firegal2539

Wasn't any cheaper for my Enchantment or Explorer cruises, darn!

I have a story to tell. I just got back from a Panama Canal 14 day cruise, (not RCCL). I ate in the MDR with the same woman 5 different night, she was a solo cruiser like myself. She explained to me that flying was her greatest fear and she refused to do it, so every year she plans a 4 to 5 month cruise, (many different cruise lines, a few hotel stays), to not fly. She has done this for the past 5 years.

 

Her starting point was San Diego, we ended in Miami, from there she was spending a day or two in a hotel and then doing a 4 day RCCL cruise, hotel again, then a 7 day Allure cruise, getting off of Allure and doing a 15 day TA, I think on the Independence, this would take her through most of November. While in London she was doing a HAL cruise of the Mediterranean, 10 days I think, doing another HAL with Spain, Italy, etc. Until at the end of February, beginning of March, she would board a TA that would bring her to Vancouver or Seattle and then a cruise from Vancouver/Seattle to San Diego. On the Panama Canal cruise she had an interior, all other cruises were an ocean view or a balcony.

 

All of this so she doesn't have to fly. My first question, after her cruise itinerary, was "Isn't this expensive" and of course it is, but it is only once a year and she said you told me that you have 6 cruises booked for 2017, with another possibly being booked, (SNAP, she showed me). Next question, "Aren't you seeing a lot of the same ports" and of course she is, so she doesn't get off, she reads, she does needlework.

 

She explained to me she led a very frugal life, she was married, now a widow, had no children, and when her husband passed she sold her home in Denver and moved into the RV that she and her husband vacationed in, after moving the RV to her sister's farm, so no rent.

 

If you were able, would you do something like this? I am not afraid of flying, and to me, it is way too much trouble to set all of this up, just so you don't have to get on a plane, plus being on a ship for 4 months is just mind boggling to me.

 

Sorry to go on and on, but I found this to be so interesting. 

 

Candie

My TA has drilled it into my tiny little brain that never wait to the last day, so many things could go wrong, website down, phone problems, etc. She told me 3 to 4 days before the date is sufficient. Plus if the TA is out of the office that day you are really in trouble because you can't make the payment, the TA has to do it.

 

Candie

I have sailed the same ship and itinerary many times, probably about 4 or 5. I just got off of a Panama Canal cruise and met two wonderful couples from Vancouver that I have emailed and talked to twice already. I am a solo cruiser and on a cruise in 2015 met a woman who I have cruised with twice since then, it saves us money and we are compatible.

 

I usually keep in touch with crew members too, if they will give me an email address. The Canal cruise, I fell head over heels for the Concierge and we have emailed twice and has invited me to his home in Cape Town South Africa.

 

Candie

I just returned from a Panama Canal cruise, 6 foreign countries, and my doctor recommended a flu shot about 2 to 3 weeks before I traveled, a pneumonia shot, if it wasn't up to date, taking an anti-diarrhea drug like Immodium with me. I am allergic to all antibiotics, (I know, what do I take, absolutely nothing), and to the hand sanitizer that the ship supplies. I found packets of sanitizer on Amazon that have different ingredients, that doesn't leave sores on my hands. The doctor also said that foreign countries are different, but since you are only there for 8 to 10 hours, that getting a bunch of shots isn't necessary, but that is just my doctor talking.

 

Candie

For room service I usually give a $2 tip because it is just me and I very seldom order a full meal.

 

I have just returned from a Panama Canal cruise and had a Concierge and asked him how the gratuities are distributed. They have a pecking order (I guess you could call it), with Dining Attendants (waiters, waitress, attendants) being at the bottom,  Room Steward/Stewardess being next, and so on up the ladder. The Concierge said that the pecking order includes Dining Room Managers, Concierge, Butlers, Dining Hosts/Hostesses, Spa workers, etc., so your grats don't go very far. He told me it is added to their paycheck, not given in cash. But he also stated that you need to remember that if everyone pays grats and there are 3000 passengers onboard, they do ok. I always tip extra to the Concierge and Butler (only had 1 butler), casino staff, and hostesses. I didn't ask him about passengers that don't prepay, but as someone stated, if you don't prepay they are automatically added to your bill.

 

Candie

As Matt said "Sometimes booking in advance is the best strategy, period". 

