meripour

In the process of booking our flight home to the USA from Sydney arrival port.  This will be after a 19 day Transpacific Cruise starting in Hawaii, with our trip starting on 5 days before pre-cruise.  Overall a long time to be away from home.  Looking for your input if it is worth the stopover in Auckland for a day or two (the connecting city for Air New Zealand back to the USA)?  We are already staying a couple of days in Sydney post arrival.  I typically become Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz feeling by the end of the trip, 'there is no place like home', but I also don't want to miss the opportunity if its worth the extra time and $$$.

Advise also if two full days and nights are enough time in Sydney post arrival.

Bump

how were the rooms you ended up with?  Any regrets?  

What is the latest you have had to wait for your room assignment on a ‘Guarantee Junior Suite or Better’ to be given? No rooms in the suite or regular balconies categories are showing available online.  Sailing is Feb 10 out of Miami. We have never sailed without things locked down at the time of booking. They assure me when I called the Guarantee shows the category type, but they cannot give a date certain for issue. 

Have you had to wait until the day you board and are they giving out on first come, first serve?  

Are they waiting on any last minute cancellations from those currently booked/paid?

When do TA’s release their unsold or cancelled room blocks back to RCCL?  I am assuming/guessing that is how it works. 

Have you ever gotten a room less than the expected Guarantee category or in a scum location?  Or can we expect Unicorns and Rainbows?

Are they holding back to wait for the JS to surface and not the ‘or better’ category?

Does all this vary by ship or is this a Corporate function that manages all ships?

Thanks for your guidance and information on your experience. 

We will have to fly to Hawaii going and Sydney coming back.

Thanks for the update we can use the ship as a hotel & restaurant in Hawaii. I am suspecting the usual time to get on?

How did you like the trip and did you take Ovation.

maybe someone could help me. On my last cruise the casio hostess came to me and told me I was a VIP and put a sticker on my sea pass card and then told me I would get free drinks and not have to pay for the fee if I took money out. She told me on my next cruise to go to the casio host give them my name and they will give me a sticker for my sea pass card.

I don't know to much about all the casino rules.

But I so excited that going forward I would be a VIP or is this gone away.

If it has thats the story of my life

Ours had both the prime notation and drink sticker on the card when we checked in. I was also told to let CR know of all cruises booked outside of the Club Royal so they can mark your profile for the casino mgr.

The casino manager does keep track if you are betting in the realms required to be appreciated and recognized.

 

Obviously I am not going to disclose my bankroll, it’s more than a little and most of the time quite a lot ;)

Thanks and understand. Ours same.

I will say we got jacked the last cruise by the casino mgr. The CR phone rep could see same from record of play. He submitted to corporate for a review and they responded nicely.

There is not cut in stone formula so keep up with your play and determine your tier.

can anyone speak to the itinerary for this sailing which shows; September 30 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii with no times AND October 1, 2019 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii that shows departure 10:00 pm.

Does this mean the ship is open for boarding, staying, and meals the day before the cruise?

The cruise is sold as a 19 night itinerary, with arrival into Sydney October 20th so the calculation for counting this would be the actual sail date of Oct 1.

Has anyone done this cruise and what is your input? The schedule allows for a lot of boxes to be checked off the bucket list - because shortly thereafter we will choke on paying for the airfare for sure. ;p

Did you receive your email in February or is March 31st still the date we will be informed?

 

I just received an email offering me a Grand Suite on 7 different ships with sailings all through 2018.

 

No details in the email on any Tier level though;)

What is your rate of play to get this or your frequency on board? I understand this is a personal question. I seriously doubt the pit crew are keeping count. Has anyone found out how the points are calculated or do you have to ask at the beginning and end of each cruise?

I do understand the calendar year for points starts April 1 and the Tier level is on their website, but there is nothing that indicates the formula for the calculation to get to a particular Tier level.

If it is a port intensive cruise or shorter cruise are they taking into account casino being closed?

Cabin 1549 - does anyone else have an update on this cabin as to what they hear and if this is a major issue?

The description states 'partial obstructed view'. Is this because its on a slant on the hump or is there actually something in front of it like a lifeboat? If its only the support pole and the ladder seen in pix that is not a big deal, but those pixs are old.

Following

Look at the US Department of State Travel Warning for travelers and their own embassy personnel. There is same issued by the UK & Australia. Google Jamaica Travel Warning and you will see clips of the Jamaican Prime Minister announcing a State of Emergency and the use of Military troops. This is a result of major drug and gun trafficking activity. This is involving gun violence with killing, robbery, gang rapes (even inside resort property grounds), home invasions resulting in murder of all residents.

Our last trip not long ago, the cruise line cancelled all excursions due to 'unrest' in the area. We were advised if we chose to leave the ship for an independent excursion they were not responsible nor would they wait if we were late due to roads being blocked.

Until these official warnings are removed, if you must take an excursion, I would only do so only with the cruise line sponsored trip. While you may be able to do on your own without incident, I would consider the warnings from Government sources a big heads up.

