Glide_Path

42 minutes ago, c-leg5 said:

The OP is not going from Cozumel.

Thank you.  Opps... missed that part.

Pre Covid, I remember there was an excursion that flew a small plane from Cozumel to Chichen Itza....  wasn't cheap, but between the ferry and the bus ride time...you save a ton of time.   You better make darn sure you can handle the heat..... it was crazy HOT.  It was crazy hot in the shade.... and OMG why did I come here hot, out of the shade.

32 minutes ago, niksmom630 said:

we were late arriving

Hope the little one is feeling better... and a calmer sea for all.
Sounds like your tour booking agent has been pretty responsive so far!

Was getting off the ship a mess at Sitka only, or has been a mess at every port?

4 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

hi! The drive was about 30 minutes curb to curb. We arrived about 10:50, check in consists of a number of lines, but they all moved fairly quickly. Nothing like Florida port check ins which are so efficient. 
 

you are literally going through security and check ins with the Edge passengers, although the signage is clear. We were onboard by 11:30…. Not bad, like I said just not as efficient as Florida departures 

Hi there, departing Seattle later this month... unfortunately with a late Check-in time...Were they pretty strict in checking your assigned time before letting you in?

27 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

10:07, headed south in our Uber. $75, ordered it while we were about 5 minutes walk from the rideshare pickup, arrived less than one minute before he did.

How was the taxi line? Was it a Uber XL again with all that luggage?  

Thank you for sharing your adventures.
Good luck with the follow up interview!

30 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

Mostly planning a lotta nothing today. De stress is the goal.

Did you have a chance to try "Fish and Ship" ?
 

10 minutes ago, KmomChicago said:

I got one of our large suitcases packed full of dirty laundry and not sure how I feel about it

Open up a few tea bags, and throw it together the dirties.  It helps.

11 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

Solarium Bistro desserts. That’s all, didn’t get an entree as I ended up with a bit of teen #2’s crab. 2 pounds is a lotta crab.

Was the dinner venue a full buffet, or a hybrid where you have to order the entrees from the servers? 

Aside from Sitka, looks like you've had great weather so far!

1 hour ago, KmomChicago said:

Having done the free experience in port in Sitka this pricing may be the ultimate big fat NO THANKS for me. 
 

As many have noted, it’s, well, okay.

 

Was it hard to score those free spots?  Booked on the first day?  No iFly planned for the kids?

Quietly following along your adventures....  hoping you get good weather tomorrow, and feeling better as well.  Been to Alaska twice, booked the helicopter tour both times at Juneau... got cancelled both times due to weather :(   

Very minor differences among restaurants and entertainment.....   I would just go with the cheaper priced one,  a better itinerary or cabin type would probably make you happier.

2 hours ago, mrspeck said:

We are going to be on the May 4th sailing from Seattle in a Grand Loft and have been in contact with our genie, so yes, they are offering star service on the Quantum out of Seattle.  It is my understanding that the Sky Loft will have sky perks, not star perks.

This is great to hear.  Thank you for the confirmation of Star Class on the Quantum for Alaska.  Seems like more people are choosing Ovation over Quantum.

Checking out the summer Alaska sailings for Quantum.... even when I select a Star Class room like the "Royal Loft" Suite....  the written description on Royal's website makes no mention of "Star Class" or genie services (while it clearly spells out the inclusion of Star Class if you picked the same room for Ovation).

Has it been confirmed somewhere that Star Class is even offered on the Quantum for Alaska?

No laser tag, no Hooked Seafood on Harmony.

For the price of a RCL excursion, you can probably do a private tour with one of the big 3 Alla, TJ or SPB.  Do the private tour, go at your own pace.  Walk and see as much or as little as you want to.

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Bellagio buffet can cost almost as much as the per day cost of a cruise in some cases

True, especially around the holidays, easily $50 pp.  But they do serve  pre-cut crab legs, oyster and sushi,  even kobe sirloin roast is a fairly regular item on their carving station (at least it use to be).    For non holiday weekends the trick is get in early and pay breakfast price, and stay for lunch... or get in right before dinner starts and pay lunch price.  They don't close between meals.  

Any reason for those partial glass partitions on the (mini)tubs?  I've always felt a cold draft, and like the op, always gotten the floor all wet.

I know the breakfast menu is always the same... but is the lunch menu the same all week long?  Just got off SOTS last week, was surprised to see lunch menu the same when we went on day 1, then again on day 7.  Got busy and forgot to ask CK staff onboard.

14 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

I just think 3 weeks on a ship out of 6 makes for things to be repetitive.

It was truly an honor to be on the same ship as you.  Your live reviews are so good, that I stopped following the weather channel and Royal for updates.  Weather forecast originally called for 50%+ chance thunderstorm at every single port.

I know it's no Flow, no go for you.  I think Allure and Anthem will be in Europe next year.  Any chance of that happening?

13 hours ago, Lorey2007 said:

Did you find anything out if they had luggage valet?

For sure no luggage valet... the answer I got was kinda strange.... something about having negative feedback with the company 2-3 weeks ago.  Either way, currently no luggage valet.

16 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

A few picks from the ice show. 

What did you think about the drones integration into the show?

btw, was looking forward to ordering the seafood tower in Chops.... it’s gone from the menu.... I must have missed it from earlier reporting. 

2 hours ago, A&L_Ont said:

I shared with Lisa about your son in this first tooth. I’m sure will see you around the ship in the next few days, but if not I have lots of fun.

I told my son that Andrew was a profession flowrider. Now he’s watching the royal activities channel and wanting to do it.  I had to break his heart and tell him he wasn’t tall enough, and daddy wasn’t carry enough medical insurance for him to try it.

Andrew, it was a pleasure to finally meet you on the bridge tour today.  See you around!  

7 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Not for us.  It's actually easier than a direct booking.  I send one email, takes me a minute, and the travel agent makes the change.  No phone calls, no waiting on hold, no using Royal's website.

7 hours ago, Biker19 said:

On RCI? It's kinda hard for any TA to make money when the most they'll likely see from RCI in commissions is 16% and that's on the comissionable portion of the fare.

I feel so conflicted sometimes about using a TA vs booking direct.  I have had both great, and horrible experiences even when using the same OTA

At times I would wait for an "OBC special" from one of the big online TA, doubling the OBC usually gives a 10+% in OBC.  Then, I would book the cruise going though a cash rebate site, giving anywhere from 4-12+% cash back after you complete the cruise.  Sometimes it's easy peasy, other times it would be countless phones/emails just to make sure the OBC and rebates are correctly given.

I'm not sure who in the end is taking the hit, but when it works, you can usually  get 10% in OBC and another 10% in cash after the cruise.