Goodtime Cruizin

I started this thread to put suggestions so RCC can read it and take action on it. (and yes, RCC read Cruise Critic)

 

I've asked specifically not to answer/explain/comment the suggestions for RCC, as I want them to answer.

 

However, instead of posting suggestions, everybody is giving their opinions, to explain why it it this way and why it should not be the other way, basically ruining the purpose of this thread.

 

So please, once again, post only suggestions in this thread.

No comment, no opinion, no explanations, only suggestions.

 

Thanks!

You're telling members of an open forum message board called Cruise Critic not to comment or have opinions, and not offer explanations. You're a funny one.

But I'll amuse you & play along. In Florida, one can cruise out of multipe ports, on multiple ships, to multiple ports. In Galveston, although the ship has changed throughout the years, we have the same routes, same ports, each year, every year. Please correct this. Give us more choices, more ports, different routes and longer cruises than 7 days.

Geez. Conspiracy? for towel charges? come on everyone. RCL is not after our $50 so damn bad they 'cheat' us deliberately to get $50 for a towel. I have a feeling that there is some sort of glitch in the system such as one poster suggested... make sure that you scan the same seapass when you check 'in' the towel as you used when you checked 'out' the towel. There may be other issues as well, but I bet this is a big issue.

I think he's right...you have to drink a lot of drinks to get your $$'s worth...even using the BOGO offering.

Define "a lot".

It's all relative really. I mean everyone is different to a certain degree w/ regards to what one can drink. For us, on a 7 day, 4 port cruise, they're worth it.

Adding the bottled water & specialty coffees to the daily intake one can easily hit the mark of the daily dollar figure. But if you don't drink more than two drinks per day, don't buy it.

(2) bottled waters $10 day

(2) specialty coffees $10 day

(2) Beers $12 day

(2) cocktails $24 day

That's $56 day.

I can easily do this for 7 days. But 15 days? No.

Five European ports in 7 days? No. But 7 days, 4 caribbean port days, I'm all over the Deluxe Bev Package.

One of my friends got caught at security in Galveston with a full clip. She had been out target shooting a few days before the cruise. She took the gun out of the bag before she packed for the cruise but forgot about the clip.

 

She was highly embarrassed and kept apologizing to the police officer (security is required to call the cops if they find weapons or ammunition). He shrugged and said "It's Texas." Apparently they usually find a minimum of 10 guns or clips during screening for each cruise.

Ten is alot really. I mean if one has a license to carry, one should know that guns will not pass through detectors of any kind. Having said this, I do feel really, really naked & vulnerable each time I'm not carrying. as I carry everywhere I go when stateside.

Jary8--when you get to St Petersburg I would be interested to know the average cost to buy a soda/bottle of water when you are out and about. Also the costs of some common souveniers--tshirts, keychain/magnet, christmas ornaments, etc. Any other types of unique but affordable/not ridiculous to pack souveniers in SPB you noticed?

 

Thanks so much for everything you have posted so far! So helpful and making me get even more excited!

We had a small tour w/ SPB Tours and asked our guide to stop at a local mart to 'shop'. It was fun. There was 10 of us and we all seemed to bring back something different. From a beer to vodka, cookies & water. Everything was very reasonably priced. I had a rubles but ended up paying w/ a VISA. It was a good stop, out of the ordinary and not a planned 'tourist' stop.

We have done lots of cruises out of Galveston, 4 in last 4 years and there are many Texans , too many , music scheduled will have a texan influence which is not to my taste.

You've cruised out of Galveston four times in four years but you don't like it. Who keeps booking these cruises? LOL

BTW, you can never have too many Texans! :p

I'm not sure what you're saying.

Of course not or you wouldn't have said it.

Hello fellow cruisers :)

 

We are sailing on Serenade of the Seas in a few weeks and one of our ports is St. Petersburg, Russia. I have been reading that those who book shore excursions through RCI are allowed to disembark first. We booked through TJ Travel on our own, not through RCI. I am just wondering how much time we should allow to clear immigration in order to meet our tour guide, and if anyone has any advice/tips, etc.

 

Thanks in advance!

We did not book w/ RCL. We booked privately. The ship did not seperate accordingly for our cruise. If they do on your cruise which I do not believe they will, just go anyway. Don't wait. Our group of 10, was off the ship and through customs so early that we literally had to wait for our private van to arrive. BTW, St. Petersburg was really a great port/stop/excursion.

Enjoy your cruise!

I'm willing to bet that the media reports norovirus at much much greater rate of it occuring on a cruise ship vs a church, school, etc. I often wonder why they sensationalize more than they should. Perhaps it's good cover or clickbait.

We disembarked on May 15th in Amsterdam. My personal advice is that you not book transportation that early. The 8am time frame is too early for our likings. Having said this, you can begin walk off one hour after docking.

