Reigert2008

I feel "seen"
This just came across Twitter

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2022/06/06/ultimate-guide-last-minute-cruise-deals

Question:  In reality, what is the closest to a cruise you can really book?  Are we talking a week? Two weeks?

Reason:

So with the hotel prices being what they are in the areas we were trying to look for a "long weekend" trip, it looks like it would be cheaper for us to:

Drive from Kentucky to Port Canaveral

Buy the Refreshment Package

Take a 3 night cruise

Drive home from Port Canaveral

This is even after factoring in gas and parking at the port and possibly stopping in the Atlanta area to sleep for a few hours and then continuing on.  We're stuck not leaving until at least 6:00 PM the night before the cruise due to work schedules, so it's drive through the night or sleep over about half way there.

Obviously, the earlier we can leave the better, but we won't really know when we can leave until closer to the date and it's looking like it will be this cruise or stay home and chill.

Why "force" in the cruise?  if we are able to squeeze in a 3 night cruise this year, then we will reach diamond after our other two cruises we have booked, meaning that we probably wouldn't need to purchase a drink package on the cruise we will probably take early in 2023 with her parents, saving us at least $300.

Thanks!

Never cruised from Boston, but I do recommend the Courtyad Downtown/North Station (link below).  If you’re staying in the North End (or anywhere :)) then I recommend the following  which are all on Salem street and close to the hotel I recommend.

Italian — Al Dente (http://www.aldenteboston.com)

Bakery — Bova’s (http://bovabakeryboston.net)

Sandwich — Pauli’s North End (https://paulisnorthend.com)

hotel - https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bosne-courtyard-boston-downtown-north-station/overview/

my wife and I were just Portland Maine and ended up driving to Boston to eat dinner at Al Dente since it was only about 92 miles from Kennebunkport which we were doing a side trip for

3 hours ago, KevinJ said:

@Reigert2008 To locate your muster station. Use the APP, click the Safety icon in the lower left. It'll show your muster station, note just below that you should see I ship icon with Find on Deck beside it.

 

 

 

Thanks!  I had not noticed that on safety screen.  I was seeing the station by looking under the "person icon" at the top  where it give you your room number and date that check in opens.  

Has anyone been able to update their preferences online? When I use the address and login, I cannot find any place to make selections.  It’s not a huge deal since we already have the refreshment package, but I’d at least like to see the list and make and pick something.  Thanks!

I just wish you knew where on the ship your muster station was before you boarded. Either in the app Orem on your printed set sail pass.  I know we can see our stations in the app (B21 and B2 for our upcoming cruises) but it doesn’t say where they are located.  Sure over time you may remember where they are on the ships, but for newer cruisers or your first time on the ship, you may not know.

ideally I’d like to see something listed like (these locations may. It exist

Muster Station: B21, Deck 3,  Sabor Restaurant 

then at least you would have the name of where you need to be.  I could totally see a new cruiser intending to do it and then getting distracted when they board.  Maybe having a name to match the number could help.

36 minutes ago, TheRick said:

We want to take our granddaughter on a cruise (she’s seven). We don’t know if my daughter and her family is going yet (new husband) but either way we want to take my granddaughter. My daughter has full legal and physical custody of my granddaughter. Will we still need to get permission from my granddaughter’s father to go on the cruise?

I'd highly recommend working with a good travel agent.  They can make sure nothing gets missed in the process.

7 minutes ago, AspiringCruisePlanner said:

I see. Interesting. Looks like people had to opt in to receive this as 125% onboard credit rather than a cash refund. Also looks like these expire in September. I'd cash it out via the slots rather than force myself to overspend on other things.

We probably would have cashed out some, but at some ports like Barbados, St. Kits, and St. Lucia we had to take an excursion in order to get off the ship and see the islands.  Since we had the FCC, we really didn't have to spend much additional money.  We also learned during the "weird times" that from that point on, if we want to do something, we're just going to do it since you never know what could come up and alter your plans.

We really enjoyed our excursions, we just normally wander the island on our own, so this was different.  We also got to see many things that we never would have made it to on our own, so we've changed our stance on excursions for the future and may take an excursion or two when we travel to new places.  We're not "beach people" so the ones we've looked at tend to be more history related. 

