Mike.s

Looks like the intern's been busy again, hopefully they'll be working on the next cruise planner sale

4 hours ago, ApexoftheSeas said:

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/General_Info/2024_Fleet_Guide_Highlights.pdf

Here is the link, they finally posted it.

Was Explorer of the Seas really "Amped" in 2015 as the pdf suggests, I thought it was a casualty of Covid and had a mini amp (slides) on it's last dry dock

The UK Government advises against all travel to Haiti, appreciate this has no bearing on what Royal Caribbean do but I would doubt UK issued travel issurance would be valid should you need it while at Labadee.

On 8/2/2023 at 8:49 PM, Jay66 said:

Thanks everybody.  I spoke to the travel agent last week but they couldn't help.  Said we will be told in due course.  There's 2 of us going and we have different online  check in days and the TA wasn't interested in that either   

Might be time for a new travel agent, I wouldn't be happy with those responses.

1 minute ago, chrismelissa said:

We just looked at the web page going going gone , are those prices per person or total for 2 people ??

It's per person

And remember to choose the best side of the ship for you, if you like the sun ensure your balcony is on the side of the ship facing South during the crossing (assuming a transatlantic sailing)

2 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

I still remember becoming friendly with an Australian couple during our trip to Alaska in 2018. We had a nice long chat about this and they just could not understand American tipping culture... and I get it.

It's not just the Australians, the British struggle with it as well.

I wonder if they're going to Amplify her, we've booked the return sailing on the 24th Nov, not seen anything re that sailing yet. We did get notification that our Voyager sailing on the 14th October is being changed to allow for maintenance and exciting improvements!!

3 hours ago, mrsemmio said:

Hi sorry for basic questions - new to all of this.

Which plug adaptors will I need onboard the Explorer of the Seas - EU or US?

Also - do I need to pack my own pool towels?

 

Thanks!

From memory take both as I think there are both types of outlets, re the pool towels you check them out against your sea pass onboard, so no need to pack some.

An email from C&A, that would be a first for many of us

14 hours ago, twangster said:

Given how robust cruising has become recently I wouldn't be surprised to learn of something like a reborn Pullmantur rising from the ashes with a new name.  

Royal has to be careful not to sell off a ship only to have it come back and compete in their backyard.  An arms length but partially invested company can be controlled and used as a place to send old ships out to pasture.  

So perhaps more ships coming TUI/Marella's way here in Europe. Not sure if they have any ownership of Marella (it's part of the TUI group) but TUI Cruises is a joint venture and Marella is currently sailing with 5 x Celebrity/Royal ships.

2 hours ago, Mick said:

I’d love to know how to get these emails… I never do  

Glad it's not just me, I even asked the loyalty ambassador on board to ensure I would get them, still nothing.

14 hours ago, TXcruzer said:

Where does Royal's liability end?

Once the bag makes it off the ship, is it not now the liability of the port? On embarkations day, your luggage is the liability of the port until it is on the ship?

 

If your bag was found in the terminal, as you have been told, it would appear to me that you really have no recourse with Royal.

Have to disagree, you paid Royal for the cruise, which includes the baggage handling services, not the port. Your contract is with Royal so they have to be responsible. Either way as good customer service Royal should pick up the tab.

1 hour ago, FloatyBoaty said:

Grandeur. A little nervous about the ship as I've never been on anything that small, but very excited about the itinerary. We have an aft sailaway view Jr Suite 

We did a very similar itinerary this February on Vision of the seas (didn't call at Falmouth) and we loved it. Go for it.

According to Cruisemapper Icon has started her sea trials

https://www.cruisemapper.com/?imo=9829930

We're looking at Princess sailing out of the UK and the Med, fares look very attractive and the add on pacakges are way cheaper than Royal and Celebrity, just haven't taken the plunge yet.

Keen to hear what others think, can see us dipping a toe in the water on a short cruise from Southampton to see how they compare.

16 hours ago, barjpoe said:

They might the Solarium area kid friendly those couple of days

There was family time in the indoor pool each day on our Anthem cruise to the Fjords

3 hours ago, steverk said:

RCG already owns 1/2 of Marella through it's joint venture known as TUI group.  Does that count?

Their ships are retired Royal Caribbean and Celebrity ships, so maybe not.

I thought it was only the German ships that sail under the TUI name that are a joint venture, Marella was a standalone UK brand owned by TUI.

https://www.tuigroup.com/en-en/about-us/about-tui-group/our-business/cruises

Does everyone get a loyalty newsletter, never seen one despite me ticking all the contact me by email boxes I can see. I even asked the loyalty ambassador on Vision to opt me in, still nothing.

12 hours ago, emcguire513 said:

I am cruising with Royal for the 1st time…

When I put excursions in my cart, will the tickets be saved for future purchase?  Also, will that exact price be locked in? Or will the price go up  and down?
As they usually do. 

I believe the contents of the cart are saved but the price is not locked in and could (probably will) be different when you check back.

Advice is to buy at a price you are comfortable with, you can always cancel and rebook should the price drop in the future.

I guess it must be open as Cruisemapper is showing Explorer docked there today.

We've sailed on both, Anthem, lots to do if you want to, bigger and better shows, does have some drawbacks, the Schooner bar isn't big enough and gets drowned out by the music hall and we didn't like the 4 main dining rooms. We liked the ship overall and We Will Rock you is amazing (assuming you like Queens music).

If you're after a more traditional laid back cruise I'd go for Vision, much more intimate, loved the main dining room and we had great service everywhere.

As others have said you can't go wrong with either, but for me I'd go Vision.

We've just seen excursion discounts of 35%, just rebooked a couple of trips in Iceland and saved over £150

Woud be lovely if it were to happen, but I'm not holding my breath.

As already stated by others,

Chair hogs, enforce the rules.

Main dinning room, bring back the old menus and enforce the dress code, it's not too much to ask to remove baseball hats and flip flops.

Move to a set price for the drinks/wi-fi package, it seems most other cruise lines offer it for a fixed price, the same for all their ships.

Include gratuities in the base fare.

Rotate the ships more often, we've got bored of Anthem out of the UK.

I've noticed that many people have come up with the same list, perhaps Royal should take note.