Bob Burd

34 minutes ago, Fastfaller said:

My cruise is 30 days away, should I be worried that calling now won't get them applied on time?

I've always gotten it faster than that.  I've only done on board credit.  But you can also call if you don't see it in a week or so. But it's still a bit of a gamble. Not sure this helps, but it's my thoughts. 

I'm following as we have played other islands off the cruise ship before.  

I was able to do both on my last cruise on Anthem in the fall. I happened to book my cruise myself, did my MyVegas OBC and also transferred to MEI and had no issues.

Just remember to tell them when you want to use it.   You don't want to 'waste' one on a bottle of water, coffee or a soda unless that's what you want too. 

I was on Anthem last week.  They had some upgrades with the Starlink in the middle of the day instead of at night.  So they were down at least a couple of times that I noticed.  But I guess the upgrade was worth it!

FYI.  In the My Vegas apps.  There are a couple of Cruises departing from Brisbane, Australia. One is a 7 night for 1.5 million and the other is 8 night for 2 million.   I'm hoping there will be some US ones, but I believe this blog has people from all over the world.  It's the Quantum of the Seas ship. 

10-30-23 Bob Burd (anthem)

1 hour ago, Allen2 said:

When a ship skips a port, there usually is a credit for return of port changes/taxes.  If not given: ask!

Thanks.  I am on the Oct 30th cruise and I was wondering what was going on.  But, I forgot I should be getting port/taxes back.  From here, I will go and see if they gave it back yet.

Looking at the calendar and the menus, I'm not sure if it's not doing the cruise that ongoing presently. Has 7 dinner menus.  I'll look again when I get closer to the sail date. Thanks for the advice. It's appreciated.

What 'themes' would they have for a 6 night cruise. I know that is not a normal amount of nights.  Would there be 2 formal nights?

thanks,

Bob

1 hour ago, wstephensi said:

I find the easiest way is to go to your BoA web site and click on the View MyCruise Points button below your reward points total.  That will take you to a new BoA page that displays your point total.  Beside that total is a Redeem MyCruise Points button.  Pressing that will take you to a new web site that has your redemption choices. 

I concur. We saw a pretty good deal leaving NJ and we scooped it up. Today, I'm going to the BOA site and redeeming it like you described.  Then I check every day to see if it went on my cruise yet.

My wife and I are thinking of doing a Transatlantic cruise from Rome to NY on Odyssey on Nov 3, 2024.  My questions (at the moment) are the following:

1) Since it's November in the Atlantic, how are the seas normally for the crossing of the Atlantic and how warm would we expect it to be on deck? 

2) I've not been on Odyssey, I'm thinking that would be a good ship for the cooler weather as I've been on Anthem.

3) We were thinking of going a week beforehand to visit Italy and possibly another country or 2 as this is a once in a lifetime probably kind of trip.  Any suggestions for that time of the year? 

Appreciate any comments and helpful hints. 

Thanks,

Bob

I would absolutely use the site you are creating.  I already google the excursion and look for videos, but this would probably be my first site to check.  Thanks for doing it.

We ended up not doing the cruise. But in the future I would like to do it.  Or we might just do two separate cruises in different years.

1 hour ago, Kenneth said:

I didn't hit the 800 point mark until the last night late. So on my next cruise I could go to go to book onboard and get a complimentary room for 2? Or at this point they will send me offers?

I think you are running into what I ran into as I didn't know the fine print.  I didn't get to 800 till the last night late.  I logged on the the casino royale website and saw complimentary cruises. It said complementary but it wasn't. I called the next day or the 2nd day after the cruise.  I was told I needed to do it on the ship.   I complained to the rep and they talked to the supervisor and allowed me to get an interior room on a select sailing.  If I ever get that 800 points again on a cruise, I won't make the same mistake.  I wish the casino rep on board had said something to me.  I went to them a number of times.  A heads up would have been nice. Hope this helps.

