Jump to content

Joe B

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    24

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Joe B

  1. Transfers from airport to pier

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Katiel53 said:

    Which port?

    Usually it is cheaper to use your own transfers.  We sail from Ft Lauderdale and use a cab and it's about $15 or so with a tip.  If you are sailing from Pt Canaveral, a shuttle is still cheaper than Royal Caribbean's transports.  Additionally, Royal Caribbean waits for their transportation, usually a bus, to fill up before going to/from the port.  Taxis or Uber don't have to do that.

    Thank You Katiel53.  I am not one for waiting for people I do not know.  We will be flying in to Seattle from Las Vegas for a cruise to Alaska on the Ovation of the Seas.  First time cruisers so we have lots of questions.

     

  2. Transfers from airport to pier

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    8 hours ago, Steve L said:

    I find using a car service is much cheaper. I've used Uber and Lyft....but out of Galveston I've used Galveston Limousine but don't let the name fool you. They have a fleet of buses that get you to and fro at a good price. Where are you going to?

    Flying in to Seattle for a cruise to Alaska in June 2019 for our 30th anniversary.  First time cruisers so we are a bit nervous. 

  5. MDR seating

    in Royal Caribbean Dining

    Posted

    15 hours ago, rjac said:

    Good for you Joe. One of the first things you do when you get on board, I recommend you go to the MDR and check out your assigned table. If the location is not to your satisfaction, ask to have it changed. You do not want to be seated near a service door (where the wait staff comes and goes with food orders, dirty dishes, etc) nor the main entrance. Not unless you enjoy a constant  parade of waiters, waitstaff and cruisers.:27_sunglasses:

    Thanks rjac

  6. MDR seating

    in Royal Caribbean Dining

    Posted

    38 minutes ago, Sabrinaklai said:

    Joe, I don't believe you can select traditional dining via the cruise planner. If that is the route you want to take you would either have to call your TA (if you used one) or call RC directly.

    E-Mailed Travel Agent and the dining has been changed to Traditional Dining with a 5:30pm reserved time. 

  7. MDR seating

    in Royal Caribbean Dining

    Posted

    21 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

    If you want traditional dining and have not selected it yet, I would get on that asap.  I have found from past experience that traditional dining fills up fast, even for cruises I booked almost a year out.

    The Cruise Planner tells me it is to early.

  8. MDR seating

    in Royal Caribbean Dining

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Orange Crush said:

    As first time cruisers, I recommend traditional dining.  You keep the same table and servers and I think it adds to the overall experience.  You don't also don't need to reserve  times with traditional dining, you have a fixed time and assigned table every night.

    Good advice. I like it when its structured.  

    Thank You

    O C

  10. MDR seating

    in Royal Caribbean Dining

    Posted

    7 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

    @Joe B, if you are booked in right now for MTD then I would keep an eye out on your cruise planner for dining to pop up.  It varies by ship and sailing but I have seen it as far as about 170 days out.  You can book all your dining then.  Shows usually open up after that so you might have to adjust your dining time a bit once the entertainment comes out.  Or just wing it and show up.  You'll still get a table, you just might have to wait a bit.

    If you are with a large group you might want to make reservations though just to be safe.

    There will be 4 of us so I don't anticipate a wait. By waiting I meant 1+ hours. 15 to 30 minutes is not bad. You have been a wealth of info.  Any tios on what to do once on board.  We will be at the dock at approx. 10:30am the day of the cruise.  Las Vegas to Seattle is a 2 hour + flight.

    Thank you again

    Joe B

  11. MDR seating

    in Royal Caribbean Dining

    Posted

    18 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

    Even if you reserve a time, there is sometimes a 5 min wait or so.  What ship?

    Ovation of the Seas. Our trip in not until June 2019. Ovation was sailing in China and Australia. Being reassigned to USA. We are trying to get a feel for cruising. 

    Joe B

     

    18 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

    Even if you reserve a time, there is sometimes a 5 min wait or so.  What ship?

    strailia. 

  18. Deluxe Drink Packages

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    10 hours ago, JLMoran said:

    At my peak drinking I will have no more than 4 beers a day or less. Probably 8 to 10 bottles of water between my wife and I per day.  Don't need the premium coffee part. But if my wife is in the mood for a Latte we could buy those coffees if needed.  I don't drink soda but my wife does and not that much.  I think overall we could just pay as we go and maybe spent $500 for the week for the both of us tops probably less. If we are lucky enough to get the $41/day packages we might check them out.

    Thank you for the tips.

    Joe B

     

     

    If you're only planning to have a few beers here and there, and don't expect to be having any wine, mixed drinks / umbrella-decorated beverages, espresso-based coffee beverages, or fresh-squeezed juice, then skipping the Deluxe Beverage Package might not be a bad idea. The package covers $12 or $13 per drink, and going by the menus others have posted the typical beer on board goes for $8 or $9. You'd have to drink a lot of beers and non-alchoholic "premium" beverages every day to hit a reasonable "break even" point vs. the typical daily price of the Deluxe package.

    At the lowest package price I've seen on Cruise Planner ($42 / day), that's something like 3 or 4 beers every day along with a couple each of premium coffees, bottled waters, and maybe a "mocktail" during the day or a fresh-squeezed juice or two with breakfast. That might be reasonable, depending on your beer drinking habits, preferences for those other beverages, and how much time you spend in the Alaskan ports / off the ship

    At the more-typical $55 / day, you're looking at 4 or 5 beers every single day along with those extra non-alcoholic premium items; I'd imagine that on a port-intensive trip like Alaska, that starts getting problematic.

     

  19. Deluxe Drink Packages

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    11 hours ago, Sabrinaklai said:

    Ever watch "The Lorax"?  lol.  That's what that last comment reminds me of.

    There is lots of debate over whether or not it is worth it.  We personally have gone with and without in the past.  Lately we have gone with it.  It is nice not having to keep tabs on drinks and have a constant supply of bottled water in our stateroom (we drink a lot of water so that alone makes it worthwhile for us).  And it's not just alcohol, it's all your premium coffee, smoothies (without protein powder), fresh juices.  @Matt wrote a piece about it just this past week for more info.

    https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/royal-caribbean-beverage-package-costs-info-tips

    With the changes now to the package, that every adult has to get one, we will likely reconsider yet again.  My husband doesn't really drink much of anything other than water so even the refreshment package doesn't make sense for him.  Another thing to consider is how long your cruise is.  A shorter cruise it might make more sense but with a long one, drink fatigue might set in as well.  Hope that helps a bit.

    Thanks for all the info.  We will be on a 7 day cruise to Alaska. Being from Las Vegas and having a dry climate we also drink lots of water. I drink 8-10 16oz bottles a day (especially in Summer). My wife might have a occasional glass of wine or a beer but drinks more water and soda.  I also read that you might get discounted Beverage Packages if you apply on line but that is controlled by the cruise line (which means never).  

×
×
  • Create New...