m*u*g*

My FCC story was similar to others. Got the wrong amounts. Initially, I didn't know each passenger got their own FCC. Kind of dumb since I paid for everything together. I called and got an updated certificate in about 10 days.

I called back to confirm the amount was right and to apply it and the connection was horrible and the call took almost 2 hrs. I finally hung up. I determined the 125% credit was on the cruise fare only (not fees).

I went online to apply the FCC's to the reservation and it totally messed it up. Didn't apply properly even though I had the right amounts and each passenger's fare was identical.

I called back about 5 days after that and got someone who knew what they were talking about and could hear them. They fixed everything, I paid the remaining balance everything is correct now. Took about 1.5 hrs. on the last call because they have to call another number to fix the credits..

It's just a shame it took 5 phone calls, most over an hour. Probably 7 hrs. total.

Basically, if your FCC is correct, call and spend the 2 hrs to get it right.

On 5/20/2020 at 10:09 AM, sunshine3215 said:

Also does anyone know what happens to the travel protection one pays for? Should my travel agent refund that money?  

Depends on where you purchased it I guess. We got ours from Allainz. We were able to move the policy to our new cruise. We just entered the new date in the website for the policy. The flight information will be different, so we just left that until we complete those bookings. I you didn't rebook and want a refund, I would ask whoever you bought it from.

This answer is based on the title of the post.

We pick the location, say Carribean or Alaska, then pick the ship we want. We do this because if we really want to go on a particular ship like Ovation and she's in Australia, we're out of luck. We usually go with the newest one available or a ship we haven't been on before. If none of the ships are to our taste, we wait or look at other locations. The exact route doesn't matter that much, however, if one of the stops is one we really don't like, we pass and keep looking. Dates play a role in this, but we are usually flexible.

All that being said, if you don't care for the RCI locations, check out the Oasis class ships and pick the one with the most sea days. Yes there 6,000 passengers, but I never really feel cramped since there's so much to do. These ships are often the destination. It's my favorite class of ship by far.

Allure June 2012. Son's high school graduation trip. Also took my sister and her daughters. They had recently lost their father to a lifelong battle with illness and this trip was a good release for them. Probably the most fun they ever had and it was their first cruise ever. One of the daughters, far left, is really into photography, so I bought her the unlimited photo package. She had a blast just posing for photos and seeing what she could come up with. They must have ended up with over 300 photos and became good friends with one of the photographers. She even posed with him in one of the photo ops outside the ship at one of the ports. She also ended up on the ship video doing Karaoke. I have more photos on my laptop and can post some better ones later.

My wife and I are booked on the 50th birthday cruise on Nov. 2 on Symphony. Can't wait.

Point your toes....

Checking in. This IS my excited face. Sorry. It really is.

Son and Niece. He was headed to NYU as you can see. Now living in Denver CO.

On ‎8‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 7:46 PM, True Romance said:

Celebrity Constellation is in port on Saturday Nov. 2 from 7am to 7pm.  Do you think it is possible to do both the Vatican Museum & Sistine Chapel first thing and then head over to do a Colosseum tour and what else we can fit in before returning via train back to the ship?  2 friends in good shape with no mobility issues and we are good with public transit. 

 

Is this possible?

Our experience is below. And this was our preference. Everyone has their own mode of travel and that's OK. Tour group, on your own, whatever, it's all good. Just sharing ours.

In 2015, we hired a driver for the day (through Rome in Limo I believe). Was costly ($500 Eu + tip I recall), but we did A LOT. We didn't mind feeling like we were on a ticking clock since we had a schedule and wanted to see multiple things. Prepay for all tickets in advance (regardless of how you do it) and you will walk right in like at the Colloseum and Vatican. We stopped at the Colloseum first-my Must Do. Did a self guided tour for about an hour and headed back to meet the driver. We also paid for the Vactican private tour guide (another $125 Eu). They will guide you through the most important things to see and provided a lot info in a short time. The driver stopped us at a nice restaurant to eat lunch on our own and waited for us. It was great and authentic. Local knowledge is key here. We also saw the Spanish steps, the Parthenon, Chariot Race grounds, and much more. Would have never gotten to all that on our own via a cruise stop. Never. Just my 2cents. I may never be back and wanted to see as much as possible, so it was well worth it. Enjoy.

On ‎8‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 2:58 PM, alfaeric said:

As far as I can tell, you can still do the entire day on $0.  We plan on doing that in November when we go back.  

