cruznwithmom

13 hours ago, brillohead said:

This is ridiculous.  The staff in Traditional Seating in the MDR can take care of a passenger with specific dietary needs just as well as staff in MTD.  

Actually, having the same table with the same staff every single day (traditional seating) is going to be better, because your staff will get to know your needs and adapt their service accordingly.  While you sometimes get the same staff in MTD, it's not guaranteed.

Obviously you have not tried my time dining on the GOS. You get the same waiter every night on GOS, it is a smaller ship. But they will serve you on your schedule and you can take as much or little time to eat as you need, and they will customize whatever you need.

can not imagine my beast in main dining! but would love to bring him along if they set up a good area to pee

Just got off GOS - choose My Time Dining and the staff will get you whatever you need. They waiters are outstanding and they will do anything they can for you.  Just make sure you get the My Time Dining. If Desmond is still there he was absolutely wonderful. Tell them what you need the first night and they will make sure it happens every night.

the casino is hazy with smoke, it drives away the nonsmokers.

My guess is that they pick back to back cruisers because you are not going through customs in that port, but the other travelers who are leaving the ship will go through customs off the ship. So in theory a btb traveler could have picked up contraband and brought it on the ship.  They probably have some criteria for randomness, like searching btb travelers in even numbered rooms or something like that. 

I was hoping for something exciting and unique, but it was just junk with their logo on it.  Maybe they are going to put a price list in the cabin for every item in the cabin like Viking does. 

On 3/11/2019 at 1:56 AM, RPD said:

I’m sorry, but 83 might be too old to take someone on a cruise. If it were the plates that spread the norovirus, why didn’t others get it? I think you’re being pretty dramatic. 

you are joking, right? Lots of folks are happily cruising in their 80s!!!

I hope OP had trip insurance. You should never cruise without it.

this is why I dont bring valuable jewelry with me. too risky

This whole keeping track of the towel thing seems so petty. Other cruises I have been on just left them on the pool deck in shelves,or better yet, put them on the individual chairs. Going on Silver Sea this summer and apparently an attendant waits by the pool to hand you towels as you exit. Might just bring my own darn beach towels on Royal to avoid the trauma and drama.

We will be on Grandeur March 22. First time on her,  but will let the forums know if things are new..

1 minute ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

So the on-again-off-again warnings are on again...not all that surprised. Nassau has not been that great a destination for years actually...unless you plan to hang near the general port area and avoid the city.

and this is exactly the appeal of Coco Cay.  You are on a private island and the cruise company can control the access to keep the island safe,  no drug dealers approaching you on the beach etc. This is why it not being ready, and ships being rerouted is a big deal.

I think the issue is that weather, political climate, facilities in foreign ports are out of the cruise line control, but Coco Cay is in the control of Royal. They knew well ahead of time that they were not going to be done but are waiting until the last minute to tell the customers, and then booking less desirable ports instead 

1 minute ago, CRUISEFAN0001 said:

That warning has since been rescinded. Apparently the local government took some steps and assure all cruise lines any issues would be corrected immediately.

 

https://cruiseradio.net/cruise-line-drops-warning-about-crime-in-nassau/

I was referring to the State Department issued report you can find here. It has NOT be rescinded.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/the-bahamas-travel-advisory.html

13 hours ago, Paulette3028 said:

If you have ever as an individual done construction, you know of the pitfalls and delays.....add to this the enormity of the project and ANY ONE expecting this to be ON TIME, was fooling themselves.  As a cruiser, I would never have booked a cruise with the expectation of the pier being completed.   Just like I will never book a cruise immediately following a refurb/drydock or for the initial sailings of a new ship....too much can go wrong to ruin my vacation.

We did not know that the ship would be coming out of dry dock, they don't tell you this when you book. I was on the 2nd sailing for Viking Orion and while there were some small issues (coffee makers not yet installed in rooms, staff confused that Americans want COLD water in 90 degree heat) I found that to be very pleasant and the ship to be so beautifully clean that it was well worth it. 

53 minutes ago, smartwater01 said:

That's not what was posted on Royal Caribbean Blog in summer 2018. I wish I would have taken a screen shot. I knew that RC Blog was not RC itself, but after following their blog and seeing review info consistent with what they shared, I trusted their info and took a chance- now I know better. I was excited to find Grand Bahama Island has some interesting things to offer, they are just far from port and from what I've read so far it clearly is not a comperable to Coco Cay. I just think it is crazy that RC still has not sent out official change of itinerary notice. We are exactly 7 days out now. I am an optimistic person and will make the best of any situation- but anyone who reads these posts knows that the majority of invested (committed) cruisers can be more pesimistic, or as hubbs likes to call himself- a "realist" (ha). 

The state department has issued warnings about the Bahamas, it surely will not be as safe as coco cay.  Specifically mentioned that it is not safe to rent jet skis from locals (one of the activities we are looking to at coco cay because it will be safe to do there)How did you find out you won't be going? My cruise planner for a March 22 cruise still shows it, wondering if I will get a change notice.  Since I booked through a TA they may send it to her, and she will be out of town next week. 

We were disappointed when we go the email. We picked this trip because we expected to be able to dock at the pier. 

we got an email last month that we will be tendering there on our march 22 cruise. disappointed.

Going on my first Silver Sea Adventure in July (Wind). Younger than the original poster. Previously on Regent and Viking Ocean.  The itinerary is great, and I go on cruises to be pampered and relax, so Silver Sea sounds awesome. I would say it is really "try it and see if you like it" thing with cruise lines. Mom prefers Regent, but they don't have enough 7 night cruises and that is what she likes. I liked Viking a lot, Mom thought the value was not there for the price.  Since I am a freeloader I can't really argue that point. Silver Sea might be the one we both like best, or not, but the only way to find out is to try. I find interesting people no matter where we cruise. 

 I love love love the balcony - I get up earlier than my travel partner, and I can go out on the balcony while waiting for her to get up. It is also lovely in the time period when you are getting ready for dinner and your travel companion takes longer than you do.

But if it was an inside cabin or no cruise at all I would do an inside cabin.

We are on the Wind July 13. Our flight will arrive 9 am ish. We have a transfer from the airport. It looks like embarkation does not begin until 2pm.

Usually we go a night early and stay at the hotel until we can embark, but we have never had an embarkation this late in the day, and we are arriving day of.

Will we be able to drop out bags and the head out on our own for a few hours? We are getting the airport transfer from Silver Sea, so wondering how this will all work. We have not been on Silver Sea before

We are on the Grandeur next month. This whole chair hog thing is so annoying.  Other cruise lines I have been on did not have this issue. RCCL could fix this easily. They just don't care.

No way. I have my phone camera with me all the time.

On cruise lines that don't sell photos the crew are happy to take photos of you with your phone, they come up and offer. First royal caribean cruise coming up in March - will the crew take photos of us with our phones?

looking forward to the rest of your report, we are on the Grandeur March 22 ! The last ship I was on was Viking Orion - brand spanking new (we were the 2nd cruise) and only 900 passengers. I know RCI folks think the Grandeur is a small ship but it is going to seem like a mega ship to me.

too bad there is not tea time, it is a favorite of mine on other lines, too!

Even if you are not on medicare,  your US insurance may not cover you internationally. Where I work the EPO plans do not cover you at all outside the US. The PPO plans do.  I have a PPO but still buy the cruise insurance - from a 3rd party through my agent, not from the cruise line. Worth it for the peace of mind.