Jump to content

Pima1988

Members
  • Posts

    1,068
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    1

Everything posted by Pima1988

  1. Just me, and FYI we do balcony. We get the DPB. We get Voom Surf and Stream for 1. We do dinner packages. We do RCCL excursions. We rent bungalows or cabanas. Point being I am not going cheap. The cheap part of our cruise is the room. However, that being said I would not pay for the Key. 1. The key would be like the DPB. We would need to book both of us. Even though it includes Voom, we only book 1 device. We unplug on our cruises. We don't need 2 devices. Thus, the Key is already costing me more money. 2. It has never taken me more than 15-20 minutes to get through the terminal and onto the ship. I don't see how going through the Key line is really saving me a ton of time. OMG it takes me 30-45 mins, oh well, is that worth 20 bucks a day to me? NOPE 3. Chops for lunch. As Waaaytoo has stated the restaurants are now frenzied with the Key passengers. We are more the type that grabs a bite to eat at the WJ, and hang out at the pool before they cattle call us for the muster drill. We purchase the dining package and the Chefs table. Maybe if you don't purchase that, than the specialty at Chops is a good deal. However, you could get a Chops lunch at 22 bucks pp. So you aren't really saving money in the end if you think about it. 4. Luggage drop off. Okay, but that is still a maybe. We are doing Adventure in July for 8 nights. I don't think 320 for the 2 of us is worth it. 5. I have been on different size ships. Anthem has been the largest. Anthem allows you to reserve for shows. All of the seats in their theaters were good. They had 3 specialty shows, if you reserve and show up early enough you will get great seats. Even if you don't, this is not like Madison Square Garden in size. You still will be able to see the show just fine. Adventure does not offer this option. 6. I live to eat, not eat to live. The breakfast/lunch for the last a.m. means nothing to me. Thus, when I do the costs, $320 for 8 nights is not worth it. Now if they added something from the spa, I might re-think it. $320 would pay for my Voom Surf/Steam (1 device), Chefs Table (2), and just shy of a 3 night specialty(2 ). I could run it another way. It would pay for my catamaran excursion (2), my spa lime scrub and pedicure, our galley brunch (2). Just me, but I have a limited budget. Room and excursions mean more to me than getting on the ship 15-30 mins faster or a "special seating" for shows, or even a breakfast the day I am getting off the ship. We plan to do Symphony in 2020, and if it came down to costs, the Key would be at the bottom of my totem pole.
  2. Kind of laughing because we are all fearful of acupuncture or shaving on a ship, but on Virgin's new cruise ship they will have tattoo artists. Sorry, but that is the one that really makes me shake my head.
  3. It might look lame, but the fact is everytime I travel overseas all they do for the US passports is just scan the barcode and BOOM you are in. When I was in Australia last May, they had kiosks for your passports when entering the country. You just scanned your passport and declaration forms, than walked straight to the luggage carousel. You did not meet any custom agent. Back on topic. For all of my RCCL cruises they bring on board custom agents and corral you into a specific area at a specific time (ours has always been in the theatre) You bring your docs/passport to the meeting place. I never got a stamp. It was scanned and done. We never carry our passports with us. We keep them in the safe. We only take our license, sea pass and 1 credit card. Just me, but 1. We always plan to be back on board at least 90 mins prior to sail away. G forbid there is a traffic issue, I won't have to worry about running to the dock 2. We do book with RCCL for certain excursions. IE we are going to snorkel in Bermuda, and used RCCL because I know that if the catamaran breaks down, or is late returning, since it is with RCCL they will hold the ship. For the Bahamas we are going to Graycliffs (Chocolate Factory) and Queens Anne staircase on our own because we are docked for 12 hrs., and I am not needing a tender or bus to get there. 3. FEAR. G forbid my bag is stolen and I have our passports in my bag. Now I am stuck trying to fix the problem while I am at sea. No thank you. Just me and how I feel
  4. Or in my hubby's case. 1 for personal travel and 1 for work. I have traveled with him both on his business trips and our personal vacations. We laugh on the business trips bc we get off the plane, and I go one way (personal passport) and he goes the other way (work) for customs. I have a long line and he walks straight through. OBTW his 2nd passport has no stamps on it either.
