cage keeper

We had a promenade on 6, just above the stairs going down to the casino on Explorer. It was perfect. The only time we heard any noise was the parades and they are not when you would be sleeping. We loved watching the parades from our window.

Can we buy the drink package on day 2? Just read somewhere that you have to buy before or on day 1.

Has anyone ever asked for an upgrade during check in? Way back when I first found these boards, our first cruise, I remember reading that this sometimes happened.

We are non drinkers so this topic is of no significance to us, but out of couriosty what is a rum runner?

Not sure if got an answer. Rum Runners are are plastic bottles, double walled for extra strength that you put your booze into. Many people use them to smuggle booze in and others use them for a light weight alternative to bottles. We use them in our camper. They take up less room, are lighter and unbreakable.

This may come as a real surprise to you but many people do.:p

Not in CT. LOL

The do gooder booze police are out.

 

Yes, we smuggle on every cruise. Why? We like to have a cocktail while dressing for dinner. We spend plenty of $$ drinking at all of the bars onboard, it is a convenience thing for us, not to try and save money.

 

You don't lke it?

 

Tough, get over it.

 

Do you only drive 60 in a 60 mph zone? I didn't think so

We have always gotten through with the rum runners in the past for the same reason. We like to spend some private time in our cabin and have a drink or two. This trip we will do the package so no smuggling. The reason the cruise lines don't want you to bring it onboard is because of the bottom dollar. If everyone brought it on they would sell less. If they were afraid of people drinking too much they wouldn't sell the all inclusive packages.

if you fill it with ice and place it in the closet along with a stationary fan and chuck norris staring at it.... Yes, it might get cold.

rotfl.

Ingredients:

1 oz. light rum

1 oz. Malibu coconut rum

2 oz. coconut cream

2 oz. pineapple juice

2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries

1 banana

 

Directions:

Blend the 2 rums and the strawberries in a blender to form a smooth paste.

Pour this mixture into a tall (Collins or Hurricane) glass.

Rinse the blender. Blend the banana, the coconut cream, and the pineapple juice in blender with crushed ice until smooth.

Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums very slowly and watch as the strawberry mixture oozes its way to the top along the sides of the glass creating the flowing lava effect.

Garnish with a pineapple wedge and umbrella.

2 please.

They keep them cool. I need my water very cold so we fill the ice bucket and put the bottles in there. All depends on how cold you want it.

Joni

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply I was offended, I wasn't. I just wanted to point out that "light" drinkers may not benefit. They might on Sea days (or full days spent on the ship), but port days make things rough (IMO).

 

Going on the examples posted above... I had no problem drinking the tap water. If I had the package, would I get bottled water? Maybe pool side, but not at meals. I also wouldn't do multiple drinks every meal (maybe at dinner).

 

IMO, anyone thinking about the package needs to think about how they'd drink. I looked at prices before our Oasis trip and tried to price everything out. I elected not to get it, and that decision paid off. I'm not faulting people for getting it, I just don't think it's good for everyone.

 

I DID enjoy Mango Lava Flows though. :D

Glad to hear it. We usually travel with friends that don't drink at all. She will have a glass of wine at dinner but her hubby's idea of a strong drink is icetea.

Joni

I agree with you. I've been debating the package too. I can easily have a mimosa with breakfast, a couple of beers or frozen drinks during the day, a glass of wine or 2 with dinner a couple of nightcaps after dinner.:eek: That doesn't even include water, juice, coffee, or soda.

Sounds like I just talked myself into the package.

I agree. I always hold back some trying not to have a huge bill at the end. Knowing I am going to spend X amount ahead of time makes it more comfortable for me. We only plan on leaving the ship on the private island. I was thinking of waiting until day 2 to purchase it but when you look at it including the tip I think it is worth it. We do take a bunch of 1's and 5's for extra tips.

Joni

This sounds like a normal day for me on vacation as well, if you add in about 3-4 Diet Cokes. Mine would be:

 

Morning:

 

Bellini/Mimosa, $7.75

Diet Cokes (2), $5.00

 

Lunch:

 

Diet Coke, $2.50

Water, $3.00

Lava Flow, $7.00

 

Afternoon:

 

Beer, $4.75

Water (2), $6.00

Diet Coke, $2.50

 

Evening:

 

Wine, $10.00

Martini, $8.50

Water, $3.00

 

Late Evening:

 

Margarita, $8.25

Diet Coke, $2.50

 

Total: $70.75

With Gratuity: $81.36.

 

With 3 sea days and Labadee on our upcoming cruise, I would be at $325.45 just on those days with only $59.55 total to spend on 2 other port days to make it worthwhile. Drinking the alcoholic beverages above, I would expect not to be more than slightly buzzed.

Sounds great.What is a Lava flow?

