mspink98

Keep doing mock bookings. There used to be some great third party monitoring services, but they have gone the way of the dinosaur, unfortunately. 

On 4/26/2023 at 5:54 PM, DaniDanielle said:

We had military discounts applied to quite a few cruises.  They say proof is required but we have never been asked for it.  Always bring it though.

Same. First time we snagged one it was significant, and I swear we checked for DD214 more than passports as we were leaving. 😁 We've never been asked, but always have a copy if we've booked on a discount. 

On 4/26/2023 at 1:02 PM, njsmom said:

I just called and checked. This particular cruise doesn't offer a discount to military. Bummer. 

Keep checking periodically. I've seen discounts come and go. 

As others have said beaches in Key West (and most of the Keys) are not what people usually think of when they think "beach". I'd take that out of your equation completely. KW will have any type of accommodation imaginable, depending on what your party looks like and what you want to do. If you're adults who want nightlife, stay close to Duval St, especially the western end. If you've got kids or just prefer something more sedate, look for something off Duval and further east, IMO. 

We haven't done Harmony (yet! 15 days!) but our experience on Oasis was that the different venues scatter the crowd somewhat. I was very skeptical of Oasis and we booked because my husband needed to go, but that class does an outstanding job of managing the high capacity. 

I was online at around 12:30AM on check in a few weeks ago for our 5/13, and 10:30-11 was the earliest available. That was still available around 6AM, but gone shortly after.

On 4/16/2023 at 7:20 AM, Denversail said:

Good morning, it is about 7:20 am. We are back in Miami. I was asleep but I think we got in around 3 am. They started letting off self assist at 7 am.

 

My family has arrived in Miami. They are sitting at the airport bickering. Can’t wait for them to join me. 🤣

 

Family fun week!

You're very brave. We're B2B on Harmony next month, but the family is joining us for week 1, so we can have week 2 to decompress. 😆

1 minute ago, cruisegirl1 said:

If you have concierge access (Suite or Diamond) ask him/her to assist and the end of the first week. 

Have a list ready with flexibility.

M

No luck there. We'll be appealing to whoever has a kind face at a specialty restaurant towards the end of the first week. 😁 We actually "turn Diamond" during the first week, so good to know that concierge may be an option on future cruises. 

Sounds like getting a start on our UDP is the best bet! Here's hoping we can make reservations during week 1. 🤞

We're on a B2B on Harmony next month and have the unlimited dining package booked for week 2. If we're able to book a specialty lunch for boarding day, I'd like Jamie's Italian. However, I know that B2Bers get a "special lunch". Are we better off with that lunch or with a specialty? I have a feeling I know the answer, but wanted some recent opinions on what the B2B lunch includes.

On 7/23/2022 at 6:31 AM, barbeyg said:

Not sure why the name was changed when the menu changed. It’s obviously a cucumber martini. 

Big Cucumber sent a cease and desist. 😜

50 minutes ago, Rogueperson said:

I recently did a b2b, and I found out that you cannot check in using the app while connected to the ship wifi.  It just won't let you even if the cruise is still open for check online check in.

 

However, it doesn't matter as everything is done for you and they easily port all the info to your new sailing.  Also, they *may* tell you that you do not need to do your muster, but I would just in case.  I was told that I didn't have to, but the muster station on the 2nd leg said that information is incorrect and that I needed to check in (which i did).

Good to know about muster. Honestly this new system is so quick and easy I'll probably just check in to be safe (see what I did there?)

On 3/28/2023 at 3:16 PM, cruisegirl1 said:

The check in time for the second cruise does not matter.  Like you and others have stated, we also select a late time to free up the early slots for folks coming on. 

 

You will get a letter with instructions. If you have any questions, see guest services. 

 

We are B2B in May as well.  What ship/dates?

 

Have fun

M

HOTS, 5/13 and 5/20

On 3/19/2023 at 7:49 AM, John&LaLa said:

We boarded Oasis on 12th and experienced none of that. But we parked in garage and handed bags to the folks to the right of elevator. 

 

Gave him $4 for two bags. They seemed appreciative

Were porters in the garage, our down the elevators in/near the shuttle drop off area? We're traveling with a large group and just wanting to plan our attack. 