 

I always book cruises at least a year to 18 months out from the cruise date. I pay the initial deposit, $50, $100, $200, $250 and then I have a year to 18 months to pay the cruise off in monthly installments, with no interest charged by the cruise line. To me, it is free financing for your cruise. I then set up a payment schedule, let's say the cruise is $1000 (I know there aren't any for that cheap) and the $1000 includes taxes/fees, gratuities, transfers and insurance, I look at the date of paid in full by and divide the months, and come up with what I have to pay every month until final payment. If I can pay more, which I usually do, I always leave a $50 balance that I pay the week of final payment.

 

I have gotten many price drops, as an example, on another cruise line, I had a 7 day Pacific Coastal, saw there was a special going on and did a mock booking on the cruise line's website. I came up with it dropping about $150, I didn't lose any OBC, it stayed the same and I had free grats which stayed the same. I immediately called my travel agent. She contacted them and I had two choices, I had a $600 price drop, because I forgot to use my casino discount when I did my mock booking or I could upgrade to a balcony cabin (had an Ocean View) and the price would drop $400. I didn't like the location of the balcony they were offering me, so they gave me a better Ocean View, rear facing Aft and I got a discount of $500. The cruise started at $1579 and dropped to $1100. That was an amazing price drop. I have done some where I only get $25 difference. It is worth it to check you pricing at least once a week on your cruises you have booked. I check every other day and especially when I hear there is a new sale starting.

 

Candie

fonemanbob,

 

My mother collected Thomas Kinkade. When she died four years ago, she was the proud owner of 7 of his works, some were just framed reprints (numbered proofs), some were framed signed reprints (gallery proofs) and she had one original (artist proofs), number 276 of 500, framed. She paid less than $100 for the framed reprints and signed reprints, the framed original was about $300. After she died I tried to find a value and kept being referred to various sites that I would have to pay for a estimate. At that time I went on an RCCL cruise and noticed that Park West was selling Thomas Kinkade in the auction so I asked the auction manager if he would sit with me and tell me about the value of my paintings. On the cruise the least priced Kinkade, not an original, a signed reproduction (international proofs), was selling for over $1000 but he told me my mother's original would not bring more than $500. Didn't make sense to me because of the high selling price of Park West Kinkade paintings. When I got home I finally found a site that gave me the approximate value of the original painting and it was well over $2500. I donated all of the paintings to my local Humane Society for a Black Tie auction and all 7 paintings brought over $10,000 for the charity. 

 

Since then I have looked at reviews of Park West, they have really bad reviews. They sell approximately 300,000 pieces of art a year and many people say they were lied to about the art, claiming large estimated values but when the purchaser arrived home and started researching found they had overpaid for most art work by many thousands of dollars. Purchases try to contact Park West and never get answers from them. Many have tried to get a refund and send the picture back but they never get their money back. 

 

I agree with WHStoneman, find a local dealer with an excellent reputation and buy from them, if you really want to start collecting. If you are on a ship and a piece of artwork is speaking to you and you have to buy it, get online on your phone and look up prices for the piece and see if Park West is comparable, before you buy. Donolog's advice is spot on.

 

Park West has a set price they start the bidding at, they won't tell you this price before the auction. They also will frame and ship to your home your artwork for free.

 

Candie

I have used Bernard's and like it. I was in St. Maarten in August and I felt so uncomfortable there. I walked, by myself, from the ship to the downtown and I really wasn't comfortable by myself. It was dark and dank and dirty and hardly anyone was walking about but locals and me. So I went back to the ship and decided if I go to St. Maarten again I won't get off of the ship.

 

Candie

In Key West I have done the HOHO twice and the Conch Train once and gone off on my own one time. I love the HOHO. What I did was ride the full circuit and wrote down where I wanted to get off at and rode it again and got off at three stops to see the Truman White House and two other things. KEY WEST is one of my favorite ports.

 

In Nassau I always go to Atlantis because I gamble. I don't find the port people pushy, and I have been four times, yes, they sell and sell hard, but I have never been hassled to buy. The last time I was in Nassau, August 2016, there were six ships in port and the port was a zoo. I do like that Nassau offers a free shuttle almost from where you get off the ship to the port, so not a lot of walking. Getting through the port is where there is a lot of walking. There are a million taxis and the prices are regulated. Atlantis is always a $4 taxi ride and the driver will tell you to give them $5 because they live on their tips. Right, they make that ride about 20 to 30 times a day or more with 12 people in their van and if they get $1 from each person that rides, they should be millionaires in a few years.

