FrHoffard

We are going on our 1st cruise in October, 4 nights on Navigator to Catalina and Ensenada.  The hubby is worried he won't like cruising so I picked a short one.  We are flying down from AK for and going to spend a few days in LA before the cruise.  I researched a while before deciding which one we wanted to try our sea legs on!  

Question - what do you do if you lose your Seapass card?

6 hours ago, csrsue said:

I've actually never heard of this before.  Is this common?  I have two upcoming Navigator cruises scheduled - one for May 2nd and one for August 29th.  Fingers crossed these don't end up cancelling.

Wow, our 1st cruise is on Navigator, sailing Oct 17, right before the cruise the poster was scheduled on.  Ours is now a honeymoon cruise for us, hope it doesn't get canceled.

39 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

If you booked an excursion through Royal you usually will get priority tendering where you meet as a group and they walk you off the ship..or you are given priority tickets for the tender to bypass any lines.

Thanks!  I did book our excursions through Royal for both ports, just wasn't sure what the process would be.

First cruise is booked for October 2022 on Navigator out of LA.  1st port is Catalina which is a tender port.  How does that work...everyone getting off just lines up?  Our 1st excursion is scheduled for 11:30 am.  Any tips or advice would be appreciated!  Thank you

Our 1st cruise sails October 17! On Navigator to Catalina and Ensenada.   I'm looking forward to everything!  But it will be nice for it to just be the 2 of us with no teenagers or animals for a few days we have an aft balcony cabin on deck 9, hope to see some pretty views

 that is me!  We are booked on our 1st cruise October 2022 and my other half has already asked me to stop online shopping lol.  My excuse is we live in Alaska and I'm  "worried" I won't be able to find stuff I want to take with me if I wait til later.  I travel regularly for work and can pack for that with no issues but vacation packing is a completely different story!

54 minutes ago, GregD said:

Just call them and ask to prepay

 

43 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

If you used a travel agent, you will need to do it through them. If you booked direct,  you can just call Royal.

Thank you!  I did book directly with Royal.  Called them and got it taken care of!

Hello all!  When I booked our cruise for October 2022 I didn't elect to pre-pay the gratuities.  Is there a way to change that?  I did try too pay more than the balance due for our cruise but the website won't let me.  Thanks

Hello all, the man and I are booked on our 1st cruise October 2022 on Navigator of the Seas.  Wondering would it be worth the cash to purchase the Key for us?  I did already make lunch reservations for us on embarkation day at Hooked.  Thanks for any advice!

12 hours ago, Ja-sun said:

So my cruise isn't until October, but I want to take advantage of the dining deals they are offering now. Where would I go to look up the past cruise menus?

Our sail date is October 17, 2022 and I can access the MDR menu's from the app.  The only menu I don't have is Hooked for lunch on embarkation day but my reservation for it is on my planner.

We are hoping for a glorious,sunny summer here in Juneau!  But the joys of living in a temperature rain forest leads to the reality that it may very well rain all summer.  Peak summer we usually hit the high 80's - low 90's during the day on clear days, 50's at night and sometimes cooler. Layers will be your best friend! We do have massive mosquitoes but like was mentioned they aren't as bad in May and September due to cooler Temps.  My son graduated 2021 Memorial Day weekend and we wore mid-weight jackets to his outdoor graduation.  Also, we got dumped on with snow this year so it may take a little longer for it to all clear off.  We live about 1 1/2 miles from Mendenahll Glacier, I took this picture on Christmas Eve.

1 hour ago, Matt said:

Are you sure you actually booked it? Does it show in your order history when you go to the Cruise Planner site?

Yes, it does show there and if I'm in the cruise planner looking at spa services it says "reserved" on that service.  But it doesn't show on any calendar?

As someone who lives in Juneau, Alaska I would recommend the slacks with sweaters.  Our high Temps in the days during peak summer are usually around the high 80's-low 90's if it's sunny and not raining!  My first cruise isn't until October 2022 though so I can't tell you what to expect from the cruise ship

Hello all!  I have booked a short cruise October 2022 for myself and the man after our other 2 "first" cruises were canceled due to the rona.  My question is...I made a reservation for a couples message on embarkation day but it doesn't show on my calendar on the app like our specialty dining and excursions do, is that normal?  Thank you, I have spent literal hours roaming through the message boards and feel like I have learned alot!  

On ‎4‎/‎18‎/‎2020 at 1:47 PM, foxrunner said:

I was inquiring about your itinerary Western Eastern or South?

LOL oh my word, I need a break from the teens they have affected my ability to think correctly!

