wotaripper

Went through the OPT on Diamond Princess last month and wasn't impressed at all. Not sure how much was the fault of Princess and how much was the OPT, but the shore-side operations for embarkation were a disaster.

 

Friends of mine were scheduled for a 130 embarkation. They barely got on in time for the 330 safety drill, having spent about 90 min waiting in the line just to get inside the OPT building. Absolute disaster.

 

Went through the OPT last December with Royal no problems at all less than 30 minutes from luggage drop off to being on board and it was a full ship on Voyager.I think a lot depends on what time you get there. We always get there early and never have an issue.

What do you get for $200. The fabric alone should cost $200+. Any decent HK custom suit will likely go for $500-700.

 

We paid $1800 about 5 years ago for 3 men's suits and a ladies trouser suit 6 shirts 3 silk ties and a three quarter length men's leather coat. The suits where all cashmere and wool all fit really well and we went into the tailors at 2pm went back for a fitting at 5.30 and they where delivered to our hotel by 4pm the next day.This was with Nita fashion in Hong Kong.

Can you switch the view that is displayed between port and starboard? or is it fixed?

 

The view is fixed and depends where on the ship your cabin is as to which feed you get.Had one on voyager in December loved it great for seeing when you wake up if you are docked and what the weather is doing.

Will we board together? (ie. will they allow the new cruiser to go to separate boarding waiting room with the Gold member?)

 

What about 3 in a room: 2 Gold and 1 newbie? Same answer?

 

Just take the newbie with you to your check in they allow different levels of same party to check in together have done it a few times no hassle

I need your expertise, please...

 

We are very excited to be booked on RCI LotS next January, departing from Brisbane. Will be our first trip to Australia & New Zealand...

 

Here's where I need your help, when we cruise here in the states, we always fly into our departure city at least one day prior to our departure. Would you recommend the same thing if I start my adventure in Sydney. We are thinking of doing a few days prior to the cruise in Sydney, flying in to Brisbane the morning of departure, and tacking additional days after the cruise to explore Brisbane and the Gold coast.

Since it's only a 1.5 hr flight, I feel relatively safe planning on an early morning flight on that sunday. We never do same day flights to our departure city here because we're usually flying cross country (3-6hrs away)

 

So the questions is ..... would you fly in on sunday morning to catch the ship?? or Saturday night, just to be safe?

 

Thanks for the input

D

 

There are not as many flights on a Sunday so if there where delays or cancelled flights it could cause major problems and it is too far to drive or catch a train to Brisbane from Sydney on the day of the cruise if you couldn't fly. I would definitely go up the day before the cruise or switch it around and spend the time in Brisbane pre cruise and switch to Sydney post cruise.Also Sydney airport has a history of snap strikes around peak times such as Xmas and January school holidays.

Just booked from the info on thsi thread I posted a few hours ago:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2322652

 

 

Booked buy one get one half price on interior room sailing 28th May.

 

Looked at my invoice and everythings fine but they have got my name spelt wrong and even though they did not ask me about guest 2 they have assumed my companion is my husband and put ' Tommy (my surname)' so even though my husband's surname is correct his real first name is not on the booking.

 

 

RC website says you can change guest name aslong as original person is on the booking (thats me)....but even though almost all my name is correct they have misspelt it. The spelling of my name is 'Rebekkah' but they have put 'Rebeccah' despite me saying it is double KK. Also my passport is in my maiden name so the surname of mine isn't correct either.

 

 

Phone lines are closed (its UK) and I am panicking I have paid for a cruise either I or my husband cannot sail on and I can't change it because of the original name thing.

 

Any advice?

Don't panic just contact your TA and get them to make changes happens all the time I have had names misspelt and wrong dates of birth easily fixed my T A just corrects and re sends me cruise confirmation by email

Hi all were are new on cruise critic, we were wondering what is the best way to get from the Novotel Mestre Castellana, to the port as we are doing an 11 night cruise on the Rhapsody of the the seas in september, any help would be appreciated.

 

You can get the bus from Mestre to the bus terminal in Venice and then get the people mover which is about one euros each to the cruise terminal the people mover is at the end of the bus terminal.Last time we got the bus which was two years ago it was only six euros each from the bus terminal to the airport and it went via Mestre.Taxis and water taxis are quite expensive.Another option is to get the bus to Venice and go over the bridge from the bus terminal to the railway station where you can check your luggage in for most cruises for a small fee and then spend a couple of hours in Venice proper before getting the people mover to the cruise terminal and boarding.

Hi,

 

We're sailing away on Voyager this weekend (yay!) and, given the gorgeous weather we're having in Sydney, the kids are going to want to get into the pool ASAP.

 

My question is - will the pool be available for swimming when we board?

 

Thanks,

 

Yes you can swim as soon as you get on board just pack swimmers and suntan lotion etc in small carry on luggage towels will be available by the pool

Thank you, The Big M.

 

Fingers crossed (and toes crossed [emoji4]) that our TA will allow us to change and credit the deposit back to the new one.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

We had a cruise booked on Explorer 2.11.2016 for 4 cabins and decided to switch to the 11 night cruise on Voyager to Fiji on 8.11.2016 We contacted our TA who just switched our deposit to the new cruise no problem even got more onboard credit and we chose the cabins we wanted by checking another site where you could see what was available.

