monctonguy

I just  booked Navigator for Jan...leaving on a Sunday....hoping that is not the norm either.

 

Has anyone been able to confirm what caused it or if this is going to be an ongoing issue for boarding Navigator?

 

I am defn one of those people who likes to be on first thing to enjoy the ship asap and my drink package as well of course. You have paid for that first day so might as well enjoy it to the max!

You still get the ship layout and cabin options when you go into do a mock booking....not sure if that's different or not but works for me.

I play pretty much each day I am on board. Never a lot, but enough to spend a cpl hours usually.

 

Never won big...on Brilliance  last Jan though I did win a few hundred dollars on a cpl different machines which was my best yet.

 

No smoking in casino on Empress from what I have heard which I don't get. Smokers look for a place to go and if the only place left them can smoke inside is a casino, they are going to end up playing while there for sure. I know some may just "stop" in there for a smoke, but based on my hours and experience in the casino that is not the norm. 90% or more of the smokers in there are playing some kind of game.

 

I am not sure about better odds on certain days. I have heard those rumors too, but who knows. I have seen some big winnings on the last day/night, but maybe people are playing more then?

 

Now if I could only get some casino rate discounts on cruises I would be all set.

 

BTW, I have NEVER seen anyone win on a Royal ship with the claw or the "key" game with the bundles of cash. I have seen hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars go into these machines and none come out yet

I have done this a few times....and would do it again. I like getting to know the ship and sometimes even the crew  a little. Plus if the itinerary works then why not.

 

I have made many friends who I am still in touch with from time to time. None that I have booked another cruise with as of yet, but that defn could happen in the future.

You'll be fine.....as long as the projections stay where they are now.....you wont even know there was a hurricane that passed through  I am guessing.

You may end up in Canada...pack some winter jackets and hats and scarves and boots....lol.

 

Ok, its not that bad here yet, but that's what happened to many cruises that left from NJ and NYC who were supposed to head south and then Matthew came along and they all ended up along the eastern seaboard and weren't too happy, nor had the proper clothing for that versus beaches in the Caribbean.

 

However, If you leave Saturday, you probably don't arrive till Monday in Bermuda, so based on the storm projections right now you should be fine! It's supposed to be gone by late Friday from Bermuda.

haha...that is probably the case!!

 

My first cruise ship was Monarch and that's where she is gone.

I hope they keep her around....with all the mega ships being built by RCI, I think there is still a demand and market for the smaller ships. I enjoyed Majesty and plan on getting back on her in the near future as long as she is still around!

I gather from this past weekend cruises that Coco Cay was cancelled and really no info given about the condition of the island?

 

Sounds like Labadee wasn't hit too bad so shouldn't be much of an issue there. But the fact that basically no info was given about Coco Cay makes me think that perhaps it sustained some damage.

I am sure Michael will be able to give you more information.

 

Based on my 4 experiences on EotS and a few other cruises there is always a "singles" meet at some point every day or evening. Usually at some bar or at the nighclub area in the evening.

 

However, it's pretty hard to tell who is there as part of that and/or /single as there are always other people there milling around or drinking etc. That being said, I have always made some friends or at least drinking partners...some who were single and in some cases couples that I hit it off with and still keep in contact with.

I was wondering the same thing when I saw the path of Matthew. Looked to me like Labadee would be right in the path.....as will the private islands that the cruise ships use off of the Bahamas.

 

Hopefully they are ok as well as the people there, but any news would be appreciated here for sure!

Port of Miami is to be closed Thursday I read, so things are getting really messy. Between flights and hotels and cruise times being changed, wouldn't be a fun time to be travelling down there right now!

I knew that it wasn't a kids sale free promo.

 

Just for arguments sake....MOST times the 3rd and 4th free are prob kids or children...which will not really result in them making much extra revenues on things like the casino, drink packages, specialty restaurants etc..

