NordCruiser

Royal has quite poor selection of craft beer. They usually have the Dogfish Head 90 minute as mentioned and Redhook, Stone & Sierra Nevada IPA's.Or it depends on your definition of craft beer I guess 🙂  I think they are like 6.95 to 7.95 plus gratuity.

Where are you seeing this info? Are you sure this applies to a cruise ship stop, where you are technically "In-transit" and not entering the country?

I got it from here: https://www.bahamas.com/entry-requirements. And I'm a non-us citizen so not sure if the closed loop cruise thing applies in my case. The page says " If you are departing The Bahamas for a country that has the passport validity requirement of six (6) months beyond the dates of departure, then that requirement will be enforced." In my case this 6-month requirement shouldn't apply though...

Just don't want to be denied boarding :D:D:) These passport things can be frustratingly complex... I'm trying to send Royal Caribbean an e-mail and get a definitive answer in writing, just wondered if anybody in here would have been in a similar situation or knows the answer.

It seems that Nassau might actually require a passport that is valid at least 6 months for me.. Does anyone know if it's ok to just board the ship, but just not enter Nassau? Or will they check validity when I check-in, and they could deny boarding alltogether?

In the US, when you check in for your cruise they WILL check your passport (or BC/ID for US citizens). For a non-US citizen you have two concerns: 1. What are the rules for passports from your country entering the Bahamas? 2. What are the rules for you to enter the US at the end of the cruise?

 

You won't see any immigration folks in Nassau - the ship takes care of that. But you WILL process through US Immigration at the end of your cruise. European citizens need an ESTA good for up to 90 days to get into the US.

 

The CBP.gov web site says that your passport needs to be valid for 6 months to enter the US, so if yours isn't you might have problems getting back into the US at the end of the cruise.

Thanks. My country is part of so-called "six-month club", so for entering US my passport just needs to be valid for the duration of the trip, not valid 6 month after my trip. More information can be found here: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/905/~/technical-requirements-for-passports-%28machine-readable%29

Can anyone confirm whether they check passports when cruising to Nassau? I have a European passport that's valid for less than 6 months, and didn't really get a conclusive answer from Bahamas' consulate whether it's ok for cruising :)

Does anyone know if it's possible to get Seapass card punched a hole in it on Adventure of the Seas, so that I can put a lanyard on it?

I cancelled a Deluxe drink package in Cruise Planner and ordered it again last week when it was on sale. It seems that they have refunded about 50% of the cancelled order, but they have fully billed my second order.

If I order a cocktail with a more expensive liquor, is there an upcharge? So for example, I have the Ultimate Beverage Package and I want a margarita with Patron tequila. Would that go over Royal's 12 dollar limit, as Patron is one of the more expensive tequilas on their list? I think they have some "ultimate" versions of drinks that are over 12 bucks...

Booked on Adventure of the Seas in May 2018 cruise. Couple of days ago drink package was 45 USD plus gratuities, now at 42 USD plus gratuities.

I'd love to see Royal pick up a few kegs from a local brewer near the port and offer them on tap in the pub. I really enjoy trying different local beers when I travel. This would make many beer drinkers on board VERY happy, and would be a huge win for the local brewer (even if just in saying that they supply a cruise ship rather than in volume of sales).

That's a great idea. Being from Europe I'm always amazed how many great local micro breweries there are everywhere in USA I've visited, would be great to enjoy local brews when cruising as well.

Slides being added to ships is becoming common at RCI (market apparently demands them) - the Voyager and Freedom class ships are getting them, no reason to think Oasis and Allure won't get them during their regular 5 yr dry dock.

This blog post links to a Michael Bayley interview from 2015, where he apparently mentioned that slides would be eventually coming to all Oasis-class ships: https://www.******************.com/2015/04/29/royal-caribbean-will-add-water-slides-all-oasis-class-ships. The link to the original article doesn't work and I couldn't find it with Google :(

Different question related to beer. I had an enjoyment for Stouts/Porters(did have a favourite vanilla stout) and also enjoyed some real hoppy lagers/ales. Have lost my sense of taste/smell(permanently) so the thicker stouts just taste murky. Can taste the basic back of tongue palate(Sour, Salty, Bitter, Sweet) any style that might check the bitter or sour boxes? That would also be available in ships with Pubs of course.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Stone IPA and Long Hammer IPA's are some good bitter choices. I'm not sure if there are any properly sour ones available on RCCL ships.

It would be nice that Royal Caribbean would start offering more craft beer choices on ships (other than the pub in Anthem), and other styles than IPA's. Craft beer has definitely become mainstream nowadays and there is definitely demand, as there are multiple threads asking about craft beer availability on RCCL ships :) Carnival has their RedFrog pub concept, and NCL also has the District Brew House on Escape which seems to have a good selection of craft beer.

We also brought a case of water to Enchantment of the Seas two weeks ago in Miami, just slapped a luggage tag on the case. Portier carried with the luggage and didn't say anything.

Does anyone know when the last shuttle is leaving from MIA to POM?

Any updates on the beer selection from someone who has been onboard recently? :)

Slightly off topic, but does anyone know how virtual balconies affect people suffering from motion sickness, as being able to see ground/water usually helps?

I read that in addition to national brands Carnival is trying to put a few local craft brews on ships depending on the ports they sail from (or maybe home port if they move around some? Not sure yet how that all works lol)

 

We just got off Conquest sailing from Ft Lauderdale and we had Cigar City beers available as that's a Florida brewery. (One of the best in the country as far as I'm concerned).

 

Although I kinda wish they would make it even more port specific. Cigar City is in Tampa but in FLL Carnival could have gone right down the street and loaded up some Funky Buddha.

 

If Dream is sailing from NO then Abita would be my bet for their local beer. Turbodog is pretty great. I didn't care for their Purple Haze but I love the name lol.

 

Cigar City has a ton of different beers but I only saw Invasion Pale Ale and Florida Cracker so I don't know if 2 is the rule for all local beers.

 

I have to admit I was a little disappointed to find out the Thirsty Frog beer on tap was made by AB. But it was good enough for cruising and closer than the aft Lido bar with the Cigar City lol. (CC still got many of my beer dollars)

Here's the list of local beer available based on homeport: https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1088/~/homeport-locally-brewed-beers