RoperDK

If your budget allows, there is always the casino. 

I've never done a TA, but have crossed the Pacific after 7 days cruising around Hawaii.  It was a welcome break from the non-stop Hawaii itinerary and we enjoyed relaxing on the sea days.  We love sea days, but even we have our limits.      

On 9/1/2023 at 5:48 AM, Biker19 said:

About 2.5 years from the last one. 

   When was the last one?

13 minutes ago, topnole said:

Doesn’t the survey ask about stuff like this for multiple days prior?  Seems from my memory it would be impossible to answer the questions honestly without being flagged for health reasons (and likely denied boarding).  One would how folks aren’t lying about stomach bug type illness and really hope they stay away from windjammer and any pool if they do lie.   

Just had the health questionnaire show up in the app. The question says in the last 24 hours now. 

58 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

How is hubby doing this morning?

He is feeling great this morning!  Fever broke last night and he slept like a baby.  Feeling like his old self now.  I still have no symptoms.  I truly wonder if it was something he ate after golf the day before.  We are proceeding with the trip, minus the family visit.  If something does creep up then we will deal with it.  There is always Urgent Care.  We would never board a ship knowing we were sick.  Wish us luck!

47 minutes ago, Goodtime Cruizin said:

 

This. Use the insurance. All he is going to do is get others sick. Don't do it. 

I'm all for going on the cruise if this is just a 24 hr passing type of illness.  If it isn't, how do I know that Royal will cover this with their insurance?  This is a big concern.  Our cruise wasn't cheap.  Unfortunately, the timing of this illness is terrible.  

14 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

If I was you, I would cancel your Thursday plans.  Let him rest, plenty of fluids and see how he feels Friday before calling Royal.  

I hope he feels better soon and for you to remain well too

That is our working plan now.  Can't chance exposing my 96 year old father to whatever this is.  Going to get Dr. appt in AM and go from there.  It will be a helluva drive for us on Friday if we can go.  Crossing my fingers that I am not next in line for this.   

Well, now he has a fever of 100.4 and actively vomiting.  Sorry if TMI, but we have an 8 hour drive tomorrow morning and doubt he could make it at this point.  Should I call Royal?  Will they flag us?  Would hate to drive that far and be denied boarding.  I thought that they didn't want to board people with viruses.  What happens to those that are sick at the pier?  Do they not refund your money if they won't allow you onboard?  Would you like to cruise with us?  I have the option of skipping the family visit which is going to happen because I don't want to bring this to my 96 year old father.  However, it is a long one day drive and it would be beyond a bummer if we couldn't board and also be denied a refund.   

We are supposed to cruise on Saturday.  Check in time of 10:30. DH woke up today feeling off.  Nauseous, runny nose, lethargy and chills with no fever that we can tell. It could be allergies/sinuses, but he hasn't improved today at all after taking meds. We tested for covid and it was negative.  We are supposed to leave in the morning (Thursday) to drive to see family for one night and then overnight at a port hotel (Friday).  It is horrible timing.  Can't really wait it out and see what happens and shouldn't go and expose family or cruisers to whatever it might be.  We have Royal's insurance.  Does anyone know the timing of the cancel for any reason or what proof you might need to cancel for sickness under these circumstances?  In my 40 cruises, this is a new one on me.  Help!

Expresso martini if you need a pick me up to keep on going at night. 

We've never been told about the 11-11 drinks available.  They are just there.  My last Oasis sky class cruise was last October, so who knows what is available now. 

IMHO the suite lounge dress code is evolving.  A nice pair or dress shorts and collared golf shirt was perfectly acceptable and seen often.  Is that smart casual?  Perhaps it is now.  I've seen an occasional grumble from suite guests, but not from the concierge.  Someone popped in with flip flops, gym shorts, and t-shirt and it did seem out of place.  However, they just got some snacks and left.  Perfectly okay in my book.  During the day, I wouldn't worry about dressing up.  DH takes slacks for the evening, but stuff happens and sometimes he wears nice shorts in the evening.  BTW....these were Caribbean cruises.

