OCVTSGIRL

I just came off of the Utopia and booked a cruise on board the first day for January 2025.  The deposit was only $100 and I received $100 OBC from Next Cruise plus $200 OBC for putting the deposit on my Royal Caribbean credit card.  I am solo in the room and was still given the 60% of the second passenger.  Worth it for me.  I booked this same cruise for my friends who were not on board and they were given the same OBC as me.

Just completed a 4 day cruise on Utopia.  Myself and my friend are Diamond and very close to being Diamond +.  It occurred to me around day 3 that this was the first time we got no goodies in our stateroom. We usually get chocolate covered strawberries...my favorite...and other goodies but we got nothing. Has anyone else experienced this or was it just an oversight for us?

On 8/4/2024 at 12:08 PM, nelblu said:

I don’t think you will be affected. Latest forecast ,  Storm will hit the western part of Florida and move straight up to Georgia. 

The OP may be worried that her flight out of Philly will be canceled since the storm is supposed to hit this area Friday and/or Saturday.

1 hour ago, Shoegazer73 said:

Thanks for the reply, and pardon my obvious ignorance, but how would I be able to tell if I picked mtd? 

If you picked a time, it is on your confirmation from RCCL.  Under the "guest information" section it says "dining" and your time is there.

39 days!!!

On 2/18/2024 at 6:27 PM, OCVTSGIRL said:

I've been Diamond for a while and I've never had a bartender ask me if I wanted to use my diamond voucher.  As long as I haven't used all 4 of mine, they always just use it without me telling them to.

Same here!

1 minute ago, drew69 said:

Just spent 9 days drinking Tanqueray with basis FAS drink package.  It is included along with several other gins.

 

Vodkas included Absolut, Tito's Sky and several others.

I just found a list on the NCL website that showed which alcohols were included with each package and I was happy to see Tanqueray included in the basic package.  I think we're going to stick with what we have.  We wouldn't take advantage of the high end drinks.

My friend and I are booked on a cruise to Alaska in May 2025.  We currently have the Free at Sea Beverage package.  Wondering if we should upgrade to the Premium Plus Beverage Package.  We like to drink Tanqueray and tonic.  Last year we were on a Celebrity ship and had the beverage package but because we didn't have an upgraded package, we couldn't get Tanqueray.  My friend also likes to have chocolate martinis.  Wondering if we stick with the drink package we have will we not be able to get these?  

Thanks everybody!  We have an inside cabin as this was a casino "free" cruise that my friend got.  I much prefer a balcony but the price was right for this cruise.

My friend and I are booked on the Bliss to Alaska in May 2025.  This will only be my third time sailing NCL.  My other cruises were with my husband and family on much smaller ships the last time being 14 years ago.  We almost always sail Royal Caribbean.  

I'm excited about seeing Alaska since neither of us have ever been and a bit nervous about cruising on a line and ship I know nothing about.  So please tell me all there is to know about the Bliss and the things that we shouldn't miss.

I always pick up my cup at one of the bars and I can always ask for a certain color.

51 minutes ago, Pratique said:

Your experience may vary but usually if we pick up the cups from one of the tables they set up on boarding day they let us choose any cup so you can pick the color you want. At the bars they just hand one to you.

Never go to the Windjammer on that first day.  Sorrento's is our go to for lunch and it is hardly ever crowded.  Did the Windjammer once and it was so crazy.  Never again.

On 3/18/2024 at 9:17 AM, Jacob0525 said:

I’m on the odyssey right now. I have not seen the vending machines. 

Its near Music Hall.  There's a room but it doesn't state that the vending machines are in there.  I had seen the door open and was curious so I took a peek and there they were.  

1 hour ago, taglovestocruise said:

Biggest must have for 2024, under $2. Please do not bother your steward for a blank card. Always keep lights and A C turned on, never come back to a warm or dark cabin...... Disregard the remove from slot warning, it is only for tree huggers

I just use the junk cards that come in the mail and I don't have to pay for them.  They work fine.  The last two cruises our cabin steward left a card in the slot so we didn't have to worry about it.

2 hours ago, dazadelaide said:

Hi,

Thanks for the replies.

We will be on quantum sailing out of Brisbane Australia for 15 nights.

So 3 coffees a day each = 45 coffees each, same with soda.

So if we go with a coffee card how many coffee can we get with a card?

