Nabalab

My wife and I on Radiance 2024 for our 20th Wedding Anniversary - don't mind if we do!  🙂

47 minutes ago, alfaeric said:

Checking the various sources, it looks like the launch was delayed a day. That happened not too long ago. 

Wow, yeah. On the KSC website. Ah well.

Got back to my stateroom late last night, and found this. Unfortunate (in a first-world problem sorta way) - but I am glad they specified the reason.

Not going to book anything else - so like Nassau, it’ll be another “sea day” for us.

Now on Anthem… we’re in Port Canaveral on Tuesday.

Our KSC excursion was just cancelled - refunded back as OBC.  Guest services says it’s because KSC is closed that day.  They’re not (according to their website), but there is a launch - which may have something to do with it.

Tried to book this excursion thru Royal 2x in 2021 and again on the current sailing.  All cancelled.

Guess my wife and I will have to book a cruise out of Port Canaveral and fly in a few days ahead of time.
 

I was in 1804 (OV Panoramic) last month on Voyager - which is the same class as Explorer.

Category VP

They DO get full suite perks - breakfast in Chops, suite lounge, etc.  That, along with the extra bathroom may be worth it for the $300.

Our itinerary was New England/Canada, so the weather wasn't the greatest... foggy and rainy.  As a result, the foghorn sometimes kept us up as night as it was pretty loud.  One or two nights, it seemed to go off every few minutes, sometimes longer intervals.  Shockingly, the rocking wasn't terrible.

WiFi in the cabin was non-existent... better in the hallway, but may be a Voyager issue (hoping Starlink eventually corrects that).

28 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Rcl has shuttles but I had to ask my ta how to book. Or call uber or SAS. 

On the SAS website - 

Sorry, we do not service the Miami International Airport, South Beach, Miami Beach

 or Miami Airport Area Hotels

I originally looked into using SAS to Miami airport for our cruise in the Spring.  Will probably Uber/Lyft.

iT MAY 

54 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Grandeur also excluded izumi from the diamond plug BOGO offer. I was disappointed. I just wanted some sushi not hibachhi. As my 2nd choice and would have paid for chops.

 

Izumi they are fussy about. I'd do bogo more if I could have it as a choice. It's too small and popular they told me. Books up.

 

 

It may vary. 

A few weeks ago on Voyager, they let us use the D+ BOGO at Izumi on (on Day 2)... only if we each went with the $34.99 price-fixe option.  I was happily surprised.

On 10/28/2022 at 4:49 PM, cruiselvr04 said:

We have done the cooking class at Playa Mia a couple of times and enjoyed.  Been to a lot of the beaches, Nachi, Sanchos, Paradise, Chankanaab, snorkeled Planacar, swam with dolphins at Dolphinaris twice, shopped, gone over to the mainland for excursions through the ship (which we don’t like to do anymore).  There are 100 or more choices so you’ll have to just keep coming back to try them all.  We’ve been to El Cid several times and is now our go to…..quiet day, walkable, food so so, drinks good, snorkel the plane, love the pool when it’s hot and the hot tub to finish the day. It really all depends on what kind of day you’re looking for and how much you want to spend.  
 

I haven’t tried the bar hop yet….

Hi!  Nachi has been our go-to for years, but when in Cozumel in the Spring - may try El Cid.

LOVE that it's walkable from the International (Royal Caribbean) pier.  How is the pool?  We prefer a pool over a beach.  Also - does it get really crowded?  I know Nachi has a limit, which is awesome.

Thanks so much!

Just now, ARandomTraveler said:

If you waited just another month you could have taken Voyager out of San Juan and gotten the good ports while you're at it. 

Thank you, but we're actually okay.  We're able to drive to Boston, and like I mentioned we do love the "northern" itinerary.

I'm on Voyager soon... and even though I really love the New England/Canada itinerary, I didn't book it for that.

Voyager has been on my bucket list for a few years because I want to "close out the class"... meaning I've been on Explorer, Mariner, Navigator, and Adventure. 

Non-cruisers wouldn't understand.  lol

7 minutes ago, rudeney said:

 

Voyager will only have one specialty restaurant open for lunch on embarkation day, and if they keep using Chops for Windjammer overflow, it will be Giovanni's.

Ah okay, thanks.  The app says Izumi will be open on Day 1 Lunch, but I figured it was probably a mistake.  Giovanni's it is!

