craig403

2 hours ago, masterdrago said:

Been poking around looking at air fares to Fairbanks from Houston and then from Seattle to Houston. Have folks found that the lowest prices guarantee of Air2Sea is really lower? I'm not seeing that. It looks like the best time to book flights is 90 days b4 cruise (lowest fares).

Below are the terms of air2sea.  Note the highlighted portions.   What it means to me is that after booking, I have to find the lower fare.  Base fare meaning no upgrade to main cabin extra and the fare has to be available for me to purchase.  My very big reason for booking with them is their guarantee to get me to the ship if I fly in day of cruise.  Keep in mind that the 90 day suggestion may or not work.  If you want the flight, seat, or class you should book sooner than later.  We booked RT DFW-SEA business class several months ago and at the time it was less than AA.  Recent checking indicates that what I paid is only $20 difference.   I'm happy...

Royal Caribbean AIR2SEA; Low Fare Guarantee ensures you will enjoy the lowest available rate on your base airfare when you book with AIR2SEA. If you find a lower fare within 24 hours of booking, you will receive 110% of the difference applied to your cruise booking as an onboard credit to spend onboard. The lower price must be available for purchase. 

Thanks Dawn.  I found a 3 page discussion on CC about the noise.  Most have said cabins on the starboard side of the hump are much better than the port side due to the wall between cabins and elevators.  Anyway, we are booked for November 2019 transatlantic, 15 cabins down from the centrum.  

  Currently booked on the Brilliance in cabin just off the centrum. We were on the Vision (near the elevator) and the noise on deck 7 was LOUD!  Does anyone have any Brilliance experience in a cabin near the centrum on deck 7?    Is it still loud on deck 9?  Any help is appreciated.

Thanks everyone.  I was leaning toward Brilliance also for some of the same reasons as well as never having been on her.   

As @Matt said, think about Costa Rica.  We have been to costa Rica 5 times on land trips to different parts of the country.  Love the country and the people.  If you want all inclusive try the Riu hotel in the Guanacaste region.  If you want open end travel, look at "All Around Costa Rica" travel guides.  

Want to see pictures?  Come see us in Allen. 

Returning to Port of Miami we used ship transfer to MIA.  After about a 20 minute bus ride we pulled into the airport to find long lines outside for baggage check in.  After 2 weeks of standing in lines waiting for things it was like "Oh, look...A line...Lets go stand in it."  We had never done outside check in before and It wasn't bad except for the rookie cruiser in front of us that had to re-pack two bags at the counter because one was over weight.  When we got to the counter the guy informed us that we could go upstairs to AA where they would check us in or stay here and check our bags where a gratuity was strongly suggested.  WHAT???  As I said, we had never done outside check in so this was rather a shock.  Ok, we were already into this process so I give the guy two bucks and said goodbye to our bags.  We had a three hour wait for our flight and then three hours to DFW.  Not bad until we landed at terminal C, DFW.  I get a text saying our our bags had come in on an earlier flight and to check at baggage office.  The nice man in terminal C said we could find them at baggage office,,,,in terminal A.  Anyway, we had a great 2 weeks so this is just another travel story.  We all have them.  :-)  It's a good chance we will not be using outside check in again.

My wife wears nice black flip flops.  She can't wear heels because she has a surgical pin in her ankle.  No one has ever said a thing.

I wear bling flip-flops with a nice jacket and slacks.  

Naw,,,,JK.  :-)   But I wouldn't be surprised to see someone like that.   

12 days to the Liberty 

@monctonguy mentioned the number of cabins the stateroom attendant cleans in a day.  When we were on the Carnival Breeze last month (don't ask), the attendant meet us after getting to our room.  He stated that we needed to tell him when we wanted our room cleaned and our options were morning, nightly, or twice a day and to tell him approximately what time he was to clean.  We thought it was strange until we questioned about it.  He said that he used to clean 25 rooms a day but that Carnival had up the count to 35 a day and he would appreciate it if he could only do our room once a day.   I thought 25 was a bunch, but 35!  Wow.  25 rooms X 20 minutes? = 8.3 hours  For those who are math challenged. :-) 

Ok, maybe they only spend 10 minutes if no ones's home at the time.  

