Mrs. RoyalMoyal

On 4/16/2021 at 8:13 PM, Mrs. RoyalMoyal said:

I was not able to pick seats... I'll ask Sharla for help. On Monday. I don't have to bother her with this on a Friday night!! It's a December flight, there is no hurry.

Sharla (MEI) took care of it! I did not pester her until yesterday afternoon, this morning it was all done. Like magic.

I was not able to pick seats... I'll ask Sharla for help. On Monday. I don't have to bother her with this on a Friday night!! It's a December flight, there is no hurry.

I've seen it. I almost got out of the Flowrider line to go do it, but when I realized it wasn't arrows I stayed in the flowrider line. It was on the sports court on Oasis. It looked like the participants were having a grand time. 

12 hours ago, WannaCruise said:

We're on that same xmas cruise.  Why are you thinking Odyssey is a go while Anthem in not?  Because of departure port?  One plus I'm thinking for Anthem is that the ship will already have crew (but NJ may be a negative with cases).

Yes, departure port. And a hunch.....

We were home this year for Christmas, not in the Diamond Lounge playing cards. We had a live tree and everything. Church, big dinners, and presents. We do that on the ship too - but less presents. I may end up heading north to Lake Placid for a few nights instead. Gotta love & embrace winter to do that!

We only booked kids sail free ONCE. On the Summit, 13 years ago. AND they had to be in the room with us as 3rd & 4th berths, AND not on a holiday. It was a very reasonably priced trip... with Celebrity (sorry)!! We may see the offer again when ships can be filled, and then only if the bookings are low. 

5 "ish". We have FCC "floating" from one year ago, we lifted and shifted Anthem in April of 2021 to 2022. We will wait to apply the FCC to whichever cruise is most likely to  happen first. Odyssey is hopeful, Anthem in December??? That one I am not so sure about. 

Odyssey Dec 2021, solo trip - I have a hotel reserved and used ChoiceAir to book a refundable flight. 

Anthem Dec 2021, family Christmas cruise

Odyssey Feb 2022 - hubby gets to go on solo trip

Anthem April 2021, family

Allure April 2022, first and second week... refundable deposits on both weeks, school schedule will pick the week for us and we will cancel one week when we know - so no Junior Suite for Easter 2022. Refundable deposits are the new "norm" in our house!! Prices usually just go up and up, and we prefer adjoining rooms. 

Meanwhile, in upstate New York we will go camping and fishing multiple times this summer. We just have to stay on our side of the St. Lawrence River! 

In Northern New York it is an insult to receive a tip in Canadian dollars (or one loonie) egads.... but it is also way easier to just spend Canadian dollars in Canada. Like twangster said, the crew will be pleased with anything extra received. 

We had the Key on Freedom and enjoyed lunch in Chops on Embarkation day. But that was in April 2019.. when the Key was a great value. $1.50 more than VOOM stream and surf, (It was 19.99 each pp/pd) 4 extra hours on the flowrider, 2 hours on the ice rink, great show seating, and walked to customs from debarkation breakfast. The Key has evolved.. but it was great that week!

No. But to each their own.. I would have to miss work for at least 14 days, so it will not happen soon.

Another vote for Embassy Suites, it suits families well. They do have parking and shuttle service, but we park at the port. It is fabulous to just walk to the car, and go home. It's a long enough drive that I do not want that journey to be longer. 

On 12/25/2020 at 5:10 PM, mworkman said:

Did you get a time machine for Christmas? Back to the Past! It’s catchy

 2021... lord have mercy! yes, we look forward to next Christmas, and we are in the process of lift-and-shifting Easter... thanks to Sharla at MEI. She is great!

I hope we can be at sea for the Holidays in 2001, because we are booked! 

Hotel Casablanca is nice. We usually stay in a "family suite" with two bedrooms, one with a king bed and the other with two twins. It is great that my spoiled teenagers do not have to share a bed, and I sleep better not in the same room, but same suite as my family. I think Matt the blogmaster agrees on this!!

