OCVTSGIRL

Just curious because I have never done it...how does the bartender know you are using your free drink voucher or your drink package?  I am cruising in November with my daughter and her family.  I have the drink package and I am Diamond.  If I'm allowed to use my free drink vouchers to get her a drink, how do I do that if I'm also getting myself a drink using my drink package?

On 7/28/2023 at 8:34 PM, crzndeb said:

I am on the Sept. sailing on the Jewel, and I also stopped there on the 2018 Serenade Northern TA. What specifically do you want to know? It’s beautiful, and very isolated. Not a lot to do as far as excursions, but the beauty is walking around and talking with the locals. I only visited Qaqortoq before, so I’m looking forward to 2 new ports.

I'm just curious if anyone who went there, liked it.  I didn't realize there were cruises to Greenland so wanted to get opinions so I could decide whether to book it.  Thanks for any info anyone can give me...pro or con.

I was just perusing Royal Caribbean's website and checking to see what cruises there were out of Boston (I live in NJ) and came across a cruise that goes to Greenland.  Has anybody done this?  Thoughts?

Went on the Anthem and Oasis last year and neither of them had it back yet.  Maybe that has changed.

8 hours ago, sgmn said:

@OCVTSGIRLHi - did you do this excursion.  I am also interested in it but my husband had a stent a few years ago (no heart attack) and I'm wondering how strenuous it is.  We're both pretty healthy, exercise a lot etc.  It sounds very interesting.  BTW I notice a lot of the tours state strenuous now, is this a new thing?  

We don't cruise until January 2024 so I haven't done it yet.  We did book it.

4 hours ago, SilkySal said:

Oh, wait a minute, we have a full set of the "loving cups" but they are in FL, so can't post a pic of them now; anybody else have them? They were shot sized cups in different colors; if you ordered the "after dinner drink of the day" in the loving cup, the cup was included to keep/collect. Ours are at our FL home in my curio/cruise cabinet with our crystal blocks! LOL!

YES!  I still have mine.  I loved those after dinner drinks since they were always made with Baileys.  So good and the cups are so cute.

I always vote for Oasis or an Oasis class ship just because I prefer the bigger ships and there is so much to do on the Oasis.  Love the boardwalk, Central Park and the diving show.

36 minutes ago, MD_Dan said:

Mel,

You ask a lot of good questions!

 

Is there a way to preload money on to your onboard account?

    If you booked through a TA, they can do that.  But I don't know of another way.

 

How is the food on the ship? Is a dining plan for the specialty restaurants worth the money?

    Opinions are mixed but there are so many options its very hard to not enjoy a meal.  The menu for the Main Dining Room (MDR) is posted.  If there is nothing there that tickles your fancy, head to the Wind Jammer (WJ), Royal's buffet.  I'd suggest trying at least one specialty restaurant. 

 

Also, is the non-alcoholic beverage package worth buying?

    We never have!  Breakfast comes with coffee; tea; powdered orange drink (think Tang); milk - the only thing a drink package adds is fresh orange juice.  Lunch and dinner have the same powdered orange drink; ice deal; powdered lemonade, coffee, and tea.  So the real difference is the real juice as compared to the powder stuff.

    You can bring drinks on the ship (per person, a 6-pack of soda/water and a bottle of wine).  As a former soda addict, this was a lot cheaper than their package, 

 

Any other tips and tricks I should know?

    Something we rarely discuss here is that RCL tries to up-sell nearly everything.  People begin to think they will go thirsty if they don't get a drink package!  The internet package is pricey ($20/day).  There is so much to do and see, you won't miss unplugging from the world for a few days.

    And speaking of tips, there's "tips".  They are automatically added to and drink or food you purchase.  You will need to tip the wait staff and room attendant.  See the suggested tips.

   

FYI...your canned soda allowance you can bring on board is a 12 pack not a 6 pack.

We're cruising on the Anthem in November.  My future son-in-law isn't getting the drink package but is thinking of getting the refreshment package only because he likes fresh squeezed orange juice.  He is a big soda drinker and I suggested he just get the soda package which is much cheaper.  My question is can you pay for the fresh squeezed orange juice when its ordered?  We probably won't be eating in the dining room every morning.  I have cruised numerous times and find the dining room the best choice on port days and the Windjammer on sea days...people tend to sleep in.

