Lorey2007

On 4/4/2022 at 7:38 PM, easyqueasy said:

What room number is that? We were in a junior suite and it just had two chairs, no lounger. You can post after the trip so no one bothers you. Thanks!

We were on Navigator in 9324 Feb 21 sailing. The JS only had 2 chairs and a table I asked my steward if he could bring a lounge chair and he did.  Doesn't hurt to ask.

16 minutes ago, JT1962 said:

Not sure of your cruise date, but sunset is 9:00 pm or a little later in most of June & July. 

Google says on Sept 1st sunset is 8:05pm.

13 minutes ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

It seems ambitious to fit everything in within such a tight timeframe.

 

Your 5 pm dinner may work if you are eating at the buffet, as I am not sure if you can eat in the MDR and get off the ship and catch a taxi (you and many others) around 6;30.  It is still a bit of a walk off the ship to where buses and taxis would be waiting (especially for someone with a walking disability). And again, you may not be the only folks hoping to do a carriage ride at 7pm.

Finally, being back by 8 to meet up with an excursion really seems optimistic.

 

Maybe decide between the carriage ride and the 8 pm excursion.

 

I applaud you for wanting to make the most of your very limited time in Victoria, but you might want to scale it back a bit.

Thanks, I'm sure we'll take our time and do the 8pm city tour at 8pm.  In the dark🙁

Our time in Victoria will be 6-10pm and will need some direction of what we can do from others who have done similar.

We are in our mid 70's and DH has walking disability he & is very slow. We have 5pm dining and would like to leave the ship between 6 and 6:30 is that enough to get a taxi for a 7pm thirty minute horse carriage ride?  Are taxi's readily available?  Is that possible?

After the carriage is it possible to catch a 8pm excursion with the ship?  I have no idea where the RCL excursions meet. Or are there tour vendors on the street or in a certain area that offer a short tour of the city? If we need to get a cab back to the ship would I have to call one?

Just beginning research on this and appreciate any tips, advice of what we can do in this time frame.

Our time in Victoria will be 6-10pm and will need some direction of what we can do from others who have done similar.

We are in our mid 70's and DH has walking disability he & is very slow. We have 5pm dining and would like to leave the ship between 6 and 6:30 is that enough to get a taxi for a 7pm thirty minute horse carriage ride?  Are taxi's readily available?  Is that possible?

After the carriage is it possible to catch a 8pm excursion with the ship?  I have no idea where the RCL excursions meet. Or are there tour vendors on the street or in a certain area that offer a short tour of the city? If we need to get a cab back to the ship would I have to call one?

Just beginning research on this and appreciate any tips, advice of what we can do in this time frame.

ALSO POSTING ON RCL , ROLL CALL & PACIFIC NORTHWEST

1 minute ago, Lorey2007 said:

Yes the horse drawn carriage is on my list to look into this week

We were on Navigator OTS last week of February the ship only had 1700 passengers. I'm expecting Ovation to be at full capacity.

1 hour ago, Northern Aurora said:

Lorey:  I am glad you have already booked.  An acquaintance grew up in Sitka and was there during the Christmas holiday to spend time with family.  The dock north of town has been expanded, and according to him the town has been holding planning meetings to discuss how to handle the number of cruise passengers they may now host.

 

In Victoria, which we have been to on business (me), land vacation (husband and me) and as a cruise port call we now generally walk down to the Bard and Banker Scottish Pub.  But that is too much walking for someone with an ankle issue.  One option which I've always considered is an open horse drawn carriage tour.  Some pick up (or at least did in the past) right at the cruise terminal.

Yes the horse drawn carriage is on my list to look omto this week

We were on Navigator OTS last week of February the ship only had 1700 passengers. I'm expecting Ovation to be at full capacity.

Thanks for all the tips and suggestions.  After considering them all and doing some more research we finally booked a tour with Sitka Wildlife tours which goes to the Fortress, Rapture center and to see a few other quick things. The cost was quite reasonable, and I was able to contact the owner and she reassured me the guide would get us in the front row of the van, we'll see how that goes.

I will now be researching Victoria BC we will only be there from 6pm-10pm and we most likely wouldn't be getting off the ship any earlier than 6:30. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks again and happy cruising.  

3 hours ago, karatemom2 said:

Taxis are readily available in Sitka. We used a taxi to visit both these locations on one of our Sitka visits and it was very easy. Both are well worth the visit - especially Fortress of the Bears. If you have time I also recommend the New Archangel Dancers show - it is near the dock so easy to work in before you return to your ship and you can buy tickets right there at the venue. Sitka is a wonderful port - we are visiting again this year as well and I'm so looking forward to going back. Enjoy!

 

Does the taxi drop you off at the Fortress? Are there taxi's after your visit or do you call one?

28 minutes ago, Tapi said:

How’s your mobility? When we went to Sitka, we walked through the Sitka National Forest (not very strenuous) all the way to the Alaska Raptor Center (which we toured on our own). On the return, we walked a different way right through downtown Sitka where we shopped, toured St Michael’s Cathedral, and did a bit of sightseeing before returning to the ship. It was a super easy day with no need for an organized excursion. 

Thank you that is most likely to much walking for DH. He had ankle replacement last fall no more pain but he is slower than a turtle.

We'll be Sitka late August none of the ship excursions fit us.  We are seniors late 70's would like to go to Fortress of Bears and Eagle Center & shop & look around town.  After we take the shuttle to town are there taxi 's,  city bus or other transportation that we can take?  There are some small tour companies with vans but they are difficult to get in and out of and it seems we are always having to crawl to the back. Any information will be helpful.

