comfortcove

I would definitely go with ABC islands. That is a very nice itinerary, and hurricanes are not a problem there. It definitely could wreck your cruise on the other option. We got evacuated on our Labor Day week vacation last year due to Dorian. I am still bitter, lol. Vacation time = precious time.

We upgraded to the drinks and more package the week before boarding the Equinox 1/18 Eastern Caribbean sailing. It was well worth it for us. Our minibar was restocked daily and including 2 cokes, sometimes more (we requested diet and it was honored), 4 mini Titos Vodka or Sky, 2 large Evians, 1 split La Crema chardonnay (which we drank every evening), 1 split Kendall Jackson cab, Kind bars and 2 cans pringles (we both dislike pringles, haha!). We received four bottles of house grade wine on Day 1, and they let us exchange the red for the white. Loved the cold Evian, and convenience of the minibar even with the premium drink package, although much of the alcohol was never consumed. 

We did not attend wine tasting.

I won $125 on video poker with my casino credit, we lost my husband's. I cashed out and spread the joy with some extra tips. I would have given extra tips anyway, as our waiter Raul, steward Ali and wine steward were all very excellent, as was the entire cheerful crew on the Equinox. We paid $124 in ship credit for the upgrade, so definitely a win-win. If you like to gamble at all and already have premium drink package I would recommend it for a shorter cruise.

We had no complaints about this cruise, enjoyed everything, so much so we booked onboard for a Northern Europe Silhouette itinerary summer of 2021, and got a good price and all four perks. It was transferred to our agent and we got more credit, and they could not beat the price. 

We got off the Equinox past Saturday, and it was a cloth bag as pictured.

We recently sailed on the Explorer (9/22), and had the drink package. we DID think mixed drinks were weak, but I think this is a general thing onboard depending on the bar. Dizzy's had stout drinks, Sky Bar not so much. If we were hanging out at a bar during daylight hours it usually was the Sky Bar to watch activities or sailaway. Ditto on the wine, it was fine. I am a chard drinker and found the Kendall Jackson and Clos de Bois chilled and flowing. Solarium Bar was also good spot for a better cocktail.

I think the drinks are weak whether you have a package or not. If we did get a mixed drink, and I did not get many of them, we would drink some and then return to the bar and ask for an extra shot if it was too weak. Bartenders did this cheerfully, except for one at the Sky Bar who was generally less than stellar. He was the only RCI employee we encountered on the cruise who was less than awesome. He seemed to not like women, and made a few snide comments to me and my friend when our husband's were not with us. She ordered a moscow mule and he used some cheap never heard of it vodka, when the menu clearly stated Absolut. She questioned him on it, there was a bottle of Absolut, Grey Goose and Tito's right there, and he did not offer to remake the drink. We avoided him in the future.

We always tipped a little for drinks, $2-5, depending on how long we are at a bar, even with the package. All in all bar service very good, but have to concur on the weak drinks. I do not think it is watered down, they just do small pours.

Many thanks for the insights, it is a whole new booking experience. We will not book until next week, but I am doing the homework. It appears that it is either the Explore 4 with no deposit required at all, or the non-refundable full fare required option on these two longer sailings. Interesting strategy on HAL's part!

No, sorry, I didn't take any. But, if you do a search, somewhere a kind soul posted some on CC, because I viewed them before I chose our cabins. I think they are standard size, but they have newer finishes, light wood and a wall mounted LG TV. We liked it up there! If you are prone to sea sickness, probably a no go. They were added in 2015 refit.

This was our first sailing with Royal Caribbean in sometime. My husband and I sailed (Virginians), and met our dear friends, a couple from Arizona. We had two balcony cabins on Deck 12. We all purchased the deluxe beverage package, and the VOOM.

Embarkation had lines, but moved very fast. We were dropped off at Smith's Cove Pier around 10:45, and were onboard before noon.

The ship is lovely, and has character. From some reviews here, I was expecting a rusty old tub. She is a lovely ship, expertly maintained, and spotlessly clean. Perhaps it helped that we were in the new balcony cabins up top. We loved the location, and the views were spectacular. The weather was outstanding, generally warm and sunny with smooth seas. Our steward, Ushnesh, was great and did his best to satisfy every request. We spent very little time on our balaconies this trip.

We went to about four shows, and they were all good. Loved the Ice show! There was plenty to do or not do, and generally we made our own fun.

The food was fine, not exceptional, but fine. I thought breakfast in the Lido was generally very good. We had anytime MDR, standing reservation for 7:45 with Peter and George. We had a nice four top by the window every night. The food was generally good, prime rib was only really bad dish. There was always something we DID like, and our servers bent over backwards to accomodate us. They always had our wine ready, and kept it coming. We ate in Chops one night, and it was very good.

I really don't like the coffee on board, bad everywhere, and used our drink card for specialty coffee on Deck 5 many times.

The crew was friendly and very good at what they do. They were oustanding in every way.

This was a great cruise, it went by way too quickly and seemed like a long weekend, rather than a week. My husband, my friend (a former travel agency owner), and myself all agreed the Explorer is a great ship. We all have many cruises in our pasts. My friend's husband had never cruised before, and he loved it. His enthusiasm was refreshing and contagious.

The ports were all good. Astoria was small and quaint, San Francisco vibrant and busy, Victoria was quite lovely, and we just walked around some there.

Debarkation was very easy, no lines whatsoever. We got off in a later group, as we were staying in Seattle for the entire weekend. Our friends did the early self dis-embarkation, as they had an 11 AM flight. They had time on their hands at the gate. The Seattle airport is very busy, and security was backed up the night we finally left.

