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I took the post Rome excursion in 2019.  I can’t remember the meeting time. On the Island Princess Nov 2023, the post Rome excursion was listed as meeting at 6:30am where you meet to get your excursion sticker.

Our post Rome excursion 2019, we picked up our luggage off the ship and walked to the bus.  The guide talked along the way to Rome.  We all got off the bus and walked with the guide to the Vatican area.  She told us time and where to meet as she was not allowed to guide inside.  We had plenty of time to see inside.  Walked back towards the bus, we stopped along the way for maybe 1/2 hr for anybody that wanted to shop/bathroom/eat/drink then continued to the bus.  The rest of the tour was a drive by the different sights.  Passengers were dropped off at the train station then the rest at the airport.  I got off at the airport as I had the Hilton Rome Airport (hotel attached to the airport through a covered walkway) for the night. Not sure of the actual time we arrived, (early afternoon) we rested then had food (lunch menu as dinner menu doesn’t start until 6pm) at the hotel.  The next day we walked to the airport for our flight home.

1 hour ago, lx200gps said:

Gotta' love Valuetrips. Just received our confirmation for next October, $US134 all in. Going direct to the Hyatt site, the same room, same date,  is $US634 all in. Interestingly, when I looked at my Hyatt account, there is no mention of the booking under "My Stays". I can only find the booking by selecting "Modify/Cancel" at the bottom of the page, then manually entering the Confirmation Number.  Any thoughts as to whether it will eventually show up in my account?

 

As to whether breakfast is or is not included, there is no reference to it in any of the documents. We've stayed at the HP three or four times, well pre-pandemic, and it's my recollection that the breakfast area is basically the lobby, with no way to police whether any guest does or does not have breakfast included. I'll assume we have breakfast through our Hyatt membership, even if booked through VT.

I stayed at Hyatt Place through ValueTrips in Feb, breakfast was included in the lobby area.  There was no one checking.

Just now, startedwithamouse said:

Same as above. Meet in the theater, then you're escorted through the terminal (with perhaps a short wait) then back on the ship. The process from arriving to the theater until back on the ship,  in our experience, always less than an hour.

Thanks

I have a B2B in San Francisco.  What is the procedure there?

While on the Island in November, we would pick up a soda can with no ice or glass to take back to our cabin.

In the buffet, we would get sometimes a soda (coke or ginger ale) already in a glass, no can.

Just off the Island, cans of soda were included on the Plus.

Thanks for your replies

I will be going to Hawaii from San Francisco late Sept/early Oct on the Ruby.

Will the weather be the same?

Are you going to do a review?

What ports are going to?

On the Island Princess there was no actual causal dining room.  On the sea days, one of the paid restaurants opened up at lunch time for Salty Dog Grill and the other sea day at lunch the restaurant was open for Alfredo’s.  You had to watch the pattern for the day and time.

I ate solo one day at Alfredo’s on the Plus, I only ate the pizza.

I always book EzAir and watch the price up to 45 days of the cruise and if the price is cheaper I modify it.  Close to final payment, I check EzAir and the airline prices and take the one that is cheaper

Thank you for all the helpful information 

Grand Cayman is quiet often missed due to the weather for tendering.

While on the Island in November 9-23,  had a cancelled excursion refund ($73) added to my account the last day, too late to go to the casino to cash out.  I told Guest Services as a Canadian a US cheque would cost me more with a US cheque charge and rate of exchange.  I was told 3x that my credit card would be refunded as it was my money.  I received  my final account balance by email and it shows that $73 send to Financial Dept.  I am still waiting for the refund.

Just now, nevertolate said:

I have not heard back from Valuetrips it been since Friday morning should we be worried .

Give them more time.  You can call Hyatt Place direct and ask if they have a reservation for you and if they do ask for their booking number.

What ports are you visiting?

Looking follow to your review 

I just returned from the Island.

You have to watch the Pattern (activity paper you receive each night) - dining times to see when/where/time the casual dining are being held.  

Ours was on the sea days in the Bayou Steak restaurant, I think 12pm-1:30pm

1st sea day - it was Salty Dog Grill

2nd sea day it was Alfredo.

I will be following to places I dream about

Does the Ruby have an enclosed pool or only outdoor pool?

VT bookings should up on your Hyatt account as your confirmation number is a Hyatt booking number.

You do not get points going through a third party.

You can sign up for a $ shuttle to Port Everglades when arrive at the hotel.

You put a credit card down to hold the booking, pay at the hotel.

If you make any changes (modify, cancel) to your booking you contact the hotel direct.

The price on Valuetrips does not include tax.  When you receive your confirmation email from them it will show price that includes tax.

Did Ruby get the refit?