RumRunner01

On 7/11/2023 at 8:27 AM, aroundtheworld96 said:

I am curious to know what sailings have The Key for over 40$ a day? 

I just booked the Wonder for April 2024 and The Key is $49.99. Yikes.

I’ve not sailed RC in a while (we’ve been sailing X), but we are eyeing up a sailing on Wonder. I know there is no way to know what upcoming sakes might be or when they may occur. I see the current sale on RC sailings is “up to $650 off plus 30% off all fares and kids sail free”. We have no kids so that part of the sale offer is of no concern to me. This sale ends tonite. 
 

Not having priced out RC sailings for quite a while, does this sale offer look good compared to what they’ve been offering? Or pretty run of the mill?. I was really hoping to find pricing or sale like X offers with everything included but I’m gathering RC just doesn’t do that kind of sale or fare bundle offer.
 

It's been a year since this post, but has anyone noticed if the Prohibition party is back? It sure was a lot of fun. It might be a factor in which ship I book.

It's real. We go our our free cruise tomorrow!

Same thing happened to me on our Equinox cruise in March. 5 times they had to change my card. Even though I had the same phone on previous cruises.In the end they gave me a plastic sleeve to put mine and my wife's cards in

I also had problems with my card on our March 3 Equinox cruise. I had to replace it several times and did not keep it near my cell phone or use a purse with magnet. I also started using the leather card holder that was in our cabin and that seemed to help.

I also suggest the Ultimate Western Caribbean. FLL round trip with a stop in Panama and you can do a day ferry ride through two canals. We did it January 2014 with my family and my husband's family. Great trip.

I've also done the full transit, 14 days, on RC Serenade, and met my current husband. We celebrated our 10 year Meetiversary this past March on a 10-night Celebrity cruise on Equinox. I've got a surprise 10-year wedding anniversary cruise to the ABC islands planned for March 2019 on RC Navigator.

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For colder itins I'd definitely choose X, because of the indoor pool, but yes price is also a factor.

We had a great time on Explorer and Silhuette though.

That's something to consider if we do a cold itin one day.

I thought I was the only one who had this tough choice. Last year we had to chose between Celebrity Solstice & Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the seas for our Alaskan Cruise. Both itineraries were 99% same, both were leaving from Seattle on the exact same date. Both 7 nights. We had traveled on the Celebrity Silhouette thrice before (and LOVED it) so we knew exactly how the Solstice would be. And having cruised on the Adventure, Mariner of the seas, we knew how the Explorer would be.

 

Each ship has its pros and cons. The Celebrity S class ships are newer, modern, contemporary and just right for us. They have amazing food, a non smoking casino (great for us) and the same laid back atmosphere as RCCL. We knew that Royal's Explorer was a much older ship, but the Royal Promenade, sports deck (for table tennis, etc) is much better than Celebrity.

 

It finally came down to the price. A balcony on Celebrity was priced at around $2000 per person, no perks, where as the Explorer was priced at $1600 per person. We kept a lookout for price drops and we were thrilled when we snagged balcony rooms on the Explorer for $999 per person.

 

While the Explorer was perfectly fine, and we had an awesome cruise, if the price is comparable, we'd choose Celebrity's S class ships over Royal's Navigator class 10 times out of 10. The ships are modern and just feels more upmarket. You can't go wrong with either. Have a great cruise.

 

Nick

Thanks for the input, Nick. I feel the same as you, we'd always pick X but I think RC will be a nice change this time, and so much savings!

I am interested in your opinion of the Navigator after you get back. Maybe you can come back and share your experience.

 

 

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Most definitely, though we aren't going until March 2019. It won't get here soon enough.

On Equinox in March lunch was 11:30-1. They said that people would stop being admitted at 1.

Ship: Equinox

Cabin #: 1674

Deck #: 11

Class: Concierge C1

Area: Aft, center

Bed Near: Balcony

Quiet: Yes, for the most part. You could hear chairs and tables being scooted around two decks above at the bar. It didn't bother us much. We really heard no noise from neighbors. When they hosed off decks above, the water would rain down on our balcony and we'd have to go in.

Balcony View: Aft, wake. Unobstructed.

Balcony Size: Large, it was about 30% wider that regular aft balcony. We had two loungers, two footstools, and a table. Plenty of room to move around furniture. It got a lot if sun.

Wind a problem? No.

Soot a problem: Not really. A few specks here and there.

Problems/Comments: Great cabin and we would book it again. We really didn't have issues with people above us looking down. Comfortable bed. Good attendant. Room service was always early.

I sure miss cruising from the west coast. We live half way between LA and SF so driving to a port would be a great option. I prefer not to sail Carnival so a cruise, for us, always involves a flight which then means we only cruise every 2-3 years. I miss RC on this coast for a quick get-away but I understand the business decision, I just don't like it.

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I would do the Navigator. We did an 8 night last April and it was great. The Navigator is essentially a Freedom class ship (which we've done 3 times) now that they updated it... Very little difference. A little shorter. No kids splash zone. Salt water pools. Cafe Promenade and Sorrento's are combined (which we liked actually)

 

The $1200 extra for the Navigator brings you up to the all inclusive feel of Celebrity with the drinks, etc... and it's still far under the price of the Celebrity cruise.

 

Dan

Dan, I completely agree. I've decided on the Navigator. Thank you for the update on her, too. It had been a long time since I have been on that class of ship but I was on a Freedom class a few years ago, so it's nice to know the amenities will be similar. I'm looking to it!

Thanks, cruisinthrough. It us a tough decision, I do like the modern newer feel of Silhouette, the ship is very important to me too. But I did book a corner aft on Nav and we love our aft cabins. So tough. And it's more difficult because it's a surprise so I can't run it by DH.

