KarenRB

I have a Costco membership just for the travel discounts. Rarely shop there. What I save on car rentals more than pays for my membership.

I'm going to be Platinum after my next cruise and was looking at the Terms & Conditions. Just curious about the restriction that the coupons can't be used in the same venue twice. Any idea why?

I'll be returning a rental car at MIA and cruising out of the Port of Miami. Several years ago, I took a free shuttle offered by Alamo and Enterprise when doing this. Does anyone know if this is still offered? Was going to call Alamo but saw their customer service for questions doesn't open until Monday. Thanks

Thanks, all. I learned a lot.

Just to be clear: same ship, same itinerary, same cabin, different departure date. I'm going to do a mock booking for the second week online and see if I get the same price as I got with the rep.

I booked a cruise online and was charged taxes, port expenses and fees on the listed "sale" price. (Regular studio price $2275. Sale Guest Fare $1479. Taxes & fees $243.) Decided to turn it into a B2B but the same cabin number wasn't showing as being available online for the following week. Called and found out the cabin actually was available so I had the rep book it for me. The cost for both weeks was listed as $1479. Noticed on the invoice she booked for me, the totals weren't the same. She had the Guest Fare listed as $2275, the taxes as $296 and then a "Savings" of $796. Booking it this way caused the second week to be $50 more even though the base prices were the same. I went through my reservations for the other four cruises (squee!) I have booked over the next two years and saw two had taxes charged on the before savings amount and two just listed the Guest Fare as the sale price and taxed that amount. Anyone know what amount is supposed to be taxed?

Did a B2B on Prima at the end of March. Booked them relatively late so didn't have Vibe pre-booked for either leg. I was one of the first 100 people onboard and went directly to Guest Services. There was a big sign that Vibe was fully booked. Stood in line anyway to ask about being put on a waiting list but she said there wasn't such a thing. Scooted over to the Theater where they were handling entertainment reservations but nobody there was selling passes and the referred me to Guest Services. Sigh. If ever there was a cruise where I'd have paid double for a Vibe pass it was this one. Cruise left out of Galveston and I didn't realize spring break was so late in Texas. There were over 600 kids onboard. I'm not kidding when I say there was nowhere to sit at the buffet, pool deck or on deck 8. I was in a studio so couldn't hangout on the balcony. I longingly looked through the doors into Vibe and it never really looked crowded all week. Several times during the week, when I had to go to Guest Services for something, I'd ask if they ever sold passes to Vibe on embarkation. Each person told me no. The day before the second leg of the B2B, I went to Guest Services to get my new Sea Pass and got waited on by a really nice woman who usually worked at the Onboard Credit desk. I asked (OK, begged) about being able to get a Vibe pass for the next leg. She said she'd have an answer for me the next day after they "knew the numbers". Stopped by Guest Services after we were cleared by Customs and she had a pass waiting for me. Through my tears, I noticed the fully booked Vibe sign was back out before any new guests were let on the ship. So after all that verbiage, I guess the jury's still out. It seems like they don't hold back some passes. I have no way of verifying but it felt like I got one as a perk of booking a B2B.

Just got off Prima also and had no problem seeing them. There was a drop down arrow at the top of the screen where you could toggle between decks. Was using an iPhone if that matters.

Just an FYI that the cabin category upgrade perk doesn't apply to solo cabins, i.e., studios or solo balconies don't qualify. I tried last week when the only solo balconies on the cruise I wanted were right by Splash Academy. Even gave a pouty face but the guy just laughed.

Heard at the buffet this morning: A "gentleman" in his 80s was moving the ropes to get to the buffet food even though it didn't open for another 15 min. The sweet girl behind the food line told him the buffet wasn't open yet and where he could get some food. His response? "Give me two g** d*** bananas NOW!" I'm ashamed to say I sunk to his level and told him he was a jacka**.

Asawi is correct. On the main screen that comes up with the "Things To Do" links, in the upper right corner are three horizontal bars. Click on this and you'll see a Deck Maps link.

Also, an FYI to keep your meds with you. Twice so far since embarkation, they've left a sheet in our cabins to check under our beds (huh?) for a misdelivered small piece of luggage. They stated it contains medications. My heart goes out to that person.

I'm on Prima. The drop off area was the Improv. There was a big sign in the Atrium. I didn't use it so can't say how secure it was. For both legs of my B2B, the rooms weren't ready before 2:30pm. At that time, they announced individual decks as they became ready.

I'm currently doing a B2B on Prima and agree with your points. I do have perspective on spring break vs non and the deck 8 Ocean Walk over crowding issue. Last week, we had over 600 kids on board. There was literally no place to sit at either the pool deck or on deck 8. I couldn't get a Vibe pass last week and on sea days, I'd walk for an hour looking for somewhere outside to sit. This week, very few kids and still pretty much every lounger has a caboose sitting on it. Way too much real estate is taken up by Vibe and The Haven. I think deck 17 (pool, buffet, Vibe, Observation Lounge) was designed by someone with a substance problem. Although the staff has been excellent, the price would need to be really great to get me on a Prima class ship again.

I hope to sit next to you some day.