mike

We'll keep our fingers crossed!

Promenade cabins have two curtains, one sheer and one opaque. The opaque curtains, when closed, do an excellent job of closing off the window from light and from inadvertent views from outside.

We might have to try that next time then. My wife would probably get a kick outta the people watching at the very least.

So I noticed the Royal Caribbean app updated within the last week and decided to see if they had fixed some of the bugs. Indeed they have, however it is now essentially the same as the mobile browser page layout. Sadly they have removed the ability to view each ships deck plans too :( !

Has anyone else checked out either the android or iphone version? Thoughts?

At least now you can view cruises and itineraries once again.

We thought about the promenade rooms but decided to go with a plain interior room when we first booked mainly because we weren't sure how well the curtains blot out the interior. From photos of inside the cabin the curtains looked kinda weak.

We are getting Carnival Freedom and Royal Liberty of the Seas - both nice, big ships. I'm not sure if the Magic is going away, but we've been wanting to try Royal anyway and that's why I'm here.

I don't think one is being replaced, they're adding one to make 3 Carnival ships year round and one Royal Caribbean year round. I mainly mention it to bring attention to plan that parking situation early if you drive yourself and plan on parking with a lot and not a hotel. With an additional ship I forsee it getting even busier at the port.

 

Enjoy your first RCCL cruise, while that's all I know myself I think you're in for a treat!

From what I have read when we were reserving our parking back in may for next month you want seem to go wrong with any of the lots. Some like lighthouse have raised lots (if you're worried about a major storm flooding the island while you're gone). Others like I believe park n cruise and one other have some 'indoor' parking. The main point that ive read is to reserve early if you have a specific private lot you really take a shining to as the smaller ones tend to fill up fast. I can see this likely getting worse with Carnival putting another ship yearound starting this year I believe and the larger capacity Liberty of the Seas coming to Galveston next year.

We had the Royal Replenish package on Navigator ($20/day) and were able to get anything on the Starbucks menu. I shamelessly tried most of menu.

This is excellent news! This makes several reports confirming it being included(at least on Navigator). It'd be interesting to hear from those who have been on other ships in the fleet with the same package to confirm it there too. I believe the one 'no' was from someone who sailed on a different ship was it not?

Guest Services will happily break bills.

 

I always bring a lot of 1s for tips but otherwise combo of 10s and 20s is always safe. Maybe even a few hundred dollar bills for when you are eating in port somewhere and indulge a little.

Thanks, that helps alot just knowing they can break bills. At least that way I can bring plenty but not so much that my wallet wont fold shut :P .

I've been doing some thinking as we pass the 45 (42 now, huzzah!) day mark. In relation to cash can y'all give any good guideline or a good guess on how many 1's and 5's should be enough for good measure? On that note do they break larger bills on board in USD thus eliminating that worry? I know it may sound a little on the sweating the details side, but I'd like to avoid getting caught in port with not enough low denominations.

I had never thought one way or another prior to our first time. It was a wedding gift and oh what a gift that turned out to be! Our initiation into the cruise life took place aboard the Enchantment of the Seas. Royals commitment to quality service showed throughout the trip and even though Enchantment is one of their smallest ships I was hooked. I recall the podcast about ship classes and which ones were more recommended for first timers. If the small Enchantment was so awesome, voyager and above classes being close to 2 even 3 times the size (at least in tonnage) blows my mind!

Thanks everybody for the comments. Given its just the two of us, and the overall lack of substantial size increase, I think we'll just stick to our inside cabin. I'll just find a nice chair and chill on deck 4 when I want a good ocean view. Deck 4 is pretty close to private anyway when its a ghost town outside of coming to port :P .

Good morning everyone! I was curious to hear your opinions on inside cabins vs. Ocean view ones. As the balcony prices are still way above what I will spend this trip, they are out of the question. However, currently a regular ocean view room is only 100 now more than a regular inside room. I'd love to hear your opinions on the ocean view room and whether it was worth it in your experience. I can see pros and cons with both (besides price).

A late thanks for this post! Being in the same class this truly gives me a pre cruise escape! Pretty exciting program if I do say so.

Y'all have me excited for that honey stung chicken. 65 day hype! Our first cruise I swear that the hamburgers and fries that first night in the late night snack bar in the solarium on the Enchantment were the best EVER! I guess that first day everything really does seem to taste better :).

Uuugggh! :angry: Unfortunately we had to cancel the March sailing on FOS. Can't believe I am reliving last year's horror! Fingers are still crossed that we can get it rescheduled but family needs must come first. Here's hoping!!

Good luck and sorry to hear that :( . Hopefully everything will come together.

Price adjustments are only based on the cost of your cabin before discounts. If you see a lower price and you are before final payment date, you can call your travel agent or RC and have them adjust the price to match assuming your rate qualifies. Things like WOW sales or some other sales are for new bookings only.

That seems to be my main problem then. As I've paid it already, the discount doesn't show on the payments tab of my reservation. Now I don't know what the original fare was for sure, though I believe I remember the ballpark amount. Either way that info helps now that I know what to expect before calling if it drops. Thanks :) .

Good evening everyone. I was curious if anyone knows exactly how to know when you have a 'lower price' to see about getting OBC compensation for. In my case  I have two discounts to take into account(getting C&A and regional discounts). Do they base the lower price off the raw price, or what its costing you after the discounts are taken out? Here's another possibility. Perhaps its after cabin fare and taxes(not counting cruise planner, prepaid gratuities or anything beyond the bare minimum you'd be paying to get on board initially). Finally in that period I'm seeing the price start to fluctuate again in my favor, especially in the category right above me!

Daily vote done. C'mon ladies n gents, a few more big pushes and we could push it to #1 !

super excited, moved up to # 2 now

And closing in! The bar was only about 1/3 the size. Cmonnnnn!

On Navigator Starbucks was included in Royal Replenish package back in Feb

You just made my day sir. $20 a day is a steal if you like Starbucks. Ok well its a pretty good price i think for what you get already with the Royal Replienish, the Starbucks just makes it a crazy good deal.

I thought I saw a post, but cant find it now, talking about Starbucks. Has anyone been on with a royal replenish or ultimate package to find out if they fall under their definition of 'specialty coffee'? I'm so gonna get my moneys worth on Navigator if so. Muahaha!

Voted!

Our first cruise was actually booked through a travel incentive company out of state by family for our honeymoon. We were told to pick 3 dates that they listed... one of which was perfect. The problem was we wouldn't know until 2 weeks before which date for sure. We get 2 weeks out and were told "sorry not available, you're going in September" four months after our wedding. Henceforth I chose to go straight through Royal Caribbean this time. Perhaps I'll give a TA a shot next time, but I wont bank on it lol.

I have paid for air fares and a deposit, everything is confirmed but we have not paid in full as yet, Perhaps we cannot pre book anything as we have not yet paid fully.

 

Do you get the sea pass / cruise card when it is paid or when you get to the ship?

Peter

Sometime in the month or two before your embarkation date you should be notified that your documents are ready to view (depending also on if you have traditional mail or email as your default). From I believe then until something like 3-5 days(someone correct me on that final deadline!) you can do alot of your sign up online and print out a 'set sail pass' that you take to the port. This is supposed to cut down on time to fill out paperwork there. Afterwards at port you'll receive your sea pass. You can also opt to fill out the same paperwork at the port if you wish.

It would be even more flexible drink packages, like just beer or just alcoholic frozen drinks!