akolasz

On 6/23/2022 at 10:30 AM, Ashland said:

Our ship tour provided a guide that stayed with us, not just transportation. Her history commentary and timing of all the exhibits was just wonderful personal service.

On 6/23/2022 at 3:01 PM, Ashland said:

Yes...our ship excursion included priority...what a difference that made. And our guide was a long time local resident that knew so much history about the KSC and the area in general. Her commentary was just amazing not only at KSC but on the bus there and back.

Thanks for this information! We are looking at a NCL post cruise Kennedy Space Tour excursion and trying to decide if we should do the NCL tour or rent a car and drive ourselves since we could stay longer. We are staying overnight at MCO. I was just looking for information if the cruise ship tours include more than just a drop off and tour on your own. Having commentary and a tour guide walk you around would be great. What cruise line were you on? 

On 12/12/2022 at 1:09 PM, quillwercruisers said:

We were on the NCL Escape in January of this year, and we booked this excursion through NCL. According to their website, they are still offering it.  Hopefully RCCL will add it on closer to your cruise.

 We will be going on the Escape in April and we are looking at doing this post cruise Kennedy Space Tour. Did they just drop you off at the Space center and you toured it on your own or did this tour include anything at the Space Center that wouldn't be included in normal admission? We are trying to decide if we book this through NCL OR if we just rent a mini van and drive there ourselves, then return the car to MCO. Our flight isn't until the next morning so we have plenty of time and thought then we would be on our own schedule. Plus there are 6 of us. The price difference for the 6 of us is about $100 cheaper to rent the mini van and purchase Kennedy Tickets on our own vs buying through NCL.

Thanks!

Thank you! I will just plan that if we do get re routed than we can add a Blue Lagoon excursion. My 12 year old daughter was only 2 when we last went so it was great with a young child and going out in the water. My 8 year old son has never been. I think they will enjoy swimming there.

Hello,

I will be on the Escape in April which has a stop at Puerto Plata however I have been reading that sometimes the stop is getting changed to Nassau. Currently the port schedules show Escape and one other ship at Amber Cove on our date so I'm thinking we will be fine. But, I would like to have an idea of what we would do if our stop does change. Does anyone have a list of the Nassau excursions that were offered when your ship had a last minute change to Nassau? Our last time to Nassau was about 9 years ago and we did the Blue Lagoon excursion which we really enjoyed and would probably book that again if it was offered. 

Thanks everyone!

We just went out with Woodwind on 2/25 and had a great time! We had our 10 year old and 7 year old with us and they were great with the children. My daughter, 10, was very nervous. She is a great swimmer and has swam in the ocean many times but all of a sudden is afraid to see what she is swimming with. She spent most of the time on the boat but still had a great time. My son, 7, snorkeled the entire 45 mins both times we went out and still asked to snorkel more. He loved it so much. They had equipment to fit him including a wet suit. He just loved it! 

Thanks everyone! We have decided to do the Vroom 1 device package which is what we have used in the past. We have the International Day Pass on our phones with AT&T so if we need to make a phone call or use our phones for any reason while in port we can just do that. It's $10 per day only on days we use it.

Hello,

We will be on the Explorer pretty soon. I have hear the Voom Surf & Stream isn't that great on Explorer. We don't really plan on streaming but want the availability to use text, wifi calling and check emails. For our trip 1 device is $112 and 2 devices is $199.

In addition to the above Voom it would also be nice to use the AT&T International Day Pass while at our 4 port stops St. Maarten, Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire. We have used this before and only get charged if you actually use your phone for calls, text or data. It is $10 per day for first line and $5 for additional lines so would be $60 for both my husband and I to have phone access at port however, if we don't end up using it we won't get charged that day.

AT&T also has a cruise package that we could get instead of the above.  For $100 for the whole trip you would get unlimited talk, unlimited text plus 200 MB data OR $50 for just unlimited talk and text, no data.

Has anyone every used the AT&T cruise package on a ship?

Any insight would be great. Thanks!

6 minutes ago, Jkaczanowski said:

Water is not available in the Independence suite lounge except during happy hour (5-8pm daily).

