BopRN

We are researching our choices for a southbound Alaska cruise tour. What are the pros and cons of starting in Anchorage (Whittier) or Fairbanks?

How does RCCL handle  diapers in the cabins? Do they bring a diaper pail to your cabin?

Has anyone ever had any issues with returning a rental car to Budget 1 mile away from the port? Super long lines? We plan to drop one of us with the luggage at the port and then go to the car rental and take the shuttle back.

1 hour ago, mscinmia said:

at Port Everglades, if you order from Special Needs Group, you can pick up your wheelchair/scooter right in the terminal....

 

What is "Special Needs Group" Is that thru RCCL?

12 hours ago, mets123 said:

What port are you leaving from? If it's from scootaround.com, they have kiosks at some ports where you can pick up the wheelchair before you board the ship.

Fort Lauderdale

My husband needs to rent a w/c for our Jan. cruise. I know the companies deliver them to the stateroom, but has anyone had one delivered  to the handicapped check in area instead? He is going to need it for embarkation. I know the ship has w/c available for embarkation and debarkation, but our past experience is a very long wait for one to become available since people who are leaving the ship stay in them until their transportation arrives. 

We brought our own transport chair last year but it would not go over many of the door jams and was a complete hassle! So we want to rent an actual w/c this time.

I always bring a medical mask with me because there are people who will smoke on the balcony at night when no one can see them. My DH laughs at me but I refuse to let some jerk ruin my balcony time. Can't stand the stink. And when the ship is sailing, the backwind often carries the smoke.

We have also reported smokers that we could see and security was there quickly.

Does RCCL have it's own hotels/lodges like Princess does?

Several years ago, we had rented a car to get to the port; dropped one person off at the port with all the luggage while the other of us returned the rental car and took the shuttle back to the port. Is this still possible to do at Port Everglades? I am wondering if security still allows private cars to enter the port drop-off area?

If we take a land cruisetour along with an Alaskan cruise, are there any Diamond perks on the land part of the tour?

22 hours ago, brillohead said:

You say he's been hesitant to get his own chair before.... this is a great excuse!  

"But Dad, it's the only way we'll be able to make our flight after the cruise!"

 

I need to tell you all that are recommending a transport chair, that for us, it was a nightmare because those little wheels get stuck on some of the door jams! We were on The Navigator. My husband had to either use it as a walker or get up until I could get the chair over it. I was SOOO frustrated by the end of the cruise, I was ready to throw the thing overboard!  You are right in saying it is best to bring your own chair b/c people were waiting for a long time on embarkation. The chairs were all still being used by those disembarking. If my husband still needs a chair by next cruise (post spinal fusion) we will be renting a scooter from scootaround.com  and leaving the transport chair a home!    https://www.scootaround.com/mobility-rentals/cruise/scooter-rentals?keyword=scootaround cruise rentals&matchtype=e&msclkid=8cd747959a94194d24b31acd4f77a444&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Cruise Mobility&utm_term=scootaround cruise rentals&utm_content=Cruise Scooter Rental and leaving the transport chair a home!

Last Feb., we had to cx our cruise just 3 weeks before sailing since my hubby needed surgery. We were reimbursed by our travel insurance company for everything including the non-refundable deposit. Later, we received an email from RCCL telling us that we have a voucher for a future cruise, BUT IF we had been reimbursed for our costs, then that negates the voucher. To use it would be considered insurance fraud.

On the Radiance class deck plans, there is a narrow space between cabins 8614 and 8616. Does anyone know what that is?deck.bmpdeck.bmpdeck.bmpdeck.bmp

We have been looking to cruise New England in Sept. of 2020. I am amazed at the price of a balcony cabin would be $4000+ from any of the ports! Why so much for a 7 day cruise even before the fall leaves would be an attraction? And there is a HUGE price difference between an oceanview & balcony cabin....like $800 per person difference on some. Crazy!

Is there a cruise that combines both itineraries? I can't seem to find one.

WE have booked both ways...with RCCL and with an on-line cruise agency. The only difference is RCCL won't discuss your reservation with you. Everything has to go through the other agency. Recently we had to cancel our cruise and that also had to be done through the agency. It went smoothly and we never have had any issues. We always have had access to Cruise Planner once it was posted on RCCL. All of your show reservations, drink packages, etc. are booked and /or cancelled directly thru Cruise Planner.

However, you will read on these boards that a disadvantage of not booking with RCCL is being able to reach the agency in time to take advantage of price drops, etc. You just need to make sure you have a reputable agency. Some agencies also have cancellation fees in addition to RCCL fees.

3 hours ago, time4u2go said:

I'm a bit confused by this advice.  Since any company is (obviously) going to have their own best interest at heart and not yours, why does that make buying insurance from a 3rd party better?  Note that I'm not agreeing or disagreeing.

The company referred to would be the travel company, not the insurance company. Clark Howard just included this again in his recent email on travel insurance.....

" But, this is important: Never purchase the travel protection plan from the trip organizer or online travel agent. They are designed to protect the company and not the consumer. This includes when you are booking on a site like Expedia or Travelocity."

JRUDY33........I follow Consumer Advocate Clark Howard's advice on many things and he always says to buy travel insurance from a 3rd party. The reason is because any company is going to have their own best interest at heart, not yours. So we always choose another insurance company.

We had to cancel our B2B Allure cruise for this month with less than a month to go because my husband has to have an unexpected spine surgery. We had ordered travel insurance through insuremytripdotcom with a pre-existing condition clause since both of us have uncertain health issues. SO thankful that we did! We had a non-refundable deposit and I am happy to report we are getting EVERY penny back! RCCL refunds the taxes which I didn't know and the insurance covers the rest. I never like paying for travel insurance and have always gotten it for our cruises, but have never had a claim. If we didn't have it, we would have lost $4100 since we were only a month out! SO worth it!! You never know what tomorrow may bring!

Penalty from whom? Insurance company? 

😭We are booked on a B2B on Allure in February and just found out my husband has to have a 2nd spine surgery 2 weeks from now! As disappointed as I am, it is more important for my husband to be out of pain!  So my question.....before I start this process, do any of you have words of wisdom from experiences you have had. We DO have travel insurance thru insuremytripdotcom which includes pre-existing condition coverage. At the time we booked last May, he was scheduled for the 1st spine surgery but was able to travel at that time. We booked thru an on-line cruise travel website and have non-refundable deposits on both cruises. Do I cancel the cruise first with the travel agent or first confirm the coverage with the insurance company? Not sure how to begin the process. Thanks!

Does anyone know if it is possible to use Luggage Valet if you have a senior fare booked on SWA? Southwest says in small print "seniors need to show ID at airport to confirm fare eligibility". We were refused the luggage valet on another cruise line when we had a SW senior fare booked, but SW could not tell us why we were refused nor could the cruise line. Each blamed it on the other but when I found the info about the ID needed, I wondered if that was the reason.

I am trying to make show reservations and keep getting this message.."Error locking the Cruise Reservation". What does this mean?

I have been looking to schedule our show reservations on Allure and noticed that on some shows, the only choices are 8:30 pm and 10:15 PM. We have Late Dinner Seating in the MDR. Is it realistic to think we can finish our meal including dessert & coffee and be able to hike to the theatre by 10:15 PM? In the past, it was not a relaxing dinner knowing we needed to get to a show.

What do you do about extra-tipping after the 1st week if you are not changing cabins? If we want to give our room steward an extra tip, do you do that after each week....or wait til the end of your cruise?

Also, if you choose MDR for dinner, do you stay at the same table for both weeks, or are you re-assigned?