ebonyandivory

Hi All so we've been back about 3 weeks from our Navigator of the Seas cruise around the Caribbiean and without going into blow by blow account it was AMAZING!!!! We had the best time and met some friends for life and we have already decided we are going away again. Now we were just about to book the Allure for Oct 2015 but because it's our 20 year anniversary and Celebrity cruises came to mind. I understand this is the slightly upscale version if RCCL but I wondered if any of you have been on one at all. We are not taking the kids so not worried about activities and from the website it looks a really lovely relaxing cruise to go on Couple of questions - it's not full of pensioners is it? As much as I love older people we are in our 30s and would want to have some people around the same age..... Also the cruise is from Rome 15 nights to Florida which sounds amazing - but the flights are ridiculous. BA actually charge more for a one way ticket from Miami to LHR than a return ticket! Has anyone booked flights with RCCL/Celebrity and how have they found the comparable prices? Thanks guys I'll put more stuff on about the cruise later on but as above - it was AMAZING!!!!

Alright all Only 10 days till my cruise on Navigator of the Seas and I was trawling the internet about the ship and started reading cruise critics reviews for NOS submitted for the past month. Almost all of them were BAD!! If you get a chance have a look at a few. I'm a little worried now - I like to think that I make my own mind up with anything I do but there is a lot of similarity in complaints about always hearing NO and service problems. Do you think these reviews are fair - or is it just that most of these people are Carnival Cruise junkies (as they all seem to be)??

Hi guys So 3 weeks left and i'm trying to cross the Ts and for the .....um....lower case j's (those of you that get that....ha!) Anyway - what is the score with these straighteners, curling irons, hair dryers etc??? Now I'm sure I read from someone that they always take their straighteners on - but on RC website it clearly states: What Not to PackFor the safety of our guests, the following items are not allowed on board: Electrical transformers, hair straighteners, coffee makers, candles, irons, illegal drugs, flammable liquids and explosives, such as fireworks. For a full list of items please visit our Frequently Asked Questions section. For security purposes, we also recommend not packing any valuables (such as jewellery) in your checked-in luggage. So - when my wife and daughter both who have very frizzy hair - both lose it and have a massive BF!! what am I supposed to do? I can't take gas tongs cos you are not allowed those on the plane.........do I just ignore the above and take them anyway? Do I try and get some tongs delivered to the hotel the night we arrive in some crazy UPS logistical madness!! What do you all do - whatever you do, I'll do. If I get in trouble......its all Matt's fault.... :P

Hi all So planning for the trip (4 weeks today!!) and I wanted to know if anyone has info on a couple of excursions we've booked. First one is Mayan Ruins, Island Tour and beach break on Couzamel - how much cash will I need - ie will I need to buy lunch? Is the beach a private hotel or similar? Is there pay for activities at the beach like jet skis etc and if so any idea of costs? 2 adults and a 14 and 13 year old as a guide Same exact questions for Cayman Island dolphin swim and beach break The last ones are dunns river and the space centre in Houston so that's pretty explanatory - I just wondered how much cash to take off the ship as I don't want to be carrying loads of cash with me - and I can't see beach activities taking credit cards (can they?!) Thanks in advance you lovely people!

Hi Matt Yeh I thought exactly the same and I have a written confirmation of all the excursions - just worried that if it's not organised all the proof in the world won't create 4 more spaces And I did try to do the refund and the girl at RCCL did say that before she found out it would be fine but then she said that if they did a refund I wouldn't even get my money back before I went on the cruise - and that was a month ago!? Has anyone else ever had a time that they booked an excursion and when they got on the ship they had no record of it?

