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JennyB

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  1. Like
    JennyB reacted to SolariumSnoozer in Navigator Mar. 1, 2019 - 9 Nights Southern Caribbean   
    Following, considering a 4 day cruise on Navigator this summer.
  2. Like
    JennyB reacted to twangster in Navigator Mar. 1, 2019 - 9 Nights Southern Caribbean   
    Let’s not get ahead of myself...
    My hotel last night was the DoubleTree Miami Airport and Convention Center. 



    Since I was supposed to be sailing on the 2/24 - 5 night Navigator cruise that was cancelled I had to make this booking on short notice and paid a lot more than I normally do for a pre-cruise hotel.  Unfortunately this extra cost is not covered by Royal or travel insurance since I needed the hotel for the 3/1 cruise unrelated to the cancellation of the 2/24 cruise.  Had I booked a non-refundable hotel for the 2/24 cruise that would be covered by insurance.  A new hotel booking for a different trip isn't covered since the 3/1 cruise wasn't cancelled.  A nuance of B2B bookings I hadn't considered.
    Lyft ride to the port in the morning was $19.
  3. Like
    JennyB reacted to twangster in Navigator Mar. 1, 2019 - 9 Nights Southern Caribbean   
    I originally booked this cruise as the second leg of a back to back.  The first segment was cancelled by Royal so instead of 14 nights on the ship, I now have just 9 nights.  First world problems.  
    Itinerary:
    Day 1 - Embark in Miami
    Day 2 - Sea Day
    Day 3 - Labadee
    Day 4 - Sea Day
    Day 5 - Aruba
    Day 6 - Curaçao
    Day 7 - Bonaire
    Day 8 - Sea Day
    Day 9 - Sea Day
    Day 10 - Debark in Miami
    I last sailed Navigator just a few months ago on the same ‘ABC’ itinerary.  That was an awesome cruise even though it was a few weeks before she went in for her makeover.  
    Navigator isn’t the first ship to be ‘refreshed’ but how they did this refreshment does have some notable differences.  
    When the refreshment couldn’t be completed in time Royal canceled the first leg of my planned B2B.  They eventually completed the work and on short notice invited employees and some media on a 2 night ‘shakedown’ cruise using the time that was left over from the cancelled cruise.  Check out this blog post from @Matt who participated in that shakedown cruise which illustrates how this refreshment is new and different:
    https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2019/02/28/navigator-of-the-seas-completes-115-amplification-upgrades-across-the-ship
    To set the stage, I’ve sailed Adventure and Mariner after their recent makeovers.  I’ve also sailed Explorer, another in the Voyager class.  While I love most ships I sail including the newer Oasis and Quantum class, Voyager class ships are my favorite at the moment and all of the above mentioned ships fall into this class.
    With my recent Navigator ABC cruise in mind I am looking forward to experiencing the same ship on the same itinerary but in a fully refreshed condition.  
    My hotel is near Miami's airport but I flew into the Hollywood/Ft. Lauderdale airport since it was cheaper.  For the first time I took the Tri-Rail train from Ft. Lauderdale to Miami International Airport.  When I landed in Ft Lauderdale the prices to reach my hotel in Miami for Lyft was $45 and Uber $48. The Tri-Rail cost me $3.75 but it was a longer transfer compared to Lyft/Uber.  I may do a separate post on the Tri-Rail experience.   In summary it was great for just $3.75 but it did take over twice as long compared to a ride-share. 
    From my hotel in the Miami airport area as I write this I am not too far from the Port of Miami and will be ready to go early in the morning hoping the ship is available early given no debarking passengers to hold us up.  
  4. Like
    JennyB reacted to Matt in A 15,000 lb. Gold Propeller   
    Why not? It's art and a great way to make their cruise terminal stand out as not just a glorified warehouse.
  5. Like
    JennyB reacted to Sweety in The Key - my experience last week   
    Thank you. I will be going on a B2B2B on Mariner in August.
  6. Like
    JennyB reacted to SpeedNoodles in The Key - my experience last week   
    Since it seems to come up a lot, and although Twangster's detailed blog is far superior, I thought there may be one or two who might be curious about a recent experience.  I purchased it for my 4-night Mariner of the Seas cruise to Nassau/Coco Cay.  I was a solo traveler and I had a $25 onboard credit, so the price came to $55.  Between Voom and lunch on embarkation day, I'd already gotten my value, so it was really a no-brainer purchase for me.
    Embarkation:  They called The Key people with the Pinnacle/Diamond/Diamond Plus members when they opened up the doors.  I suspect they just threw us in with them because it was so early and there were very few people in the terminal yet.
    Delivery  of carry on luggage to stateroom:  A few of us wandered around trying to figure out where to drop off our carry on luggage when we first boarded - they were a little behind and didn't have a sign on the theatre door, or anyone in the theatre to take the bags yet.  In about 10 minutes we all figured it out (all 5 of us at that point) and someone did show up to start the process.  Unfortunately that person hadn't been provided with any luggage tags, so anyone who hadn't tagged their luggage had to wait a little while - I had my luggage tag on my one rolling carry on.  They also had business cards with Voom codes on it - but none of them matched the names of anyone who was there, so staff was confused. In the end they just gave us a card for whoever (sorry Adam Davis, or whoever's I had), and we were on our way.  I assume they managed to work it out in the end, but it was never an issue for me.