Our cruise is next weekend out of PC.  I believe I jinxed everyone because last week I was saying "You know, there haven't been any storms this year.  We are lucky."  🤣  Over the years we have cruised many times during hurricane season and have been affected only when the embarkation port was impacted.  We have had to change ports at times, but always had smooth sailings.  I really wouldn't worry about it.  Many times the storms either never appear or change directions.  

In general, Oasis class docks on the starboard side.  Pick a side depending on whether you want to see people on the dock (and possibly the balconies of a ship just yards away) or open water.  We usually choose dockside, but sometimes change it to the open side to have some peace and privacy.  Oasis class can and sometimes does dock on the port side, but most often it is starboard.  There may or may not be a ship next to you blocking your view.  If there are multiple docks at the port you can't really predict what your view will be. 

7 minutes ago, jx2mom said:

Sailing in Sky Class Summer 2024 on Symphony of the Seas from Cape Liberty, NJ. Specifically, in a 2br Grand Suite. I know this is the first time Symphony will be cruising from this port. It is my understanding that I will have all-day access to Coastal Kitchen, with reservations for dinner recommended. 

While I've never sailed from Cape Liberty, you are correct that with Sky Class you have all day access to Coastal Kitchen.  You can go directly there when you board.  They do serve lunch on embarkation day. Reservations are only required for dinner.

7 minutes ago, jx2mom said:

 

(1) How does priority embarkation work from this port? I believe priority disembarkation happens from Coastal Kitchen where the Concierge escorts passengers down in a dedicated elevator. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)

Again, don't know about this port for embarkation.  On my Sky class sailings lately, the concierge had us meet at a location on the disembarkation deck and once luggage was available in the terminal, they would escort us to the front of the line of those doing self assist and had us ping out and then we were on our own.

7 minutes ago, jx2mom said:

(2) Does the Concierge contact you in advance of the sailing? What is planned in advance other than excursions and dinner reservations? 

You should get an email 5 or so days before you cruise from the concierge explaining your benefits. They ask you to reply if you have any questions. I usually request my Coastal Kitchen dinner reservations at that time. 

7 minutes ago, jx2mom said:

(3) Is the Concierge stationed in the suite lounge next to Coastal Kitchen? What are the general hours of the Suite Lounge and what does it offer?

Yes, the concierge has a desk area in the suite lounge.  The concierge hours are posted.  They are always there during happy hours.  The suite lounge is open 24/7.  They have a coffee machine and offer continental breakfast and evening snacks along with free drinks from 5 to 7 or 8 PM.

7 minutes ago, jx2mom said:

(4) Can we come and go from the Suite sun deck as we please? 

Yes, I'm not aware of any restrictions.  The bar isn't open all of the time though.

Enjoy!

Going on Mariner soon.  I reserved 7:30 each night a while back in the app.  On the first night I wanted to change the time to later so I could spend some time in the casino when it opens. 😇 You can't change it in the app once you have a reservation.  Do I just show up late, say I'm sorry and not worry about it?  Normally, we would tell them the night before and make arrangements.  I don't want to stand in line when the MDR opens just to tell them I'll be late.  What is the best way to handle this?   

22 hours ago, Falling_down said:

We booked the 4 day cruise at the same time we booked a 7 day on Mardi Gras for March 2024. I am really hoping we will have a better experience on the longer cruise on a newer ship. *fingers crossed*

Don't worry. You will have a completely different experience on the Mardi Gras.  Most people really enjoy it.  We didn't dislike it, we just prefer the Royal product.  I am hoping that Royal isn't going to continue the cutbacks and quality reductions while raising prices at the same time.  If they do, we will be on the hunt again for a "favorite" cruise line. 

