cruzgryphon

If you don't get offended easily - you can check out/ participate in the "Quest" an adult "game" which gets quite hilarious. Again only if you don't get offended easily.

I'm pretty sure you'd have to cancel your reservation and then re-book using the $100 deposit from your Next Cruise purchase. So it's really about deferring $400 until final payment.

buying extended stay is only available in Europe (and I'm not sure if it's available on all ships). Since you're in the US, you don't have this option. They try to have everyone off by 9 am. Crew have a lot to do to turn around a ship for the next voyage. You can kill the most time by purchasing an excursion with airport drop off then see if you can buy a day pass into your air carrier's VIP Lounge. Or just get a hotel room, day rate, which will be expensive.

If you're looking at a post cruise excursion in all likelihood you won't be able to book in on the cruise planner, but will have to wait until you're on the ship. Not sure if you can call RC and find out about it/ request it that way.

It was on the Jewel when I was on her last December. Also it was on the Serenade in the Baltics last summer - but there they alternated Escargots and Scallops.

The last 2 or 3 cruises that I've done the Next Cruise has been open when I boarded (around 12:30pmish). I was able to book cruises. Also often times they will have a draw for a free cruise if you book a cruise at Next cruise before something like day 3 of your cruise.

2. The sales are very hard to predict - for one of my recent cruises the sale was a month before the cruise. That being said you can book an excursion and then if there is a sale, cancel it and rebook.

3. In my experience the only "excursions" that might not show up on cruise planner are the ones at the end of the cruise that involve an airport or hotel drop off (I.e. for a couple of hours they give you a tour or a trip to a local tourist attraction and then drop you off at the airport/ hotel).

I think the Baltics are one of the cruises that are very popular - so it isn't necessarily a surprise. Last year when I was on the Serenade, RC was giving away crazy incentives for people to move cabins/ drop from the cruise like $1000 off the next cruise and OBC of $200.

For Corfu - I would take the excursion that includes Paleokastritsa. If you're into photography it is one of the most scenic areas around. When I'm on a cruise that includes Corfu, I always pick an excursion that goes there.

You can't really go wrong with any of the ports on either itinerary. To me the question comes down to Sea Day or Island Day. Me personally I prefer the Sea Day because I like the convenience of everything on the ship nearby and not worrying about leaving my stuff alone etc. I also like having a quiet place (I get cabins with balconies) to get away to if I want.

Either way, I don't think you can go wrong.

PS if you're really into nice beaches then I suggest Aruba.

One thing about credit cards in the Baltics. I found a lot of places (not all) would only take cards with chips and that use PIN numbers - especially the ticket vending machines at places like the Vasa Museum in Stockholm ( you could line up in the queue for people who are using cash/ CC without pin - but line-up is typically very long).

There's definitely lots to see and do in the ports - depending on what you're interested in. If you're into architecture, culture, history (museum and archaeological sites), scenery (thinks limestone cliffs overlooking the water) - then you'll definitely find lots to do (in addition to trying new foods or foods done the "proper way"). If your kids are more into beaches and lying on the beach, then I don't think it will be a good fit (majority of beaches I've encountered in the Med. are very pebbly).

In terms of distance to the ports. I think that saying Rome is a few hours away from the port is an exaggeration - it's 90 minutes tops (depending on how you go). There are other ports that are further away from the main sites - like the ports that service Florence/ Pisa, but IMHO those places are well worth the visit (also the coach ride back is a nice way to unwind).

Bottom line in my opinion - definitely have to go once and experience it all.

Loved the staff there - very accommodating and responded to my questions that I had prior to arriving there. As others have said very well situated as well. Enjoy!!

It's the same thing. Nexus is Canadian GE is American. We use Nexus when returning from anywhere. There's a designated Nexus line.

 

 

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To add a little bit of information. Although the Canadian program is called Nexus, when we sign up for it, we automatically sign up for GE. That's why we take a little bit longer to get ours, because the background check is done by both the Canadian authorities and the US authorities and when we go for our interview we get our finger prints done by US authorities to allow us to use GE.

We are cruising the Southern Caribbean in June out of San Juan. Because my husband has back and hip issues, do you know if there are golf carts or some form of transportation from the ship to the end of the dock? I know on several of our cruises there has been, but it's been so long since we were on this itinerary I couldn't remember. Thanks!

