Okgladgal

Sometimes there is onboard credit available. Currently, there is $50 on board credit available for 25,000 gold Vegas coins (you have 66,020). 

I'm so happy for you!

The "refrigerator" will keep things sorta cool. Don't expect things to be cold.

On 1/24/2020 at 8:10 AM, Matt said:

 

That being said, if the restaurant does have its own bar, yes, you can stop by for a drink.

I didn't know that! Is there a way to find out once on board which restaurants have a bar?

Before I started following message boards years ago, I didn't even realize there were different levels. My DH still has no clue

The first night is really casual, pretty much a free-for-all. Throw a few things into a backpack to change into just in case your luggage doesn't make it before dinner. I've found backpacks are easier to carry than totes, especially at the airport for "hands free". From airport to hotel to ship, a backpack is one of the best things I've ever bought. 

1 hour ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Given a choice of using environmentally friendly sunscreen I cannot imagine using something that’s not environmentally friendly.  Even if the rules don’t change for a year, the animals are still there.  

I agree. However, I'm not planning any excursions in the water. Just trying to prevent sunburn while on the islands. 

There's a discussion on the FOS Facebook page this morning about islands prohibiting certain types of sunscreen because of damage to the coral reefs. Any truth to this and how in the world would islands enforce this? 

Edited to include: I found an article on CC explaining it a bit further. It looks like most of the changes will take place in 2020 & 2021 for Hawaii, Key West, STT, Cozumel, Bonaire & Palau. Most places will not be able to sell it.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=4350&fbclid=IwAR3VHLJijx1orwx3tZosAdHT1JNfowzv9ZqeIBvA2MimCoZbHzdmNc7zfV0

I want to make sure I understand the Voom 4 device package. Can the package be shared between 4 devices, even on different reservations? I bought it on sale last week and am willing to share with my sis & bil in another cabin. TIA.

22 hours ago, Jill said:

This cruise will be the 5 year mark. 

Jill, that is so fabulous! Congrats!

12 minutes ago, Galveston Steve said:

Interesting... when Royal Caribbean announced the cancellation of five Liberty of the Seas sailings to extend her Royal Amplification, they quietly added Jewel of the Seas to Galveston for several months to pick up the slack! Jewel arrives from Rome on 11 Dec 2020 and will run sailings from Galveston ranging from 7 to 11 nights until 22 Mar 2021.  Then she appears to reposition back to Europe (although a repositioning cruise from Galveston is not currently available to book).

It's also very interesting to me that the Royal Amplification for Liberty of the Seas appears to be during the period from 10 Jan to 21 Mar 2021 (based on available booking options).  That's 70 days.  Assuming some transit time to the shipyard, this is about as long as the 63 day Amplification of Oasis.  This must be a big-time Amplification for Liberty of the Seas!

Great news! Thanks for sharing.

Can't wait to hear all about it!

2 minutes ago, Jill said:

 

I remember hearing that one of the resorts close to the port offer a day pass. Includes use of the beach, lunch and 2 drinks. I want to say it’s the British Colonial but don’t quote me on that! 

 

Yes, you are correct. It's a Hilton property, and when we were there in 2015, we were very pleased. The food & drinks were good. The grounds were beautiful and it was an easy walk. The beach is small, however.

14 minutes ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I'd be much more likely to use my card for OBC if I had access to it well before 2 weeks prior to sailing.  I typically have everything booked and paid for prior to 90 days out, so I never have anything to use the OBC for after that.

Exactly my point. A phone call to redeem the points and asking them to be applied to the reservation immediately is what I'll do next time.

Just now, mworkman said:

Ours didn't show up until 2 weeks out from the cruise on both accounts.

 

Ok, so that must be how the program works. But I needed access to the obc today.

17 minutes ago, ellcee said:

I wonder if it's a new thing because I've not yet had this issue. It's been available to use as soon as it shows up, the last time it was a matter of hours from redemption and still months out until the cruise.

I was told it wouldn't show up until 2 weeks before my cruise. 

17 minutes ago, mworkman said:

I've use the RC visa points twice for $500 each time with no problem.  However this last trip we didn't spend it all and $87 went back to the card shortly after our trip was over.

I guess I wouldn't say I had a problem, just that I couldn't apply the credit to my reservation immediately. And again, calling the redemption center instead of using the online option would have expedited the process. It's good to know if there is any leftover, they'll apply it back to the card.

I've had the Bank of America RC Visa for many years (I know, it's not the best, but it's what I have). Many of the points were going to expire this year so I thought what better time to plan a cruise  I had enough for $500 OBC. Redeeming them on the MyCruise Points page was simple but getting them applied to my booked cruise was not. I called RC customer service and was told by two different reps the points absolutely could not be applied to the cruise until "about 2 weeks" before the cruise. At that time, they would appear in my cruise planner and I could use them. Ok, but I'm a crazy planner and wanted it applied today, not in three months so I could continue planning. I ended up calling the Visa redemption number at 1-888-305-4626 and told the rep I would like my points applied to my booked cruise as soon as possible. After being on hold off and on for 15 minutes, he told me they would be applied this afternoon. I logged on about an hour later and the OBC was there!  The rep told me if I needed to redeem more, to call them instead of doing it online and requesting it to be added to the reservation.  I hope this info helps someone.

6 minutes ago, Hgalloway said:

Hi,

I am looking to book an ocean view room but all that is available are showing obstructed views. 

Does anyone know or have a picture of what the obstruction would be for cabins 11506 or 11106?

Thank you!

Sometimes you can find pics if you Google.  Search for the ship and cabin number.

7 hours ago, tiny blonde said:

Can we ask the cabin steward for a corkscrew, or should we bring one from home?

 

Your steward will bring you one if you ask.

We can't wait to hear all about it! 

I live in Houston. The traffic is ridiculous and Sunday morning traffic leaving Galveston can be awful. However, Hobby is the smaller of the two airports and is pretty easy to navigate, especially when being dropped off at departures. Move it quickly all morning and you should be fine.

1 hour ago, rstephen3955 said:

We have a cruise coming up in June to Nassau. Never been there does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?

Nassau is a challenge. Some people insist on staying on the ship because the vendors are annoying.  The first time we went, we did an Atlantis tour. Once we went to Junkanoo Beach and the last time, we bought a day pass to the British Colonial Hilton for a beach/resort day.  A good place to start is the RC excursions page and read the different choices to get some ideas. 

1 hour ago, teddy said:

No longer going solo....our youngest is changing colleges and taking the semester off in between.  I convinced them to come with me.  We won't get to spend much time together since I'll be diving at the ports, but I'm sure they will have fun....they will be three weeks shy of 20 when they get on the ship....how can they not have fun?   

As a side note, I traded emails with the PADI staff on Adventure and found out they offer the Advanced Open Water Course.  The local PADI shop I bought my mask/snorkel at encouraged me to take the course in the Caribbean if it was offered rather than doing it in the cold and dark water off the coast of Maine.
 

You two will have a blast. My college age son and I cruised without the family once. He was the diver & I spent the day at the spa & relaxing onboard. I'm glad it worked out for you.

I've been on several cruises during spring break and honestly the rowdiest people have been the 40 somethings, not the college crowd.