Our routine is to stay at either Best Western or Comfort Suites at the airport the night before cruise.  They run about $200 for one night.  No restaurants nearby but we order a Pizza Hut delivered which is just down the street.  Works for us. 

Oh, and they both have shuttles from airport to hotel and from hotel to pier.  

It depends.  I normally will keep control of ticket purchase if we fly the day before the cruise.  If we fly the day of the cruise I like to purchase through RCI because if flights get changed RCI will (sometimes) take care of getting me to the ship.  At least they did the last time we had flight problems.   I will only do "day of" if this is for West coast cruises because we have a built in 2 hour cushion from Texas.

Then we have to decide on AA economy, preferred seating, main cabin extra, or business.  If the flight is over 4 to 4 1/2 hours it's going to be business class but only if the difference between main cabin extra and business is within $300 or so for two tickets.  Nonstop.  

Of course that all changes if I purchase tickets using AA miles which then it doesn't matter when I buy the air.  :-)  

I totally understand the pain of airfare.  We booked DFW to MIA last November.  Economy, preferred seating for $500 each on AA for an April flight.  I looked this morning and the fare has gone up to $686 each for a three hour flight.  

1 hour ago, monctonguy said:

Damn...I was on Navigator and never saw that...would have been something to check out for sure!

Are they talking about the short stairway in front of the fitness center to overlook the navigational bridge of the Voyager Class ships?  That's the only class that I know of.  Most of the time you will not see anyone there anyway and you think, "Who's driving?".   :-)   

Don't forget about the $10 watch sale.  My wife buys one every year because it's cheaper than buying new watch batteries.  Me, I don't wear one.  My wife tells me where to go and when.  :-)  

 Yep.  We gave up asking for a topper.  They kept trying to add a couple of mattress pads to the bed and that never worked.  We take two large suitcases.  One for clothes and the other for a foam topper.  We only take a double bed foam topper which is enough to put sideways across the middle of the bed.  Don't really need it for head and feet.  Also the foam topper provides cushion for the two bottles of wine we take.  :-)  

The only thing I can add to that is: 

You do not need to request a boarding time.  

Sorry you were disappointed with the price.  I don't think there is much you can do about it.  You seem to have a good attitude about it though.

My wife purchased a ring on one of our cruises.  I think it was only $25 or $30.  After a couple months the gold started to wear off.  On our next cruise on a different ship, we took it back to the store.  (they all sell similar stuff)   The store manager listened to our story, grinned, and said "You got it wet didn't you".  She also said "don't even think about getting soap on it".  After we all had a good laugh she exchanged it for us after we promised not to tell anyone.

Jack and Doctor doesn't even sound good.    

A noon flight and on Thanksgiving weekend is somewhat risky.  As RB mentioned, check with guest services and ask for an early group or maybe bribe someone to change with you.     Also check on getting either separate or small group transfer to FLL.  RCI transfers are ok except they wait until the bus is full before leaving for the airport.  If your short on time you might not want to wait that long. 

Also you might want to work on that over packing.  My wife gets upset with me for only taking 3 pairs of underwear and a couple of shirts.  I tell her "Pffft, I'm not going to see these people again".     

Ask in the liquor store on the ship if they will match the price you find in town.  You will need to take a picture of the bottle with the posted price showing.  I have done this on two occasions.  Must be the same item of course.  Also you should know your local prices for 1L  bottles.  It may not be enough of a difference to lug all those bottles home.  Especially if your flying.  

Most of the time the Vet discount and the C&A discount and the sale discount are never combinable.  In other words, you have to pick which discount is the better deal if you have the option.  Sometimes you may get OBC thrown in.  You always have to look at your options.              

You'll get to see this cool machine!   

And you will get the suite perks!