Don

The RCKRZR itinerary would be fantastic if you have never had the opportunity to visit the California coast. Two nights in "THE CITY" (SF) is a fantastic opportunity to visit this beautiful City --and you can walk the Embarcadero, Fishermans Wharf area, and take cable car to most sights you would want to visit. I'll volunteer for honorary RCI PR spokesperson to promote.

Were on Serenade in Dec & found it to be best staff & crew we had ever experienced, so it doesn't surprise that you found a different ship & especially another cruise less attractive. We have sailed 6 cruise lines and find RCI (Celebrity) best afloat, & RCI (Royal Caribbean) only 1 tick down. Between the two, itinerary is the only choice -- where ever our bucket list takes us. RCI was not our 1ST line.

I think the compensation is good, but would have liked to see them do a full refund vs 50%. It would have improved their PR position. The media is beating them up pretty bad. Everyone omits the fact that 20 million people are infected every year in US. Not sure what the cruise # is in comparison, but suspect rather small to miniscule. if i were booked on Explorer next week i would not hesitate to go. Sailed Celebrity Mercury a couple of years ago 1st cruise after 4 consecutive outbreaks. Probably the cleanest ship i have been on. That string of outbreaks came from a huge regional outbreak in & around the ships port city of Charleston.

Can't help, never had the luxury of the mega ships. Enjoy!

Enjoy. We do this trip 1x / 2x per year as a quik getaway & love it. Next trip will include para sailing at Coco Cay. This year was our 1st on Enchantment. Sad to see Monarch go, great ship even though she was older. Also enjoyed that she had the only female Captain in the industry at the time. She described Monarch as once the largest ship in RCI fleet but now a tug boat. Enjoy your cruise!

When you arrive you drop off luggage and then go to parking. In Dec it only took about 15-30 minutes from arrival to check-in and boarding. Same coming home -- 15-30 minutes for baggage claim, customs, and on the road. Make sure you get a low number for disembarkation so you can get on the road early. We had #4 (baggage claim #) & were called for disembarkation at about 8:30 - 8:45, thus out of the parking garage by 9:00. If you get a big / late #, don't hesitate to ask guest relations for a smaller number, they will most likely accomodate. The other option is to "walk off". You will be able to walk off as soon as cutoms clears the ship, but you must carry all luggage. Not hard to do in Port Canaveral - short distance and not many stairs.

We have not found that to be a problem. We always choose inside cabin, because we are seldom there. We like cabin on lowest deck possible deck mid ship -- the mpst stable location on the ship. Also decks 2 or 3 are only a couple of decks below dining, shops, & intertainment, thus you can walk to those venues. Great excersize & avoids crowded elevators around dining & show times.

Sailed Enchantment in Dec -- best RCI Staff & Crew we have experenced.

We had not seen the Rhapsody package available on-line before cruise--not sure if we even looked?. It was offered on boarding date for purchase, and could be used any day of the cruise. As I recall Chops, Izumi, & Giovani's was $59 per person, $99 if you added Chefs Table. Possibly they offered it because it was a 13 day repositioning cruise? Specially dining purchase is not yet available for our Serenade trip in May but will definity be looking for the package. If not offered prior to sailing we will wait & purchase on-board so if they offer the package we can take advantage of it. If not we'll buy anyway -- have never had problem getting reservations when we want to dine. Chops tends to be most difficult if you want formal night so we always purchase package & book it at the same time.

They also had the savings package on Rhapsody this Spring.

I share your addiction. We have eaten at all except Sabor. Enjoy the dining experiences! Izumi is unique.

Good point Brian. In researching private tours in Villefranche (Nice), I ran across similar comments about being late for private tour for the same reason. Decided to wait & see if RCI contracts for tours in that tender port.

Yes, I would buy it. Although I haven't seen a packaged deal before sailing we have been able to get a package deal on 1st day. Rhapsody May 2013 offered Chops, Giovanis, & Izumi for $59 as I recall You could include Chef Table for $99. Because of that we are waiting to purchase specialty dining the day we board our May 2015 Serenade sailing. Don't want to pay in advance only to find out we could have got a package deal. Only downside is potential to not get reservation time desired but don't believe that we be a problem. 1) we are flexible and 2) have never had a problem getting desired reservation even when we have waited mid-cruise to book.

That price includes port fees, but not tax same as RCI site. For this cruise tax is $73.63, same as if your booked via RCI. Since the time I looked at the VTG site this morning they are now also offering a $75 cabin credit for Sep 8 sailing. While typical price with tax will be $408 VTG price is $239 + 73.63 tax = $313. Considering the $75 cabin credit the rate drops to about $276. Thus total price for two would be something like $916 vs $558. I've even seen VTG offering the $75 credit when the inside cabin price was $99 last Fall -- at that time RCI fare was also $99.