We're on Voyager in a few weeks, and bought Chops for Day 1 Lunch.  Primarily to avoid the Day 1 Lunch crowd in the Windjammer. 

Now assuming they'll send us to Giovanni's (which is fine), but kinda hoping they'll let us go to Izumi instead.  Got nothing to lose by asking 🙂

Since this has been going on for a few weeks now, a little surprised the Cruise Planner hasn't been adjusted.  I believe the only specialty Day 1 Lunch you can purchase (in advance) is Chops.

58 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

Last week first come first serve, with some sections reserved for suites, but Anna Banana opened them up about 5 mins before show time.

Thank you!  I believe Adventure was the same way a few months ago.

Hey@rudeney

The ice show - Do people need tickets/reservations beforehand; or is it first come/first serve?

Thank you!

8 minutes ago, billslowsky said:

We were on last week's Voyager cruise (got off yesterday).  The tender process to get back on the ship in Bar Harbor was disgraceful.  We went to get in line at about 3:10 (about an hour before all aboard) and the line was literally hundreds of people, stretching more than a block long on the public sidewalk.  One woman trying to negotiate to the end of the line stumbled on the curb (space was tight) and fell, had to be wheelchaired back on board.  Our wait in line was 40 minutes.  Just a terrible process.

It's been going on for awhile.  On Adventure back in May, we were waiting to go back to the ship around 1:30ish and it wasn't that bad.  Heard it got a lot worse, similar to your experience.

29 minutes ago, rudeney said:

 

No, Chops was not open for lunch in embarkation day for some reason.  The only specialty open that day was Giovanni's.  On Voyager, normally it's only Chops, but for some reason they swapped them on this cruise.  

Ah, ok - thank you so much for clarifying. 

The app (when I sail in a few weeks) says Chops, Giovanni's and Izumi will all be open for lunch 12p to 1:30p on Day 1, but who knows.  So much with Royal is subject to change.

Thanks again and enjoy the rest of your vacation.

16 minutes ago, Moltar said:

All specialty dining venues are open for lunch from 11:30 to 1pm. There are no different hours for different restaurants. You're welcome.

Okay, or a different reason (other than the hours)?  Maybe a private function?  I really don't know.

Was hoping rudeney would answer at some point, and can we PLEASE leave it at that?  Thank you.

Apologies for the (minor) thread diversion.  Hope you enjoy Bar Harbor today.  Can't wait to go back... love the lobster at the West Street Cafe.

14 minutes ago, Another_Critic said:

 

Here's your answer:

 

 

 

heh, thank you.  I *did* see that. 

I was thinking maybe they got there early and since Chops wasn't open yet, they decided to go to Giovanni's (which was open).  Or another reason? 

Not sure, but hoping to get an answer from rudeney at some point who can confirm either way.

Thanks for sharing your experience, look forward to reading thru-out the week.

Do you know if Chops was open for lunch at all on Day 1?  We are sailing Voyager in a few weeks and have reservations for Chops lunch once on-board. 

Enjoy your cruise! 

In mid-August, I DM'd Michael Bayley on FB asking him about this (being able to once again reserve shows in the cruise planner)...

His response "There are no changes at this time"

8 minutes ago, SilkySal said:

We're booked in October on Mariner and begin with a 5-night, so no testing is required; however, we're staying on board for the next 8-night itinerary, so how will we be able to test or will it be required? TIA for your thoughts! Sal

I was on a B2B (5 night + 4 night) back in May on Adventure... did not have to test before the 2nd leg.  Since you're doing a B2B, you maaaay not have to either. 

I'm guessing (and hoping) you'll have an official answer before October.

Agreed.  A few weeks ago, we cashed some points for OBC on our October cruise. 

Showed up in our cruise planner about 5-6 days later.

@Host Kat This may be subjective - but can you please also add a question mark to the subject line? 

Thank you.

I don't have an answer, but just wanted to say thanks for putting a question mark in the subject line.

So many people would not.

20 hours ago, CruiseDancer said:

I had cabin 8500 on the Explorer, which is a family cabin. It actually had a door separating the bedroom and a separate bunk room with a door. We really liked it. The only thing was you must keep your curtains closed at night since the bridge is above you. I believe that is true for all forward cabins, regardless of deck.

We had 9500 on Adventure a few weeks ago.  One night we accidentally left a curtain open.  The room steward knocked on our door... he had gotten a call from the bridge, asking us to close it!