reallyitsmema

3 minutes ago, the admiral12 said:

I am trying to upgrade my adult children's cabin on a cruise in May. When do they typically send out offers and is there anything I can do to solicit one from them?

 

If you are asking about Royal Up, I got an email to bid on cabins for my May cruise, 90 days prior to sailing. 

You can upgrade their cabin anytime you want if there are cabins available by just calling and paying the difference in fare.

@DaniDanielle How is Charlie doing?  Did you get his MRI results back?

3 hours ago, LisaLisa87 said:

 

I'm going to wait and see if the price drops to the mid $70s/person. We've learned that any higher than that and we're better off paying as we go. Obviously this varies tremendously from person to person!

 

Did you check prices today?  Mine are down to $69.99 but the cruises are this year, not 2025.  Might be worth checking out though.

4 minutes ago, DaniDanielle said:

The kid did it again! This was a school project.

Wow, Marietta, that is beautiful!  

4 hours ago, Vampiress88 said:

Cheers. I’ve already seen that but it’s about the balcony. 
 

I was more concerned that there are 4 of us and some times were saying that particular room was only for 3 people. 

Royal Caribbean's website says that cabin sleeps 4.  I did see another cruise website that says it is only 3 but that website has lots of errors.  Your cabin should have a sofabed that sleeps two.  Anthem's sofabeds have a trundle that pulls out and can be set at a lower level so that each person has their own space or set at the same level for one large bed.  Sofabed will be by the balcony and main bed by the bathroom.

57 minutes ago, Cooper30 said:

Every time I see things about pier runners, I’m reminded of the time we watched a dozen or so people straggling back late to the ship in Falmouth, Jamaica.   Seemed like the whole ship was yelling crap at them. 
 

Turns out it was a Royal Caribbean excursion…..and there was a deadly accident right in front of the bus carrying the people back to the ship that closed the whole road, causing the bus to be late getting back to the port. One of the woman on the excursion had become friendly with my wife earlier in the cruise.  She was an RN who had to help at the scene and was clearly traumatized. 
 

Some of the things being yelled from balconies and the pool deck were horrible.   

 

I remember that accident.  Those people killed were actually family members of someone who posts in this forum. 😞🙏🏻

13 minutes ago, Deep-Blue-Iris said:

On a similar note to this, does anyone have experience with reserved seating for those with low vision? I'm cruising on Oasis in May and the special needs team have said this is a thing they can arrange for all shows for me and my friend. 

Fill out the special needs form before your cruise.  It says it should be in 30 days prior to sailing.  Once onboard, I would talk to guest services if there is nothing in your room describing what the procedures are.  Someone will likely put reserved signs on seats for the shows you have reserved, like they do for star class passengers.  I have seen a reserved area for deaf passengers before and a sign language interpreter signing the entire show. We had actually spoken to him at one show we went to as he sat near us and was scouting out the show that he was signing for people the next night.

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

We have been watching The Blacklist, on Netflix.  I can’t believe they had 10 seasons, and we never watched one episode till now.  We are now up to the middle of season five. 

We were fans of that series, though it goes really strange towards the last seasons.

21 minutes ago, travel_wendi said:

I am looking to interact with anyone who has had to cancel a cruise shortly before sailing due to a medical reason. Using RC travel protection, how was your experience? We are supposed to sail Sunday April 7th, 6 nights Odyssey of the Seas to the Caribbean. My husband had shoulder replacement 1 year ago and has developed an infection that we are dealing with. He had debridement surgery on February 22 and has been on antibiotics since. We may have to cancel the cruise. I have looked over the doctor form and thought there might be someone out there that has had experience with making  a claim with RC. I am sorry in advance if there is somewhere else I should ask this question, thank you.

We cancelled for medical reasons and had Royal's insurance but it was probably ten years ago.  At that time, when I spoke to insurance, they said that we needed to cancel the cruise first and then contact insurance.  They took some information on the phone and then sent a form that we had to have signed by the doctor saying my DH was medically unable to sail.  Once we had that done, we sent back the forms and reimbursement took a few weeks.  It was pretty simple and I had a direct contact at the insurance company.  Maybe someone will have a more recent experience to share.