    Lunch at Chops - was a nice treat!
    Reserved seating section at shows - I only went to the comedy show really late on Embarkation day and on the last night.  There was a section roped off for The Key next to either higher C&A or suite folks - it really didn't matter at this show because there was really hardly anyone in the theatre.  The first night I sat in The Key section, the last night I sat somewhere else - it didn't matter.  But this is Mariner, not a Quantum or Oasis class ship, so I imagine it would make a difference on one of those ships.
    Reserved times for Flow Rider/Rock Climbing Wall/Sky Pad/Perfect Storm - they had at least 2 hours set aside during the week for each activity. They weren't at the most convenient hours, but, at least on my sailing,  it wasn't necessary for a separate time - there was never a line at any of those activities - I never saw more than a few people in line for any of them and most of the time nobody was using them. Apparently this was a "sit by the pool and drink" cruise for folks.
    On the 2nd day, I happened to stop by my cabin to pick something up and someone knocked on my door and delivered a fruit plate that was complimentary for The Key people. That was unexpected.
    Priority tender - We only tendered at CoCo Cay - I went down to get on the tender about an hour after we anchored and there was a line (not a ridiculous line, but a line as you'd expect there to be).  There was no staff along the line at all to ask about The Key benefit, and I'm just not the type to walk past a bunch of people who are waiting to also get on the tender to get in front of them, so I just got on with everyone else.  I was able to get on the tender right away anyway, probably because I wasn't trying to get on the first tender of the day, so it was just fine with me. I could have been more assertive, but that's just not me. And the ending result would have been exactly the same in this case.
    Disembarkation Day - it was nice to have a quiet, unrushed breakfast in the MDR.  It was the only time I'd sat with other people during a meal - almost the only time I'd spoken to any other people all week (I did talk to the iguana and the chickens on CoCo Cay earlier, that's a whole different story #retiredzookeeper) and I did enjoy that.  After breakfast, I ran back up to my room, grabbed my carry on, and went down to Deck 4, where there happened to be a staff member manning the line.  I asked him about The Key disembarkation, and he personally escorted me to the gangway past a long line, which was REALLY nice.
    I liked the program, and it was defnintely worth it on a short sailing.  I was getting Voom anyway, and there were just enough things that I was going to enjoy along the way that it made it worth it to me.  I very much doubt that I'll get it on my Ovation sailing to Alaska in June - I will be going with my husband, who has no interest in Voom, and we will be meeting up with old friends, who will not have The Key, so we won't be taking advantage of reserved seating with shows and special times for activities since they won't be able to partake with us during those times. We'll evaluate it again on our Symphony sailing in Feb 2020 - things may have changed with the program, or the hubs may decide he wants internet access, so we'll see then.
    Hope this helps someone out there!
  7. Haha
    JennyB got a reaction from WannaCruise in Panoramic Oceanview Room Tour. Adventure of the Seas   
    I also had to turn the sound off since i'm at work LOL
    and my claustrophobic self thinks i could do an ocean view room if that's the view...but balcony is my friend.
  8. Like
    JennyB reacted to twangster in How do I print a Cruise Compass   
    The Cruise Compass posted on the blog are from past guests.  I think the poster was seeking the actual Cruise Compass for their upcoming sailing.  @Matt answered and addressed it accurately above. 
  9. Haha
    JennyB reacted to Bob_KY in Royal App   
    I give up. It is time. 
     Maybe I should upgrade my 8track tape player too.  ?
  10. Like
    JennyB reacted to melmar02 in Mitch   
    You didn't mention what type of cabin you are sailing in. If you are in a suite (Grand Suite or above), one of the perks is that room service does not incur a charge and you can order off the main dining room menu in addition to the room service menu.
  11. Like
    JennyB reacted to rtread in Pearl Harbor   
    In addition to Pearl Harbor, if you have the time on Oahu there is a guided bus tour that goes around the island and there are some beautiful and amazing sights, some on the back side. It was something I'll never forget.....especially the stop at the Dole pineapple fields hospitality house....there was an ice cold drink inside a frozen hollowed-out pineapple that was really good!
  12. Like
    JennyB reacted to melski94 in Pearl Harbor   
    How about renting a car for the day and returning it to the airport?  As a plus, you have a place to keep your luggage while you tour.
  13. Like
    JennyB reacted to mworkman in Where’s Mike?   
    Ahhh drinks ?

