xCANCELLEDx Rhapsody of the Seas - Mar 16, 2024 - Mar 23, 2024 (7 Night Costa Rica & Panama Canal) - RoyalCaribbeanBlog Group Cruise

[wordell1]

36 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Air2Sea's website doesn't even show available flights for me yet.

 

My TA did it for me. They may get it early.  I booked at the Residence Inn also - It looked good for the price.

[smokeybandit]

American's flight schedule is now in range.

[smokeybandit]

Delta now in range, too.

 

Still nothing on Air2Sea

[DieselsCruzzzzin]

Anyone else flying in/out of Orlando? I booked a flight through Air2Sea since I figured there was little risk as the fare was refundable and I chose the option to pay later. But just curious if anyone else flying from Orlando had any options earlier than the 6:45pm flight on the disembarkation day. I was looking at Copa Airlines website and there is a flight at noon that I would think would be ok to book but that's not appearing on the Air2Sea website so I would have to book directly through the airline and that airfare is non-refundable. Ugh...decisions, decisions....

[smokeybandit]

I still see nothing on Air2Sea's website

[smokeybandit]

Interesting. If I pick my departing city as Orlando, I get results. Then from there change to Denver, I get results.

But searching from Denver from the start, no results

[smokeybandit]

53 minutes ago, DieselsCruzzzzin said:

I was looking at Copa Airlines website and there is a flight at noon that I would think would be ok to book but that's not appearing on the Air2Sea website

I've got a 12:30pm flight home that I know is there on Copa, but it doesn't show up for me either. I wonder if Air2Sea has a later cutoff for flights due to the distance from the port to the airport.

[Marc Van Niekerk]

Our TA booked us on direct flights from Toronto with Copa Airlines using Air2Sea.  Arrive in Panama on the 15th and depart on the 24th meaning a couple extra days for which we have booked rooms at Holiday Inn (pre-cruise) and Crowne Plaza (post-cruise).

Selected Crowne Plaza for the included airport shuttle.

We are open to change on hotels if we find these inconvenient as group plans develop but we felt it prudent to have something on the books rather than ride it out and have troubles later.

[smokeybandit]

I'm not able to see any United flights on Air2Sea other than economy class.

I'm trying hard not to have to call them up to book, but it's becoming inevitable.

[WAAAYTOOO]

Just booked flights (AA) using miles.  Fly on 3-7-24.  2 nights in Panama City (since we've never been to Panama).  Cruising 3-9-24 then B2B with the group on 3-16.

Staying at the Waldorf Astoria (thanks, @Matt for that sweet/suite tip).  For those who qualify, they have an AWESOME US government/contractor rate.  We paid a total of (including all taxes, etc.) $278.30 per night for a condo suite.  Looks pretty nice !!  Coming back on 3-23-24.

Now for excursions....no idea.  What's everyone else doing ?

[smokeybandit]

WHere are you guys seeing good rates for the Waldorf? One night in a suite costs more than my 2 nights at the Residence Inn.

[WAAAYTOOO]

48 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

WHere are you guys seeing good rates for the Waldorf? One night in a suite costs more than my 2 nights at the Residence Inn.

To be fair, I didn't look at any other hotels so the RI could be dirt cheap....I couldn't tell you.  I've never stayed in a Waldorf Astoria hotel and I most likely never will again.  

This is from the Hilton website and reflect regular rates for 7 March 2024.

This is the same search, but using a filter for Government/contractor rates.  I got the condo suite, city view.

[smokeybandit]

[smokeybandit]

I know most follow the 6 month rule anyway, but Colombia requires it

 

For all sailings that visit Colombia, all guests will be required to present a passport book valid for at least 6 months after the sailing’s return date in order to board. 

[sk8erguy1978]

For a two night stay, 3/14/23 & 3/15/23 I see the below. I added breakfast so it's a tad more but nothing crazy. I can cancel and rebook if it goes lower.

[smokeybandit]

Looks like the rates are good for 2 people, but add a third is when they skyrocket.

[sk8erguy1978]

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

Looks like the rates are good for 2 people, but add a third is when they skyrocket.

Sounds like you'll only be a party of two 

[SpeedNoodles]

On 5/11/2023 at 12:07 PM, sk8erguy1978 said:

Sounds like you'll only be a party of two 

Like when I'm traveling to dog shows.  Hotel: "2 dog limit"  Me: will never be seen walking 3 dogs at the same time.

[twangster]

7 hours ago, SpeedNoodles said:

Like when I'm traveling to dog shows.  Hotel: "2 dog limit"  Me: will never be seen walking 3 dogs at the same time.

