tonyfsu21

11 hours ago, bretts173 said:

Yes but a swim up bar that seats 10 with 7000 onboard.

That’s why you stay on the ship when everyone gets off of it to climb Dunns River Falls. The swim up bar, the ship and the world are now yours for the taking. 

If you are lucky enough to get one (and that bed is what you want), then I would keep it. I see it as different than the “chair hogs” who place a towel on a chair at 6am and don’t actually use it until 10am. At least you will be enjoying it all day. With that being said, probability is low that you get one. I’ve never been able to snag one even w/ single ship and one of the first groups off the ship. Good luck!

Icon could potentially knock the ball so far out of the park that the company may never look back at smaller options. That ship is a game changer. The “ship is the destination” talk will be non stop once she sets sail. Can’t wait to have a beer at the swim up bar! 

On 11/29/2022 at 4:53 PM, Cruiser4Life said:

Hard Rock Hotel could be an idea. The Guitar Pool is amazing and there are cabanas you can reserve. Lots of restaurants and shopping, as well as the casino

I second this. The guitar hotel pool is amazing. I am unsure if they offer resort for a day though. 

On 11/30/2022 at 2:06 PM, Boba Milk Tea said:

I’m currently on Symphony of the Seas.  The food sucks. 
1. The nachos cheese is fake. 
2. crab cake doesn’t have real crab

3. same food at wind jammer every day

4. dining room food was also bad most days 

 

quality has gone done. 
 

I’m done with RC. 

So in review, you are done with the company as a whole because the nacho cheese, windjammer and MDR “sucked”? You, Mr “Boba milk” are not a cruiser. Please check out some land based vacations so that another family waiting in line to book a cruise on RC has an opportunity. After record breaking bookings & demand at near record highs, I do not think they will miss your complaints about the sucky nacho cheese. Who eats that sh@t anyway? 

The article recently published by People Magazine is an absolute embarrassment to the media and I’m actually ashamed I wasted three minutes of my valuable life reading it. How can you blatantly sidestep the fact that this idiot jumped off the ship either high or drunk out of his mind (best case)? Overall goal to once again portray the cruise industry as “dangerous” was successfully achieved.  

On 11/29/2022 at 9:53 PM, emfagan said:

What did you end up doing?

 

Actually nothing. We walked off the ship and then decided a pool day on the ship was a better option. Hoping for more information regarding this port from this group in the future. I have been a few different times (on other lines) and was never really impressed. 

10 hours ago, RCLblue10 said:

so one vote for Bolero's (harmony) as best bar for strong drinks and fun.  I am going on Harmony in Jan.  any other bar/bartender comments to help me make a decision where to drink on Harmony?  I tend to spend most of my time in casino.  I wish it was a video poker bar.  thanks

If you have prime casino level or above I would just stick with the casino bar. That seemed to be one place on the ship where I was getting (at a minimum) correct drink I requested and on top of that it was a generous pour. 

28 minutes ago, JBC said:

I order pina coladas with a Myers or Kraken floater (extra shot on top).  Kraken is pretty common and is a good choice because it's 94 proof.  Usually it's not an issue, and I typically hand them a buck or two in advance with my card and most of the time they get the idea.  If they don't, I will find another bartender for the next drink.  Any bartender that doesn't over-pour the jigger also won't get a return order from me, that's ridiculous.  You are on vacation and the drinks (whether paying per drink or with a package) are expensive!  A seasoned bartender doesn't need a jigger to make a proper drink anyways.  

I’ve run through every iteration of the Pina Colada on Odyssey and perhaps it was just the bartender that didn’t know what was going on. I’ve ordered a Kraken floater and they skip the rum in the mix and just pour the floater which is not standard operating procedure. This must be another issue related to newer employees still learning their job roles. 

I did come across an issue on Odyssey over Thanksgiving week at Lime & Coconut. I ordered a couple Pina Coladas for my brother and I while hanging by the pool and they had no alcohol in them. I went back after we finished them and mentioned this to the bartender and she replied “you didn’t mention you wanted alcohol in them”…….. Odd. I learned my lesson and now opt for the Kraken Coladas so you can physically see the rum in the drink. I feel like the Lime & Coconut owes me 2 diamond drinks! 

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I am booked on EX twice for the southern Caribbean route (ABC) - once in Jan and once in April.  Both are casino comps.  Not sure what amenities you may be looking for, but I will take the much lower prices, excellent itineraries and casino comp availability every time !  No waterslides, etc. but we don't do those things anyway.  If you have need of such things then I can certainly understand it. 

Yep, my kids are spoiled by the Oasis class amenities and I am completely outnumbered. 

