1Cruiser1

6 minutes ago, USFFrank said:

Perhaps a travel agent could look into this better. However what you are looking at maybe some kind of sale that requires you to book it as non-refundable. For my Harmony cruise next year I got it at a super low rate, but I had to book it as non-refundable deposit.

My rate for 2 adults is currently:

Cruise 1: £1962

Cruise 2: £1558

Both cruises come with $250 on board credit. 
 

Both rooms are ocean view balcony too.

1 minute ago, crisgold52 said:

Oh you're booking on the website no wonder. Yeah the default on the website is a NON REF. You have to phone to book a Refundable. I'd also ask the agent at RCL if this B2B itinerary would be allowed. Most people don't know about the PVSA act though but it does come into consideration whenever one books a B2B cruise. So its best you call into RCL and you can also book a refundable in the process.

Really appreciate the advice. Fingers crossed we can do it. I have heard of many people doing b2b so fingers crossed. 

12 minutes ago, crisgold52 said:

Mind if I ask what the B2B Itinerary will be? The reason I ask is because there's a technicality in the Passenger Services Act in the US which requires a passenger that doesn't allow one to cruise between two ports in the same country on a foreign flagged ship. For example, here's an article from Cruise Critic about the PVSA and how it applies to B2B bookings:

 

How Does the PVSA Apply to Back-to-Back Cruises?

Closed-circuit round trip itineraries done back-to-back will not trigger a violation even when the two itineraries vary. Point-to-point back-to-back trips are another issue, however. If two or more trips, when combined into one trip, transport a passenger between two U.S. ports without stopping at a distant foreign port, then the passenger triggers a violation -- even though the ship's itineraries are within the law because the two trips are separate and distinct. Here's an example:

Passenger Z books two cruises that are back-to-back on the same ship. The first is a repositioning from San Diego to Vancouver. The second is a one-way Alaskan cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage. That passenger is essentially being transported from San Diego to Anchorage by way of Vancouver, which is not a distant foreign port since it is in North America. A violation would be triggered. Again, the cruise line is not likely to allow you to knowingly create a violation and would not allow the booking in the first place. If the booking slips through, Passenger Z would likely be denied re-boarding in Vancouver.

Passenger Z's remedies are to book the Alaskan portion of the trip on a different ship or by including a third segment that ends at a foreign port as the final destination. Simply booking the return from Anchorage to Vancouver works because now Z's trip began in San Diego and ended in Vancouver, even though that port was on the itinerary twice.

 

Seeing as November 2021 is over a year away, I would put down a Refundable Deposit when booking this in case your plans change further down the line. The flexibility is there with a refundable deposit. Hard to predict what the case counts will be in November 2021, but I feel that by that point there should be some semblance of normalcy one hopes.

 

Thanks for your help

here was our itinerary:

21st Nov- 28th Nov

Port Canaveral -  Cruising - Antigua - St Thomas - Cruising - Cococay - Port Canaveral 

28th Nov - 6th Dec

Port Canaveral - Nassau - Cruising - Falmouth - Labadee - Cruising - Cococay - Port Canaveral

14 minutes ago, USFFrank said:

I'm not 100% sure on this in booking from the UK, but if you can book the cruises as a refundable deposit do it. Yes refundable deposits can cost more, hopefully no too much more, but if the price is right you could change to a non-refundable deposit before final payment is due if you are going to go for sure. There's always insurance too.

thanks for your advice. When going to book it doesn’t give me the option for a refundable deposit, only non refundable.

Apologies for two threads in one night and apologies for the open ended question.

Currently planning a back to back cruise for November 2021 - just wondering if you think we should book?

We will be flying from UK so we will have to book cruise, hotels and flights all separate. Just after some advice and thoughts.

Thanks 

Hi -

looking on booking back to back cruise for the first time. 
 

We are expecting $225 on board credit - can we put this towards our drinks package using cruise planner?

thanks 

16 hours ago, twangster said:

Each cruise is independent of the other.  New cards issued with a different folio for each.  Each account has to be closed as if you were not B2B.  Each cruise has its own cruise planner bookings with no awareness that you are B2B.  

Sometimes I find the DX on a B2B represents too much drinking.  Sometimes I'll buy the DX on cruise one, stock up on water or sports drinks and not have the DX for cruise two.  On cruise two I'll buy my drinks as I go.  For a 3 & 4 night B2B I can handle the DX on both but for 7 & 7 night B2B I get drink fatigue near the end of cruise one.