  5. I believe someone here has done it and they said they had to pay to get the stamp. However, may I ask why? My passport is 3 yrs old. I have no stamps. 3 cruises and Australia. I laugh now bc I want to know why on earth am I carrying around this passport book. Can't we just make something like a drivers license? I pity my Hubby bc he floats between 2 passports due to work. Neither one has a stamp. Please don't answer, bc I know the answer. My cousin is a consultant for a company that makes the glue for the passports.
  6. I agree you will see kids float in an out in the Solarium. IE they know the folks are there and they have to come to them for whatever arises...Mom, I am going with so and so to do the rock climbing wall. You will only get looks if they go into the hot tub or pool.
  7. I was just thinking about how long do you think it took them to realize OH CRAP my phone is about to die and I have no charger. Followed on with OMG these phone calls are going to cost a fortune if I use my phone since I am now it is considered international. OBTW I reversed it, it was NCL passengers filming the RCL Symphony.
  8. LindaN, the problem in your scenario is where do you think your passports will be when you miss the ship? They will most likely be on the ship. How do you now get back to Miami without a passport? You go through immigration on the ship. Not at the Bahamian port. You only need your seapass to get back on. At least that was the protocol 2 yrs ago when I was there. We did not take them with us when we went to Blue Lagoon for the day. They were locked in our safe. Additionally, I do not know about Bahama, but if you travel overseas every hotel I have been in has requested our passports. They will hold them for you in their safe until you check out. This impo is for legal reasons, such as involved in a crime so you can't run. How do you check in without it? Pretty sure they are use to it though, they may even have the cruise line numbers on speed dial to verify your passport. Now add on the additional cost of flying 1 way with 24 hr notice. Betting that ticket is sky high. Add into the equation you have jewelry left in the safe. Your clothes are all unpacked, so on and so forth. For Anthem of the Seas out of Bayonne, they go to Bermuda for 2 nights and back to Bayonne the slow route. So it wouldn't be 1 night, but 2 nights that you would need. I have to look at my Adventure schedule, but either it is Bermuda or Bahamas as our last port. We than have 2 sea days and nights, arriving in the a.m. 3 days after we leave the last port. That is a lot of money.
  9. I do feel sorry for them, but honestly this is not like a private yacht. There is a lot that goes into this, such as the tugs and their pilots to get out of port. Plus, as can be seen in the video RCCL was waiting their turn to leave port. If they waited for every straggler than it will have a domino effect for the next ship, and so on and so forth. I recall when we came in to the Bahamas. We were the 2nd to dock, by the time we came back to the ship. Disney (left already). Carnival and NCL were the next 2 and we were the last. If Carnival waited, than that would have impacted the rest of us leaving. Bahamas was our 1st stop. It would have meant to get on time to the next the Captain would have had to increase his speed. Think of it this way, would any airline wait for that person that was 15 mins late? No. I also feel the same way about Muster drills as others. When we did Enchantment yrs ago. We had to stand outside in the beating sun for @ 15 more mins before they started because with the muster drill they know exactly who is missing since you are assigned to a specific location and they take roll call. When they finally found them or they decided to show up, they were received with @100 death glares in our group since it was obvious they were the hold ups. To boot they were upset because they walked up with a full alcoholic beverage and the staff made them pitch it for the muster. So we had to wait a few more mins bc now only did they argue about it, but than walked back in to find a table so they could pick it up 1x we were done. They were standing next to my hubby and I. As we re-entered I guess someone in front of us watched where they placed it and decided to pick up their drink and dispose of it for them. Needless to say they were now angrier bc someone stole their drink,. muttering can you believe how rude these passengers are?
  10. @Bish I forgot to mention that although I don't know about Canada, but if you are an American you need a tourist visa. It can be done online and printed on your own computer. I recall my flight out of Dulles several people were not allowed to board at the gate because they forgotten to do that step. The gate will try to help, but if it is after hours they won't be able to get it processed until the next day. My husband's colleague's wife didn't have one (husband forgot) she was sent back home and had to fly out the next day. Needless to say he had a very expensive piece of jewelry (South Sea Pearls) waiting for her at the hotel. ?
  11. I paid 449 for my Coco Cay Cabana (Chill). It is going for 674 right now for my cruise. Part of me thinks how can Royal see anyone paying 750-1000 for 8 hrs. The other part says if you are a group of 6-8 than it is pretty cool excursion at 125 pp. I will never do it bc in my eyes I would rather upgrade to a suite at that price or take another cruise This is jmpo. I love the look, I would do it in a heartbeat if I won the Lotto. MAYBE.
