spiralqueen

On 7/25/2018 at 12:51 PM, twangster said:

Yes, the name of the port in Ft Lauderdale is Port Everglades.

The port is mixed use for cargo, tankers and cruise ships.  Port Everglades is a major fuel port where fuel is offloaded from tanker ships and stored in tanks from it is distributed throughout South Florida.  Because of this security is stepped up from other cruise ports where you can just drive to the terminal.  You'll need to stop at a a security check point, show ID and they'll likely ask to look in your trunk so be prepared to pop it open.  It's not a big deal but catches some people off guard.

The port area is pretty big with a number of terminals spread out.  They have overhead signs indicating which ship is using which terminal but there is also a Port Everglades app that can be used to learn which terminal you will be using.  There are a couple of different entrances and one has to cross train tracks that can be slow when a slow moving train is using the tracks.  

For clarification, the port in Miami is called the "Port of Miami" or POM and is located on Dodge Island.  Distinctly different than PEV or Port Everglades ~28 miles or so up the coast in between Hollywood, FL and Fort Lauderdale.

Ohh I'm very happy I read this because this never would have occurred to me about a security checkpoint. As you said, it's not a big deal, but it definitely would have thrown me. 

@KathyC aka KathLuvsGH Thank you! That has great information about upgrade schedule too which is something I wanted to track. 

@accio7  Ohhh yes that is very close to what I would put together in form if I were to do it myself and a great start. I'm starting to think that it might be a good idea to spend the time and put it together myself as well so I know it's updated and also includes the things I care about that some others might not (ship size/passenger count, escape room, panoramic room & mystery dinner theater come instantly to mind). 

I was also thinking of doing it in a form much like that, but with collapsible groupings so if someone didn't care about, say, the stateroom categories offered they could easily skip it, but if they want to know more, they could expand that section and look at it in detail. 

So in my poking around trying to get to know the RCI fleet, it seems like information about the ships is rather scattered and a bit difficult to digest. Is there any sort of resource you guys know of that is a bit of a stats comparison of the different ships all on one page? Like a spreadsheet or just general chart that shows things like which ships have broadway shows, slides, XYZ specialty restaurant, panoramic view stateroom, when their last refurb was, etc? (Not asking for answers to those particular examples right now) I think something like that would be supremely helpful for figuring out which ship to go on next . 

If something like that doesn't exist I will probably look into starting to put it together even if I will be the only one who cares about it, but I figured I would ask here so that I don't spend unnecessary time on it if a resource like that is already out there. 

Welcome @jrmende63 and Randall! 

@bellemiche  Oh yay! I'm happy to hear that as I like to plan as much ahead as possible. 

@bellemiche thanks so much for doing this! I see you were in a junior suite and went to CK. Were you able to reserve those days on your first day or did you have to see about availablity on a daily basis? I’ve heard mixed responses to this. If you had to do it same day, did you find it difficult to get a spot? By the way, belated happy anniversary! 

I barely dipped a toe into CC (mainly just lurked like I did around here before creating an account), but from the little I saw of it, it seems very quick to negativity and senseless rudeness. It really turned me off and made me not want to post there. But thank goodness this site seems very welcoming and helpful. I haven't been here long, but my reason for lurking for a couple months was to feel out the community to see if it was going to be a place I'd feel comfortable posting in. It can be so hard to find a place online that doesn't jump to rudeness very quickly. I guess it's just the nature of the semi anon medium. 

50 minutes ago, SeaChelle said:

Hi guys, Happy to find this forum, as my experience has been these types of boards are the best way to plan vacations! I'm sailing on Allure in April 2019 with my fiance and my two teenagers (13 and 15). My kids have been fascinated with cruising since they were little, so I decided this was a good time to take them on an adventure. We are avid travelers, but typically stay off the beaten track (with the exception of our annual pilgrimage to Disney). Cruising will be VERY different for us! Hoping this trip will combine the best of those two worlds! My fiance and I have both cruised before -- but way back in the day when ships were much smaller. Hit me with any newbie tips you think I should know -- and thanks in advance for all the great advice. I have already learned a lot!

Welcome SeaChelle! I'm new too and will also be sailing on Allure next year (though in May for me). These boards have been super helpful for me not just in getting answers to new questions posted, but also in searching through past posts for topics that have already been discussed. I hope you enjoy them too

So when I go on the cruise planner I am able to see some offerings, but not all because my sailing is still 298 days out. As of now I see offerings for the deluxe (alcohol) drink package/voom combo and a soda package/voom combo. I was wondering if the refreshment package is ever bundled with voom? I'm going on Allure if that matters at all. 