On 6/27/2023 at 8:10 PM, lenquixote66 said:

It was just a thought .I assume there is nobody to drive you.

Sadly, no.  We could get a ride to the port but the person that would drive us isn't available to pick us up when we get back.

5 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

How much would car service cost ? We have friends living in Manchester who occasionally take a car service to the Bayonne cruise port.

I contacted a few when we were cruising in May and they were much more than the parking would cost and that was a 10 day cruise.  

12 minutes ago, Nadey said:

I haven't seen anything on the national news about this. The only thing I saw was a post on the boards here.

It was just on NBC news!  Looked pretty scary.

I guess we're paying the $30 per day.  We don't live in NY...we live in Ocean County, NJ which is south of Bayonne.

Going on the Anthem out of Bayonne in November.  Now that parking is $30 a day I'm wondering if there is any reasonable parking with a shuttle off site.  I live about an hour an a half away from the port so I don't need an overnight hotel stay with parking.  I Googled it but didn't come up with many options.  Those that I thought might be an option said "sold out".

23 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

I would ask on the cruise where it's due. One person, maybe john missed out on one they said he never asked. If the ship has them great. The for  has a choice that you dont want the block. .. 

 

So I'd ask if nothing is said to be sure. Whatever your next cruise is, 7 days, so 14 pts it's due. Will be a block with that ships name. You cant push it forward to the next ship. 

Thanks I will.  I will be on the Anthem.

1 minute ago, OCSC Mike said:

 

You get your first at 140 pts, then every 70 pts thereafter.

Thanks!  I'm at 127 and have to cruises booked...both I am in a balcony room by myself so double points...so I guess I will get one soon.  How do you get it?  Is it sent to you or do you pick it up?

How do you get these blocks?  I've never seen them.

7 hours ago, orville99 said:

We have found that you have to complete the check in including passport and credit card info for one person in order to get to the select time screen, but once you do that, you can go back any time and check in the others.

This is true if you do your check in on the website.  If you use the app, you can just click on the arrival time section and do that without entering all the other information.

I could be wrong but from my observation when looking at cabins online, it seems like if you want a larger balcony, the room size is smaller.  I personally would rather my cabin size be bigger instead of my balcony.

I definitely prefer Oasis class ships.  I love the Aqua theater.  The diving show is a can't miss.  Also, a big fan of the promenade, Central Park and Boardwalk.  The rise bar is a nice change.  Great for a drink while people watching.  

You drop off your luggage and then go park your car.  There is a parking garage which my last two recent cruises were used for handicapped only and we used the street level parking...which honestly I like better because when leaving the cruise, it is much easier...and both are an easy walk to the terminal.  Parking is $25 per day and I saw that as of May 3rd, will be $30 a day.

Its been a really long time since I've cruised on Celebrity. We always cruise Royal Caribbean and are Diamond so Elite on Celebrity.  We are on the Summit in May...what is the Persian Garden?

7 minutes ago, SSFrance69 said:

Do you have the loyalty club status with RC? If so it transfers to Celebrity. Not sure if it transfers on the very first sailing (can't remember), but worth asking. Depending on loyalty tier, you may be able to get complimentary specialty coffee at Cafe Al Bacio, as well as other perks.

We are Diamond on RC so Elite on Celebrity.

1 hour ago, horseymike said:

Just back off 4 night Summit cruise , I will be brief. My thoughts:

Embarkation was a cake walk. ( Miami )

Food was excellent in both MDR for dinner, Oceanview for breakfast and lunch. We did not dine in the specialty restaurants.

Cafe Al Bacio was outstanding.

Entertainment was good , one evening We thought is was great. ( I know this is subjective)

Crew was wonderful in each and every venue and interaction. Bar service , waiters , Ocean View staff …..

Debarkation was also a cake walk , facial recognition rocks. Once again ( Miami )

We thoroughly enjoyed our cruise 🚢 

 

 Sailing on the Summit out of Bayonne, NJ on May 15th.  We usually sail Royal Caribbean but liked the itinerary on this ship.  What kind of entertainment did they have?  Assuming they had a band, how were they?  Also, what is Cafe Al Bacio?

22 hours ago, jelayne said:

We are boarding on Saturday but we rarely go to the production shows.  The others entertainers change frequently so the comedian, magician, vocalist/group could be different.  I will try and post what production shows are currently there.  When in May do you board?

May 15th.