happy cruisers 2

On 5/7/2025 at 10:56 AM, twangster said:

A TA can also be an advocate for when things don't go perfectly.  

Most cruises are booked and people sail them normally.  That isn't always the case.  Sometimes a ship is chartered, sometime a ship is redeployed, sometimes war in a region happens, sometimes a crane falls on a ship, hopefully there aren't anymore pandemics, but during the pandemic a TA was invaluable, etc. 

It when things don't go smoothly that a TA can usually better navigate the path to resolution while you sit back and relax. 

Well said, twangster.  Perhaps, as you say, I need to view the TA as more of an advocate when there's a problem and not expect them to give me anything during the cruise for the business I've given them.

On 5/7/2025 at 8:37 AM, AshleyDillo said:

In the example of the longer cruise, I'd be looking to book with a TA that gives tangible perks such as OBC or maybe free prepaid gratuities. Those perks affect the all-in price you pay for the cruise which can be a better deal than perhaps a TA group price. 

Thanks, AshleyDillo, for your reply.  Good points about all the different scenarios.  I've been very fortunate to never encounter a situation where I needed the TA to "fix" something during travel.  Things have always gone quite smoothly.  As someone who does a lot of the planning before I even contact the TA, I guess I was hoping for some kind of monetary "show of appreciation" while on the cruise.  Perhaps my expectations are too high and I should just be glad they'll be there to solve problems and answer questions if something goes awry.

On 9/5/2024 at 7:40 PM, Jewels said:

Looking for a travel agent that gets ya the perks.

What kind of perks should one expect from a TA?  (I'm thinking more about the longer cruises, not the short ones.  Say 14 - 35 nights, maybe, or even longer.)  Better rates than the cruise line offers, a specialty dinner or two, OBC to be spent as you please??  Do most TA's give you something extra, beyond booking the cruise and requesting dinner times, etc. ?  Curious to know what really impresses and makes you feel appreciated and rewarded for giving your TA the business.

On 3/18/2025 at 8:45 AM, HeWhoWaits said:

At breakfast, I have showered and don't need to wash my hands again. If visiting WJ at dinner time, I have just washed up after whatever daytime activities happened to be and don't need to wash my hands again. Even at lunch time, I've already washed my hands after a bathroom visit

And you didn't touch your cabin door handle, an elevator button or a hand rail between washing hands and getting your food?

Wife and I did a B2B on Harmony in January.  On about Day 3 of first cruise we noticed that we weren't seeing our room steward and it was obvious that someone else was cleaning our cabin (even though we never saw him or her).  When we next saw our first room steward we said how we hadn't seen her for a while.  She said "yes, I had the flu and had to be out for two days."  Wife and I both thought back to how she had stood face to face with us on Day 1 and we talked with her for a while.  Anyway, by Day 2 or our second 7-might cruise we both started coughing and needing our meds we brought along on the trip.  Don't think we caught the "flu" but we certainly got something from someone.  About 12 days after returning home we are both still coughing, although mostly over it.  Makes us wonder if we want to continue cruising if this is how it's going to go (kind of routine for our last 2-3 cruises).  So far, we don't intend to stop, but it does concern us.  And yes, we do make sure we keep up to date on our shots.  Sadly, we decided that we shouldn't be hanging out in the Suite Lounge or eating in Coastal Kitchen with all the coughing we were doing.  Certainly made our experience less than we were hoping for and paid for. 

15 hours ago, Pattycruise said:

Straight to the dining room level that handles main dining.  Get that request in.

Thanks Pattycruise.  Got it.  

We booked a cruise (junior suite) on our own, via the RC site, on short notice.  It's coming up in 6 days.  Our "cruise vacation receipt" shows   Dining (Waitlist):    7:30 PM ( )

What do you suggest we do to maximize our chances of a table for two at the same time each night?  Go see the MDR maitre d' as soon as we board or perhaps mid-afternoon before they're swamped with the early dinner crowd?  Find a MDR person in the promenade after we board?  Get in line with the masses when we hope to eat?  I know boarding day is chaotic!

On 12/27/2024 at 8:47 PM, Ampurp85 said:

JS count as suites so you can show up earlier.

