRY INFO

Red Hook, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John: The trip takes about 20 minutes.
Departing Red Hook, St. Thomas:6:30 A.M.7:30 A.M.and then hourly from 8:00 A.M. to Midnight.
Departing Cruz Bay, St. John:6:00 AM to 11:00 P.M. hourly.
Ferry service operated by:Transportation Services 340 776-6282 and Varlack Ventures 340 776-6412
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