monctonguy

I just received a notice that the Bahamas port tax is going up $13/per per cruiser. So a nice cool $50k(ish) per ship they collect now!!! I guess WE are the ones going to pay for all those updates, even though I would be just as happy staying on the ship most times when in Nassau. Anyone else receive that email from Royal today?

Yes, its like that on those class of ships it seems. We got off Brilliance in Feb and that was the case. We don't cruise till 2025 on Radiance so lots of time for things to change!

I thought back in the day when i started cruising(2013) that this was a feature offered back then??1

I have never heard or see of that on ANY Royal cruise or cruise period! You had to ask housekeeping for chair to sit outside on the pool deck or on Deck 5? Better not be the same captain when I cruise on Radiance. There will be daily complaints made if that's the case.

Yeah...our cruise in 2019 stopped there, this one is starting and ending in San Juan. thanks for the info...looking to book a hotel close to the port so glad I didn't look in the Old San Juan area!!!

I had actually booked that hotel....they were supposed to do an "authorization" on my card to verify etc, but it was a book now, pay later option. They actually charged the card and was going to stay on for a whole year...it was a nightmare dealing with them....and the booking company about it.

Any updates on this? When we cruised out of PR in 2019, it was at the pier across from the Sheraton in old San Juan. Looks like they are no longer using that pier? I checked my cruise details for march/2024 and it doesn't indicate which pier on my booking.

Watching this as well and looking at this hotel possibly. Although, i don't find it much cheaper in my searches than most hotels there to be honest. All are quite pricey for us Canadians...over $400 for one night

Not sure a rental car would be cheaper. Defn not easier....and add in gas and tolls and the almost 4hr plus drive in traffic....$79 seems pretty good to me!

Glad to see this...we can get some good flight deals to MCO, SFB and TPA......not so much to FLL and MIA...so this is a great option!!

Can you...yes? Will you....maybe...

I guess I was spoiled as my very first cruise and then like 3/4 of the next cruises I had Marc Walker....I couldn't tell you a name of any other CD on cruises, but when you are on a cruise with him as a CD, its a lot of fun and he was one of the reasons I had so much fun and fell in love with cruising way back in 2013 on my first cruise on Monarch.... 15 cruises ago!

While I may not "care" who the Captain or CD is, I have to say that the CD defn sets the mood on the cruises that I have been on. Huge difference from those that are out and involved with the guests and being involved with the events etc, and those cruises who I didn't even know or hear who the CD was.

Welcome to Canada.....its always been high prices here...its $9 for a gallon of milk...and that 15% sales tax on everything adds up real quick here as well...after losing 35% of your pay in taxes..its about a 50% tax bracket here when you add it all up..... Hence the reason I always try to travel and fly out of the US....although when you lose another 35% on echange...it really hurts....$100 USD costs me approx $215 CAD in pre-tax income....

It cant and wont last forever...there is huge pent up demand after lockdowns for years. BUT, it will come down to paying your mortgage or credit card bill or taking a trip for the average family soon. When it does, prices will drop, or only the wealthy will be able to cruise or travel. Lets see by 2024 or 2025 when interest rates have been high for years, and people are defaulting on mortgages how high prices are. When I see an inside cabin on Icon for almost $15k for an inside room for 2 people(drinks and tips)....thats not reasonable for almost anyone I know of in my life. Market trends wont support it...so Royal better enjoy this while it lasts.

I had booked this a Month ago or so..Jewel of the Seas.. for March,02,2024...it has gone up 25% or more compared to what I got it for. Glad I grabbed it when I did! I had originally booked Oceanview and decided to upgrade to Balcony as it was only about $300 more at the time....so glad i did!! I have 2 other cruises booked which really haven't changed much at all..both out of Florida though.

Looking forward to Freedom next Feb...wont be a weekend cruise for us but have heard good things about Freedom!

<May into June would defn be cooler and more rainy then September for us here in Atlantic Canada. Better warm up for you...its about 35 here today and been gray and rainy for a few weeks now. It looks like this weather is supposed to start changing for the better in a week or two....but don't be surprised if it is too cold to be outside doing anything on the ship if this weather lingers much longer!...Hopefully not....for you AND me!

Sounds like finally we can put to rest all these smoking and smoky casino threads now...all the gamblers who wanted smoke free casino got their wish.....better come out in droves and fill that room up to make it worth while for Royal! I certainly would not want to see that fail and then have to read hundreds of more messages about people wished Royal had smoke free casinos......lol

I normally check the following...priceline, bestpricecruises, vacationstogo and icruise. And yes, a lot of times they are all pretty close, usually a difference of OBC from site to site . But i know that a couple of sites get some "group rates" which usually are 10-20% cheaper. This cruise was about 40% cheaper! I haven't booked a cruise directly with Royal in years!

Check every other site. Don't even bother with Royal's they always have the highest prices. No matter what "sale" is on. I just saved $900 for the EXACT same cruise by not booking or using Royal's pricing. Its crazy. I don't ever pay attention to their constant marketing ploys.... Now if only I could find a site that had better drink package prices than Royals...lol

There isn't much in Saint John, NB...(St.John's is in Newfoundland) I live about an hour away form there..besides the Reversing Falls, there isn't much to see or do. If you can go down to St. Andrews, there you will get some great fishing and whale watching tours etc. Halifax is a great city to explore on foot..LOTS to see and do right around the pier area and Peggy's Cove is a must. Is it a tourist trap? Sure, but the views and scenery is denf worth it if your coming this way!

Just booked an amazing deal on this to celebrate our honeymoon!! We are getting married on Freedom of the Seas and then flying to San Juan the next day to enjoy this amazing cruise and ports for our honeymoon. Anyone else joining us or have this booked already?!

Group is up to about 15 now and growing.....should be fun!!!

We are in...getting married on that cruise!! Have small group of 10 or so so far coming with us! We may do a back to back on this to make it a week long, but haven't booked the March1-3 yet.