MikeK

I tend to agree with your TA but you know what they say about opinions.  If you can get one of the bigger ships (Voyager class and above) for a short cruise I would do that.  I live in Fl so I can drive to the ports so it makes it easier.  I wouldnt go on anything shorter than a 5 day cruise because it seems like on the short cruises you are barely unpacked and the cruise is over.  What ever you decide,  have a good time and remember you can never have too much fun.

Get him in to see a chiropractor! Hope he fees better soon and can enjoy the trip

Great idea Doc!   Leaving on Air France out of Atlanta so I m checking to see what they have!

The proof is on you and not on customs. You need to be able to prove that you did not purchase on the trip if asked. But as I have said before customs officers are very smart, they can tell the difference between old and brand new jewelry.  And even if the line officer cannot they have experts who can. You can use sales slips, photos, appraisals, insurance paperwork all to prove purchases.  But many times the officers really do not need proof they just need to ask the questions and based upon training and years of handling people they will know by your reply.
 
The best thing you can do with customs is be 100% honest. And if they do make a error and charge you for a old item, you can apply for and get a refund.

I have wanted to post this story for a long time to all the RCBlog readers here; mainly as an FYI. Perhaps this might apply to a large $ jewelry purchase???
 
 
Here's How A Drug Deal Can Go For Visitors Of St. Lucia
 
 
Let's say a person gets off the ship in good ol' Castries. And let's say they bump into a drug dealer and buy some weed. This person likes the sample of what he has bought, exchanges some pleasantries with the dealer including "my name is John and I'm on the Jewel of the Seas, I have to be back on board at 5 pm." The drug dealer replies "OK Mon', we have the best weed here in St Lucia I can sell you some more to take home if you like. Like buying Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, John buys a pound or two to bring back home; his only concern being how to get it past the Royal Caribbean security. Doing that, particularly in the chaos of an hour before the ship leaves port; has got to be quite easy.
 
A successful hook up? Not so fast.....
 
The drug dealer; after taking John's cash and making a profit; talks to the local police. Perhaps in exchange immunity or perhaps for $, he squeals that he sold John on the Jewel of the Seas a couple pounds of weed a short while ago.
 
The country of St Lucia has no resources and no desire to capture/ prosecute a drug using tourist. If they did there would be no room in there jails for the natives. So what do they do?
 
The St Lucia police make a phone call to US or British customs. (Really, it's a phone call). It is not inconceivable that there might be some money for information exchanged at some point, but I am not sure of that. But if I were a betting man....
 
So.....US customs is waiting for "John and a couple pounds of weed" upon disembarkation when he arrives in San Juan. Now, they have no idea what John looks like. But that's where the dogs enter the story....
 
While we are all waiting in line to get through customs so we can catch those flights at the airport; the beagles are working and looking for "John with two pounds of weed." The Customs officials seem to be taking their time.
 
The beagles and their keen noses are trained to sit when they smell dope. They don't go ape shit crazy. There's no barking. Just a calm "sit". They are sure to get a confirmation from a couple different animals. Certainly that area is under video surveillance and really being observed by more Customs people behind the curtains than you think are really there.
 
So if you are going through Customs and you see the dogs working, it is very possible that they are looking for a guy named John who was really set-up and game over long before he ever realized it. John, his wife, and all their luggage are politely asked to step into the office when they reach the customs desk. Then that process through customs for the rest of us goes lickedy split.....
 
 
 
My wife and I have seen this happen couple times in our cruising history. 

Personally, I think the purchase is too big to bother buying it on a cruise.  This is something that you'll have, potentially, for a lifetime; thus, the amount saved on a per year cost will be minimal and you will have to be extremely careful to ensure that you're not buying a stolen or a counterfeit watch.  My best advice would to go to the Rolex website and look for authorized dealers in the ports you'll be visiting.  Buying from any other source would be risky in my opinion.  You might also look online and/or look at previously owned watches to find a good deal.
 
I may simply be risk adverse, but it wouldn't be worth the risk to me to save a few bucks. 

Totally agree as well. That's why I have five booked through 2018. For us in North Anerica, those no risk. The only disadvantage is coughing up the deposit.

I know it's pretty common knowledge among cruisers.  But to anyone new to cruising or just to confirm for those who've heard it before...book early to get the best price!! 
 
We booked within days of Royal Caribbean releasing our October 2016 cruise. So well over a year out from our cruise.   Our travel agent has checked EVERY sale that has come out since and not one has been able to give us a better deal than our original booking.  Even with higher percentages off, and even with OBC added, we still have a better deal.
 