Piggybacking on this, are porters in the garage to collect luggage before we park, or should we plan on carrying ourselves? Traveling with an elderly person and just want to know how to prepare. 

28 minutes ago, Mum2Mercury said:

Reiterating what someone else said:  I never return towels (until the end of the cruise, obviously); rather, I exchange them.  That is, I get my towels on Day 1 and exchange them, exchange them, exchange them.  

 

Benefits of this system:  

- My room number isn't going in /out of the computer multiple times per day, so less chance of human error. 

- I have towels in my room as early (or late) as I want -- even if the towel station is closed. 

 

Negatives of this system: 

- I always have a shelf full of towels in my cabin closet. I don't care, but a cabin housing 3-4 people might need that shelf for clothing.  

- I have to remember to bring them up to the pool deck.  

 

One more thing:  If you don't return a towel, the cost is $25.  

 

 

I do the same. Usually check out four and stick the extras on the back of the couch (there are just two of us so no one's sleeping there). Then I have extras for sink laundry, if we run out of bath towels, etc. Just make sure I keep four on hand to turn in on the last night. 

First B2B coming up in May! 🎉 I check in for leg one tomorrow, and leg two next week. I am assuming that boarding time for leg two is not at all important, is that accurate? We prefer earlier boarding, but I don't think it will make any difference what window I pick in this case. If that's true, I guess I'll pick a later one to allow better access to the easier slots for those who actually need it?

6 hours ago, little britain said:

Why would you leave lights on in your cabin at night and why would you leave a/c on in a room you weren't in?  What a waste of energy resources.

I just want a light or two on and the AC to not be set to "bake" when we get back at night. 

Is a keycard needed for lights and AC to work? If so, will a hotel key or something along those lines work? I tend to keep my room key in my little clutch whenever possible so I don't end up leaving it behind.

37 minutes ago, flamingos said:

Are these jellyfish, or the Portuguese Man-o-War?  

 

That's a Portuguese Man O War

Check-in opens later this month for us, and I have everyone in our group linked to my reservation. Most of us are driving, and coming from the same place, so we'll be arriving at the same time. Can I check that whole crew in when I check in so we all get the same time, and have them go back in later to fill in CC, passport, photo, whatever else? Or do I need to collect all that info from them ahead of time and be prepared to do the whole thing start to finish for everyone? 

I can see "check in not available" on all reservations so I'm sure I can do something for them, but this is the first time since restart that we've sailed with others who we'd want to board with. Not sure how much I need to plan to do the morning of check-in. 

22 hours ago, IanFaith said:

I've just bought one of these to try on my next cruise:-

 

https://thescrubba.com

 

Not cheap, but cheaper than the laundry bag and should pay for itself over the long-run.

 

(Interested to hear if anybody has experience of using one, too!)

That's actually how I got the dry bag idea! 

On 2/11/2023 at 7:18 AM, island lady said:

 

Agree!  And do similar.  Usually a "sea day" laundry day for me.  

 

I use a collapsible rubber tub, and also bring my own laundry detergent.  Wash in tub, rinse in sink, then roll in towels to absorb excess water.  Hang from hangers on magnet hooks on ceiling.  Works for me.  😉 

 

 

Well that sure looks familiar! I always bring tide packets and do "sink laundry". Roll it up in a towel, use my magnet hooks to hang from the ceiling to dry, and just hope I remember that I hung clothes and we do not have ghosts when I wake up in the middle of the night. 😜

In May, I'm trying another method. I'm bringing a dedicated roll top dry bag. Will fill with water and tide in the shower, add clothes, shakeshakeshake, and repeat with fresh water to rinse.

Related question-what if we're later than our time? We're driving to Miami, and shouldn't take more than about 3 hours that morning, but with 95, you never do know. I plan on getting the earliest time I can with full intentions to be there on time, but if we get stuck in traffic will we need to wait until the latest slot?

If I link several travel companions' reservations to mine, I know that I'll be able to see theirs, but will they be able to see mine, and perhaps more importantly each others? We only need to link for dining purposes. No one plans on paying for excursions for each other or anything like that. I'm the main planner, so if I can just link to everyone and reserve on their behalf that would be perfect. 

Alternately, has anyone had luck getting a group of several reservations seated together at dinner without formally linking them together? This is fewer than 10 people, but more than a standard 4 or 5 top. My Time Dining.