Here is the link to your other thread:

4 minutes ago, renee1222 said:

First time I have booked a guarantee room and we are about 3 weeks from sailing without a room assignment yet.  We did online checkin today and the set sail pass still says GTY. Will the set sail update automatically when room is assigned? Will the luggage tags have the room number if I wait until after it's assigned to print? Luggage tags are blank right now.  I know I could write in the room number if needed,  just wondering if I should wait to print. 

You can be assigned a cabin as late as sailing day.  You can put your set sail pass in your iphone wallet if you have one and check to see if you have a cabin.  It will be the last digits of the number below the barcode.  If you see GTY, no cabin yet.

The blanket you can buy through the cruise planner is a much larger and better quality blanket than the fleece blankets they sell on the Alaska sailings.  If you are looking for a nice blanket, order it through the cruise planner.  If you are just looking for a cheap blanket, get one of the ones you can buy onboard.

56 minutes ago, CruisingHogFan said:

Yes, that’s my understanding as well but thought I would ask on here.

 

We have a room for 3 and could “sell” our cruise to friends but I rather not go through that.

 

 

You can't sell your cruise to friends without leaving one of the original people in the cabin.  We have cancelled after final and have been able to use cancel for any reason insurance that we had purchased.  We tried to move the cruise but were not allowed.  Don't wait to make your decision as you are likely near the next level of penalty.  You might still "only" lose 25% depending on dates.  I would also look into whether you can remove the third person before outright cancelling.  That might get you that person's cruise fare back.

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/booking-cancellation-refund-policy?

25 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

I have to believe that the show's producers knew what they were getting from Bhanu when they put him on the show.  Probably drama that they wanted.  Glad he's gone.  Not sure how you can call yourself a super fan and have less than zero clue how to play the game. 🤷‍♂️

Glad he is gone.  He is a wannabe actor whose demo reel on his imdb profile shows him for one second at a water cooler.  Not something that an actor would have as a highlight of a career.  He has had bit parts in a few movies, uncredited background parts like someone standing on a street or in a bar.  Maybe he can get a part in The Walking Dead that is looking for walkers, filming soon in the Boston area. 😄 

24 minutes ago, snorkler8 said:

My understanding from a YouTube video is there is someplace where there is seating and food with great views on the back of the ship.  I will have to find it and watch it again.  I know that is the case on Carnival ships. I plan on reviewing all the food options well before we board lol 

There is an outside area on Ovation at the back of the WJ but it is closed at times.  When you can't find seats and the weather isn't too cold, it is a great place to eat and enjoy the views.  There is a food section back there, before you go outside, but it isn't used all the times, you just get your food from the other areas and then head outside.  In our experience on other ships of that class, when that food area is open, it is typically the gluten free area with delicious made to order crepes in the morning.

Post covid, not all sections were used and the ones that have been are different then they were in the past, so try to find more recent videos.  🙂 

14 minutes ago, snorkler8 said:

Great information!!  Thank you.  Ive watched a few YouTube videos so I'm getting a feel for the layout of the ship.  The videos of the windjammer make the food look like a step up from Carnival, and I saw the plug for the very back of the ship. We have done Holland and Celebrity before too.  We have found no cruise is bad lol. 

That poster's information about the Windjammer is completely wrong for Ovation.  There is no Plaza Bar in the WJ on Ovation.  Not sure what entrance they are referring to as there are actually two entrances into the WJ on that class of ship.  As far as their "all the way at the back comment", I think they are referring to the food trays, newer stuff in the back, not the outside aft area that I thing you are referring to.  That area is a great place to watch the scenery go by too.  The food across the back of the WJ on that class ship is usually the gluten free area or closed all together.

5 hours ago, snorkler8 said:

We have booked an Alaskan cruise (July, Ovation).  We have never sailed RC and I am a bit nervous about such a big ship...

Watching a YouTube video I was pretty surprised at the Lido food.  My first thought after watching the video showing just the Lido was "Carnival who?" lol. It definitely looks like a step up from Carnival!  