We are on a Southern Caribbean itinerary.  Ft. Lauderdale, Aruba, Curacao and Labadee!  I like that we have 4 at sea days on this itinerary.

44 minutes ago, foxrunner said:

We were on Allure over the last New Years with DW and our 20 Y.O & 17 Y.O. , not Christmas but a holiday feel. We were in a balcony and boys down the hall interior. We were Western and you didn't mention East West or South.  We did date night (Giovannis) sans the boys and otherwise ate in the MDR, except one night at Hibachi.  The MDR is awesome don't feel pressured to eat specialty. You will really enjoy the relationship you will build with the MDR staff. 

Advice

1) Have fun and never forget the irreplaceable family time!

2) My boys are here due to Covid and they say "never miss dinner , or any other meal because the food is epic".  "Ping Pong and Waverider are NOT to be missed. Commandeer the rents balcony when they are in the Solarium". 

3) The early bird gets the worm, don't burn the candle at both ends. Get up in the morning, and enjoy the ship with a much lower crowd level.

4) Chair hoggery is real on holiday cruises, embrace the situation on the ground.

Feel free to shoot us any questions! 

 

Having never cruised before I'm guessing we are West - midship and on the 11th deck. Thanks for the advice! 

Well my very first cruise was set for May 23 out of Venice and we all know how that has turned out!  But I'm not giving up, I WILL join the cruiser ranks lol  Just booked the family on the Odyssey 8 night Caribbean holiday.  So any tips for 1st time cruisers on a holiday cruise would be deeply appreciated.  I did go ahead and make some dinner reservations - embarkation night, Christmas dinner and 1 night specialty dining for myself and my husband (the teens are on their own that night).  We have a balcony and the teens are in an interior room just a few doors down the hall.  Thanks and happy sailing (as soon as they let us)!  Renee

Sorry if this has been addressed already - doing a Mediterranean cruise next spring and planning on doing a cash account.  In addition to the daily gratuity, what would be a good amount to start with on the account (I don't drink)? And, can I bring US $ or do I need Euro's for the cash account?  And how will any refund be issued if I don't spend all of the cash I put on the account?  Thanks in advance!!

1 hour ago, FManke said:

What's your cruise date and what ship?

Sounds like my plans as well; I'm on Rhapsody leaving May 23.  Venice, Croatia, Montenegro, Santorini, Katakolon, then back to Venice!

19 hours ago, RCIfan1912 said:

The best thing about pre cruise is the building of excitement. You book and you are super excited, you are going back on a cruise, but usually you are still months away or a year away. It's the building ever day to the cruise that's incredible. Usually 30 days out it's bonkers time with excitement. We are 32 days from Anthem and it's really building here. We are all talking about it everyday. God cruises really are the best vacation and Royal Caribbean is the best cruise line. 

LOL well from today, I have 275 days (according to Ship Mate) before my cruise!  Super-excited and we talk about it a few times a week - I'm sure the excitement level will only build as we get closer.  This is my first cruise, Rhapsody -Venice, Croatia, Monegro, Santorini and Olympia

On ‎7‎/‎23‎/‎2019 at 6:41 PM, Ne47 said:

We just found out we have Sebastian as our genie on our upcoming cruise on Harmony - first RCCL Cruise so of course our first Genie!  Has anyone had him as their genie?  Would love both your experience and what you think he might like as a gift - if it’s helpful we are from the Boston area.  We’d love to bring him something for a gift.

Sorry if I should have started a new thread but what exactly is a Genie as far as RCCL is concerned?  I'm booked on my first cruise in May 2020 so all of this is new to me!   Thank you

We are currently having a bit of a heat wave here in Southeast Alaska (Juneau), it is currently 67 F, sunny and gorgeous....with the same expected all of this week.  Just keep an eye on the weather and make changes to your packing list accordingly.  Enjoy your cruise!

303 days to go......seems so far away until I look at my other count down and then it is 43 weeks, 2 days 16 hours and 13 mins from now lol

As a very fair skinned Alaskan, who has been hospitalized for sunburn in the past, I worked out a plan for my tanning with my doctor. I've had bad reactions to certain sunblock's in the past so it was like I had put cooking oil on my skin before sun exposure.  I start at least 2 months before the planned trip to sunny destinations and very slowly build up to a maximum of 10 minutes twice a week.  This gives me enough of a base that with sunblock I won't fry.  I'm going on my first cruise May 23, 2020 (Venice, Croatia, Montenegro & Greece) and I will start tanning in mid-March.