Is a card valid for 10"punches" or do the cards come in various amount of "punches"

Also how does the freestyle soda machines work?

do you have a special cup you need to carry around with you all the time or do you have a card that you use at these machines?

Thanks 

Daz

 

I don't drink coffee but unless you have to have specialty coffee, you don't need to buy the card.  Coffee is available on the ship at no extra cost.  The soda package includes a special cup that you pick up at any of the bars once you get on board.  Its used for the Freestyle soda machines which are usually in the Windjammer (buffet) and outside of Sorrentos.  If you don't want to carry the cup around with you, you can get soda at any bar...just not all the choices that are available from the Freestyle machines.

21 hours ago, alfaeric said:

???  This happened months ago. Why is your TA telling you this now?  Back when we got it changed, it was free. Actually, we got a free change to a trans Atlantic instead before the jewel gets to Boston. 
 

edit- looks like this happened at the beginning of November ‘23. 

I knew about the change back in November but we didn't realize we got charged a change fee until I was making a payment.

My friend & I are doing the 15 day cruise out of Boston on the Jewel.  This is a ship change from the Grandeur.  I called my TA to make a payment and she told me my balance and it was $100 more than was showing on my confirmation after the ship change.  She looked further at my reservation and saw that Royal Caribbean was charging me a $100 for the change...a change that they made and not me.  She checked my friend's account (we aren't sharing a cabin) and she was also charged the $100.  My TA (who also happens to be my daughter) called RCCL and they removed the charge.  A heads up to anyone on here that is on this sailing...check with your account because I'm assuming they charged everyone the $100 and some may not be aware of it.

My step-granddaughter is graduating high school in June 2026.  She wants a family cruise as her graduation gift.  I'm wondering if anyone knows when we can see the cruises for the summer of 2026.  She's never been on a cruise and a lot of family members haven't either or have maybe cruised once so I'm hoping to be able to cruise on an Oasis class ship and really hoping we can do it out of Port Liberty in New Jersey.  

How did you ever see all there is to see on this ship?  A friend and I are going on Star of the Seas September 2025.  This will be the second ship in the Icon class.  Years ago when my husband and I went on our first cruise...its was Disney...when we got on the ship you could get into a group that took us on a tour of the ship.  This was great since we had never been on a cruise before.  I don't ever remember seeing this on any RCCL ship (and maybe other cruise lines don't do it either.  Our Disney cruise was over 25 years ago) and I think it would be a great thing on these new ships.  I'm Diamond and almost Diamond+ so I'm not new to cruising on Royal and I love the Oasis class ships.  Anybody know if they offer this tour before sail away?

Another vote here for Symphony!  I love the Oasis class ships and I've been on the Symphony and it was a great ship.  Those ports aren't my favorites either so like others said...stay on the ship.  I've done the Ron Jon excursion and I liked that.  We walked to the beach and just walked around.  It was hot when we were there but it was still nice.  I live in NJ so Port Liberty is great for us.

2 hours ago, Moltar said:

It is on your SeaPass card and they will ask if you would like to use the diamond voucher

I've been Diamond for a while and I've never had a bartender ask me if I wanted to use my diamond voucher.  As long as I haven't used all 4 of mine, they always just use it without me telling them to.

Any other thoughts on the parking through ParkWhiz???

4 hours ago, flipflop59 said:

Logan Express in Braintree is (I believe) $7.00 per day to park.  You could the grab an Uber to the port (approx 11 miles) …If arriving the day before, right around the corner from Logan Express is a Hyatt - 

when we flight out of Boston, this is what we do. Park there because between Braintree and the airport and cruise port is the worst traffic. Call to verify the per day parking rate but that is what we paid last October.

I'm confused by this.  I went to their website and didn't see anything about parking for a cruise.  

3 hours ago, jm2341 said:

Greetings-

Its been awhile seen I have sailed on RCCL and seeking any guidance as to when one can arrive at the port and check-in. My cruise is slated for March 17 @ Ft. Lauderdale on the Symphony with an online100pm check-in. How much enforcement is the time slot adhered to and at which time do you guys suggest to check-in? Thanks Joe The Villages

I just sailed out of Fort Lauderdale and the best time I could get was 12:30.  Myself and friends had stayed overnight in a hotel and checkout is 11:00.  I think we left the hotel around 10:15 and it was a short trip to the port.  We got there and went in with no problem even thought it was earlier than our assigned check in time.  Nobody checked.  We were on the ship at probably 11:00.