Spurschick

If you don't like the reserved show seating for the Sky/Star/Pinnacle. You won't like it during disembarkation when the Genie will lead the Star Suite Guests right to the front of the line!

 

 

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Or what they think of the red carpet at guest services with a special line with priority on several ships like the Freedom.

Perhaps that is why they have moved away from gold cards on the bigger ships?

Probably. I just wish they'd extend it to the rest of the fleet. No ambiguity then. Still see it on other ships where they have not changed it yet.

Try Cunard if you want to see snobbery.

I have if you pay attention to my signature;) . QE2 back in the day was several levels of class from recollection.

That being said I have found most suite guests on RC to be very down to earth and refreshing. We have met well known suite guests that frequent this board who definately don't even come close to being snobs.

What amazes me is the ships where they still use the gold cards for suite areas and the amount of gold members that kick up huge arguments with staff about how they should be entitled to those benefits because they are gold level. No matter how many times the staff explain the card has to be gold colored not have the word gold the staff have been met with severe verbal abuse.

Just because people have paid for more perks/ benefits doesn't make them a snob. It's people's attitudes that does.

We did Playa Mia through RC. It is all inclusive with RC, transfers, water amenities, kayaks etc, local drinks and buffet. If you do it yourself I understand there are different prices based on the package you buy. I did see the prices advertised the last time we went. They were giving out different colored wristbands based on your package. Some packages do not include food etc. You are correct that it is not far.

I agree with Ashland. If you are surrounded by cabins there is no guarantee you won't hear noise. I would recommend not having an interconnecting room as sometimes that makes it easier to hear next door. But we have heard just as much noise from people across the hall late at night slamming doors or yelling in the hallway.

i would be more concerned about being above bars etc or under some public spaces rather than being surrounded by cabins. That's down to the luck of the draw as to who your neighbours are.

Why do you feel that paying for an expensive room should give perks beyond that room?

Because, as others have said, it is an advertised benefit for suite guests. It's not like RC are the only cruise line that offer reserved seating for suite guests.

I would book as soon as you get on. They fill up pretty fast for popular times and sea days.

Suites and Pinnacles get priority boarding. Normally on by 11am then it goes by status, D+, D etc.

No problem. In case your interested they also offer some mother/daughter packages.

If you are from UK make sure you take ESTA to immigration/passport check at Boston. Apparently in the past they have told UK guests it is not needed and after queuing for a long time they have been sent to get and ended up at the back of the line. I also understand that if you want to do anything in Boston it is preferable to do a ship excursion so you can get through immigration earlier.

Miami when you get there will be warm!

Only ever seen what's been offered online the same day. The last cruise we were on the NCC told us not to bother booking onboard as there is no incentive and depending on the type of cabin you want it is now more restrictive than booking it off the ship (fees for changing reservation etc if booking suites etc.)

Hi All! I'm a first time cruiser and have tried to book some spa treatments for me and my daughter. We are going on the Allure. Can you not book with the spa if you're under 18? I can book for myself, but when I try and add a treatment for my daughter, it won't let me.

 

 

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DD has had both facials and a massage on board. However they cannot be prebooked online. We have always had to book onboard. There is a YSpa menu somewhere on line you can see the options but I don't think it shows pricing. We have always had to get pricing onboard.

The new MSC ship looks like a lot of WOW factor I'm on her in March 2018. They have lots of different cabins to choose from too.

 

Don't rule out NCL either. You can often get your drinks included too. I especially like the Boardwalk on the Getaway, lovely to sit have a drink or ice-cream and watch the world go by. Baby in stroller, lovely. They have great shows too.

 

Seeing as you are bringing baby too I would look in to baby sitting services too. Also remember to look in to pool conditions, a lot of them don't allow babies in dipers.

 

Have fun anyway

 

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I agree the Seaside looks awesome. We cancelled our liberty cruise and booked Seaside instead. Better cabin, drinks package, Internet included , obc and for roughly what we were paying on Liberty for less included. Some of the features on the ship seem really well thought out. They even have a kids only buffet!

As far as things to do are concerned we are looking forward to some fun and innovative features and some different things to do onboard.

OP whilst not sailed Seaside yet, I would recommend at least considering for your list.

Added: just read your other post. Children under 2 I believe are free except for taxes on MSC. You could more than likely get Yacht Club room on Seaside for less than Oasis class. Private restaurant and private pool area for YC guests, butler etc. there is also a kids pool area just outside the YC area.

Hope that helps.