On Royal ships there is no dog limit at The Dog House.  

[smokeybandit]

23 minutes ago, twangster said:

On Royal ships there is no dog limit at The Dog House.  

 

Though I'm going to guess Rhapsody isn't getting a Dog House before March.

[sk8erguy1978]

32 minutes ago, twangster said:

On Royal ships there is no dog limit at The Dog House.  

Too bad that's hot dogs and not our furry friends, the canine. There should be no limit to them!

[baltodave]

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).   

[twangster]

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

EDIT - Group cruise roll calls are under the master roll call page, not under each ship.

[baltodave]

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.

 

 

[twangster]

I was this today years old when I learned... Group cruise roll calls are under the master roll call page, not under each ship.

[baltodave]

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. 

[twangster]

Currently booked at the Waldorf for a few days pre-cruise but am seriously considering the Radisson in Colon for the night before the cruise.   I was just there a month ago and the port is right beside the hotel.  Convenient grocery store and a Subway restaurant in addition to what the hotel has.  What could go wrong?

[WAAAYTOOO]

Don't feel bad, @baltodave.  I started a thread for this, too....not realizing that there was already one ongoing.  I never could find it !  

[twangster]

A rare look into a dry lock chamber at the Pedro Miguel locks as maintenance is performed.

https://www.voanews.com/a/panama-canal-maintenance-work-aims-to-extend-its-life-by-a-century/7093383.html

Rhapsody will be using these original locks (or the one right next to it) for the transit in March.

Pretty amazing that these are very locks created by the United States more than 100 years ago.  

[AshleyDillo]

On 5/17/2023 at 11:00 AM, baltodave said:

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).   

I just merged it in with the main thread. You've got some catching up to do

Not sure what the solution is to make it more prominent where these are located. I try to keep track of the ships with group cruises to catch any but I've been slacking in my moderator duties lately.

 

[smokeybandit]

6 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said:

I just merged it in with the main thread. You've got some catching up to do

Not sure what the solution is to make it more prominent where these are located. I try to keep track of the ships with group cruises to catch any but I've been slacking in my moderator duties lately.

 

Maybe make a subforum for each group cruise thread starting with some special character like _ so they appear at the top.

[AshleyDillo]

25 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Maybe make a subforum for each group cruise thread starting with some special character like _ so they appear at the top.

Above my pay grade  But I'll make the suggestion to @Matt.

[twangster]

1 hour ago, AshleyDillo said:

but I've been slacking in my moderator duties lately.

I'm recommending a 50% cut in pay.  

[WAAAYTOOO]

Just now, twangster said:

I'm recommending a 50% cut in pay.  

….and I was going to recommend that @Matt double the pay for all the mods !

[sk8erguy1978]

1 hour ago, AshleyDillo said:

I just merged it in with the main thread. You've got some catching up to do

Not sure what the solution is to make it more prominent where these are located. I try to keep track of the ships with group cruises to catch any but I've been slacking in my moderator duties lately.

 

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

Maybe make a subforum for each group cruise thread starting with some special character like _ so they appear at the top.

Not a bad idea. Does Invision have a symbolic link feature? Feel like it does but too lazy to look. Then you can have the group cruise roll calls live in a few spots. 

I ended up turning on follow so I can find it easily LOL

[twangster]

1 hour ago, sk8erguy1978 said:

 

Not a bad idea. Does Invision have a symbolic link feature? Feel like it does but too lazy to look. Then you can have the group cruise roll calls live in a few spots. 

I ended up turning on follow so I can find it easily LOL

At a minimum just leave a thread with a single post that contains a link to the real thread, then lock it.

[AshleyDillo]

28 minutes ago, twangster said:

At a minimum just leave a thread with a single post that contains a link to the real thread, then lock it.

Now THAT is something I can take care of

[WAAAYTOOO]

Today I see a couple of specialty dining options available for this cruise (plus the one prior, that we are also booked on)...but no dining plans...just Chops+1 and a Taste of Royal (or whatever it's called).  Waiting for the 3 night plan to be posted....

[smokeybandit]

I'm just not feeling Air2Sea for this trip. I had made a reservation for business class, only to find out one of the legs was economy despite no indication of this on the Air2Sea website. Canceled that.

 

Now Air2Sea fares are about double what I can book direct.

[sk8erguy1978]

40 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Now Air2Sea fares are about double what I can book direct.

I only did about 5 minutes of research so far on flights, but that's what I'm seeing as well.