WAAAYTOOO

Don't laugh, but we've done Bernard's tour 3 times. DH and I did tour #2 together. Then traveled to St. Maarten two other times with different family members for tours #1 and #2 again. We debated not doing it that third time when traveling with our cousin, but the tour is really comprehensive and the free rum punch and beer doesn't hurt. Highly recommend. As other poster mentioned, there is not a lot of time in Marigot, so if you are eating there, be quick about it if you want any time for shopping. 

On the Allure this week sodas were included in the specialty fee ($6.95 pp). Shakes were straight ($4.00) but had a BOGOF coupon so only paid for 1.

Hey, Sandy !  Welcome to our little family !

...everyone always wants what they can't have !  I always wanted curly hair.  Mine is as straight as a board...and my friends who had curly hair always envied my straight hair.  Go figure...

Personal peeve: Royal Caribbean should call it a "daily service charge" because that's more akin to what it actually is. To increase the "gratuities" makes me think that we've seen an incremental improvement in service worthy of an increase in the "gratuities", which is rather silly to have done prior to going on the cruise.

Sorry missed that somewhere. I am claiming a blond moment!!! 😳
We all Started Pre-Gold. I am still just gold myself with 15 points. I am going on my 3rd Royal Caribbean Cruise ship on Allure in May, and Booked another on Majesty in Sept. Trying to work my way up to platinum.

I was able to get my hands on one of the original Suite Life brochures that shows definitively that the Ultimate drinks package as well as a 7-day access to the Thermal suite is included.  That old brochure has been taken down now and replaced with the one that shows "unlimited beverage package" and "1 day pass to the Thermal suite".
 
I hope that by having that old brochure and knowing that I booked at a time when these were the benefits, I will get the full week of the Thermal suite and the Ultimate drinks package.  It also says "complimentary fitness classes" where the new one says "complimentary fitness class".  Now...those of you who know me know that I am NOT going to be pounding on anyone's door to demand they let me into a bunch of fitness classes  :)....but it's just one more of the benefits that has scaled back over the past few months.
 
Who knows...
 
Guess I'll find out in Feb. 2017 !

We just got back from St Thomas and wanted to put 2 big enthusiastic thumbs up for the Secret Sands excursion.  It was phenomenal.  We did this excursion that included the trip to Smith Bay Park/Lindquist beach, beach chairs, and drinks while at the excursion.  We absolutely loved it.  There were very few people there (the guide say excursion was capped at 50 people and there was no one there but our excursion).  it was a beautiful beach.  The sand was soft and fluffy, the water was crystal clear, and the view was fantastic (see included picture).  The only thing was that we wished it lasted longer. 

I went over to Celebrity and priced the 80s cruise (which sounds like a BLAST, espcially if Colin Hay is on it) - I guess I'll just stand at the dock and wave bye to that ship.
 
When the cheapest room is around $2500, I have to pass.  I don't have all that disposable income like most of y'all!
 
:(

I have friends whose first cruise was a heavy metal cruise a few years back on MSC. They had a great time but didn't cruise again until this past Feb when they went as part of a large group on the RoyalCaribbeanBlog group cruise on the Allure. They had so much fun on Royal that they are going with us again on the Harmony next Feb.

I'm not sure, but I think you are making a common mistake between being a gold level Crown & Anchor member and having a gold-colored seapass card.
 
Only Suites Guests and Pinnacle C&A members (who have gold-colored cards) get the departure lounge with continental b'fast.  As many times as I have traveled with a gold card, I have never managed to get to the terminal early enough to take advantage of that continental b'fast !!  Perhaps one day !

I believe this thread just proves what many of us have known all along. Royal (Companies) is the source of a lot of misinformation, websites that say things in conflict, sales agents, that give false answers, Public Relations departments that are leading at best. All these things are part of the reason we have sites like this with posters who have been through the process and can answer based upon what happen to them, not a stock reply answer supplied from the company.
 
While we as a group maybe do not always get everything correct, I do believe the best level of correct information is found on sites like this.

Thank you! I do actually have a balcony cabin for this upcoming cruise on the Allure. I am also bringing my binoculars, to try and Spot Dolphins when we are Cruising, and the ports, when we pull in.

I tend to agree.
 
Having watched enough home renovation shows on TV (not quite the same thing, but follow me here), I have found that some work is unknown until you start tearing down walls and discover issues that were otherwise not visible.
 
Given Empress' age (20+ years old), I have no doubt there was work to be done on her.
 
That being said, RC did not handle it as well as they should have.  They probably hoped to "just power their way through it", but realized it was not going to happen.  It should have been avoided, but hindsight is always 20/20.

