taglovestocruise

7 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

In trying to get on a Quantum ship for the first time, but wanting something longer than a 4-nighter, I'm looking at a 4-nighter on Quantum then a 3-nighter on Navigator with a day in between. Our dates are limited due to school breaks.

Obviously it's feasible to do, but I'm curious if anyone has done that type of trip with a gap and if they felt it was worth it or if the 1 day gap just to do a 3-nighter after that was more annoying than it's worth.

How about a B2B on Quantum.  One stop on Catalina and one stop in Ensenada is not worth the 3 nighter on Navigator. 

58 minutes ago, lonig said:

Has anyone stayed in this Junior Suite?  Can you hear the singing from the Schooner Bar at night?  

You would hear absolutely nothing. happy sailing, hump cabins are great.

55 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Solo's still treated like crap on Celebrity

Pretty harsh words from a Canadian..

25 minutes ago, wolfie11 said:

This happened recently on Brilliance to a friend of mine. She went to the medical center with a cough hoping to get some cough syrup as they didn’t sell it in the onboard shop. At the medical center she was tested, x-rayed and diagnosed with pneumonia and a heart condition.  She was told she would be disembarked in Ketchikan as the condition was too serious to be allowed to remain on board for the 36-hour transit to Vancouver.  In addition, she was told she had be transported to the hospital by ambulance because of the heart problem. Within the hour a charge of almost $1900 was made on her onboard account and her credit card run.

 

At the Ketchikan hospital she was examined and told she was fine. She had a cold with some bronchitis and there was no heart problem .The doctor wrote a medical clearance with the real diagnosis and called the ship and told them he was sending her back.  The ship’s doctor refused to let her back on the ship.  Basically, she was dumped in Ketchikan and told she would have to arrange and pay for hotels and flights home as well as pay a $1000 fine for violating the PVSA by getting off in a US port! (Yes, she had insurance)

 

So be warned that showing up at the medical center can lead to unwanted and very expensive consequences at the hands of evidently completely incompetent medical doctors.  Unfortunately, this type of thing doesn’t seem to be that rare.

Maybe the Ketchikan Doctors are the ones in the wrong. 

1 hour ago, eyelovcrusin said:

Trying to make reservations but getting frustrated. We have 6 adults and 3 children all under 12. It only allows up to 8. Thinking 2 tables and then check with Maitre d when on board to see if they can combine tables or just add an extra chair? Anyone have experience with this? BTW Chops. Also, when going through the process on the app, I don’t see where I can specify kids vs adults. It wants to charge all as adults. How can I get the kids as the kids price?

Easiest way is to book and pay for all as adults. Once onboard you let them know three are children and receive a OBC.  We took our 11 year old granddaughter to chops, there was no way she would eat from the kids menu. Just let them know you need only one table, a extra chair would be no problem. Or just book for 8 and show up with the little tagalong and they will make do and charge you $10. 

2 hours ago, Fionat29 said:

Thanks for all your answers, I discovered the time slots as soon as I began the check-in process, so we've chosen a later time slot so that there's no rush to get there.

Last cruise from Southampton no one checked anyones time. 

3 hours ago, Billy Baltic said:

Just for clarification if you booked in the UK or Ireland you cannot price adjust. If you book at a price you’re stuck with it. 

Puts a kink in the phrase.... Luck of the Irish.  

1 hour ago, OnTheJourney said:

I think that one could use some explanation (?) How does one play a piano while in the elevator?

He plays a upright. Travels up and down for about a hour, elevator still holds 5 or 6 people.  On Oasis class he is always in the elevators, we saw the guy several times on Ovation and Quantum and he was always in the area of the rear elevators near Vintages. 

1 hour ago, GTO-Girl said:

we have a friend that has worked for Bank America for many years. He told us never to use a debit card as they do not have the same protection as a credit card.  I have to believe him since that is what he does all day…

Navy Federal Credit Cards

navyfederal.org

https://www.navyfederal.org

 

---

 

No Foreign Transaction Fees — Dreaming Of A Getaway? With The Flagship Card, You'll Earn 3X Points On Travel Purchases.

 

5 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

You don’t need to provide a debit/credit card to your account. Your daughter can simply use cash to pay any charges she may accumulate during the cruise. I would not recommend using a debit card, since debit cards offer little protection against fraud unlike credit cards. 

We have three different debit cards.  One from the bank and two from credit unions.  All three have the visa logo and have the same protections as any other credit card. That being said I completely agree with you that a cash account is a far better choice.  

1 hour ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

To add to what others have stated, you have to purchase it on the ship. Also, it only applies for dinner on the first two nights of the cruise. As previously mentioned you will no doubt hear about exceptions to the two items mentioned above, but remember they are exceptions, not the norm. 

Over the last two years we have booked and payed the BOGO on day one but used it much later in the week. We have done this on Ovation, Quantum and Navigator.  There has never been any difficulty in reserving for later in the week. 

6 minutes ago, Ocean Boy said:

In today's newsletter from RCI it states that Allure is finally going to be amped and before it heads to the Med next summer. Very unfortunate for those of us who like the ship the way it is. I guess we can say goodbye to its great DL (Crown Lounge) soon and here comes the slides.