I bought one of these portable locking cases after reading about it here (please ignore my DH's dirty socks in the background). This was nice to have but not so useful that I would prioritize it over something else. It was fairly lightweight and we stuck stuff inside when we packed, so it wasn't a big deal to bring it. We used it a few times at the pool for phones, kindles, sunglasses, etc. but we aren't the kind of family that grabs chairs and stays at the pool for the whole day, so it was less useful than I anticipated. We will use it for future outings here at home, so I am glad I bought it, I would just weigh the pros/cons of packing it and consider how your family would use it when taking it on a cruise. So that is the last of what I brought; hope it was helpful!

 

We found waterproof bags at the sporting goods store that when getting off the boat for excursions we can pop in phone, sea pass, money, copy of passport. This hangs around the neck so everyone can go in the water and no one gets stuck 'watching the stuff'.

So nice of you to reply with useful info.

This will be our first b2b on Vision of the Seas out of Galveston. Can someone explain how it works to get moved from one room to the new room? We are on the same floor for both. Do we have to pack up totally, disembark? If we must get off the ship to check in again (to clear their roster) can we get right back on? Or does the cruise line issue the new sea pass onboard as part of their protocol? If we do not have to get off, is there a place we can go while the flip for the new cruisers is taking place? My DH has some mobility issues so I want to be prepared for limited trauma drama and not appear a total idiot.

Anyone been on this ship lately? We are kind of going backwards from the big ships to one of the older small ships since it goes out of Galveston.

How was it???

New ruling takes effect January 1, 2018, so wouldn't have applied to your family. But, yes, you will be able to get a Deluxe package and a Replenish in the same stateroom.

Not as of today for a 2017 cruise. They required we buy for each of us over 21 in the same room. So, we upped to the Deluxe Drink & Dinner package for $10 more per day each which includes the specialty restaurants (on the ship we are on) for lunch and/or dinner. Cost for two: $733.89 drive out with tax, title, & license.

But great tip on the waiting until onboard. They luuuuvvvv selling those drink packages and there is usually a line day one. Just don't give them all the details on the other package. Buy cheap, then upgrade.

I just tried to get my Deluxe w/Voom package for myself. My husband doesn't drink more than one cocktail a day so he would have been using Seapass to pay as he goes, so I call up RCI and they said if I wanted the Deluxe package for myself, my husband would have to get a non-alcoholic passage (basic water & juice deal).

 

I would like the Deluxe package because I like a few cocktails on deck and wine at dinner. But I cannot get this any longer because we don't want to spring another $200+ for water. Without us both getting a beverage package, we'd both have to pay as we go.

 

My husband has the complimentary breakfast drinks, sips 1 cocktail in the afternoon, and has water with dinner. It is just not worth it to buy him that basic package (right?).

 

I am lost with what to do. Not using both packages to their advantage, it's like I'd be paying $500-$600 just for myself.

 

Has anyone else had this problem?

Probably too much 'sharing' ruined it for the rest of the class. The $$ of the pour to sip ratio didn't equal out.

What are we supposed to say? You posted an OP full of statements. No questions at all. Your title was basically that you're leaving Royal Caribbean. Bye sounds like a perfectly valid response to a stranger coming into somewhere you really like and rattling off a paragraph about why they don't like it and won't be coming back.

 

Like, um, okay, bye?

That was a bit harsh. I think he was looking for feedback and probably does not have as much sticker shock after the details from the other posters.

I find my meal tastes better when others around me are wearing pants. :D

I agree. Can't you breakdown and take a shower, clean drawers, and dress nicely with pants for the evening? I am assuming you are going to shower after being out all day. What's the big deal to slide those short off and put on a pair of pants - and shoes or boots, not flip flops? Not talking about top hat and tails.

https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/kbyg/customs-duty-info

Go to this site for the exemption information and allowance of what you may bring in from Cuba. Take note of the per person. Some Customs will judge the limit per family in the declaration.

Now all you need to locate is storage that is safe.

You can always ship the bottles home via FedEx or UPS.

 

That they are not empty is something you don't mention.

 

It is done all the time, look at eBay sales of "just the bottle" of rare spirits, that just happen to be not empty.

It is my opinion as one who does international trade compliance for 25 years plus this is a multi-fold potential problem for you.

This is a bit more severe than this poster is understanding that 'perhaps' you won't get caught, but if you do, you will be involved with several agencies of the federal government and potentially in violation of the US Import/Export Regulations. There is a disclaimer on the courier paperwork and if you ship via courier from outside the USA you will have to clear Customs and must have proper paperwork for it to enter the country. I do not think you will be able to ship directly from Cuba as there is not a relationship for such between our countries and if it's liquor, they will know what is going to be required upon entry to the USA or it will be held or destroyed.