Thinking about a Southern Caribbean cruise on Explorer in March 2023 but only if she’s AMPED. Does anyone know if there is still a plan in place to start dry dock in January? Google is not my friend regarding this topic. TIA

Cabana would be the only pay option. There were so many beach chairs and umbrellas on Nellies beach when we were there last week that a cabana would have been a waste for us. Plenty of shade, no issues. 

8 hours ago, twangster said:

Port Everglades is a major fuel depot for all of South Florida so it is a secure maritime facility.  Everyone entering the port has to show ID.  The rideshare drivers have to show their Uber or Lyft "manifest" proving they are performing a service and not just a person in a car with no business interest visiting the port.  All passengers have to show ID as well so be prepared.  

It's not a big deal but I routinely seem to get a rideshare driver that has never done it.  Many times I get rideshare drivers with few english skills.  If the security person at the port entrance doesn't speak spanish it can make for a challenging arrival.  An Uber/Lyft driver has a place in their app where it produces a manifest they have to show security and for a first time driver entering the port it can be a brief challenge to overcome.  They also can't have a firearm.  Entering the port with a weapon is a huge problem.  

Do you ask the driver if they are carrying a sidearm before you take the ride? I could see this would be a major hassle and a delay if they didn’t have the wherewithal to know not to carry inside the port. 

My family & I just returned from sailing Odyssey for the Holiday. We had an excellent cruise, everything was perfection. The Music Hall is an amazing venue (especially on Odyssey). We were there every single night enjoying the karaoke, bands exc. The upstairs area is prime time with plenty of seats, pool tables and a full bar. I’ve been before on other ships but for some reason (maybe the layout), I enjoyed this venue on Odyssey more than the others. For anyone getting ready to sail her, you are in for a treat! 

1 hour ago, DoomSlayer said:

@tonyfsu21 Congrats on the win.  I was curious how they handled Taxes on your awesome Handpay.  Did you receive the whole amount you won or did they withhold some for tax reporting? 

They take your DL and SSN and bring you the total win in cash. IRS form shows up in your stateroom by the end of the sailing. 

This happened a couple nights ago on Odyssey, however, I forgot to scan my card. I haven’t received much feedback after this win and I think it might be because it was not recorded on my card. The host said “it doesn’t matter”…

Getting close to pulling into port and didn’t book an excursion. @Matt any ideas for a beach close by (possibly walking distance)? There’s not much information on this port and it’s been so long since I’ve been here. 

Can anyone recommend a beach in La Romana? Looking for an easy cab ride to a nice beach with the family. 

Where do you go to get buckets of beer? Playmakers is a “no go”. Looking to get a few buckets for the room to watch the sail away with the family but I’m having zero luck. And I’m not star class….

I will be there Tuesday on Odyssey. Personally, I don’t care for the port but haven’t really found anything I enjoy there (yet). Labadee, Aruba & Curaçao are amazing though. 

6 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Less than pleasing options ,no healthy protein at Labadee.  Burgers, hot dogs  (beef?,pork?-combo?) or ribs (beef or pork? Unsure)  I could see my cardiologist cringing as I looked at the options.  I ended up with the burger-it was gross. 
there was no mustard early on for the hot fog people , (well if you call yellow mustard mustard!) but about 30 minutes later it was available 
the rice and beans barely had beans and really no flavor, too bad there was no hot sauce available. 

The beach made up for the lousy food, and yes, I’d go back but I wouldn’t plan to eat there.

for those following the Diamond and up drink vouchers -1 drink not signed for and not “charged”(recorded), the other drink was signed for snd  showed in the app. Both were served by waitstaff on the beach, 

I recently received an email that seems to resolve the diamond drink issue by requiring a signature and the receipt details the amount of diamond drinks used for the day so you can now tell right away if the bartender did in fact use a diamond drink. 

7 hours ago, ScottD said:

well even though the site shows a TON of rooms available, I just got off the Phone and they told me I couldn't move from my CP VIEW (not balcony) room to an Ocean view balcony because that is considered a downgrade in the system, and when she tried to find me any other upgrade, it said none of them were available. SO... either something goofy going on with the system or I guess I'll just give Royal Up a chance!

You should call back on this one, it sounds like you were told a bunch of nonsense. Don’t rely on RoyalUp because win probability is very low for the most part. 

6 hours ago, XtremeGK said:

100% call back. That just doesn't sound like a logical response from them.

This response from RC actually sounds on par with exactly what can be expected lately. You can call back and get a different answer every single time.

2 hours ago, mike2608 said:

Has anyone stayed in the blue lagoon region just south of the Miami airport and if you have, how is the neighborhood in that area to walk around? I am thinking of staying there and wanted to know how relatively safe it is.

It’s relatively safe and people are out and about at all hours of the night. This area has a large Cuban population. As far as being walkable, I would say it’s walkable but there are many very busy streets to contend with and some beyond crazy drivers.