BrianB

…..unless you’re a Cruisaholic.

To be sure, the price is a bit high right now. I found the sweet spot to be closer to $50 or $60.

If you plan on cruising frequently, having the stock as a long term investment combined with the OBC is a pretty good deal. Getting $100 for every seven night cruise is nice. Even more for longer cruises. It goes towards my daily gratuities. Sort of like dividends on steroids.

But if you only cruise once in a while, it’s not a very attractive stock at this time…even with the OBC. Not advice, just my opinion.

Good article.

Some things are done a little bit different at different ports…or on different ships.

Of course, most vaccination requirements and testing are no longer needed. At least for now.

In my experience…

On my b2bs…if I need to change cabins, I pack everything except what’s hanging in the closet. I leave the bags inside the room. On turnaround day, my cabin attendant uses a clothing rack and transfers the bags and the hanging clothes to the new room. He/she places the bags in the room and hangs the clothes in the new closet. As Matt said…it’s a good idea to coordinate with your cabin attendant. Usually I’ll go seek out my new cabin attendant a day or two before just to let him know also.

If I’m in the same cabin…I’ll tell my attendant that he can skip my room on turnaround day. He changes the bed linen the day before. l’ll make my own bed. He really appreciates having one less room to do on the busiest day.

Recently on my b2bs the letter instructed me to not do the muster drill on the second leg if I was in the same cabin. By sail away, it showed complete on the app.

Sometimes, rarely, we won’t have to leave the ship. CBP will come aboard and a ship’s security scanner will be set up at the entrance to the venue where we are waiting. After everyone else is off the ship, we will show our passport to the CBP officer and then scan our new card as we exit the room. No need to leave unless we wish. But, if we do decide to leave the ship for whatever reason…we will have to wait until general boarding begins to re-board.

Most times we have to leave the ship as a group. After virtually all of the other passengers are gone, they will lead us from the venue, and off the ship…scanning our old cards as we leave. In Bayonne, we go through the customs/baggage hall and to the facial recognition scanners…if they’re working. Otherwise we see an officer and show our passport. Then, they line us up in the customs/baggage hall and we wait for everyone else to complete the process. Usually there are still some stragglers onboard and we have to wait for a zero count before we can go back. Most of the time it’s pretty quick. We’re the first to board and we scan our new cards on re-boarding. 

Sometimes, if there is an inspection (Coast Guard or Public Health) then we have to wait much longer. It can get uncomfortable standing for a long time in the hall…especially in NJ in the winter. It’s cold! There are no seats. Port workers will scramble to find some chairs for the elderly, but usually we just have to stand.

Back onboard, there is usually a Consecutive Cruiser lunch for b2b’ers.

Back to backs are a nice way to extend a vacation. One of the best things about a b2b is the night before the next cruise…looking at all the luggage in the hallways outside cabins. That’s always been such a sad sight to see. But…not when you’re b2b’ing! Enjoy it!

Although I would like to try the high wire on the Oasis. That looks like fun.

I agree with Matt. This is posted by Nick Weir. It appears that it’s just part of a production show and not for passenger use.

Just like the trick bicyclist they had as part of the production show ‘The Gift’ on the Anthem in the past. It was only for the show…not for passengers.

If it’s critical to have internet while on your cruise….you may be disappointed.

StarLink is the service currently being used onboard Anthem. In my experience, it’s been fantastic!…until it’s not.

As @twangstercommented above, weather seems to be one of the biggest issues. Even if you find a spot on the ship where the signal is strongest, heavy cloud cover and stormy weather can interfere with the connection to the satellite. There have also been instances onboard the ship where there was an internal problem causing an internet blackout period. One time there was a fleet-wide issue which knocked out internet for two days. Of course compensation was provided for the lost time.

If you absolutely need to have connectivity on a schedule not of your choosing, you may be a victim of Murphy’s Law ‘anything that can go wrong, will go wrong!’

Good luck.

I’ve had a port cancelled even though the weather was beautiful! There were some swells, but not enough to really feel it aboard ship.
However, the port was shallow enough that the swell effect coming into the harbor made the risk of hitting bottom too high. Either the port authorities, or the ship, or both decided to not make the attempt.

I don’t recall ever having port fees not refunded after a port was cancelled…but, I think there were two cruises where we had to stay overnight in a port to let a storm pass and that caused us to miss the next port. We didn’t get the missed port refunded because we had to pay fees for the extra day at the overnight port. So it balanced out.

The only times I’ve seen weather cancellations five days out is if there was a massive storm on a very predictable track. Not just hurricanes or tropical storms. Sometimes the port itself issues cancellations in expectation of a weather event.

Any pre-purchased excursions that are cancelled should result in a refund back to the original form of purchase…credit card. I agree that a percentage off a much more expensive excursion seems unfair, but it’s something.

Glad the rest of the cruise was brilliant! Hope you continue cruising and have wonderful experiences.

@smokeybanditKeep an eye on it. If the engine issue isn't fixed, there might well be a drop. Unusual for a NYE sailing, but possible. 

I think Royal has found the perfect equation for balancing ship size and customer preference. 

