Danielmills13
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Posts posted by Danielmills13
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Morning
Myself and my wife are looking to book our first cruise this evening for may 20th on independence of the seas sailing to the norwegian fjords for 8 nights.
the only standard staterooms that are left are a guaranteed interior on deck 2 are these suitable and do the interiors differ at all depending on decks are they all the same? We will be looking to purchase some packages and also some dining during our stay on board but wondering if its easy enough to determine whats included on your stay and what is extra? Also im not a smoker but i do use a vaping device and im wondering if anyone uses these in the rooms or not? i totally respect smoking rules and laws but when it comes to vaping i still cant comprehend that they are compared to each other in terms of having to go outside, obviously i wouldn't use in a public enclosed space but i would like to vape in my room if possible?
Finally i know everyone is different but i don't drink alcohol and my wife isn't a big drinker so im stuck on how much extra i will roughly spend on board i.e how much to take? will i also need to change currency up for when we dock in norway or can you do this on board.
many thanks for your help in advance
Dan
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4 hours ago, Buzzard05 said:
We just got off Harmony a couple weeks ago and we had two rooms booked for my wife and I and two teenage sons. My wife and I were in an oceanview balcony at the rear of the ship on Deck 12 (12326) and the view from that balcony is just as everyone as described. It is very peaceful, you can see the islands as you come and go, and you don't have anybody peering across at you.
My sons were in the last boardwalk balcony room on Deck 12 (12329) and I have to say I thought the views were spectacular out the back of the ship. I can see where the views would be "better" without the Abyss slide structure...but still an awesome view nonetheless (IF you are in one of the last few rooms, I am not sure it would be as great in the middle of that deck). That room was very close to the Aqua Theatre and the noise was not bad at all in there (even when they had shows going on). I also found it cool to watch the aqua shows from that vantage point (looking down) as you can see a lot of the stuff going on underwater that you can't see from the regular seats. And of course, it was always fun just to people watch down on the Boardwalk. I will say that when I would sit on their balcony, having people directly across from me on those balconies was a little bothersome (it is closer across there than you think).
As for activities in the ports, we have been to Cozumel twice. The first time we did the speedboat / snorkel excursion (where you drive your own little mini-speedboat out to a place and then snorkel for a bit) and it was a lot of fun. This last time we did the ATV tour to Jade Caverns and it was also a good time. We picked those excursions more for our sons than for us....but we had a blast on both as well. In Falmouth we booked a day pass to the Royalton White Sands resort from a local excursion company. We really enjoyed that place as well. It was all-inclusive and you had full run of the place. The food was good...as were the drinks. We chose the Royalton due to it's location...it is only about 10 minutes from the port, where the other all-inclusives were 30 - 45 minutes away.
I would book the shows as soon as you are able, that way you know that you are pretty much assured to have a seat (assuming you arrive on time). We saw some pretty long lines for people wanting to get into a show that didn't have a reservation. I have no idea how many of those people got into the shows or not. You can always change it up a bit once you get on board (you may not get a reservation, but you can go stand in the stand by line to try to see a show at a different time than you have scheduled. Also, not sure if Oasis has the Escape Room...but if they do, you should give it a try. It was a lot of fun!
As for the drink package, it doesn't sound to me like you would get your "money's worth". I got the Refreshment Package for myself as I drink a ton of soda, but also like to get an occasional coffee drink (not from Starbucks) and that worked well for me. I would get a drink/beer or two each day and my OBC covered it. On about day four or five they offered a 10 drink card for $79.00 ($93.00 with the 18% gratuity) and found that to be a decent deal. What is nice about the drink card is that you can share it with your wife (meaning you both can use it to get drinks, unlike the drink package).
Hope that info helps you a bit. Have a GREAT time on your cruise!
Thank you very much for your advice.
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19 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:
I guess I will take the dissenting side of this argument and speak up for the virtues of the inside balcony.
When we first started cruising on the Oasis class we enjoyed the Boardwalk balconies very much. On Oasis and Allure the Boardwalk balconies, in particular, were an excellent value, IMO b/c you can still see the ocean if you are far enough aft. It certainly is NOT what I would call an "ocean view" but you CAN see the ocean (not so much on Harmony with that awful slide thing smack dab in the middle of the Boardwalk).