Hi all So first cruise is 30 days away now and I have had a problem with two excursions I booked from the very beginning. When I booked the cruise 2 months ago I went on and booked 4 excursions in all four ports and paid for them all. But afterwards the system only showed the last two as booked. I check I had paid everything and I had so I called them and asked how many excursions they had showing and they said two. I explained the above and after a bit of back and forth they found the other two bookings on "the other" system?? So I left it a few weeks - no change on the cruise planner -so I called again and hit exactly the same scenario as above - sigh - but I did speak to an excursion manager who assured me that everything was fine and the system needed an update I was getting stressed out at this point as I was worried we would get on the ship, the excursions would be missing and then no room would be left. Although I was being reassured I couldn't get any kind of confirmation of all the excursions. Then a few weeks later - yay! - all the excursions appeared on the system and I was happy.....until...... I got my cruise booklet today and those same excursions are missing again. I'm getting tired and fed up now and wondered what you guys suggest I should do? Cheers

Thanks guys - changing the booking is probably more hassle than it's worth now - but I'll ask at guest services and if an extra card is needed I won't be that bad. Can I just ask - a weird one but how do you actually carry the sea pass? Is it in a clip round your neck, or a slide plastic thing or just loose in your pocket?

Hi all Question for any of you, I have booked two rooms side by side and according to RCL this was the correct thing to do because on paper people under 21 can't book a room (even though over 12 and they are adult price, grr) so me and my son are in one and wife and daughter is in the other. No they are not connecting rooms (no way kids!) and they are both in their teens so them in one and us in the other is fine with RCL - however, for my wife and sons the room key can't open the correct room. I asked RCL on the phone but they said that nothing can be done before getting on board but on crusie critic someone told me tough luck ( I know I should have come here first) but has anyone had any experience where they have been able to change the room that their sea pass can access? Essentially I don't want my son having to come and find me or my wife or his sister if he needs to get in the room Cheers!

Not sure if they fluctuate - imaging they would otherwise it would be very unfair We're going on Navigator of the Seas Western Caribbean in August. First ever cruise.....so excited!

Hi guys - hopefully someone has experienced this themselves and has an answer..... If during a meal I bought a bottle of red wine and only drank half of it, I know that you can cork it and get it back another night, but am I able to grab a couple of clean glasses and find a quiet spot outside to relax and finish our bottle? Are they ok with taking glasses and bottle outside at night? Thought it would be cosy.....!

Cool thanks - I've struggled with whether or not we could actually drink that much in a week but I think we'll leave it and just assess it for the future. I don't want to spend the whole holiday checking my bill every night and moaning at people who have spent a lot that day (which I will end up doing!) As long as a cheeky brand night cap is included in the package I'm well happy!

Hi! Fellow uk passenger here and after seeing your post had a little panic about me prepaying the packages but had a check and thankfully pre-paying seems to be fine. In the US the ultimate package $65 which is £37.90 at current exchange rates. If you actually calculate what you can but dollars at it works out to £38.79. Buying the drinks package before on the UK site is £38.85 so this is fine you are losing out. Also I've been researching and it looks like the dollar is going to start strengthening soon too so it should only work out to be a a better deal as we go along. I'm actually gonna get my spending money this week I think as could end up with a few dollars more than in a months time

Hi Matt nice to meet you - been listening to your podcasts all day!! In the gym, driving, etc - fantastic! I'm so confused about this drink package though - heard you podcast about the drinks package and you listed through the things that are not included in the package like canned drinks, bottled water, high end drinks etc. but RC state that what I've bought covers everything that is on board. We're not big drinkers, but when we do we like NICE drinks. So can I get this straight - if I order a double Remy Maarten brandy is that going to be included?? Or it says that all bottled water? Is that wrong or right? I've paid best part of £800 for all four of us to drink so surely that would cover everything on board!! Thanks!

I know the promenade cafe stays open all night - but what time do they close the bars? Either around the ship and in the Casino?

Hi all - first timers on here from the UK! We are travelling on the Navigator of the Seas in August this year and even though we've done loads of research we've seen your impressive forums and website and hope you guys can answer some of the smaller details that we can't find online. I'm sure we'll have loads more but the first thing we wanted to understand is the way these sea passes work..... We've booked the ultimate drinks packages and understand that this gets you any drink you like (is that right??) but do you swipe your card every time you get a drink? How does it work with the kids - is there someone there to know if they are getting a premium drink as a opposed to a "free" drink? Or have we got it totally off track? Any info about how swiping drinks and food would be great ----- Another thing is is there a separate ironing service to the laundry service? Without an iron how can we make sure we don't all walk around with creased clothes?! If there is one any idea how much? Thanks!