DunkelBierJay

On 5/1/2017 at 9:57 AM, klaconqueso said:

Yep - going from a Vision Class ship to a Voyager Class one! Really excited to have the unexpected chance to check Mariner out!

After being on Navigator and Enchantment, I know you'll love Mariner! Enchantment has a special place in my heart, but that itinerary on a Voyager class is fantastic. Best of both worlds!

2 hours ago, fmanke said:

Thinking about a RC cruise and Universal Orlando combo next summer with the kids. Anybody ever had experience with this?

Yes! Last June, we did an Eastern itinerary on Freedom from Port Canaveral and did Universal afterward. We disembarked, rented a car from the nearby Hertz and drove directly to Cabana Bay Beach Resort at Universal because a Hertz desk is in the lobby there. We were in one of the parks by 11 am that day. It worked out extremely well. It also helped tremendously with my post cruise depression.

We stayed at Universal four nights and bought 3-day park-to-park passes. I recommend the park-to-park so you can ride Hogwart's Express. There was a decent discount bundling it that way when I bought the tix in advance.

1 hour ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

I have always been advised to never pay off your cruise in full prior to final payment.  I should specify....i always pay my final cruise payment at least a couple of days before final payment just to make sure it all gets credited properly, but never more than 10 days ahead of time.

Do you know the consequence if the final payment date is missed, even by a few hours when 95% of the cruise is paid for?

1 hour ago, klaconqueso said:

I honestly keep finding myself swapping to "honeymoon cruise planning" as soon as the "wedding planning" mode gets too stressful. 

I need to ground myself from booking things on the cruise planner. 

I can relate. Once all of my planning is done, I keep wanting to do it, so I go to the cruise planner 20 times a week when I should only check it once or twice for sales.

1 hour ago, chiboo9 said:

I've done an embarrassing amount of research so I know it's a much smaller ship without bells and whistles.

I find the research to be cathartic...it also helps with imagining being there, and then seeing if the reality matches.

The Abba tribute at the end of the headliner's show on Navigator was awesome...I would kinda want to see Mama Mia after that...but sit toward the back, with sunglasses, a hat and something that I wouldn't wear on any other day...maybe a fake beard or something.

Do non-US sites always quote in US dollars? Could it be in AU $s? Sorry if this is a stupid question...

Firefox works well for me. Chrome is hopeless. I don't bother with IE.

I'm glad someone asked about this...mine was a tracking tool...

Since fmanke found the new drink package/MDR attire/gratutity topic in terms of popularity, I must add to the equation with the lanyard from the recent group cruise onto which I pinned a flag of every port I visited since I began sailing RC...I'm debating adding pins from some short European sailings years ago...but my wife insists that I don't because she doesn't want full certification of my geekdom.

Mexico will be added in 49 days...

I like 'em if for any other reason than it is easier to find my SeaPass card if I let the cabin get cluttered.

9 minutes ago, Erika1971 said:

Do you have any recommendations and where to look for a knowledgeable one?  Sorry to pepper you with questions!

MEI Travel does a great job! I have used them twice based on recommendation and the fact they support the blog...they really are good!

Use the form entitled 'Get a Free quote" to the right on the main page.

http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/

I work with Brock, but I have heard good things about everyone there.

I saw Chops on the Cruise Planner for lunch on Empress today and am definitely booking it. I will report on it in addition to others in this thread. I think that $19 pp price is fantastic, especially since the filet shows up on the menu. 

21 hours ago, monorailmedic said:

... we weren't normal passengers on this one trip...

just this one?

9 hours ago, mom2mybugs said:

Thanks Matt---I still can't visualize where that St. Tropez area is, but I will totally look.  And I'm am absolutely going to try the heliopad for sail away, if it's not too cold that day!

I will never forget the St. Tropez area because one morning I grabbed a coffee at Cafe Promenade and went to deck 12. I saw the stairs and climbed them. I caught my flip flop on the top step, and I did an endo, but I didn't spill any coffee! There's a security camera on a pole there, and I wondered if anyone saw it. It was embarrassing nonetheless.

Its easy to miss, but it is above the Panoramic OV rooms, and I haven't seen it on any deck plans including RC's site...it's Deck 13 forward, so the deck number may be the reason why I tripped...

Ok, you're right. So how about just telling us what you feel is the best ship based on what ever criteria you want.

Enchantment of the Seas -- this is a small ship that feels like a big ship in many respects. The pool deck is HUGE for a ship that size, and the Oasis bar is my favorite among all bars I have tried on a cruise ship because who can beat looking out to sea when ordering your lava flow? I enjoy the center of it all aspect of the Centrum on that class ship.

What's the best for first timers with kids? 

Just thoughts....

