AlwaysRollin

I understand this may be a difficult question to answer due to differing opinions and what holds more value in a cabin to most people.  My wife and I have been on 3 cruises and have only stayed in ocean view balcony cabins on Oasis class ships (Harmony x1 and Allure x2).  We've got a booking in Nov '22 on Explorer for 8 nights to the ABC's (also an ocean view balcony cabin on deck 8), and we're looking at a 5-night sailing on Oasis in June out of cape liberty.  For the Oasis one, we are on the fence about "trying" a Junior Suite.  It's not that we wouldn't like it, but I'm just not sure that it's worth paying basically double the price of the balcony cabin.  Since it is a little shorter, the price isn't as high as it would by for your typical 7-8 night sailings, which is why if we did go for the Junior Suite to sample it, this would be a better opportunity.  However, the whole reason we decided on this June sailing was because it was only 5 nights and thus, cheaper, so we can fit it in our budget.   I should say, we are very grateful that we even have the financial ability to go on cruises; however, we try to be as frugal as possible to live within our means.   So I'm really trying to reach out to those of you who may have been on the fence before about stepping up your Balcony Cabin bookings to a Junior Suite and if you found it to be double the experience for double the price?  

As far as I can tell, the extra perks are a bigger cabin (no more side stepping to get around the front of the bed), full tub (has anyone taken a bath in it?), a walk-in closet, and a bigger balcony. Also, you get access to the Coastal Kitchen, but not the other VIP areas that Grand Suites and up get. 

On 1/6/2022 at 12:30 AM, SpeedNoodles said:

We can't even get first responder discounts.

right?? why do they even have that as an option when searching?

not since the restart of cruising.

I’m actually interested in this answer as well. We just booked a sailing through NextCruise while on Allure, but we’re thinking about trying Celebrity Edge or Apex.

Hey all, I am currently at sea and just booked a cruise through NextCruise for a Nov ‘22 sailing to the ABC islands… the agent there told us that Explorer was just refurbished. We have only sailed on Oasis class ships, Harmony and Allure x2… he said it is really nice now and we would get an excellent experience aboard as well as great ports that can be accessed by smaller ships… what do y’all think? I was a little hesitant booking the smaller ship without any research, but was assured it will be great.

Thanks!  That is what we put in... of course our uber driver didn't know where to go and insisted on taking us to the point on the gps (after we got through the security gate).. but we got to the big sign and I told him to go to 18.

What do you put as the address (destination) when you are ordering your uber?

So we used to use the hotel's shuttle to the port but they have discontinued that service. We're due at P.E. at 2pm and just trying to plan out our options.  If we use the address that RC gives on its directions 1850 Eller Drive, which is the address to the security gate, will the uber / lyft driver just drop us there or will they take us to the actual terminal? I'm assuming cabs have more experience with navigating the cruise terminal than a rando uber driver??

wow, 2 for Michelle, she must be good. Not that it matters, but I'm in Northern Virginia as well, so I'll contact her for our next booking.

On 11/12/2021 at 9:40 AM, teddy said:

Another plug for MEI.

What we love most is how responsive our agent is….she gets back to us amazingly fast even when we read things incorrectly on Royal’s website and email her.  We’ve never been made to feel ignorant for our mistakes.  That in itself means a lot to us. 

Here’s an example:

As we cruise more, we learn what we like and don’t like.  While on Freedom this past week, we decided we wanted a different cabin than the one we had booked on Grandeur next January.  I emailed her one evening asking about changing (and misreading things on Royal’s website in the process). 
 

She replied quickly and clarified the details.  As simple as saying “yes please”, we were booked in the exact cabin we wanted. 

who is your agent?  

Thanks for this recommendation. I will definitely contact MEI Travel for my next trip.  We use Costco Travel and it has been a pain to deal with them.  Costco Travel has its perks in the form of costco shop cards, and when they used to offer "buyer's choice" cruises where they comped a couple of items (typically free soda package, 1 dinner for 2 at one of the restaurants, plus extra goodies) but I think buyer's choice is now a thing of the past. 

5 minutes ago, foxrunner said:

Strange still on my Cruise planner!

 

Perfect Day Cococay Wave Jet Tour - Driver A

PERFECT DAY COCOCAY, BAHAMAS

DURATION: 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES

Go full octane on an exhilarating tour around CocoCay and the Berry Islands as you drive…

From*$109.00USD Adult   $109.00USD Child

If you don't mind me asking, when is your cruise?

Hi all, my wife and I are still new cruisers, we are going on our 3rd on 11/27 on Allure.  On our first 2 cruises we only booked excursions through RC.  After reading through this forum and specifically this thread, I'm intrigued about using third party companies but still have the anxiety of using something not sanctioned by RC as I've been told if you're late, they will leave you. 

I'm sure a company like Bernards Tours who is used to cruisers and making sure they make it back on time doesn't have issues. Have y'all ever encountered any problems?

For anyone following, I just got off the phone with RC and they told me that the jet ski tour is not being offered as an excursion.  I'm surprised that it was available before and not now. Something must have happened to make them not offer this anymore.

16 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

I just got off Allure this morning. It is open. 

that is great news!

Both of my previous cruises, Harmony OTS in 2018 and Allure in 2019, we were able to purchase a 10 drink punch card at some of the bars. They didn't really become available until a couple days into the cruise, perhaps after the halfway point.   Does anyone know if these are available anymore?

Anyone that's been on Allure recently, is Sorrento's open?   We will be on Allure 11/27.

Allure 11/27 is now going to PR and this is the excursion my wife and I are considering. We have been here before on Oasis in 2018 and did a similar excursion to the one that is now listed as "Mofongo and Mojitos" which was a walking tour of the old San Juan and the fort, we stopped in at a coffee shop, then went to a small restaurant and made mofongo, the fort, and ended at a bar outside the fort for a rum drink.   Anyhow, has anyone done the "San Juan by Land and Sea" excursion? I'm wondering how similar these will be (obviously mode of transportation is different since not on foot). 

I figured it should be in the planner as it is a tour.  It is definitely not in MY cruise planner for our day at CocoCay. 

On 10/22/2021 at 6:45 PM, AlohaLivin said:

Our Nov 14 Allure cruise has just made two changes to our already altered itinerary- we now will go to San Juan (been so many times not much left to do) and St Kitts (where we somehow have never been). But I keep hearing warnings from people about these “bubble” requirements that had been in place at least until recently and I am wondering if anybody knows the current status? RCL had no tour options up until this afternoon but still there are only 2 options. I would like to know if independent tours are in option for us at this point, but I don’t know where to find the answer to that.

Our 11/27 Allure cruise originally had St Kitts on the itinerary but it was changed a few days ago, (they traded St. Kitts and DR for CocoCay and San Juan).. maybe your St. Kitts will get axed as well.

I'm on Allure 11/27, our itinerary was changed and now we're going to CocoCay.  Based on the recommendations I've read on this awesome forum, we got the Beach Club. I see that there are jet ski's that you can rent and I've seen some videos about them, it is a jet ski tour.  As of this moment, there is no shore excursion listed for this.  So my question is basically, are the jet ski rentals just a booth you go to and sign up once you're on the island or is it normally offered as an excursion (like the zip lining or roller coaster ride at Labadee)?