I just wish they would let you combine the balcony discount (which used to be the "free balcony upgrade" and far more valuable) with other promotions. They're getting more and more restrictive on the promotions. I'd rather them keep the "loopholes" and the discounts that you can combine but raise the overall price of the cruise--that way, I at least FEEL like I'm getting a deal!! ;-)

Thanks, Doc...but I am still not going to click.  I feel for her plight...just too risky these days.

Don't forget that most of the newer "flat screen" tv sets have a USB plug in the back.  We have successfully used it to recharge necessary items.  

The ship is now in Tenerife. So it will be interesting to see what happens next in this strange story. 

Welcome, Pat and Charlie !!!  I was supposed to cruise in April....but then Empress-Gate happened....so now it will be May for us.  Booooo.....

Thanks for the advice, all.  Booked the Florida Aquarium and their Wild Dolphin boat ride for Friday.  We'll probably go to Ybor City for dinner on Thursday.  

That train museum is right up my alley, umm, I mean my kids alley, but I think we'll do that some other time when we can take the train ride on a Saturday/Sunday.  The ship sails at 4pm so we're planning on getting on the ship first thing Saturday and enjoying the pool (weather permitting) before the ship fills up.

This will be out first time sailing on a ship pre- and post- refurbishment; I'm looking forward to discovering the changes made.

One of my hobbies is genealogy; I trace part of my tree to a tiny town called Abersychan in Wales, UK.  On our last Vision cruise we were seated with a couple from Wales.  I mentioned my family history, and the man's jaw dropped - he was from Abersychan!  A year later I purchased a car from a salesman at the local dealership that had an accent.  I asked where he was from and he said Wales.  I said the name of where my family was from, and he froze in his tracks - he was a policeman in that town before he came to America.  

On this sailing I'm hoping for a trifecta - meeting a third Welshmen from Abersychan.  And then I'll be off to the casino! :)

This is one of the ones that chengkp75 said was OK. http://www.amazon.com/Uber-25113-Station-Outlets-Grounded/dp/B00SD9J376?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=od_aui_detailpages00

I have also read these threads on CC and one of them, in particular, is from one of the few sources on CC that I trust and respect.
 
I am an engineer but not an electrical engineer so I can't say that I understand the physics...but if what they are saying is true (and, as I said, in one case I tend to believe them) then you want a multi-plug unit with a circuit breaker mechanism as opposed to a surge protector.  Apparently there is something about a surge protector, on a SHIP, that can cause the unit to overheat and even, in rare cases, catch fire.
 
So...I intend to purchase one of the specific products that this person has recommended.  I haven't yet done my research to try and find them but once I do I will see if I can share that information here.  I have not been too successful with getting links to post to this site...just like I cannot get my "quote" function to work even when trying multiple browsers.  I'm sure it's just me....
 
Bottom line...if spending $25 (or less, apparently) can reduce the risk of fire on a ship...I'm all about it.  If not, I have another multi-plug device.  Big deal.

I have also read these threads on CC and one of them, in particular, is from one of the few sources on CC that I trust and respect.
 
I am an engineer but not an electrical engineer so I can't say that I understand the physics...but if what they are saying is true (and, as I said, in one case I tend to believe them) then you want a multi-plug unit with a circuit breaker mechanism as opposed to a surge protector.  Apparently there is something about a surge protector, on a SHIP, that can cause the unit to overheat and even, in rare cases, catch fire.
 
So...I intend to purchase one of the specific products that this person has recommended.  I haven't yet done my research to try and find them but once I do I will see if I can share that information here.  I have not been too successful with getting links to post to this site...just like I cannot get my "quote" function to work even when trying multiple browsers.  I'm sure it's just me....
 
Bottom line...if spending $25 (or less, apparently) can reduce the risk of fire on a ship...I'm all about it.  If not, I have another multi-plug device.  Big deal.

Hey, Jim.  We LOOOVE all of the new bloggers here...and particularly appreciate those with experience and expertise.
 
I can't say I disagree with you about CC.  While there are a few knowledgeable and helpful posters, some posters to that site tend to be divisive and well...just rude.  You won't find that here...at least, we pride ourselves on being helpful and positive, for the most part.
 
Glad to have you here with us !
 
I am very envious of your trip to Dubai and the canal.  That's a dream trip for me...albeit a bit on the dicey side in today's international political climate.  But I wish you fair winds and following seas and a WONDERFUL and safe cruise !

I agree.
 
We're dealing with a refurbishment and if refurbishing cruise ships is anything like house renovations, I imagine they have run into a similar situation where work began and they realized the scope of work needed greatly increased because of a previously unknown issue that occurred.
 
Tackling work on a 20+ year old ship will present its own challenges and I have my doubts there is some conspiracy theory with these cancellations.  After all, RC took quite a loss on these sailings and if nothing else, RC is all about revenue these days.