BonVoyage2010

We did the 14 night Exotic Caribbean on Celebrity Eclipse (Hi KeywestK) and it was fabulous! I spent a year researching cruises that would take us to many new ports. We have down a few 11 & 12 Night Southern Caribbean cruise on the Explorer of the Seas but were getting bored wit always going to the same islands. We very much prefer Royal Caribbean for its entertainment, better food and no "Elitist" attitudes. (We are late 30's and are Elite level but got a lot of nasty looks and comments. X die hards don't seem to like that our RCI Diamond status carries over. We ended up not going to the Elite events as it was so bad.)

The Eclipse is a gorgeous ship, the staff was very good and the itinerary was unbeatable!

We have cruised twice, first on Oasis & then Allure. We would love to do the Southern Caribbean route next. We are a fifty-ish couple & I am picky. Plus I have only experienced the bigger, newer ships. I am thinking Celebrity may be a better fit for this itinerary than Jewel of the Seas. Opinions, please. If you have cruised this route on Celebrity which ship do you prefer? The more information you can give me the better!

That's just it, I know exactly where to avoid at home, not there

So you would never travel to anyplace you have never been for fear of something bad happening? I'm so sorry for you. I could never give up the chance to see so many beautiful places on the off chance something could happen. Especially when I know it could happen to me at home in my safe little neighborhood.

Just curious.. if you don't travel for fear of danger then why are you posting on CC???

Sounds like when my cruise ports in St. Lucia, I may just stay on the ship :)

 

It's not "vacation" if I cant relax and I have to be worrying about someone jumping out of the bushes with a machete.

Please don't miss this beautiful island! We were just there a week or so ago on our Feb 9 Eclipse cruise. We booked a private tour with Spencer Ambrose. It was the highlight of our cruise. Seeing the Pitons, bathing in the hot sulphur springs, swimming under a waterfall and snorkeling at the black sand beaches of Anse Chastanet were magical experiences for us. My DH, 2 teenage DDs and I can't wait to visit St Lucia again!

Unfortunately, there is crime everywhere! In fact there is much more crime right here in our US cities than there is on the islands. Every day we see on TV that in our own state there have been murders, rapes, robberies, drug busts, bullying, hate crimes, domestic violence, etc, etc, etc. I find the frequency that it happens here at home much more alarming than the occasional occurrences in the Caribbean. Everyone just needs to be aware of their surroundings and don't put yourself into potentially dangerous situations.

Darn -- that's the sailing we're on. I was really hoping for vouchers!

Ahh yes our resident roll call stalker ;) I didn't recognize your name. Had to go check the roll call. LOL! When the we first started hearing about the vouchers I emailed X and asked. They assured me that we would not have the vouchers for our sailing. We would have preferred then as well until we added the free beverage packages with the 123GO promo X is running. Now I guess it really doesn't matter to us.

See you SOON!!!

Karen

On at least the first few Eclipse sailings, probably through the Transatlantic, there will be so many Elites that the voucher system will be used and there will not be a traditional Elite Cocktail hour.

We were told there would be a traditional Elite Cocktail hour not vouchers on our 2/9/13 sailing. The 1/26 sailing will have the vouchers.

4 of us (2 couples) are currently booked on the Eclipse Feb 9 - 23/2013 sailing (both of us are aqua class). We booked our cruise trhough a TA on Feb 23/12 and paid in full on Nov 21/12. How can we take advantage of this promotion?

Hi JJ999, I am on same sailing. I emailed my TA and she called me about an hour later and was able to get us the 2 classic drink packages added to our booking w/o and problems. I suggest you call your TA ASAP!!

Good luck!

Karen

Also, come over and join the Roll Call for our sailing!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1402837

Our TA called X and they let us in on the 123 promo even though our final payment was 11/26/12 and we sail on 2/9/13!!! We will lose our $150 obc but the 2 classic drink packages are so worth it! The cabin price has recently gone down below what we paid so will not have to pay anything more! :)

Karen

Hi everyone. I'm taking my first 5 day cruise on the explorer in 3 weeks and wondered if they do the Quest on 5 day sailings? My previous cruises have been 7-8 days. Thanks! :)

They did it on the 5 day Bermuda I did last September

RCCL does not provide coffee maker in the cabin and policy prohibit use of heating elements (except hair curlers) or even bringing one's own coffee maker/pot abroad, as stated in their written guide - as I read them.

We've always had coffee makers in our cabins when booked in a JS or above.

Last Feb. on Explorer & Enchantment B2B the coffee was the worst we've had on any cruise. Only decent coffee on the Explorer was in the Promenade Cafe (there was no Starbucks) and on Enchantment we only got coffee at the newly installed Starbucks as everywhere else it was cold and bitter.

We are booked in an adjoining promenade stateroom, are you able to hear normal talking in the other room or just if they raise their voices? What about opening and closing of bathroom doors, etc.?

This past Feb we were on the Explorer and had a D1 cabin, 1692, which connects to JS 1694. We never heard a peep! No bathroom noise either.

Also, because the cabins are so long on deck 10 Aft we had a full size sofa and did not feel that having the connecting door affected the space/layout in our cabin.

Do they have iron's in the room for touching up clothes? I can't remember........I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be allowed to bring one if they don't.

Downey Wrinkle Releaser Spray works great on most fabrics!

 

This is the first we have done MTD, do we have to call for reservations each day or can we just show up and be seated at our convenience?

We booked our times online before the cruise (to coordinate with our port times). You can call the MDR during the day to book a reservation or make one on your way out the evening before. I would caution against just showing up w/o a res. if you want to eat between 6-6:45pm or at the beginning late seating.

Better wording from me this time - Anyone know which bars, lounges, clubs allow smoking - or don't allow it if that is an easier way to approach it.

 

Thanks again.

I believe smoking is only allowed in the Chamber. Upstairs near the bar, not downstairs. Otherwise, starboard side of deck 4, 11 & 12 and in the Casino except on formal nights. ( Starting @ 6pm I think)

Loved the pictures! We're off on our first cruise ever on the EOS in 16 days.... so excited!:D

Come over and join our 2/6 Explorer roll call! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1331195