Kellie Poodle

Does anyone have any experience with taking a folding wheel chair on private excursions?

I need to know what to tell the tour companies. DH can't walk any distance without becoming short of breath so I thought I'd get a wheel chair for him.

We will be renting the chair on board for a Baltic and Transatlantic cruise that follows.

We cruised out of Venice in October 2012 on Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas. My DH has difficulty walking any distances, especially ramps.

We checked in at the desk in the terminal. There were no wheel chairs available to assist in boarding.

We were told it wasn't far to the ship, but we had to walk down several flights of stairs to get to the bus that drove us to the ship.

If it had not been raining, there would have been no bus and we would have had to walk quite a long distance with hand baggage.

Since the ship was over-nighting in Venice, we set off sightseeing the next day. It was a long walk for DH to the People Mover, a monorail type conveyance that will take you very shortly to the Vaperetto.

We did see a shuttle bus with the name of our ship on it, but when we asked we were told that it was not available. Later we found out that it was and we could have and would have paid for it.

I don't want to burst your bubble, but in our opinion, Venice is not a friendly port for those with mobility issues.

When we came home we wrote to the cruise line suggesting that when people file special needs forms because they have mobility issues, the cruise line should suggest another port.

From your post it appears that even though your DH fell ill on the ship, he did not see a physician or have anything diagnosed until after the cruise. In other words, there is nothing to prove that he was ill on the ship.

Travel insurance policies usually have a caveat in them stating that they will cover you if you are X number of miles from home. Since you were home, travel insurance might not apply. It is called "travel" insurance.

File the claim and give it a shot, but I doubt that the travel insurance company will permit itself to be used as secondary "medi-gap" insurance.

PS: If your DH doesn't want a Medicare Advantage plan, you can get a decent secondary plan through AARP.

Rhapsody of the Seas.

Beautiful ship and wonderful crew. Just the right size.

I also like Brilliance of the Seas. All that glass on the Radiance ships is compelling.

Just be aware that Brilliance does not have aft elevators. There are stairs.

If anyone in your party has mobility issues, you might want to consider mid-ship or forward cabins.

I'm booked on the Allure of the Seas for next month. I have 2 boardwalk balcony cabins. Yesterday I found I could get 2 ocean side balconies for $1600 less than what I paid or 2 junior suites for the same price as my boardwalk cabins. When I called to see what could be done I was told that since I have already paid in full, there was nothing they would do for me. No OBC, no upgrade, nada. In order to get those prices I would have to cancel my existing reservations (with 75% penalty) and rebook, which of course would cost me much more in the end. I was very polite with the RC rep, but explained that I was very frustrated that they treat their loyal C&A customers that way. I feel like once they have my money, they aren't terribly concerned about my satisfaction. I mentioned that for future cruises, my family and I will consider switching our loyalties to one of their competitors. All I got in response was, "Sorry, is there anything else I can help you with today?" I will enjoy our cruise on the Allure, but this sure has left a bad taste in my mouth.

I don't understand why they would not let you upgrade. Were there cabins available?

I was pretty certain you could upgrade after final payment. When did that change?

It depends upon the TA. I have used a couple of companies that were trustworthy. One is open on weekends so they will honor price drops.

I used one last year because I was promised extensive OBC, but I got sick and could not take the cruise that was fully paid for. That company would not even give me a copy of the paperwork to submit to my insurance company. I had to send in credit card receipts and the invoices I had that did not reflect the small refunds I was able to get. All I had asked that TA for was an up to date statement of charges and credits.

Thank goodness I had an excellent insurance company because they accepted everything.

If you do use a TA make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing, especially if they promise you that they will do price drops.

Do the Ship doors have the privacy chains?

None that I've ever sailed on.

There is a deadbolt lock on the door where you twist the knob. I don't know if they have keys for these, but if one is turned, it's my guess that the cabin attendants know to not open them.

I think you need to report this to RCI. It's my feeling that the room attendant may have been unhappy with you for asking twice for a blanket that should have been there. That would explain coming in to clean while you were sleeping.

Waking up a sleeping guest is way beyond normal practice.

If that cabin attendant was so vindictive, maybe she shouldn't be working for RCI any more.

Not quite true

The levels are reciprocal, it is just that Azamara have yet to announce the rewards for the plus and Zenith levels which is extremely annoying - it has been 5 months now in coming, last promise was April .......

 

So depending on when people are sailing, worst case it's discoverer benefits but it might be the plus benefits if you are elite plus

That's true. I'd forgotten about the new, 'unfunded', levels.

