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[quote name='Tennessee_Cruiser']When we ate at Sabor on the Navigator we ordered one appetizer, and the server said, "that's all?" and suggested a few others and brought them out to us (at no additional charge).[/QUOTE]

The menu shown on the provided link lists tacos, quesadillas, burritos, platos chiquitos and platos furetes which all seem to be entrees. Do you remember what some of the appetizers were?

[quote name='Tennessee_Cruiser'][url]http://media.royalcaribbean.com/content/shared_assets/pdf/menus/sabor.pdf[/url][/QUOTE]

[quote name='Ourusualbeach']Sabor on Freedom is a flat fee. I don't think that you can just go for drinks and guacamole like you can on Oasis where it is a la carte.[/QUOTE]

In other flat fee speciality restaurants you can order as many appetizers as desired but only one entrée. Does anyone know if that is the case at Sabor and what are considered appetizers on this menu?

Got the emails - thanks so much!!!

Which credit cards are the ones that don't charge the extra 2.5%?

 

Sears MasterCard is one. I'm also thinking Capital One Platinum MC does not charge conversion fee but I'm not 100% sure on that one. TD Bank US$ Visa card - you purchase in US$ and pay in US$.

Me too please :)

 

debbie1139@outlook@com

 

Thanks so much!

Hi there, so cool to find someone from our little town all the way here in the Caribbean via ckrobyn's blog! Where are you sailing in 2016? We luv cruising, especially RC! Nice to met u!

 

This will be our first cruise on RC and we'll be on the Freedom Western Itinerary, same as this review. I love cruise line private islands and hope to check them out all eventually :)

Hello, Sarnia folks here. We're doing an Indy cruise next February. I gave our adult children & their spouses a 4 day cruise for Christmas.....this will be their first taste of cruising.

I have to agree, the bitter cold is enough already.

Yes thanks Robyn for the great review, and thanks to you we purchased our OBC today at .10 cents on the dollar thanks to everyone on CruiseCritic, great advice! THANKS!

 

Hey, small world - I'm freezing here in Sarnia too!!!!

 

We will be on Freedom in February 2016! Loving your review Robyn!

I bought a bit of onboard credit and was quoted the 10% rate.

When I received the confirmation email it only listed the Canadian conversion amount, not the amount of USD OBC I received for that amount. Is this normal? Just want to make sure I got the correct amount.

 

Yes, that's what they send out.

I agree - post the situation on their facebook page. I have found I received almost immediate and satisfactory assistance when I had posted on a couple company's FB pages where all could see.

Anyone buying OBC now for a cruise in 2016?

 

I bought OBC for Feb 2016.

 

Do you have to have booked directly with RCI to get this treatment?

Can I get in on this deal if I booked via a US based TA?

 

You don't have to be booked directly with RCI but it has to be a booking made in Canadian funds.

The last time the Canadian dollar was at par or higher than the US dollar was in Nov 2007. By the end of that month it was back down to the 98 cent mark. I don't think current cruises could be booked that far back. :p

 

I think the exchange rate has been set by Royal, and they haven't reset it to reflect current exchange rates, which is nice for us. I'm surprised their accountants haven't caught the discrepancy yet!!

 

I live in a border city and grocery shop in Michigan on a biweekly basis. There was a short period of time this past fall when our dollar was higher than the US dollar. First time in my life that I received more US$ than I paid in CAD.

Not sure I understand how you could pay less in CAD that it would be in US$. My TA is checking right now but the quote he gave me in CAD is 10% more than the US$ amount would be and I thought that was a bargain. Now two people have said they paid less in CAD than they would have paid in US$ or am I not 'getting' it?

 

I booked back in October and paid $76.87 CAD per person for gratuities as well. My total cruise fare is also now over $600 more than what I paid back in October - I assume that is a result of our falling dollar.

Looking forward to your live report! Our first RCI cruise will be on Freedom in Feb 2016! Not sure what the weather is like in Toronto but we about 2.5 hours Southwest and are under an extreme cold watch and they have closed most of Highway 402 this way due to whiteouts! I'm ready for this winter to end!!!