Any tips about navigating such a large ship and all that there is to see and do on board would be greatly appreciated!

We are deck 3, ocean view...wondering what that looks like as it shows its by the casino??

The entrance to the cabin corridor is from the elevator lobbies, noise from the Casino will not be an issue.  You will not be hearing the machines at all.  Deck 3 isn't bad as there are lots of venues on deck 3, 4 and 5.  We have sailed Anthem and Quantum which are the same class as Ovation and we love that class.  We did Quantum in Alaska and it is a great ship for that itinerary.  Yes, it is a large ship but it is really easy to get around.  Two70 is a gorgeous venue at the aft of the ship with huge windows to watch the scenery if there is weather, otherwise, we prefer to be up on the outer decks so we can go from one side to the other to see animals, whales, ice, waterfalls, etc.  You will love Alaska!

1 minute ago, Pratique said:

Only if climbing stairs is impractical.

They use a walker.

2 minutes ago, Pratique said:

If you are planning to sail on Allure, consider a Crown Loft Suite as it is on the same deck as the suite lounge and restaurant and has very convenient access. Some of the other suites require walking down long narrow corridors to access and over the course of a week that can get tedious especially if you are using a walking aid. The Crown Loft Suites are essentially on a private deck with wide and short corridors to and from the elevators. They are our favorite cabins of all.

With the bedroom on the second floor, they would have to try to get the accessible crown loft suite that has the elevator in the suite.

48 minutes ago, jobinseattle said:

I am a little self conscious still about using this walker. If anything I am hoping for guidance and seating and a place I can put this that it is out of the way during shows. I have not been on a cruise yet but we are taking Harmony later this year. I will have a much better idea then.

Concierge can make reservations for you but that does not get you an assigned seat.  You will get in the line for people with reservations and then it is open seating once you enter a venue.  Handicap seating is typically in the back with space for a walker beside you.  Some venues, like the Comedy Club do not have stairs so you will have access to more seating and can put walker off to the side.

2 minutes ago, TravelinTess said:

I learned the 'behind the bed near the phone jack' trick from one thread or another and put it to use last week on Allure. 

The OP is on Anthem and there is a plug above the nightstand on one side of the bed.  They have made the outlets by the bed much more accessible on the newer ships.

1 hour ago, tiredmomofboys said:

This will be our first trip to Alaska.  We are sailing from Seattle on Ovation of the Sea, up past the glacier.  Do we need to bring cold-weather clothing, as we are whale watching while in Juneau.  Any tips and/or tricks are greatly appreciated!!

Layers are the best bet.  We have sailed Alaska in May a few times and have had warm port days that we could wear shorts but cooler visits to glaciers that we had long pants, long sleeved shirt, fleece 3/4 zip and a waterproof shell on.  Others were dressed for the arctic with heavy coats.  You could end up with rain, so a waterproof, not water resistant, outer layer can make a difference between a miserable excursion and one that is wet but tolerable.

No Krispy Kremes near us.  There had been two but they couldn't compete with Dunkins and closed.

4 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

My thinking is it's hard to paint once I move in furniture. The color right now reminds the painter of a hospital. That's why I'm painting and cleaning and shampooing carpets before I arrive with stuff. Cabinets and appliances i can work around once i arrive with furniture. But painting is sure easier before i move my stuff in. He suggests a non pure white hospital color for such a large place. Painting it all, bathrooms, kitchen, bedrooms .. I cant say it really needs it, but I know it's so hard to paint around furniture. Hes also replacing kitchen overhead light and the fixture in one closet I dont like and am sure I want replaced. .. agree appliances I want to pick out myself. I'm not artsy but can measure and do that. 

Definitely have as much done before you move in, especially painting bedrooms.  Pain to move furniture to paint later. I would change out any flooring I want replaced too.   Kitchen I would do all at once, not piecemeal, but that is just me.  

I wouldn't be able to pick out a paint color without knowing color of countertop, backsplash and cabinets.  If you are just painting for the sake of painting and then going to overhaul the kitchen, then I would go with whatever, probably pure white or leave it what it is now and not waste money on painting to just repaint.