BUT the true charm of the Boardwalk balconies is being able to watch all of the hustle and bustle down below on the Boardwalk. I loved watching the kids on the carousel and people eating and drinking AND of course, there are always the activities associated with the Aqua Theater.
I guess I'm just not that worried about people trying to peek into my room from across the ship. I never felt like people could "see in" or were invading my privacy in any way. Is there ambient noise on the Boardwalk ? Yes, at times. Did it bother me at night ? Never.
I will admit that I have never stayed in a Central Park balcony room but I have never really heard too many complaints. You will have similar views other than the ocean. You canNOT see the ocean at all in a CPB. ...but you have the serenity of Central Park below. I have heard people complain that it sometimes gets hot in the Central Park areas b/c there isn't as much air movement and I have heard that the noise on the pool decks can be an annoyance but I can't imagine that it's any worse than the loud speakers from the Aqua Theater !
So...I would consider an inside balcony if the price was right and especially for "extra" younger family members if you're looking for a less expensive option for the kids (say, across the hall from the gr'ups in an OV balcony).
Thank you for your input
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15 minutes ago, fonemanbob said:
We loved the ocean view room on Oasis. Like others have stated it beats looking at balcony"s. Its very hypnotic and relaxing. Also you are allowed to bring 2 bottles of wine on board per room to consume in your room or drink a glass at the pool. Oasis has lots to do on board. Definitely book your shows as soon as possible. Take advantage of the BOGO special for 2 specialty restaurants for $20. It ends today. You cant beat getting 2 dinners at Giovanni"s for less than the price of one dinner.. Only draw back with that special is you have dine there the first 2 nights. Get on board early and go straight to the main dining room and check on your specialty restaurant reservations and where your table is located as well. In Jamaica I would do Dunn"s River Falls. In Cozumel I would highly recommend Mr. Sancho"s all inclusive beach club. Check out the reviews on trip adviser and cruise critic. It is $55 per person for all you can eat and beverages and beach amenities. Check out there web page mrsanchos.com.
thank you that's a great help
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4 hours ago, RestingBirds said:
Great questions! I might be able to give an answer for one or two.
I've never been on Oasis, but my wife and I wouldn't book a room without being able to see the ocean. However, many people on this site love the boardwalk and central park rooms. What's important to you in a view?
For a 6pm leave time I'd say no later than 5:30 to be back onboard, someone else might have a better answer. Get to Port Canaveral as early as you can. Boarding starts around 10:30/11.
Sounds like the drink pkg wouldn't be good for you. There are a few articles on this site that might help. $200 would probably be enough, but you can use that $200 for excursions, specialty dining, any purchases onboard.
Other cruisers suggest booking shows beforehand.
In Falmouth we really enjoyed Dunn's River Falls.
Have fun!
Thank you
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4 hours ago, MikeK said:
Congratulations on your choice of ship. All the Oasis class ships are a wonder. Choosing your room is a matter of preference on the type of view you want and what you can afford. We prefer the ocean views. Central Park and Boardwalk rooms seems like your just staring into another balcony room the whole time. Ordering a pot of coffee in the morning and looking out over the water is truly one of the highlights of a cruise to me.
I would suggest getting to the port as early as possible. We usually arrive 1030-1100am to check in. You will want as much time as possible to explore the ship as it is large and will take some time to get to know it. We have been on enough cruises and done about all the excursions so we like to just walk around and shop. You will get a news letter type paper delivered to your room every evening that tells you the next days activities. It will tell you what time to be back to the ship to board on port days. DO NOT be late. The ship will leave without you unless you are on a RC excursion.
If you like the shows you need to get reservations ASAP. The cruise planner section on the RC web page under My Cruises will tell you what shows require reservations. You will want to plan those show times around your dining times.
If the only thing your drink is an occasional glass of wine the alcohol drink package would not be for you. If you like special coffee or like soft drinks you might want to look at the other drink packages but you would still need to drink a fair amount of soft drinks to make it worth it.
