Goodtime Cruizin

The 15 min wait period is a myth. I know this from experience. One can have as many drinks in a 24 hr period as one wants unless the bartender(s) cut you off. In other words there is no limit.

The Deluxe package includes everything that is in the Refreshment package.

 

In addition to your alcoholic drinks, you can order virgin drinks, smoothies, specialty coffees, fresh squeezed orange juice, bottled water, soda, and with ships that have freestyle machines, you get the souvenir cup so you can get anything you want from the machine.

Yes, I know this. In fact I have purchased two of these (because we don't share LOL) But the price of these are 1/3 the price of the Deluxe Bev Pkg. Another $600 each and we can drink up the ship. That's my whole point. I can not drink enough for 14 days straight to make it worthy of the purchase. I figure our alcohol drinks will come to about half as much, about $600 total (for the both of us) as we have 9 port days & a free daily happy hour. If we spend $1200 on alcohol while drinking on the ship, I'd be surprised.

I agree with you about being expensive for 14 days, however, sine they simplified the packages you don't need 5-10 alcoholic drinks a day to break even. Lots of people enjoy bottled water, soda, fresh squeezed juice, specialty coffee, smoothies - not just alcohol. If you like those drinks plus a couple of alcoholic drinks, such as a glass of wine and after dinner drink, you can still make out.

What you just described abover is the Replenish pacakge. Which as a cost of $293 for the cruise. The Deluxe pkg is about $550 more. That's per person. Double that due to the new ruling. Again, my body can't take that much liquor. I'm not used to drinking 15 days in a row, especially that much per day. Seven day cruise, I'm probably all over it, meaning the deluxe package(s).

Would love to see one of the larger ships here in Galveston.

 

 

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A larger ship would open up the opportunity for the smaller ships to be used for the southern Caribbean. I'm glad to hear there are talks in the works. ;).

We're doing a 14 day cruise in a few weeks. It'll be the first cruise we've had w/o buying the deluxe bev package. Not only is it expensive for two people / 2 weeks, to be very honest, I don't think I can drink that much for two weeks. And I'm very serious. My organs (heart, kidneys & liver) can't handle 5 to 10 drinks per day for 14 consecutive days. So for this particular cruise, we'll enjoy the suite lounge happy hour and purchase occasionally by the drink.

It seems to be OK if you drive there, but not so much for those that fly in.

Yours is an opinion not fact. You want facts? Here you go...

1. Galveston hotel pricing too high? Check pricing for Feb 14th hotel pricing in Miami.

2. Infrastructure can't handle Galveston? Try Bar celona. Traffic was a disaster as there were 7 ships in port unloadinig & reloading. Taxi dropped us off 1.7 miles away as did other taxis. I dragged our luggage across that long bridge.

3. Lack of rental car agencies? Use Lyft, Uber, or Galveston Cruise Shuttle. It'll be cheaper even from IAH.

4. Two night hotel minimum? Most every port will have these periodically throughout the year. Especially at spring break. But I digress. You can book one night stays in Galveston. Don't believe me? Call the hotels. Hilton has a king room available for this Sat. 4/15, (1 night stay). Call them.

Enough facts. My point is... every port has issues at times. But please DO NOT let somone tell you wrong. Galveston is indeed cruiser friendly. I just wished they had a larger selection of itineraries.

In the past we rarely if ever cancelled but we did change dates often. I liked the flexibility.

 

I read ( here) that folks would book many cabins or cruises and them decide what to take., Don't know of that is really the case or a myth. In any case, I am sure it will not go back to the old way and we'd better get used to it.

 

M

Not a myth. Like some that would post about drink package sharing, some would also post about multiple cabin booking. Meaning they would actually book up to six different cruises, all w/ the same preferred suite/cabin, just so they would have the cabin they desired when they figured out what week to actually take their cruise.

RCCL did good in my books.

I have saved quite a bit by booking non refundable.

 

For example: Have booked HOS for 12/8/19 JS cabin.

 

Non refundable per person: 1848.00 Refundable: 1998.00

 

Difference of 150.00 per person.

 

OBC: 300.00 non-refundable, 200.00 refundable.

 

Worst I can lose if I change dates or ships before final payment?