 

I think that a 50% off sale for the first two ppl...would result in higher bookings, more interest, be a bigger deal.....plus those first 2 ppl would spend much more on board on average than if its a family taking advantage of 3/4 free.

 

And it would result in the same $$ that RCI would collect initially on the base fare.

 

 

I know I wouldn't book a cabin with 2 other ppl even if they were free.......but that's me I guess.

 

I am not an accountant...but if I do the math...I am guessing 9/10 RCI would end up ahead with my promotion.......so not sure why they don't realize it.

 

Only thing I can think of is that it's just a promo they can throw up and know that not many will take advantage of it so they don't lose anything in the end.

Now they have this offer out for the Empress.

 

This seems to be one of the favorite promo's that RCI puts on.

 

Besides a young family travelling, who does this benefit?

 

No solo travelers, no couples, no one travelling with extended family or friends really.

 

I wish they would offer some deals and promo's that would benefit a greater percentage of the cruising population or give something that everyone would benefit from a little, rather than a deal that a few people  benefit from greatly!

 

 

 

 

I thought it was prob where the cruise ships pass by as I thought that area looked familiar from when I cruised out of Miami last Nov.

 

I haven't heard anything about alcohol yet.....thought it was going to be weeks for the toxicology reports?

 

Sad no matter what.

Hard to say what triggers them to offer you things like "free cruises" or to get into their VIP club etc.

 

I have heard its amounts....I have heard its the machines you use....I have heard its the time you spend on them.

 

I was with a first time cruiser who was offered a VIP package at the end of the cruise from the casino manager.....she had spend less than me on the casino...but had sat for hours and kept playing her winnings......so who knows....

 

I would take anything they would give me at this point!!

 

Doing my 10th cruise in jan and have received a plastic key chain so far.....lmao

looks cheap....and I guess it makes it easier for the bartenders when they aren't asked to make as many fancy or special or fun drinks..

 

 

Up go the drinks packages  prices and down goes the service/options....sounds about right for RCI.

Its just the first few hundred feet or so to get by in Nassau with the really pushy ppl. After that once out on the street its not as bad. I just ignore them and walk straight out. After that, I don't find it worse than any other Caribbean country I have visited so far.

 

But yes, they are pretty in your face till you get out of the dock area.

Interesting and something I wouldn't think about normally. But on a short cruise with only 2 port visit's and one of those will be non-existent, defn something to consider.

 

Will be interesting to see if this affects the rate or the booking of this cruise

There are a cpl options for the train/tour in Key West.....the one I did was about 90mins....very good info...went all over key west. You could hop off/on but I never did. You can usually book it through the cruiseline or pay for it in advance online. Might be a better deal that way.

wow.....$55 plus 18% tip......so $65/day.....7 day cruise that's  almost $500/person......are they crazy???

 

Then add on exchange for us Canadians and its about  $90/day or $650 each.....SMDH

I am pretty sure I have read somewhere that there is always one pool open 24hrs......not sure if its the cruise compass or where.

 

and I can vouch that on almost all of my cruises I have been in a pool late night at some point.....

I am hoping this is a UK thing......I checked both my booked cruises for 2017 and drink package looks the same....

 

But they have been constantly upping it and tweaking it and raising the grats etc so nothing would surprise me.

 

On a 7 day cruise to add another $400 or more per person for some drinks seems crazy......

 

If they raise it too high, they are going to lose revenue.....

 

Cruising isn't the same deal is was when I started just 4 years ago....amazing to see how its creeping up.

Always a pool open 24 hrs they say with Royal I believe.

 

However, it can be hit or miss based on my experience.....and it certainly will be a much younger crowd in there generally.

yeah....avg flight to FL is about $700....sometimes higher, sometimes lower.....sometimes out of Halifax you can get it cheaper...but maybe by $100 which doesn't justify the extra expense and hassle of driving there.

 

I have YET to book a cruise that cost's more than my airfare to get there.......it sucks!