cage keeper

I agree LBumb for the most part that is true for 99.9 percent of Cruise Critic Members but there are those few who would gladly take a bad location to save money or else they would never be able to cruise. If it meant staying home or getting a room with an obstructed view then I'm sure those people who don't care about the location of the room would take the obstructed view cabin.

 

Also there are some people who only use the room to change and sleep and are not so worried about the location. They would be using the dollars saved up in the bars, casino etc.

 

Just like in Vegas people take those inexpensive rooms as they are gambling for the most part and only use the room to sleep in.

 

We are mid ship deck 7. Perfect for us.

I am one of those people who reads CC every day (I don't post often but I value all the information that I've gleaned from this site). Therefore, I've seen all the threads about price drops after final payment. We booked our cruise a year out and I watched the price of the cruise daily because of the advice from members here. We were very lucky to get a great deal and paid, what at the time, was the lowest price on our Allure D5 cabin.

 

Of course, now that final payment has passed, the cabin just dropped another $290 per person below the price we paid (we have two cabins - almost $1200). :confused:

 

I fully understand Royal's policy and NOTHING is going to ruin this awesome cruise, but I would not have minded saving an additional $1200 (I even looked to see if we could upgrade to a JS but those prices haven't dropped to close to what we paid - but I will keep watching).

 

We are lucky that we both have a lot of flexibility at work and our kids are older so we don't have to schedule our vacation way ahead. So from now on, I think we are going to "take the risk" and wait to book cruises 4-6 weeks out. I know the airfair costs may be higher but I doubt it would have cost us an additional $1200!

 

I meant to take the marker off my cruise so I wouldn't get any price drop emails, but I forgot. Oh well, lesson learned.

 

Does anyone have an idea of when the "best" time to look for deals after final payment would be? Is there a good estimate to wait till 5 weeks or 4 weeks, etc? I know that there is the chance that ships will sell out and prices will increase, but that's the great thing about a flexible schedule we can always try the next week.

 

Thankfully, because of all the awesome people on CC, I knew this was a possibility and I know RCCL's policy so I am not going to waste my time trying to get any money credited back. Knowing this could happen ahead of time, helped make it easier to swallow once it did happen. Thanks CC'rs!

 

We are on the Explorer on Friday March 21. I booked it on Jan. 25th. Just poked around the cruise sites and stumbled upon the super low price and had to grab it. Prices have been going up and down daily but not down as low as we got. The other day they were up over 300 pp than we paid. So a couple of weeks after final payment is your best bet.

Going to buy the $55 package on the second day of cruise. Will prob be tired on first day and not drink much. Then come Monday morning, the party is on. 2 sea days in a row to start things off.

 

Our exact plans also. We leave on Friday so we will get the package starting Saturday.

We did Alaska but on Celebrity. B2B south then north bound. Mirror cruise and we loved every day. Never were we cold. Even viewing the glaciers. But it's hit or miss with the weather. We had two weeks of sunshine.

I wish. But I did hear of some getting it free on their cruise. It's on one of the drink threads.

Not at all. It's called responsible parenting. LOL. The kids will love them.

[QUOTE=Cruzn' Fool;42017267]I remember seeing this question asked before but can't remember the answer nor find the thread.

Once onboard, do they sale the drink package on just embarkation day or do they continue to sale it for another day or two? And, if they do, do you just have to pay for the remaining days or do they stick you with the full cruise total?

I'm just wondering if anyone has been able to purcahse it the second day and just pay for days 2- the end?[/QUOTE]

Yes, this is our plan.

I am a 30+year veteran of driving from northwest of Boston to New Jersey and have sailed the EX 10+ times using car, bus, and public transit to get to the port. Where exactly are you coming from in the Boston area?

 

I like the Staten Island suggestion, but it adds at least a half hour to each end of what is already a 4+ hour trip.

 

For a 5 day cruise I always advise spending the $95 for the convenience of parking at the port. It's a long drive back to Boston and you don't want to add more time fussing with shuttle transportation back to your car.

