baltodave

1 minute ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

 We would be interested in some kind of group transportation BACK to the airport at the end.  Since we are traveling a week before everyone else, the going TO part wouldn't help us, but going back to the airport at the end would be awesome !  I'll send Michelle and email and see what's happening.

If the Michelle at MEI is "Michelle Cunningham", she's on family vacay this week.  Might want to wait until next week. 

Now that I booked the (WA) hotel before the cruise, I need to book a hotel for one night when we disembark (March 23).  I was thinking about the Crowne Plaza since it's so close to the airport and we have a morning flight on Sunday, March 24.  For those staying over after the cruise, where are you staying?

7 hours ago, AshleyDillo said:

I believe MEI is working on group transport to the port leaving from the Waldorf since so many are staying there. Things wouldn't be finalized until after final payment since there needs to be a count.

That would be awesome! 

I pulled the trigger and we (wife and me) will be also staying at the Waldorf Astoria the night before the cruise.  We won't get in until late (around 9:30pm) but maybe we can all get together and share a ride to cruise port in Colon on embarkation day (Sat 3/16).

I also need to book a hotel room for 1 night after the cruise.  I was thinking of the Crowne Plaza that's very close to the airport since we have a 9am flight the next morning.   For those staying over an extra night, where are you staying?

Has anyone done the "Blue Lagoon Island Adult Only Beach Day" in Nassau?  Comments, advice, etc..?

TIA!

7 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

There are a few of us staying at the Waldorf Astoria...and the prices are pretty good - for a Waldorf Astoria !  They offer a very good US government/contractor rate if you happen to qualify for that.

Well, I am a DoD contractor but have never tried that route before.  I do have a ton of Chase points which I can transfer to Marriott (as well as Marriott points).   Are you staying there before and after the cruise?  

As mentioned, we have this cruise booked and got airfare from Air2Sea.  We are flying down the day before the cruise (Delta with connection in ATL arriving after dinner time)  and returning home the day after the cruise (Copa - nonstop).  We have not made any plans for hotels (we need 1 before and 1 afterwards). 

I checked with our TA (Michelle with MEI) and she did not know of any group rates or events. 

Suggestions for pre-cruise and post-cruise hotels (that won't break the bank)?

Thanks!

Since I live in the Baltimore area (if you couldn't guess that from my handle), I've only driven down there (and it's super easy to get in and out).  Like some other posters mentioned, the port handles just one ship at a time and they are on the small size.  That means embarkation and disembarkation should be easy.  I've never cruised out of there but have given people plenty of rides.  Also, like another poster said, it's just off the highway (I-95).  I have seen the parking lot and it looks reasonably close (but have never used it). If you're flying in, it's also about a 15-20 minute drive from BWI.  Because of the (mid-Atlantic) location and ship size, the ships are usually full.  I once heard someone say that it has the nickname of the "Royal Caribbean ATM". 

9 minutes ago, twangster said:

Looks like last year the gondola direct was $50 pp.  

It appears the Goldbelt Tram in Juneau also raised it prices to $50 so that seems to be the going rate but there is more to do at the top in Juneau.  

The zip line is fun.  This was in 2018 when we had to ride a bus up the mountain.

 

Thanks @twangster !  Looks like the weather was great when you were there.  We absolutely can't wait for this trip (our first to Alaska and first on Radiance).  We're also hitting "Diamond" during this cruise so looking forward to the 2 that follow (Mariner in Sept/Oct '23 and the RCB Group cruise in Panama Mar '24)

I apologize if this has already been asked...

We will be on Radiance OTS stopping at Icy Straight Point, Alaska on June 19.  We haven't booked an excursion there and just want to ride the gondola up the mountain and take the zip rider down (looks like lots of fun).  Anyway, we couldn't find this excursion of RC's cruise planner and want to know if we can purchase tickets for this at the port when we get off the ship.  Also what does it cost?'

Thanks!

We can only hope.  In addition to the Panama Canal, the larger "mega" ships can't access the Baltimore port in North America nor Montenegro in Europe (just 2 examples). 

Last week, I was able to use Air2Sea to book our flights.  We are flying down the day before embarkation and flying home the day after disembarkation.  My home airport is BWI so going down, we're flying Delta BWI-ATL-PTY and coming home we got a nonstop on Copa (they are starting service to BWI soon) PTY-BWI on the day after disembarkation. 

11 minutes ago, twangster said:

Not sure why it isn't showing up, I have to search to find it.

Thanks @twangster  !   @Matt when you fix the original thread, feel free to delete the one I just started.

 

Surprised no one started this thread. 

Anyway we are on this cruise and it will be our first RCB Group cruise! 

It will be our 3rd time on Rhapsody.  First time was Western Caribbean out of Tampa (Jan/Feb 2020) and second time was Greek/Adriatic (Jul/Aug 2022).   

We are also on this cruise.  It's our 11th cruise but first to Alaska and first on a Radiance class ship.  Can't wait!  Hope the weather cooperates!

No Anniversary or Bday for us.  Just wanted to be on this cruise.  Even though we've been on over 10 RC cruises, this will be our first time to Bermuda & Perfect Day!  Hope the weather cooperates.

Great Post!  While I've never taken advantage of "Star Class" (most of our rooms have been "ocean view"), I always learn so much from Matt's Youtube videos as well as his posts and the message board here.   This is true even though we've been on 10 cruises and are hitting "Diamond" with our next cruise.  It seems I'm always learning something here.  

