cruzgryphon

I'll bring up the suitcases about 4 weeks in advance of my cruises. Due to work, I'm typically only able to pack on the weekends. Usually I'm working late the night before the cruise (so I don't have to check for emails while I'm on vacation - I only sign onto the computer on board ship the last night so I can print out boarding passes) so last minute packing is out. Like somebody else mentioned, I use a packing list and mark on it what's been packed as I go along. To me part of the fun of vacationing is the anticipation of the trip and the packing helps to crystallize it out for me.

Hi,

Does anyone know how to update employment information on one's passport/ Nexus? I tried the Nexus website - but the only things I could update were things like my driver's license info. and my passport info. Couldn't find anything for my passport on the Government of Canada websites.

Thanks in advance for any feedback :)

If you get an email with assigned boarding times - ignore it. Although they suggest 12:30pm I think that has more to do with timing relative to the Cabins being open and as a result (from the cruise line's perspective) less congestion in Windjammer. If you're at a nice hotel - you can request a later check-out (a lot of hotels are good with that - or at least the Starwood properties are). But if not - just head on over to the pier. You may have to wait a little before actually getting on board the ship, but at least you'll be all checked in.

Considering when your flight is arriving and allowing time to get to the hotel etc., would recommend two days in Seattle.

I'm not sure. I was on the Serenade (which I would call one of the older ships) in July and we still had the premium items (except lobster tail, but I understand that they don't offer that in Europe) on the menu. That being said I would love to see the decision making behind the scenes as to what to put on the menus etc.. I'm sure it would be fascinating.

You're right you can't buy the coffee card ahead of time because it varies by ship. When I was on the Jewel last December it was something like $30 for 6 drinks and then you got the 7th drink free. On the Serenade you bought the card based on value of the drinks you were going to buy. In any case stop by the Café select when you board and see what the options are for your sailing.

If you don't want to get dressed up for formal night then I suggest one of the formal nights.

You can request the table for 4. My suggestion as others have alluded to is to make the request soon in case they have any priority system (people who requested first are at the head of the line). Then when you board the ship - check in with the M'Aitre D to make sure you're sitting at the table with your friends (Royal sometimes screws this up) and if you're not at a table for 4 sometimes they can accommodate you once you get on the ship.

Hi,

I understand that they have Global Entry at Port Everglades now. Does anyone know if a Canadian with a Nexus card can use it or is it just Americans?

Haven't really seen any passengers dress up for 70's night. but based on what cruise director's staff wears - would suggest outfit 2 or 3.

Are there any limitations on the TYPE of drink you can select with the vouchers or is the whole menu fair game?

There's supposed to be limits to stuff available through the Diamond Lounge, but I find it really depends on who is serving you/ who the bartender is.

Business casual is fine. I typically will take a couple of pairs of pants that I can wear with my blazer as well as with other shirts. In terms of shirts you could go as casual as golf shirts, but personally I feel more comfortable with long sleeve or short sleeve shirts with buttons that go all the way to the neck.

I did the Radiance to Hawaii cruise out of Vancouver (September) 3 years ago. Loved it - first 5 days at sea - but there was lots to do. One nice thing was the weather getting warmer every day so the last couple of days you were in shorts and short sleeves. If you can afford the time, would spend a couple of days in Honolulu at the end of the cruise. There's lots to see and do - Pearl Harbour is an absolute must see.

Enjoy

I stayed at the Elite Eden Park Hotel in Stockholm this past June. I liked the hotel, while it was away from the Rail Station (about 10 to 15 minutes) it was in a nice area close to lots of restaurants, subway etc. decent walk (I think 25 to 30 minutes) to Gamla Stan.

Sailing on HAL in June and planning a few days in Seattle before the cruise, as we have never been there. What are your favorite Seattle activities? Chihuly Garden is already on the list - love his work! TIA

If you're interested in aircraft - especially military air craft would recommend the museum of flight. They have a Concorde jet there as well as other vintage and modern military aircraft. You can take a bus there from downtown Seattle.

Please don't get me wrong - I'm very happy at AUD66 per day - considering I had previously booked the premium at AUD72 per day before the packages changed. The irony is that I booked at 20% off, and it is now supposedly 30% off and the same price.....

I think the key is up to 30% off. So in some cases I noticed it was only 10% off, others 20% - couldn't really find any with 30% off.

Does anyone know if Canadians who have Nexus/ Global Entry can use this line or is it just Americans with Global Entry?