I wish this was my case, I worked it out for our cruise in jan that between two of us we drank 198 alcoholic drinks in a week. On top of this we also drank 49 soft drinks and 38 bottles of water. We sure got our money’s worth. I think I could only do DX after that week, I love lager too much!

Not much to be honest, this was our first cruise and the first day we felt a bit but then it was fine. Felt more after we disembarked haha

I was there a few weeks ago on Allure, we were off the ship by 9 ourselves. We didn't do the waterpark but the oasis lagoon etc was open. Be interesting to see the correct answer. Apologises for not being a help. 

Looking on booking back-to-back cruises for 2022.

Do you get discount on drinks package as its back to back or just the standard cruise planner discount?

Thanks

We done deck 8 room 326. Second to last. Really quiet, and peaceful. Only 2 decks from Promenade. Perfect location. Middle of the ship. 

Be at the port around 2030 gives you enough time in case things go wrong. 

In the UK if a bill comes to £65.54 for example, you give them £66. 

Thats the only sort of tipping we do. Obviously some times you might give them an extra £5 but its very rare. 

The price is the price. Hence why I don't agree with gratuities personally, the company should be paying its employees the correct living wage and not having them rely on gratuities. On my recent cruise I tipped the room attended $15 as she was exceptional. The bar staff got a $1 tip after every 4th drink in the same place and the waiter/assistant waiter in the main dining got $10 each as they served us every night. 

Gratuities are a big no no in my opinion, a bit like a service charge on a bill. If they want you to pay extra then include it in the main price from the offset. 

I cancelled my pre paid gratuities and instead tipped accordingly to the waiter directly etc. 
 

Then again I am European and tipping is not something we do over here.

I was on allure and I took my own hdmi cable and popped RC out and mine in, worked perfectly every time for Netflix etc.

On 2/10/2020 at 10:34 AM, Spang1974 said:

If you are looking for £1k each with flights and cruise? In my opinion you would be looking at more like a 3 or 5 night cruise and a 1 week holiday.

That’s certainly more expensive that a one week all inclusive holiday.

i really find some of the pricing to be very expensive.

Just came back from some of those ports.

Cant recommend the royal catamaran snorkelling excursion in Cozumel enough. $80pp including food and drink for the duration.

In costa maya, take a taxi to Blue Kay beach, stunning beach although you might want to take some food and drink with you from the port as they don’t have much to offer at the beach.

13 minutes ago, KristiZ said:

You did pretty well for a balcony cabin. The rock bottom prices that I see (except for trans-Atlantics and a few one-offs) tend to be just under $100USD/pp/pd (often for an inside cabin, though). So if you see that kind of rate, know that it's unlikely to be better.

Personally, I use NextCruise onboard as much as I can, because the rates are good with the discount and you also get some onboard credit to help with expenses.

Also, a travel agent can help a lot -- give them your available times and let them do the constant searching for a deal! 

Yeah at the time of booking there was a promotion on RC website. The cruise should of been £2126 so we got just under 1k off. 

If I remember correctly we booked it in July online and as we were sailing in 2020 we ended up getting £500pp off.

Hi Kristiz,

That was for the whole two weeks. Personally I think that's really expensive. 

The cruise was £1318 for both of us without drinks package. 

Hi all,

Just came back from my first cruise on Allure Of The Seas...she was a dream. I can see why so many people cruise. 

We are looking to book another cruise for next year back to the Caribbean. I'd just like to know how much it roughly costs pp. Sorry for being intrusive I'd like to know so I don't feel like I'm over paying.

UK to Miami

2 nights in Aloft Airport Miami

7 Nights on Allure with balcony

Deluxe Drinks Package

1 night in Nuvo Suites Doral

4 Nights in Doubletree Hilton The Gates Hotel South Beach

For two people it roughly worked out with spending money £2k each.

We cannot afford this next time. We'd like somewhere around £1k each. I'd sacrifice a balcony but only for a window room. When booking Allure it was only £35pp to upgrade to a balcony. 

Thanks for your help

No as both people in the same room must buy the package.

If one person in the room gets the package then everyone gets the package.

Hi all,

Just wondering if we need a mexico visa for our cruise?

Port calls:

Perfect Day

Nassau

Cozumel

Costa Maya

We are both british and hold a british passport?

Thanks

Hi all,

Sailing in Allure next Sunday, just wondering if they show EPL (English Premier League) football/soccer on board and if so, where can I watch it.

Thanks for your help. 

What is the minimum stake on blackjack tables? Going on my first cruise next Sunday. Super excited.

See you onboard