Gears

Thanks for the great post!!

B2B cruises are awesome!

You hit the nail on the head with Costa Maya...shuttle/tram = waste o' time.

On 9/2/2017 at 0:34 PM, FManke said:

I was really looking for a place to plug in a night light.

We bring one of those LED lights you push to turn on. We leave it on the bathroom counter and when we get up in the middle of the night we just push the light to turn it on. Much less bright than the bathroom light in a stateroom, it's small and runs on a couple of AA batteries. They typically look like this and are about $5 +/-.

I would go with a travel agent specializing in cruises. You will find that they've worked with hundreds of people with exactly your questions and scenario.

IMO...three in the room of the size you noted, OK for seven to nine nights. More than that I wouldn't do it.

OK...I've got some false advertising. BUY NOW is on the e-mail..."...UP TO 60% in Savings" is on cruise planner after clicking the BUY NOW.

What do you think?

Been to Pinel Island several times...but on our own, not on an RCL excursion. What are they charging?

While you can technically stay onboard until the last disembarkation group is called (you will be assigned one) around 10:30-10:45, but everything is closed. While it may sound like a good idea...there really isn't much point to sticking around until the last minute.

Assuming you intend to legally change your name...here's what we did.

Do all the legal stuff to change your name after you travel.

Your marriage certificate won't be considered as identification and it's what is on your legal docs, like your passport, is what counts. Suggest you don't complicate it by trying to use a different name than on your docs and travel documents.

You can find him on LinkedIn.

5 minutes ago, DocLC said:

Except they do exactly this with the refillable soda mug . . .

I do understand this is why they don't want you refilling water bottles at the self-serve tap. 

Actually, no. You take off the screw lid you drink out of and most bartenders don't even touch the soda mug. They scoop in some ice and swing over the fountain soda dispenser.

I believe the answer will be a 'no' for health reasons.

Same reason you can't use a refillable bottle at the water fill stations on ships that have them. Passing a used drinking container back and forth is a prime method to transmit norovirus.

5 hours ago, Rayza said:

On cruises out of Australia does RCL present onboard accounts in US dollars and then convert it to Australian dollars or do they charge your credit card in US dollars?  What is there exchange rate policy -e.g do they charge 4-5 cents below market rate?

To convert to the currency of your credit card RCL will use retail market rate on the day of the transaction (end of cruise) and then add a service charge of 3%. Check your credit card policy for foreign exchange charges and fees. They will usually be less than the 3%.

Least expensive way is to get a credit card in USD. You have to do the foreign exchange at some point and the best rate is usually done through online banking from your home currency to a USD account and then pay the USD credit card from there. Even after any account or credit card fees we save about $300/yr doing it that way.

This one may sound crazy...but, stopping the ship on a sea day for 45 minutes in the open ocean so anyone who wanted to could go swimming. Cannonball!!

Of course I'm thinking Caribbean or other warm climate...too much shrinkage otherwise!

Adventure of the Seas Diamond Club Concierge. We were on the AOS out of San Juan. We generally take the walk-off ourselves option at disembarkation. Well...getting back to Canada from San Juan can be a grand PITA...very limited direct flights and major cha cinga$. We fly out of BUF to SJU, but there has to be a connector flight and since we don't feel like getting home the next day, our flight was 10:45am. Walk off by 7:00am...no problemo. Then, mid way through the cruise...what's this I read...walk-off only available to US Citizens?

Ahhhhhh...our baggage time since we couldn't walk-off...9:45am...to quote Scooby-Doo...RUT ROH!!

That evening we were talking to the Concierge in the Diamond Lounge about it and tried to get more insight into what the deal was. Seems it's a San Juan thing...US Citizens only, lovely...

Next evening with our drinks came a set of luggage tags with group #1. We didn't even ask.

Needless to say he got major pops in our survey.

Like @WAAAYTOOO, I don't believe this experiment is about combating sharing. They are in business to make money...and sometimes it takes a set of data gathered out of a trial as proof of concept to justify a change. Just doing it without backup data would be a poor business decision. They will weight the data and come to a conclusion that they may or may not implement. I suspect RCL will weigh complaints along with the financial information. No business is perfect, but in general I find RCL to take customer feedback seriously. They don't always make a change with that feedback, but I do know they listen constructively. 

But...I still think this is tied selling a'la antitrust legislation. If it has gone on in other cruise lines and such...maybe nobody has filed a formal complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. I am not a US citizen nor do I live in the US, but if someone has some cycles between cruises here's a couple of links:

https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/competition-guidance/guide-antitrust-laws/single-firm-conduct/tying-sale-two-products

https://www.ftc.gov/faq/competition/report-antitrust-violation.

10 minutes ago, PRC said:

These light up!

 

https://ocean-time.myshopify.com/

 

Cruise nerd? 

1 hour ago, KLAconQueso said:

I'd say you can't go wrong with either one. While Indy is a little bit bigger, they each have similar amenities and would be a great ship for a cruise with the family. 

Personally, I think I'd actually pick Navigator.

What she said...!

We stayed at the Langford for our March cruise on the NOS. Would definitely stay there again. It's in old downtown, lots of places around to walk to and eat. Short cab ride to the port. 121 Se 1st Street Miami.

On 7/1/2017 at 4:40 PM, FManke said:

Based on the web site, I didn't think RCCL even employed somebody in that position!

It's probably all outsourced. It likley works as 'specified', but not necessarily as they want. RCL asks how much to make a change...outsource company gives them a $ figure, it's not in the 'budget', nothing changes, repeat.

1 hour ago, Matt said:

Back in the day...

I think there are rules saying you have to be 50+ to use that line... 

You won't get fined for declaring something.The worst they are going to do is take it away from you.

Not declaring it (legal or not) is where the getting fined area starts to come into play.

The walk is about 45 minutes at a good pace (we've done it twice). If you're planning on bringing kids...add 20 minutes. It's mostly sidewalk with a couple of narrow points. A hot day can be uncomfortable walking that far if you're not used to it or prepared for it. There's not a whole lot to see on the walk, so unless you want to do it for the exercise the cab is a better choice.

19 minutes ago, klaconqueso said:

Hmm... my first was at 25 with my future in laws. 

I am now 27 and I've been on... 7. 

I caught the addiction early. 

First one's always free...then you check in to the CAF...Cruise Addiction Foundation...commonly know as the Diamond Lounge...then one day you get your Diamond+ luggage tags in the mail...then...then...then...I can stop any time...nevermind that I have two futures booked...that means nothing...wait...why are all these people in the room...noooooo...there is no such thing as a cruise addiction intervention!!

And now for something completely different...

Have a look at the Canada & New England Cruises. They typically run in the fall out of Baltimore, Boston & Cape Liberty.

On 6/16/2017 at 10:08 AM, DocLC said:

@Sarah Royal has announced that on some ships Sea Passes will no longer be given at check-in to expedite boarding. My guess is that this will go fleet-wide if successful, especially if they fully roll out online check-in like on Anthem where you upload your own photos. 

Every person will still have to be processed with their ID, the usual account setup (physical credit card verification) and the illness questionnaire before boarding. I am struggling to understand how, through all of that, giving people their Sea Pass card later will contribute to quicker boarding.

We've brought back several not-on-the-menu drink recipes from cruises. Two of my wife's favs...

American Dream - Equal parts Kahlua, Amaretto, Creme de Caco White, Frangelico

Apple Martini Special - 2oz Vodka, 2oz Green Apple...and 1/2 tsp butterscotch liqueur. Shaken and poured into a frozen martini glass.