We prefer the main dining room for eating. My wife likes Italian food so we usually eat at Giovannis one time a cruise.
Since we live in Florida laying out on the beach is not for us. Some of the other nice cruisers on here can tell you good beaches to go to
First time cruisers.....make sure you have the correct paperwork when checking in or they will not let you on the ship
The Oasis is an amazing ship. Relax and have a good time.....I know you will
Thank you very much for your input.
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Hi all,
I have been lurking in this forum for about 6 months now and have asked a fair few questions :)
My wife and i have finally decided to choose the oasis of the seas on our final US road trip on nov 5th on the western cruise.
We would like the balcony rooms, my preference was a central park view but that seems to now have gone and the ocean or broadwalk views are left, is the broadwalk balcony a good choice or do most of you prefer the ocean view?
On the itinerary it states times your stopping at the islands, when it says 8-6pm what time are we expected to board the ship in this instance? Also if the ship sails from its initial port in Canaveral at 4.30pm what is a good time to get there prior to this?
do i need to book shows prior? Were also not big drinkers, i dont drink at all and the wife has the odd glass of wine, i believe in our deal we get $200 free spend if we used this for drinks only would we be ok for 7 nights or should we still look at a drinks package?
best places to eat?
were going to Haiti ,Cozumel and falmouth, is there anything in-particular we should look to do at these stops? we enjoy scenery and walking etc dont mind not just sitting on the beach.
Im sure there questions ive forgotten to ask and really appreciate any input as this is our first cruise.
many thanks
Dan
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On 03/07/2017 at 6:18 AM, BrianAlt said:
I don't like St. Thomas very much. My wife always just wants to shop there. :)
Don't like Nassau.
I prefer Cozumel where we can have a nice beach day.
I prefer Labadee to Coco Cay. Although many Eastern and Western do Labadee.
Grand Cayman is beautiful.
I like San Juan, but it tends to be a short stay.
St. Kitts isn't the most beautiful island.
I do like St. Maarten, which will often be part of a Western itinerary.
So it's all about the ports. I just tend to prefer the ports that are part of the Western itineraries over the Eastern.
Southern is nice too. I've only done that a couple of times. But most of those cruises go out of San Juan and flights tend to be much higher. There are some longer cruises that go out of Florida to southern itineraries.
Thank you for your advice
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On 03/07/2017 at 3:41 AM, cruise-y said:
Everyone has different preferences. Brian probably likes the Western Caribe for great reasons, but personally that is my least favorite. The cruises always go to Cozumel, so it gets repetitive, and it's really commercialized and geared for partying. I agree with Tiny that the Southern is the most interesting, with out-of-the-way stops and unusual venues. The water and beaches are gorgeous. But again, it's all in what you want and everyone likes different things. The good thing about the Western is that you can leave from ports that are an easy drive from many states. No need for a flight. Flying nowadays is stressful, delayed, cramped and you risk losing your luggage. So we usually end up in the Western just to make it easier. We can leave the house at a more leisurely pace, take our time driving down and so on. And, there are great Mayan ruins in parts of the Western. Grubby, I'd give my right arm to be so close to so many different European stops. I guess the grass is always greener....
Thank you. I'm fortunate to live in Europe so seen many wonderful places but still not cruises to any.
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5 hours ago, BrianAlt said:
We're in the US, so we mostly do Caribbean cruises. I don't generally cruise for the itineraries, but I will pass on a cruise because of itinerary. Like I really don't enjoy the Port Canaveral/Nassau/Coco Cay itinerary. Also, I prefer Western Caribbean to Eastern Caribbean, so I may choose one over the other. But I wouldn't pass on an Eastern if it fit my timeframe and wanted to experience the ship.
As for European cruises, I've done one Med cruise (FANTASTIC!) and I'm embarking on an 8-night Northern European Cities cruise in 5 days. I don't get a chance to do such cruises, so they are much more exotic to me.
