Conference abbott::cruise_travel

    
    
    alot..
    
      actually we went last year and the cheapest course we could find
    to play on (set up by the ship) was something like $40 plus $10ish for
    club rental..then you need to buy balls..ect..ect..cost us roughly
    $60 when it was all said and done...
    
    we play in Antiqua and it was by far...the worst course i'd ever set my
    eyes on...EVERYTHING was burnt from lack of rain..the ground was packed
    so hard that your ball would roll forever off your drive (good long
    shots)..
    
    the other courses the ship had listed were on a couple other islands
    and they all started at roughly $60 plus club rental, a minimum of
    $10....if you choose a course..just try to find one on an island that
    gets rain!...nothing ruins a game quicker than completely sun burned 
    fairways and greens..
    
    al

    Hi,
    
    We are taking the Majesty of the Seas Western Caribbean cruise -
    leaving in a week and a half.  Wondering if anyone knew more about
    golfing on the islands that we'll be stopping at.  There are 2 Golf Ahoy
    excursions offered by Royal Caribbean.  One in Ocho Rios, for $92
    EACH, not including club rental.  The other is an executive (short)
    course in Grand Cayman.  That is ONLY $60 somthing, but a pretty short
    course.  We were wondering if it would be possible to find a golf course 
    on our own, preferably in either Ocho Rios or Miami (we have lots of 
    time between flight arrival and the ship leaving), that would be 
    less expensive.
    
    If we can't find golf in Miami, any ideas what we can do for 3 hours
    before we can start boarding??
    
    Thanks,
    Sharon
    

	Hi Sharon,
    
	I recommend you go to the libaray and check out Fodor's travel guide.
We're going on a RCCL cruise to Bermuda in 1 1/2 weeks, and not only did the
library have the 1995 Fodor's Bermuda, it also had a videotape of RCCL's
7 night cruises to Bermuda just to whet our appetites!!  I've copied about 1/3
of the book to take with me.  I could have bought it, but figured I'd save the
$12!!

	Just an idea!  They also have great maps and tell you what number bus 
to take to where you want to go.

	Have a great trip, looking forward to your impressions when you return!

	Laura

    Sharon,
    
    I know you can find golf in Miami, but you won't get it in in 3 hours. 
    If you are coming in the night before you should be able to get out
    early.  Other than golf, a little relaxing shopping and lunch at the
    Bayside is nice.  It is a short taxi ride, just a little over walking
    distance, from the pier.  It is a collection of shops and restaurants. 
    
    I sometimes recommend this in order to beat the embarkation squeeze. 
    It is no fun though if you are lugging carry-on bags.   Another
    suggestion would be to look into taking the trolley excursion that
    morning prior to embarking.  That way you can see some of Miami. 
    Usually they offer this on the day of Disembarcation.
    
    Joe

    .3 - Thanks - good idea - didn't have Fodor's, but got the other travel
    book at the library - between that and the AAA books, I got some phone
    numbers of golf places in Ocho Rios - guess we'll wait till we get
    there and start calling around to see if we can get in a round
    
    .4 - we actually have 7 hours between our landing and the ship
    departure - the 3 hours was time before boarding started - thanks for
    the info about Bayside - we'll probably forget the golf that day and 
    just go there to walk around - besides, if our flight is late, that
    3 hours will start dwindling away quickly
    
    5 days...  I'll write in here if we actually end up playing
    
    Sharon
          

<    .4 - we actually have 7 hours between our landing and the ship
<    departure - the 3 hours was time before boarding started - thanks for

Sharon,

    If you've actually got 7 hours and a car, you might consider a quick trip
into the north end of the Everglades Nat'l Park.  You're about a hour's drive
to the Florida City entrance and this time of year the wildlife at the Royal
Palm Visitor's Center (very near the gate) should be spectacular. The water
should be low and the alligators should be in great quantity as they collect
around the slough over which the Park Service built a boardwalk (about 10'
above the water.) It's unlike anything I've ever seen elsewhere in the 'glades
and I've spent alot of time hiking and canoeing Everglades trails.

    Figure 1 - 1.5 hours to get to the park, 1 hour or 2 walking around and
the same 1 - 1.5 hours back to Miami.
          
Just a thought if you want to kill some time.

Al

	Sharon,

	Please write inn here even if you don't play...I'd love to hear
	your impressions of the Island!  It has been sooo quiet in here 
	lately!

	Laura          

    We never did get to play golf.  Too expensive, and we just decided to
    skip it this time.  We did the Miami tour the day we left - quite 
    nice.  The day we arrived we were planning to go to the shops near the
    dock, but got kept at the airport for a while before we got to the
    ship, and by the time we finally got there and through the lines, we
    were able to check in.  So ended up not doing anything in Miami that
    day.  Just right to the ship.  Full trip report in 364.34.
    
    Sharon