200.00 (100.00 per person)

 

I don't know...you do the math. :confused:;)

I don't book cruises to change them...or do "markers".

 

BTW: Just called today on one of my non-refundable cruises to take advantage of

253.00 price decrease. Happily changed by CS...balance reduced...no penalty.

I'm late to the party w/ regards to posting in this thread but this sums it up for me. Non-refundable deposits have their advantages...you just need to look a bit deeper for the advantage(s)!

I have carried a disposable 'torch lighter' on each of our 8 cruises w/ RCL.

Check these out... order and bring it. No one cares.

https://www.amazon.com/REFILLABLE-LIGHTER-Bakebros-Silicone-Container/dp/B01AE3MCH6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523449636&sr=8-1&keywords=disposable+torch+lighters

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/prohibited-items-onboard-policy

 

Weapons, illegal drugs, and other items that could interfere with the safe operation of the ship or the safe and secure environment of our guests and crew are prohibited. The following are examples of items that guests are not allowed to bring onboard. These and other similar items will be confiscated upon being found. Alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, flammable liquids, explosives, and dangerous chemicals will not be returned.

Prohibited items:

• Firearms & Ammunition, including realistic replicas.
  
• Sharp Objects, including all knives and scissors. (Note: Personal grooming items such as safety razors are allowed. Scissors with blade length less than 4 inches are allowed.)
  
• Illegal Drugs & Substances
  
• Candles, Incense, Coffee Makers, Clothes Irons, Travel Steamers & Hot Plates. (Items that generate heat or produce an open flame. This includes heating pads, clothing irons, hotplates, candles, incense and any other item that may create a fire hazard. NOTE: The only exception to this policy are curling irons and hair straighteners. Matches and normal lighteners are allowed onboard. However ""torch lighters"" and novelty lighters that look like guns are not allowed onboard. Torch lighters emit a powerful concentrated flame, and therefore are prohibited.
  
• Baseball Bats, Hockey Sticks, Cricket Bats, Bows & Arrows
  
• Illegal Drugs
  
• Skateboards & Surfboards
  
• Martial Arts Gear
  
• Self-Defense Gear, including handcuffs, pepper spray, night sticks.
  
• Flammable Liquids and Explosives, including lighter fluid and fireworks.
  
• Hookahs & Water Hookah Pipes.
  
• HAM Radios
  
• Electrical Extension Cords
  
• Dangerous Chemicals, including bleach and paint.
  
• Alcoholic Beverages (Note: Guests are allowed to bring 2 bottles of wine. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports-of-call or from shops onboard will be stored by the ship and delivered to you on the last day of the sailing. Alcoholic beverages seized on embarkation day will not be returned.)
  

Wait.... no Surf Boards?

It is unfortunate that I have to again complain about the way elderly handicap persons are treated on Royal Caribbean ships. Today we are sailing on the Adventure of the Seas and encountered a totally unorganized and uncaring handicap station while we waited to board the ship. We arrived at 12:18pm and it took exactly one hour for someone to arrive to take my 83 year old father on the ship. There were probably six to eight other people waiting for someone to assist them. After waiting outside in the hot humid weather of San Juan, I approached the Pier Coordinator--Virginia Davilla about the delay and was told twice that if you are tired waiting, you are welcome to walk on board. Uh, I am with my 83 year old disabled father and this is the response that I get from the Pier Coordinator--just walk onboard. If he could walk onboard do you think we would be sitting in the heat for an hour? Come on--what ever happened to showing compassion to elderly handicap people. I am totally disgusted with the treatment we received today.

With the title of you subject line, there's a strong chance I would have told you the same. Such as it is. Exagerated.

As you can see it's all over the map. But for us, we"ve learned to book direct w/ RCI when the cruise dates & prices are first announced. Then transfer the cruise to a TA for the OBC and perks. What we end up w/ is the cabin we want, at the lowest price it'll be offered, with the OBC and perks from a TA. If you book the reservation right the first time, there is little reason to need to 'control' your reservation and/or change it w/ RCI direct. Some will tell me different... but I know better. Experience is a powerful thing!

