Skid

You only need to reserve this under one guest name.  It is confusing the way it is presented.  I reserved it under my name for my husband and myself.

First, if you bought with a credit card, check to see if your credit card covers you for trip cancellation for non-preexisting medical conditions. Mine does.
Second, it's only a cruise. Only from my opinion and experience with others with cardiac issues...what you need to evaluate is RISK. While they have great medical facilities on a ship, they are NOT equipped to handle post-op complications.

@Boston Babe  - check your cruise planner also. Just got an email re our May cruise on Adventure. Prices are now the lowest I have seen since I bought on Cyber Monday (and then they went back up). Refreshment package dropped from it's regular $26/day to $18 and an excursion we were looking at dropped from $79 to $63. On Jan 10, I called and saved $201 on the cruise ($101 fare and and extra $100 OBC). That was the third drop since we booked last June.
Sooo... everyone--it does pay to check often! Happy cruising!
 

In 2013 Amex had a Carnival offer.  Simply charge more than a threshold amount and you would receive a statement credit of $50.  All it took was some sort of line item from Carnival and it worked.  For me that was some shore excursions booked directly with Carnival after signing up with Amex for the offer. 
I've never seen a similar RCI equivalent Amex offer.

Keep in mind that I believe to use an AmEx offer, you have to book through AmEx Travel, which is their own travel agency.  

I just want to say my prayers for those who were on the bus in Mexico with the Equinox and Serenade passengers. My heart is going out to everyone who may have lost a loved one or injured. Many prayers going out to those families.

Ok...i need a scorecard lol.  Just when I thought I knew where the ships were.....

My husband...a die hard Leafs fan wore his Toronto Maple Leafs jersey to a Detroit Red Wings vs. Ottawa Senators game in Detroit.  I was afraid he was going to get jumped or shot lol...

LOL Actually, Pittsburgh, NJ, NY, Marblehead MA, back to NY, now Lewes Delaware! RED SOX NATION LIVES IN THIS HOUSE!! Husband, being from the Bronx, the ONLY non Yankee fan in the Tri-State area, couldn't wear his Red Sox jacket when he taught at School, was afraid of getting shot! (No joke!).

OK Sabrina-I've enjoyed your posts before, but now I love them. Although being raised in NY and NJ, my daughter is a diehard Pens fan. She has made the almost 6 hour drive to Pittsburgh several times so she can see them at home. She's not a fan of the Rangers, Islanders or Devils, but does go there when the Pens are visiting and proudly wears her Pens jersey. Of course, I worry every time she does that, but that's what Dads do!
And--she is a teacher who is under contract to June 30th each year. School usually lets out mid month, but sometimes they need to add on for snow days and other unexpected closures.

Fabulous!! thank you!! I remember what that was like going on vacation in the summer only! With thousands of others! LOL
I'm from New Jersey (or used to be ! LOL) but never was at the Port in NJ only NY.  You will love the Outlets!! Treat yourself!! LOL  

Ugh...I cannot imagine starting back early August.  Would rather the way we have it here and go to end of June and start back right after Labour Day in September.
That is one of my highlights...Rubbing it into all my students who are Red Wings, Blackhawks, and Leafs fans who the real champs are (Let's Go Pens!).  We project it on the big screen in June in my classroom! Lol!

I hope to meet you and many others on this site one day.  I need @Matt to plan a group cruise during summer vacation time though.  Can't leave in the middle of the school year...
Actually I also forgot to note last night when I typed that response that Eatsleepcruise.com has detailed comparison of Cape Liberty hotels.  They compare parking, shuttles, rates, etc.  I found their info quite useful when I was deciding.
http://eatsleepcruise.com/2015/04/the-best-hotels-near-cape-liberty-cruise-port/

Try buyreservations.com They book hotels that include a night's stay, parking and round trip shuttle to the pier or airport. Prices are very reasonable for what is provided ($150-$180ish). We have used them several times (although not for NJ) with no problems.

I agree!! We did it last year and loved it. he's the best tour guide I've ever had!!

hello all...quick question...where would I send a request to get a mattress topper on the bed.....

If you're going through a travel agent I'd ask them to take care of it.  If no agent...Good question.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/cruise-ships/itinerary-updates
 
we're sailing on oasis 10/8, st Martin replaced with Nassau. We were refunded on our st Martin shore excursion and there are no shore excursions offered (yet?) for Nassau.  With Maria threatening Puerto Rico, likely that'll be off the itinerary soon. 
Not clear if RC is offering cruise credit for 10/8 oasis or not, but I'll still go even if we only stop at Nassau and Labadee.
What are the chances of oct 8 sailing of oasis being cancelled? 
non refundable airfare and hotel before and after cruise will make rescheduled cruise pricey, but I won't complain considering the devastation and suffering of millions in hurricane affected areas. It's also an accepted risk taken by saving $ on the non refundable reservations.
i am impressed with RC's humanitarian efforts to provide relief of supplies and transportation to affected locations. Makes me happy to accept itinerary changes, or rescheduling if necessary, and not demand refunds, but rather applaud RC and be happy my vacation  $ assists RC humanitarian efforts.