When I did a mock booking a couple of weeks ago the booking engine did not automatically include prepaid grats like it used to when I chose MTD. .

hey -

 

I see that some of the other restaurants have 30-40 dollar fees... Is this for a certain meal, or what? Just wondering what additional charges we are going to be hit with.... Thanks y'all!

 

The speciality restaurants have a cover charge which includes a full meal - I believe unlimited appetizers, one entrée and dessert. The main dining room and buffet are free.

My apologies if this has already been said on here but wanted to pass this along in case -I asked about the exchange rate and the agent said the exchange rate for pre-cruise purchases is based on when the sailing was first available in the system. For example our Oasis sailing was first available for booking a year ago so the exchange rate is based on the rate at that time which is why we only paid 10%. However once on board the exchange will be charged at the going rate.

 

This does make sense. I know that when I booked my cruise, the exchange rate was quite a bit less than the going rate at the currency exchange where I live (on a border city and I exchange money quite frequently for grocery shopping), so it very well could be that the rate is locked in at the time the sailing was put in the system. If this is the case for all pre-cruise purchases, then it would then be beneficial to buy drink packages and anything else before getting on the ship at that exchange right, correct? I did prepay our grats but was going to wait until we boarded to get drink packages.

Thanks for explaining. Now I see what you mean...not an OBC you get with your cruise, but you can purchase credit beforehand. Never knew that.

 

Your comment made me curious so I just did a price check on our cruise (in Canadian dollars) and noticed for the first time since we booked in Dec that the price has increased. Maybe this is related to the exchange rate increase?

 

Yes, that is probably the case. I would assume they have to increase the exchange rate at some point, especially now that our dollar is dropping so low :(

There was a long thread regarding Canadian insurance on this board at one time. You could probably find it if you did a "Canadian" search on that board

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=635

 

You can also use Kanetix.ca (strictly CND) or squaremouth.com websites to get a comparison of all policies that cover what you are looking for. Squaremouth uses US companies but it will bring up what policies cover Canadians.

And according to the OP is only on one ship with carnival. So what is you're point? Sounds like they're in the same spot.

 

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

It is being implemented on all Carnival ships eventually. They also are offering a "social media" package which will let users connect with facebook, twitter, instagram, etc. for $5 per day or $25 for the entire cruise.

I saw your post before you deleted it. Even though it is a package I think it is a pretty good deal and am glad you posted it. Even though we are flying into Orlando (they also offer free airport shuttle) and won't need the parking, it is still much cheaper for us (4 adults and 2 kids) to stay there than it is to shuttle to Port Canaveral and stay at a hotel there. Hyatt Place Orlando Airport.

Actually that seems like a great deal at the Hyatt Place Orlando Airport. I did a mock reservation (can't book for our travel period yet) and it was $319 for 4 adults and 2 kids including 4 round trip transfers, would have to buy 2 additional transfers at the hotel but it doesn't give a fee. A comparative hotel in Cocoa Beach is $279 for a suite to sleep 6. I will definitely check this out when it is available to book for our dates. There is a shuttle to/from airport and anywhere within a 3 mile radius.

Sailing again on Liberty in March

Any reports on HUMP 7638. Couldn't find a listing for this cabin.

 

Going back under the covers until next college football season....ROLL TIDE.....sigh

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Forums mobile app

 

Seems like a good choice:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1399217&highlight=liberty+7638

Has anyone found out how you got an invite on the Jan 30th sailing? I wonder if they plan to max out the ship or just have a select small group on the ship?

Cheryl

 

I know some travel agents have been invited :)

Check out this thread

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2049812&highlight=malfini

The customer service agent I spoke to at Royal told me breakfast was free at Johnny Rockets on Freedom and $4.95 charge for dinner. She had been listing off all the eateries and I was very surprised when she told me that but I even said that I hadn't realized that and she confirmed. Guess she must've been mistaken?