Cactus527

My spouse and I did the lumberjack show in 2010. FANTASTIC. Definitely an all-ages show. Keep in mind you can buy it through RC as a shore excursion OR you could buy it through their web site/walk up. The only differences are you're going to pay less by booking directly with the show vendor vs. RC, and you're going to sit in a different place to watch the show (e.g. you'll be on the left side of the theater instead of the shore excursion assigned right side). Ha! We're going back in 2025 as well (different cruise line) and are going to see the show again, it was that good.

I was just reading Matt's article on status matching with Celebrity and had some questions. Let's say I'm Emerald in RC for my first Celebrity cruise. I call to status match and they make me Select. I do the Celebrity cruise. Later, I become Diamond on RC. Can I call Celebrity up again after I turn Diamond and rematch to the Elite status? Or is it only a one-time thing like MSC?

All of my bookings are through my TA; however, I CAN access the online payment tool via the app. Every single cruise shows a balance due of $0, which I know is wrong. So, reading through all of these "shady math" suggestions, I wonder if the app is just plain wrong? It seems too many errors in too many people's totals to be correct.

I was always told to think of it this way: If you leave from the US to go to Europe, you wake up every morning with one hour lost. 8am becomes 9am. The next day, 8 am again becomes 9am. You keep losing time. You then also have to make the long flight back to the US when your cruise is finished. If you leave from Europe to go to the US, you wake up every morning with one hour gained. 8am becomes 7am. The next day, 8am again becomes 7am. You are gaining time, and then you don't have the major flight/travel to get home (you did that prior to the cruise). When I book a transatlantic someday, I'm definitely doing Europe to US!

I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet that the code for Icon Class #3 starts with a T. Thalassophile of the Seas?

You could do it, but here's my observation: we did a private jeep tour with a guide through Viator when we were in Cozumel. The northern part of the island is undeveloped and you really, REALLY don't want to drive up there. There are many parts of the island that have questionable roads too (think dirt roads, muddy roads, giant potholes, etc.). Mexican drivers also have different customs of doing things on the roads than Americans, which is something that throws me off every time I'm in Mexico (e.g. no left turn on green, unless there is a green arrow). So, personally, I don't like/want to drive in Mexico. As for the safety part, I was very surprised at how relatively safe Cozumel is compared to Cancun, for example. In Cancun, you have drug cartels having open warfare with each other in the tourist areas. I asked our jeep driver about how Cozumel is able to maintain such a different way of doing things (versus mainland) and he said that there's apparently just not enough resources for the cartels to be growing things there, and then the distribution is costly because it's 12 miles from the mainland, etc., etc. He even said that his parents had moved their whole family from central Mexico to Cozumel when he was a teen because it was safer. I'm sure there are areas of Cozumel that are questionable, but I was honestly surprised how much safer it felt/looked than what I'm used to (Nogales, Ensenada, Rocky Point). Hope this helps a bit.

If you don't have an RC excursion planned, you'll have to get a ticket for the tender too. Who knows how many people will be in line ahead of you and get earlier slots! Definitely push it back a bit. That being said, you may find it a breeze and be on the island by 9am. Experience tells me you'll probably be later versus earlier...

RC's shuttles also have a guideline saying no flights before 12pm. It doesn't mean that you'll get on the first shuttle out either, and who knows what time that shuttle will leave. Definitely recommend private transportation. We used Galveston Saltwater Moms for our drop off and pick up, and they were phenomenal. $65? $70? One way for the three of us in a huge SUV.

Yeah, I've done this and you only get three points per night. It must have been a double points promotion for the 32!

How did you get 32 points on an 8-night cruise????

We'll be coming into London for a few days before moving on via train. Considering that we come into Heathrow, we want to see the main attractions in London, we'd like to NOT stay somewhere we feel we could be mugged at night, and we'd like to be closer to a main train station to head to Southhampton, where/what area would you recommend staying in? Any specific hotels/places are appreciated too. Thanks!

I would love to be the kind of person that looks at that $65K/person price tag and thinks "sure, I can manage that." Since I'm not, I'll be back here on Voyager and Freedom class, thank you very much!

I'm laughing that all the old people stayed away at Thanksgiving break time to avoid the young people! I love it!

Just yesterday (11/28), I paid $28.99/day for The Key on my March 2024 sailing. Internet is currently at $20.99/day. $8 per day more to get The Key lunch, early embarkation, reserved seating for shows, and any time departure at the end without waiting in line? Yes please! My September 2024 sailing still shows key at a value (cough cough) of $41.99/day while Internet is at $20.99/day. Um..no. Well, I should say, not yet. Maybe if it drops more, I'll consider it. For reference, March 2024 is a Freedom-class ship while September 2024 is an Oasis-class ship.

Ok, I'm hooked - how did this get resolved, @steverk?

I want to know how they know it came from Arizona. That's kind of wild to trace.

How exciting to be attending a wedding on board! Congrats to the couple.

We had a CP view cabin on Allure this summer. LOVED it for the extra space, the window seat, light from window, and people watching. I spent time in the cabin while my teens galavanted about because I was working, so I loved being able to curl up on the window seat with my laptop and do my work there. I would definitely recommend!

This, 100%. When I cruise, I enjoy what I have. There might be a few poorer choices on my part, but it's all good. I look forward to cruise food because it's different than what I typically have, so it's always good in that respect! So glad you got to rest and decompress. I LOVE the photos of your room! As a solo traveler too, it's nice to see what other options are out there. I have a solo room booked on Celebrity Silhouette in 2025, and while it won't have a window, I'm excited to experience it.

Our Allure cruise this summer opened entertainment reservations 42 days prior to embarkation. It actually does work out to the beginning of a month! Don't do what I did and forget about comedy club reservations - those are included too.

75°? Our house stays at 81°with a/c all summer. I would freeze at 75°!

Yes, it's under Shore Excursions.

Just saw this in my Cruise Planner for both MIA and FLL for my March 2024 cruise out of Miami. Definitely makes it easier to reserve! The price isn't bad per person either.

I love the Shirley Ginger, Blueberry Nojito, Burabura Brew, and am a HUGE fan of the frozen pina coladas (non alcoholic). My kiddos enjoy Shirley Temples and anything that has grenadine mixed in. I will second what @smokeybandit said too - ask the bartender, because you KNOW they have some secrets hidden up their sleeves!

We did RC's Turquoise Bay snorkel/kayak excursion in Roatan. The drive over is beautiful, and the island itself is stunning to see in the 40 minute ride out there. The resort itself is okay, I wasn't super impressed with the restroom facilities or the food (it was only during a certain time and was mediocre). Snorkeling and kayaking were also at set times - if you didn't do it then, you didn't do it. However, I WILL say the swings in the water were a big hit, the beach is beautiful (lots of chairs both in the shade and not), drinks were plentiful, and the tour guide on the bus was very informative. I would actually recommend the all inclusive option (RC offers several to Turquoise Bay) as it's in a better location on the beach. Cabanas were for resort guests only when we were there in July 2023.