  14. Like
    JennyB reacted to KLA in Spending options for kids   
    I think you can also visit guest services to apply cash to a sea pass card, rather than being forced to use a prepaid card. 
  15. Like
    JennyB reacted to whitsmom in Spending options for kids   
    They can limit the $$ spend per day on each seapass you select - just go to guest services.  We have done this for our Grandkids.
  16. Like
    JennyB reacted to Bakerette in Spending options for kids   
    You can get a prepaid card for each of your kids and add the prepaid card information to their individual sea pass account when you complete online checkin process or when you can add the prepaid card information when you checkin at the cruise terminal. Also when you board the ship heard to guest services and ask if you can set a limit on how much each of your kids seapass accounts each day/night of the cruise.
  17. Like
    JennyB got a reaction from WannaCruise in Are we only ones who don't book suites?   
    We also don't do suites.  Our first cruise was interior...NOPE.. never again.  I would rather NOT cruise that have an interior room.  I am claustrophobic.  NOPE.  We do balcony rooms.  And I will never cruise without one.  I might consider an ocean view, but seriously, the balcony is so worth it to me.  We're taking our 16yo DS and his best friend on their first cruise this summer (Navigator OTS July 2019) and booked side by side balcony rooms.  Those were still less than a suite at the time of booking. I haven't looked lately to see if that changed.  The amount of time we spend in the room doesn't make financial sense to us.  But I also understand that everyone has varying wants/desires/priorities when traveling. 
  18. Like
    JennyB reacted to ranchlady403 in Are we only ones who don't book suites?   
    If you can get 2 adjoining cabins - you are better off space-wise.  You have 2 bathrooms and more actual square footage than one Junior Suite.    BUT - if you are going for points - the Junior Suite gives you double points and single bath.  Are you already getting double points for 2 cabins?  
     
  19. Like
    JennyB reacted to BTE in Windjammer Question - Allure vs. Harmony   
    I can reply to the Allure WJ as I was on it wk 1/27. Had breakfast & lunch there. As for the food it was good at least what I tried. My general thoughts is it's a little hetic sometimes with everyone running around trying to find a table & getting food. Now when they had staff seating people it was great & things went more smoothly as everyone wasn't going helter skelter as all they had to do was go get food & not worry about where they were sitting. In my opinion they need to do this all the time when it's busy.
  20. Like
    JennyB reacted to coneyraven in Explain Voom   
    My wife was able to call her mother using the wi-fi calling feature on her phone.... through Voom
  21. Like
    JennyB reacted to Matt in Explain Voom   
    Here's a guide to Royal Caribbean's Voom internet offerings.
  22. Thanks
    JennyB reacted to tiny260 in Explain Voom   
    Voom is on board WiFi connectivity to the internet, you can either get "Surf" and/or "Surf and Stream", I personally get the surf and stream for my wife so she can keep up with Facebook and other things on her iPad and Smart phone. I turn my phone off and leave it off, I'm on vacation.
    My understanding is that texting is the way to go, it is the most cost effective way to communicate, done with Voom. I'll ask one the other more technical members to add in, I think it is best that you leave your phone in airplane mode so that you are not accidentally using data/Roaming data while on the ship and when you get into port. if you want to use your phone in port, make sure you activate an international plan with your carrier before you leave depending on where your cruise is traveling to.
    Pinging @twangster and @monorailmedic for their input. I have also attached an article for the Blog page.
    https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2016/07/27/how-stay-touch-someone-your-royal-caribbean-cruise
  23. Like
    JennyB reacted to Mitch in CPAP extension cords?   
    @twangsterThank you for the help. I just found this site yesterday. I'm still learning. I appreciate your help and reply. 
  24. Thanks
    JennyB reacted to twangster in CPAP extension cords?   
    They will supply a gallon of distilled water (if needed) and an extension cord for free.  You can contact them or your travel agent before sailing and ask for them, or simply ask your cabin attendant for one once onboard.
    Also...
    When you create a topic on the forum, please use a descriptive title in the "Title" box.  Do not put your username here.  Something like "Are extension cords allowed?"  

    Thanks!
  25. Like
    JennyB reacted to The Cruise Junkie in Missed the Boat!   
    Haha! It On Inside Edition
      
     
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