22 minutes ago, Spang1974 said:

They might be referring to the 125% Cruise Planner Credit they offered early in the pandemic, for purchases made for cancelled cruises. I ended up wit A LOT of onboard credit because of this.

This is correct.  We had a 10N Canadian cruise from Baltimore scheduled for May 2019 and was hit as part of the initial shutdown.  We took the 125% FCC for BOTH the cruise and the cruise planner, when we thought we'd be back in a few months   

1 hour ago, cxiong30 said:

Hello everyone, I just checked in for my June 2022 cruise on Allure and I thought that we were able to put cash onto our onboard spending account; however, it wouldn't let me proceed further unless I add a debit/credit card to complete check in process.  Now, would it be possible for me to take it off when I am in port and add cash on it instead?  that is just my preference of spending and always have been. thanks!

 

Chris

I highly recommend adding a credit card now to make things easier when you board and not require you to go by the desk on embarkation day.  Once you are onboard, you can then totally swing by the desk and "pay your charges" so nothing really ever hits the card.  I would not put a debit card on the account since there could be holds placed on your account until after your cruise is completed.  

I also wonder if some of the pricing is in relation to the number of people that have some onboard FCC from past cancellations.  We had a 10 night cruise get cancelled in the first wave of things and had only purchased the Refreshment package for two people.  When they offered the 125% we took it and ended up with a ton of onboard FCC that we ended up using much later when we visited places that required excursions to get off the ship.  Normally we don't do excursions, but we were able to do an excursion at each port with very little additional expense.

3 hours ago, peytonhead said:

We have a cruise next April and the price went from $109 pp to $149 pp.  Seems very expensive to go to a waterpark.  We can get season passes at Carowinds for that price and go from March to December.

I think that’s the same thing with a lot of things. We have a local water park which is nice and a second one not too far away, so the one on island is not of any interest to us.  However, we are considering dining at Izumi hibachi solely because our “good hibachi” at home has taken a nosedive.  We don’t typically do speciality dining or excursions to save on cost but When we vacation, We tend to do things that we can’t do at home.  I bet there are a lot of people who don’t have easy access to a water park and for them the price is “reasonable”.

11 hours ago, AspiringCruisePlanner said:

While we're taking shots at people's belongings, replace your carpet too. It looks old.  

To be clear, I wasn’t taking shots at anyones belongs, just making a safety recommendation. I’ve been replacing that style of extension cord when I find them at my families houses and figured I would share the same recommendation to the OP.  My brother in law is a fire fighter and each winter they get so many runs due to people using these cords and plugging in space heaters, Christmas trees, running them under carpets, etc..

if I offended @Walt Golasthen I apologize as that was certainly not my intent.

Personally, I wouldn’t use the middle one ever.  That style of cord is far too old and I’d be concerned that it isn’t 3 prong and the sheathing is probably not protective enough for todays appliances. If you need an extension cord to plug in an approved device, then Royal should be able to provide one for use.

2 hours ago, em.down.the.rabbit.hole said:

Hello - I'm looking for some info (if anyone knows the answer...)

I'm doing a back-2-back cruises this month solo (out of Southampton, UK).  I have a 13 yr old that wants to join onboard for the 2nd cruise leg.  Assuming Royal are amenable to adding in a 2nd passenger into the booking - I'm wondering what would happen with her boarding (on her own)?  Her dad would drop her at the cruise terminal and she'll have all the relevant paperwork (vaccinated, antigen tested etc...) - I would already be onboard in the theatre on turn-around day (and don't want to have a scenario where I get off and check back in as they would need another covid antigen test that I wouldn't have access to in the UK, as its on us to do this now)...

If anyone knows how this would work or whether its possible, I would appreciate any information.

This seems like something that would best be answered by Royal directly.  I would contact your travel agent or Royal Caribbean. They should be able to answer your question and make sure all sides have the relevant paperwork completed, if this is even allowed.