I was probably thinking of Royal and Celebrity where the + is not reciprocated.

Many thanks to everyone who has replied. I understand the level of benefits offered by Azamara to Elite members of Celebrity's Captain's Club. What I don't understand is what those benefits are. I copied the information below from the Azamara site (I hope it formats OK in this response). There are benefits listed for Adventurer, Explorer, and Discoverer Platinum. Under Discoverer and Discoverer Plus, there are no benefits listed. As a potential Discoverer level passenger, I would be interested in the benefits offered at that level.

 

USE YOUR CREDITS FOR SPECIAL SAVINGS AND EXPERIENCES ON EVERY VOYAGE THAT FOLLOWS.

 

LE CLUB VOYAGE ADVENTURER: UP TO 149 POINTS

 

Exclusive Le Club Voyage hostess at your service throughout your voyage

Le Club Voyage onboard party

Welcome home gift after your first voyage (shipped to your home)

Savings for booking future voyages while onboard

85 minutes free Internet service per voyage

10% savings on Signature Spa Treatments

 

LE CLUB VOYAGE EXPLORER: 150 – 299 POINTS

 

Includes all the benefits of the Adventurer level

A bottle of champagne on arrival, compliments of the Captain

Welcome to the Explorer-level gift (shipped to your home after the voyage)

Private get-together with senior officers and staff (Voyages of 10 days or more. This party may be combined with the Discoverer party due to busy port schedules.)

One complimentary bag of laundry (dry cleaning excluded) per week per stateroom

Additional free Internet service, for a total of 150 minutes

15% savings on Signature Spa Treatments

 

LE CLUB VOYAGE DISCOVERER: 300 – 749 POINTS

 

LE CLUB VOYAGE DISCOVERER PLUS: 750 – 2,999 POINTS

 

LE CLUB VOYAGE DISCOVERER PLATINUM: 3,000 PLUS POINTS

 

Includes the benefits of the Adventurer and Explorer levels (except private Explorer-member cocktail party with senior officers and staff)

Discoverer-member get-together with senior officers (Voyages of 10 days or more. This event may be changed or combined with the Explorer party due to busy port schedules.)

Welcome to the Discoverer-level gift (shipped to your home after the voyage)

Additional free Internet service, for a total of 235 minutes

Complimentary wine tasting on voyages of 10 nights or more

5% savings when spending $1,000 or more in Fine Jewelry, or 10% savings when spending $2,000 or more

20% savings on Signature Spa Treatments

I think that they are giving all Discoverer levels the original Discoverer perks until they come out with the new package which should have been announced earlier this month but was not.

Above the first two levels perks you will get:

Additional free Internet service, for a total of 235 minutes

Complimentary wine tasting on voyages of 10 nights or more

5% savings when spending $1,000 or more in Fine Jewelry, or 10% savings when spending $2,000 or more

20% savings on Signature Spa Treatments

You won't get this one if you are sailing under Celebrity's Captains Club reciprocity. Welcome to the Discoverer-level gift (shipped to your home after the voyage)

The best perks are the one free bag of laundry per cabin per week and the internet minutes. On our cruise we had a lovely brunch with officers.

Thanks for your replies. I thought there was still come reciprocity between the two lines, and you confirmed that. I've searched all over the Azamara site, but I cannot find the benefits offered at the Discoverer level. The benefits of other levels are specified but not those at the Discoverer and Discoverer Plus level. Am I missing something?

 

Betsy

Your Elite + will be reciprocated as Discoverer. The + levels are not reciprocal.

We are Elite on Celebrity and were Discoverer on Azamara. The credits for the Azamara cruise were put in our Celebrity account. I believe that Azamara and Celebrity share the same account.

Not all levels are reciprocated and the "plus" programs are not.

Though we did not have any specific food issues, I do have to agree with the OP about the poor dining room service. The staff were not well trained and I do believe that many of them had too poor a command of English to comprehend specific requests of the diners. This was especially true at breakfast where they couldn't just check a box on their little pads. I did address this in my online comment form.

I also agree with the OP about all the hype about the "fabulous" ship board experience. I had a great cruise, met some interesting people saw some wonderful ports and had an overall good time. Having been led to believe that something magical was going to happen once I boarded, may have attributed to my opinion. I did not have a bad shipboard experience, just nothing to live up to the hype.

Perhaps the OP and I share the opinion that we are not cruising to interact with the staff and that is why we did not have an 'amazing' experience. Having met people on board who were very into who the captain and hotel director were and enjoyed talking with the help, I observed why some people are into Azamara.