Thanks in advance! 

On 7/13/2018 at 6:29 AM, SPS said:

You actually don't need to take an extension cord with you. Just fill out the RCCL Special Needs form and an extension cord and a gallon of distilled water will be delievered to your stateroom on Day 1. If is is not waiting for you when you get to your room, just notify your stateroom attendant and it will delivered while you are at dinner.

https://secure.royalcaribbean.com/allaboutcruising/guestSpecialNeeds.do

 

Omg thank you so much for this! It didn’t even occur to me that a CPAP machine would be something to fill out this form for. I just submitted it and let my mom know about the power cord and distilled water and she was pleasantly surprised to hear about it. This is why I love this forum! 

If you do end up going, I would love to hear your thoughts! That is assuming you mean Christmas 2018 and not 2019. 

I will be going on an Eastern Caribbean cruise next May with my parents and I'm looking for some ideas for excursions at these ports. I've done a bit of research on them already, but I would love some input/additional ideas. Since my mom has some slight mobility issues (bad back/knees, but not bad enough that she needs any mobility aids) so I'm looking for something on the more low key side. No hiking to the base of a waterfall for us! Also in case it matters, neither my mom nor I drink so if it is an activity that is centered around alcohol like a party boat or something, that wouldn't be the most appealing thing for us. 

So far I was thinking about doing the scenic railway excursion on St. Kitts & probably just one of the resorts for a day at Nassau and make it a beach day. Since we already have a beach day on our radar, we would like to do something a bit different at St. Thomas. Does anyone have any recommendations of things they have done in the past there? Any thoughts on alternative things to do in St. Kitts/Nassau or am I on the right track there? I like the idea of getting to know the culture/history of a place instead of just having an extended shopping trip if that also helps at all. 

Thanks in advance for any insight or ideas!

27 minutes ago, kontraxed said:

I had it in my luggage like I always did before. I had to go to the naughty room to get my suitcase.

Thanks, this is good to know. I'll be going on a cruise next year with my mom who has a CPAP machine too so I'll make sure to tell her to put it and her cord she has for it in her carry on. Crossing my fingers that they are a bit laxer about those bags. From the stuff Matt and others have said on here and the podcast, it sounds like they are more willing to look the other way for certain things in carry ons vs. bags that end up in the naughty room. 

21 minutes ago, Lovetocruise2002 said:

Yes, they do.  If you're staying in a JS and above on an Oasis or Quantum class ship, the toiletries are better (IMO).  They are from the L'Occitane line.  I'm pretty sure (from scopes and other reviews) that the rest of the fleet does not carry that line.

Awesome, good to know! As luck would have it, I will be going in a JS on Allure so that sounds like one less thing I need to pack. Yay! 

13 hours ago, CGTLH said:

Typical toiletries will be a dispenser in the shower of body wash/shampoo all-in-one combo and I think a bar of soap on the counter. If staying in a Junior Suite or better you'll get the small size bottles of shampoo, body wash, and conditioner.

For junior suite and above, do these little bottles get replenished like they would in a normal hotel? I can't imagine they would last a week...

8 hours ago, kontraxed said:

On my last RCL cruise they confiscated an extension chord I use for my CPAP machine. I've had the same chord (not a power strip) on all my previous cruises but now they're enforcing the rules more. What I found is that when I was trying to disembark at the end of the cruise, the line to pick up your confiscated items was long and moved very slowly. You could easily add 20-30 minutes to your disembark time. Just a consideration.

Was the extension cord for the CPAP confiscated from your carry on or the bags that get brought to your room later? I'm wondering if this makes a difference...

Please add me for Allure of the Seas May 12, 2019

Hello everyone! My name is Alex and I'm from King of Prussia, PA (Philly metro area). I have been lurking here for about a month now (and have a 3 page compilation of tips/ideas gathered in google drive to prove it)  but decided that I should probably finally create an account and introduce myself.

I will be going on Allure in May of 2019 and because I LOVE to plan and research, I have already started plotting and reserving. This is my first cruise as an adult, but I have been on 2 cruises when I was a kid - one with Royal and one with Celebrity. I was shocked to see how much cruising has changed since the late 90s and my parents have finally convinced me to go on one with them. Because there will be 3 grown adults in one room, we decided to spring for a junior suite - though you can bet your ass I will be looking out for an affordable upgrade/upsell to grand suite. Does anyone else feel like just the very act of planning and researching for a vacation seems to extend it in some way in your mind? It's honestly one of my favorite parts so this place is like heaven!