Howie411

So I got an email about Kids Sailing Free + Up to $350 Instant Savings.    I have checked at least 10 different trips (over the course of the rest of the year until the end of 2021 and not a single one listed the 3rd guest (kid free).    I even clicked directly on the deal link and selected the first cruise that popped up just to check and that also didn't have the kid sailing free.

What kind of Masters Degree do you need to find a sailing where the kids actually sail free?

I enjoyed the most recent trip on the Harmony.    Other then the Long LONG LONG waits and overcrowded elevators the cruise was a blast.    I could have done without the San Juan stop though. I found that boring and not much to do there.   CocoCay was great, I would have loved 2 days there.

Did a galley tour this morning and the guy giving the tour said RC just ordered two new Icon class ships that will hold over 8,000 guest.

7 hours ago, MalteseMama2 said:

We’ve been using the elevators more than usual because of my foot issue. They sometimes get very crowded.

Is your 5 yr old having a good time?

She loves going on the carousel.  And we've taken her to Aquanauts 3 of the 4 days for different sessions and she seems to have really enjoyed those.

Thanks for all the suggestions.   We ended up grabbing a water taxi round trip pass. $7 a person and then we rented 2 chairs and a umbrella for $25.     Definitely cheaper then going with RC.  Only thing I wish I would have checked around for the chairs.  Some places like the lazy lizard were offering 2 chairs an umbrella and 6 beers and wifi for like $20.

I'm currently on the Harmony now too.  My only beef so far is the elevator wait times and how crowded they are.  We have a 5 year old in tow with us.

8 minutes ago, scottbee said:

Which beach?

 

The water taxi to the main town (Philipsburg) is cheap, a few $ each way, and there's a beach there.  Alternately there's Maho Beach (airplanes landing overhead), and Orient Beach (lovely, with a naturalist section at the south end).  Taxi to either is $10/ea /eaway

 

The ones on the excursion list are El. Zafiro, Kim Sha or Maho.   There is 1 other one for $34 called great beach bay experience but doesnt list much info.

Currently on the Harmony of the Sea and we stop at St. Marteen in 2 days.  Would like to take my daughter to the beach, but the excursion price seem rediciclous to go to the beach.   For 3 of us I'm looking at either $197 or $209?    Seems a bit steep to hang out at the beach even if lunch is included.  Any better options?

Bid on a junior suite $335 and ultra spacious spacious with larger balcony for $320.  Didnt get either.  This was for the harmony of the seas Dec 1-9.  We currently have a superior OV balcony on deck 12.

So not a big deal but just curious where is where is the free Continental breakfast in the private lounge and what is priority check-in?  I didnt see either when boarding the Harmony this morning and the one person we asked seemed clueless.

Hmm when I log into the trip planner it says:  "

Going on the Harmony of the Sea this Sunday and I noticed I can buy a dining deal for Izumi.    But it seems like a very poor deal unless their Sushi is super expensive. What is it typically cost per sushi roll?

So this is $45 for 1 person:  - Start off with one (1) Miso Soup and one (1) starter, like Shrimp Tempura. Pick your choice of one (1) Signature Roll or a flavorful bowl of Ramen. Enjoy five (5) pieces of your favorite type of Sashimi or Nigiri — and top it all off with one (1) delicious dessert like mochi ice cream offered in a variety of flavors.

So I don't remember what it was before but on my Dec 1st sailing they added Grand Suite - 2 Bedroom and Grand Suite - 1 Bedroom.  I don't believe these were there before or at least they weren't split between 1 and 2 bedrooms.

22 hours ago, Sail2k said:

So just got a surprise from RoyalUp today which was totally unexpected..an email that our Crown Loft Suite was accepted!!!  Was surprised because a) our cruise on Harmony isn’t until Dec. 1st and b) I put in a crappy bid.  I put in a strong bid for a Jr. Suite thinking that would be cool and bam....crown loft was accepted.  Why I have no idea but here is how it all went down.

 

Booked a standard ocean view balcony for 3 last week, got an email from RoyalUp to bid on an OS, GS and Spacious Ocenview.  At that time I did the minimum for the OS and GS.  Then a couple of days later I noticed that they had hump balcony rooms available for like $30 more than my standard so I called Royal and changed to that and paid the $30.00.  Later that day I received an email stating that because of my change my previous RoyalUp bids had been cancelled and that I can click here for a new offer.  I clicked away and now had the chance to bid on the Crown Loft, OS, GS and Junior.  I bid $1300 for the Crown, $1000 for OS, $700 for GS and $450 for Junior Suite.  They were all minimum except the Jr. Suite was strong, as I was thinking I am good with the Junior.  