Having large ships with multiple, distinct neighborhoods, gives passengers the unique ability to experience different cruising styles just by strolling from one neighborhood to another. 

Rather than committing to a smaller ship with a singular cruising vibe...customers can choose to sample from a smorgasbord of cruising tastes. 

I like larger ships...I hope after Icon, they get even larger. I don't believe they will...but I didn't believe they could after Oasis. Who knows...maybe they'll come up with an 'Island-class' ship. She just sits out at sea and other ships come and dock alongside. Impossible?

Your chosen arrival time at the port should be on the Sea Pass. Either printed or digital. It's what you usually need to show 'the guardians of the portal' when you arrive on embarkation day.

On the smartphone app's main page for your cruise...swipe right.

19 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I was browsing today for potential last-ish minute holiday cruises, and a GS on Anthem is more than 13k for the NYE departure.

I'm also on that cruise. There has yet to be any notice regarding changes. 

38 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

It's past final payment so I'm not sure that many people are cancelling and eating the penalty just b/c they may miss a port, especially those ports. NOV/DEC is typically an inexpensive time of a year to cruise outside of the holidays and often has good deals.

Regardless, if I lived up there and was flexible, I'd be jumping on deals too.

There have been some postings on other social media indicating Royal has been allowing cancellations and/or changes even though it's beyond final payment...due to the late notice. I don't know for sure because I'm keeping my bookings. 

If anyone is looking for a bargain sailing…or two…check out the sailings on the Anthem out of Bayonne NJ for November and December. Savings could also extend to more sailings into next year.

Prices have dropped significantly. Primarily due to cancellations and the lack of new bookings in response to the ongoing engine issue. These seven night sailings typically visit three ports…Port Canaveral, Nassau and CocoCay. But due to the ship being forced to travel at a reduced speed to ensure a comfortable ride, either Canaveral or Nassau will be skipped on each trip resulting in just two ports.

Come join us as we meander up and down the east coast.

I’ll never try to correct someone else’s kid. Unless there’s an obvious imminent danger. If so, then I do it politely. I never want to get involved with helicopter mommy or daddy bear swooping to the defense of their sweet little cub, who’s never, ever, ever, ever, ever…did I mention ever?…ever wrong. Of course I’m exaggerating. Most parents are entirely reasonable and try hard to raise their kids as responsible, caring and respectful children. I know it’s not easy.

In this instance, the lifeguard is a big boy and can take care of himself. I’m sure they have to deal with this sort of disrespect regularly and are trained to ignore it. But I’m also sure that they also have significant power as the nature of their job deals with saving lives. I mean it’s even in their title!

If a lifeguard determines someone is doing something which can be dangerous to themselves or others…they can act just as security does under similar circumstances and initiate the review process which can ultimately result in the offending person and, if underage, their travel party being disembarked. 

I got off the Jewel on September 28. The points posted on October 4…six days. The number of points posted was correct. I always check as sometimes they are wrong. I sail solo and earn double points. If I sail solo in a suite I earn triple. Sometimes they only post single points and I have to call.

Calling can sometimes be a bit of a challenge. Regardless of which number or department. There’s always the possibility that the call is answered by someone who either misunderstands or is just depending on outdated information. Or is just having a bad day.

As @WAAAYTOOOcommented…the best thing to do when you are reasonably sure you’re right, or feel you’re not getting the correct answer, is just politely end the call, hang up and call back. Arguing or demanding a supervisor can be counterproductive and time-consuming.

In my experience, calling back and getting a different representative usually solves the issue.

Good luck!

I’m not preaching. This is just me sharing.

I’m a walker. Have been for decades. At least 30 minutes a day at home or aboard. Usually right after dinner. You can even break it up into several times a day, as long as it adds up to 30 minutes. It’s a good habit to get into. I know it’s not for everyone, especially those with mobility issues, but it’s considered one of the best, and easiest exercises. No preparation or scheduling required. I also do the stairs.

I do power walking. About 120 steps a minute. Swing the arms. Just enough to not look too goofy . The centrifugal force makes the heart work harder to pump the blood out my arms. I prefer a lower outdoor promenade deck over the running track as the sundeck is usually crowded. During bad weather, I’ll walk the passenger hallways. Maybe some of you have seen me on the Anthem…I'm the guy speeding along like he’s late for an appointment.

I don’t eat sweets or snacks…but I also don’t eat fish. At all. None. Hate it. Always did.

My eating habits are poor. Just coffee for breakfast. I eat lunch, usually a sandwich…and dinner. Lots of chicken and pasta dishes. Lots. And that’s it. Virtually no fruit or vegetables. No vitamins or supplements, mixes, potions or snake oils.

I get my numbers checked regularly and recently went through the cardiac screening process. For some inexplicable reason everything is normal or better. It could be a combination of metabolism, heredity and the walking. It certainly isn’t my diet.

Good luck, good health, stay safe and enjoy your cruising!

On the Jewel last week I received a card in my cabin telling me there were no blocks onboard and to fill in my name and address to have the block shipped to my home.

approximately a month ago I received a package at home with four overdue blocks.