Congrats on the big win.   We spend a bit of time in the casino as that is where they get my money... What game were you playing if you don't mind me asking?  

Thanks for the replies. I edited my response here.  The program must have been different as I found my original paperwork.  I actually did this in 2013.  The contract says specifically no expiration date.  I'm betting that they changed the program as this was a new program it says in the paperwork.  Now I just have to contact them which should be a lot of fun.

I've had a next cruise that I put a deposit down in 2015.  It shows up in my reservations still.   The travel agency that I had is out of business so I wanted to change it to MEI. I call Royal up to see if I could do that or if I just have to do it when I want to do a cruise.   They said my next cruise expired because I had to use it within one year. The 200 I put in is forfeited they said.  I don't remember that being the case at all.  I thought you can book it anytime in the future with no expiration date. Before I send a not so nice email to where they said to send an email to that handled agency changes, I would like to get the experts which is usually the people on this board.  Thanks and if I'm wrong, then that is on me. I would never had done it in the first place.

We just got back from a cruise from Miami port.  We stayed at the Aloft by the airport and it was very nice.  Was extremely reasonably priced.  Close to some restaurants and a starbucks.  We parked in their lot for $7 a day and we ubered to and from the port.  Could not have been much easier.  The uber was around 23-25 each way. 

Wife and I are thinking of doing a TA from Cape Liberty(we live in nj) to Rome.  It's on the Enchantment, which I know is a smaller ship.  The cruise is pretty cheap for the amount of days. I have some concerns that I figure others here could give their opinions.  I look at it as a good way to get to Italy for pretty cheap.  Almost the same as a flight from the NY area to Rome.

1) The ship is on the smaller side with not as much to do as compared to the bigger ships.  Is that a possible problem? 

2) is going across the Atlantic the first week of May a problem in the smaller ship and would it be warm enough to even go in the pools?

3) Do they do anything extra in regards to entertainment on such a long cruise.  I'm aware, the production shows would be the same, but what about the other entertainment?

4) is the menu different on such a long cruise? 

5) Do you go stir crazy on such a long trip?  We have done an 11 day before but that was on Anthem or Explorer.

6) Once in Italy, would you recommend a travel agent as we would want to stay a few more days. 

thanks in advance for any help.  It's a lot of time off of work and I already have 2 other week long vacations in 2023.  So on the fence.

17 minutes ago, KBrad said:

I have the Bank of America RC Visa ( i know there are better cards!) I want to apply my points toward OBC. I plan to use some to pay gratuities. That should be easy as they’ll just debit from my onboard sea pass card. I haven’t pre-paid them.

I would like to use the rest to purchase drink and dining packages on the cruise planner. Can the Visa center i call apply the points to that? I’m confused that OBC is the same or different than cruise planner credit.

It takes a couple of weeks usually for there the obc to show up on your reservation.  I believe at that point you can use for any any pre cruise purchases.  

Just got onboard Freedom and found out due to the storm they canceled perfect day and Nassau.  Bummed about perfect day. Going to Jamaica.  I know they can't control the weather and they made the best of a bad situation.  They refund port fees I believe, but do they do anything anything.

On 11/5/2022 at 10:15 AM, billnye97 said:

Any luck winning? I'm going on Freedom in December and am contemplating my bids. 

No luck yet. Still says submitted.  I board in the morning. I only did around the lowest bid.

2 hours ago, Ampurp85 said:

What ship are you on? I am sailing Harmony Nov 7th and have some RU bids in as well.

I'm on Freedom of the seas out of Miami. It's a 4 night cruise.  Going to Myrtle the week before and figured since I'm half way there, let's go on a cruise. 

11 minutes ago, Jolly Ogre said:

Quick question. On the scale when you bid the dollar amount, is that the total or is that per person?

Per person.  I'm hoping to 'win' my Royal Up for my Nov 7th cruise.  The last year during covid times, I was successful every time.  I was lucky.