OhioMike2016

I have cruised before but because my wife now has mobility issues, I have the following questions (just starting to look into my options):

1) since accessible rooms are so limited per ship, how far in advance must one book?

2) which cruise line has the best accessible room options (not just the room but the entire ship being accessible)?

3) does it cost more for this type of room?

4) are deals available for these types of rooms?

5) do any of these rooms have a balcony option?

I recommend NCL northbound from Vancouver to Seward that includes Glacier Bay & Hubbard Glacier. After disembarking in Seward rent a car in Anchorage & do a DIY land tour that includes Denali.

Thank you for the recommendation. Any others?

Have cruise before but only with RCI and in the Caribbean. I now would like to do an Alaska trip. Before reading all of the massage boards to seek the answer as to best cruise ship (I am pretty sure it is on here someplace), I thought I would just ask here first.

What is the best cruise ship for a first time cruiser to Alaska AND what are the things I want and should be looking for from a cruise ship going to Alaska?

I do not have many requirements (i.e. starting port, cost, length of time, etc.), expect that the cruise includes Glacier Bay.

Thanks in advance for your time and answers to this simply question.

I know this is not the right board for this question but I have only known RC and the Caribbean. I am thinking about doing an Alaska cruise. Appreciate any information or recommendation where to get info on this (i.e. CC Message Board, recommended Cruise line)?

I may have made a BIG mistake by going on an Oasis Class ship (Allure of the Seas) for my 1st cruise. Now I may be too spoiled and probably feel that no ship will every match that one.

However (whether it was the ship or not), I fell in love with Cruising and want to do it again and again and then again some more.

Now my dilemma; since I want to cruise more often, I just cannot afford to sail on an Oasis Class ship every single time (otherwise it will be a long time between cruises).

My question; what are some good other then Oasis' ships that are nice but are not as expensive as an Allure? In other words, what ship is a good price/deal and yet fun to sail on?

In general, when is the cheapest time to book a cruise to the Caribbean (i.e. non peak or off season time)?

Just came back from my 1st cruise and loved it. Now I am looking to go again. In doing some general searching for the best deals; for obvious reasons, cruising during Hurricane Season seems to be the 'cheapest' time. My question: Is it worth it?

I am thinking that with todays' technology, these big ships can avoid (for the most part) any major storms and therefore the cruise should not be a problem. Is this just me trying to be overly optimistic or is booking a cruise during the Hurricane Season just not very advisable (i.e. back to the Question: Is worth it)?

Was on the same cruise as OP and I know what you mean about the aft elevators. My biggest frustration with those elevators is that every now and then, a kid or kids decides to be a little too cute and presses every button so that the elevators stop at EVERY floor. Not too funny when you have to be someplace or just hungry.

Just came off of the Allure. We were on Deck 5 (Silk) for a 5:30 Traditional Dinning.

Just came back from a week on the Allure. Without going into a lot of detail; lets just say it was great. So great in fact, I am planning on making plans to doing this again and again (i.e. I am now a 'hooked' Cruiser).

Instead of a full blown review, I just like to address a few areas that might help clarify what I learned on Cruise Citric from the reality I found.

Food: on Cruise Citric a lot of people said the food was not the best. I understand that everyone's taste is very different but I found the found to be exceptional. Of all the meals I had in the MDR, one was not to my liking (duck). No big deal, I just ordered something else. Again, food was GREAT!!! Windjammer and all of the other venues was fantastic (I tried them all expect for the Specialty Dinning). Breakfast at Jonny Rockets is a must.

Staff: I found every single staff that I had any contact with were OUTSTANDING!!! The ones that I had the most direct contact with (Cabin Stewart & MDR Wait Staff), where not only great staff but are even better people. Tip: take the time and get to know these people. You will be glad you did.

Staff PS-when talking to them, I learned that the little friendly gifts (t-shirts, cookies, etc.) is nice but not nearly as meaning full or appreciated as money. "Money is a true expression of gratitude for a job well done," MDR Staff Member when directly asked.

Staff PSS-I did not experience any staff members 'hounding' me about giving them positive makes on the end of cruise survey. Maybe this is because we developed a little bit of a relationship and they knew where I stood on their performance (i.e. Great!!!) or that RCI has cracked down on this type of behavior (on the survey was a question that asked if anyone tried to 'encourage or influence' you on this survey).

Bed: We did request a mattress topper and received one. I latter found out that everyone in our group had a mattress cover on their bed even though they did not request one. Maybe this is new and everyone gets one now. Either why. The bed was great.

Reservations: Doing as much as you can before the actual cruise makes the whole cruising experience smoother and calmer (i.e. less waiting in lines). You do not want to miss the Entertainment so get those reservation when you can. Also, if you are doing Traditional Dinning with a group (we were a group of 14), contact Dinning Services to get you table and seating assignments when you can.

Packing: The one area where all the advice on CC was spot on. My family and I definitely over packed in the area of having too much clothes. One area that I am glad we did over pack in was the area of Medications. My wife is a nurse, therefore we became the 'go to' area every time someone in our group needed an aspirin, cold med., bandage, twisters, etc. (the Aloe was a very popular request).

Chair Hogs: yes they do really exist but not to the extend that it prevented me and my family from finding places to hang out in the sun. It might not have been a 'prime' place around the pool, but the ship is so big, places can be found.

Up Sale: yes there is some of this but not nearly as much as I thought after reading many CC posts. I found that after I said 'no thank you,' they moved on.

