Traveling Mike

This should work to get to shore excursions shorex@rccl.com

this page (document) has most of the contact information including emails for the different departments.  17056205_2018SalesContact_List.indd (rccl.com)

There are so many sketchy travel agents out there.  This would not have been a problem for him if they just let him know up front, he was paying them a booking fee.  Then he could have made a choice to pay for the cruise and their booking fee.  When I hear this type of thing it makes me glad, I am part of this message board.  You can ask questions before doing things and get good responses and information.  

You can let it go and see if they catch it.  I would be afraid that you get pulled into customs at the end of the cruise because you are trying to bring in a minor with a birthdate on the ship manifest that does not match the passport.  Then you are trying to prove you do not have fake ID and the child is yours and ....

I found this great app for my iPhone that shows all the ships and dock information for Port Everglades.  It's just called "Everglades".

I book a lot of GTY cabins.  My cruise in November they gave me my room assignment months before the cruise, and they gave me an aft facing cabin.  My cruise in April I did not officially get my cabin until 3 days before the cruise, and they changed it the day of the cruise.  Once you check in for your cruise you can use a trick to look at the bar code to see what cabin they have assigned you for holding purposes.  Most of the time that will be your cabin.

Depending on the room your view will be fine.  I have a back-to-back booked on those rooms in April 2024 and looked at them last time I was on the Ovation.  Deck 7 is clear but deck 6 have lifeboats just below your view.  You will still have fresh air and be able to set on your balcony and enjoy the ocean view.  Your room will have everything you need it will just have less floor space.  Being solo the floor space will not matter.  Good luck and enjoy your cruise.

I am always afraid of having my pills in the pill box and getting questioned by the airline's customs.  I bring my pill box that holds two weeks, but I also bring my prescription bottles just in case.  When I am traveling internationally, I make sure they are in the original bottles when I fly then move them to the pill box once I get to my final destination or ship.  I also keep pictures of the bottles just in case.  Yes... I am paranoid.  

like @WAAAYTOOO said the pre-paid gratuity for the Cabin Steward and your wait staff.  If you purchase a drink (drink package or individual) you will be charged a 18% gratuity.  If you go to a Specialty Restaurant your bill will have an 18% gratuity.   If you purchase a dining package the gratuity will be added to that also. 

Here is the information I am keeping for my Crystal Blocks.  My second block will come between 198 points (start) and 216 points (end).  I am also taking it down and having the date and cruise I was on engraved on it.

Crystal Blocks

140 points = On the Artic Cruise September 2022

210 points = On the Trans-Pacific April 2024

280 points = ?

If you checked in for your cruise you can see your temporary cabin assignment.  I have done it two times and it worked both times.

• If you use an iPhone, simply add the set sail pass to your Apple wallet. Numbers will appear below the bar code. The numbers to the right of the dash represent your cabin.
• If Android, simply scan the bar code with a QR scanner. (This works for iPhone too; the Apple wallet is just easier.)

NOTE: You have to wait to get your official assignment to ask to switch as this is just your holding cabin until they are ready to make them permanent.

First,  I am a computer programmer and the new StarLink internet worked great for me working from the ship.  By the time you cruise it will be working on all ships.

Next:  Watch these videos of the most famous person living on RCL Ships.

(13) Living on a Cruise Ship Full Time, Royal Caribbean's "Super Mario" Part 1 - YouTube

(13) Living on a Cruise Ship Full Time, Royal Caribbean's "Super Mario" Part 2 - YouTube

(13) HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO LIVE FULL TIME ON A CRUISE SHIP WITH SUPER MARIO - YouTube

1 hour ago, WannaCruise said:

I remember @twangstersaying in another post to ensure our booking names match our passport matches. I did ask about this and they said it doesn't matter for domestic, which also includes flying from Canada to USA.  So our cruise booking doesn't have our middle names where our Air2Sea does (matches passport). Not sure if anyone has experience as the agent didn't want to change our cruise booking (or said he couldn't).

The flight information has to match your passport.  I don't think they were talking about flight matching your cruise paperwork.  I make sure both flight and cruise match my passport.  Once the flight did not and it was a very big hassle at the airport.  they had to make call after call to get it changed to match our ID.  To fix your flight name call Air2Sea and to change your cruise call your TA or RCL if you booked direct.  

