rjweber3

Depending on itineraries and cruise length, I believe you would be fine with any of the Voyager class or Freedom class ships. I personally like the Radiance Class best. The Voyagers and Freedoms have lots to do, can go into more ports and generally are significantly less expensive. 

2 hours ago, Matt said:

Barrachina & Raices are two popular choices

Four of us went to Raices last year. All had Mofungo (spelling?). Two with chicken, one with beef and one with pork. The friend who ordered the beef Mofungo spent the next two days in her cabin after visiting the infirmary in the wee hours the next morning. The Dr. said food poisoning. So...word to the wise.

We are booked on Apex in May. Looked for this experience. It was only available on embarkation day in Amsterdam. I am beginning to believe that they don't offer it except on port days. I suspect it is too windy while at sea.

1 hour ago, KristiZ said:

They are not. And there was a pretty hard sell when we did this. The photos were great, but not that great  

That was our experience also. 

We did just such a session about 5 years ago. It was a studio session only. But, in their defense, I wasn't smart enough to ask for anything else. The session lasted about an hour. The photographs b/w only. 

Having said that, they were superb!

The only downside is cost. The photos were sold at an "each" price. It reminded me of my kids school pictures Ponzi scheme. The dozen or so pictures we bought on a thumb drive cost about $1200.

21 minutes ago, Pattycruise said:

 
You can try speaking with the head waiter to let them know you will be later on those port days and see if they can save your table for you.

I concur. The head waiter can make it happen. Check in with him/her on embarkation day. They have always bent over backwards to help us with that stuff. 

Enjoy your cruise.

The breakfast at Luminae is terrific! Eggs to order, several different proteins, omelets with almost anything you ask for. I became a fan of their eggs benedict. BTW, they did not enforce any dress code for breakfast and lunch. I wouldn't go there in a swimsuit, but many times went before and after excursions on port days.

We have dined in Luminae on both M and S class ships. All were very nice and a cut above the MDR. The food was better. But the service and atmosphere were top-flight. We usually had reservations, but if we didn't or arrived early or late, the head waiter was gracious and we were seated immediately. Getting to know all the waiters, assistant waiters, sommeliers, etc. by name was very enjoyable. We have not sailed on an Edge-class ship. We are looking forward to Apex in May to experience that one. I don't think you will regret it.

I understand that RCG is already working on Grand Bahama. Having spend several weeks there, I believe it has lots of potential. Friendly folks who welcomed us.

We have sailed in wake view Jr. Suites several times on V class. Not Voyager herself but on Explorer twice and two others. The only negative is the walk from the elevators. 

We loved the wake view and the quiet. Very few running youngsters through the relatively short hall. We have our TA on alert for wake view suites. Love 'em!

Domestic flights in the US have been so unpredictable that flying into the port a day early is wise.

We are flying to Amsterdam this May for a cruise. Our flights have been modified several times in the last six months. I had to rebook because the layover in Atlanta was only 39 minutes after the changes. We plan to depart on the 10th, arriving on the 11th for a 14th sail away. And that seems like just about right for that routing. Any less time would be too stressful for us.

My wife and I applied in November. Haven't heard a thing since. It's OK for us since we don't fly international until May 23. I'm really glad I thought to get a jump on it.I had no idea the wait was months! 

"We're from the government. We're here to help."

57 minutes ago, World_Discover said:

Hello,

I take this B2B thread opportunity to ask if it is possible to get of the ship early on a B2B cruise (such as 7am, in order to visit the city) and come back by noon ? It should not be a worry for customs as we are outside the ship from 9am to 11am (which is the window they want everybody out), but is it a problem for the company^, regarding the 9am meeting for B2B cruisers ?

Thanks

I've not done that, but they told us last time that if we did we would have to go through the regular check in and security screening as any other boarding guests. I would visit Guest Relations during the first cruise. Explain your intentions. And get a check-in time. 

Royal offers some excursions on the last day but that can get tricky because they terminate at the airport.