Best Tip: of all the research I did before going on this cruise, the best tip I got and was most beneficially to me was the following: '...one thing that everyone needs to take is a positive attitude and the ability to adapt.' I know, it sounds very 'new age' but nothing is more true. No matter how much you plan (for me it was to the point of a spreadsheet with every single minute scheduled), things WILL go wrong or not as plan (i.e. show reschedule due to rough seas, not feeling 100% due to those same rough seas, excursion started late due to another cruise chip being late, not all staff are perfect just like not all of your fellow cruisers are not as nice as they should be, etc., etc.). When this happens, don't sweat it. Just remember that you are on vacation, on a great cruise ship, weather is probably great and you are in a great part of the world. As opposed to at work, in the cold, in not as great part of the world ('Ohio is Great but it sure is not the Caribbean).

For a first time cruiser, this cruise far exceeded my expectations and may expectations were very high to start with.

I am now looking forward to my next cruise and the pre-planning that goes into it (know of any good deals)?

Sailing on the Allure next week. With all the great pictures of the food I have seen, there is one thing that I have never seen and my DW really wants to know if there will be any.

Will there be any Peanut Butter?

Finally, after all of these loooooong months, my first embark date is only a week away. Even though I have read, researched studied and planned, I know I will never be 100% truly ready but at this point; who cares, I AM GOING ON MY FIRST CRUISE IN 7 DAYS!!!:D:D:D

Now I have a real problem that hopefully some of you experienced Cruisers can help me with.

Next week, I still have to work. How in the world am I suppose to do that if the only thing on my mind is prepping (last minute purchases, packing, making sure I have all my documents, schedules, hotel, car, closing up the house, excursion info, doing all the things I learned on CC, etc., etc., etc.), while dreaming of cruising on the open seas for 7 days?

Appreciate your help and any tips on staying focused at work while at the same time being too excited to think about anything other than going on my FIRST CRUISE!!!.

I checked in on-line without a problem to get my SetSail Pass. This included adding my credit card for my onboard expenses.

My question, I just found out that some folks in your family check in on line and did so without linking a credit card to their SetSail Pass. This is because some of them do not have credit cards. I understand that RCI uses a cashless system and these family members have no intention on making any on ship purchases, nevertheless, will this be a problem nevertheless (not linking a credit card)?

Some other family members checked in as Cash being the primary payment. They have credit cards. Can they 'link' them now (on-line check-in after already checked in) or can they do this at the Terminal when Checking In to be Boarded?

I now it has been cover but I appreciate some clarification before going out and making any more purchases.

I understand that a lot of people recommend a power strip (minus the surge protector of course) to help increase your cabin outlets. Before getting one, I found in my current stuff that I have a multi-plug outlet that converts one outlet into 3 and I have one that converts into 6 (I really thing this maybe too big, but I do not know).

Since I do not know where the outlets are located at, I do not know if there is enough room for one of these multi-plug devices.

My question: do you think one of these multi-plug devices will work or should I go out and purchase a power strip (minus the surge protector of course)?

I just received an email from an excursion that I booked that they are moving up our scheduled start time. I need to be there (Capt. Bob in St. Maartin) by 8:30 AM. Allure arrives at 8 AM. Since it is only 15 minutes, that should not be a problem as long as I get out early and on time.

Questions;

How can I be one of the first off the ship?

The email said something about not 'waiting for the ship announcement; what does that mean?

Is there a line that forms and if so, how early should I be in it to increase my odds of getting off as early as possible?

(Edit: Add correct Title)

I just received an email from an excursion that I booked that they are moving up our scheduled start time. I need to be there (Capt. Bob in St. Maartin) by 8:30 AM. Allure arrives at 8 AM. Since it is only 15 minutes, that should not be a problem as long as I get out early and on time.

Questions;

How can I be one of the first off the ship?

The email said something about not 'waiting for the ship announcement; what does that mean?

Is there a line that forms and if so, how early should I be in it to increase my odds of getting off as early as possible?

Need a quick clarification on the SetSail Pass.

There is only one with both my name (Primary) and my DW. Do I print out 2 of these (one for my DW and one for me) to present for Boarding or should there by 2 separate ones so that we each have our own?

Need a quick clarification on the SetSail Pass.

There is only one with both my name (Primary) and my DW. Do I print out 2 of these (one for my DW and one for me) or should there by 2 separate ones so that we each have our own?

Is your Sea Pass associated with a Credit card?

Example: If a towel is not returned and you are charged for it, where will this charge appear (on RCI account or on a credit card associated with the sea Pass)?

I know that this is not the correct Board for this question but I am hoping for a quicker response.

What is the best tour/ideas/things to do in St. Thomas for someone with mobility limitations (i.e. no steps, limited distances)?

Any suggestions for wheelchair accessible tours/ideas?

What tours/things to do for someone with mobility limitations (i.e. difficultly with stairs, walking very far)?

Any wheel chair accessible tours/ideas?

Also a planner who is just days (15 to be exact but who is counting...ME!!!), from my first cruise.

If driving, don't forget about Long-Term Parking (if pay on-line and in advance, it is over $20 less with Park-N-Go)

and, of course,

Reservations for the hotel the night before.

Yes, more info on the Hammock and more pictures (especially how you have it secured).

Thank You in advance.

Is the Flowrider open on Day 1?

Are hangers provided or do you bring your own? If they are some provided; how many and if not enough, can you ask for more?