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I'm on the Anthem at the end of this month and paid $46.

4 hours ago, Nic6318 said:

Hi

 

I agree with the thought that in most cases you will not likely be needing a map. 

 

Have you researched what you are going to be doing?  You are only in port for a handful of hours. Most of the time you would be going someplace specific... for those situations you get in a taxi or bus and they bring you there. If you are on a tour you don't even have to think that hard. If you were to walk around town, lets say in Old San Juan for instance, you can't get lost (believe me). If you really feel you need it, most places like San Juan will have tourist booths that will give you an area map. The same would be true for Philipsburg in St. Maarten, any of the towns in Bermuda, and while I haven't been, I believe you don't want to walk around anywhere in Haiti by yourself. There is always the old way of doing things, if you think you are lost, you can ask someone for directions. 

 

Spend some time looking at the port of call threads on this site, so that you understand what you will want to do on each island. Once you have done that, I am sure you will realize that getting lost is unlikely.

 

hope this helps

For Old San Juan - just the forts..It appears there is a walking path along the beach to and from all the forts? St. Maarten/Phillipsburg will be walking around mostly, but I want to go to Marigot as well. Is it difficult to get from the French to the Dutch side and vice versa? I suppose it is easier to just take a taxi. And yes, no walking in Haiti as we are just going to be at the Labadee port owned by RCI.

Thanks, all. I called RCI last night and they said the excursions I picked have a ride back to the port.

25 minutes ago, mets123 said:

Bermuda is different. Some of their excursions will end in the town of St. George's or Hamilton, and you have to arrange your own transportation back. This is so you can shop there. To get back, just take a ferry back to the Dockyard. It is not a problem. Time is about 60 minutes from St. George's and 25 from Hamilton. Labadee is a non issue. It's no more than a 10 - 15 walk from anywhere on the island.

I am doing the excursion to the zoo, which apparently has a boat ride to the museum/zoo. According to maps, it is a 44 minute drive back to the port. I hope I'm not expected to get back on my own.

30 minutes ago, awestover89 said:

Excursions booked through Royal include transportation to and from the ship/excursion, so you're covered.

Thanks! Why don't they write that in on the details???

sorry if this has been asked before...I tried the search function and too many things pop up with the word "cruise" in it, obviously, and "excursion." I have an excursion in Bermuda booked and a parasail excursion in Labadee. The description says that a boat takes me to these areas, but nothing about how I am supposed to return to the cruise. Does the same boat return me to the port or am I expected to find my way back??

**edit, both were booked thru RCI cruise planner. Although the cruise planner says the parasail excursion was vetted through a third party.

34 minutes ago, thinfool said:

You might also research Verizon's $10/day plan as I don't think you have it quite right.  From your itnerary it would seem that the extra Verizon charges would be $30. for your trip.

Just spoke to Verizon. They told me I am stuck paying $10/day..except Puerto Rico which, as they said "should work" as normal with USA plan. I have a 9 day cruise, last day is just at USA port. However, I have Whatsapp, and will use that to communicate while connected to WiFi. That offers free calls/text.

Just now, AshleyDillo said:

Room service is $7.95 for the delivery fee.  You can order as much as you like for this fee.  They will also add 18% gratuity to that fee meaning your onboard account will be charged $9.42 each time you order.  The pre-paid gratuities do not include the room service fees and tips.

 

There are some breakfast items that you can order in the morning at no charge, but it does not include any cooked to order items..mostly cold items such as fruit, pastries, continental breakfast spread.

 

If you are in a grand suite or above room category, then room service does not cost anything.

Thank you so much for the info!! What is "Above room" category? I am not in a suite.

2 minutes ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

You certainly can access maps w/o wifi. 

For example, with Google Maps, you can search an area and, using your home wifi, download offline maps prior to your trip (search a location and create the offline map for later access).

You can also use offline apps like Maplets, which has a large library of downloadable maps which the app can open even w/o wifi.

 

BTW, are you aware that an iPhone's GPS works even when it's set to Airplane Mode? For example, if I download one of the stock maps from Maplets (which is GPS enabled [some are/some aren't]), and use it while on Airplane Mode, my GPS position will show on the opened map.

