AHollyS

On our last cruise, we did - Hubs sport coat, dress shirt dark pant, no tie. Kids- Super fancy (for us) sequin, long tulle/tutu red Christmas dresses, me - Navy Ralph Lauren cocktail dress with flats. It is my "Formal" Girl Scout uniform for awards ceremonies, and foo foo fundraiser events.

On 7/1/2022 at 11:20 AM, smokeybandit said:

Now why isn't there anything in my cruise planner for Labadee.

My cruise had a port change from Falmouth to Ocho Rios, and I got nothing for that port, and update came Jun 16.

On 6/29/2022 at 6:51 PM, Rackham said:

The best sale is the one that's currently happening. If the price drops, you can always cancel and rebook. Plus, there's no guarantee there won't be another price increase between now and then either.

Concerning the current sale. From what I'm seeing in the cruise planner, it's about as good as it normally gets recently. It's not hot, but it's lower than it was last week on most items.

The good news is, I totally made my purchases. I got the internet, Coco Cay, and some dining. I hope to be done.

On 6/30/2022 at 8:25 AM, jticarruthers said:

I'm still cruising regularly but my spending has dropped like a rock, just not worth it to pay the crazy prices.

CocoCay is free if you just want to enjoy the beach and snorkle with your own mask

 

The kids are on fire for the slides, so I think this round is a water park visit. I did also get a snorkel mask that I will be taking with us. I'm hoping to get them in to it, because it would be a cheap option.

1 hour ago, Meangreen said:

We got lucky and I caught wind of the Black Friday sale (long before I knew about this site) and paid $55 each for the 6 of us.  We’re on Independence in mid July.  We also scored drink packages and some other things at half price during that sale.

I'm gonna be on my cruise on black Friday. When do you think is the next best sale will be? On our last cruise we parked at coco cay to drop off staff to Symphony when it was a hospital ship. The lights of CoCo Cay at night set the rest of my family on fire to visit it.

17 hours ago, Summer Bee Sweet said:

Another suite perk that you might like is getting MDR room service. On a port day it’s nice to relax in the room and have dinner delivered 

Oooo, the family LOVES the novelty of room service! Thanks!

My numbers are including my prepaid gratuities. It is my preference to pre-pay them. So that cost is rolled in.

Update- I got the suite!!! It was only about 500 is more to get the upgrade. I cancelled the Key which covered the difference + 100 back. I will have to buy the internet for 4 currently priced at 263.88. So I for me I upgraded for 163.88.

On 6/17/2022 at 12:34 PM, whitsmom said:

 they say "Gold Member" and not "Emerald". 

This is a diabolical plan by ... Austin Powers?

For me I love the safety that it offers. I grew up in the cornfield. Everyone knew everyone's business. Greatest country in the world (NOTE: This is not a political statement, it is a gratitude statement.) We don't worry about the food, the water, etc. When you travel you have to be mindful of how different other places are. I can not tell you how many times I was told not to drink the water in Mexico as a child - who never went to Mexico. A cruise offers lots of cool "make it easy" features. 1) You can always eat/drink on the boat! 2) visit like three countries on one trip. The travel between ports is very enjoyable! 3) unpack once, still visit three countries.

For me is was a great way to introduce international travel to a lightweight. Now, I have been to Europe three times, two with a tour, once independent! Day bus trips to Canada, Three cruses later I have plenty of confidence in traveling. Cruising opened that door for me.

At this point in my life all my vacations are Geocaching vacations. I'm trying to make finds in all the countries!

6 hours ago, MikeK said:

On my last 10-15 RC cruises I have been using suites.  Although we have't had to share a room with kids (couldn't afford it when kids were little) we can tell you once you get used to the suite life it is hard to go back. The perks might seem subtle but put together over a 7 day or longer cruise it adds up to a better time.  In your case if you can afford to get connecting rooms it will make a difference not having to share a bathroom with 4 people.  Good luck and don't try and do it all.  Your on vacation!

 

My major malfunction that requires more space is tripping over the sofa bed in the night on the way to the bathroom. It was the WORST last trip. All adults really had a problem with it. Especially when the kids slid down to the edge and flopped out an arm or leg in to the ultra narrow isle way.

6 hours ago, CruisingOz said:

On a ship like the Jewel, we would do a Jn suite, but see no value in a GS or above. The ship does not have the extras like a Quantum or Oasis class. I may even question the value of the Key. If you have tender ports, then maybe worth it?

