Fairlynew

I actually thought the title referred to a Biblical miracle!

Congratulations on your milestone and booking an awesome trip! Looking forward to hearing all about it!

I have a piggy back question regarding the "longevity" of points. I remember something about them expiring, but I can't remember if they expire a year after they are earned or if they run on a calendar year.

I think the rest of your advice about saving money is good, but I'm not so sure about the BBQ-we take it pretty seriously 'round here, with smokers in parking lots and meat on them for days. I just can't imagine recreating that on a ship!

I am debating booking an interior room on Oasis, but I love to be outside. Will I miss a balcony or are there sufficient areas to enjoy the outdoors without a balcony? Thanks.

I booked two GTY interior cabins and one GTY balcony on Navigator fall of 2018. All three rooms were assigned at time of final payment (90 days out) and all three had a slight "upgrade"-the interior cabins had virtual balconies and the balcony was a spacious balcony room. This was for a 7 night sailing before it was amped.

We had a great beach day by taking the water taxi and grabbing 2 chairs and a bucket of beers. Really fun and relaxing and total for 2 was $14 taxi and $20 for 2 chairs and 6 beers

Have fun!

Have a great time!

I have always found the staff t be attentive regardless of tips. My concern is more for the “back end” staff. For example, if cocktail wait staff brings a drink, what about all the others?

I was lucky enough to snag the $18 DBP for my March cruise. My concern is compensating the bar staff adequately and fairly. I have been pondering this for some time. I am assuming, please correct me if I am wrong, that the gratuities included in the purchase price are split evenly among the bar staff, in which case just giving the staff a tip, either on the bill or in cash, will reward whichever "lucky" bar tender I happen to patronize on any given occasion. There may be bars I only go to once or twice (or not at all-unlikely). The best solution I have come up with is to add gratuities for the amount that I would ordinarily have paid for the package. I generally find the package worthwhile at a $52 or lower price point. Thus, since I paid $18 (with gratuities added), I "owe" the staff gratuities on the remaining $34 pp/pd that I would have paid for the package but for the price glitch. My thought is to add $85 to my account and ask that it be treated as additional gratuity for the bar staff. I will do this in addition to tipping with cash as I order drinks, which I generally do. If anyone has a better method for making sure that the bar staff does not suffer due to the glitch, please let me know.

From the comments here, it looks like downtown is convenient to the port. Am I correct?

Thanks. The Hilton is showing over $300 for my dates. I may look at Epic. I will also check out the Holiday Inn and Priceline options.

I have searched this site and could not find exactly what I am looking for. I would like to find a reasonably priced (if possible, less than $300) hotel for one night pre-cruise. We're not very picky. Ideally, the hotel will be near the port and have at least a decent place to eat nearby-we won't have a car, but don't mind ride shares. I can't seem to narrow down what is close to the port with any search I have used. A continental breakfast would be icing on the cake-we won't need much breakfast, heading into a cruise, where I know we will find plenty to eat. Note: I love the look of the Intercontinental, but I would prefer not to spend that much on a hotel for one night. As always, thanks.

Small update: I ran the numbers with the savings on things that are included with Star Class and bid a little above minimum on the 2 bedroom Aqua Theater and minimum on the Star Loft. I also bid minimum on the Crown Loft and the 1 bedroom Aqua Theater (DH will be so happy to hear all that 80s music that the long walk and small balcony will be worth the minimum bid). I'll let you know if any of them are actually accepted. Thanks again!

I am certain that you all will enjoy it!

I have sailed on Navigator and Harmony, and will be on Oasis in a couple of months. I liked the Oasis class ship much better because there is a lot more to do, even for non-adventurous types.

I will update you with the results.

Thanks-I was also tracking the other suites and it went from several available to none a few days ago. As Ed used to say, "you can't win if you don't enter". I figure I've got nothing to lose.

How can they hate YOU? You send SO much business their way!!

Thank you for the advice. I agree with everyone. The Aqua theater suites, even the 1 bedroom is appealing because of the 80s music (for DH). The long walk is actually an advantage to me-it gives me a chance to walk off all the food and beverage. In fact, the disadvantage of the CLS is that it is on the 17th floor, so less stair climbing. Star class is slightly less appealing this sailing than it would be on others, since I lucked out with the $18 beverage package, but it still sounds amazing. I absolutely agree about the 2 bedroom GS-I was joking about that! I am sailing on March 1 and got the email today. I did log in yesterday to see if I had any offers and the message said try back when you are 30 days out from sailing. Maybe that triggered something?

I am sorry to beat a dead horse, but I would like some advice. DH and I are sailing on Oasis in March in a GS. This is is his first O class sailing. (I was with a friend in a GS on Harmony in August.) I love the GS and the suite lounge, etc. so we will be very happy staying where we are, but I got the following offers today: Star Loft- min $1100 pp-not tempting because more than I want to spend Aqua Theater 2 BR-min $700 pp-very tempting because DH LOVES 80s music and I think the Aqua suite would be fun-also Star Class sounds awesome Ultimate Panoramic Suite-min $700 pp-not tempting-no balcony Aqua Theater 1 BR-min $400 pp-tempting for reasons above Crown Loft Suite-min $300-tempting because I love the suite lounge and CK To round out the list: Owner's suite-$300 pp-not interested Grand Suite-2 bedroom-$200 pp-might be worth it for the second bathroom, but I am worried about room location. So-my thinking is throw a minimum, or slightly above, bid on both Aqua Theater suites and the Crown Loft suite. I don't expect to win the bids because there are no suites available right now, BUT I am in a GS that others might want, so it seems worth a shot. All of these bids are less than I could have upgraded up for when the suites were still showing online. My question: am I missing any potential pitfalls? is there any reason we might be unhappy with any of the rooms I may bid on? Many thanks for everyone's advice!

I have been thinking of all those injured and their families. Has anyone heard how those injured are healing?

So excited for you! Enjoy!

I will say that i would not worry too much about the sleeveless rule. It is always so cold in the MDR that i need a sweater anyway.?