Thanks, I didn't know I could get google maps to work on airplane mode. I do NOT have an iPhone though.

3 minutes ago, navybankerteacher said:

In those ports Google maps really are not all that necessary. Bermuda is a straightforward fairly narrow island with perhaps three east/west roads and numerous north/intersecting. Puerto Rico - if you are renting a car and exploring outside of San Juan - would be more complex, but as you note it is US territory. St. Maarten/Martin is pretty straightforward as well - main road follows coast around the island - getting you pretty much anywhere you want to go. In Haiti you will be restricted to Labadee facility and can see the entire area accessible to you as soon as you get off. I’d suggest you visit your local library and  copy maps in travel books to get advance feel.

Thanks for the info. I have an excursion at Bermuda so most likely not going to need maps but good to know it is easy to navigate. I am mostly concern about PR because I am going to explore the forts, and will walk to them, but don't want to get lost and not get back on the ship. I assume I won't need a data plan as it is US territory. I would like to go to the other side of St. Maarten (Marigot), that was the other place of concern, getting to there and back.

According to the RCI website, room service is complimentary, not including gratuity and delivery fee? I already pre-paid gratuities for my trip, does this in clude the room service? How much is the delivery fee? Is this really complimentary????

Basically, i'm asking because I have a stomach disorder and in the mornings, I typically need to be near a bathroom, also to administer meds. If I can, room service for breakfast will probably be the best option.

I am in stateroom 6270..which is aft-ish. I am above Cafe 270 or whatever it's called. I think rooms are above me so no worries about that. I have a stomach condition, and since I haven't been on a cruise in 20+ years, I don't know if I am prone to seasickness. My Gastro doctor told me to get Dramamine for the seasickness..however, I don't want to be confined to my room the whole trip. Please tell me I picked an ok room for no noise and seasickness? Apparently, the smoking section is port side and I have a balcony, which is nice. However. I think I am looking out on the lifeboats..and I'm near the musical hall?

Just now, klfrodo said:

A couple of things

Before you get off the ship update your off line maps.

 

Don't expect your wifi package to be anything like home. I think the max I've ever got on the ship is 1Mbps download speed. Usually less than 500Kbps. Also, the ship is not 100% covered with wifi access points. They may be far and few in between.

I paid for the "surf and stream" , apparently, this package allows streaming - the other package does not have streaming capabilities.

I can't access my maps with no Wifi (for ports I will just DL offline maps I suppose).

FYI - I live in USA and will be doing a RCI cruise to Bermuda, Puerto Rico, St. Maarten, and Haiti. I don't want to pay for Verizon's international plan since I am paying for internet on the cruise. BTW - can you access the internet anywhere on the cruise or is it in the stateroom only? This may have been asked before / dumb question..however, I want access to my Google maps at ports (I assume since Puerto Rico is US territory, I won't have data issues) and obviously since I'm not paying for the data plan, what do I do? Download offline maps or print them out?? Any recommendations? Should I just deal with it and pay $10/day for this cruise (9 days)?

3 minutes ago, sparks1093 said:

We ordered up to $13 drinks off the menu with no issues at all using the drink package. Each bar has it's own menu with their own special drinks (I highly recommend the Rum Hemorrhage in Boleros and the MetalLiquor in the Music Hall). Drinks of the day were always $8. Never tried to order shots so not sure how that works. I needed DW's card in order to get a drink for her. 

What's odd is that the PDF on the RCI cruise planner says $12 for me.

Will the bartender let you know if the price will be higher than the deluxe package allows?

Ok so I searched for the drink prices and so far it says wine is $8+ but most mixed drinks are $12. I got the "Deluxe" package and it says it only covers drinks up to $12. From what I've read on the forum, if it goes over $12, you pay the difference + gratuity. Do you pay gratuity on the $2 extra (for example) or on the $14 for the full drink? Can I buy two $10 drinks and avoid the extra stuff (difference + gratuity)? What about a drink that is $10 and a shot that is $4 (over the $12 limit)? If anyone can post a price list for the drinks on Anthem,  that would be simpler. Maybe one that includes the drinks over $12?? Like what if I want 2 shots of vodka in my drink instead of 1 shot (I assume that is standard)?