I think the value of the Key is not super great. This is how we parse it for our family. We all need the internet. It affords some much needed kid quite time after long tiring days. If you subtract the per day internet

29.99 - Key single person per day

24.99 - Internet single person per day

$5.00 = the cost of the Chops lunch ( $5 x6 days = 30 Chops lunch 25 ish)

Possible $5 unaccounted for. I will call this the cost of the "short" line.

This is how I break it down for us. I acknowledge not everyone else breaks down like this - YMMV. I follow a similar decision tree/math path with the JR vs Full Suite.

That was exactly what I needed to know! Thank you!

To you and to the collective. Thank you for the shared knowledge, you really make cruising better!

Okay RC brain trust, I know you know the answer to this. I have a JR suite booked on my Jewel OTS. I have The Key (pd 27.99 pp = 167.94x4 = 671 ish total) booked mostly for the internet. We are a family of four (kids 7-9). Yes the internet is worth it for the quite time it provides. We ball parked the JR suite at $556.28 pp. The suite is 914ish for a regular suite. Is the price difference pretty narrow if you factor in free internet in the suite (is that still a thing?). I'm not super well versed on what the suite extras are. Any one interested in giving there two cents either way?

Is there a big benefit to upgrading to an actual suite?

I do money, then I ask my cabin stew what they would want from port. Olga asked for a pain relief cream. We could not find her Spanish language product, (in San Juan ironically) so we ended up getting Icy Hot with Lidocane. We got two. It was about 10 each.  I know we got our moneys worth as later that week she collapsed my two laundry bags into one. More than saved what we spent on her.

We were all cans on the Jewel over Christmas.

6 minutes ago, KLA said:

This is funny, because I've already found myself crossing my fingers for a suite Royal Up on our upcoming Jewel cruise after realizing how much smaller our Balcony cabin would be,

I resemble this remark.

I was hoping for the DR also.

2 hours ago, KenC said:

How much are the coffee cards and is there a discount if purchased before the cruise?

I paid 31.00 per card, 5.58 grat = $36.58 total on Black Friday ( for Jewel of the Seas)

3 hours ago, Shay said:

I'm cruising in February and I haven't seen any updates about Labadee, which we're scheduled to visit. I was there about 10 years ago and loved it. I was looking forward to seeing all the updates to royals private island.

I hope we don't get rerouted to Nassau.

That is exactly what happened to me. Sailing on 12/23. but there are others that have been routed elsewhere. Good luck.

On 12/3/2021 at 9:45 PM, D Alt said:

I didn't get any attitude from managers on Jewel when I was on her, even the MDR.  I actually had a very helpful crew.

Good to hear! I will be on her on the 23 and have purchased the coffee card.

On 12/7/2021 at 9:07 PM, Jill said:

I bet Royal kisses Labadee bye bye and set their sights on Grand Lucayan property. It’s a free lease with Haiti. Cut your losses and leave. 
 

This isn’t a new issue. We couldn’t go to Labadee waaaayyyyy back in 1991 because of “unrest.” 
 

Finally got there in 2018 and was totally underwhelmed. Could care less if I ever go back there. 

I hope they do let it go. It would eliminate some of the moral questions of affluent visitors partying vs the extreme poverty of the country.

22 minutes ago, Dlove707 said:

For anyone interested, I kept my booking with bernards tours and I am actually posting this from the French bakery. We have not ran into any issues at all and our tour guide told us that the issues were pretty much in one certain area which we avoided. The tour has been great and we are now headed to the Dutch side. 

Thank you!!! That is exactly who I’m booked with!!!

Use this : https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked/cruise-room-upgrade

Use your last name then your Reservation ID.

I don't think Labadee reopening in the next six months. There is zero guarantee of safety in the private area. Rumors as to the locals having already breaching the fences and sacking the "island". That means they will have to rebuild. Once government services (i.e. police or military type infrastructure) are restored it will take at least a season to rebuild. As I outline these reasons, I don't see this reopening in the next year even. Even a year after the government stabilizes.

They will change your itinerary as the departure dates draw nearer.

I was on a cruise where they had a "Puff and Puke" party the day before the end of the cruise.  Yes, the Cruise Director actually called it "Puff and Puke".  The purpose was to consume the Cubans before they were illegal.