First Choice: Liberty of the Seas -- who doesn't love a waterslide? The cost is low

Second Choice: Harmony of the Seas -- who doesn't love a waterslide? And, everything else...

Best for first timers as an older couple wanting a quieter cruise?

Radiance Class in January or September is my best guess

First timers who want an all cruise party? 

Majesty of the Seas during Spring Break

Why did you choose a specific ship or category on your cruises that followed?

I was dying to get on a ship again, and I saw Freedom of the Seas docked at Port Canaveral as we disembarked from our first cruise. That sold me on the next ship I wanted to sail. The next was the Navigator Group Cruise when my geekdom metastasized. I will now get on a ship any time, any place...as long as it is RC until I hit Diamond, then I will try Celebrity and maybe Princess one day. NCL would be a distant third...but I want the free drinks in the diamond lounge.

Have you chosen specific ships when cruising with your family and another one if it was just a couples cruise, and why?

Yes...

Family: Freedom fit all the criteria I was looking for because it is a huge ship, and my oldest daughter was paralyzed by fear of sea sickness. The larger the ship, the easier it was to quell her nerves. It didn't work, because she psyched herself (she used bonine and a wrist band) out and now doesn't want to cruise, but her brother and sister are converts. I think it was because she was in an upper berth...I will continue to work on our oldest. She will come around eventually.

Couples: There isn't a ship in the RC fleet I will not try

Personally, I am very new to cruising, and am extremely happy with our selection of Enchantment of the Seas on a 4 night Bahamas itinerary a few years ago. The overall cost was low, the ship is wonderful, and I went in knowing that I was on a steep learning curve as to how to approach it. Many will say longer itineraries on much larger ships are better. For us, this did not apply. Approaching it the way we did gave us a thirst for more, and our focus now is not to break the bank booking as much as we can.  I guess, if you are asking on behalf of a first timer, find out what the expectation is... Ours was sitting by the pool and enjoying a couple ports...but I knew I would enjoy cruising, so I positioned it so my wife would get hooked too...and, she did...even though she still wants to book a land vacation every now and then.

I must confess to having a bad breakfast habit on board. Take a small pile of corned beef hash, and smother it in country gravy. Yes, it looks as terrible as it sounds, but tastes great to me!

 

Sometimes I include a side of smoked salmon.

 

 

I think it sounds delicious...but I would want to add a couple poached eggs....or just top it with eggs benedict....

When you book through a travel agent, do you still have access to your cruise on the Royal Caribbean site?  Meaning, will I be able to go in and purchase drink packages, specialty dining, etc. on the Royal Caribbean site (like I do when I book through them)....or does everything need to be done through the travel agent?

 

Also, are my cruise documents available on the RCI site, or is that all sent to me via the travel agent?

 

Thanks

1. Absolutely...if your reservation ID isn't showing up, click on the link on the lower left of My Cruises on the RC site entitled "Don't see your reservation." From there, you can enter your information to get to your cruise planner for that sailing. Click on the reservation ID, and it will take you to the Countdown to Cruise. There is a link in one of the tabs entitled "Cruise Planner." from there, you can get to shore excursions, dining packages, Internet, beverage packages, etc.

2. There's a section called "Cruise documentation" on the Countdown to Cruise page. If your documents are available, you should be able to see if they are issued. I can't remember if it is after online check-in or not, but I think it is. You should be able to check-in 90 days before your cruise I think.

I recommend asking for a supervisor right off the bat so you don't have to explain it more than once.

I have a selfie stick. I have used a selfie stick. I have used a selfie stick on RC ships.

*only when no one is there to see me using a selfie stick*

Selfie sticks are annoying. I can be annoying too.

If I book and pay for an activity on CocoCay, but then we don't actually get to go to the island (due to weather) do I get the $ back? 

Yes

My advice is to have patience. One thing I constantly observe is the number of people who don't observe elevator etiquette. I attribute this to people who don't live or work in buildings with elevators -- it can really get to you if you let it -- I work on the 11th floor of a building, and the differences in behavior are amazing.

I usually check to see if elevators are below me when I want to go up or above me when I want to go down. If that isn't the case, I check the other side, use the stairs or go forward if I am aft. This works well on Freedom and Voyager class ships, because the Promenade or pool deck is usually the destination. I can't speak to Oasis or Quantum class ships.

I Understand that if my wife and i get the VOOM unlimited internet package, that I can put our iphoneeive  into airplane mode and then use wi-fi calling. If either of us receive a call from the US, will are phones ring as normal?  can we call each other whileon board?  Thanks

If you have an iphone, you can Facetime or use another app like skype for non iphone users for calls. I was able to Facetime my kids on Navigator last month fairly well, and the VOOM on that ship has its limitations. 

Crew ----> Crew bar

Passengers ----> R Bar

All ----> Bars at ports of call