Riley

21 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

Good info, thanks. Unsurprisingly, I could order most of the menu but the firecracker shrimp will be in the running.

My wife “might” take a bite of the karaage if it was already sitting in front of her but she won’t order it seeing the word “thigh” no matter what you or I tell her. I was planning on daily sushi (and trying a bubble cone) but maybe I’ll use one of my $10 credits at Izumi in the Park and order it there for her to try (or she could if she doesn’t want ice cream everyday). Our Izumi lunch is on the last day.

She should like the Udon noodles with steak. It's a nice product and they use tenderloin.

17 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

I've tried all of the hot dishes on the Izumi menu and you can't go wrong with any of them. The Udon is pretty good, just thick stir fried noodles with some veggies and your choice of protein. 

 

Another thumb up for the udon noodles - they are really good.

Jumping in, Mallorca has - depending on which space you dock - the longest exit walk I've ever encountered.... but once you do finally leave the terminal there is a Hop On Hop Off stop directly across (small side) street that offers a good flexible tour.

On 4/5/2025 at 7:39 AM, B2D2 said:

Hi! I’m a first-time cruiser with limited experience traveling beyond my country. I’ve booked a Mediterranean cruise on Voyager of the Seas for August 2025. The ports of call include Civitavecchia, Naples, Messina, Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos, and Piraeus. I’m planning to spend a couple of days in Rome, but the excursion offered by Royal Caribbean seems quite expensive. Given the short duration of my stay, I would greatly appreciate some recommendations for a fantastic experience in Rome. I’m also feeling a bit overwhelmed by the excursion suggestions for the other ports. I would be very grateful if you could recommend excursions that are either offered by Royal Caribbean or by reputable tour companies. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated! 

Side note that could be important, depending on your heat tolerance - the odds are things are going to be HOT like, dangerously so; especially Greece and Turkey. Plan on bringing sunscreen, an umbrella for shade, cooling cloths or at least a washcloth from the ship to wet down for your face/neck, and as much water as you can carry. 

6 hours ago, ScottD said:

I'm fine with kids IN the bars... at the tables or comfy chairs. But AT the bar should be kept to them ordering a soda or mocktail, then moving to a table area.  This is how bars\taverns work in the outside world if kids are allowed... bring them in, just sit with them at the high tops or tables along the sides...actual bar stools should always be for adults, and even on the cruise ships where kids are basically allowed everywhere, I think the physical bar stool should be off limit unless ordering. 

In most states kids cannot physically sit at the bar - or be in the area without a parent/guardian present - but I'm going to guess RC decided it's too big a hassle to enforce that particular alcohol-based law... 

With the status match I've booked our first two Celebrity cruises and looking forward to checking out the differences. I'm also eyeing MSC (yay, status match there!) and we might try NCL for a Northern European cruise in a couple of summers, as they go places the RCL folks do not.

Look at long-term parking options along the CTA Blue Line (the Rosemont and Cumberland stations charge $11 per day if you book online). Both lots are right off I-294 and you are just a stop or two from O'Hare. 

20 hours ago, PPPJJ-GCVAB said:

Make sure you do it at least 48 hours before your cruise.  The cruise planner is not available for those 2 days before cruise day.  Also I believe you could cancel once onboard…just not sure how much notice you need to give?

You can cancel onboard up to 48 hours prior to the excursion, but they really mean that 48 hours.

15 hours ago, SeaSunnedTraveler said:

I get naked and parade around for a good 20 minutes. 

In my birthday suit. I guess I could have ironed it first. 

 

I guess if they went to the trouble of putting in the cameras, it is the least I can do. 

*laughter* 

How are you getting to the port? Car hire from the airport should make it simple. If you have mobility issues I would not recommend the train - there is a ~$3 shuttle from the station but it can be a LONG walk through Rome Termini station to the correct train.  

On 12/24/2024 at 5:55 PM, Pooch said:

Nope, lowly Diamond so I think between the two of us , we get 4 50% off glasses.  Now I might make it to day 5.

Remember, level here is not the same as RC level.

Diamond level you get free drinks as well, which you can use for wine. if the per-glass cost is over the free drinks limit they charge you only that.... I drink a lot of $3 glasses of wine that way.