Thanks, Ampurp85.  Our plan is to aim for 12:30 and hope to get into the cabin around 1:00.

We booked a very short notice (two weeks out) Junior Suite and got a boarding time of 1:30-2:00.  Do Junior Suites qualify for the one-hour earlier boarding, or should we show up at 1:30?

PhilandSteff, your experience with the Harmony Grand Suite tub is exactly what we needed to know.  Thank you!  We'll be prepared.  I've watched some videos, but those don't answer my questions.  Most often, the last few years, we've had owner's suites on other ships  -- way more space than we need, but we do like the shower situation in those.  Decided to try to a Grand Suite this time.

We look forward to meeting Ooma and Wilsen!  The Suite Lounge and Coastal Kitchen are two of the suite perks we most enjoy.

Great info from the previous posters.  Thanks to each of you!  Anybody with recent experience is a Harmony GS?  We might go ahead and purchase a bathmat, just in case.

Looking for input from recent Harmony Grand Suite cruisers.  Please tell me about the tub.  Is it a "high" step to get into it?  Are there grab bars?  Is the surface non-slip?  Wife isn't tall, and she has a fear of a mishap since we won't have the walk-in shower we're accustomed to in an Owner's Suite.  We're not OLD, but no longer young either!  Considering bringing a bathtub mat, if it seems necessary.

10 hours ago, USCG Teacher said:

you can also respond to the e-mail your concierge will send you about a week before you depart with your reservation preferences, and they'll be able to set things up and confirm with you before you ever step on board.  Free up more of that 1st day for fun things!

Perfect.  Thanks USCG Teacher.  We've been in suites before, but only once on a ship with CK.  That boarding day lunch was really relaxing and enjoyable!  We'll wait for the concierge email and then let him/her know what we would like.

12 hours ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Yes.  The Concierge will take care of all of that for you.  I don’t think they accept lunch reservations - it’s pretty much first come, first served for lunch, but it will not be a problem.  Either way, the Concierge will advise you.

Thanks, WAAAYTOOO.  You guys are always so helpful.

On 4/8/2024 at 4:18 PM, WAAAYTOOO said:

No Coastal Kitchen rezzies available in the Cruise Planner.  The Concierge/Genie will book them for you once he/she contacts you before you sail or you can book them once you’re onboard.

We just booked a week (only, unfortunately) on Harmony.  Grand Suite.  So I should let the suite concierge arrange our boarding day lunch in Coastal Kitchen?  Same for lunches and dinner throughout the entire cruise?  Thanks.  There's so much good help here on the blog.  Really appreciated.

On 11/10/2024 at 11:12 PM, Atlantix2000 said:

I would think as long as RCL has your full list of cruises (and your correct points), then it doesn't matter.

This seems to be the case.  A very helpful guy at RCL was easily able to find our past reservation numbers.  I called Celebrity to ask about the "past cruises" list on their site and was told that the partial list of our RCL cruises really shouldn't even show up on their list and that there's no need to update the list with the cruises that aren't there.  Our Diamond status with RCL corresponds with Celebrity's Elite, so that's all that matters.

Thanks to all for your advice and help!

4 hours ago, Matt said:

What's the purpose of what you're asking? What I mean is, having your Azamara cruise number has no bearing on your Crown and Anchor or Captain's Club status. Points don't cross over like that.

So I'm trying to understand what you're angling at, before offering a suggestion.

Thanks, Matt.  Since we have two Celebrity cruises booked in 2025 I just happened to click on their "past cruises" tab and saw that they show our (wife and I) 2009 Azamara cruise, two 2024 Mariner OTS cruises and our 2024 Jewel OTS cruise -  nothing else.  I said to myself, "hey, what about our other six RCL cruises we've done between 2019 and 2023, why aren't those shown?"

We're Diamond with RCL and Elite with Celebrity, and I'm aware that there's a shared status arrangement.

There's a tab for adding past cruises, however it wants the reservation numbers, which I no longer have.  There's also a statement that if you don't see all of your cruises you can email Celebrity for assistance.

Basically, I'm wanting to make sure we aren't missing out on something status-wise, benefit-wise or whatever with Celebrity due to them not knowing about our other RCL cruises.  We may end up, in time, doing more Celebrity cruises.