15 minutes ago, Falling_down said:

I just got off a 4 day Carnival cruise (my first in 11 years) and I have to agree with you on the food. They beat RC hand over fist on absolutely everything food (and even drink) related. However, the rest of the cruise was an absolute DISASTER. Rampant drug use all over the ship both inside and out, dilapidated decking and rusty faded chairs, the AC sucks and most venues were incredibly hot including our rooms, the entire shower fixture (shower head, pipe and all) fell down on my teenage daughter while she was showering and it took them two days to fix it, never mind the condition of the ship itself (they really suck at cleaning or picking up trash laying around in general and the lack of general maintenance of the ship itself is sad) had me reconsidering ever sailing with them again.

Oh my, how horrible!  How could ANY cruise line let their ship get so run down. We don't cruise with Carnival anymore. Too many things going wrong.  I will say that if you go on longer cruises on a new ship, you will find a different experience.  We were on the Mardi Gras for the second time this past January and decided that we needed to move on from Carnival even though we are almost Diamond with them.  I was encouraged when they announced the new food menus as people have been complaining about food for such a long time.  

54 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I wouldn't debate a word of it.  

 

My last cruise was in October 2022, Independence of the Seas.  It did have marinated cheese and olives.  I'm fairly sure that there were other items too.  But, I don't eat any other items and didn't pay attention to it.

I sure hope they brought the additional items back!  However, our cruises on Harmony at the end of October 2022 and most definitely on Wonder in January 2023 only had pizza.  I thought I might have gone at the wrong time on Harmony, but I checked multiple times on Wonder.  I was so bummed.  I really enjoyed those items. 

16 hours ago, Ret MP said:

   Don't get me wrong, I eat pizza at Sorrento's probably 2 times a day while on an RCCL ship.  But, what I really like is their marinated cheeses and olives.  Their pizza is less than average as far as I'm concerned. 

 

Don't know how long it's been since your last cruise, but on my last 2 cruises, the extras they served with their pizza are now a thing of the past.  I loved the marinated grilled veggies and all of the other offerings.  Now all they have is the mediocre pizza.  I still grab a late night slice once or twice during the cruise because there really aren't any other options.  I doubt that the continual price increases while cutting back on services is a good business model in the long term.  I'm sure stockholders are happy and the decision makers are patting themselves on the back right now.  There are only so many first time cruisers with large bank accounts to go around.  Repeat cruisers aren't dumb.  They can see that they are paying higher prices for a lesser product.  At some point booking behavior will change.  Ours already has.  On a positive note, some cruise lines are deciding to make changes already.  Carnival is improving the dining room menus and bringing back loyalty events that had been discontinued.        

18 hours ago, nferr said:

 

I often stay in hotels more than one night, especially if I'm on vacation or just doing a long weekend somewhere. Most hotels don't touch your room anymore unless you have a special request. Twice a day is pretty ridiculous when you think about it.

I've already responded to this post about Royal's once a day cleaning.  I think for the most part, once a day cleaning is just fine.  There are times though when an additional tidying up is appreciated.  This post is about hotel service.  We recently stayed at a hotel that had resumed daily housekeeping.  What a joy!  No calling for extra towels, coffee pods, TP, or finding a place to get rid of extra trash.  We came back to a clean, freshened room each day.  On the one day we didn't need service, we left the privacy hangar on the door when we went out.  We came back to find a message that said they couldn't clean our room that day due to the sign and that if we needed anything to please give them a call.  How refreshing is that?!  MORE service than expected.  Will I choose to stay at this hotel again?  YES!!  BTW....this hotel has an option to opt out of daily housekeeping if you choose. That's a win, win in my book.  Prices are climbing and services and quality are being cut.  I think we have compromised too much at this point to allow companies to rebound. Just my opinion. 

I am trying to do this "within the rules".  Everyone talks about their TAs that hold group space and even their suites are available with a refundable rate.  There are literally thousands of TAs out there.  So how did you find your TA?  No need to post a name or website, but how did you finally stumble across your go to person. Pure luck? A conversation in the Diamond lounge?  Hopefully this is allowed.  I am truly curious. 