11 minutes ago, barjpoe said:

If you do have or get a bottle that has a cork; make sure you also pack a GOOD wine bottle opener. I had a cheap one with a screw and a hole in the handle to put the cover in and couldn't pull the cork out. So now I'll pack one that has a 'hook' like to rest on the bottle lip as I pull the cork out.

Yeah... your room steward will give you a corkscrew but it's one of those really cheap plastic ones, and they often don't really do the trick without massive struggle. Good corkscrews are often confiscated by TSA if you're flying, so it can be a pickle, but any liquor store (or Walgreens) sells decent corkscrews so in the past we have picked one up the night before, along with a couple bottles of wine. $10 well spent.

Vortex lounge and/or the dance halls. It is just not my style...

1 minute ago, smokeybandit said:

After midnight, we're going to let it all hang down
After midnight, we're going to chug-a-lug and shout
We're going to stimulate some action
We're going to get some satisfaction
We're going to find out what it is all about
After midnight, we're going to let it all hang down

Just no tambourine shaking - I'm trying to sleep  

On 12/3/2024 at 10:09 AM, smokeybandit said:

My biggest concern, especially when cruising in the winter, is actually getting to the port in the first place. In the last couple years we've skidded our way to the airport for one cruise and moved our flight up a day on another cruise due to a snow storm. A third was during that Southwest snafu over Christmas, and while we weren't flying Southwest, there was enough insanity to be a bit nervous.

Agreed! Once I'm on ship I'm RC's problem, but O'Hare is our home airport and I always book to fly out the night before; two nights in Winter and three nights (usually including the overnight flight itself) for Europe.

Have not done Altun Ha but the Chaccoben tour is lovely.

This is a fun thread! Jumping in late but we really like Cedarbrook Lodge near SEATAC and the Seattle Express shuttle from the Lodge to the terminal on departure day - they are awesome.

If you have never flown through Charlotte hope for a good connection: the airport is laid out on a hub-and-spoke pattern where invariably I land at the very end of one spoke and have to get through the hub and all the way to the end of the opposite spoke to catch the next flight. It can be a 15 minute or more walk, moving briskly.

We've only driven across the WA/BC border (friends and family on both sides) but the crossing can take a really long time so a short flight may indeed be your best option if the train won't work. 

Enjoy!

13 hours ago, melmar02 said:

As the mother of a 12 1/2 year old boy, I love that they don't charge us based what he eats on a cruise! They might charge us twice just for him! 

I can only imagine how much worse it gets from here. 

Years ago I had four young (mid-20s) guys on my team and after a big project finished I took them out to a celebratory lunch at the nearby Old Country Buffet. It was like watching the Vikings sack Rome.... 

2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

Only way you all will get an amenity is if you are in different households. I normally sail in a different room while sailing with my brother. Both of us are D+ but because we are in the same household we have only received one amenity. Each room will get the waters and Chef's amenity but it's only been the one bottle of wine we selected

The Dearly Beloved and I have both gotten the amenities when we have been in different cabins, so it may vary by ship. If the cabins don't each get an amenity ask Guest Services on board - they may send it up.

If they add Minnesota (I'm looking at you, Duluth!) I will be able to drive to port.

We stayed at Home2Suites by Hilton at the airport and really enjoyed it.  Nice hotel with a free shuttle from the airport (Note: it's in a lousy location restaurants-wise so we bit the bullet and got dinner at the airport ahead of time... Newark has a surprisingly good "food court" option and we loaded up) and an easy cab ride to the port the next morning.  If we go out of Bayonne I'll stay there again.

RCL also started paying its dividend again last week, which lowers cost basis over time. 

Have been to Greenland on Jewel twice in two years and highly recommend it - yes the showers are tiny (if you drop the soap forget about it until you exit....) but the MDR is fine (note: "tenderloin" one Day 2 is pretty much the same as a Filet) and Greenland itself is amazing even when fogged in.

After you get on board stop by the main dining room (either deck four or five, ordinarily) and speak with the Maitre'D. They should be able to set you up with a "same time every day" option. 

When asked where I'm from, I always say "Chicago" and get one of three responses: "Michael Jordan" "Mobsters" or "Blues Brothers!"