I am another who would recommend staying at a hotel on the Island. There is only one bridge in. One trip down there was a crash on the bridge and they had to close the bridge to land an air ambulance. We were held up for hours. Glad we were not sailing to the next day.

If they wish to use their own card, they can simply tell the check in clerk that they want to use a different card...it's not a big deal!

That's not what the OP asked:rolleyes:

Being Diamond+, you have obviously been on way more cruises than I, but I have always had to have my credit card swiped at the port.

We used to have to swipe until last November. We did Liberty Galveston and had card out ready to give them and they said no. When we did Freedom earlier this year out of Port Everglades told the same thing. We were told it is now pulled from your online check in info. The good thing is it really speeds up check in!

I assume they would only need if you turned up and had not entered your card details online and had selected cash account and you changed your mind to use a card.

On my last 2 cruises we were told CC is no longer swiped at the Port at check in. Different ships and different ports neither wanted the physical card.

I have done 2 cabins on 1 card twice before. Both times we had to have reservations linked. Then the cabin that was paying could select an option to pay charges for another cabin during online check in. Had to enter the other cabins reservation number then all the passengers were on the same form for the payments.

I would suggest if you are unsure or worried about any issues you just have them check in with you.

We have done in early June and July. We preferred June. There was more ice but it made it nice as seals were on broken away ice going past the ship. By July the ice was minimal and was nowhere near as scenic for us. Even when we did the train ride to the top of the mountain by the Canada border, June there was snow and ice everywhere, July was just puddles. My personal choice is earlier in the season.

Have they fixed the access to the SL on Liberty yet? When we were on there the door card reader wasn't working so people were just walking in especially when the concierge was sidetracked talking to people lots were walking straight in. There were also lots of people coming up the outside stairs to the open deck area. It wasn't well managed at all and hence why we couldn't get a seat.

This was our exact experience as well, but then again I believe we were on the same cruise. I also booked my cruise via on online TA and only learned about the cruise package after booking.

 

OP- you fill out a paper and show up at the meeting on departure morning, that was not really a meeting but more short appointment talking to the guy at the desk. Turn in your form, answer a few questions and pick a shuttle time 9, 10 or 11. Try to get there a few mins early or the line gets long and you might not get the time you want. We all walked down about 5-10 minutes before the meeting time. DH and DD went to the car to put some dirty clothes in the car. After I was done with the meeting, I called DH and DD who were still at the car and told DH to bring it up to the valet. The "meeting" was about 5 minutes- I was second in line.

Thanks. I'll make sure I get there early as we want the 9 am shuttle.

So, why don't you just drive to the port and park your car at EZCruise? We do the ParknWalk for $54 or $5 more they will shuttle you. By the time you tip the driver you will be paying more than the cost of parking at the port for a week. EZCruise is about a 2 block walk from terminal. Once we leave the ship we are in our car and on the road within 10 min.

 

Carla

Thank you for the recommendation. For several reasons we don't like parking at the port in Galveston. It's just our preferences and requirements. We would just prefer to leave with the valet.

Yes.

Thanks so much. They will be thrilled to know. It's been a while since we've seen them so they want to make the most of it!

If you get off by yourself can you come back on through the check in area?

My parents are doing a b2b and we are meeting them for the second leg. They were hoping to come meet us in check in waiting area to catch up whilst we are waiting to get on.

Much appreciated. It helps immensely. I did call back earlier based on your original reply and asked why they were charging $120 more than the standard rate and they lowered it to what equated to the rate plus the $50.

The fact they have the car ready for as soon as you get back to the hotel sounds great as we want to get straight on the road.

Very familiar with the point system. What I never understood is for every 400 points, CR is giving you $100 off a cruise of your choice. It seems to me, the more points you get, the less $ money you are getting off a cruise, see example below:

2000 points=$500 off

2400 points= an inside cabin on the select certificate sailings or $500 off any other sailing, why not $600 off, if every 400 points gives you a $100 off.

3600 points= an oceanview or $750 off, why not $900 off, if every 400 points gives you a $100 off.

4800 points= a balcony or $1000 off, why not $1200 off, if every 400 points gives you a $100 off.

 

I have asked CR before about this and they said, it's just the way it is :confused:

I agree there is little incentive to go over the $2000 points especially if you know you can't take any of the free cruises they offer. What's worse is DH got the 4800 cert and I got a lower one and we couldn't combine on a cruise as they listed different ships and sail dates depending on the certificate earned! So much for them being combinable :rolleyes: