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Dana'sDaughters

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Posts posted by Dana'sDaughters

    Finally Made the Reservations!

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I'm so excited! After tons of research and questions, I finally took the plunge and booked our rooms! We will be going on Symphony in May 2020...my sister in law, brother in law, niece, and mother in law are going...My mother in law got a jr suite and my daughter and niece are staying with her, and she is wanting to pay for them! WOW!!  This is only our second cruise (first was on HAL ten years ago to Alaska).  I just had to share my good news! 🙂

    • Like 1

    Refundable or Non-refundable

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    We are a party of three....Which one do you usually do...refundable or non refundable? It's a 7 day cruise, so the deposit is $750 and the difference in price is around $600 between the two. I just didn't know what most people do.  I want to do trip insurance too, so I wasn't sure if the non-refundable part would be covered?

    Travel Agent Question

    in Ask a Cruise Question

    Posted

    I know that travel agent names can't be mentioned, but how do I find a good travel agent for Royal Caribbean? I'm wanting to find the best deal possible with a reputable TA, but I have no idea how to find that. Is there anyway someone can help on here? Thanks!

    Movement on Symphony

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Just a little background...We have been on one Alaskan cruise...10 years ago on HAL Rotterdam. It was out of Seattle and very very rough the first 24 hours. Three of the four of us got really sick, and I got extremely sick.. So sick that we almost thought about leaving the cruise. I had ginger, bonine, wrist bands...brought the patch that a doctor gave me, and I waited to put it on because I didn't think I needed it.  It did make my mouth dry and vision a little blurry, but it did help...along with the fact that the seas were calmer. I felt the ship move the whole time...back and forth and side to side. It just didn't make me so sick after the first day/day and a half.

     

    I know there is no way to predict the weather or what the seas will be like....but just in general, how is the movement on Symphony?  Do you feel movement all the time (like I did on Rotterdam)? I have read that the Caribbean out of Miami and the bigger ships are much better in general for motion sickness issues.  I'm just nervous because I'd like to give cruising another try, but I also don't want to be sick and miserable. It's a lot of money and vacation time for that to happen.  I'd appreciate any thoughts.

    Thoughts on cabin types on Symphony

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    1 hour ago, gatour said:

    The one negative about Oasis class ships is there are no public interior spaces that have outside views of the ocean with the exception of the Windjammer.  

     

    If you want to see the ocean in a public space, you are pretty much limited to the pool deck, deck sixteen and deck five.

     

    Over the years I have jumped all over the board in regards to the type of cabins we have booked on various RCCL ship and various cruise lines

     

    We are perfectly happy in inside cabins, have done balcony cabins (and I have loved them), ocean view cabins, and on RCCL the Central Park balcony's, and have visited a Royal Promenade cabin (booked for my dad).  Of all of the above, the one I have stopped booking and this was years ago is the ocean view cabins.  To me just not worth the premium over the inside cabin, as being able to see daylight in the morning while wakening up is not worth it.  Other people have a different opinion.

     

    I go between budget consious and splurge in regards to booking cabins.

     

    For Oasis class ships and after sailing 3 of them in Central Park balcony cabins, if I wasn't concerned about budget my next cruise would in a Ocean View Balcony, next choice would be Central Park balcony or Boardwalk, and then interior.  However, since our next cruise I am being budget conscious and the only cruise that met our work schedule is on the Symphony I booked an interior.

     

    For Freedom class and smaller I normally book interior cabins unless they are "special" cruises as their is a lot of interior spaces where I can have a glass of wine, while reading, and periodically look out at the ocean passing by.

    Great information! Thank you!

    Cruise Disembarkation Question

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    53 minutes ago, Floridadude said:

    I have cruised out of Ft Lauderdale and Miami 30+ cruises.

    80% of them we were able to self disembark by 7am. 

    The rest were little later due to non US residents that they had issues with or other problems. Flying out of Miami is the worst, always a cluster, especially when you have to check luggage. We would alway do rolling carry ons only.