6 hours ago, randyparks said:

My wife and I are sailing on Allure of the Seas in November out of Galveston.  Ports are Roatan, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.  I am in a scooter and looking for any excursions that can allow scooters on the tour.  I know I'm very limited on choices, but can't find any that come right out and say they accept scooters.  At this point I'm not real picky, but would like to do a little more than drive around so close to the ship in port.  Any suggestions?

You will want to complete the special needs form at the link below.  They specifically ask about accessible excursions and can work with you to ensure you are able to enjoy all the activities.  Good luck!

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/resources/guest-special-needs

It’s because of things like this that many of us always recommend using a good travel agent.  I wouldn’t have wanted to pay another deposit while getting it all figured out and I believe a TA would have been able to prevent that.

8 minutes ago, Vlad said:

Don't start making people panicking. 

No one should panic and that was not my intent, i was just sharing how we do things and the thought process I went through the first time I saw this requirement on an excursion. 

8 minutes ago, Vlad said:

No one ever going to check your sunblock! Anywhere! 

While they probably won't ever check, there is always the chance that you are on an excursion that is "being tested for compliance" so in theory they could check.  

At the end of the day, i take whatever steps I can to minimize any hassle and shared my process.  Everyone has thier process and people can choose whatever they like, not a big deal.

9 minutes ago, jaedam0820 said:

Do they check the sunscreen even though we won't snorkel? The only excursion we would be participating in would be the semi sub panorama in Roatan and aviary in Costa Maya. The sunscreen mostly would be used while on the ship and by the beachside on port days.

I'm just saying they could check and for that reason we carry the "allowed" sunblock.  I don't want to have any hassle while I'm on vacation, much less when I'm away from my home country and have to deal with thier requirements.

I'm a "rule Follower" and I read all the documents, policies, and excursion notes and make sure I'm compliant.  In my opinion, I'll never have a hassle for following the documents.  This is how we cruise, but many others here will have differing opinions.  Not a big deal, i was just sharing how we do it.

15 minutes ago, SpicyCherry said:

Can you bring tools like a Swiss Army Knife-like thing or a Multi-Tool onboard? There's nothing saying you can't bring tools. Anybody know for sure?

You should probably direct this question directly to Royal as they would have the official answer.  

9 minutes ago, jaedam0820 said:

I didn't think it would be required so I bought the normal sunblock lotions we'd been using for years. I'd look around in Amazon. Thank you for replying!

While you will "probably" be ok, In my opinion, it's best to have the reef safe "in case" the excursion vendor checks your sunscreen when you pull it out of your bag to apply.  Of course, they can't check what you put on in your cabin before you arrive, but  once you are on the excursion, you may fall subject to rules, regulations, and fines in the other country.

For us, it's just easier to have it and use it and never have to think about it.

We've seen it listed on a few excursions, but so far no one has checked.  We purchased some for our last cruise and as we use up the "bad stuff" we will only buy the reef safe versions for ease of travel.

14 minutes ago, GatorCruiser said:

My young sons were obsessed with it, but to me, I see it going the way of the Dodo bird in time

I am an adult and I was obsessed with it as well  I so suspect they will disappear as upgrades occurs because it was never busy on Oasis back in February.  I got the majority of my drinks at the Bionic bar because is was never busy and as a non-alcoholic person, it was neat and fun to see all the various combos and how they tasted, so I know what i may want to get later in life at a "regular" bar.  Too bad the Bionic bar couldn't do the Blueberry "no"jito, or I would have lived at the Bionic bar.

9 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

If you are booking while onboard and that sailing was already connected with a TA you want to leave you tell next cruise to remove the agent from the new booking (there is a form you sign).  You then have 30 days to get your new booking transferred to a new TA. 

I wondered how that worked. We had a situation where we were going to leave a TA and was curious how to do that onboard, but then that last cruise with them was cancelled and we just booked the replacement with the new TA.

3 hours ago, Firsttimecruiser36 said:

Hi, day one of cruise and half my party is feeling sea sick. We have motion sickness patches on but some are still feeling it regardless. Anyone know what can be done? We are onboard Independence right now.

While many of us on this board are helpful and wouldn’t intentionally provide bad information, you really need to contact the onboard medical staff.  While it’s probably motion related, they will best be able to diagnose the problem and work with you on a solution that works with your medical history.