7 hours ago, MindyJohn said:

Some of us were on Voyager last winter and I wouldn't say they've done much to amplify her except add a waterslide.  It'll be interesting to see what they plan for these two drydocks.  Are there any other Voyager class besides Navigator with the extra venues like Playmakers, Loco Fresh etc.?

Mariner has been fully amped.  We really enjoy sailing on her.  She has Playmakers, and the Bamboo Room.  There isn't a Loco Fresh, unfortunately.  

I'm cruising out of Terminal 5 on Mariner in a few weeks.  I seem to remember that you don't enter the terminal at the same level that you drop off your bags.  Is that correct?  If so, then what level of the parking deck has the walkway to the terminal entrance? 

So, am I to understand that Voyager and Adventure will have drydocks in fall 2024?  I am kinda bummed that Royal is removing both Mariner and Independence in exchange for Voyager and Adventure.  Any thoughts on if they will be amped to include options like Playmakers?  My only other options are the overpriced Utopia and Wonder.  We drive to the port and those extra hours and crazy traffic heading to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami are really pushing it for us.   

8 minutes ago, atlteacher said:

We are also interested in how the bed is configured for the 3rd and 4th guests. We have an adult and a teen booked as 3rd and 4 th and concerned about the sleeping situation.Any  insight would be appreciated.

As I stated above, I don't know about how the 3rd and 4th guests will be accommodated. My husband and I sail alone.  However, if you want to know if the bed is by the bath or by the balcony you will have to look at the deck plans.  The cabins are notched on one side.  They interlock with the adjacent cabin.  The bed takes up more room, so the jut out is where the bed is.  The website pictures only show the bed by the balcony configuration.  Princess isn't the only cruise line that does this.  It saves room and allows for more cabins.  I'm guessing that no one knows the dimensions of the cabins?  The width would determine how spacious they are.  I'm very curious to know more about the ship before I decide to book it. 

2 hours ago, PH2 said:

I have a very specific question regarding Balcony cabins on the Sun, if anyone knows. I did read through several pages of this thread, but I confess I didn't read them all since my question is very specific. So apologies if this has been answered already.

 

We're looking at a Mediterranean cruise in 2025 with 3 of us (wife, me, and our younger daughter) on the Sun. Since I put in "3 people," I would expect it to show me cabins that will accommodate 3 people. But every balcony cabin I look at has the same cabin picture, with a bed and a sofa, and under Amenities, it states:

 

Comfortable queen or two twin beds^footnote4

⁴3rd/4th berths available in select cabins

 

That tells me that some of the Balcony rooms do not accommodate a 3rd or 4th guest, including the one that I am currently attempting to reserve. But it says that on every room that I have gotten to the Stateroom Summary page for.

 

Does anyone know how to figure out which Balcony cabins have (I assume) a sofa that will double as a bed for additional passengers? Or do they all, and the booking page footnote is really confusing or wrong?

 

I don't know your specific answer. It would seem that since every cabin has a sofa it would be logical to assume that it could accommodate a third guest.  I did want to alert people to the fact that the Sun cabins will be an interlocking design.  The artist renderings that I have seen only show one configuration.  There will be alternating cabins with the bed by the bath or bed by the balcony.  Most people prefer one layout over the other.  The cabins will be quite narrow.  Perhaps the bed by the balcony does not accommodate walking room when the sofa by the bath becomes a bed.  Just speculation on my part but the lack of info on the Sun in general is bothersome at this point.  The Sun is basically the Carnival Mardi Gras design.  If I missed that this info was already posted then I apologize.  I did look through this thread but never found anything about the new cabin designs.  When the Mardi Gras first came out, many people were quite surprised at the differences.  I'm not saying it is bad, but it is definitely different.