  12. I agree with twangster, they are not for the faint of heart when it comes to the cost. The cabanas on land on a good sale runs 450. I think I read the over water will be almost close to double that price.
  13. I have mixed feelings about Enchantment. Love and hate it. It is small so you don't necessarily get that WOW factor like on the larger ships, but being smaller you not only get to know the staff, but it is more port intensive compared to the larger ships. We have done the larger ships, and the problem there is by the time you figure out the quickest route to everything the cruise is over. Of course the positive is food selections, bionic bar, bumper cars, shows, etc. You really need to think about your room location on those ships if you are like us and don't want to wait for the elevators. We are going on Adventure in July. I am hoping that it will give us the best of both worlds. Of course Adventure does not offer the kummelwreck so that is a negative...JK kind of!
  14. I just did that flight from DC about 6 months ago. I left at 5 pm on Monday and arrived in Sydney at 8 a.m. Weds. I flew through San Francisco. I tried to nap as soon as I arrived, but to no avail. I decided to explore Sydney during the day and than went out to dinner that night with my hubby and his office. By the time we came back it was 10 pm. My head hit the pillow and I was out. Woke up the next day with no jet lag at all. Make sure you go to Queen Victoria's building (mall aka QVB) Go to the top floor so you can see the clock up close. Also go to the Rocks...it has great restaurants. The zoo is also a great half day trip, the view from the gondola to get to the zoo is amazing. You just go down to the docks and you can buy tickets there. You have to take a short ferry ride to the zoo. At the zoo you will have to queue up for the Koalas. You cannot hold them, but you do go in their pen and they will take photos that you can purchase. I want to say they don't open their pen area until 11, but don't quote me. On a scale of 1 to 10 that zoo is a 10 without a doubt. Like Sydney it is hilly, so wear comfy shoes. There is also an amazing church by Prince Albert and Queen Victoria's statue. Finally if you do nothing at all make sue you go through the gardens until you get to Mrs. Macqueries (sp?) chair. It is a great photo op.(we used it for our xmas cards this yr). It will loop back around and drop you at the Opera House. If you want to get the genie a gift, Sydney is known for their macaroons. Every flavor under the sun. You can pick them up at the Queen Victoria Building. Or you can pick up chocolate from Haighs, they are all over the place in Sydney. Basically Haighs is like Godiva. High end, but worth it and you can buy all different types/shapes. We stayed at the Inter Continental. It is right by the port. I remember seeing an RCCL ship docked there the a.m. I arrived. The Inter Continental is cool to have drinks or high tea at. This hotel is where the US presidents stay at when in Sydney. The reason why is it was originally their national treasury in the 19th century. Due to that fact the walls for the 1st 3 floors are bomb proof. You will see all of the original brick in the centrum. The hotel is across the street from the botanical gardens. Hint you will know if a VIP is entering or exiting the building because where the elevator banks are there is a secret entrance for them to enter without going through the lobby. They have a hunt board (side table) against the wall that slides out and VOILA a door opens to the elevator banks. One last tip I would give is Sydney is a little hilly, not San Francisco hilly, but there is an incline you will feel if you start at the Opera House and travel to QVB. You will also notice when you are walking the gardens. We did the gardens, QVB, the church and the rocks all in one day at a leisurely pace. Probably started @9 a.m. Went to the church 1st on the way to QVB, on the way back we did the garden. Had a late lunch by the Opera House and headed over to the Rocks. Shopped around for a while and was back at the hotel by 5. I did this 4 months after having a full hip replacement and had no pain. I am 54. OH also remember that March will be their September to us. Just saying don't expect to pick up any last minute summer items. The stores will be stocking up with their fall clothing. Have a great trip. Sydney is absolutely amazing. My tip for a trip like this is to make sure you get up and walk around frequently from a health aspect at our age. DVT is common when you do a 20+ hr flight. Also do not, repeat do not take your shoes off unless they are flip flop sandals. Yes, they offer slippers and there is an urge to put them on, but if you are like me, your feet will swell during the flight and trying to put back on a shoe can be painful as you now have to go through the airport, wait for your luggage, clear customs and get to the taxis. Oh also don't go to their currency kiosks. Right before you exit there will be ATMs. You get a better rate even if your bank charges you a surcharge. The taxis will also take credit cards.
