Goodtime Cruizin

On 8/15/2019 at 10:39 AM, HBE4 said:

 

At least 3.  Two ships (Allure & Liberty) doing alternating 7-day itineraries on Sat/Sun and the smaller ship for shorter excursions that are timed for weekdays.

 

Or have Liberty run 9 or 10 day cruises to avoid port congestion if the shorter cruises leave on the weekend. I say Liberty as Royal seems adverse to having Oasis-class do anything longer than 7 days.

I'd love to keep Liberry for the 9 & 10 day rotation to the ABCs

Well to be sure... cruising out of Jersey would be all about a visit to NYC and especially to Yankee stadium to watch the Stros. I guess we can give up a little bit of Fall Colors as part of the deal! We're headed out on Symphony this Saturday so the Next Cruise desk might be in play!  

Thanks for the feedback everybody! 

40 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

At the top of Cadillac Mt maybe, but not elsewhere.

Well this might change our plans then. The timing of the 9/24 cruise is due to the Astros visiting the Yankees for a four game series prior to boarding. That would have been a great trip to NYC

We're thinking about booking the Adventure for the September 24th for a Fall season cruise out of Bayonne, NJ.  Typically speaking, would the fall foilage to be full effect by this time frame? 

9 hours ago, eaflorida said:

What the heck does any of this have to do with gun violence? We are talking about the Hurricane, not politics. 

 

It doesn’t. A brief history search on his posts shows me that he’s deeply concerned in a political nature of the National origins of posters. He’s not worthy and man I hope I never ever cruise with people like him. 

2 hours ago, bc cruiser said:

Thank you!  So do we, as it still looks like a war zone.  About 6 miles west of us is beautiful, they still have trees, we have none.

2 hours ago, bc cruiser said:

Thank you!  So do we, as it still looks like a war zone.  About 6 miles west of us is beautiful, they still have trees, we have none.

Thats what I said earlier in this thread. Ten miles can make a huge difference! 

28 minutes ago, bc cruiser said:

Hi everyone, I live in Panama City, Fl. (850-Strong).  On Oct. 10, 2018 we stayed in our home and rode out Hurricane Michael, a category 5.  It took us 5 months before we could get a roof back on our home.  We live on a cul-de-sac and when we walked out of our home, we didn't recognize our neighborhood.  I have lived here all my life and never experienced a hurricane like Michael, so folks I don't believe Coco Cay will reopen for a very long time.  We just got our Motorhome out of the repair shop, it had over $18, 000 damage from the hurricane.  We lived in it with blue tarps over the entire MH until June, 2019.  Our home is still not completely repaired, but we can live in some rooms, and we booked a cruise on Mariner for Sept. 23, 2019 last year before the storm hit us, and we probably will not be going to Coco Cay either.    RCCL does their best to keep you safe, so if you book and your cruise doesn't go as planned, just be thankful they do what they think is best for your safety.  We always buy insurance to protect us, and we had to  

use it in Sept.2017, we had to cancel our cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale, because the roads were blocked between the panhandle and there, we were going to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, so we rebooked a cruise for October 21, 2018 and Hurricane Michael hit us on Oct. 10, 2018 and we couldn't leave our home because of all the damages, so again we are trying for Sept. 23, 2019.  Our anniversary is Sept. 9th.  

Happy Anniversary! I hope you make the cruise this time! 

17 minutes ago, korpo024 said:

touchy touchy LOL I guess you're from the US?! Hahahaha....

Damn right I am and proud of it too. So don’t be about this board attempting to shame me or any American for that matter. Where I’m from and/or where your from is irrelevant. This thread is about Dorian and cruises effected by it. Not whether I’m happy/sad of the outcome and most definitely not about my country of origin. 

3 minutes ago, korpo024 said:

Wow...the people of the Bahamas are in the worst storm...losing their houses and possibily their lives...but you are worried about your perfect day at Cococay? WOW

Wow what?