I don't think there are cruises of only one week from UK to the Med as it generally takes much longer than that to get there. Especially assuming 3 ports along the way. One thought for you, how about a cruise that originates in Southampton and ends in Barcelona with a back-to-back of Barcelona round trip in the Med. Then fly home from Barcelona, at least you only have to fly one way. It would be much longer, two weeks plus, but if you could swing that it would be a fantastic trip!
Hi, any reason you prefer western to easten? We're looking at our first cruise in November to eastern so very curious from an experienced cruiser as yourself why you prefer. Many thanks
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Thank you all so much for your help. We have whistled it down to oasis or the allure in November we're just contemplating the itenery now!! So hard to pick.
It's either Jamaica,haiti and cozemul or Bahamas st Thomas and st kits.
Thanks again
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Thank you all so much for all the advice it's greatly apriciated. I've just looked at the price for November for the oasis going to Haiti Falmouth and cozamel so options are open to use. I actually like the allure itinerary in nov going to st Kitts etc. So many choices lol just can't decide.
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6 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:
Welcome to the blog ! Glad to have new friends.
Most new cruisers cruise for the destinations - they decide where they want to go and then find a ship that will take them there. As you cruise more, I find that most people cruise for the ship that they like with a few exceptions of special itineraries that pop up from time-to-time. That is not a general rule...just an observation that may or may not be true, in your case.
As Doc says, you really cannot go wrong with the Oasis class ships unless you just prefer a smaller ship (some do). I personally, LOVE the big ships - so much to do and so much happening all the time.
Unless there is some personal reason why you want to spend more time in the Bahamas, I think you will find that some of the other islands have just as much, and perhaps more, to offer. I really don't know why they cut the stop in Nassau so short. Probably has to do with sailing time from port-to-port.
I have never been on the Anthem so I cannot compare the 2. Many people love the Anthem.
Room choice is another very personal thing. I love a balcony room. I love sleeping with the sliding glass door open at night (don't tell. You're not supposed to do that !). We "started" with Boardwalk balcony rooms on the O class ships and found them to be a nice compromise between desire for a balcony and cost. If you choose a Boardwalk balcony on the O or A, go as far aft as you can and you will get a better view of the Aqua Theater and the ocean. Of course, you may find it noisier the further back you go, too, but we never did find it too noisy. We loved the Boardwalk balconies.
Gratuities are not too confusing, really. You can either pay them before you go or at the end of your cruise. Your choice. I always prepay mine so I don't have to pay for them at the end. If you purchase any kind of beverage package, your gratuities for your drinks will already be included. You will not have to pay again. If you pay "by the drink" you will have to pay a gratuity every time you order a drink. There are no automatic gratuities for specialty restaurants so whether you purchase a dining package or pay "by the meal" you will have to decide whether a gratuity is warranted. It certainly is not mandatory. I look for this to change some day, BTW. I imagine a compulsory gratuity for the specialty restaurants is just a matter of time....
Whether or not to eat in a specialty restaurant is entirely up to you. I will say, just my opinion, the complimentary food is very good. There is really no reason to pay additional money for food on board unless you just want to. Trust me, between the main dining room, the Windjammer and the other complimentary restaurants on board, you will NOT go hungry.
...and finally....beverage packages. If you drink a lot of water the occasional soft drink you will, most likely, save money with the beverage package. Of course, you can always bring your own water and soft drinks on (while this is technically not permitted, Royal does not confiscate bottles of water or soda that are still factory sealed) but that is waaay more effort than it is worth, for me, so I don't do it....but you could.
Best of luck with whatever you decide to do !! ...and stay in touch !
Thank you ever so much, your reply was very helpful and a good read, im the same as you in a sense although i havent actually cruised on a RCL before i want the big ship with plenty going on. I almost want to be wowed when i walk through the ship :) In your experience which is your fav itinerary and why? I plan on doing some excursions but mainly myself and my wife love to just soak up the views and landscapes around us and enjoy the beach and seas also.
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2 minutes ago, Christie said:
If you didn't prepay gratuity, it is added to your seapass account (basically your onboard billing account) every night. At the end of the cruise they will use the credit card on file to charge your entire bill.
Ah i see ok, does the dining package have gratuity included or is that also extra?
