orville99

1 hour ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

Lenses?

John paid that for one and he never uses it because it's to heavy🤣🤣

It's a ridiculous hobby.

As a hobby, probably, but it was how I made my living for almost 30 years😇

10 hours ago, Russ Lomas said:

a $3000 camera if the photographer knows how to use the DLSR

I paid more than that just for my lenses😇📸

Just received this for our April 20 Adventure cruise:  

On 3/14/2024 at 4:03 PM, firefly333 said:

I thought suite lounge still had free drinks during happy hour. You mean if I was a pinnacle and brought in my cabin mate they arent allowed the free lounge suite drinks? 

Unfortunately, there are no free drinks for any loyalty level during happy hour in either the Suite Lounge or the Crown Lounge. That perk was eliminated a few years ago.

1 hour ago, ChittyChittyBangBang said:

Thanks for the owner update. The ship officer indicated RCI had no ownership.  It is still a nice port.  

They don’t own it, but they footed most of the cost to build it.😇

4 hours ago, UNCFanatik said:

 

I think this excerpt is referring to the airport in Port Au Prince and not Cap Haitien. 

 

But it would be once harrowing journey if you had to make it from Port Au Prince to Cap Haitien to be evacuated.

 

"Cap-Haitien is more than 100 miles from Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, where the airport has been under siege by gangs amid fighting between the clans and police in the surrounding area."

The article I posted this morning specifically talked about the situation surrounding the Cap Haitien airport, which is where the evacuations were supposed to be staged. 

The link that I posted has been updated (apparently the situation throughout Haiti is very fluid), and the sentence you quoted was not in the original article.

7 hours ago, CSHS1979 said:

 

John took the elevator up since 12 was closed off

Unfortunately, that is not a passenger elevator and is only accessible if you can convince someone on staff to let you use it.

14 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

You have a link to this? The usa is using cap Haitian airport for embassy evacuations

It was a report I saw on one of the National News networks.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/18/us/haiti-state-department-charter-flight/index.html

On 3/16/2024 at 3:04 PM, BND said:

With a relook so I highly doubt in 7 days anything will happen that will change the current status.

 

Given the fact that the gangs have taken over and shut down the airport in Cap Hatien and effectively control access to the Labadee area, the situation is not likely to get better any time soon

11 hours ago, RWK1952 said:

Another poster mentioned internet as well and I forgot to mention it in my OP.  That is another negative with the Junior Suite room on RC.  Internet is NOT included, whereas with NCL, a Junior Suite with Free at Sea includes 150 minutes of wi-fi per person.  I believe the RC agent estimated a significant additional amount for internet access as well, and since we definitely want at least some internet access, that would jack up the cost for RC as well compared to NCL.

If you purchase the internet when you are on board, the cost has been running ~$25 PPPD +18% "service" charge. Purchasing prior to boarding can save you $$ depending on how many people/devices you would be using.

Regarding drink packages, figure ~$3 for water, ~$5 for sodas, ~$10/beer and ~$15 for mixed drinks. You would have to drink a LOT in order to cover the ~$90+PPPD cost of a drink package since every adult in the cabin has to purchase it.

1 hour ago, pstone1 said:

Great photos Laura!  Thanks for sharing!  Although we eat at Izumi often, we have never taken the sushi making class.  It looks like John had fun!

 

31 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Besides the class we also ate there twice during the first quarter we were on...both times were very good also.  Ellen set us up for both lunches.  She even joined the group of us one day.  🙂 

We always order to go from Izumi and I pick it up and take it back to eat on our balcony. It is usually windy, rainy or cold up on D12 and DW can't do the stairs.😇🍤🍣

15 hours ago, DennysDad said:

Ok, not to keep this thread going coz it's a dead horse. But....

3-day old threads that discuss legitimate issues rarely become dead horses...😇🐴

It will be interesting to see what port (if any) replaces Labadee on our 6-night on Adventure in April since we are already scheduled to stop at Nassau and Puerto Plata, DR.

13 hours ago, Laszlo said:

The DR has a good chance of being overrun 

9 hours ago, sfaaa said:

Overrun by Haitian refugees, a possibility. Overrun by Haitian gangs, not a chance.

4 hours ago, Harrisonkid said:

Last time this happened DR closed its borders. So ,not sure about refugees but either way a bad situation for a ton of humans 

We were in Haiti and the DR on Adventure in February, and from what we were told by people we talked with in both countries, it appears that the border between the two countries is still tightly closed. Our Haitian tour guide said that the DR will not issue any visas for Haitians to travel to the DR, and in the DR the guides were very clear that Haitians that managed to cross the border were quickly sent back to Haiti.

Take it for what it is worth...

54 minutes ago, jobinseattle said:

Interesting: This is me looking at booking a room on Allure OTS which is part of the Royal Suite Class

and me booking a room on Mariner OTS

Unfortunately, you will not receive free internet in any suite category on Mariner

2 hours ago, island lady said:

 

I suppose RCI wanted to toss the Pinns a bone after all the exclusions were happening...albeit worthless bone.  😉 😄 

Probably left over when their foot was surgically removed from their mouth😇

2 hours ago, soremekun said:

Key word, "enhancement".

Why is that every time they "enhance" something it feels like I just lost a kidney🤪

14 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Does this mean that you disembark tomorrow?

13 hours ago, ringers0815 said:

Yes we do.

Hopefully, someone will pick up the mantle on the next leg and carry on your excellent photography and narratives. Thanks for taking us all along with you.😇

17 minutes ago, bobmacliberty said:

 

Thanks for keeping this thread going with fantastic photos!  You deserve to get a "rare badge" for your contributions.

+1

3 hours ago, bundtkate said:

I don't think they're used to this fare structure since they mostly deal with Royal so I ended up with cruise only when I asked for AI. I did the math later and ended up deciding this was actually the better bet for us, but if you know you want AI, it's best to confirm you got it before leaving Next Cruise.

AI became less attractive once they split out the gratuities. We will probably be doing the cruise only and just getting internet on board (if our 30% discount comes close to the pre-cruise prices). We don’t drink enough to justify the beverage package. The only thing DW and I are debating is whether it is worth the price to book the Retreat on an edge class ship.

10 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

When the steward returned the scooter the following morning, where did he leave the scooter?  Can't put it inside the cabin since the scooter won't fit.  Can't leave it in the hallway, since that's a fire hazard.

I presume he doesn’t bring the scooter until the person in the cabin lets him know he’s ready for it.

2 minutes ago, cruzzzinma said:

You get whatever the offer is on Celebrity even though you are booking on Royal.

Thanks. There are a few really interesting itineraries out of FLL next year that we want to book.

1 hour ago, Another_Critic said:

They should build a parking garage (with valet service) on board for scooters.  🙂

41 minutes ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

Overall, I have not noticed scooters outside of cabins on Royal.

 

Just a heads-up for those that need them.

We have been on several RCL cruises over the past year where the room steward who had responsibility for the cabin of a passenger with a scooter would "pick up" the scooter every evening, move it out of the passageway, plug it in overnight, and return it to the cabin the next morning. 

We want to book a Celebrity cruise while onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise next month, but I've searched and can't find any information.

Two questions:

1) Can we book at the Next Cruise desk while on board, and

2) Is there any benefit to doing that (ie: OBC; reduced deposit, etc.)?

16 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

LOL....lately not much to envy with all these cut backs for Pinnies.  😉 😄 

I look at it this way🤪 🙄