Yes. The fact is... this is a thread on cruising. Not the people of the Bahamas. Specifically, this message board on cruising is about the effects of the cruises because of Hurricane Dorian. No matter what we post, say, or think, will not change the outcome of those effected by Dorian. So please put things into perspective. If you want others to post about the worries of the peeps in the Bahamas, start a new/different thread or better yet, go to another mesage board. But I will as many others will, continue to post about the changes and cancellations of their cruise vaqcations. 

3 hours ago, CILCIANRQTS said:

 

Here’s the 2PM update from the National Hurricane Center.

10 miles is nothing in a storm of this magnitude.

 

HURRICANE-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES (75 KM) FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL-STORM-FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 140 MILES (220 KM).

 

 

Hurricane force winds begin at 74 mph... which is a HUGE difference of 180 mph. This is my point. If faced w/ a hurricane,  I'll take the 74 mph hurricane winds over the 180 mph.  The further from the eye, the less damages of the wind. Ten miles will, can, and does make a huge difference when it comes to damages. 

21 minutes ago, Maverick61 said:

 

Right in the red zone about 60 miles south west of the eye

 

CoCoCay isn't taking a direct hit. So the difference of just 1 mile is big. Much less even 10 miles which can make a HUGE difference w/ wind & rain. I'm more worried about the storm surge and massive flooding than anything else. Clean up is going to take a small army of people and equipment to get that place ready to safely entertain vacationers. 

This is a bad one folks. The Bahamas are going to be destroyed. I suspect that it will slow down immensely as it approaches mainland Florida and thus the dirty side will be pounding the Bahamas.  Properties will be destroyed and lives lost. I pray for everyone's safety and hope everyone follow instructions and directions.  

I'm not sure what RCL will do regarding CoCoCay next week. But I suspect that since the timing of this storm is so close to our 9-7 Symphony cruise that RCL will most likely by-pass CoCoCay until damage assessment can be made. Perhps, if for any other reason than precautionary safety factor. I also suspect that our 9-7 Symphony cruise will end up going to Labadee instead. 

Pina Colada? Naw...

Pour me something tall & strong. Make it a Hurricane before I go insane. 

Yes. 

3 minutes ago, Racer26 said:

You aren't paying for anything.  They gave you 100% back in future cruise vouchers.

This. 

And this is why my 'empathy' well has run dry for this poster. While he can't control the weather or Dorian, he can control how he reacts to it. And his drama queen antics is growing tiresome. 

To those traveling to/from Cruise ships in Florida, be safe, but be there! 

2 minutes ago, smplybcause said:

 

They're talking about the one impacted by Harvey. Back in 2017, right before Irma and Maria. 

Got it. and Thank you. Even being from Houston, I really wasn't paying attention to the cruises out of Galveston that week as we were enjoying a wonderful Alaskan cruise when Harvey hit.  I had no idea what was happening until we got back home. It was devastating though. Such a contrast from the beauty of Alaska to the flooded city of Houston.  

Look he's been registered w/ Cruise Critic since 2014. He's 5 years experienced at cruising. He knows what ghe's buying. What he didn't know is that RCL doesn't think he's entitled to be different than anyone else. As far as empathy. I have it. But with the residents of Florida in harm's way, not a cruiser that comes onto this board bitching about his pity party. He rolled the dice and lost out on his cruise. He's not being ripped off either. He's being issued FCC. He wants cash or credit card credit. That aint happening. 

As far as the Galveston Cruise. I'm not sure what cruise a few are speaking to but if it's the RCL cruise on the Navigator back in 2014 that was detained due to the oil spill, everybody on that cruise received 100% cash/credit back plus an additional 25% FCC. Royal has always taken care of their cruisers and always will. 

He may not like how he gets his refund, but he'll get one. 

44 minutes ago, hazence said:

Some of the unsympathetic posters here are among those who cruise most frequently. They can shrug off a drastically shortened cruise because they have others scheduled. Not that big a deal.

 

Lets I say there is a bakery that makes good cakes. One customer orders a cake on a regular basis. One day, when he arrives for his cake, he’s told the oven broke...here’s 12 candy bars and a coupon for a discounted cake anther time. Is he disappointed? Not so much, he has these cakes often enough, no big deal.

