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USCG Teacher

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Posts posted by USCG Teacher

  3. Coco Cay Thrill Park - recent price?

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    4 hours ago, dandi799 said:

    Hi, all!

    I'm scheduled for Symphony in August 2021, and Coco Cay water park has not moved from $79/pp on the cruise planner. The last cruise I was on, I was able to get the passes for $40/pp because we booked before it had opened (cruised in August 2019, purchased on Black Friday, 2018). Does anyone have advice about what a decent price is these days? I know I can always purchase and then cancel, but I'm hesitant to do that with the way refunds are going right now. Thanks so much!

     

    I'm also on an August 2021 with Coco Cay, and we've also been stuck at $79 since we booked.  Looks like that may just be the going fare for an Oasis ship calling in the summer for now.  Like @KJones suggested, if you're comfortable at that rate, might as well book it, you can always reprice if there's a Black Friday sale or price drop once you get closer to your sail date.

  5. Buffet Dining going forward?

    in Royal Caribbean Dining

    Posted

    52 minutes ago, marti314 said:

    You mean we finally get to eat food that hasn't been touched and put back by kids and some disgusting adults?  The amount of things you can observe in just a minute or two in the buffet line (anywhere not just a cruise) is absolutely disgusting.

    Can't agree with this any more if I tried.  Pandemic or no, bring on the manned buffet stations.  I'll gladly deal with the potential of slightly slower lines as a trade off for people with questionable hygienic practices not pawing up my food and/or befouling the serving utensils.

  9. All Cruises Cancelled until 1 August

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    3 hours ago, JLMoran said:

    I just remember that takes 5 business days instead of 2, and then I assume there's also time needed for the mail to be delivered, so I'd have to be sure to arrange those payments way in advance of due date (which is something I'm not the best at).

    This is correct, although the 5 business includes mail delivery time to US addresses.  That said, you do have a plan a bit further out for it.  The other thing that I'm a fan of is that they deduct it from your account when you process it, so no outstanding checks (I HATE outstanding checks!).  If they do not cash it within 90 days, it is refunded to your account.

  10. All Cruises Cancelled until 1 August

    in Royal Caribbean News and Rumors

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, JLMoran said:

    I still have to write checks for a few people every month / quarter / year:

    • My landscaper (literal dad and daughter setup here in town, no web site or anything)
    • My annual termite inspection / coverage from the local bug guy (same deal)
    • My plumber, electrician, and just about every GC I've had to work with (including my kitchen remodel just last year)
    • One or two of my kids' doctors who still don't take credit cards, only cash or check (although one of them let me use Apple Pay Cash on my iPhone the last time)
    • My wife's term insurance policy carrier

    I'm not really surprised. Supporting credit card payments costs the merchant money, and if these people (excluding insurance) aren't getting a huge / very regular business then they need to save every penny they can.

    I have a short list like this as well.  Luckily, my bank's e-payment system will actually mail a check out to any vendor I add to my "Payee" list if they don't accept EFTs.  They even cover the stamp!

  13. Scheduling for Families 2020-21

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    Just now, Ampurp85 said:

    @USCG Teacher Is this similar to the all year round schedule? I actually think this works better. I always thought being out almost 3 months for summer is bad form, kids learn better with fewer time lapses. I also would think surge pricing would change to adapt to this model. Especially since cruising isn't the top way "youths" prefer to spring break, it is a more family focus spring break.

    Yes, it's a version of year-round scheduling.  When implemented, most districts prefer to start Q1 somewhere in mid-August, so summer break still ends up being six weeks (which is still a nice chunk of time!) and starts around the beginning of July.  It helps reduce the summer slide, eases child-care burden on families (again, overgeneralizing, but most districts that implement this offer ESY/camp programs to cover the 15-day breaks with grants available for those in need) and allows families more flexibility to travel and enjoy social time together (remember that?).  It also reduces the time spent starting the school reviewing material and re-establishing classroom norms, so more of the 180 instructional days can focus on curriculum and classroom community.  There's another version or year-round schooling where summer break is even sorter (intersession and summer breaks are all 20 days, Winter break remains 15), but I think this style gives you the best of both worlds, so to speak.  There's still a slightly longer summer break to look forward to and there's a bit more of a sense of closure to the school year.  I get that some (many!) people still prefer their nice long 10 week summer break, and disrupting the status quo is hard, but this just makes so much more sense than the traditional school calendar to me!

  14. What are good prices for Labadee Cabanas?

    in Shore Excursions

    Posted

    3 hours ago, JoeFan said:

    I have no experience with Labadee. I have no idea where to go and I need to start doing some research just in case my 8/29 SOS cruise does sail.

    I did see a price drop in my planner for Labadee and was wondering how these prices are with lows & highs.

    Beach Bungalow - $157

    Nellie's Beach Cabana - $237

    Nellie's Beach Waterfront Cabana - $346

    Nellie's Beach Over the Water Cabana - $389

    This is the second time I've posted this reaction today, so I apologize for the lack of creativity, but the message remains the same:

    tenor 11.19.59 AM.gif

  17. Let's talk luggage!

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    5 hours ago, RWDW1204 said:

    Ah yes, the Bag, Duffle, OD-Green. Got my first one 1980; wife got hers 1990. Amazing how much stuff you can put in it, especially when given a list and you're TOLD it will all fit. The free name stenciling on the side was a nice touch too. ?

    It really gave it a sense of personalization, didn't it? ?

    5 hours ago, mworkman said:

    Our names were on the bottom, as it was easier to locate when there stacked up like a cord of wood and you were told you had...those few precious seconds to grab your gear and get back into formation. ?

    This is an excellent idea, I wish I had thought of it 23 years ago! ?‍♂️

  22. FCC CALCULATION

    in Royal Caribbean Discussion

    Posted

    29 minutes ago, livin-the-life said:

    my future booking that I wish to use this on is set up same way, yet I can use only a portion of my wife"s FCC to cover her part of reservation and have to wait till cruise is over to have balance put on new FCC for her!! yet my FCC LEAVES ME WITH A $2000 BALANCE TO PAY..this makes absolutely no sense to me at all.... any ideas anyone??

    Have heard anecdotal evidence of some particularly dogged TAs getting Royal to reconsider their math on split FCCs.  Can neither confirm nor deny personally, but a number of recent threads have indicated some successes.  Best of luck to you!

  24. Naples

    in Shore Excursions

    Posted

    27 minutes ago, mworkman said:

    That worked, Just one excursion listed. thanks

    If you want to see a list of "typical" excursions available, you can select a sailing that's a bit closer in and see what's offered.  It's not guaranteed that all of the same excursions will be available in April '21, but it should give you a decent idea.

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