 

If money is really no object, I would drive down the night before and stay at one of the hotels on Glimcher Realty Way in Elizabeth - Country Inns, Courtyard Elizabeth, Residence Inn or Embassy Suites.

 

However, I am a frugal traveler, so I would book a 3 or 3.5* hotel on Hotwire in Stamford CT. For May 2 there is a 3* hotel for $72 that is likely to be the Hampton Inn and a 3.5* hotel for $73 that is likely to be the Sheraton. I have stayed at both properties and actually prefer the 3* Hampton Inn because of the free parking, breakfast, room size, and overall ambiance of the location on a small stream. From Stamford it is about an hour to the port early on a Saturday morning.

 

Do you have the cars only directions through New York? You do NOT want to take I95.

 

Meant to quote. see above question.

I am interested in your last sentence. We are sailing 3/21. Picking up others in Stamford. This is a Friday? We should do the parkways and not cross bronx?

So very sad. Prayers.

No cruise could ever possibly be too long. :D

As I had stated before we cruised with two fellow carnival cruise workers who convinced us and several others that tips are not distributed fairly and it's better to hand them in person as she and her husband actually worked on a ship I figure her word is better than anyone's my only question was had people removed them on royal carribean and if so had they given you problems I work and have children so if I don't respond immediately I apologize!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Thank you for posting this question. I wanted to have my tips removed also but felt funny asking. I didn't want to sound cheep. I worked as a food server for close to 40 years. I want to be sure MY servers and room attendants get MY tips. I would much rather hand it to them. And I always over tip and DH way over tips. We know how important they are.

Never too early to start. I find I do better packing in sections. One day the shower bag and all the extra stuff. Another day all the dress cloths, you know, the things you won't miss because you already packed them. Then the summer cloths because we sure don't need those now. Then the rest. And the day before pack everything you know you missed. :D

When she comes back………………….. I will be getting on her. YEAAAAAAAA! Can't wait. :D

I never had an issue with the checking out of towels. The towel stands were in convenient locations and it never took more than a minute out my day to check out/in towels. It reduces chair hogging, it reduces clutter of abandoned towels and it reduces theft/laziness of leaving towels ashore. I'd welcome the return to this policy fleet wide.

 

Well said, I totally agree.

I have also always carried a glass of wine to the MDR. No problem.

I can't stand those shuttles either. Don't understand why they won't let us just walk to the ship. Have the shuttles for those that do need it.

Explorer put tables together for 20. I would ask.

Princess.

I think the package is so totally worth it. One or two mimosa's in the morning to late morning, 2 to 3 bottles of water, drink with lunch, 2 drinks by the pool for 3 or 4 hours, (already over 55$) Espresso Martini before dinner (after a nap from all the afternoon alcohol) 2 glasses of Cabernet with dinner, baileys after dinner and 2 or 3 drinks for dancing the night away. WOW, I can't wait to get on this ship. :D

this is my version of the drink package math (it comes from the shirt we have all seen for sale in ports) :

 

1 tequila

2 tequila

3 tequila

floor!

 

rotfl. :d:d:d

shorts with socks.. there is a Walmart moment for you

 

But at least it is socks with shoes and not sandals. Fight with DH on this one all the time. :p

See?

 

Wear whatever you want. You were going to do it anyway. Why did you bother posting your question?

 

You said that perfectly.

Remember, shorts, T-shirts, and bathing suits are not considered appropriate attire in the dining rooms at dinner. Casual dress dining is available nightly in the Windjammer Cafe. And be aware you'll also need smart casual attire for some of our specialty restaurants.

 

That's from Royal's website...so technically, no. That said, do people do it? Yes, will you be turned away, probably not but you never know. Might you have people looking at you and grumbling that you're not following the dress code, probably.

 

 

HERE is the link to Royal's dress code

 

That would be my husband and son. They would think everyone in the whole dining room would be staring and glaring at them.

That would really annoy and frustrate me seeing as I've already tipped 15%

 

This is true until you go over the 47 to 48$ mark on drinks. Then every drink above this there is no tip. My guess is they are not getting 15% on each drink. A bartender explained it on Celebrity. They split this with bartenders and other servers.