Jill

Our first cruise with RC was Song of America. Old fashioned teak decks! 

Sailed on Monarch her inaugural year

Sailed on Sovereign 

Congrats! We reached Diamond back in March and our first Diamond cruise will be Symphony next May. 

On 8/20/2019 at 9:34 AM, JLMoran said:

And it cements that the elevated prices are the new norm. I'm back to a BOGO50 offer, and the price is $61/night instead of the $65/night on standard 20% off on-board pricing.

So I'm 100% #OffTeamDX for my sailing. Already have the Refreshment Package and got it at a very good price, so I'll bring my 2 bottles of wine with me and buy whatever other alcoholic drinks I'd like a la carte. I've no doubt I'll come out way ahead with this route vs. these DX prices.

 

Side note -- The DX + VOOM pricing is completely unchanged vs before the sale. It was $70/night before today, vs. $65/night for DX; and it's still $70/night vs current DX BOGO50 price of $61/night. I guess they're finding a good number of people who are foolishly buying the combo package, thinking it's a steal at just $5/night for single-device VOOM vs. the regular single-device price, not realizing that they're being massively fleeced on the DX package side of it.

I’m on Symphony next May and just bought my DX+VOOM for $75. Last week they had that package at 25% off (which is same as BOGO50. 

DX alone was $65. So $10 a day to add VOOM. If I did DX and VOOM separate, my VOOM was $15.99 a day. 

I also looked at doing VOOM in day 2 but even at Diamond, I wouldn’t get down to $10 a day.

We still come out better with drink package. Break even for us is 4-5 drinks plus 2 bottles of water and we don’t have a problem meeting that quota. Lol 

Even with the 3 free drinks a day for Diamond, we still do better with the package. 

Yes that’s what I meant. Thanks! 

Anyone know if you can buy one UDP and one UDP+VOOM or do both packages have to be the same? 

It’s been my experience that if you are Emerald or higher, your Crown and Anchor discount is better than the sale prices. That happened on our last Emerald cruise and when we booked our first Diamond. 

Anyone else experience this? 

Re: drink package. The best sale I’ve ever seen is a 30% off. Usually either with Black Friday or their WOW sale. 

It appears the standard “sales” are 20% off (which is usually available all the time), Buy one, get one 50% off (basically 25% off each package) and the once in a blue moon 30% off. 

I see twangster’s pic on his page. Posted last night.

Hmmm....my Symphony deluxe drink is no cheaper. 

We just sailed on Freedom in march. Our flight got in around 1:00, we were on the ship by 2:00. Easiest embarkation we’ve ever had. 

2 hours ago, MrMarc said:

Of course, one of the few days I don;t check the boards....

Me too

On 6/29/2019 at 9:59 PM, Lovestotravel said:

Have you done the first option of islands?  Seems most people like the 2nd option better.  I like the cheaper fare better!  LOL!  But don't want to miss out on a better trip

I’ve been to Aruba but not on a cruise. I do like the island.  Overall, St Maarten is my favorite. 

Before you board you will get your seapass card when you check in at the port before boarding. The minute you step onboard, you can get drinks. You have to present your seapass card when you board. 

We just did option 2 on Freedom this past March except we had St Maarten instead of St Thomas. 

Its the 3rd time we’ve done the Southern Caribbean. I just love these islands. Western Caribbean is my least favorite. 

On 6/26/2019 at 3:47 PM, KathyC said:

Majesty of the Seas  - 1992 - brand new megaship, she was three months old.  Fell in love with cruising very quickly.  Still remember our entertainment - back when they actually had "name" entertainers.  Fifth Dimension and Jerry Van Dyke.  True headliner entertainment. 

We sailed Monarch in 1991 (sister to Majesty and Sovereign) and Red Buttons was the entertainment! 

On 6/25/2019 at 11:53 PM, Magandsons said:

My honeymoon cruise in 1998  We went to the Caribbean on Monarch of the Seas a week after we said "I do".

We cruised Monarch in her inaugural year then again in 1994. Both times to the Southern Caribbean. I remember thinking how “large” she was. Lol We just returned to the Southern Caribbean this past March on Freedom. 

Gosh I feel like an Oasis snob! Lol  

Still deciding on what Mediterranean itinerary to do. 2 friends just did Oasis this summer and raves about the trip. 

I’m torn because this is a trip about the ports but I LOVE Central Park and everything Oasis Class. But there’s very little time on the ship. 

Just did Freedom in March after 3 sailings on Oasis and I really missed the Oasis offerings. 

Doing Symphony May 2020. What I really need is a 10 night Mediterranean on an Oasis class so I can get my ports AND sea days. I’m afraid I’m becoming a high maintenance cruiser!

I just came across the history of the ship of my first cruise in 1987! College spring break aboard the Emerald Seas. This was a fascinating history as she wasn’t originally built to be a “cruise” ship. 

https://nickscruisecorner.blogspot.com/2012/02/emerald-seas-another-on-of-my-favorite.html?m=1

Ok gotcha. So I see from above maiden voyage is currently spring of 2021.  Any chance this new one will be doing the Mediterranean sailings her first summer? I think Symphony was last year, Oasis is currently there, Allure is 2020. 

That would be pretty awesome because that’s when we’re planning to go. With my luck it’ll be a tired Harmony waiting to go to dry dock afterwards. Off to find the dry dock calendar!

Just saw this on Instagram. Anyone know if this is #5? 

On 5/12/2019 at 10:27 AM, VinceC said:

Has anyone had Jimmy Rhodes as a CD?  if so, anything on how good he is?

Had him on Oasis with AM Marvin. I really enjoyed them both. 

On 5/12/2019 at 9:37 AM, Joe01 said:

I've heard some good reviews of him before.

 

Just had him in March on Freedom. He was ok. Nothing to write home about. 

Trying to figure out the breakeven on the Deluxe package on Symphony. I’ve heard drinks are more expensive on Symphony. 

On Oasis, we broke even with 4 drinks and 2 bottles of water. 

Might possibly put a deposit down next week while I’m on Freedom. What’s your favorite itinerary for a 7 night Mediterranean? 

A friend of ours is Director of Hotels (3 1/2 stripes!) on Oasis. He got my husband on the tour last year. It was phenomenal, especially on the Oasis class ships. 

Thank you!  Good to know I can go to deck 4.  I need to do stairs anyway!

Spoiled with Oasis class track. :)