For reference, the drinks I like to order are cheap moscato, cranberry/vodka (how much would 2 shots of Grey Goose [included in pkg] and cranberry cost?], Long Island Iced Tea, strawberry daiquiri, and maybe tequila or vodka shots. I like Ketel One (which I didn't see listed) but they offer Patron Silver??? I'm trying to avoid extra charges on top of the overpriced deluxe package. Thanks!!

4 hours ago, brillohead said:

Keep in mind that if you don't like the wine that is available included in the booze package, you'll have to pay the difference to upgrade every glass.  (If you're a snob about water, I imagine you're picky about your wine, too.) 

What do you mean pay difference to upgrade? I thought the deluxe package had unlimited alcohol (of alc that was listed in the description).so you are saying they have more options not on the list and they cost more?

1 minute ago, taglovestocruise said:

Cancel your water package, you paid close to $50 just for that, use the beverage package for all the water you need 

i need the water package because RCI told me on the phone they can't guarantee where the water bottles come from 😞 at least with the package I'm guaranteed to have the water I want. (I am a water b**ch and have stomach issues)

5 minutes ago, gerif said:

You are permitted to carry on 12 bottles per stateroom of water or soda. 

Too heavy :(

FYI I CANCELLED MY WINE DELIVERY AND CAVED AND GOT THE DELUXE PACKAGE. I spoke to RCI on the phone and they can't guarantee the brand of bottled water so I'm keeping the bottled water delivery.

Just now, retiredgram said:

I see you ordered wine for your cabin.  

Royal Caribbean allows its passengers to bring up to two bottles of wine per stateroom onboard their cruise on embarkation day. Each bottle of wine may be up to 750ml in size and should be brought on in your carry-on luggage. Do not put the wine in your checked luggage.

I ordered the wine from "Royal Gifts" so I setup as a gift to myself to be delivered to my room on the day I get on the ship. I ordered 3 bottles of the same wine - hope I like it.

Thanks for the info, all!

So if I want like a strawberry daiquiri - how much will that put me back? I know they add 18% gratuity to each drink. Since I will have wine in my room, I think the only stuff I'm going to enjoy are the frozen alcohol things, since I don't typically get those outside of vacation!

5 minutes ago, queenfrostine22 said:

the water can be "spring" water from an unheard of spring somewhere or "purified" ship bottled water.

 

 

Great 😕 so it's not a "name brand" per say? It's RCI's brand?

1 minute ago, katiel53 said:

If you think about the price you paid for the bottled water, the wine you ordered and a couple of drinks a day,  you may be spending close to the $46 per day.  My drinks run close to $13 each.  You can cancel the water and wine, get a refund and buy the alcohol package.

 

With the package you will be able to get unlimited bottled water, wine and hard liquor.

 

As far as carrying things on, a rolling suitcase is fine.  I use one for the things I want to have with me as opposed to waiting for my luggage to be delivered.

 

My suitcases have TSA locks and they are locked when I fly and then board the ship.  If the cruise line sees something suspicious, they will send the suitcase to the "naughty" room for me to open it in front of them.

Thank you for the info. I was going to check on the price I paid for water and the wine. In regards to the unlimited bottle of water, do you know what brand it is? I ordered Evian, I am VERY picky about the water I drink. I don't want like a Sam's Club bottled water, you know what I mean?

Also, I keep reading about the "naughty" room. Are these like private rooms or is everyone standing around awkwardly LOL?

1 minute ago, ChrisTheDBA said:

I think $46 a day is a pretty good deal considering drinks are kind of expensive. The drink of the day is $9.95. You also get soft drinks and premium coffee. but let your conscience (and your liver) be your guide. 😀

 

Not sure about the rolling luggage, but I remember the locks on the luggage being an issue a few years ago. I think the TSA ones have a "special" key that lets them open them if the scan shows something.

Thanks for the tip about the luggage. I don't drink soda or coffee, so that's the other issue. I know those are included but I don't drink them. 🤷‍♀️