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jeffdal

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Posts posted by jeffdal

    Ultimate Dining Package

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    On 2/5/2023 at 9:20 AM, Jasukkie said:

    Any restaurant can help you get those reservations when you board. Avoid doing so at the restaurant that is open for lunch on boarding day because they will be busy. I like having a plan written down with our names, room and reservation numbers, and any priority reservations if you care about certain times for certain days. Pay attention to port days and how much time you might want for cleaning up and relaxing before dinner. You can always change things later but on busier cruises it's good to have something booked right away. 

    Is it possible to make the reservations using the app as soon as you board or when logged into ship’s wifi at check in? 

    Couples aroma spa seaweed wrap massage on Allure or save $$

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I'm tempted...couples aroma spa seaweed wrap massage or just save some cash and buy a bottle of seaweed shower gel on Amazon? 😁

     

    There's a good price on embarkation day.  I've done a spa treatment before sail away and it was a fun and relaxing way to kick things off.

     

    Or will I be too excited to be on Allure for the first time and want to explore things right away?

     

    Has anyone done this treatment? 

    Critical magazine article about Allure of the Seas

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted · Edited by jeffdal
    Typo

    Interesting tactic by Texas Monthly to send a reporter who is a reluctant cruiser to review Allure of the Seas. The extent the journalist proves that a cruise is not their thing (with a constant listing of outdoorsy credentials) is funny. Also it’s interesting to see that publication has been removing comments/responses to the article. https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/four-days-aboard-biggest-cruise-ship-sail-texas 

    • Thanks 1

    Spa appointment and Embarkation time.

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I have a sailing coming up leaving from Galveston and we have a spa appointments at 12PM. We were able to get a check in time at 10AM on the first day of online check in for our cruise (not a fancy status either). I booked on embarkation day because it was one of the few decent times for the treatment and the cost was almost 50 bucks cheaper per person.  I have made the mistake of book a massage at the same time as sail away one time and ended up with a terrible case of sea sickness.

    • Like 1

    Boarding and early spa time?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    We are thinking about booking spa treatments (that are at a good price) at 12PM and 1PM of embarkation day.
     

    However, I’m wondering if we can even board the ship that early. Our online check in starts next weekend and I don’t have a check in time yet. Is it possible to get on board early if you have an appointment? 

    Best time to get to Nachi?

    in Cozumel

    Posted

    We get into Cozumel at 9AM.  I am wondering if we should get off the boat right away and do some things in Cozumel and get to Nachi at 11AM.  Is that too late to get a chair, palapa, etc?  I could probably get there by 10:30A.M.  Thinking about maximizing time in Cozumel and doing other things.

     

    Chef's dinner full... should I be hopeful on the waitlist?

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Finally took the plunge and submitted the form in the cruise planner for the chef's dinner on our October 20th sailing... but the sad news came that it is full and we are on a waitlist.  We have reservations at the steakhouse on the first night and I might inquire (with my super charming personality) about the wait list (it appears the steakhouse does the chef's dinner reservations from the email I got).  Has anyone been on the waitlist and successful?  

    Putting together first timer tips for my group.... here's what I have so far

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    I just gave my first time crusiers some tips as well. You have covered a lot, mine were happy to get these as well:

    Bring an over the door shoe oragnizer for the bathroom to put toiletries in due to small counter space

    Bring magnets to hang pictures, the dailies, tickets or what not on.

    Bring a non surge protected power/extension cord ( only one outlet in the cabin)

    Bring Towel clips to keep your towel on AND hang your swimsuits to dry.

    Bring lots of $1's and $5's to tip with, you will get better service at the bar with advance tipping. Room service appreciate tips too!

    You DO NOT need to pack a pool/beach towel, they provide them for you.

     

     

     

    Love these tips. Thanks!

     

     

    Sent from my iPhone using Forums

    Putting together first timer tips for my group.... here's what I have so far

    in Carnival Cruise Lines

    Posted

    Sailing with a group and have several first timers out of Galveston for a five day on Valor. A couple members of the group want some tips, etc. This is what I have put together. Appreciate any other ideas.

     

    Before you leave home

    • · Print your luggage tags before you leave forGalveston because they really don’t have them at the port (your luggage tagsare located on the cruise planner portion of the Carnival website and the tagswill include your cabin number).
    • · It’s too busy at the port to be putting onyour tags there. You will need a stapler to fasten the luggage tag to your bag.Do this at home before you get to the port.
    • · There’s no limit on the number of taggeditems.
    • · Before you get to Galveston, download theCarnival Hub app. This does not require you to buy the internet package onboard and it will have the ship map, dining info, schedule and more for you toaccess for free. You can sign into the app on the ship and it does have amessaging feature that is $5. Downloadthis at home to get it out of the way.
    • · Print out your boarding passes.
    • · Buy Bonine for motion sickness. Dramamine willmake you drowsy. Get the chewables. Take one before bed the night before, onewhen you wake up the day of the cruise and one at 3PM (one hour before sailtime). You can take another four hours after the 3PM dose as a precaution.
    • · Pack a wine opener if the wine you are briningon has a cork.

    Parking

    • · There’s lots of paid parking lots inGalveston. Some are covered or have the option to add a car cover to your car.
    • · The Galveston port parking is the cheapestamong the US cruise ports and ranges from $50 to $60 for the week.
    • · The parking places will drive you and yourluggage in a shuttle to the port. Allow up to 30 minutes for this. There’s noreason to drop anyone off at the port with the luggage and then park. Have a few bucks ready to tip those driverguys for handling your luggage.