Sorry, I call BS to the bolded. Assuming each drink would cost $9 ($7-8 for the drink + tip), you would need to average 7 drinks a day. I don't know many "light drinkers" who would put away 7 drinks a day for an entire cruise... ESPECIALLY if you're doing any port excursions. If you're staying on the ship, maybe.

 

DW & I are "light" drinkers. I think even on sea days, we might have had 7 drinks combined.

 

IMO, you need to look at how much you normally drink & how long you'll be on the ship (or private island). Just because it makes sense for one person doesn't mean it works for everyone. And just because someone wouldn't get their money's worth doesn't mean no one would.

Sorry, I didn't mean to offend anyone. I could drink at least 3 or 4 bottles of water per day, two or three sodas, a glass of wine with dinner, because we're on vacation maybe one with lunch, a baileys after dinner, maybe one drink by the pool, and one for the nightly show. Normally I have a nightly glass of wine but heck, we're on vacation. No one ever said this is for everyone. Just a nice perk for those who want it.

Thank you AeroBaldness for doing this. I love reading all the package info and having them in one place really helps.

Joni

We plan on getting the package on our upcoming cruise. If you are trying to do the math to see if it is worth it you are actually only spending 47$ a day and the other 8 is gratuity. If you bought each drink the 15% is added on. Here the 15% in factored into the 55 $ price. Even lite drinkers will find it worth it. :)

Joni

We can't go anywhere without someone knowing my DH. On ships, Vegas and even having lunch by the beach in St. Martin. While sipping our Margaritas we here there are the -------. Yeah, students.

Anyone who has not experienced migraines can not understand how horrible they can be. I couldn't even read all the posts without getting upset. I also have suffered for many years. yes, i have found my miracle drug in Amerge but before that the only time I missed any work was because of migraines. Not the flu or a cold could keep me in bed but a migraine, with vomiting was the worst pain ever. Could not function at al and No , they were not because of my diet but hormonal. Even now the meds take an hour to work as my body gets accustomed to them. I feel that Dr. was uneducated on migraines. Otherwise this would not have been an issue. So sorry you had to go through this and yes, a migraine is no reason your cruise should have ended.

Read all you can find. We did a b to b. Two of us on the south bound and 11 on the north bound. We booked a private van instead of the train and it was awesome. So much to see. You get closer up. Thought the lumberjack show would be corny, did it for the kids and we loved it. Lots of hiking. Wander into the shops off the be-ton bath and talk to the locals. Trip of a lifetime.

I just rented one- First time- Thought it would save hauling my suit. Anyone have any experience renting?

Our dear friend Bruce, that has done over 30 cruise's rents a tux every time. He does this before hand and it is delivered to his room. Two different jackets and shirts for the two formal nights. And shoes.

So glad you asked this question. I have been debating getting the package. We aren't big drinkers but on a cruise I think we want to relax and enjoy it. We usually hold back as not to have a huge bill at the end. Knowing what we will spend before hand would make it worry free. Even if it's more than we would normally spend. We love the aft balconies and suites but booked an inside cabin and will spend the difference on the package. Don't plan on getting off the ship except on the private island so I think it will be worth it for us. Glad you all had a positive experience with the drink package.

Joni

I think the cruise lines like to look the other way on some of these things. We were sailing Celebrity when one night at dinner I felt something touching me all over all at once. We were eating dinner and one of the servers cleaning a table on the deck above us broke a glass covering my husband and I with glass. It was raining glass. We didn't want to make a big deal of it because we felt so bad for the young girl that had this accident. One diner who had glass by his foot made a big deal of it. Everyone from the chef, to all the important staff came to apologize. That was the end of it. Nothing from the cruise line.

Not left on ship but we left a bag at the port in Bayonne once and just as we were hitting the turnpike my son calls to tell us that RCCL called about the left behind bag. We made a U turn and retrieved it. It only had about 1000.$ worth of shoes in it.

Joni

Where do you get the questionnaire ? I would like to prefill mine too.

Same here. Is this on RCCL's web site?

Best time to be on a ship is the week after their was sickness. The ship is so clean. Cleaner than when it was new. This happened to us on our first cruise. Supper clean. Crew did all the serving even in the buffet.

Emphatically YES, bring your snorkeling gear: although you can rent stuff on CocoCay, your own equipment is likely to be better.

 

Not so much related to Barefoot Beach, but there is excellent snorkeling out from the 'main' beach to the right (away from the tender pier). There are two sunken planes, a sunken battery of cannons, etc. It's a ways out, but there are snorkeling platforms to use as resting spots, and lifeguards out there. They feed the fish at one of the lifeguard stations, and you will see HUNDREDS of fish in that area.

 

If you 'drop in' for the snorkeling briefing at the snorkeling shack on the beach, they'll tell you where all these things are. Be sure to bring an underwater camera!

Thank you so much. Your response convinced hubby th bring our gear. Looking up the map now.

Joni