mom2mybugs

Hi, My husband and I are doing 8pm dining on our June Rhapsody cruise because most of the sail aways are at 5 or 6pm and we'd like to enjoy them before heading to a show or dinner. However, embarkation is at 8pm out of San Juan. We really want to enjoy the nighttime sailaway by El Morro and old San Juan but it absolutely conflicts with the 8pm dining. I don't want to screw up the waiter or the table (we are going to request a 2 top, but if we don't get one...). How late is too late before we punt and just do windjammer? Jane

Ok another question... When exactly should you send the request? I heard above that 17 days was perfect! I'm at 29 and just don't want to send too early or late!! Jane

I caved and got the key. It won't really give me anything other than the chops lunch because we are on Rhapsody, but I'm thinking it will get me on the ship an hour earlier and for the little I paid, it's worth it. And we've never done the MDR chops welcome lunch and aren't doing any specialty dining this trip so it will be a fun treat! When does the email come telling me exactly what time the key boards? I have the key emblem on my sea pass card but my boarding time is still by original 12. Jane

We were on Majesty going to Cuba. The only reason we were on that ship was for Cuba, and I'd have rather had them cancel it when we weren't allowed to sail there. We ended up with horrible weather on a very tiny ship and got switched to Nassau. It wasn't a win. We still made lemonade outta lemons, but I'd have been happy with a cruise credit for sure. But this is a very unique case...Though I'm starting to sail more smaller ships for itinerary not ship. Jane

I hid 10 the last time I was on Harmony in super easy areas and on the edge of the sidewalk in CP. It was fun to try and hide it when no one was there. I have yet to find one of these "hundreds" of ducks though. I have heard people say they've seen crew throw them out, but that's not anything I've witnessed. I will keep looking until they are banned but will continue to hide only a few. Jane

Yeah I remember asking you how strenuous you thought it might be! I will definitely let you know how it goes! Jane

They just may not be up yet. We are headed there in June on rhapsody and going on a “rainforest hike and beach”. There are 21 different things listed (some repeats at different times or different combos). Jane

I’ve never even thought about requesting location…just the 2-top. Now I will definitely add on window or edge near railing. I hated being smooshed in between a bunch of other 2 -tops. They might just as well sat us together they were that close. Jane

Yep... They cancelled their ports and are heading right to Vancouver. It will be fine by 2025 is my mantra! Jane

Would you recommend Pompeii if you haven’t done it? We will be doing this port for the first time next June and was thinking Pompeii…. Jane

I really hope to stay in one of these rooms at some point. I was planning on them for our 2025 grad cruise on voyager until my kid convinced me to do the corner aft balcony! Jane

Our caymon excursion got cancelled due to weather and I’m still hoping to swim with the rays someday! Jane

We are doing Alaska on radiance in 2025 and I’m so excited for the movie theater! And all the windows…. Jane

I did the thermal pass on harmony. The showers were next to the chairs and absolutely private. I don’t remember the doors/curtains so I don’t remember soundproofing, but I don’t remember feeling someone would walk in. Jane

Graduation cruise! The baby of the family is graduating and we are doing a girls cruise. We did (well tried) a Cuba cruise for the oldest, only to have Cuba close down a month before we sailed. We let the graduate pick her destination this time as well, and this is it! The travelers are Madison, the happy grad, her big sister Morgan, myself, my good friend Ag, and the girls’ Aunt Kathy. We got a bit carried away and decided if we were going to be on an older ship, let’s do something fun! So while we have an interior cabin, we also have cabin 7388…an aft corner balcony! I’m planning on sleeping outside every night and drinking champagne on that balcony every sail away! Our itinerary is Rome, Naples (omg…Pompeii?), Sicily (Messina), cruising (only 1 sea day will be tough on me!), Kotor (Montenegro), Dubrovnik, Split and disembark in Ravenna. Now we decide how long we stay in Florence (pre-cruise) and Venice (post cruise)! This is my second of 3 cruises planned and I will be at 78 point…almost to diamond free drinks! Jane

I was on at 11 for 12 ship time rhapsody out of San Juan in June. 12-123was the earliest I could get. Now the ship sails at 8pm, so that really legit could be the first time. It feels late though. Jane

I’m glad to hear all the opinions, as we have been considering a celebrity cruise. I watched an Emma cruises video and she also mentioned the issue of light in the room…you can’t have an early riser be on the balcony (on a reg. Balcony cabin) but instead it causes a light issue if one person wants to be “outside” in the virtual balcony room. That’s a game changer if we are spending money on a balcony room with the expectation my early waking husband won’t wake me up! Jane

Oh this would be very cool…we are sailing on her in July of 2025 and doing an interior to save money for excursions. We will be spending a lot of time on the deck! Jane

I couldn’t take it…I would be so depressed. We decided not to do it in Barcelona and instead took a royal excursion. Our San Juan cruise in June though is one I really wish we had the option to stay. Our flight is at 330, so too early to spend money on a day pass somewhere, and too late to avoid hours at the airport. We discovered city lockers in Paris recently that you could put your luggage into for a few hours. Does anyone know if San Juan has anything like this near the port? Jane

We did xl Ubers over spring break in France and here because 4-5 people and their luggage wasn’t gonna work. It averaged about $20-30 more than the regular. You can see cost on Ubers app by doing a mock viewing. Jane

Yeah... It was only $3 more than the internet, but that adds up. Debating if the chops lunch is worth the extra $21/person. There's really no other key benefit other than the early stages. For me, I love being on quick because I'm so excited to start the cruise... It's more excitement than stress. Jane

Do you know what time the key would be? Jane

Yeah I vaguely remember that. Thanks! Jane

Good to know...I will keep checking back! Jane

All checked in. Used the barcode trick to see our room, even though technically still listed as guarantee. Hoping our royal up gets accepted on something, since deck 2 middle of the ship is about as far from anything as you can get, and I'm worried about being that low and odor issues. Jane