Bazza

Hi all

Had an email from RCI yesterday to advise that the itinerary for my 9 day cruise from Miami on Friday 13th January (always destined for something I guess!) has changed due to an engine issue causing speed limitations. 

My 5 day on her from 8th Jan is not impacted but I am sure other dates between now and then will be.

Will no longer be going to Puerto Rico, which is a pity as never been before, but I am guessing may be a bigger problem for people arriving into Miami same day of departure as it has been bumped from 5pm to 3.30pm so 90 mins less time to get to her.

Email below relates to this - hope others are not having to quickly rearrange their plans.

Merry Christmas from -3 degrees Wales, UK!

@Matt and @twangsterhave lots of fans on here....

Or just wear it and see how that is received!! 

Hi @HillaryG

Our first ever cruise was 27 days B2B on Ovation from Sydney and we had obstructed view cabin 6202. Loved the ship and the crew.

Pictures below of the views we had. Deck 7 should only be obstructed if looking directly down I guess!

Totally fell in love with cruising, and especially RCI, and we are jumping to Diamond this time next year having already booked B2B on Grandeur in Jan 23, Venice on Explorer Sept 23 and B2B on Oasis in Jan 2024. Addicted!

In the UK we get live games via Sky Sports as a paid for channel, but for me to watch that abroad on a mobile device (if the wi-fi is good enough!) I need to go via Surf Shark or similar VPN. I am sure the NFL network will be streaming all the matches and again may just need to go via a VPN? @twangsteris all things technology from my experience of his posts!!

Never been on Symphony but this is the deck plan for deck 16...2 bars quite close by so assume get drinks from there if you order?

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/gbr/en/cruise-ships/symphony-of-the-seas/deck-plans/2149/16

26 minutes ago, tjcruisers said:

Haven't been, but will be in 6 weeks. That's one port that many people seem to say "Don't get off the ship". I hear alot crime.

Did Colon back in February on Grandeur. Yes the port wasn't the prettiest (container ship central!) and the area surrounding it was not the prettiest but we arranged a private guide for the day and he was brilliant (Clemente from Tours By Locals).  Met us outside the gates, nice car, did so much in the 6 hours we had and were back in plenty of time. Day included private boat on the canal to see monkeys, sloths etc then into the city via the locks (where he worked as security), the old US forces bases and the beautiful Causeway. He also gave us a great history lesson and showed us the locations where 'things happened'. Was well worth getting out of the port IMO.  

37 minutes ago, AlohaLivin said:

It seems from your choices that you love beach days and if so this will a great cruise for you! What people complain about regarding Nassau and Jamaica has to do with issues such as the variety or quality of tour options, the port “feel,” and the reaction of locals to cruisers. But it doesn’t speak to the quality of the beaches, island views, and specific venues. I cruised with my parents in 60’s - 70’s and Nassau was one of the few destinations so I have visited it repeatedly; as @CanHardlyWaitmentioned, the negative feeling on Nassau is likely due to the fact that many of us have visited it a bit too often. Yet, I have had visits to Nassau that we truly enjoyed.  Don’t worry

Thank you 

Oh dear...!

I have B2B on Oasis in January 2024 with identical itineraries (booked it for some winter sun!) - both going to Nassau, Perfect Day, Labadee and Falmouth. 

Never been to any of these places (was considering Margaritaville for Nassau and RIU Resort for Jamaica) but suddenly wondering if worth it???!

All subjective comments I know but the fact so many negatives does make you wonder!! Gulp!

30 minutes ago, JNS123 said:

Hey yall, so I am going on first RCCL cruise this November and was curious to see what are all of your first cruise mistakes. Thanks

Biggest mistake would be not asking experts on here so top marks for you! 

Research research research, plan plan plan, so you can enjoy enjoy enjoy!!

59 minutes ago, whitsmom said:

It was amazing and wonderful.  We had perfect weather!!  We miss the Channel Islands due to the scheduling of the Locks in Amsterdam.  They have a low water issue right now and the ships have to be scheduled differently.  We got back into Amsterdam at 6 pm the night before disembarkation, we got to explore Amsterdam that night too with no set time to be back.  We went to Braveheart County and Stirling Castle in Edinburgh, Scotland; Dunrobin Castle in Iverness, Scotland (this was massive and beautiful and we also got to see a falconry demo there (which was a special treat), in Glasgow, Scotland we went to Glengoyne Distillery (bought some 18 year old whisky) and we went to the Greyabbey ruins.  We did the scenic tour Belfast Northern Ireland and walked around Donaghadee Harbour, in Cork (Cobh) Ireland we a city tour and had an Irish Coffee tasting,  in Dover England we toured Dover Castle (massive - I walked 29 flights of stairs! and we went to Canterbury Cathedral - huge and beautiful!!! and the port was in eye sight of the White Cliffs of Dover (amazing).  In Liverpool we went to Chester Catherdral and walked all around Beatle country.  You need to do this one!!!

