DocLC

Wow... I'm new to shopping for cruises, who gave that package?

Mark,

 

I'd recommend listening to last week's podcast that Matt did. Also, for the most part, all cruise lines now require agents to sell cruises at the same prices that they offer. This means that the price for the cruise is essentially the same regardless of where you buy it. However, some agency book group space and can get a better price as a result. For example, perhaps a family is having a huge reunion onboard, so the TA has received a special rate for the large group. Even though you're not part of the reunion, the TA can still book you at that rate if they have it. Likewise, TAs also will look for all the discounts available which the call center people at RCI don't always do. For instance, I saved several hundred dollars earlier this year because of a residency sale for the state I live in.

 

While your price likely won't vary much except as noted above, agents can throw in perks to sweeten the deal like insurance, prepaid gratuities, onboard credit, etc.

Anyone willing to sail the Radiance next month?  If so, then we have the Radiance class covered. :)

Legend, 12/31/05 sailing from Tampa, Platinum before all the new tiers.

I love Izumi, but that's mostly because I'm a sushi addict

I just read that they're offering a sea day brunch/lunch at Izumi for $25. We have some really, really good all you can eat sushi places here for less, so I probably wouldn't be interested but thought of you, Matt, when I read it given your interest in sushi.

The last time I was at such an event was 2006; I'm curious to see how it's changed. Back then they offered quite a spread including sushi, although I'm guessing that's gone.

Thanks, Matt!

 

Love escargot and my son ordered it with his hamburger on our last cruise. I would not have considered the lasagna, though, so thanks for the advice. And of course, you can never go wrong with coffee ice cream.

Don't they change the hashbrowns from day to day. ;)

While I can't specifically comment on the Allure, I have heard that Johnny Rockets is another option for breakfast that is complimentary.

If you had one not to miss dish in the main dining room to recommend, what would it be?  Let me know your favorite appetizer, entrée, and dessert on a 7 day cruise.

 

Thanks.

bcarney,

 

I thought for sure that after the laundry you were going to say that you'd start cruising all over again. The reality of needing a diet is a real downer. ;)

Royal doesn't do a lot of world cruises like some of the other lines, but if I stayed on board long enough, B2B2B2B . . ., it might turn into one. :)

 

 

I think I would choose the repositioning on Quantum followed by a cruise on the Asian itinerary. I'd settle for an inside, but if price wasn't an issue, I'd go for a suite not only for more spacious accommodations but also for double C&A points.

 

Could I get quadruple points if I sailed solo?

It is definitely one of those things where your mileage may vary with the package.  We did a similar one on Celebrity (nonalcoholic) and purchased it out of convenience.  In reality, I didn't expect to save any money and simply thought I'd break even or come close to breaking even, which would have been acceptable for convenience sake and having the expense prepaid.  What surprised us is that we actually found value in it.  I had a couple of specialty coffees per day (breakfast/dinner), a fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning, a soda with lunch and/or dinner, and bottled water and in the end we found value in the package.

 

We're trying it out next month on the Jewel.  If it works as well as it did on Celebrity, then we'll likely opt for the package on the Brilliance in July.  I actually suspect that it may be a better value on the Brilliance since our major port stops are Norway, where everything is expensive, so the option of bringing on soda and/or water might be cost prohibitive.  I actually watched a Rick Steve's seminar on YouTube where one of his writers actually said that he spent more on the soda he bought before getting on the ship than it would have cost him to simply purchase the can out of the mini bar on the ship.

Keep in mind that some of the reps. have a reputation for giving inaccurate advice. I'm not saying this is the case, just a warning from experiences I've read on other sites. And while you may get a faster response, there's a greater likelihood that at. T.A. has been on the ship than a phone rep.

Wow, what a great deal - hoping they last as well - maybe Cyber Monday deals

 

Michelle

The flight is now $1955 R/T up from $1090 R/T, so it may have been a short-lived sale.

While I can't specifically speak to in-room childcare, I have had good experiences on several cruise lines since my son as 2 and this includes Disney, Holland America, Celebrity, and Carnival and this is coming from someone who use to work for Child Protective Services and has a sensitivity/concern about child maltreatment. While I wouldn't let my son run free on the ship without supervision, I've never had a concern with the childcare.

Sort of related, the US dollar is doing REALLY well these days against foreign currencies so it is cheaper to go there now.

Let's hope it stays that way.

 

The last time I was in Europe, the dollar was pretty weak and it hurt. The upside is the airfare was cheap ($550 r/t) from San Diego back then and the hotels were about $100 per night. A lot has changed in a decade, though, especially airfare.

I do like these luggage tags: http://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/royal-caribbean-luggage-tags

These are the way to go. I use to laminate them and also tried the packaging tape methods, but these holder hold up the best and are easier than the other two alternatives.

For those of you planning European cruises with Royal this summer, Virgin-Atlantic and the other partner airlines with Delta have drastically cut their fares. Ours from San Diego to Heathrow dropped by about 35%, saving us $1500 ($500 x3).

 

I'm not sure how long the sale will last, but I wanted everyone to know.

I have them and agree that they're great. Much better than using other methods.

I think 90 minutes is a safe estimate. When dining with just my wife, we're sometimes out in roughly an hour, but it really comes down to the efficiency of your wait staff and how much you order, what you order (e.g., specialty coffee with dessert), etc. I have found that open dining usually runs faster, but again it depends on your service team. If you're at a big table, add an addition 30-60 minutes especially if you like your table mates as the conversation slows things down.

Thanks. I figured B&W would be okay, but wanted to ask for sure as other lines are more clear about the issue by including a statement in the directions on how to fold and staple the luggage tag. And while I know I can get them at the port, I like having them tagged in advance so that I can dump and go.

Only once have I experienced anything organically sourced on a cruise and that was aboard Disney at Palo. The steaks they had that week were organic, grass fed beef. I think it was just by chance, though, and not planned.

 

Best chance would be on a new ship in the future if they happen to create a specialty restaurant that caters to organic foods. While it is easy to eat healthy onboard if one chooses, cruise lines are price sensitive with their ingredients to manage overall costs.

Here's what I've gathered:  Not on ships with a dedicated Starbucks in addition to Cafe Latitudes. If Starbucks is served at Cafe Latitudes and is the only coffee bar on the ship (e.g., Radiance class), then it's included.

Is there any need to print the luggage tags out in color?  I haven't on other cruise lines, but wanted to make sure black and white tags were sufficient.

I also haven't sailed on RCI since my son (7) was born, but my experience is similar to that of Angela on all of the other lines we've sailed. They're pretty strict on keeping the age groups separated except for so e shared or late night activities. Disney use to be this way, too.

 

One thing that's very different from DCL is the hours of the clubs. They close earlier and on most lines close at lunch and around dinner unless it's a port day. This has been my experience on HAL, Carnival, and Celebrity with Celebrity offering an option of a paid lunchtime care.