Five years ago I had a contract on St Thomas that lasted almost two years.  In those two years I got to know all of the USVI.  There is nothing like living somewhere to really get to know the culture.  I've been communicating with a local resident I used to work with who lived through Irma and the struggles since.  This morning was the first sign of hope in his communication, they've been pretty bleak up to this point.  
His message today read "Yesterday was a great day.  Tim Duncan, pro basketball player, also a virgin islander, distributed a lot of food at the Innovative parking lot.  I volunteered to assist giving bags of food away".  That's the most hopeful and positive message I've received so far.
Up until today his messages have repeatedly discussed a lack of food and water.  Even after Majesty OTS visited there dropping off supplies earlier this week, its taken time for those and other supplies reaching the island to make it into the hands of the residents.  I understand that, it takes time for local authorities and relief organizations to triage the situation and with so many in need, to get more supplies flowing and distributed to the people in need.  Watching this unfold from both sides has been nerve racking and frustrating but in my heart I knew it would be a process that wouldn't happen overnight. 
I'd like to personally thank any Royal Caribbean employees at all levels of the organization who might read this post.  
In a natural disaster anywhere an immediate response is critical to saving lives.  With island factors involved that is even more so the case.  As first responders, relief organizations and governments began to mobilize their forces, Royal Caribbean employees worked to fulfill the gap in those critical first days after Hurricane Irma had passed bringing much needed supplies and evacuating stranded travelers, reducing the number of victims vying for limited food and water.
Since 2016 I've been evaluating new cruise lines to sail with.  My upcoming Harmony cruise will mark the 5th with the Royal Caribbean family in support of that goal.  It had been my intention to continue to explore different cruise lines not because I was unhappy with any of those cruises,  more because I just wanted to be familiar with all my options before zeroing in on any line in particular.   My search is over.  Watching Royal Caribbean's response to Irma I know I found the right cruise line.  
For me with my St Thomas connection this is personal.  I look forward to cruising back there one day when the time is right.  I'll find other ways to help when the time is appropriate, going there right now would just make me another mouth to feed.
For those with cruises impacted I'm sorry and I know its upsetting, but Royal Caribbean made a real difference deploying their ships as they did.
Before joining this forum, I posted in another forum shortly after talking to my friend earlier this week.  His call came in late one night and after I couldn't sleep so I started writing.  
I apologize for making this post very long, but thought the context was important.  Things on island are improving.  There is a still a long way to go.  It will take months to get power back.  Recovery is a process and it has begun.   It's only going to get better from here.
 
Here is my post, from 9-12-2017:
I finally heard back from a former coworker and friend on St Thomas tonight.   
Area code 340 appeared on my phone as I watched the evening news in Denver.  My heart skipped a beat, I know that area code, I know it's the USVI. It felt surreal having to mute my 70" big screen TV and look at my large glass of ice water beside me as he explained how things are on St Thomas.  I used to work there with him.  I know the islands well. 
Now, no power, no water, little food.  Multiple check points.  Curfew 6pm to noon.  They can't open the supermarkets fully for fear of looting, so the National Guard allows 8-10 in at a time to pick from the small selection of food. Long lines waiting for your turn.  He seemed pleased to have a few items of food from his last visit.  He had found a working ATM and was able to get cash for food.  Small miracles.  Between getting there and waiting in line, it's an all day affair.  Curfew.  
He was aware of the cruise ship visit today and why they were there - to pick up stranded travelers, but he knew nothing of the supplies being left by the ships.  "Where did they go?" was his question, meaning the supplies, not the travelers.  
He still works for the same company where I was a contractor.  He explained how he works noon to six because that is when curfew is lifted.  He goes to the office building where I used to work from and tries to keep some of the equipment from over heating by moving fans around.  They have a generator, but not one to run the air conditioning for the building, a building which is damaged.  They all are. Today he tried to make it to the Home Depot to buy something for the office.  That took 2 1/2 hours.  It used to take 10 - 15 minutes from Tutu.   Lots of check points. VI police at one, National Guard at another, Marines at a 3rd.  He wasn't sure they were Marines, but some sort of military.  Turns out Home Depot was closed.  No power and damaged.  With no time to lose, he headed back.  He had to, curfew in 2 hours.  A work day lost.  Many of the company buildings are damaged.  Some of these are the central offices of the local Telco where we worked.  They were the backbone of island communication before Irma.  He was grateful to have cell signal tonight.  I felt guilty talking to him for so long knowing it was draining his battery, but it seemed like he wanted to talk, needed to talk. He can charge it in the office tomorrow he explained.  Our calls dropped numerous times but he promptly called me back each time. 
"It's hard" he explained.  "Everything is hard".  I could hear it in his voice.  Even doing nothing all morning but laying in bed until noon.  Curfew.  Can't go outside, nothing to do inside.  His house damaged he is living with friends.  Even bathing is hard.  No water and it's hard to bathe in the ocean and be salty.  
He was hoping to make it to St Croix soon.  The company has offices there.  He could keep his job.  That's really important in the VI, jobs are hard to come by and he is grateful to have one.   St Croix felt some effects from Irma but nothing like St Thomas and especially not like St John.  "I'm blessed" he told me.  "People on St John have it very bad".  He explained they are resettling anyone they can from St John over to St Croix.   For the moment that means he can't go to St Croix.  Maybe soon he hopes.  They have power, and water.  Some of St Croix does he heard.  He told me several times how fortunate he is.
I felt silly asking if he needed anything, both of us knowing there would be no way for me to ship it to him.  Maybe soon. Until then I've got to find a way to help.  We all do.
Since writing this late last night I woke to the news that Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas remains in the area and is doing runs between San Juan and St Thomas.  Shout out to the NCL Sky for her visit Monday, I was checking out her webcam while she was there.  Even bigger shout out to Royal Caribbean for keeping Majesty OTS in the area for a few days.  I know other lines are helping in other places too.  
 The biggest challenge in a natural disaster anywhere is surviving the first few weeks.   Add the island factor and the fact that there are two islands, St Thomas and St John and it becomes a massive challenge.  With more supplies continuing to arrive they will eventually make it to the people.  Looters won't feel the need to loot, curfews can be relaxed, people will shift focus to items like getting the power on and water running.  
 It won't happen overnight but don't underestimate the resolve of VI residents, these are American citizens after all.  St Thomas and St John will rebuild.  I look forward to returning on a cruise one day.  Until then donate if you can and thank the cruise lines for their role in this critical phase of surviving the next few weeks.   
 