Sounds awesome.

The only downside is you didn't get to beautiful Wales. 

Excuse to come back I guess!

26 minutes ago, CrimsonCruiser said:

Congratulations! We finished our make-it-to-Diamond cruise on 8/28 and it was made official yesterday.

Next cruise....August 2024 (taking a cruising break to do an international land vacation next year)

Wow - congrats. Sounds exciting!!! Safe travels! 

Congrats!!! We have 14 days on Grandeur in January to push us to 69 and still in Emerald so booked a JS for 7 day cruise next September to jump us to Diamond before Oasis in Jan 24 to benefit!

#addictedtoRCI  

20 minutes ago, twangster said:

Most cruise ports have a separate queue for Suites and Pinnacles outside of the terminal before security.  Some terminals only have a Suite/Pinnacle queue once past security.  Sydney is an exception and there is no priority for Suites or Pinnacle.  Only Star Class has priority in Sydney.  

Often at the actual check in point (past security) there will be a different area for Suites and Pinnacle.  This varies by port how it is implemented.  Ask if you don't see any signs.  

Many terminals have a separate seating area in the terminal for Suites and Pinnacle if you arrive before the ship has commenced boarding.  

Hey @twangster does this include JS?

Thanks

11 minutes ago, Bazza said:

If you pre-order the water package (12 or 24 bottles or cans) it works out much cheaper.... 

Well not cheaper than the free water but you know what I mean!!

If you pre-order the water package (12 or 24 bottles or cans) it works out much cheaper.... 

2 hours ago, twangster said:

I am curious how much Royal's arm was twisted by Musk to avoid legal issues related to when Harmony forced SpaceX to scrub a lunch.  I doubt we'll ever know.

Must have been a very expensive 'lunch'!!!  

10 hours ago, new2cruzing said:

I also booked this for my upcoming Ovation of the Seas 9/9 sailing. Sold out in a day so considering myself lucky. Looking forward to seeing how things run behind the scenes. 

Did the Ovation one a few years ago on our very first cruise. Really interesting to see behind the scenes and it really makes you realise the amount of work that goes unseen. 

Hats off to the staff working so we can have a great holiday/vacation*

*Delete as applicable!

24 minutes ago, Katiemay said:

The Kids and I will be cruising to Cozumel April 2023 and I already know I will be doing a cruise in July 2023 out of Northampton, England. It's a very short 3 months in  between. Do I go ahead and book the Northampton cruise now or wait and book while on the boat in April and hope for a heck of a deal? Is there some magic unknown thing where I book it now and talk with them while on the cruise and I get some perk I wouldn't have gotten without talking to them (I know, wishful thinking)?

Keeping in mind I will need to book flights before hand, I would hate to wait, book the flight, try to book the cruise while on the boat in April and miss out on the July cruise. I may have just answered my own question but any insight would be greatly appreciated!

Kate

Hey Kate

I hope you mean Southampton as Northampton is about 130 miles from the coast  

Enjoy wherever you are starting from!!

8 hours ago, Paid4c4 said:

We just returned from Adventure of the Seas on Saturday, August 27, 2022.  We have discussed our trip and both agree salt air makes clothing shrink!

Bill

100%. Even clothes you leave in the cabin and don't wear shrink!

Despite the walls being lined with something to block out the wi-fi the salt air gets through! 

Maybe just a glitch in the matrix, I mean a temporary fault in the UK version!

Thanks @KristiZ and @WAAAYTOOO 

Hi.

I have 2 B2Bs booked on Grandeur from Miami in January (5 nights from 8th and 9 nights from 13th). Was going to have a look at the current prices and cabin availability and the actual sailings are no longer visible! However, they are both still showing in my bookings.

The only date shown for GOTS in Jan is 9 nights from 27th!!

Is it 'normal' for dates to be removed temporarily or should I be looking at other options?! 

Thanks!

Had Joff on my very first cruise(s) on Ovation - he was brilliant!

His #2 was a blonde lady (Dutch I think - wish could remember her name) but they were superb together. 

33 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

CruisePlum is a great cruise search tool. They have a new suite search feature where you can drill down to the specific ships and room types you are seeking!

Good shout - very good search site - thanks @AshleyDillo - although I have to pretend to live in North America when searching!! 

Hi @SewerUrchin43 

My Grandeur sailing in January from Miami does not specify a particular brand just says 'bottles' until you go to order then it says '12 or 24 cans'!

My planner for Explorer from Venice next September states San Benedetto cans - not sure if just an Italian thing though???

As I go for the refreshment package I never order the bottles/cans as can get as I go and they have always been bottles when ordered from bars or when getting off the ship and the sparkling has been San Pellegrino. I do not recall ever having their own RCI H2O.

I am sure somebody ( @twangster@Matt etc) will know each brand by ship by port by day!! 

Enjoy the cruise!