CJS2766

1 minute ago, TheJones said:

The most popular cruise hotels are on 17th Street.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fort+Lauderdale,+FL/@26.1005386,-80.1341977,16z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x88d9012720facaf5:0x7602be7540bf8ebe!8m2!3d26.1224386!4d-80.1373174

This is perfect!!! Thank you so much!!

I arrive and depart from Ft Lauderdale. Given that the airport is close by, I'd like to go with a 12:00 pm departure, but like many have said, that "X" factor is, who long will debarkation take??? Even with me doing my own luggage carry off. Since it's a Sunday return, sure would like to arrive home around 2:00 vs 6:00 or so!

Have a question for you all! I am trying to figure my return flight home after the cruise. I have a couple of options? Flight departing a little after 12:05 p.m. or a 2:30 departure. I'd like to book a 12:00 departure, but is that to early? I can be off the ship the second they allow as I always take my own luggage off the ship. What would you all recommend?

I like that idea! I'd like to know the hotels closest to Port Everglades. That seems to be my choice of ports when we cruise. I always fly in the day of, but this year, I plan on arriving a day early and would like to plan on that from now on.

21 minutes ago, rjac said:

Can you take time off from work and drive? 

Unfortunately, no. Also, That's one heck of a drive! I've done D.C. to Daytona before and that's about 16 hours???. FLL is probably another 5 hours! No thanks!!!

Hello all,

We hopefully will be cruising November 8 aboard the Oasis. I'm looking at prices from Wash, D.C. to Ft. Lauderdale and can't believe the prices I am seeing! Southwest for 2 is close to $950 for 2!!! Jet Blue is a little better at $860??? I usually on fly Delta, but their prices are way high and their flights really don't work for us. Any recommendations out there? I've been pricing round trip, one way with different airlines coming and going, whatever I can think of. Just crazy how pricey flights are!

2 hours ago, ryman1980 said:

Does anyone have experience with the AMEX Platinum Cruise Privileges Program?

https://www.americanexpress.com/ca/en/benefits/the-platinum-card/cruise-privileges-and-discounts.html

 

In the last 2 weeks I have booked 4 cruises direct through Royal Caribbean and just realized that I could be missing out on some significant OBC through the AMEX program.  I know you can generally transfer new bookings to a TA within 60 day...but has anyone had experience getting these benefits this way?

 

 

I'm assuming this doesn't apply to the Delta Platinum AMEX card I have????

Hello all,

We (hopefully) will be sailing this November aboard the Oasis and one of our stops will be in Cozumel. 2 excursions I am thinking of are either snorkeling or swimming with dolphins. Curious to see if anyone here has done either in Cozumel? If so, who do you recommend for booking either excursion?

Thanks!

Yes, it works! I had it last cruise and it worked perfectly. Made calls to the mainland with no issues at all

May be a dumb question? Do they only handle RCI cruises or can you use their services for other destinations as well? While we mostly cruise, I have been thinking of a Key West vacation as well. Just not sure if they would handle something like that? Thanks again!

Hello all, after many years of booking cruises myself, I am FINALLY looking into someone else do everything instead of me I wanted to ask those of you that use MEI what are your thoughts about them (since they are a sponsor here on this site) Are all of their agents excellent or is there one 2 2 that are tops or better?

I am considering my first ever Alaska cruise next year and have no clue what I should see or where to stay in Seattle if I arrive a day early, etc.. I just don't feel like researching everything like I usually do. Just hoping to get some honest good and bad of MEI (hopefully not any!)

I'm also open to any other recommendations if you have them!

Thanks all!!

Carlos

I scored it at $16.99 for Oasis this November. Just hope we cruise now!

I'm scheduled for the Oasis of the Seas on November 8-15. Keeping fingers and toes crossed that we are still on!

10 hours ago, Matt said:

Check out this blog post for a month by month breakdown

I think this What should I pack for a cruise to Alaska post should answer this sort of question

Here is a post comparing the Royal Caribbean ships sailing in Alaska

Thank you @Matt Exactly what I was looking for! You're the best

Hello all! I have always cruised the Caribbean (ie. East, West, South) Now, I am looking for something different. I am looking into a Alaska cruise for the near future. I have some questions though that I'm hoping you Alaska cruise veterans can answer for me:

1. I see that the Alaska cruises are only a few months during the year. What is the best month to cruise Alaska?

2. While these cruises tend to be during the Spring/Summer months, how cool/warm does it get? Just have no clue what to pack? Shorts/bathing suit or jackets/gloves and warmer clothing.

3. Is there a preferred ship to cruise Alaska? If so? Which one?

4. What are the must see/must do things in Alaska? (Excursions??)

5. Wife and I LOVE seafood. What is the best place/port for crab, seafood, etc...

Those are just a few for right now. I'm sure I will have more though. Thanks all!