Thanks! We will be on Explorer pretty soon so I'm guessing it will be similar. Was it cups, cans or bottles water? I'm wondering if bottles or cans if I can take a few for the room each day?

I don't have any help but will be boarding the Explorer 2/20 as you are getting off! Have an excellent trip!

Is water available in the Suite Lounge?

We are flying from Northern California Friday 2/18 to FLL and staying the night. Flying to SJU from FLL the next morning. We have Southwest points and wanted to fly with them but they do not have any flights to SJU without staying the night somewhere else first. We are doing the proctored tests at 5AM Friday morning before leaving for the airport that way if anyone is positive we won't go. This test will be used for both San Juan and the cruise!

We've never been to Puerto Rico. Staying at the Sheraton so we can be easy walking distance to Old San Juan. Our original plan had us staying an additional night at a hotel on the beach after the cruise but we changed our flights the other day to fly out same day as the cruise ends so we wouldn't have to do more testing. 

Hello! 

My family of 6 (ages 7-77) will be arriving in San Juan on 2/19 at 12:45 by plane from Fort Lauderdale. We plan to taxi to Sheraton Old San Juan, check in/drop off luggage and then go grab some lunch. 

About how long do you think it will take from landing to arriving at the hotel? 

We have a 2 hour private walking tour set up from 4-6PM. 

We need to eat after checking in at the hotel and before our tour. If we get to Raices around 2:30 how long do you think the wait would be? I was thinking wait time might be better mid afternoon then going back at like 7 at night?

Or another suggestion?

We will be getting on a cruise ship the next day but will also have more time to explore in the morning.

Thank you!

I just ordered a couple days ago from Emed. Shipping was 2 nights  Fed Ex for $40. No other option. However the 6 pack of tests from Emed comes out to $25 per test with shipping it was about $31 per test. Optum shipping was free but the 2 packs and 3 packs of tests the tests are $33 each. So really the shipping on Emed comes out to be a similar price per box. We received our tests yesterday, 2 days after ordering. 

Thanks everyone! Yes we plan to spend time together in the Royal Suite. Our other 2 rooms are also on the 10th floor near the Royal Suite. I guess we don't need the suite lounge for hanging out I was more looking for information like to do they provide bottles of water and soda in the Suite Lounge? Can I grab bottles of water to keep in our room? 

We've never stayed or had a family member stay in the Royal Suite before so not really sure what to expect. 

Thank you!

Hello!
 

My family and I will be on the Explorer out of San Juan in February. My husband, kids and I will be in a Grand Suite and my In Laws will be in the Royal Suite. I have never stayed in a suite and was reading about the Suite Lounge. Is the Suite Lounge on Explorer only open at certain times or all day? Besides alcoholic beverages they also have soda and water? Like can we run in and grab some bottles of water to take with us? I was thinking of bringing a case of water on or purchasing some to be in our room but if the Suite Lounge offers bottled water then I won't worry about bringing other drinks.

Another question, There are 8 of us travelling together as a family. My In Laws in the Royal Suite, Husband, myself, 11 year old and 7 year old in our Grand Suite and My Aunt and Grandma in an ocean view balcony. If my grandma and aunt are with us and we just walk into the Suite lounge will they make my grandma and aunt leave? They are not really drinkers but we like to all hang out together.

Any other tips on visiting the Suite Lounge?

Thank you!

We travel with family and I always link our cruise reservations so I can make online reservations for all of us and also to be sure we sit together in the MDR. Two ways to link that I know of. First, when you make your reservation tell them to link and give the other reservation #. Just did this as we booked our rooms a few months ago and a family member just booked a new room and when they made their reservation gave them my reservation # to link. Two, Just link yourself online. Login to you account. On the page where it shows your up coming reservations click on Have a Reservation? (Add your travel parties reservations) Add a cruise. Enter the name and reservation # for the cruise you want to link. Now any cruises you linked will show up in your online account. That allows me to check everyone in, make reservations etc. My extended family leaves it up to me to even check them in!