Yep, Walgreens and Rite Aid.   

Has anyone else received a questioner from RC.
I had one today asking about where we have cruised where we would like to cruise.
I duly obliged until I got to the question asking about our income.
I never give this out - it's far to invasive and personal.
The questioner wouldn't let me move any further until I had provided it.
I decided to close it down but struggled - it kept returning to the question. eventually I shut the PC down and that seemed to clear it - only a short while later it popped back up at the same page.
I won't be filling in anymore questioners from RC!
 
 
 

Glad to help !  That's what these Boards are all about !
Well....I'm not going to claim that there's a security fence around it and a watchman on duty.  It is just an open parking lot immediately adjacent to the hotel so probably no more secure than anywhere else but we've never had any issues.  I wouldn't leave any valuables sitting out in the open anywhere but I feel confident that your car will be fine.
The parking lot is really HUGE and we always park near the building as opposed to out in the lower 40 away from the foot traffic.  I figure the closer we are to the building the less likely someone would mess with the car....but honestly, if I felt like there was a real danger there I wouldn't stay there to begin with.
The real highlight of the stay at this Best Western is (IMO) the shuttle to the ship.  KD Elite is their name.  I'm fairly sure the owners must be Russian as all of the drivers (that I have come into contact with, anyway) appear to have Russian accents.  But they are SO professional.  The buses are really nice, they contact you a couple of times prior to your visit to confirm your transportation and they are parked RIGHT outside the exit of the terminal when you get off the ship to go back to the hotel.  Very easy to spot and convenient.
I do have one funny story but it has nothing at ALL to do with the hotel.  Well, not directly, anyway.  The last time we stayed there I used the same credit card I always use to reserve the room.  So when we got ready to check in, I gave them the credit card to make the payment.  The person checking us in sheepishly said that my credit card had been declined.  I was so embarrassed and knowing that there was a -0- balance on this card I knew that it could not have been a "over limit" issue.  She tried again.  Same response.  Finally Dan used his RCI Visa card and it went through - first time (of course, later, he teased me about planning this in advance so that HE would have to pay for the hotel !!).  When we got up to our room, I called Navy Federal Credit Union (where my credit card was issued) and after a fairly lengthy discussion, found out that the card had been declined because we were in Baltimore and that Baltimore has such a high level of bank card fraud, they just automatically decline the charge unless they are notified ahead of time that the client will be using their card in Baltimore.  WHAT ?????  I certainly am always careful to let the CC company know when I am going to be using my card outside of the US but I never thought that being in BALTIMORE would be like being in a third world country !  Well....maybe...       So....lesson learned.  When I go there on Sept 1 I will make SURE that the NFCU knows I am going and not to decline my card !  I appreciate banks being extra vigilant on my behalf but I think that was a little excessive.

Very true, DocLC, but keep in mind that by getting that card (no annual fee) and making just one purchase (it can be a cup of coffee) within 65 days you get 10,000 bonus points which is good for $100 OBC. So if you and and family members each get a card, you have a few hundred dollars.

Title:. To sea, or not to sea?