  15. We went on a family cruise on the Anthem. 2 of the 8 had the WOW, the rest of us did just the card. By the end the 2 that did it said they would never do it again. My husband and I do not use lanyards. One of us is always carrying both of our cards when on the ship. IE when we go to the pool areas I take a beach bag with me to carry his tablet, my books, sunscreen, etc. It has a zipper compartment and I place the sea pass in there. When we go to WJ, dinner,, spa etc. he always has pockets so he carries them. (Wallets are always in the safe on the ship). In all of my cruises I have never seen anyone rifling through personal property of someone else. It might be me as a Jersey shore girl where you stick your entire wallet in your shoes on the beach and play in the water for an hr. come back, your wallet is still there, along with your phone. I have no fear of leaving my sea pass in my pool bag.
  16. Adventure in July to Bermuda/Bahamas for 8 nights. Otherwise nothing on the books since our daughter is getting married in the fall, and that is draining our checkbook really quickly! Looking into cruising out of New Orleans early next yr. for my birthday.
  17. We did it in Nassau via RCCL. Blue Lagoon. It was a great day. Basically they tender you over to their private island. You are given a specific time that you either swim with the dolphins, or hang with them. They also have sting rays. They have a bar, bar food and a DJ.
  18. I have the drink package, so are you saying the cost of the tour and meal is not worth it? If so, I will go for the lime salt rub/glow at the spa because I am not a gambler, we have paid for our excursions, Voom, DBP. IOWS I am just looking to spend the OBC and this looked cool for a sea day. I guess I could always use the OBC on room service everyday.
  19. We are going on the Adventure. It is cheap and I was thinking that for 35 bucks it would be fun to do on a sea day. It is really no cost to me since we have OBC to spend. I was holding on to the OBC hoping they would do Murder Mystery but it has yet to appear on the planner.
  20. I am with Susie. There was a 17 yr old that died recently because for some reason in his mind he could climb across the balcony of one room to another.
  21. So funny because I just looked at the Adventure Izumi menu and nothing like Explorer which is the same size ship or the Grandeur which is much smaller. I would have no problem with Izumi if it was like those ships, but I am only going on Adventure since we are traveling as a group and they want to do it. I guess I will be hitting WJ prior to dinner and Sorrentos later that night.
  22. Every RCCL cruise I have been on has made sure that passengers at the WJ or MDR you are either forced into a hand washing station with an employee watching that everyone does wash their hands (WJ) or they had Purell sanitizers with an employee making sure you used it. That being said, they do have places that I can see issues. For example, any bar on the ship or places like Sorrento's. I don't recall on Anthem anybody making sure in the 270 or Johnny Rockets that they used the sanitizer like WJ and the MDR as they entered.
  23. I need to place a caveat. I think it also comes down to how port intensive the cruise is. If you are at port everyday, than you will have to buy drinks in port.
  24. I calculate using what I drink daily at home and than adding in a couple of cocktails because I am on vacation. Everyday before work I get my Iced coffee, which runs me @3.50. This is of course after having a coffee at home, I am a coffee snob....French roast, which means no for me at the WJ or MDR. Now I am 2 specialty coffees. 7 bucks at least. During the day I will drink at least 3 18 oz water bottles, and go to bed with a 12 oz water bottle. So now I am at least 30 bucks. ( I try to drink 64 oz of water a day). I will drink at least 1 soda per day. I am at 33. On a cruise or any time I go on vacation or out to dinner I will splurge and I will drink a glass of wine and have an amaretto side with my cappuccino at dinner. Those 3 items will now tally another 20+ bucks. Thus, I am at 53 without rationalizing, or playing catch up. Yes, I could get water from the tap for free, and make my own iced coffee, but I am on a vacation and want to relax. I would rather pay it up front. My hubby as a different view and why he always buys the package. This is a guy that rarely drinks. I mean that....he drinks red wine and I now have many bottles that are expensive vinegars since he never finishes a bottle, weeks left open. His view is he likes to play the catch up game. He sees it as the time to order drinks he would never try....don't like it, than toss it. Lava Flow is his favorite.
  25. LMAO. We recently went on a land vacation and pulled out our luggage, lo and behold in one of the compartments I found our SeaPass from our Anthem cruise.
×
×
  • Create New...