On 10/13/2021 at 7:14 AM, Sea Dog said:

If all goes well I will be on first Explorer sailing out of San Juan on November 7th. I plan on doing a semi-live review if anyone is interested.

 I am also very interested! We don't sail on Explorer until 2/20/22 however I am anxiously awaiting everyone before me to share their trips!

My family is on the Explorer 2/20/2021. We are also anxiously waiting to see how all the November cruises go and excited to read the trip reviews!

Thanks everyone! We ended up booking with the Sheraton Old Town before the cruise and the Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino for after. 4 1/2 more months to go!

Hello!

My family including a 10 year old and 7 year old will be cruising from San Juan in February. We will have 10 of us traveling together between the ages of 7 and 85!

We will be arriving into San Juan Saturday 2/19 around 12PM and departing on Explorer of the Seas the following afternoon so we only need a hotel for 1 night. My idea is to stay near Old San Juan so we can explore that area before the cruise.

Then we will be departing the ship the morning of Sunday 2/27 and won't be flying out till the following evening Monday 2/28 around 5PM so again we would need just 1 night. This time I would like to stay on or near a beach.

OR Vice Versa and we do beach first and Old San Juan after.

I was thinking of Sheraton Old San Juan for the exploring portion. I am looking at Courtyard Isla Verde, Doubletree San Juan, San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino for the beach portion.

Any other options I should be checking out or is there a preference with the hotels I listed above?

We just booked our flights today so I am trying to get the hotels finalized today or tomorrow.

Thank you!

It's official Royal Caribbean is cancelling all Alaska cruise till July 1.

https://presscenter.rclcorporate.com/press-release/89/royal-caribbean-extends-global-suspension-of-cruisingrnnbsp/?fbclid=IwAR2yFt99VgYflouf0o5SN8wCxjcxwpKHVqTNjLYZBIKiZ3Vgc6oSrwYTJHw

22 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

We did 4B.  We added a salmon bake in Fairbanks, white river float in Denali and ATVs in Denali.  Was a lot of fun!  We are happy we only did the float as the river was running high and we were on class 1 and 2 rapids.  The excursion that was the one going on the rapids was supposed to be class 1 and 2 but was class 3 and 4, that would have been too much for me!

 

Are you going to upgrade to the Tundra Wilderness Tour instead of the Natural History Tour?  Ours included the TWT and that was wonderful.  

Yes, I plan to upgrade to the TWT. That is my number 1 excursion choice and if I only get that one then I would still be happy!

I am also looking at the Husky Homestead Tour in Denali the evening we arrive, the TWT tour inside Denali the next day. Plus possibly the Scenic Float at Portage Glacier in Alyeska (Girdwood). Our tour also includes the Aerial Tram in Aleyska and then also the Wildlife Center and the Sea Life Center. 

6 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

That's good, maybe they are doing that now because of people not calling, it makes sense to take it then.  Have you seen the link with all the optional excursions you can add to your cruise tour once you meet you tour guide?  We booked a bunch of optional excursions on the cruise tour in addition to what is included.

 

Edit to add link:  http://www.royalcaribbeancruisetours.com/resources/

I have! I've already made a list of the cruise tour excursions I would like to add on the trip. Which cruise tour did you do? We are on 3B.

1 hour ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Our check in for our Alaska cruise was at 90 days.  Make sure you read your cruise documents once you get them, around 49 days out, as when we did Alaska in 2018, we had to call a number that was in the cruise documents and give them our flight information for the airport transfer that took us to the hotel for the cruise tour.  There was a deadline that you had to do that and some in our rollcall didn't see they needed to call and missed it.  This only had to be done if you booked your air independently.  

Thanks for the info!

When I called to make final payment last week the person on the phone said since I was already on the phone he would take down all my flight information since it was needed for the cruise tour pick up so I didn't have to call back. So it's already been entered but I'll probably call closer to just to confirm. 

Hello!

I know that check in for a cruise starts 90 days prior to the cruise date however I will be on an Alaska cruise tour that leaves 4 days before the cruise. So will my check in be 90 days before the actual cruise date or 90 days before my cruise tour starts?

Thank you!