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10 minutes ago, DocLC said:
I agree with your choice of ship. You can't go wrong with the Oasis or Allure, and I'm a big fan of Central Park having had a Central Park view cabin in January. Whether a balcony is worth it or not is a personal decision. When my son was younger and we cruised less, we would get a balcony as it proved to be a nice retreat especially when he napped. Now that he's older and we're out and about more, we opt for an inside unless there's a deal on balconies (e.g., within $100 pp or so) as we opt to save money to cruise more often. We've also been taking longer cruises in Europe where the price difference between balcony and non balcony cabins can be thousands of dollars.
You need to be back on board a half hour before sailing, but many of us recommend earlier for safety sakes since the ship won't wait for you. What do you want to do in the Bahamas? That will determine if you have enough time or not. For me, is my least favorite port. If you want to do something like Atlantis water park, then it's probably not enough time. If you want to snorkel, sight see, or go to a beach, you'll be fine.
I'm a big fan of the three night dinner package for the savings and 150 Central Park is my favorite restaurant on a Royal ship that I've tried this far. What is included and not is pretty clearly identified. I don't think many people realize that Johnny Rockets is complimentary for breakfast though.
Based on what you've said, the beverage package would be worth it and that's the one I get.
Thank you for both your help,I know my essay wasnt the easiest read! Some good points that you covered of mine and i appreciate that help.Im not sure what it is with the bahamas that excites me, Im from the uk so the Caribbean isnt a short trip unfortuntley but i have been to barbados and dominican on land holidays and i just imagine bahamas to be like barbados which i really liked, def snorkling and beach but would also like to see atlantis. I dont have much interest in haiti so thats why im kind of steering away from the other ares they go although cozamel would be nice to see. You say bahamas is your least fav port can you elaborate on why and what you fav ports are please? :)
10 minutes ago, DocLC said: -
Hi all, apologies in advance for the incoming wall of text :)
Myself and my wife really want to try out our first cruise, We keep chopping and changing between what RCL ships and also places to visit and also other named cruise liners and were really close to calling it a day lol!
Ideally we would like to travel on the allure or oasis and would like to go to Bahamas but the issue i see here is that the stop times at nassau is only 7am -2.30pm? can anyone advise if this is firstly long enough and also is it true you need to embark back on the ship 2 hours prior so that would make it 12.30pm??So because of the shorter port time in bahamas we then contemplate changing CL but then always come back to RCL as the ships look like they cater for what we want,i know there are other liners in RCL that go to bahamas but we are torn as we both really like the look of central park and the water show etc which isnt offered to my knowledge on the anthem which is one of the ships that does have a longer port time where we want to go.
I really dont know what it is about the anthem but something steers me away from it and really cant grasp what it is, what do you guys think?
So do you friendly bunch that have started cruising choose your ship as priority or place? Is the oasis class better then the Anthem?
Also the gratuity thing has me all confused also! is this paid at the end of your stay??
I dont drink alcohol but i drink a lot of water and occasional soft drink and was thinking about getting the refreshment package. would you say its worth it if for instance i was drinking a couple of litres of bottled water a day and a few cans of soda and some coffee??
dining packages, we would like to maybe eat in a special restaurant maybe twice or more on our possible 7-9 night stay, would you recommend getting the dining package or is it better just to pay on board at selected extra restaurants?
Is it also easy to determine on board whats free and included and whats not? i just fear being first timers were be using a mchne or something for drinks ad not actually being allowed to if that makes sense, also how do you what restaurants are included in the standard package.
lastly to my knowledge is a balcony room worth the upgrade as thats what were currently looking at, I also use a vaping device as i quit smoking 2 years ago, are these allowed to be used on the balcony and arround the ship?
thank you ever so much for your time and sorry its a very mixed bag of questions,
Dan
independence of the seas
in Royal Caribbean Discussion
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Thank you very much for your reply some great info there for us, asa for the deck 2 comment im really not sure where i got that from so thank you for letting me know, i dont however see the size of the room your advising anywhere? we would travel via balcony option but atm its £850pp extra for this!! and i really cant justify that price just for a balcony when we will hardly be in the room, thanks agin