rnr4thatsme

Can anyone suggest a hotel for Tampa? Prefer the Best Western/Hampton Inn chains so I can use rewards to book them. We fly in the night before and basically just need a place to sleep for the night.

Would this be where we email as well to see if our party of 12 can sit together? We didn't all book together, so I think we are divided into 2 groups right now (but in the same time slot).

I agree, we won't do more cruises with this line because of the alcohol prices.

My daughter is wanting to swim with dolphins, and I'm debating which excursion (we are on Royal Caribbean) would be better? I'm leaning towards Jamaica only because others in our party are doing excursions in Jamaica as well, but just doing Grand Cayman on their own...

Debating about whether to choose the Dolphin swim in Falmouth or Grand Cayman... It's a little unclear as to which activities are included in the Dolphin Swim in Jamaica on the website. There is mention of swimming with rays as well in Falmouth, but it doesn't specify if that costs extra.

Just off the Navigator today and did not see any special alcohol deals like you mentioned. And yes I spent plenty of time at the bars.

Were there any specials besides drink of the day that you noticed? I was just reading another post here that said as a moderate drinker, he felt he saved money by just buying whatever was on special and forgoing the drink package, yet still having a fair number of drinks per day. Not too picky when it comes to cocktails!

Has anyone who has been on this ship recently seen these? The 10 drink cards or the 1 day package for Labadee?

I see the original post, though, is from Sept 2015... Would the prices still be the same? Sailing in March 2016!!!!! Woo hoo!!!!!

Does anyone know if the Iced Tea is the Nestea-type sweetened variety or is it simply cold tea you must sweeten yourself?

She does drink soda, but prefers iced tea. I am just thinking if she's out and about in some activity or at the Teen Club (she's a younger teen and still likes these types of things), it may be a hassle to go and get a drink from the Windjammer. Plus, the Windjammer closes before the Teen Club wraps up for the night, so she will be stuck ordering $4 cokes then if that's the only place besides the MDR where you can get the complimentary iced tea/lemonade.

I was wondering if one could get the free lemonade and iced tea at any bar on the Navigator of the Seas or just in the Windjammer and Dining Room. I'm debating about buying one of my kids the soda package, because she doesn't drink a lot of soda normally - actually prefers lemonade/iced tea, but I'm wondering how much of a problem it will be for her to find something to drink outside of meal times when she's at the Teen Club or at the pool.

I read about the $1.10 exchange rate in December when I first found out about Cruise Critic. We bought $1000 worth of OBC in December - just to see if the rate was correct - we paid $1100 CDN for $1000 USD. WHOO HOO.! I was waiting until closer to he cruise to buy more.......

 

On about January 13th I read the rate had gone up - yup $1.40 CDN per $1.00 USD. WOW - seems high but that's the way the Canadian dollar is now.....

 

I then read that your gratuities are locked in at the rate at the time of the booking and quickly phone RCI and out TA to confirm. If I waited to pay by credit card at the end of our cruise I would have paid about $1.45-$1.50 CDN per $1.00 USD. As it is, our rate was locked in at $15.91 per day per person or about $1.23 CDN per $1.00 USD. So glad I found out about that before we cruised.....

 

As it is we're still going to buy another $1000 USD of OBC before our cruise - giving us an effective rate of $1.25 CDN per $1.00 USD ($2500 CDN for $2000 USD of OBC). This should allow us to pay for drink packages, excursions, casino money and possibly walk of the cruise with a little USD cash in hand at a rate that our bank just cannot match!

Is the rate that you're able to buy OBC at the same as when you booked your cruise? My TA said I would have to pay the 40 cents on the dollar, but when I booked it last year, the dollar was much stronger....

I just wish that Royal would regularly offer something like the 10 drink punch card or a "lite plan" for people who don't drink very much. There is no way I could drink 5-6 drinks in a day! But just a small discount... please!!!! To be honest, it's the reason I don't see myself repeating this year's Royal cruise.

We are heading out for our first cruise ever in a few weeks on the Navigator and I was checking out the dining options. For the Café Promenade, I know specialty coffees are extra, but what about the pastries (I saw on the website mention of Cupcake Cupboard)? How does one know before ordering something on the ship if there will be a cost or if it's included? Also, some of us don't drink pop. Are we able to get free iced tea and lemonade anytime, and if so, from where? I thinking we will be around the pool area most of the time.

If anyone in your party is an animal lover, be sure not to miss the "exploration trails" in the park.. that's where all of the animal exhibits are - and they have some spectacular ones! Komodo dragons, tigers... I would also recommend the fast pass for Kilimanjaro Safaris - they have done a great job with that exhibit. I also liked the Rainforest Café unless you want to plan a character meal, but you have to do that well in advance.

Can't wait to read more! This will be my family in a few months!

Hi all.. been looking at economical ways for getting our group of 6 from our hotel near Las Olas in Fort Lauderdale to the Miami Airport... Any suggestions? I was wondering about taking a cab to the Fort Lauderdale Airport and using the Tri Rail from there to Miami Airport? I've heard the cab fare is very pricey to take it all the way from our hotel to the Miami airport.

So do the teenaged boys usually wear ties on formal night? I was going to have mine bring black pants, a dress shirt and tie for this. I know he won't mind wearing it, as long as he is not the only one! Because at this age, there is nothing worse (in his mind, anyways, lol) than standing out!

Loving this review! Going to show it to my husband later... you have a great sense of humour....

Hi there... just was checking out this promo where you get to pick 2 free perks on certain sailings. I was also checking out Free at Sea with NCL but then found out that if you choose the alcohol package, you are getting the alcohol for free but are charged the 18% gratuity of approximately $300, so it's not really "free" anymore. Does anyone know if Celebrity is doing the same thing, giving you the drinks for free, but charging you the gratuity?

I like the freedom to try a few new drinks on board, but I don't even know if I would drink $300 worth!