My only complaint regarding the Explorer would be the hard beds. Our steward did his best to make it softer, he attempted two different fixes, but it remained hard. This is really an issue for us when contemplating longer cruises. DH retiring early 2018 and I think we might finally do a transatlantic, but probably not on RCI. We need to sleep comfotably. It is a personal issue, our friends like hard beds, so it was good for them.

I think we got our mileage out of the drink package. We enjoyed many non alcoholic waters, coffees, diet cokes (me), beer (DH), coctails and wine with dinner every night.I did not keep a tally, but enjoyed the freedom to not have to keep up with it. Just in case anyway wants it, they don't have Vitamin Water on the Explorer. I had read they did, and kept looking for it, until a bartender finally told me they no longer have it. The internet is pretty bad on the Explorer. Fortunately, we did not really need it, especially with all of the domestic ports. I took some Canda Dry diet ginger ale on board, and some wine. No comments from anyone boarding. We never even cracked the wine open!

All in all a wonderful, memorable trip enhanced by our cheerful companions and the gracious crew of the Exxplorer!

I am not clear on a few details, as I haven't booked a HAL cruise in about two years. We are looking at two lengthy itineraries for Fall 2018, Europe with potentially our very first transatlantic, of which we hope to choose one and book. It appears that Explore 4 is available for both booking with HAL. Prices are higher than on the few online TA sites I checked. Is Explore 4 only available when booking through HAL, but not through TA's? Also, I am not familiar with the new non-refundable deposits. Thanks for any guidance on both Explore 4 and the new non-refundable fares. I know about non-refundable fares in final payment window, but this is new to us.

Have a wonderful cruise, and happy holidays. This sounds like a grand trip!

There was one pasta dish that was good. The pasta dish with meat sauce had no meat. The chicken cacciatore was extremely dry. The meatballs were also dry. The tiramisu on the new menu is different and much better. There was no gnocchi dish which was beyond excellent on the Oosterdam. You can be rest assured none of the pax I dined with are picky eaters.

 

I know there were several complaints by pax on the cruise ending the 16th. The culinary manager even approached our friends from Holland to apologize for their experience. Maybe this is what turned the tide for the quality of the food. I hope so.

You really need to relax, food tastes are extremely subjective.

We ate at Canaletto two nights ago. DH, big pasta fan, declared it excellent. No it is not the shared plates. We thought it was very good. Mainly, I wanted tiramisu and gelato, husband wanted good italian food. We both liked it quite a bit!

We were this same cruise, and overall I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will be posting an overview of our trip in the next few days. (just returned, and am overwhelmed with reality, unfortunately!)

I thought the service was great, from stewards, to waiters, and concierge (phone concierge available to SS guests). Wine service was annoying. Disembarkation was nightmare-ish due to only 2, at times 3, customs agents on duty for the whole ship!

The ship was beautiful. I will post a report soon. We were not looking for alot of organized activities so our perspective may be different than yours. We must have met you, because we saw you getting off the elevator with your beautiful ship and talked to you for a minute. You said it was for your steward, and it was a beauty!

I got our own upsell on this cruise by calling the TA several times. It may have been less expensive if the offer had come from a PCC, but i know we paid less for our initial booking than HAL was offering, at least $1400 less for a ten day cruise. I feel we got a very good price for an SS.

We also have never used a PCC, although one reached out to us several times. Like Hank, we always seem to do better with one large online agency, resulting in better price and some OBC. Our upcoming Noordam cruise will be our first on Holland in several years though.

I am mostly a wine drinker, but love fresh mango drinks. You guys have given me some new things to try this time. I will try the infamous wang wang, also the skinny berry Rita, and the cosmo cabana. We leave for Florida in 12 days. I have lots to do before then, including a big Thanksgiving at my house. Nice to have some good cocktails to look forward to! DH will drink wine or bourbon, period. That reiminds me, we need to order some bourbon for cabin. I hope they have something decent, last time they only had Jim Beam for order.

I am sure kitty really wants to go, too. Have a great time! I have never sailed on Oceania, but we have had some really good offers from them, and Viking too. Have fun!

Nancy

Unless we were driving to the port, it s just too much trouble to check a box of liquor. That used to be a fun score coming back from the Caribbean, Christmas cheer and then some! So you actually check those 6 pack boxes, and they get to your destination? Up until about 12 years ago we could carry on that stuff! Those were the good old days!

What is a Vista Suite? I am truly confused by all of Holland America's suite categories....i will go look it up now. Good luck, I hope you get what you want!

Ruth, i hope you have the best cruise, and good luck with all of the little stuff, like kitty in your suitcase!

Nancy

Have a wonderful cruise! I hope they give you lots of ice.

Nancy

Thanks for all of your posts. It sounds like a great time, and welcome home! Someday when we retire I want to do some TA and longer repositioning cruises. Enjoy your new bridge skills!

I am happy for you. I was able to purchase a similar upgrade yesterday, so I understand your excitement!

Have a wonderful cruise!

Thank you all, now i am getting excited for this cruise! I woke up this AM and had to check our reservation to see the assignment was still there, and TaDa, it is!

This turned out really well because when I called I was prepared to pay full upgrade price each time. This offer was a surprise, and getting an assignment when they told me it was a gaurantee makes me really happy. I had been stressing over the whole guarantee status. Maybe i have passed the age of travel flexibility!

I think we can be very happy in an SS!

If I ever need to send a passenger a gift, I'll scrap the flowers and chocolate covered strawberries. I'll simply send them a bag of ice.

That is really a good one! Send it in a styrofoam cooler, so he precious commodityvdoes not melt!

Yes, i will do due diligence, after extensive sampling and research will let you all know my humble opinion! Fruit crisps with a little ice cream sound mighty good.....