We sailed Infinity in September. the Retreat allowance for alcohol was the same as the premium package. 

I didn't look that closely at the wine price. I suspect the the 18% is charged on the undiscounted price, then the 20% is applied.

Hope this helps.

Both sites are up to just browse or look for cruises. It seems like the sign-in is broken on both the Apps and the websites.

2 hours ago, mistertomatohead said:

Ignoring everything else and just looking at price for adults who get the alcoholic beverage package, isn’t Celebrity cheaper with “Always Included?” You’d have to account for the included gratuities. Even throwing Internet in for free, it seems Celebrity is cheaper. I’m sure with kids sail free Royal comes out ahead but not everyone sails with kids. Maybe it’s just me since I can only get the rates on the public website.

We have sailed on both in the past years. I don't think that there is any question that Celebrity is about 15-20% more expensive on a cost/person/day basis. 

Having said that and qualifying my response as coming from someone  who travels almost exclusively on the "Dark Side" i.e. in a Suite, the intangibles like not feeling nickeled and dimed forever and the level of personal service has directed us more and more to the X. 

Please note that this is personal to my wife and me. 

We have another Royal cruise on the books because we will be travelling with my siblings +spouses. The price for an equivalent Canada/New England cruise made the difference to them.

16 minutes ago, dodgestang said:

Buy internet package, sit on balcony.....that's how I do it

Or on the pool deck under the running track overhang. Almost anywhere. Unless, perhaps, you use video conferencing alot. Then a private balcony is probably best.

So true. For us it was gradual. First a balcony cabin, then a Junior Suite, now our "standard" is a Grand Suite. 

On 1/8/2022 at 8:59 AM, KJO said:

I sailed with Silversea in August 2021, 10 nights to Alaska, roundtrip from Seattle.  Silver Muse was the ship and and experience was incredible.  My first luxury line and happy to answer any questions   

Basically just wondering if the experience is enough better than Celebrity to justify the cost? Or is it a once and done proposition? I'm sure SilverSea is a great line, but the cost is eye-watering.

10 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Hopefully someone will have something to share.  In the meantime, have you watched any of Gary Bembridge's videos?

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=tips+for+travelers+silversea

Thanks. That helps.

CruisingOz, No. I didn't ask. But I do know that some did the home test in a hotel in Barbados to satisfy the two day prior requirement for the ship.

I am trying to get information on RCG newest addition. I can go to their websites and talk to TAs, but I am more interested in real cruising experiences. 

Thanks, Ralph

Just returned from the December 5th inigural cruise out of BGI. 

1. PCR three days prior to entering Barbados. They checked this in the US prior to flying.

2. Test(Antigen or PRC) two days prior to boarding. We did the eMed Home tests. 

3. We found out that it was much easier  to get hrough Barbadian imigration if you highlight the type test. The agents are pressed fro time and some test results are pretty dense with verbiage.

4. Everyone has to take an antigen test at the terminal. Takes 20-30 minutes. Masking mandatory to this point. 

5. Aboard ship, masking in indoor public venues and places where unvaxxed might be. My Time dining is unmasked. As is the theater on deck 5. The Concierge Lounge is unmasked.

6. Grandeuer's electronics reflect its age. The app is not generally helpful. We could not schedule MyTime from it. We coild not book a tour or essentially any other reservation from it. We could not book a wakeup call except by calling Guest Relations. And then we did not get one 50% of the time. When I pointed this out at the Guest Relations desk, I was told that the electonics were "spotty". The Vooms Surf and Stream was really slow. We got maybe 8 Mb/s down and less than 2 Mb/s up. No reliable ping times in several tests.

7. The itinerary is fluid. We got several changes due to COVID rates. No stop in Trinidad, Tobago or Martinique.

8. The excursions were generally of the bus ride or beach variety. Very little "on your own" available.

Hope this helps.

I called eMed about ours. The three month extension is solid. 

Also aft-facing JS have much bigger balconies on most RC ships.