So while of course I'm still hoping there's that one magical sale that will save us some money before final payment....I'm really glad we booked as early as we did since prices seem to only go up from there!
 
Happy Cruising :)

Last Thursday at MCO, I had one if them completely lock up because he was ordering me to put my phone thru the x-ray but also to have my boardng pass in hand. Boarding pass is in the phone there Slick, make your choice!
 
The deer in the headlights look was priceless...

IMHO one does not need "other" choices when Oasis of the seas is an option.

Thanks Doc but we have already signed up for the Russia excursions.   I will let you know how things go when we get back.

Ate the steak...but trying to get a refund?......

Its $200 but you have to wash dishes the whole cruise

EmersonNZ, you are worse than most !  You already seem addicted and haven't even set foot on the ship yet !  LOL
 
Welcome to the asylum.
 
First of all, let me say that I am very envious of your incredible itineraries.  They sound so exotic to us, North Americans.  ...one day....(sigh)
 
Secondly, let me first suggest that before you spend a lot of money on upsell restaurants, you give the old [free] dining room a chance.  Luckily, you have plenty of nights from which to choose so if you feel the need to pay additional money, you have time to do that.
 
I know this is just my opinion....but I have to say that, in general, the "complimentary" food on Royal is very good.  Sure...there are some menus that are less palatable than others but these are always a matter of personal preference.  Maybe it's just me, but I do not see the need to spend EVEN MORE money on restaurants when, for the most part, the complimentary food and service are far above average.
 
If you are a steak snob (said with love) then certainly you are going to want to try Chops.  The MDR steak is only adequate...not nearly excellent.  So that is one distinction I will make.  Let me also admit that I have never been on a Quantum class ship, so the restaurants that are specific to that class are unfamiliar to me.  I've heard they are all very good.
 
My point is....don't forsake the MDR menus before they are given a fair chance !
 
Best of luck and enjoy those wonderful itineraries.

We also stayed at the Radisson several times.  It says on their website that they allow two people per room for the shuttle.  We had an extra room for our teenage girls(3) and didnt have a problem getting them on the shuttle but you might want to call the hotel and make sure.  Also when you first check in to the hotel get you name on the shuttle list at the earliest time.  Get to the port as early as you can.

Not sure if this is your first cruise or your first cruise on RC but not wanting to sound like a broken record I always like to warn first cruisers about having the right paperwork(IDs) and Dont be late embarkation day or coming back from the port stops....I m sure you will have a wonderful time!

I was hoping RC would invest in a Jacksonville port.  Jacksonville has a large airport and would shorten driving time for a number of people.  The current Jax cruise port only uses smaller ships due to a bridge.  A newer port would have to be closer to the naval base so maybe its a security thing.  Has anyone heard any talk about a new Jax cruise port?

We have used the same TA starting on our first cruise.  On a Mediterranean cruise several years ago our TA bailed us out of a big problem when RC canceled our 5 day cruise tour just 30 days before the cruise.  He got us the same itinerary about $1800 cheaper with private guides and cars.  I could go on about all the special things he set up for the cruisetour but it would take forever.  We also have one set up for Paris and London on our up coming cruise in the Baltics in June.  The TA can be invaluable.

Your probably right Doc.....Hell...I dont even remember what I had for breakfast!

We also stayed at the same hotel and I agree with Matt......it was great!   Old San Juan has a free tram system.  One that is inside the city and one that skirts the outside of the city ( the forts etc).  One of the bell hops at the Sheraton explained how to use the tram system and also told us about some very good local eateries just a few blocks from the hotel.

You can arrange the grandchildren any way you wish; don't think that you're forced to keep them in the rooms as booked.  Do as you wish.
 
Regarding the hole punch, just take your card to Guest Services and they'll punch a hole in the card for you.  You can even buy the lanyards in the gift shops if you don't bring them with you.  For the 8 and 10 year old, just take them up to Adventure Ocean and they'll punch their Sea Pass and give them a lanyard for free.

Does anyone else find it strange that we pay for stuff to advertise for corporate America?  They should be at the least giving us the Tshirts with the logos to advertise for them.  Dont get me wrong I've done it and still do it but somewhere somehow these companies have convinced us that it's cool to pay them to advertise for them    Oh well ....keep on cruising ....we all love it!

I got to agree with Tony on this.  Miami is way over rated

Thats funny!  I dont understand why they sail out of New Jersey in the winter time in the North Atlantic