Just to repeat other here:  You can alter the dates you want to fly.

Since my home airport is BWI, we fly SWA (using points) to cruises that begin/end in Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico.  That being said, we used Air2Sea for a European cruise as well as our upcoming Alaska cruise and (RCB Group) Panama Canal cruise.

It's interesting that even though we select "pay later", I can select seats with most airlines (so far, Air Canada is the outlier).  I've had no problem selecting seats with AA, Delta, and Copa. 

One final thing: I find the prices with Air2Sea to be very good!

21 minutes ago, wordell1 said:

I booked Air to Sea from Austin.  There is a Copa direct flight on Thursday so we are taking advantage of that and staying at the Residence Inn.  My MEI TA said that they may do a group hotel so I may change it if that comes together.

 

If MEI does a group hotel, that would be awesome!  We are flying in Friday and staying over one night after the cruise.  I will give our MEI agent a heads up so she'll be on the look out.

Yes, our flight from ATL to PTY is a Delta flight.  I stand corrected.   Our ATL>PTY flight leaves ATL at 4:50 PM.  I haven't booked the hotel the night before the flight and night we return yet.  At least I have the flights. 

Hi Everyone,

I decided to book the flights through Air2Sea:

The day before the cruise, we're taking Delta with a connection in Atlanta, arriving Panama City (PTY) at 7:59AM.  The second leg (ATL-PTY) is actually a Copa flight code-shared with Delta.   We have not chosen/booked a hotel for that night (before we embark).

The day after the cruise ends we're taking Copa Airlines nonstop departing PTY at 9:07 am and arriving BWI (my home airport) at 3:07 PM.  

The plan is to tour Panama City the day we disembark from the ship.  We'll wait and see if Royal has any excursions.  Or if anyone here has suggestions, let me know.  One more thing.  It's been my experience that the best Cruise Planner prices are usually the week of Black Friday. 

Another thing, unless you want to use miles/points with Delta (I don't have any), it's probably better to book with Air2Sea since their prices are in line.

@Matt Maybe we can have a RCB group excursion when we disembark?

23 minutes ago, Rackham said:

You're welcome!

For Thursday and Friday nights, booked at Radisson Hotel Panama Canal. Saturday at Crowne Plaza Panama Airport and sprung for their dinner, bed, and breakfast rate. Figured on the outgoing leg if Royal is offering an excursion from Colón that ends at the airport, I can catch the free shuttle to the hotel (if needed). If not, I can still take advantage the next morning to get to the airport. Either way, last night in Panama I'm confident I will look to chill and not thrill after the preceding week.

Also, Uber apparently is plentiful and cheap in Panama City. However, their drivers love the scam where they don't end the ride after you've been dropped off at your destination, so it's worthwhile keeping an eye on the app and then canceling the ride after you've gotten out if the driver doesn't.

Great info!  Thanks for the tips.

23 minutes ago, Rackham said:

I'm on the late February sailing (can't make the group cruise due to my work schedule). After looking at Panama City's attractions, I'm flying in Thursday for a full day of touring on Friday before embarkation. There's enough there that I'd like to see, but not so much that heading back in the future would be a good use of my time and money. I'm leaving on Sunday due to Saturday flight schedules. Where I'm heading back to and departure times makeable from Colón requiring an overnight somewhere; I might as well spend another night in Panama City. Currently, I'm hoping Royal will get an excursion with the Panama Canal Railway on disembarkation day running back to Panama City as it appears the train isn't running a regular schedule.

Thanks!  Where are you staying in Panama?

My wife and I are booked on the RCB group cruise in Panama, March 2024 and want to know what others' travel plans are (e.g. what days you're flying in/home and where you're staying pre- and post- cruise).  The Air2Sea flights are now available.

Even if you're not on the group cruise but have been to Panama, I'd like to hear your thoughts/suggestions.   Because I also have Marriott points, I'd like to stay at a Marriott property. 

BTW, the cruise itself is a Saturday-Saturday cruise on Rhapsody OTS March 16-23, 2024.  It will be our 12th RC cruise but our first RCB Group cruise!  (can't wait!).

One final thing: We live in the Baltimore area (if you couldn't figure that out from my handle) and Copa Airlines will start non-stop service to/from BWI this June on Mon/Wed/Sat/Sun (unfortunately, not on Thurs/Fri and the northbound flights leave at Panama at 9ish AM).  That just means if we fly down on Thurs or Fri, we'll have to make a connection. 

Thanks and I look forward to reading everyone's thoughts/suggestions. 

24 minutes ago, Ampurp85 said:

I think staying at a Cocoa Beach hotel is better than staying by the airport. I would rather have a shorter ride to the port and often times the hotels have airport shuttles. You will also have more budget friendly last-minute options than airport hotels. 

Well, I've never heard of a Cocoa Beach hotel with an airport shuttle.  It's around a 50-minute ride!

I also will not book a last-minute hotel.  I'm the sort of person that plans in advance.

I'm leaning towards an MCO-area hotel because if the plane is late (it is prime hurricane/tropical storm season) I'd rather be staying near MCO.   Also, MCO-area hotels tend to be less expensive than Cocoa Beach hotels.

Thanks for your input!