 

I did the Beauty and Charm of Nassau excursion and really like it, it was a good 3 hours of learning about Nassau.

 

Candie

monctonguy,

 

I have you beat, I have at least 10 key chains, 2 luggage tag holders, I can't even count the drink package cups (of those aren't free) and two tee shirts. Key chains I keep, luggage holders broke, drink package cups are left on the ship and the two tee shirts, can't fit in them any more, so they were thrown away.

 

I don't know why I qualified but another cruise line told me that you have to pay the maximum bet in the machine for a total of 4 hours a day (days you can gamble). But I have never followed that rule and still earn free cruises.

 

Candie

I received the offer and did call about the December 15, 4 day Bahama/Key West. It was only $117 OV cabin or upgrade to a Balcony for another $100, without gratuities, beverage package, etc. I found a flight from DFW to Fort Lauderdale for $240. I almost did it but I decided against it since I have 10 cruises booked and thought I really didn't want to add another one.

 

It was a really good offer, I wish they would have more offers like that.

 

Candie

I have only taken one DCL cruise. I am a gambler, so I need a casino. Since I am done with raising kids, taking care of them, etc., I really don't want a ship full of them, well behaved or not. DCL is considered a premium cruise line and therefore you pay a premium for their cruises.

 

My very first cruise was on Princess and I still love Princess, my second was on RCCL, both cruises were to Alaska. I felt they were pretty much the same, same bang for your buck, but I love RCCL, always will. I looked at RCCL because of the price of the Alaskan cruise.

 

I have been on almost all cruise lines, Carnival, Holland, RCCL, Princess, Disney, Celebrity and it is a tie between Princess and RCCL.

 

I love Matt and the blog and pretty much everyone that posts on the blog. If I have a question it is always answered by the knowledgable members, whether it is about cruising, Uber or computer issues. 99.9% of the members of this blog are wonderful.

harmenise,

 

If you will go to this website for Royal Holidays, it has a video of some of the new and old things Royal will be doing for Christmas 2016.

 

www.royalcaribbean.com/holidays

 

Candie

mbayley@rccl.com is the address I used. I hope you get something done. I was very nice but managed to convey how upset and disgusted I was with the whole process.

 

The only gift cards/certificates I purchase now is if I decide to take a Carnival cruise, which I have only done once. I have one booked right now and am purchasing gift cards to pay the balance off, which will save me over $150. AARP sells them for 10% off. Unfortunately I am not impressed with Carnival at all or I would take more cruises on them.

 

Hope it works out and let us know how it goes.

 

Candie

I learned this the hard way, when I only had the card and had an emergency and couldn't get home because I left the passport book at home.

Matt,

 

I will tell you my experience. I have bought one gift card from Raise for $500 and two gift certificates from AARP.org. for $100 each. I have never had so many problems trying to get credit for the card and the certificates. First, I called, before purchasing the cards from AARP and was told (because not stated in their advertisement of the card) it was good for all RCCL purchases. The certificate was good for only new bookings. The gift card, I was told, from Raise, was for a new booking. 

 

I will tell you about the card. When I received it, it stated must be used for a new booking. It was an RCCL card, their logo printed on the card. I called them, explained what I had and I wanted to book a cruise, the rep asked for the numbers on the card and I was told that I would have to mail all the pertienent information in to RCCL, this was handled by another department. I asked the rep. if I send in the card what proof do I have that I even had it in my possession, if it now was at RCCL offices. She couldn't answer that. After a lot of back and forth and speaking with a supervisor, I realized they didn't know what do to with the card. I sent an email to Michael Bayley which is when things started to happen. The very next day I received a telephone call and was put in touch with the correct department and person to assist me. It took approximately 10 weeks for RCCL to put this money toward my cruise. RCCL wouldn't hold the cruise with the gift card, so I had to pay a deposit, with the assurance from RCCL that the card would be applied, even though I booked with a credit card deposit. Eventually that came back to bite me in the rear, because RCCL kept telling me that I had placed a deposit, so this wasn't a new cruise booking. It was a mess, but after 10 weeks of telephone calls, emails, mailings, I finally got my $500 deposit put on my cruise.

 

The gift cards are another matter. I will never purchase either the cards or certificates again. Royal doesn't really seem to know anything about them. When you tell a rep you have one of these you are immediately forwarded to another department, who knows nothing about them and reforwarded and reforwarded.

 

What really helped me get this rectified was emailing Mr. Bayley.