Our last Alaska cruise was in August when the salmon were running - fantastic! :D

This is a great point. Our TA told us that the latter half of August offers a larger migration of wildlife as they prepare for winter. I'm not sure if she was correct w/ this statement but I will say that we saw a lot! As mentioned above, the salmon was running. As a result, six Bear came walked by us within 200 feet while we enjoyed our catch & release fishing trip. Weather of course is important, but I can handle a little cloudiness and some rain if it gets me closer to wildlife!

ThAnks everyone. The boat show has a out 99% of the rooms blocked or booked. Suth Beach Hilton was $579/night! We went w/ Homewood Suites DT for $299/night and will keep an eye on things.

I'll try it. Nothing to lose and all to gain. Thanks

Sure could use a suggestion or two. It appears that we've booked a cruise out of Miami when their annual Boat Show occurs and most of the hotels for Feb 15th, 2019 is already sold out.

Does anyone have any suggestions of some hidden jewels out there?

Thanks!

Taxi might be good to go to/from the port but we had a very bad experience of a taxi attempting to rip us off coming from a restaurant back to the hotel.

$8 to restaurant, two hours later, same route, $26 back to hotel. I refused to pay. I went inside & got the concierge. He talked w/ the driver and then told me that he thought I was being taken advantage of. So I stuck out $8 in my hand, told him take it or leave it before I report him. He grabbed the money, dropped an F bomb and drove off.

Having said this, we did not have any issues w/ taxi service to/from airpot/hotel .

I've read that if your cruise is ever cancelled that one should just sit tight an d wait until RCL contacts you and makes an alternative offer of booking.

What is typically offered, if anything?

You would think that they had figured out how to handle these fog delays on board by now, they’re becoming so frequent.

It's unfortunate, but I've been told that the newest models of the FogStopper have been backordered to Royal.

Specialty Restaurants are really nothing more than a change of pace. If comparing to the MDR, the food is about the same to me and the service not much better either.

Well I guess if you book enough cruises w/ Royal you'll eventually get one cancelled. What is unique about this one is that to this day no one has contacted us. Royal and/or my TA. In fact about a month ago, I received (2) $100 credits from Royal. I called them and they could not find it. I called my TA and she said she had nothing on it as well. So when reading about the President's sale thought I'd do a mock booking and found this cruise is no longer available. Feb 15th, 2019, Navigator, 9 day ABC Southern Caribbean cruise. We had an fabulous rate for a balcony and great location as we booked this last summer. Not anymore. I'll call my TA on Monday to figure out my next move. But to not get a phone call or email from Royal is bad. Very bad.

Oh good one person on my side. Fire at sea is too dangerous to take chances with. There are a lot of irresponsible smokers out there. When I see someone their a cigarette butt from the window of thier car my blood boil. Not only do you have a disgusting habit but now we all suffer from throwing the butt out the window. Throwing a cigarette butt out of the window of a car should be a 5,000 dollar fine first offense, 10,000 second and we'll go from there.

 

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LOL... extremism is funny. Let's just cut off the hand that threw the cigarette. Better yet, cut off the lips so they can't smoke anymore. LOL

smoking is disgusting... I don't smoke obviously!! I did though, for about 25 years!

 

People that smoke should only do it in the areas where they are allowed to do so. They are not allowed to smoke on your balcony.

 

I can't see the danger in leaving a shirt out to air or dry though? i think they don't want us doing this because stuff might blow into the sea and be an environmental issue?, not one that might kill us? why is this rule in place? What's the logic?

both

Here we go with the CC police. This was a legit concern about SMOKERS and then the OP gets ripped for something else. You want to know my feelings about smoking on cruise ships? Whether or not here it comes. Fire is a such a danger at sea there should be NO smoking ANYWHERE on the ship, period. Cigarettes should be confiscated and not allowed on the ship at all. Plenty of non smokers will fill cabins or people who can deal without till they get off the ship in port. Now I will wait to get ripped to shreds because I fall on the no fire at sea theory.

Flashing lights & sirens blaring, they finally left the donut shop to show up late to the thread.

1. No fire at sea = raw foods at mealtime.

2. Confiscation = a Cuban Cruise.

3. Don't smoke on balconies, Don't leave your crap on the balcony, Don't leave your balcony door open = following rules.

Make the Diamond Lounge a dedicated smoking area. That'll clear it out.