     

    I know how you feel about booking early flight home, as we had to do that before we moved to SW Florida.

    Never could sleep on the last night knowing we would have to be up with an alarm at like 4:30 am. What a cruise buzz kill! 😬

    Just go for it...everything should work out!

    Thank you so much!! It's not really a problem for my daughter and me...just a problem for my hubby because of his job.

    Thoughts on cabin types on Symphony

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    6 minutes ago, blueridgemama said:

    We have had inside rooms, ocean view and balcony. We had great cruises no matter which cabin we were in. It's nice to have a balcony and we did enjoy our time on it. However we didn't spend as much time using it as we thought we would. If you think that you will utilize the balcony a lot during your cruise it is definitely worth it. If you will be out and about most of the day exploring the ship them I' m not sure it will be worth $2300 extra dollars. If money is not your main priority then go for the balcony. The most important thing in choosing cabins is where they are located on the ship. No matter what you choose have a great cruise.

    Where are the best located rooms on Symphony?  Money is a bit of an issue because my oldest daughter is getting married in April of next year, and this trip will be end of May/first of June, so money might be more of an issue than usual. 😉

    Thoughts on cabin types on Symphony

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    1 minute ago, er345 said:

    I’m sure you will hear positives about all the rooms.

    We had an ocean view balcony on deck 8 in March.  For us it was definitely worth it.

     

    I am not a fan of the crowded pool decks.  I would not find it relaxing to read in a lounger on deck.  We used the balcony every day.  Deck 8 is super convenient to Park Cafe for coffee and snacks, and Vintages for a glass of wine. Also an easy 3 flights down to the Cafe Promenade on deck 5 for specialty coffee.  Had my latte every morning on the balcony, plus wine in the evenings. We read on the balcony, DH took a nap out there twice, we caught up on the world with our WiFi. The balcony chairs recline and there are footstools. If all 3 of you will be in one cabin, this gives you options for where to sit.

     

    Many others spend very little time in their cabins so the quiet retreat of the balcony might not be worth the $.  But we have no regrets.

     

    Symphony is a wonderful ship so you will enjoy your trip whichever way you go.

    Thank you so much! We are excited!  Sounds like a great area and deck. 

    • Like 1

    Cruise Disembarkation Question

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    My husband, teenage daughter, and myself are looking at a Caribbean cruise on Symphony next May/June.  It says that it gets back to Miami at 6 am on Saturday.  What time can we expect to be off the ship if we request getting off as early as possible? Trying to plan, but we have some personal issues that cause us to have to be back home as early as possible that day. We will be flying. I'm just trying to see if we can do this or not. I'm hoping to get a 10:30-11:30 flight.

    Thoughts on cabin types on Symphony

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    I am still researching and trying to decide for sure on a cruise next May or June. We (husband, 15 year old daughter, and myself) are considering a 7 day Caribbean cruise on Symphony out of Miami.

     

    Of course, inside rooms are cheaper, but are the balcony rooms worth it?  What about the Interior promenade view rooms?  Ocean view rooms?  Of course, I'd like to save money, but I want us to have a really nice trip as well.

     

    The ocean view room is about $1,300 more than the interior promenade view.

    The central park balcony room is about $1,800 more than interior promenade.

    The ocean balcony is about $2,300 more.

     

    We have only been on one cruise to Alaska on a small Holland America ship, and we are excited to try the Caribbean...I just don't know anything about the rooms and how to pick. I'd appreciate any advice.

     

    Symphony of the Seas-Thoughts on Itinerary

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    40 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

     

    I agree.

    I agree.

    I agree.

     

    Unless you happen to encounter a hurricane or its aftereffects, you are highly unlikely to have anything but smooth sailing the entire time.

     

    Did you have a specific time in mind for your cruise?

    June 29th is the only time we ca go. I know that could be hurricane season but not as risky as September-October...or I hope so.

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