Interesting that it's an arcade as well.

I'll look it up. One of them is on same deck as the former CL on Voyager ships. I think Liberty is deck 9 also.

 

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I found them! Deck 9 for sure. Maybe another deck as well but I stopped there. I booked the bacony & inside (connecting) for a future cruise (2020). This combo offered much more space than a GS. But a smaller balcony and of course it won't have the Gold card perks. But it still saved over $2000 over a GS w/ four even with the kids sail free promo. Thanks for the tip! I owe you an adult beverage!

On Freedom and Voyager ships there is an aft cabin setup that connect an inside and a balcony. They are the last two cabins on the port and starboard sides. That layout is on a couple of decks

 

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John,

this is good to know as we'll be traveling in the future w/ the grandson. Do you recall what decks these are on?

I've been to Jamaica and other such areas with "pushy" vendors and I just ignore them and keep walking. They take the hint.

 

I'm not going to judge you, but I will say that if you're the type that wears a fanny pack, carries walkie-talkies and walks through those areas with the look of a deer in headlights, you'll be seen as easy prey. I've never understood why some go for the "tacky tourist" look, but for many reasons other than what I've cited, I'd avoid it.

They may be poor but they're not stupid. They know that if you're at Labadee, you're a tourist. Walkie Talkies and Fanny Packs be damned... but go ahread and dress as a non tacky tourist. LOL

I just bring crap from previous port stops, whip it out and hound the crap out of them for them to buy it.

My favorite line to use, "you give me two, I give you one."

We were on the Baltic cruise - the first after the drydocking. Seems to me that all the chairs in the MDR were new. Previous photos show dark upholstery, now they are all white.

Yes, this is correct. The entire MDR was renewed. Chairs and carpet there too. Now that I think about itfurther, on deck 4 in the centrum, allchairs were new as well.

Carpet... lots and lots of new carpet. The smell of new carpet was very prevalent. I can't speak for all rooms, but 1600 had new furnishings that included carpet, furntiure, lamps, table, pictures etc.

Having said this, several we sailedwith said there room was not redone.

The falling versus jumping has been covered.

 

So a drunk adult who stumbles, falls, and drowns is OK with you?

Depends. What were they drinkng?

I'm a 1%er.

They give us giant sized cakes & pies.

They built us slides.

They put ice rinks on the ships.

They hung mega HD screens.

Why is anyone questioning the addition of LGs?

This sorta reminds me of my Uncle at Christmas.

He always hopes to get 'screamer' for Christmas,

but he only gets a sweater instead.

Lifeguards are needed, no doubt. But it was very strange looking last week to see one person in the pool and the lifeguard standing at the edge of the pool watching closely & intently. He actually moved from the platform 3 feet closer to the very edge. While I do think the LGs are necessary, I also believe their practice need some adjustment.

As far as staring at bikini clad women, this occurs with or without life guards. The difference is now the LG is standing. on the very edge of the pool to do this. It's when strange becomes creepy.

Having said this, if having LGs offers a side benefit of the prevention of whoopy sessions in the pools and/or overly PDA, I'm all in.

We were just there. Don't bother with rubles. Any vendor you'll meet has a conversion chart for Euros and American $$. I actually used my credit card in Russia since we didn't buy any Rubles.

 

There are actually two different Kronas Sweedish and Danish. Something I found out in Stockholm. They all have conversion charts as well. Plus everyone takes a credit card.

 

Buy Euros, you'll get more mileage and the crew would prefer them over Kronas or Rubles. Get a PIN number for your credit cards, you may need them. I used my credit card all the time, and they always asked me to sign. I even used it in a ticket machine in AMS and wasn't asked for anything.

 

Enjoy

This.

We used all of the currencies in very small amounts. But we mostly used a CC w/ no currency change fees. Speaking of change, if you use US$, expect any and all change to be made from the currency of the country you're in.

Hi Steve!

Goodtime, I'll buy the first round, you buy the second!:cool:

I'm in. Sky bar at sail away!

It started about 3 years ago when a boy drown on the oasis in the little pool with a current. Do I think we should have life guards? No I think parents should have to watch their kids and be responsible instead of drinking all day. Everyone wants to sue and blame others when things go wrong. Own up.

 

 

 

 

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I'll own up. I want to drink all day and I want lifeguards. So what. Give me a beer and a lifeguard.

Actually Biker, who usually does make sense, I am not questioning a 244% markup. What I am calling unconscionable is that large of an increase all at one time. I am sure you would be hard pressed to find that anywhere.

There are two ways one can look at this though. The way you've explained above or that you got a smoking deal at 244% below current pricing. Meaning that perhaps your pricing was actually understated and then corrected. I say this because I booked a GS at JS pricing and it only lasted 10 hours before it was caught and corrected. It happens.. often.