23 hours ago, Aboat1 said:

I have been Loyal to Royal for years.  I In Dec.2021 I booked an Oceanview Accessible Cabin On the April 30 sailing of Explorer of the Seas.  I have paid in full at time of booking. Today, I received an email receipt from Royal .  It was a receipt for my sailng.  Finding it odd, I read it closely and see they DOWNGRADEED me to an interior. I am VERY claustrophobic.  If could sail in an Interior....I would have booked one!

 

After 4 hours on the phone with resolutions and Accessibility Department.  It seems there are No Ocean View or Balcony Accessible cabin available.  They do have a Jr. Suite that they will upgrade me to for $2000.00. They have offered me my money back, but can not refund my RCCL credit card points I have used to buy a dining package and drink package.

 

I can not help but feel that because I am old and Mobility challenged, Royal No longer wants my business. Being a loyal C&A member means nothing to them.  I have been mobility challenged and Solo since my Husbands passing 4 years ago. I was planning on meeting friends in Spain for a group cruise in 2023.  Not now knowing they can cancel you at will.

 

I have not agreed to take the refund, frankly I don't know what to dor two cents please!

I first read this yesterday when I got the notification from the Trainman thread it was very upsetting.  I'm so glad this got resolved with the upgrade and not losing your points.  Some others that have posted their problem were a completely different situation where as they were given a upgraded cabin.  The downgrade of the accessible cabin was totally inexcusable.  I have since started to book my cruises with a trusted TA that calls me back when I call or email and has my back if I have a problem best decision I have made especially since covid. 

In the last 3 months I have changed 2 cruises from refundable to NRD. My TA was able to do it and kept my cabin and all my perks, actually he found me an extra perk. I waited until I had purchased my air and my cruises did fall under CWC. Saved a chunk of money.  

11 hours ago, meadowlander said:

 

For your arrival stay, if you chose hotels in the EWR area focus on those in Elizabeth NJ along International Boulevard as they are within walking distance of Jersey Gardens mall which will have dining options. Most other EWR area hotels have limited dining options as well as being in isolated areas. If your arrival is late at night those hotels would suffice but if arriving before dinner avoid them.

 

Can you provide me the names of some of those hotels on International?

10 hours ago, njhorseman said:

Since your post cruise stay is primarily  focused on sightseeing in NY City I'd suggest staying in Manhattan rather than in Jersey City. Although it's not a long trip from Jersey City to Manhattan and under other circumstances I've certainly recommended staying in Jersey City, but why bother doing that roundtrip for your two day stay? 

A hotel in the lower Manhattan -Wall St. area would suit your needs.

As @meadowlandersays, one of the five hotels on International Blvd. in Elizabeth that are adjacent to The Mills at Jersey Gardens outlet mall and a couple of chain restaurants, IHOP and Ruby Tuesday are where I often recommend staying pre cruise. As long as you're just looking for a place to spend the night prior to your cruise that area provides the best combination of cost and convenience.

Do you have the names of some of those hotels in that Manhattan Wall St area?

Can we get Uber or taxi from the ship to that area and then back to EWR after our 2 night stay?

Thinking of booking Bermuda on Liberty OTS May 2023.  I'm a planner we would need a hotel one night pre cruise and 2 nights post cruise.  Would like info on going to NY to see Memorial, Statue of Liberty etc post cruise.  Are there any tour companies that do tours out of Cape Liberty hotels?  Any and all info is appreciated to help me decide if I should book this cruise.

2 minutes ago, taglovestocruise said:

Right with you. We have Ovation booked for Alaska followed by Quantum to Hawaii. Absolutely hate the MDR setup.  After years of complaints from cruisers on Quantum, Anthem and Ovation they put the three level dining back on Spectrum and Odyssey. We have late dining on both cruises and will email RC and ask for the Grande on both sailings. 

Can you tell me why you are asking for the Grande versus the other choice? ' I put in a request pre cruise due to my DH's hearing disability.  Is there a certain area of the Grande that is nice a seat by a window or other?  We are sailing is August 26 Alaska.  

22 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

You will likely only experience two of them, depending on why kind of dining plan you chose. If MDR ambiance is a criteria for your cruise, don’t book any Q class ship. 

We already have Ovation booked for August. I usually make a request pre cruise so I wanted to get some info on each of the dining rooms.  We will have early seating. 

We're used to and love the 3 level decks of the MDR on all the RCL ships we have sailed on.  Please explain the 4 different dining rooms on Ovation OTS and all the pro and cons you all have.  What kind of ambiance do they each have I'm worried about our dining experience comparing it to a deck 4 or 5 of the other ships.  

On 1/9/2022 at 1:48 PM, JT1962 said:

We did a train / bus combination tour to Emerald Lake with Chilkoot Tours and  loved it. It goes much further than the Summit excursion and included lunch.

We did this a few years ago it was wonderful.  The train car we were in, last car, was just for the Chilkoot Tour and went all the way to Canada we needed to show our passports. We went back in a smaller bus that made a couple of stops and were then let out in town and walked back to the ship.

Should be buy our tickets for the Mt Roberts tram from RCL, buy them online or buy them when we get to the tram.  We will be on Ovation what is the distance to the tram we're seniors can we walk or is a shuttle available through RCL?

Is there a card/computer room on Ovation of the Seas? If so what deck? 

Is there a card/computer room on Ovation of the Seas? If so what deck? 

1 hour ago, brillohead said:

Ashland, who you quoted, was in a suite and ordering MDR items for room service breakfast, so that's why I wanted to clarify the room service portion of it.

Thanks 😊 

4 minutes ago, brillohead said:

 

 

I think Lorey2007 may have missed the ROOM SERVICE part of your original comment.  

Vouchers can't be used for room service fresh-squeezed juice, but they CAN be used in the MDR and Windjammer.  (Just like the DBP can't be used for room service drinks.)  

 

Yes this is what I meant in the MDR for breakfast. I didn't ask about room service.