leela14

We are making 4 stops and only one has no Zika warning - Bermuda. San Juan I'd like to walk around for sure, and also Saint Maarten. If I had to skip Ladadee I'd be fine, will decide on that one once on board. The hubby and I aren't really lie on the beach people, we like walking and touring the ports so a beach day for us is kinda meh anyway. But on the other side of the coin we already have four sea days so it would be nice to get off for a little bit and not have five - it's only a 9 night cruise - 5 sea days would be a lot.

I received an email warning about the Zika virus on Belize from a cruise line for one of my previous cruises. I began limiting my excursions to ones in which I would not be in places where it would be highly likely that I would get bitten. I read reviews and chose to skip the ones where people complained of bug bites.

 

I think many areas are treated for mosquitoes, so the odds of getting bitten in those areas are very low. I have never been bitten by a mosquito while on an excursion. I did get bit by something once on the ship. I use bug spray when getting off at each port. If I was pregnant, you couldn't pay me to take the risk of getting off of the ship at a port where the Zika virus is prevalent. It is not worth it. Also, I read that if a man gets infected, he may experience no symptoms but can pass it on sexually.

If by OK you mean you won't Zika virus....well there's no vaccine or medicine for Zika so if you use an insect repellent incorrectly or somehow manage to get bitten by an infected mosquito you might get it. Not trying to be a scaremonger, but anyone telling you not to worry is.....probably understating the risk.

No of course no one can say "YOU WILL NOT GET ZIKA" but on the other side of the coin I know you (or should I say "I") can also get overly paranoid to the point of not enjoying myself, so sometimes a little reassurance not to be overly scared is a good thing if that makes sense.

I had a doctor's appointment this morning, BEFORE the RCCL email - Murphy's Law. So much on my mind with another medical issue that Zika never even crossed my mind until I saw the email. It's the second time I saw her in a month too. Never even dawned on me.

And before anyone mentions it, yes, I let my doc know that I'm here and she wasn't worried either. ;)

 

 

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Not pregnant and if do get pregnant it will be the second coming so unlikely lol.

Thanks for the info, I can't believe the only one you saw was onboard. Do be careful though!

I'm on Harmony right now, 22 weeks pregnant. I've seen one mosquito, ON the ship. (in the Sabor Mexican restaurant... [emoji848]) None off the ship. Haha. We are in Haiti today, no bugs except the odd ant. Are you pregnant? I definitely don't think you need to worry. Bug spray will be fine if you feel you need it.

 

 

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I'm past childbearing age so that isn't an issue lol. I'll def do the bug spray for my peace of mind but I just have visions of running and screaming whenever I see a mosquito. Hmmmm maybe I need to look into a mosquito netting suit of some sort. :') You know how some people seem to attract mosquitoes - lucky me. My husband and I can be outside and he won't get any and I'll get a dozen. Hopefully the bug spray helps. Wonder if you can use that stuff on your face. :confused:

I have been to these islands numerous times at all times of the year and, luckily, have never been bitten by a bug of any sort. This has all been without bug spray of any kind. (Perhaps I'm fortunate but I object having chemicals such as bug repellent on my skin).

 

It seems to me RC has been sending out the warning email for over a year now in order to keep,travelers informed.

 

It is your decision as to what precautions, if any, you choose to do.

 

(If I were expecting a baby I would be apt to cancel the cruise).

Just got an email from RCCL (which is why I'm posting here) with a travel warning for Zika for 3 of the ports we are visiting next week - Puerto Rico, Saint Maarten and Haiti. My first thought was not to get off the ship, but if I use the 20% DEET spray recommended by the CDC it should be OK, right? I don't want to be walking around in a state of high paranoia. :( Need some reassurance.

Oh wow, didn't know all of that, thanks! This is our 3rd cruise with RCCL. Few with Celebrity and one NCL.

Yeah and that is prob the max my husband would drink, he'd prob have the soda package more than juices during the day anyway. Fresh squeezed OJ is not that big of a deal, just thought he might have that if he bought the package. Realistically it sounds like he will do fine with the soda package, the coffee card and a pay for a couple of beers and/or glasses of wine. THANKS!!

If I recall the package only pays off if you have more than 8 drinks per day.

 

So in your case I would say that it doesn't pay off. Especially given some cost savings you may not know about:

If you have cruised with RC before and registered for Crown and Anchor you also will get a few buy one get one and reduced price coupons good for beer or wine.

In addition you can bring two bottles of wine onboard with you per stateroom which you may take to dinner and they will store them for you. No charge.

Although you said you wanted fresh squeezed OJ, the regular OJ from concentrate is free.

We are in Canada and the drinks/wifi package is $65 per day. Deducting $20 a day for the internet package leaves $45 per day for drinks.

My husband and I have the soft drink package included in our cruise with a Costco package we booked, and I bought the coffee card for a few specialty coffees. I don't drink alcohol so I'm fine, my husband may have 3-4 a day tops.

So since we wouldn't be paying for soft drinks or speciality coffees that would leave $45 a day to cover:

• 1 fresh squeezed OJ with breakfast
  
• 2 beers during the day
  
• 1-2 glasses of wine with dinner
  
• 2 other juices throughout the day (cranberry for example)
  

Does that seem like it would add up to $45 or are we better off just paying as we go?

Thanks!

Thanks for the heads up!! I didn't even know that was possible, but THANK YOU!!!