As for a luxury experience, I certainly did not have one. It was a nice cruise but no where near "luxury"

If I got a great deal like I had on my last cruise and it was going to ports that interested me, I'd consider going back, but the next time I won't have my expectations set so high as they were from this board.

We don't do the Caribbean any longer and we don't sail on anything bigger than Voyager class so none of this effects us.

Though we sail with Celebrity, too, and did our first (and probably last) Azamara Club cruise this year, RCI is still our favorite line.

PEOPLE need to come on board healthy, be honest about their health when getting on board.<snipped>

Unfortunately some people become infected in the plane or the airport flying to the cruise. The virus has a two day incubation so one might feel just great when boarding and not show symptoms until a day later.

They are implementing a new plan. If you have free internet minutes by being elite/elite+, the ship's system knows this and automatically gives you the free minutes when you register. No little coupon to deal with.

That's good news. Now if they would only let you combine the minutes for each guest in the cabin into one account, it would be perfect.

RCI always let me combine both my and DH's loyalty club minutes.

I do the research and book the cruises, Dh get to pay for them. I get all the emails.

They must know that the only part DH has in this is that he pays and shows up when told!

I do all the research. I have the future cruise certificate in my name. I use the credit card with my name on it. I book the cruises.

He gets the emails.

Funny!

Thanks for the laughs.:D

Noro comment here. I visit facilities with my certified therapy dog every month. Twice in the last 2 years one of them has been under quarantine with noro--no visitors allowed. Hubby volunteers in the emergency room at a local hospital. Last week he mentioned the board indicated mostly noro symptoms. You have to work in these industries to know it is everywhere.

I think it was a lot less scarey when we called it "the stomach flu" :)

...and as you already know, your Diamond or D+ status will allow you to enjoy similar perks on Celebrity's Elite or E+.

 

That said, what caught my attention was: 18 cruises and only 22 years old.

Good for you. I could only wish I had the money, or the time (I knew nothing about cruising) when I was 22.

 

At 22, I was in the military, serving our country. :)

I don't believe that D+ will get you E+. It will get you E.

Perhaps the OP is unaware of RCI's price drop policy, which is stated on the web site.

If it is before final payment, any price drop will be honored. If it is after final payment, you can upgrade if a higher category of cabin is available for a lower price. There is no longer an on board credit for price drops after final payment.

It has been several years since this policy was instituted.

I have a cruise booked for 2015 and just the other day there was an "early booking discount" offered. I called and my balance due was readjusted to reflect the discount.

I do miss the OBC for price drops after final payment, but I accept that RCI has the right to do business as they see fit. It would take a lot more to get me to leave a company that I trust and has always been wonderful to me.

Disney has no appeal to me and my DH refuses to even think about Carnival but if you find their policies more to your liking, perhaps you should return to them.

Depends upon the sailing and the itinerary. I do like the T-pool on the M class and if my schedule allows, I'll be in there at least once.

If I can, I will use the pool to do some water aerobics and some laps if it's not crowded. Swimming is great exercise and it burns calories, especially if the water is cold.

We will use hot tubs in adult only areas. I wish they were hotter as they never are hot enough.

I've met some very nice people in the pool and the hot tub. DH once met a cousin he didn't know he had in a cruise ship hot tub. His mom and her dad were first cousins.

I've cruised both lines many times. I don't think the food on Celebrity is all that better than RCI, but it is much prettier. X does not have that wonderful salad bar on sea days. I have only sailed the M class ships and Century, but I think RCI does a better buffet. Maybe the S class ships do a better job.

I have found that service is excellent on both lines. I believe it's a corporate culture, more so than a "line" culture.

I've had many of the same entertainers on X cruises that I've had on RCI cruises so I don't think the 'average' entertainment is very different. No ice rinks and other youth-oriented activities. Both lines have talented production staff. Those people work their hearts out to entertain us.

I do like the Celebrity non-smoking policy. Though RCI has stepped up and disallowed smoking on verandas, the casino is still stinky.

We tend to sail the smaller RCI ships, the largest being Voyager class, and we don't do the Caribbean (BTDT), so we experience a different demographic than on Caribbean cruises. For European and other overseas destinations, RCI is a great line to cruise with, though X is often priced lower for similar itineraries.

I recently did an Azamara cruise from LA to the west coast of Mexico (Cabo, Manzanillo, Ixtapa and Huatulco), Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and ending in Costa Rica.

If X or RCI could deploy the smaller ships like the ones they use for a lot of Alaskan cruises, I think this itinerary would be great for west coasters.