I hope you get your block.

@WAAAYTOOO Works for me……at least it looks like it does.

I got a couple of future cruises booked. I realize how lucky I am to be able to cruise often and to live close to a port. I’m a glass half full optimist and always look for the best in life and in people.

I’m addicted to the cruise life. I love the service, the crew and the food. Even if a meal may sometimes be a little bit off… it’s understandable that constant perfection is not possible on such an enormous scale. My servers are always anxious to please and will make any change or addition that I request. In fact, on all my cruises, I have never sent something back. But, that’s just me.

As far as the vouchers are concerned, I’m not a big drinker so I never use my six.. Usually two a day.

I like and appreciate the perks of my loyalty status. I mean, they can come and go at any time as the company sees fit to tweak them…either expanding, adjusting or even removing something.

As Super Mario has said time and again…the free WiFi perk that comes with reaching P is a big thing. I agree. I very much appreciate not being charged for WiFi every cruise. I thought the company might have reconsidered that perk post-shutdown when StarLink was added and prices went up. They could have easily justified removing the free WiFi and offering it at a discounted price. But they didn’t.

I don’t really frequent the loyalty lounges except maybe in the early morning for coffee. At that time they are usually sparsely occupied. I’m not a big conversationalist and can usually, if not always, be seen working on my iPad…or reading my smartphone.

I consider myself ‘low maintenance’…lol.

But, that’s just me…and this is just my opinion.

Hi. My name is Brian and I’m a Cruisaholic.

I agree with ‘wait for the rush to end’ before going ashore. Hate standing in line waiting for the CocoCay song to start playing and then joining the stampede on the pier.

I’d rather take my time. There are always chairs available. Of course the ones nearest to the beaches and pool are usually taken. But there have been times when I would go early for a great chair…and then shortly be surrounded by, shall we say, overly enthusiastic vacationers who have no problem sharing everyone else’s space.

Going later gives me the opportunity to scope out an area and find a more relaxing spot. There are plenty.

I used to do the beach club every trip…but that meant trying to be one of the first off and getting there early to grab a day bed by the pool. Love the club, but hated the stress of getting there.

Anyway, supply and demand took care of that for me. The price for the club has skyrocketed due to demand and that gave me the excuse to do away with the stress and just relax. Thank you economy.

For me…usually it’s a bit of a chore trying to check in. Sometimes, but not often, it goes smoothly. Whether I choose to check in on the app or on the website.

But I find that most of the time…there’s an issue. It’s frustrating to keep getting the message ‘Check in has checked out’ when I know check in is open. 
I switch from one device to another trying to get access. Sometimes I restart my device (smartphone or iPad) and that solves the issue. 
I know it doesn’t make much sense…but it happens.

Persistence pays off…eventually. Good luck!

Apparently an ongoing propulsion issue. Emails received for my three November cruises on Anthem. Two are eliminating Nassau (Nov 7 and Nov 12) and one is eliminating Canaveral (Nov 26).

Yes. Sometimes it just doesn’t open for me…and after trying unsuccessfully so many times, it eventually says check in is closed.

But, no problem. They ask the questions at the port when you arrive. Few quick questions. Easy. 
Enjoy your cruise!

20 hours ago, baltodave said:

Totally agree.  If they charge for this adults-only beach, what's to stop them from charging to enter the Solarium?

 

Ditto! Big moneymaker for NCL having the private ‘Vibe Beach Club’ on the larger ships. Adult only, upgraded loungers, private bar. Solarium-like. 
Vibe started as a section on one side of the forward upper deck just behind the exclusive suite sundeck. Then, it expanded even further on newer ships to include virtually all of the forward sundeck for more purchasers. Prices have risen steadily…supply and demand. 
Maybe Royal’s considering upgrading some of the Solariums and making it an adult, for-fee area.

That’s strange. As Matt said, assuming you’re in the US or Canada.

I have lots of booked cruises and check nearly everyday for price drops. As soon as I find one, I call and reprice for the lower amount. I have never been denied. As long as it’s before final payment due date…even if I paid in full. They refund to my credit card if I paid in full before final due date.

I book and service my own reservations online direct with Royal. But, if I didn’t have the time to do it, I would definitely use a good TA.

If you used a TA, they would control the reservation and you would not be able to call Royal direct for a reprice…you would just call your TA and let them know. If you booked through Casinos at Seas, you would need to call CAS direct, but the agent should transfer your call for you.

I’m also leaving Bayonne on Thursday…heading north to Canada and Greenland. Hopefully. Most of the spaghetti models currently show Lee right on our course track up the coast.

Been on enough sailings to pretty much expect anything. Royal will decide what to do when the time comes.

It can be anything from a complete change of itinerary…such as two weeks in the Caribbean instead of Greenland (I’ll pack accordingly), or even an adjustment in scheduling ports. Also, two ports in Greenland are tender ports and waves/swells may prevent us from disembarking. 

We could also board and they may decide to keep us tied up in port for a day. Had that happen before.

Such is the risk of sailing during hurricane season. The priority is safety.