$1300 for the 13 night TA in OCT 2025 for a ocean view balcony GTY. . .  We did the TA on Allure several years ago and it was fantastic. 

4 hours ago, Oceansaway17 said:

I think they should just do away with GTY rooms altogether.  Everyone should pick a room and be done with it.

A lot of people need the discount, or think they do, for a GTY. 

1 minute ago, ranchette said:

What are the amenities given to a junior suite and being a diamond member if any?

A coffee pot in your room, maybe a dinner at Costal Kitchen, a bathtub and a larger closet. 

A little paste and copy.

He went in planning to hate it, pre-skewering his fellow passengers, and looking for a sardonic angle. He traveled alone and was shocked that he was not immediately adopted by others on the ship for whom he obviously felt contempt (and therefore dressed accordingly) and who had spent their personal money (not their expense account)to enjoy their time with people who actually liked them. He expects to be entertained, because he obviously has a problem entertaining himself, but sneers at all the entertainments for which he has been comped. He does little but complain about a luxurious suite. He spends an inordinate amount of time making ethnic-centered comments about the staff on the ship, and notes specifically that the language he can hear through his vents is Spanish. This is all on the first day, and most before they have left port.

Shteyngart ended exactly where he started, with nothing but contempt for the "kind of people" who take cruises, and nine thousand words is a long way to go to take the reader exactly nowhere. I found myself wondering if smug condescension of the "creative class" toward their perceived cultural enemies (i.e., "middle America") is really what this country needs right now, and why The Atlantic's editors would publish something like this. But after dropping $19,000 on Shteyngart's suite, plus whatever they paid for his verbiage, they probably didn't have much choice but to run it.

1 hour ago, reallyitsmema said:

 

Suggested dress is smart casual but you will see many in shorts.

For Formal night Specialty..

3 hours ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

If all of the balcony cabins are sold out, they'll have to upgrade your balcony GTY to a suite. 😁

2 hours ago, Howsag said:

Hi hoping someone can kindly help me?

 

im sailing from Southampton this week on Anthem of the seas and because our flight home is late evening I’ve purchased the Stay Awhile for the final day, i had already purchased airport transfers through Royal Caribbean so I assume they will still do this or won’t they? Has anyone experiance this before? Thank you!

Can not answer your question but perhaps you will answer one from me. How late are you able to stay, what is the cost and what happens to your luggage. Happy Cruising

Just now, Strawbry Shrtcake said:

Hello,

I know most will answer this is a personal preference, but I will ask anyway because I am curious as to what reason one would choose deck 11 over 12 or vice versa.  So I have a choice between a balcony room on deck 11 or 12, is one better over the other? Or really in this case makes no difference??

Thanks for any input! 🙂

 

60 nights on Oasis Class, Always deck 12 forward hump. We pick deck 12 forward because there are 50 fewer cabins. Cabin space is replaced by the bridge. Deck 12 forward is very quiet  with far less elevator use. As you say it is just our preference. 

You are picking a checkin time not a boarding time. 

Stay on the ship and take full advantage of the slides and pools.  Big ditto to post #8. We also did this excursion while on Symphony after the TA from Barcelona.  Boarded the shuttle around 10am. Sat on the bus for nearly a hour waiting for everyone to show up. Lots of traffic and took nearly a hour to reach the park. As we arrived and the bus was in the parking lot the driver told everyone to be back by 3pm and no later because of road work being done. Left only three hours in the park and did a couple of rides and that was it.  Our entire bus load of passengers went straight to the excursion desk that was located in the photo area as we boarded and made our complaints.  Royal gave everyone a full refund as OBC. There was another excursion that went to Disney Springs and those people were much happier. You are going in August,,, the park will be a super packed hot house. A day at Disney is not enough, 4 hours of park time will be a great disappointment. Just my 2 cents worth. Have fun

49 minutes ago, EbayCruiser said:

The price for our 4 night cruise is $189.99 pp that includes gratuities.  It is listed as 40% off.

 

Never purchased UDP 

 

 

 

 

Not sure what your question is. Yes,  there will be plenty purchasing the UDP. Thats $48 per meal, not a bad price. Even better if you have a sea day where a specialty lunch would also be included.  The 40% off number is from the price you would pay if booked onboard.  With the UDP you would still need to make all reservations as soon as you board. 

2 hours ago, blue is the best said:

Does anyone know if the smoothies at the Vitality Spa Cafe are made with fresh fruit and can you use your diamond drinks for them.

Fresh fruit is a yes.

D vouchers also a yes. 

2 minutes ago, mtspit1 said:

I am booked for a cruise in mid June and all of the aqua shows are already sold out. Is it possible to still get tickets at this point or after boarding the ship?  Tyia

May be possible to get tickets on boarding day, keep checking cruise planner for openings. There is also a standby line for every show on Allure. 

Multi story dining room and Playmakers make the ultra class a step above. 17 nights on Ovation and Quantum and they they are by far our least favorite of all Royal ships.