 

Candie

Thank Travis and your daughter for their service. I am not trying to be ugly but I think a cruise is not a good vacation choice for Travis. The Freedom is a very large ship with 1000s of passengers and crew. Crowding, noise, dining room and bar commotion is normal, bands and loud music every where. Not good for Travis! Sorry if this upsets anyone.

I have tried to do this two times for friends and I got the OBC. I was told whoever makes the booking gets it.

When I lived in CA, I loved my TA. Used her for everything. Since relocating to NC, I haven't found a TA I really click with yet. Of course, I do a lot less travel now. For my upcoming cruise this Feb, I did all the leg work myself...but that's something I really enjoy. I love the planning. It's a stress releaser for me. Now, this cruise isn't the least bit compicated...my next one will include several different families from several different states. I'm hoping to find a good TA for that one.

My TA told me you can use any TA in the world. If you really loved your TA in California, I would contact her and let her know you want her to continue doing your bookings. As long as they know the cruise lines, air lines, locations you are going, etc., they can book anything. Everything can be done by phone or internet. My TA lives about 2 miles from me but all business is conducted on the phone or internet.

 

Candie

As other people have stated, pack light, I always take too much, I don't need 6 pairs of shoes. Always pack a carry on with medication, a change of clothes, a swimsuit (until the cabin is ready) and something to read.

 

I have never flown in a day early. Everyone advises that you do but I have never had a problem. I know some day it will happen, but I just don't want the expense of a hotel added on to the expense of the cruise and flight.

 

Candie

Leedslass,

 

I always read reviews on several sites, but I only take them with a grain of salt. No offense to anyone, but if the review starts off, "This is my first cruise and what a big disappointment", I go no further. People go into a cruise expecting that they will be waited on hand and foot, white glove service on everything, fabulous food 24 hours a day. You need to go in with reasonable expectations and from there you will have the time of your life.

 

I just finished a 10 day cruise, (different cruise line), posted a very long review, because it was one of the best cruises I ever took, and above and below my review, were reviews that stated "worst cruise ever". I began to wonder if I was on the same ship. Both of these reviews were from first time cruisers and couldn't seem to find a place at the pool or the loungers by the pool. This was only a small part of the cruise,where was the rest of the cruise on your review? Why didn't they try early in the A.M. or late in the afternoon? I don't do the pool, so, of course, I didn't have this problem.

 

I think a cruise is what you make it, as soon as you board the ship.

 

Candie

Jerel,

 

I was angry at first and asked the person that came and moved the luggage why did the crew block someone's door was acceptable? His answer was they thought the luggage was mine. That was BS because they all had tags with the cabin number and name of the passenger, and it wasn't my room. I think they were just in a hurry and thought probably 10854 isn't in her room, it is sailaway time, she will be up on deck. WRONG!

 

After I calmed down and when I was telling my friends about it, it became quite funny. 

 

It is just the thought that I could be trapped in an emergency.

 

Candie

DocLC,

 

Guest services told me that it takes less room to open out then to open into the room, especially if it is an accessible room, trying to get a scooter or wheelchair through. I thought the same thing, I was trapped in my room because trying to push 3 big pieces of luggage with the door, they just wouldn't budge. The room is built to where the door is about 4 feet from the hallway, (no hitting passengers) the door opens out to the wall of your room, your bathroom to be exact. I also didn't like that the only lock on the door was a switch lock that you push to the left, no chain, no plate, nothing to lock your door, wasn't happy about that.

 

Candie

I use a TA for all of my travel plans, she is my TA and a very good friend. She knows my likes and dislikes through long conversations we have had over the phone. There have been several situations where she went above and beyond for a travel problem. When I had to have emergency surgery and had to cancel my cruise 2 weeks before sailing, she was not involved in the reservation because I made it myself. She explained she couldn't step in but called the cruise line, explained my situation and got so much done for me. All the paperwork was sent to her and she even made most of it out for me, since I was in the hospital. I can't say enough about her and recommend to all who travel to use a TA and will give her name if they ask for it.

 

As Matt said, I don't like the mass market, big box store TAs, you never speak to the same agent twice, you don't get the personal service that I want with my TA. Yes I might lose $50 OBC by not using one of these places, but to know my reservation is in the hands of a truly competent person is what I want.

 

I agree with WAAAY TOOO, there are good and bad with TAs. You can't call the cruise line and ask a lot of questions, the line will tell you to have your TA call instead, so you give up some control.

 

Candie