Carlos

I was just speaking with my TA and this is what he just emailed me regarding the Windjammer and such. Just wanted to share what my Travel Agent told me:

I also was on a webinar with the Chairman of RCCL Richard Fein and he took some questions about the future.  BTW Royal Caribbean just announced a postponement through 31 July.
On the future relative to our discussions he didn't get too specific but the Windjammer will remain, but not with everyone using the same spoon to get their stuff, so as we suspected more of a crew operated buffet. He indicated that probably isn't just at sea but at hotels and restaurants on land as well.   He also indicated that as they begin operations it will not be a simultaneous full speed ahead but a gradual roll out, and that they would adjust crew and number of cabins occupied till they get back to full operations.  No specifics but a slow and steady process coordinated with all the necessary bodies, agencies, countries etc.

2 hours ago, Andrew72681 said:

We’re gonna be there. Positive thoughts. 
 

if you need to escape to some shade we’ll have it for you, either in the over the water cabana or on barefoot beach. 

Have you already booked your flight to Florida yet? Normally I would've by now. Southwest hasn't posted their November flights yet. Maybe I'll check them out. You already have me thinking of the beach and cabanas and Corona of course! The ice cold beverage type that is!

3 hours ago, Andrew72681 said:

Keep an eye out. Could be others holding cabanas before the suite cabanas open. Speaking of which @CJS2766 if you end up looking for a cabana on Oasis 11/8 there will be one probably open a few weeks before sailing. 

The photo that @Matt posted looks like exactly where we were sitting last year. @Andrew72681 wife is not a cabana fan. She loves full on sun! Me? Not so much. I'm already naturally tan Thanks for the mention though anyway. If we do end up cruising in November (fingers crossed) I'll be the one looking for the shade!!!

9 hours ago, Andrew72681 said:

I see the Curly W in your profile. Are you also from the DC area? I’m in Frederick. 

I'm in Fairfax, just right outside of D.C. I had my Nats hat with me during our last cruise. It was right smack in the middle of the World Series. A lot of Astros fans on board. I think I was the only Nats fan. Sure was sweet when we won the series while on board

Just now, Andrew72681 said:

Which Oasis sailing in November are you on? I’m always on the lookout for others on the 11/8 sailing. 

I'm on the November 8th cruise to the Western Caribbean. Fingers crossed that we don't get bumped/cancelled or anything else

Get ready for the new normal! I fully expect RCI to make money ANY way they can. Hopefully some of these "tactics" backfire on them and they will get back to reasonable pricing. I understand that they need to generate revenue, but it's sad to see that you almost have to pay for every little thing. Just hope they don't start to charge you to use the restrooms!

12 minutes ago, Leroyr55 said:

Still waiting and of course as you stated the sale is over with some pretty big price increases.  

No surprise! I'm sure they will jack prices on a lot of things to make revenue any way they can. RCI needs to be careful as customers won't take to kindly trying to fleece their customers.

Keeping my fingers crossed for our November sailing on the Oasis. I am really excited now as I originally had an interior room but was able to upgrade to an ocean view balcony for cheaper than my interior room. I'm guessing that cruise won't be as full as I thought now. I would think there are some good deals going for that cruise now!

After booking several cruise on my own, I finally went with a travel agent and booked my latest cruise. I was originally supposed to cruise last year, but at the last minute, RC charted the ship and we lost our cruise. For our troubles, they gave us $300 OBC. I was able to eventually find my current cruise set for Nov. 8 this year on the Oasis. I booked an interior room like I always do. To me, I just cant justify spending the extra money on a balcony when I am only in my room to change clothes and sleep. It's just not worth it. Would I like a balcony? Heck yea, but just not willing to pay for it.

Anyway, my travel agent just called me and said, would I still like a balcony? I said, "Yes" but I didn't want to pay extra for it. He said, you aren't! Apparently there must be a lot of cancellations for the Nov cruise as he moved me from an interior room to a ocean view balcony and my cruise price actually went down by $10.00

I guess I am a believer now in having a TA. I doubt I would have ever found this out on my own. Now I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that the Oasis cruises in November. I would assume, if it gets cancelled for whatever reason, I would hope that I still get a ocean view balcony on a future cruise??? Just had to share my good fortunes. Fingers crossed now for my cruise to move forward now!!!

1 hour ago, teddy said:

We're leaving on Navigator from Miami on November 9th.  We decided to say the hell with it and booked our flights/hotel room a couple weeks ago.

I found the cheapest flights I have ever seen from Maine to Miami and didn't want to wait.  $117 pp round trip.

 

If I could find that type of price, I would book! I'm going from Washington, D.C. to FLL and the cheapest I have found so far is around $325 pp. Maybe I'm wrong, but that seems pretty high to me. Waiting for Southwest to open up their flights for November and see where they are at with prices.