Make sure that you stipulate that you want your onboard account in USD and you want your credit card company to take care of the currency conversion. RCCL's conversion rate will be even worse than your credit card company's!

(NOTE: I really do know that Ottawa is in Eastern Ontario, why I wrote Southern Ontario in the title I do not know lol. Just having a blonde moment lol. I would have corrected the title but I can't see how.)

Hey fellow Ontario cruisers,

We are planning on driving to Cape Liberty from Ottawa for our Anthem cruise and just wanted to get some feedback.

For anyone who has done the drive, would you recommend it as being a good way to go or should I start looking at airfare ASAP ;)

If it is indeed a good option to drive rather than fly, is there any particular route you would recommend or anything I should know about, or just plug it into Google Maps and have at it?

We are planning to arrive a day early and have already booked the park and cruise thing via Trinity. It's just my husband and I.

Love to hear your thoughts!

No we are fine with the credit card thing, I just didn't want to do it online today. We are fine doing it once we get there.

Just know that there is no such thing as cash payment on board.

Every thing is charged to your sea pass.

If you want to pay by cash you have to line up in the last night and pay with USD.

I personally would let RC have my CC info and save the hassle.

Thanks Bob :)

Just did online check in for our upcoming Anthem cruise on June 8. I skipped over the credit card part and just clicked "cash" and that's what it says on our SetSail passes - I assume we can change that at check in and put down a credit card then? Can anyone confirm? Thanks.

We are going on the Anthem in June - and we are Canadian so that means we pay A LOT MORE for everything. Our feeling is that we can easily afford a lot of extras (DINKs) but the nickel and diming just leaves a bad taste in our mouth. Being able to afford it and feeling like you are being taken advantage of are two different things. Like $100 for the zip line in Labadee. I would have felt ripped off at $50, but $100? Never. Almost $700 for a drink package? We will book the things we feel like are a decent value. Bought the BOGO dining for nights one and two. I love my coffee so $45 for the 15 coffees seemed fair. We don't mind paying more as long as it feels like a value. Sadly though, most of the time it just feels, to us, like we majorly taken advantage of. So we only purchase items that feel like they are worth it to us, and most just don't.

Going on Anthem for the first time in June and this is awesome!!!!! Can't tell you how much I appreciate and am enjoying this!! Yippie!!!! [emoji568][emoji847]

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Glad to read this because I was starting to feel really depressed as we have an Anthem cruise coming up in June of this year, just my husband and I. We went back and forth between Oasis class and the Anthem and I am now a little worried that we made the wrong decision. :(

We sailed on the Anthem in February and loved it. We did not care for the Allure at all last September. We are two adults though so that could make a difference. What works for some does not for others. Sorry you did not have a great experience.

 

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I feel the same way I loved the Anthem and I'm sailing on her again in November. I sailed the Allure November 2015 and I wasn't a huge fan either it was nice but not my cup of tea.

 

 

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Not sure what part of Canada you're referring to but all my cans of soda are 355ml.

Me too Ken :confused:

um lady? why wouldnt a robot fix a robot?:confused:

I think I'd be more inclined to tip a robot anyway, more impressive feat by far!! ;p

If you have the soda package, you will get all the FOUNTAIN soda you want...you don't get cans with the package.

Yep, knew that one. And I know I'm weird and the exception, but I actually like fountain soda better. So at least I got that going for me lol. :p

Actually, the last time we had a soda it was $3.84 with the 18% tip.:loudcry:

I just invented a whole new bunch of swear words lol. :'):')

Latte costs around $5. Soda is around $3.75 a can but you have a soda package so you can get soda free in the MDR.

Thanks! $3.75 for a can of soda? :o I don't mean to be crude, but ***????????????????

So that's $7 CAD for a latte and $5 CAD for a Diet Coke.

We booked through Costo who included the soda packages but I'm just curious how badly they hose you lol.

OH - does anyone know around what a latte costs in the MDR? I like to have one with dessert. Just curious. Thanks.

And a soda/pop if bought individually?

Thanks again. ;)

The prices on the MDR menu are for a few "premium" selections.

 

 

With regard to specialty restaurants, some are flat fee, one is flat fee plus extra for certain choices, some are a la carte.

Thanks for your quick reply! Indeed some changes since our last cruise.

Drink auto tip is 18%.

 

You pay the 18% at the time of package purchase, no more is added when you order drinks.

 

The prices on the MDR menu are for a few "premium" selections.

 

With regard to specialty restaurants, some are flat fee, one is flat fee plus extra for certain choices, some are a la carte.

In order to avoid too much sticker shock once on board, I'm trying to gather info up front. We have done 6 cruises, but the last one was with Celebrity in 2013 and I think a few things have changed. We are booked on Anthem for a 9 night cruise out of Bayonne in June of this year.

1) If you do not buy a drink package, what is the amount of the tip they auto charge per drink? Is it 15% or 18% or something else?

2) If you do buy the drink package, am I correct to assume the tip is included?

3) Are the speciality dining rooms a flat fee per person or do you order off a menu like at a land based restaurant?

4) Are all meals in the MDR included in the cost of the cruise fare or do they have some items that you must pay for (I thought I saw prices for a few selections on a MDR menu, but I could be mistaken).

Are there other charges I need to know about up front? I'm aware of the obvious things - auto tips, spas, salons, some classes, excursions, wifi, etc. but wondering if other things have changed since 2013 that I should know before going. Of if the Anthem charges for things that are included on other ships.