Is there any important reason that I should want them to show a complete list, or is it a moot point since they correctly show our status as Elite?

I hope this makes sense.

Thanks for any thoughts or advice.

Multi-part question here regarding Celebrity and RCL.  I was looking at our list of past cruises on the Celebrity site (we have two cruises with them in 2025) and noticed that they include one cruise we did with Azamara and two with Royal Caribbean.  Their list doesn't include 6 other RCL cruises we've done in the last 3 or 4 years.  Maybe having a complete list really doesn't matter??  If it does, I have the dates, ships and destinations.  I'm just lacking each of the reservation numbers.  What do you more experienced cruisers say?  Do you think I should make sure Celebrity has a complete list of past cruises and, if so, should they be able to get the reservation numbers from RCL?

21 hours ago, cruzmaniac said:

My hubby and I visited Paradise Point via the Skyride 3 years ago in December while on a Princess cruise.  We enjoyed the view at the top and also the Bushwhackers (which were invented there) and banana daiquiris.

Thanks for your reply, cruzmaniac.  While this view and excursion sound nice, we've decided to do a trip that takes us up to Mountain Top so that we can look down on Magens Bay.  Really just want a bit of an overview of the island, so both of these excursions seem kind of similar to us.

We're stopping in St. Thomas in April and aren't finding any tours that seem too appealing to us.  We're not interested in a beach day or snorkeling.  If you've done the Skyride to Paradise Point, what did you think of that?  Our interests are experiencing some of the scenic beauty of the island and perhaps doing some walking in an interesting part of Charlotte Amalie that isn't so heavy with shopping (if that's possible).  Any restaurants or bars you liked near the cruise port will be appreciated too.  Thanks!

On 1/5/2024 at 8:56 PM, happy cruisers 2 said:

Planning to stay two nights in Boston, pre-cruise, and considering the Dagny.  We want a very walkable downtown area.  Have any of you stayed there?  If so, do you recommend it?

I promised an update after staying at The Dagny Boston.  Wonderful hotel and nice location!  I'd highly recommend it.  Good eating and drinking establishments at the hotel and very close by.  Very walkable area to the harbor, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, etc.  We stayed for two nights prior to a cruise and would certainly stay there again. I hope this info is helpful to someone looking for hotels.

On 9/27/2024 at 7:45 PM, ranchlady403 said:

We returned last Sunday from Greenland on the Jewel.  It was fog and rain and very little to see.  

Very Disappointed.

So sorry to hear this.  We were there twice during August and September and each cruise had different weather, or course.  Fortunately we saw both towns and did quite a bit of walking.  I hope you can go back again someday and have better weather.

On 7/15/2024 at 10:38 AM, ranchlady403 said:

Anybody have suggestions for excursions in Greenland?

We just returned and did Nanortalik and Qaqortoq.  Paamiut had to be cancelled due to ice.  In both ports, we walked on our own and took in the colorful houses and buildings rather than do excursions.  Stopped for a coffee at Cafe 44 in Nanortalik and watched locals having some beers.  Did not go into the church or outdoor museum.  We just enjoyed the walk and a look around one of the grocery stores.  In Qaqortoq we enjoyed the same basically.  Check out the Stone & Man carvings in the boulders.  Maybe not exactly what you are hoping to do in these small towns, but we enjoyed just seeing the locals going about life.

On 6/12/2024 at 7:19 PM, Ampurp85 said:

You can always check in the cruise planner or the app by clicking on a restaurant and seeing if you could make a paid lunch reservation.

I'm looking for embarkation day lunch at Giovanni's or Chops on Jewel and don't see anything offered on Day 1 on the cruise planner.  If they are open and taking reservations it should show up on the cruise planner, correct?  

9 hours ago, Geezer Of The Seas said:

According to AARP website, OBC up to $100 per stateroom MAY be available on SELECT cruises with Celebrity, HAL, or Princess booked through the AARP Travel Center powered by Expedia. No mention of RCCL. We've only booked through Royal's website, I know the only # asked for is C&A Society. 

Thanks.  I suspect RCCL doesn't offer anything significant or it would be easier to find out about.