Never been there, but this is our plan ($0) when we go in Nov as well.

On ‎6‎/‎8‎/‎2019 at 11:14 PM, drrich2 said:

So if you're hoping for tasteful family photos, yes, I think you'll be pleased. Get the 'all your digital photos package' and go after every photo station you see. You can rule up a whole lot of photos by end of cruise.

Yep, this is what we do. We had some fellow cruisers who racked up over 200 photos on one cruise, but they spent a lot of time doing this. They enjoyed it though. We usually end up with 100 or so, and it doesn't take that much time.

11 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

Ovation without a doubt.  That said itinerary matters which has the best?  But if you are going there for the ship.  Ovation.

 

jc

I like both to be great if I'm spending that kind of money, which I am. I chose Ovation. I think the itinerary is great. Skagway, Juneau, Galcier Bay, Victoria BC. Plus I get to spend a couple days in Seattle. It's a win for me. 

12 hours ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

The Ovation is too large to get to the better places.  The best places to go to are Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau and Sitka (in that order) and Glacier Bay excellent.

 

I would suggest Celebrity Solstice or Celebrity Eclipse great ship great itinerary.  Princess is my second choice.

I'm taking Ovation next year. She's going to Skagway, Juneau and Glacier Bay (itinerary change).

Just go to the Windjammer on a Royal ship and you will see rude behavior almost instantly. It's as if people have never seen food before. This is why I avoid it now. You couldn't pay me to go there on embarkation day.

Great, now a fight breaks out...again. Enough already. (I just came here for information)

Just booked this cruise for our 30th Anniv. First time in Alaska.

Bob,

 

What the least obstruction on deck 6?

Behind the hump?

 

Thanks

According to the plans:

6118-6158, 6518-6558

Front of ship

Ovation 6682 is over the smoking lounge. There's a youtube video that shows it.

Based on my preferences, I would avoid all rooms on deck 6, but there are some listed on the deck plans as not being obstructed. One's without the little square box symbol.

We always try to arrive at port from 10:00am-10:30am. Never had to wait more than an hour to board. The latest we ever boarded was 11:30am.

We were there last year and would have loved to see the Basilique Notre Dame de la Garde (church).

We had another tour and there wasn't time. It's the highest point and you should have good views all around. You can see the entire city and port from there.

I read that the bus should cost less than 5 euro round trip per person.

It's worth getting off for a couple of hours.

Wipeout Café Pretzel Dogs during lunch on embarkation day (avoid WJ).

Boardwalk Hotdogs

MDR (seriously, seems to be a ghost town lately)

Windjammer, never stepped foot in there once during our med cruise and ate just fine.

Was actually a better cruise by not going in there.

We had to walk past a couple of times going to the pool and there was always a line to get in. Really?

'OMG...the 'WHAT' website sucks!'

What is this morning? Friday the 13th or something?

SS Norway 1990, NCL, Eastern Carrib.

Largest ship in it's day. 1037ft long.

Unrivaled until the RMS Queen Mary 2 in 2004 at 1132ft.

Now scrapped.

Did not get me hooked. Took 20 years to sail again.

Mostly due to cost and no money.

Been 4 times in last 5 years though.

Liberty, Allure, Oasis, Allure

We typically stay on Deck 8, port side. Last one we stayed in was 8244.

It's on central park and no rooms directly across the hall so less foot traffic.

8236-8244 and 8636-8644 have larger balconies since they're on the 'hump'.

Next time I would avoid rooms with adjoining doors, since we noticed more noise from the room next door. I believe more sound comes from under the door.

Both are great, but I would pick Allure of course. Been on it twice. Best cruises ever.

Much bigger than freedom without feeling overcrowded.

More amenities and things to do.

Biggest, baddest ship in the world.

We would not skip MDR entirely. We did however, not even step into the WJ on the Allure. Was wonderful not to fight crowds and people who are not looking where they are going. Food is better in MDR IMO.

I find it relaxing to get away to the MDR after a busy day and let someone wait on me for a change. But with kids, it's much different and completely understand.

Good thing is you have options. Choose wisely :)

No.

Take a short cruise beforehand if you want the points.

Based on my experience, no. Individual or couple photos of traveling companions staying in another room should not be on your CD.

But, If there are photos with one of you and someone else from another cabin, those should be on your CD, and theirs.

They key is, one of you have to be in the photo.

(linked cabins with families with kids can be included I believe)