It's not that far from the Vasa Museum (a must see in Stockholm) - about a 10 minute walk. It's fairly interactive - they have sound booths where you can sing Abba songs that sort of thing. It's underground and some people may find that a little claustrophobic because there aren't any windows. If you are/were really into Abba then it's a must see.

You'll get a bunch of coupons loaded onto your card - things like bogo wine and stuff like that. On my last cruise I got a letter with a list of coupons. If you don't get one - check with the Loyalty person or the Diamond lounge concierge.

There's also an internet discount as well - but I forget what it is.

As previous poster mentioned between 5pm and 8:30pm you can also use your sea pass card to get 3 free drinks at any bar. Just make sure you tell them you're Diamond (they can get so busy that they may not notice it on your sea pass card).

Diamond lounge is great - you get all you can drink drinks (there is a list of drinks but depending on who's serving you they may bend the rules a little) between 5pm and 8:30pm along with hors d'oeuvres. Depending on the ship and number of Diamond and above it may get crowded - but as a solo cruiser I find it's a great place to meet people.

Enjoy!!

I've done the 8pm departure out of San Juan. Late dinner seating was the same time - but if you're at a table with more people than yourself/whoever you're travelling with, you'll find that some of the people do arrive at the table a little later than usual. Also dress is a little more informal on the first night than usual.

Muster Drill is the same time before departure (I think it's like half an hour before departure) as it would be for any other sailing - which is too bad for people with early dinner seating.

Surprised about the 2:30pm embarkation - on my San Juan trips, you could get there as early as 11:30am to start check in process.

We are traveling on the Serenade of the Seas (May 27 2017) and I am looking at a shore excursion suitable for my husband in St Petersburg (he uses a walker or cane but cannot walk far without resting). The tour Panoramic St Petersburg PZ93 is rated mild and says, "Guests must be able to walk about 600 feet over cobblestone surfaces". To those who have taken this tour:

 

 

 

Question 1: Does this mean walking 600 feet at one time or walking 600 feet over the course of the tour?

 

 

 

Question 2: Can a collapsible walker be brought on this tour and stowed on the bus somewhere?

 

I emailed RCCL's accessible shore excursion folks but have not received a response.

When it comes to St. Petersburg I would highly recommend a private tour company. I found they were quite responsive and I'm sure they would be able to accommodate your husband. There are several that come highly recommended on this board - so I would definitely check with them. Enjoy the cruise - I did it this past summer and loved it.

Cruzgryphon,

 

Thanks for the quick response! Exactly what I was looking for. Yes - the 5:00 pm Stockhom "embarkation" was a typo and should have read "departure." We're connecting through Germany from the US (brief layover), but I assume we'll still have to run our bags through customs in Stockholm. Sounds like we should be good to head straight to the cruise port from the airport and will hopefully be able to board shortly thereafter. Again - very much appreciated!

You're welcome - you've got a great cruise - you'll enjoy it lots. If you're connecting through Germany then I'm 90% sure you'll clear customs in Germany and not Stockholm. When you say brief layover - which German airport are you talking about and how long is your layover?

We are booked on RCC's Serenade of the Seas next summer with a 5:00 pm Stockholm embarkation. We fly into Stockholm at 9:10 am and are trying to figure out how early we'll be able to board. Any insights you can provide would be appreciated!

 

 

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I did a Baltics cruise on the Serenade this past summer. Are you sure the embarkation is 5pm? That sounds more like the ship's departure time to me. I've never been on a cruise (20+) with embarkation that late.

If they started embarkation at 5pm then they probably wouldn't depart until 10pm at the earliest - which doesn't sound right at all.

Assuming a 5pm departure, If I remember correctly, they allowed people to start checking in around 11 to 11:30am, but you couldn't actually board the ship until closer to noon. Assuming you're flying in from the US/ Canada directly, you'll have to go through customs and get your bags - so assume about 45 minutes there and then another 20 - 25 minutes to get to the ship (I arrived in Stockholm a couple of days early and came via Germany so this is just my guestimate for you).

For St. Petersburg definitely do a private excursion through a private tour operator - significantly better than anything Royal Caribbean can offer. Check out the Northern Europe board for suggestions and comparisons of tour operators.

Hi all,

Did a search but couldn't find the information I was looking for. Would I be able to make an International flight out of SEA at 11am on a Friday in September?

I'll be arriving in Seattle on the Explorer of the Seas arriving from Victoria BC.

Thanks in advance for any information.