Oh, and I'm so with you on I'd Oasis Class did the ABC's. we'd be all over that too. I didn't think I'd like that class if ship but I really did. I just wish they had better itineraries.

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We are just off a Equinox and had Select dining. We got a table for two every night with less than a five minute wait (dining around 7:45 or 8). Only one night we waited 15 minutes but they gave us a pager and we went and had a cocktail, that night we dined a little earlier, around 7 or 7:15.

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Excellent points, Chemmo and Siora7777. Thank you. I think I am leaning toward Nav for this one and know we will have a different experience.

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Thanks Mapleleaf14 and Tatka. I love hearing everyone's input.

Mr Click and hcat, you both make excellent points. We are not close to Elite on X, we have a way to go, but making Diamond on RC and transferring that to Elite on X sounds great. I do like the idea of staying on the ship in Labadee, too.

Jeremiah1212, you make good points, too. This is why it's a tough decision. I also am not excited about hearing the quality of the drink package on RC has declined. We typically drink top shelf liquors. I don't consider Absolut a top shelf vodka. I'm with you, Celebrity is more our style in general, too.

I think I'm going to have to stick with the RC cruise this time around. DH can revisit an RC ship, and then when we go back to X we will be Elite. I think that he will appreciate X more.

Thanks for all the input helping me decide, everyone!

Personally, I wouldn't spend $1,600 more for a cruise where my DH will be bored.

 

 

 

Fortunately my DH prefers Celebrity as do I.

Good point. He does really enjoy Celebrity but maybe he needs to explore the activities they have on board further. Or maybe I need to get him back on RC to remind him just how active it is... it's been a while since we were on an RC ship.

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This is a long one… I need the experts’ help decidingbetween two similar yet different cruises. Early on we cruised with mainly Royal Caribbean, but our last fewcruises have been with Celebrity. Welove Celebrity and the whole vibe, but my husband got a little bored on ourlast 10-night cruise on the Equinox. Hesuggested maybe we do RC next time for the activity. It’s not like we are out dancing until 2ambut he likes the physical active things and more planned activities. He gets bored easily, me, on the other hand,can just sit in the sun for a few hours reading and have a great time. But, I thought I’d see what was out there fora March 2019 cruise.

So, I have a hold on two cruises, both vising the ABCislands which is key for us: March 15, 2019 Celebrity Silhouette 9-nightsouthern Caribbean cruise in cabin 1676, a C1 aft concierge cabin (one of thewider ones); and March 1, 2019 Royal Caribbean Navigator 9-night southern Caribbeancruise in cabin 7688, a 7D aft cabin with a huge balcony. Each cabin I have on hold is awesome.

I held the Celebrity cabin including the GoBest package fora total of about $5200. RC had a saleyesterday that made the Navigator cruise $2,415 but includes no otherperks. Tallying up the estimated cost ofa beverage package, internet package, and gratuities (based on today’s prices) wouldadd another $1,200 or so to the RC price, bringing the RC cruise to around$3,615 which is still cheaper than the Celebrity cruise, but there is no OBCincluded in the RC cruise like there is on the Celebrity with GoBest. I really like the GoBest because I can bookeverything at once and be done, and in the long run, it’s a good deal for us. However,the Navigator is probably going to be cheaper but I want a great experience too– it’s not all about the $$ for us.

Other pros and cons for our travel situation… Navigatorvisits Labadee (con) and Silhouette visits Grand Cayman (pro); this cruisewould put both of us into Diamond on RC (pro); last time I was on an RC shipthe food was so-so, but last time on Celebrity the food was fantastic; moreactive things to do on Navigator (pro); deposit on RC is only $500 and onCelebrity it’s $900 (not a deal breaker); most likely fewer kids on theCelebrity sailing (pro). I’m torn 50-50on these two cruises. Help!

We were recently on Equinox for a 10 night cruise were given two bottles for our concierge (C1) cabin. We got one the first night (we requested it that night) and then about 2/3 way through the cruise another bottle showed up. Is this typical for a 10-night sailing?

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I agree, Silk Harvest is very good. We went twice.

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I like the following (some with minor changes)

 

Mojito - lime, mint muddled, gin (rum is standard), triple sec or simple syrup, seltzer. Sometimes they are made with Sprite which I have switched out for seltzer.

Aperol spritz - Prosecco, Aperol, top w/seltzer

Alluring aperitivo - Aperol, Hendrick's gin, Fresh pink grapefruit juice

Elderflower blush - St. Germain liqueur, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Fresh lemon juice, Basil, Strawberries, fill with Seltzer (Sprite is supposed to be used)

Mint lemonade - nonalcoholic

Fresh cucumber gimlet - Hendrick's Gin, Lime juice, Simple syrup, Cucumbers muddled & garnish

I second the aperol spritz for a hot day by the pool. I'll have to try the alluring aperitivo next time. And I liked the elderflower blush, too, light and tasty.

I'd love to suggest a grasshopper at the Martini Bar, for something different. If you are on Equinox, Marco at the Martini Bar makes an extra tasty one.

We just got off the Equinox yesterday morning. We were in C1 #1674, right in the center on deck 11. We loved the cabin since it had a wider balcony. We really had no soot. We did have plenty of sun. Our attendant, Igede was very good. Our only issue was that the bed orientation makes you rock head to foot rather than side to side like in a regular verandah cabin. Our sailing had extremely rough seas the first three days/nights and it was quite unsettling rocking heat to foot so vigorously. Other than that we loved thus cabin.

Thank you barneyboy and Escriteur.

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