You are correct, it is illegal to move liquor within the USA or import without a liquor license and that will involve the ATF. If you get it into the USA, You may be able to find a liquor store that has a cooperative with a liquor store in your State or can ship directly to your home, but the liquor coming from Cuba will be the issue for them as well. Total Wine in Florida did some shipping for us on one trip. If you get the proper import docs, they may move it forward for you for a fee, but your state may require it to be dealer to dealer. The. You get into the individual States liquor board who rarely have routine rules.

While the US lifted the ability to travel to Cuba under the People to People 'license exception', it did not lift/remove all prohibitions with this country that require a formal license application to the appropriate US Government agency. All other sanctions remain in place and can be found at the US Dept of State website, but may involve other agencies. This includes trade and most monetary transactions and are in violation of US law. They are not fooling around with this.

You might find yourself inadvertently entering into a violation with US Department of State sanctions, aka 'trading with the enemy' because you are importing and have made a cash transaction within Cuba. You may be able to apply for a license prior to your trip or there may now be a 'license exception' you can avail yourself of but you need to do your due-diligence prior to your trip.

It would be a shame to do all this work with the cruise line, only for US Customs to seize at entry. Because they will know you made a trip to Cuba, they will be diligent. If you lie on your declaration, you have created a Federal offense. It's part of the violation of 'knowingly or should have known' cavieat. If you find out of an exception that will allow this, have that proof with you to discuss factually with Customs. You will be in the same pickle of you hand off to an international courier. You cannot just plead 'ignorance' and not declare the shipment. It's illegal to ship liquor within the USA across State lines, aka the Al Capone rule - aka rum running.

As long as you keep it on the boat, the flag of the vessel is considered under the regs as the countries flag it is flying, but once it goes over the ships rail, it's a whole other ballgame. For it to be moved between vessels it will involve a manifest for them to move it via declaration and a manifest which is required to be given to US Customs 48 hours prior to entry of the vessel. Sticky mess I don't see them wanting to be involved in. If you can get your ducks in a row to take it off the first ship with an exception, then you need to arrange for this to be held somewhere for you so you do not have to go through this again. If you take it off elsewhere than the final destination of the USA, be sure to verify what that Port and Government requirements are and relationship with the USA is, but don't think this trick already hasn't been tried.

I will do some checking if you like. I am not saying there is not a way to do this, just don't go with the crowd of jumping off the bridge because someone said everyone else is doing it. In particular with the current US Government administration who does not have a rosy view of the lifting of sanctions anyway. The quickest way to get ahead in the government is to make a seizure.

Always declare. I have seen what can happen.

Are you looking to buy cases or several bottles???

Take the trip regardless, before it is prohibited again for US travel. It's coming I suspect.

Excuse the errors.

Not K cups, but the individual pre-pressed coffee-in-a-filter packet pods. Its a one cup at a time coffee maker, but there is a full water tea kettle. Buying these pods seems only a hotel racquet so I guess it will need to be a request with housekeeping to leave more to have that second cup in the room. Pumpkin dry creamer will be packed however.

we alll worked hard to get to Diamond so that would be my concern to insure you have full access before you board and your Seapass is loaded with your Crown & Anchor benefits. You no longer get coupons and I would not want to deal with Cusomer loyalty when this is easily remidied pre-cruise. Reprinting your Setsail and luggage tags is easy enough. The fact you have a discrepancy between the two tells me there is a hitch in the get-a-long at RCCL.

Some of this depends on the level of play and if your an invited guest of the casino. The casino is its own operation within the ship who have the authority, under the casino manager & host, to comp what they want in the way of dinners, drinks, spa treatments, etc. I have never seen anyone tip the manager or host - not casino etiquette. We have taken a host a personal gift, but never tipped. Their job is to get you into the casino to play as long as possible and make it enticing for you to donate as much of your money as is possible. They appreciate your tipping their dealers for sure and the ringing bell is a moral builder. Consistent tipper in the casino will be remembered by name if your playing daily.

If your drinks are being comped due to your play, tipping the waitress is good manners, otherwise if your paying for your drinks, 18% is automatically included in what you are paying. If your tipping your waitress with chips, they go to the cage. Unsure if they end up with the tip, or its part of the community jar in that case. If you really want waitress to have the cash, have some real bucks I suspect.

If you have had a good run with your dealer it is basic manners to tip as you go or ask if they want you to play the tip for them above your hand. Otherwise, leaving a tip as you walk away from the table, win or lose, is good form. Any cash tips to the dealer are converted to chips, tapped on the table, bell is rung (to alert the pit boss and other dealers tip going in) and the chips are popped into the box on the table. The box is removed at the end of the shift and is part of the reconciliation of the rack/game/play. The box contains cash buy-ins from players and tip chips. In the old days, dealers could put chips in their breast pocket, but that has gone away.

Tipping the cashier? Never. The 'cage' is tightly controlled on land or sea and I have not seen anyone tip the cashier. Agree, it would be like giving your bank teller part of your cash withdrawal - not casino etiquette.

but is there a priority to how they move the luggage based on level?