Not sure about the Pier on Old San Juan, but the Pan American Pier where RCL embarks/ disembarks passengers, I don't think has any golf carts to move along the Pier. That being said, the terminal there is quite compact compared to a lot of the Caribbean ports, so hopefully it won't be much of an issue for your husband in San Juan.

I actually took about a 2min long video from the 'crows nest' (we were on NCL). This is a screen shot from the video.

 

 

 

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Wow!!! That's incredible!! Thanks for sharing!!

On our repositioning cruise they dropped the pilot by helicopter! That was really cool to see. On departure he was taken by boat.

 

 

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That's really neat. If you have a picture of the Pilot coming in by helicopter - please post it. It would be interesting to see.

I've asked Royal Caribbean through one of their social media sites. I've explained what people have been experiencing and asked for some kind of definitive answer in writing. Will post here when I get anything back from them. Should be interesting.

Hey all,

I asked on Royal Caribbean's Facebook page and here's the response:

"Thank you for bearing with us. Is per espresso shot. For example, small and medium is normally one punch and the large is two punches. If you request two punches in a small or medium coffee it will count as two."

I pointed out that on most ships a medium is two shots therefore 2 punches - so we'll see what they come back with. Also pointed out that as described it isn't a good deal.

I would suggest Option A. I like the ports in A better. The ports are pretty easy to get around (i.e. Barbados takes about a 15 minutes ride to get to the main town from the port). Also you get a lower weather risk in terms of hurricanes (assuming you're travelling during hurricane season).

I sailed on the Serenade last year and thought she was in pretty good shape. Didn't notice anything untoward. Is she brand spanking new like a Harmony - no. Is she old and decrepit - no. For her age she's doing quite well.

I've asked Royal Caribbean through one of their social media sites. I've explained what people have been experiencing and asked for some kind of definitive answer in writing. Will post here when I get anything back from them. Should be interesting.

Some ideas and suggestions:

1) Tipping onboard the ship ( a common question) - generally speaking the crew like getting tipped in US dollars (easier to use on the ship, send back home to family unless you're from Europe). Also it's tough if you tip with Euro coins (I think they go up to 5 Euros in coins and then bills from 10 Euros and up) they can't exchange them, only use them in European ports.

2) Some of your ports will be a fair distance from the attraction city. For example for Rome you dock in Civitavecchia (sorry if I got the spelling wrong) which is about an hour away from Rome itself. Same with the port servicing Florence (you're a couple of hours away from Florence).

3) You should consider what you want to see - architecture, historical sights, scenery etc. as you will have all of these as options in the ports you are visiting. Try and balance it out - you can go crazy on historical sites and then by the end you're like another museum blah, blah, blah. Also try and pace yourself a little bit as there is a lot of go go go once you're in the ports.

4) You should try the Ports of Call forum for suggestions on private tour operators and things to see and do.

I can't think of anymore off the top of my head but will reply again if I do. Enjoy - it's a fabulous trip!!

If you don't want a lot of bells and whistles then the Radiance class is likely your best option. Smaller ships but without things like Ice skating rinks and stuff like that. All Royal ships have an adults only solarium of some sort. In terms of minimizing number of kids - obviously stay away from school vacations and the like. End of April is a good time to travel for minimal kids.

"Indulge in your favorite brews any time of day with a card that entitles you to any 15 specialty espresso-based coffees throughout your vacation, all for one low price. Start the morning off right with a macchiato or latte and reenergize your afternoons with iced coffee or an espresso, then finish your meal with a cappuccino. Or enjoy your favorite cup of joe any time you'd like and save up to 50% on individually purchased coffees."

 

Am I understanding correctly that regular coffee isn't included with the coffee card (like on Princess)?

You can get regular coffee elsewhere on the ship for free. Not that great tasting - but drinkable. This is just for specialty coffees that you pay a fee for.

Yes we have booked our trip in CDN funds it is actually cheaper doing it this way. With the exchange rate right now it's crazy how much more it is

Yeah it is pretty insane. I just put down deposits for two cruises for next year and the prices weren't bad considering they are in Canadian dollars. It scares me so much that I didn't even look up the USD prices and do a conversion.

I heard that the bridge tour is no longer a Diamond + perk - that it's only for suite guests and pinnacles now. Has anyone else heard that?