twangster

1 minute ago, Pooch said:

So I'm guessing complaining to RCCL will not change the embarkation or departure time.  BUT, perhaps an argument for better compensation could be made?  I agree that cutting the first day on a 5 day cruise by that much really negates the value of the drink package for that day.  Do you think I'd be out of line asking to have the package dropped from 5 days to 4?  Or more OBC?

Never hurts to ask. 

As someone who flys to cruise this would be pretty inconvenient if you are not local. 

Typical hotel check out time is 11am.  That works with a normal embarkation.  Having to kill 4-6 hours with luggage and no place to go is a pain.  

My first proper cruise was on the Radisson Diamond, the first and only SWATH cruise ship in the world.  At 18,500 tons and 350 passengers it seemed pretty big to me!   We brought our own beer and wine boarding in San Juan.  Our cooler tipped over going through the X-Ray machine covering the belt in ice cold water.  Security didn't say a word.   Lilly Tomlin was the comedian.

She is now a gambling ship in China (Hong Kong) now and you can see here on the Apple TV screen saver:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCdiGmNlp1I

and at night

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU2LQmFgSAE

Going back farther to the late 80's I was on the Disko, a cargo ship converted to a passenger ship.  At 2,100 tons she was small.  Passengers bunks were in the former cargo holds at the very front.  We cruised down Sonderstom Fjord in Greenland which was breath taking.  A lot of my friends drank and drank (I didn't have that much).  Once we hit the North Atlantic having left the narrow fjord where it was smooth, the open North Atlantic was rough.  Very rough.  It was so rough that my head was lifted of my pillow and was thrown back down into the bed as we rode over every wave.  I couldn't sleep all night.  I was very glad I had limited my consumption.  My friends not so much and the combination of alcohol and sea sickness made them all turn very pale. 

http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=838706

First Royal Caribbean cruise was on the Oasis of the Seas.   Prior to Oasis I had sailed Carnival, Disney and NCL.  Since Oasis I've been Loyal2Royal.

Great photos.

How much post do you do on your photos?  Is the noise level of the night shots straight out of the camera or have you tweaked noise levels?

New solo policy.  All cabins are now solo.  

Just kidding

Booked 3 more!

Or should I say Jacki at MEI Travel will convert three holds into bookings whenever the RCI system is back up from its overnight maintenance.

With these three new bookings I've sailed or am scheduled to sail (with a booking) on every ship in the current fleet. 

I'll deal with Spectrum once her schedule becomes available.  Might have to save up for a suite on that ship to experience the rumored suite only areas.

All of my bookings involve a travel agent.

8 minutes ago, Wilson said:

Group Cruise is less than 3 weeks away. Please save and share your Cruise Compass if you are on Explorer now or in the next two weeks. 

Currently the most recent on the site is from July 2017. I am sure our sailing will be very similar to what is posted, but would love to have the most recent. Noticed that the forecast each day was in the 50' last year and that the Flowrider was open! Better pack my wetsuit. LoL

Just drink 3 Kraken Lavaflows, then 50° will seem warm!

I'm due to visit on the September 17th Mariner sailing.  No communication yet but I have long suspected we'll be tendering.

Interesting they show distinct departure times on day 1, like it will spend the night at sea and dock again in the morning. 

When I've overnight-ed in other ports, no departure time is listed on the 1st day in port.

I guess they don't want guests roaming around in the dark.

Website was supposed to be back up by 9am ET.

Maintenance has been extended to 12pm ET.

I'm expecting great things Royal Caribbean!

34 minutes ago, Traveler said:

Trying to add the new cruise to my account seem to be the most problematic part now , amazing (or maybe the fact I am still amazed that something is not working with RC site is the amazing part) 

I usually give it 24 hours.  Sometimes I can add them right away but many times I just do it the day after.

I noted on Adventure last month, like on Freedom class, there are loungers as Matt illustrated above that are roped of for "Gold Card" (GS Suites and above).  I'm assuming Mariner does as well.   Not exactly a suite sun deck like on OA/QU class but it's something.

True to their word, Royal has refunded my $450 deposit

Things that make you go... hmmmm

Just now, JLMoran said:

Moment tele lens to the rescue! 

With a 300mm zoom lens on my (real) camera, this is the view from my port balcony during a normal sail away

49 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

Interesting. Don’t remember if it was here on the message boards or a podcast episode, but I’d swear I remember reading/hearing that port side was the better side to have your room for the overall view. Maybe it was just in the context of “if you plan to stay in your room and watch sail-away from your balcony”.

It does.  Just be aware that Manhattan and the Statute of Liberty will be in the distance, not up close.  Starboard will have no views in that direction based on a normal sail away.

If the Port Authority authorizes a harbor tour at sail away, port side will have awesome view of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  

Is the ship the destination or are the ports the destination?  Which is more important?

I get the feeling the ship is holding you back from choosing the Greek cruise.  As you have noted the smaller ship is required to get into some of those ports. 

Last year I sailed on Allure in May then my next ship was Grandeur.  Mega to small.  I loved Grandeur.  It's a wonderful ship.  It's only considered a small ship by Royal Caribbean standards.  By the measure used by all other cruises lines, having ~2,000 guests is not a small ship. 

The Greek Islands are on my bucket list and I'd have no hesitation sailing Vision class ships so I know what I'd do, but this is your vacation.  Follow your gut. 

Hello, my is Twangster, and I've booked cruises today.

Yes, like buying a drink at a bar, 18% gratuity is added to a massage.  Tipping extra, like at a bar, is at your discretion.

Nice!  Great way to celebrate Diamondness!

I work with Jacki York from MEI Travel. 

In fact I'm about to email her with a dilemma I've created for myself on a different direct booking.  Sorry Jacki

Just now, Lovetocruise2002 said:

@twangster is a REALLY bad influence...and this is coming from someone who others call a bad influence 

My evil plan is working!

Oh, and welcome to the message boards!

Go for it, but don't be surprised if they chuckle and politely decline. 

NextCruise isn't what it used to be, at least in my experience.  With so many sales and promos every few weeks Next has become hit or miss.  Now if I see what I perceive to be a good price, I book it even if I have a cruise next week. 

Be aware, Next is only non-refundable deposits now. 

In January I sat at Next while I had my regular travel agent on the phone held up to my ear.  Right there I shopped them, got their best price, asked my agent, took three steps away from Next and booked a refundable fare to NZ cheaper through my agent than Next non-refundable with their OBC factored in.  Plus no $450 deposit.  Same cabin, same sail date. 

YMMV.

14 minutes ago, Todd W said:

looks to me as though the FULL Day pass covers everything except the balloon ride as best as i can tell.   i'm figuring possibly not the zip line either.    That being said, i found it funny that a half day pass was $39.00 and the full was $44 a mere $5 bucks more.   Seems to me as though it's almost forcing everyone to buy the day pass 

I've seen this trend on other similar excursions like the dragon coaster at Labadee. One ride $26, all day pass $35.

The Labadee zip line has always been on its own so not surprised this one is as well. 

I wouldn't be surprised if the different between 1/2 day water park and full day water park become bigger.  However if there is an hour wait for a water slide and you only have a 1/2 day pass, there will be lots of complaints, bad social media coverage. 

Royal is famous for watching sales trends and adjusting prices.  If too many people gobble up the $44 pass, it will increase in price.  Basic supply and demand.  Demand goes up, prices go up.

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2018/06/01/royal-caribbean-opens-perfect-day-cooccay-excursion-bookings

With pricing, at least for some of it.