Tried the Cruise Puppy App, it doesn't track to the lowest price. Set it up to track Enchantment Bahamas Sep 2014, 4 night trips. Cruise Puppy shows $335 price same as Royal Caribbean site. My go to site vacationstogo.com offers all Sep 4 night trips at $239 -- Cruise Puppy price tracking is 50% higher. I often find VTG price lowest to be found & in many cases when price is same, they offer cabin credits not available elsewhere. For example, on our Dec Bahamas trip best price everywhere was $224 including RCI site. VTG offered same price with a $75 cabin credit not available elsewhere. I have found VTG service to be excellent. If you choose to use them ask for Jina Ward at extension 7423 for her direct line, you won't be disappointed.

The train trip to the Yukon Territories from Skagway would be my list.

Thanks for the app tip, trying it looks interesting.

They are very strict about the 60 day limit on agent changes. I tried to switch to another agent after firing AAA -- took challenge of the 60 day rule though 3 levels of management before I gave up. Probably could have been able to succeed if I kept pushing it but needed to get on with booking inter-national air & pre-cruise hotel. Not a problem, did it all through RCI in about 30 minutes.

Being retired I have plenty of time to research. The way I shop is plan ahead, ie looking at British Isles & Greek Isles in 2015 & 2016 & track fares so we know what good (average) & great ( far below avg) rates are. When we see the great deal we book it. For example our May 2014 West Med fare we booked one year in advance for $1049 + $150 on-board future cruise cabin credit, thus real fare is $974 per person. Today's fare is $1964. TA May have got that rate by accident but I don 't think they would spend 6-18 months looking for best deal. They would want to book when you ask & promise $ reduction if rate drops. Cruise lines typically can isolate categories so YOUR category price does not drop. Use the same scheme for air fares -- that's why I fired AAA when they didn't book at $687 for Europe when avg fare is $1000-$1100, just inexcursable especially when I called to tell the agent it was a great fare & time to book. Ergo I'm again my own TA.

We prefer MTD. The problem we have had is not being able to get some of our preferred seating times when they start accepting reservation times. Reservations are still blocked on our May sailing - checking it every day. I could believe the TA profit theory. Just fired our TA last week and went back to serving as our own TA. TA cost me $800 on airfare because they didn't book when fares dropped - even when I called them to tell them to book. They should have been calling me. Found I was spending more time making sure they were doing their job than it took to do it myself. Not the first problem i had noticed. Moral, don't use AAA.

Finished ours 120 days out, it's like now what do we do - too early to, pack. Did you try to schedule MTD before switching & if so how far out did the scheduleing become available?

We usually read the next day compass when we return to our cabin in the evening. On sea days we will nornally use the tear off activities list and carry it with us. Unless its an activity we definetly plan to do we will make up the schedule as we have time to fill. Keep in mind that on sea days you are often so extremely busy doing nothing you don't have much time to do anything. You're on vacation so don't ruin a perfectly good sea day with a minute by minute schedule without several hours of free time. You learn the scheduling techniqe early in retirement; Keep you schedule as open as possible so you can can do whatever you want when the opportunity comes up. Our typical sea day routine is sleep in, exercise, breakfast, hit the shop deals of the day, latte in Latte'tudes / Centrum lounge and then the realization that the morning is gone and it's time for lunch. After lunch it's time to look at that Compass tear out and pick a couple of activities to lull away the afternoon. Two MUST activities; the childrens show and the crew Parade of Flags. Both will typically be in the Centrum in the morning if the last day is a sea day. Scream & yell for the childrens finale, and enjoy the crew celebrating their diversity and Country pride. Oh, by the way, if you have dinner reservations for Chops don't put a lot of eating in the day schedule.

Good question -- Going to Western Med in early May 1st time, will be interested in responses?

Thank You! We have a Barcelona tour guide book but it is always great to get the input of those who have traveled to your destination. Montserrat we saw in the tour book and do plan to include it in one of our full days. Ship boarding day we usually spend as free time to enjoy the area around our hotel for breakfast and coffee and going to all the little places we have seen but have not been able to visit. Thank you again for taking the time to share your recommendations, it is very much appreciated. I am sure we will incorporate most of your suggestions. Traveling today to bring in the New Year with grand children. Regards Don & Myra

But if you do not have visited Barcelona before, I would strongly recommend to arrive on the day/evening before and visit some interesting places before starting the cruise. Have a look at "Sagrada Familia" Cathedral (must plan 2-3 hours including waiting time at the cashier) and I guarantee that you have not seen something like this before. Other nice places at late evening (after dark) are Museo Nacional de arte de Catalunya" with lots of iluminated fountains, Placa de Catalunya, Los Ramblas (shopping area), Park Güell, Casas Batllo, La Pedrera (also known as Casa Mila). Best way to travel in Barcelona is taking a taxi (be prepared that even the taxi drivers do only speak little english We are sailing out of Barcelona in early May so the sites to visit information is very helpful. We are planning 3 night pre-cruise stay to see and experience Barcelona. Can you recommend quality hotels in City Center? What other places should be on our must see list? Don