It's not a Hilton. It is a small, local place, so go in there with that attitude and you will be happy. They have tiny, windowless rooms, rooms with windows, and suites with terraces. We will stay there again. No closets... but it is a night or two before a cruise, so I do no unpack. Many places nearby for all meals, from $ to $$$$, and shopping from typical port stuff, pharmacies, grocery stores, and Marshalls for forgotten items. Church, museums, and parks nearby too.

We have also stayed in the Sheraton Old San Juan, even when it was the Wyndham, it's nice, cold, and has that big hotel feel. We have stayed in the Conando district at what was the Wyndham, and at La Verdanza. Both are fine, and it beach is what you want, or a place to stay before a very early flight.

I like Casablanca the best. But hotels are like food, tastes vary.

I would not want to deal with the hassle of parking in Old San Juan. Uber or taxi both work fine.

Wear your walking shoes!

Ahh... Old San Juan. I can just see the Christmas Decorations now!!

A meeting of the minds...  

I agree with Annette, call again. You may get a different (worse or better) answer. If you like the answer, act on it! Good luck

The cruises we have booked have all gone up; Junior Suites for 4 or solo cruises... but I HAVE saved about $300.00 on excursions, total because of excursion prices going down. Cococay Cabana, and a solo excursion in Jamaica. When I am alone, I prefer to be on a ship excursion. 

Yes, for minors, both parents/guardians (or some kind of permission from an ex) and the child need to go apply for a passport renewal, at the county clerk, on a weekday between 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM. It's a minor inconvenience...  at least in the county and state we live in. I picked my son up early from school to do this, and the secretary gave me "the look" when I told her why we were taking him out of school 15 minutes early. 

We had the same itinerary you are inquiring about, my son's passport was to expire 5 months after the cruise. I worried about the same issue; but it was not a problem. This was BEFORE Covid.....

http://anthemoftheseas.blogspot.com/2014/12/blog-post_86.html

Nice descriptions of rooms, and an overlay of obstructed view over the deck below. It's a neat site...

Sharla has been great, from before this whole pandemic and through it. Awesome, because with extended family trips Sharla handles everything, NOT ME! She assists everyone with booking, helps with airlines if needed, answers questions.... all in a timely manner. 

No flowrider, no cruise. I will wait.

Thank you for the number to call, I am in the same "boat" with  OBC floating out there in cyberspace, it can be moved to one of my future sailings. 

Cats!

I am really glad I am not booked on her until December of 2021!  

We have teenagers, so we tend to cruise over holidays, Christmas twice, Easter 6 times, and Thanksgiving once.

• It will feel the most crowded just after muster. Either be the first one out of your muster station, or wait and take the stairs to wherever you are heading. 
• Have some family photos taken, you only have to buy one if you like it! It's all digital now, so no wasted paper. 
• Holiday sailings tend to have more families, a younger crowd, and less whiners... just be ready. You could have 1,500 under 18 on board!
• Bumper Cars, Day 1, right after lunch. Short(ish) lines. 
• Same with the Flowrider, go on Day 1, sign waivers, take the boogie test. 
• Board early. My goal is arrive at 10:30... 
• Look for and attend the Christmas/Holiday/New Year's concert held by the entertainment staff. This tends to be late. Like at 10:00 PM. It is well done!
• Attend church or Mass on Christmas, if you want - it will be offered. Look in the Compass.

We will build a concrete patio and replace some outdoor steps with the incentive. We will do some of the work ourselves, and hire a mason and a carpenter for the "fancy" work. Some things are best done by professionals.

But we are using our 125% FCC to be in a JS instead of obstructed view balcony on Anthem in one year, along with extended family in a JS as well. We will enjoy dinners at Coastal Kitchen, and we can all board the ship together (not everyone is Diamond!!) Overall, it will be much more enjoyable a year from now than it would have in current circumstances. 

We had a cabana booked in Cococay for next week, for $349.00. It is $999.00 for one year from now, so I am checking frequently (too frequently) for a price drop on any beach-side cabana at Cococay. I received the full refund for all excursions and wifi last week, for this year's April 5th cancelled cruise. I don't expect to see the FCC email for at least another week, and as we already have deposits paid for next year's trip, it should all work out.