 

So today when I received the email, to say I was a little shocked is an understatement.... not sure how that all works, but I was really thinking we would not get any offers as there was still like 14 hump rooms left.  I told my wife that I didn’t think it would be accepted because there does not appear to be that great a demand for 4 person hump rooms, so no hurry to move us for someone else.

I'm on the Harmony on Dec 1st too,  I put in a bid for a Junior Suite and a Ultra Spacious.  So far nothing. 😞

so FYI, the Cabins were all purchased by my parents, so they were the ones trying to save money by booking my daughter with my sister so they didn't have to pay for a single room.    I'm not fully versed on the details but it sounded like it would cost over $1000 to let my sisters friend stay in the current room they had verse moving somewhere else.

Either way I'm reaching out to the travel agent and just trying to move us all to a 3 room cabin and be done with this.   On a side note for the folks who asked, my sister is 45 and acts like she is 21......

11 minutes ago, jbethel11 said:

So you couldn't book a triple occupancy cabin to accommodate her?

So we had 3 cabins in a row.  My parents, my wife and I,  my sister and my daughter.  They are all Balcony rooms and we wanted it like that to be able to open the outside doors like we had done in the past.   When we booked the cruise almost 2 years ago it was cheaper to have 2 people in each room instead of 3 in 1 and 1 person in another.

2 minutes ago, taylor1293 said:

Why don’t you put your daughter in a cabin with you? 

Because she should get her own bed.  I think she deserves that.  Its not like she is sleeping in a crib anymore.

So bare with me here.  Going on a family cruise and we have 2 rooms in a row.  My wife and I are in 1 and my sister and my 5 year old daughter are in the room next to us.   My sister is being a PITA and wants a friend to come now so is trying to move there room so they can accommodate a 3rd person.   I told her there is no way we are letting our 5 year old daughter stay in a room on another deck.   As the parents of a minor in the other room can I have RC stop the move if she tries to go over our heads?

So interesting, my parents booked 3 rooms for our December cruise (3 different reservations #s but 3 rooms side by side).   My parents got a RoyalUP email 2 days ago but no one else did.   Is that 1 email for all 3 rooms or just theirs?

Anyone use Contrans Shuttle Service?   Going on a cruise in Dec out of Port Canaveral.  Normally I'd book GoPortCanaveral,  but it looks like if book the hotel I want and the shuttle service separately I'll save almost $100.

2 hours ago, orlandok said:

I got it for $39 a few weeks ago. Currently at $45 for our October Mariner cruise. 

I wonder if the size of the boat plays a factor. 

Last week for our Dec. cruise on the Harmony the price for a Full Day at the Park was $93 (listed as a Pre-Cruise Deal)   Today its listed as a $88.99 at 10% onboard prices.   Now luckily I booked it a couple months ago and only paid $51.99.   Its crazy they want to charge people almost $100 to go to the waterpark.

thanks for all the responses.  Wish RC would just stick with 1 price, seems like a waste of time and man power (for their employees) to having us keep canceling / rebooking etc.

So looking to purchase the following things for an upcoming cruise.

1 Soda Package (for Wife)

1 Refreshment Package (For me)

2 Surf / Stream  Internet (Wife and Myself).

Now here is the Interesting thing:

If I buy the Soda Package, the Refreshment package and Surf / Steam for 2 devices the total is $386

If I buy the Soda + Voom package, 1 refreshment package, and Surf (for 1 device) the total comes out to $415

So its actually cheaper to buy everything individually instead of getting the package.  Is this common?

21 minutes ago, nanowerx said:

Kinda disappointed with Royal as far as Coco Cay waterpark pricing, at least on my sailing. The cheapest it ever got to was $68/pp and for the last month has been at a whopping $79/pp! And the cabanas are prices at $700! Absolutely ridiculous prices, my idea of a 'perfect day' doesnt Include handing over my entire wallet to Royal.

Cabana's are the Water Park for our booking show $502 which says 20% off.    I did end up calling RC and they canceled my other reservation and booked a new one,  ok I saved $8.  I sort of wish I didn't have to watch their site like a hawk.   Black Friday they said their best prices yet, now memorial day oh by the way these are our best prices....