I am not sure about the Grandeur but one of her sister ships (Vision of the seas) with almost the same type of ship, length wise and also having the jogging track on the 10th deck as the Grandeur does, has a jogging track that 3 and 3/4 laps= 1 mile.

I am cruising on the Allure on April 2 and have done lots of research and am still looking.  From what I am seeing for a family of 4 your best bet is with Lift.  Uber is not allowed in the port right now.  They are working on a contract, but I see nothing that has said it is done.  The cruise line has shuttles (I think I am paying $45 per person one way), but it has to be the day of the cruise.  You can stay at one of the airport hotels and go back to the airport to catch the ride.  The ride shares they have been in two different groups.  Shuttle companies and small car groups that offer transportation.  Both of them end up being about $35 to $40 a person one way.

For my weekend hotels near the airport were about 1/2 the price that they were at Galveston.  

I am not convinced that the sales are sales.   It seems like the prices are the same before, during and after the sales.  

I am Diamond + with RCL but the 3 Celebrity cruises I have been on I have loved.  The best way I can explain Celebrity is after you use the bathroom there are real cloth hand towels to dry your hands.  I am comfortable in by blue jeans and polo shirts.

strange thing is I cannot see those cruises. 

1 hour ago, chrloc said:

I am booking 2 staterooms and considering not specified location = Royal C. will choose the state rooms

We are a family with two teenagers, 15 and 19 years and we would like to be fairly close to each other

Do you RC will take this in to consideration?

If we get state rooms on different floors, do you think we can change them?

 

When you book GTY you get whatever cabins are left over.  That is why you might get the best cabin on the ship or the worst cabin.  I have heard multiple stories of people's kids being on different floors and ends of the ship.  I book a lot of GTY cabins because I do not care about the cabin and I can save hundreds of dollars.  You know your kids.  If they are secure being away from you and you do not fear about them not being near you save some money for something else.  If you need or want them close; spend the extra money and pick a cabin.

On changing... after they assign a cabin you can change but only to one that is the same category as the one, they gave you.  There is a good chance there will not be one.

11 hours ago, Cactus527 said:

The latest Royal Caribbean Blog post made me check (for the billionth time) west coast USA cruises after April 2024. THEY ARE FINALLY AVAILABLE!!!!!!!

West Coasters, go forth!

you must be special; I do not see them.

That is if you are cruising out of the East Coast.  If you are cruising out of Europe it is all over the place.  

3 hours ago, VeronicaS1970 said:

So we weren't sure which Alaska 2024 sailing we wanted to book so did the book later Next Cruise booking. We decided on a cruise and I called last night to book. Got the cabins I wanted,ok no problem. But when looking at the receipt, I see balcony NRD and 30% off savings. No OBC listed below that. Do you not get OBC like you do if you do a regular booking? Or do I just need to call back and have someone correct it?

Thanks for the help.

You only get the OBC if you book within 2 months.  I was not ready to book but I forced myself to choose to get my OBC.

I would call RCL and let them know you need a wheelchair and get directions from them.  That way there will be a wheelchair and person waiting for you when you get there.  I have not done that, but I have seen many people doing it.

2 hours ago, Bowen said:

I don't have one. I used to have one, but it was a friend and she lost me thousands of dollars once by not telling me about a window in which I either had to accept a new ship or cancel my cruise. It left a bad taste in my mouth. I probably could use one now, but the thought of giving over control, it bugs me.

Travel agents are a strange thing in you are giving up some control in one way or another.  I would never use a friend.  If you are not sure what you are doing it is good to have a good travel agent.  This message board is great because it allows you to ask others for recommendations.  If you know what you are doing and are just looking for perks you can always use a well-known (non-big internet) one to get the perks.  I use Costco travel because I like to book and organize my cruises and then I turn it over to them to get the perks and help me with issues.  Not having a travel agent is not a killer just make sure you know what you are doing before doing it.  Otherwise ask questions.

I am looking for my 2025 cruises and have not found one (or more) that I want to book.  If the cruise is what I want and will enjoy I would book it now.  If it is "I would settle for that one" then I would wait and keep looking.  When you find one you like book it as soon as possible.  You can always get price drops on the same cruise.

I had a Virtual Balcony on the Ovation of the Seas in July.  I was really disappointed and will not spend any extra money for one.  I will take an ocean view over the Virtual in the future.  If you want to see the cabin, I have a detailed video review at (9) RCL Ovation Interior Virtual Balcony 10123 - YouTube