I read on CC if you book on board for your next cruise you OBC to use on the cruise that you are on. is this correct?

 

We booked onboard in December got reduced deposit one person half price plus onboard credit of $250 on the cruise we where on plus $300 onboard credit on the booked cruise and we where told we could change cruise at any time.

I have been reading on the Royal Carribean board that some ships on in the fleet are offering drink cards . Has any cruiser from this region come across them? It sounds like a great idea.

We where on voyager in December wasn't available

Hi all you lovely cruisers,

 

First time poster here. Sorry in advance if I am not doing this right but hope to get some help on booking my next next holiday :p.

 

I will be on RC Explorer of the Seas in Feb 16, heading to wonderful NZ (can't wait) and greedy little me spotted a good deal for the re position cruise for the Ovation of the Seas (Jan 17) and now can't decide if I should take advantage of the deal now or wait til I am onboard. Can some kind soul who have recently been on RC in AUS/NZ let me know what the perks are for booking on board please? I vaguely recall on my last cruise on Radiance they have BOGOHO AND OBC for next cruise AND OBC (think it was $100) for use on current cruise, is this deal still available?

 

The deal I spotted online today is BOGOHO and $300 OBC.

 

Do you think I can book it now and if I spot a better deal onboard, call my TA to cancel and then rebook onboard? (Very sneaky of me but every penny counts, no?)

 

Thank you for any assistance.

 

Happy New Year :)

 

Shirley

We where on voyager two weeks ago and booked a cruise on board we got reduced deposit of $250 for a balcony on 18 night cruise to Hawaii $300 onboard credit for new cruise and $250 onboard credit on the cruise we where on it was automatically transferred to our TA no charge and we can change cruises at any time with no penalty and the price was cheaper than what was offered online and by our TA.

Hi David hope you had a good Xmas can you please add us for two cruises November 8th 2016 11 nights on Voyager Fiji and Islands cruise also April 18th 2017 ,18 night repositioning Sydney to Hawaii.Thanks Janet.

You Sir, (Madam?)

Have NO cruise control,

neither do I with 3 booked,

 

lol

 

Already have two booked thirty nine nights of suffering must be an epidemic .

A lot of annual policies won't cover you if you are over 60. Also you can't take out the policy more than 60 days before travel.

 

TRD you can took it out nearly a year before trip incase of cancelations

It was good that Europe was your major destination then :).

 

I suppose world cruisers would need to purchase a world wide policy. for the 100+ days. Imagine the cost!

 

Cheers,

Anna

 

Yes pretty pricey we travelled for 60 odd days last year cost us nearly $400 we took in USA for 4 weeks with over 5 weeks in Europe and UK then Dubai on return trip.

Thanks wotaripper. Lots of companies and policies out there so you really do need your homework.

 

Pretty sure you'd be charged the full 35 days, even if you were in Hawaiian ports only 5 days. You might as well spend the entire time in the US if there's no difference in price.:rolleyes:

 

Cheers,

Anna

No price can vary a lot I know in 2012 we insured through travel insurance direct for a five week trip that took in the UK Europe and USA we had to select where the majority of time would be spent which was UK and Europe 4 weeks and 1 week in USA so price was good compared to other companies where you had to indicate all destinations.

Check annual policy's carefully before purchasing as some state in the fine print they cover frequent trips of some say 14 and some say 7 days or less so long trips of 35 days or so are not covered under these policies.Best to look for a policy where you select the region or country that the most time will be spent in which would limit the cost for five days in the USA.

I know frequent cruisers will know but just a heads up to new cruisers to check their insurance carefully before purchasing as some travel insurance does not cover cruises especially domestic ones and others you have to choose the cruise option. This is especially important for medical expenses as you are not covered under Medicare and a lot of private medical insurance does not cover you either even in domestic waters.

This is a very helpful thread. Thanks Kinkacruiser for starting it.

 

Have had a brief look at Insure & Go and wondering whataripper if you have ever had to make a claim and if so, what was the response?

 

No thankfully not had to make a claim but after looking at a number of insurers in depth and used other insurers in the past was impressed by the insurance for cruises cover for delays missed ports cabin confinement etc.

We are both in our sixties and we use insure and go they will cover pre ecsisting conditions some with no extra charge some with a fee depending on the condition.They also cover a lot more than many other travel insurances especially on cruises.

We take American dollars with us for casino

We spent around 10euros all up we bought sandwiches and soft drinks from a convenience store close to the Trevi fountain and then sat at the fountain people watching and taking our own photos.

He may still be able to cruise my brother in law cruised with us from Singapore earlier this year six weeks after a five by pass heart surgery.look at all you options before cancelling if there cruise was paid for by credit card they already might have travel insurance as my brother in law did.we have also had friends take out travel insurance even though the husband had cancer it cost more and there where restrictions but it is all worth looking at before you cancel cruise.

Wow so much info

Thanks so much

 

Green tea is available onboard and is a natural diuretic. You say you have swollen ankles straight after boarding this could be put down to flying down or long car trip take the pressure off the back of your knees when travelling by putting a cushion handbag etc under your feet to elevate them.