    At the port

    • · When you get dropped off at port by theparking people, it might be a little crazy. 1,900 people are getting on and offthe ship. Be patient because you are almost on the boat and there are drinks onthe ship.
    • · The parking shuttle will drop you off andporters will be there to take your tagged baggage. Have a few bucks to tipthese guys.
    • · Your luggage will appear later in yourstateroom before dinner (usually 1:30PM or after). Check as many bags as youcan to limit carry-on luggage and bags.
    • · Trust me on this on limiting the amount youcarry on. I don’t recommend carrying large things because there might be adelay of your room being ready and you will have to carry that damn bag everywhereincluding when you get your lunch and having an adult beverage... and everyoneis taking the elevator and you will have to lug that bag up and down stairs.
    • · If you insist on bringing your pillow fromhome, put that in a duffle bag and slap a luggage tag on it. If you arecarrying that pillow around on the Lido deck with a drink, we will make fun ofyou.

    About carry-on bags

    • · Bring a carry-on bag, backpack, etc since thisthis important to transport your bottle of wine or champagne. Each adult cancarry on one bottle of wine.
    • · Make sure you wrap your bottle of wine orchampagne in bubble wrap but make it easy to unwrap because after it’s x-rayed,security wants to look at it to make sure it’s not Jack Daniels or some otherhootch.
    • · You can buy two reusable wine bottleprotectors on Amazon for nine bucks. I have used mine quite a bit after buying.
    • · Some folks pack a swim suit in the carry on soyou can hit the pool or hot tubs right away on deck 9 (one pool and two hottubs midship and a 18+ pool and hotub in the back of the ship (aft)) or theover 21 Serenity hot tub on deck 14. You can change when you get access to yourroom (probably 1:30PM) or change at the fitness center.

    When you get on the ship:

    • · Make sure you get a ship map at guest serviceslocated where you enter the ship on deck 3 (if you didn’t get a map at checkin).
    • · Staff members on deck 3 will also have thecruise bulletin called the Fun Times with activities and other info (theschedule will also be in the Carnival Hub app).
    • · It’s now time to relax and explore. Don’t tryto go to your room quite yet. It won’t be ready until about 1:30PM. Go aheadand have some fun by going to the Lido deck on deck 9. Elevators might be verybusy so give the stairs a try.
    • · On deck 9, you will find Guy’s Burgers (byFood Network’s Guy Fieri), the buffet, a couple bars, a taco bar and Mongolianwok, bbq (up one level from buffet).
    • · There will be music by the pool. After lunchand chilling out, it’s a good time to explore the ship starting at the very top(deck 14 serenity area is a fun place to relax.). Now make your way back downthe ship and look at decks four and five then check to see if your room isready. There’s a mandatory drill at 3:30pm and after that the sail away party begins.It’s fun to go back to deck 9 or find a place to watch the ship sail off.
    • · Watching the ship sail off and looking outtowards the horizon will help orientate your body to the movement of the shipand prevent seasickness.
    • · When you get to your stateroom and you broughton wine… let your cabin steward know you need a wine bucket with ice and wineglasses.

    Dinner tips

     

    • · If you have anytime dining, the earlier you gothe less the wait but usually the wait is not too bad other times. If there isa wait, get a drink at the bar. It’s also good to go to dinner early becauseyou get to see more entertainment.
    • · For your dinner in the main dining room, youcan order multiples of any course. I usually do an appetizer and soup/salad forthe starter.
    • · For the main course, I might get a second itemif the first was not what I expected or I get a second item that someone elseat is willing to share.
    • · If you liked your table and waiter, and you’reon Anytime dining, make sure to remember their name and table number andmention to the hostess the following nights.
    • · The first night of the cruise, dinner attireis casual since you’re just getting on the cruise.

    After dinner first night

    • · Most entertainment starts at 8PM with the pianobars and karaoke.
    • · The welcome show will be around 10PM.
    • · Nightclub will start popping after 10:30PM
    • · The R rated comedy show will be around 11:30PM (based on the Fun Times bulletings from this summer)
    • · Pizza is open 24 hours if you need some afterevening activities.
    • · Several bar choices. The Alchemy bar is funwith craft cocktails.
    • · Adult area hot tubs close at 12AM.

    First sea day

    • · If you have the Cheerspackage, it begins at 6AM. Start your day with a bloody mary, mimosa, etc.
    • · Sea Day Brunch in theWashington Dining Room beings at 8:30AM. If brunch is not your thing, the Lido buffet is open with breakfastuntil noon.
    • · Lunch on deck 9 startsat 12PM.
    • · First sea day dinneris considered “cruise elegant”. Nothingtoo fancy, just look nice. Don’t miss dinnerif you don’t like to dress for dinner because the food is better. For guys,nice shirt and pants. For women, cocktail dress, nice pants/blouse type stuff.
    • · After dinner, therewill be several comedy show options at night and shows in the theatre withdifferent showtimes. More than the first night. There will also be the music, pianobar sing along and karoke in the bars.
    • · If youhave the CHEERS alcohol drink package program, it includes sodas, bottledwater, milkshakes and specialty non alcoholic frozen drinks and specialtycoffee and it does NOT count towards your 15 daily drink max! It also includes drinks like RockStar energydrinks, Powerade, Vitamin Water and Honest Teas and those can be found near theJava Café on deck 5. Hydrating helps with your cruise buz!

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