 

Another customer has saved up to get his first cake, his wedding cake from this bakery. When he shows up on the wedding day, 12 candy bars and a discount coupon for the future does not compensate for his situation.  It IS a big deal.

 

Is the bakery at fault...no. But neither is the customer wrong to feel poorly served.

 

 

 

 

OH... now I get it... he wants his cake and eat it too! 

Here's my take...

Newer ships Oasis class ship = Higher prices. Symphony is way out there these days. Not just drinks or drink pkgs either. I'm talking Dining Pkgs, Cabanas etc.  A caban for $1299/day at CocoCay?

You take Adventure, Radiance, Navigator etc... these ships still are offering the $49/$55 per day drink pkg prices. Also cruises that are longer than 7 days. The 9day to 15 day cruises on soem of the smaller ships have decent drink package pricing as well. 

Take a look. It's Capitalism at it's finest. Supply & demand. At this rate, CoCoCay will be paid for in a couple of years. 

Caveat...

I buyUltimate drink packages for the wife & I.

We are both Diamond and can drink in the DL for free.

I smuggle my fav on board because they don't have it on the ship. Shoot me.  

19 hours ago, boscobeans said:

This is a serious question..

 

If you went out to a nice restaurant on par with an MDR or specialty shipboard restaurant,

 

or to a club that had very nice seating, table service, live music and maybe dancing,

 

or to an entertainment venue with comedians, singers, dancers or other types of stage shows where you were served at your seat

 

or to a pool where you had bar service at your lounge chair,

 

what do places like the above charge for drinks in your area???

 

 

I really couldn't answer this, but.... our local Chili's... yes Chili's... they price their

Presidente' Margarita for $13. Not including a tip. Fact.  

On 8/28/2019 at 11:23 AM, Goofyfanatic said:

And I hope you get caught...

 

Why? I mean seriously. It will not effect your cruise. Not even a future cruise. If one isn't going to 'purchase' due to pricing, RCL has placed themseleves into a situation of collecting less revenue. That's howe capitlism works. Whether one smuggles in liquor is irrelevant. What's relevant is if one opens their wallet so RCL can get revenue. Either way, smuggling liquor willnot effect your cruise. It might effect your mental state of others though. But that's on you. Not RCL or the smuggler. 

On 8/28/2019 at 10:25 AM, Dayman9966 said:

Honestly, should have bought at $52, but when people post they get things for less, it's kind of a mind bender making the decision.  But, I can always just pay out of pocket, I like beers, but I won't drink 10+ per day.  Live and learn I guess.

Two words twice.

Pay Up

or 

Rum Runners

14 minutes ago, bclinton said:

 

How about the cruise line not schedule anything during hurricane season? You put all the responsibility on the traveler. The traveler pays for something...if they don't receive it they should be refunded their money. How is that such a stretch?

Why?

Because I and thousands of other cruisers get it. We understand it. It's typically the cheapest time of the year to sail the Caribbean but it has it's risks.

So...Accept responsibility.

YOU had a choice. YOU booked it. YOU didn't do your due diligence. 

23 minutes ago, bclinton said:

 

They make their decisions on what is best for the bottom line of the cruise line and only the bottom line. We are not stupid.....now the only stop the cruise line had is now closed. It's a one day cruise now......that is supposed to take the place of my paid for and non refundable 5 day cruise.......ya ok.....

Bottomline...You should not be cruising the Caribbean in the months of August/September. When one books this type of cruise in these months, one should fully expect issues w/ weather. Hurricanes did not just suddenly start happening this year. They happen every year and if one books a cruise during this time frame, one should fully understand the refund/cancellations reprocussions when it occurs. 

Live and learn.  

We board Symphony on Sept 7th, so we're paying attention. We wish for all of you a conclusion that's in your favor. After living through the aftermath in Houston's Harvey, more than all else, we wish y'all safe traveling to & from the ports. Hurricanes are not to be taken lightly. 

6 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

 

I understand that but I was so looking forward to actually having questions answered by an actual crew member but already everyone is interjecting their answers to questions that were meant for the crew member. Disappointing!

There are some on here that do believe they know more on most subjects than that of the employee. And in some situations, they actually might! LOL