Maybaybie10

I'm going to sound like I'm on a rant with this post but I'm very hurt by the comments made by the sales clerk like the one you encountered. I am a 6 year USAF veteran and have encountered the same type of ignorant response at the large home improvement store in town. I've been told that I'm eligible to receive a discount on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. So, my response to them is that they're telling me that I'm only a veteran two times a year. Your husband is a lot nicer than I am! My husband, who never served in the military, feels as insulted as I do and he would never tease me about something like this.

Oh trust me...once we got into the parking lot, he was fuming! Not about the fact he didn't get the discount, but about the attitude of the clerk. It's been a few months now, but he's leary every time he sees a sign with 'military discount' on it and won't ask. I think he was more irritated than hurt, but I think he was also embarrassed like somehow his military service wasn't good enough, so now he won't ask. He understands my teasing is not at him, but a jab at clerk for her insensitive response.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TOO! :)

But thankfully Royal groups veterans in with retired military so serving 8 years also gives the discount when available. :)

 

Veterans with an Honorable Discharge serving a minimum of 2 years, or 6-months in an active war zone, in any of the United States service divisions listed above. Proper identification in the form of a DD214 or DD256, plus a current photo must be presented at time of check-in.

Thank you for this info. My husband is also a veteran (served 8 years), but not retired. I didn't know he was eligible...good to know. Some places give military discounts to ONLY retired or disabled veterans, not just any veteran. We were getting lumber to build a deck this summer and were at one of the two very large chain stores that sell lumber and they advertised a 10% off Veteran Discount, so I told the clerk my husband was a veteran. She asked him a few questions about his service and then very rudely said, "I'm sorry, you don't qualify for the discount, because you're not the right kind of veteran." :eek:

I still tease him about it...I told him he should return the veteran's license plates that he has on his car because he's not the right KIND of veteran.:p

Casino

 

 

Just remember - it's all entertainment - so don't go crazy - it's not like the slots in Vegas where they return 98-99% to the player - it is closer to 85% on cruise ships - which means the house will "win" $15 of every $100 "gambled".

 

So, for the amount to budget for a 7 day cruise (bingo & slots ), I would say about $300 would give you enough money for daily action.

I found the casino slots to be very 'tight' on our last cruise. I usually play $20 and get to play for awhile....going up and down for an hour or two. On our last cruise, my $20 lasted all of 3 minutes...everytime I played. My Mom had a different experience and kept winning and winning. I budget $100/day for sea days and much less for port days- but then again, that casino calls my name much more than it should...:rolleyes:

Thanks for info. Sorry about not including Maine. Shame on me, my wife's family up in Belfast.

 

Looked at Oceanview family rooms, Thanks. very tempting

If you are interested in the FOV...8200 and 8500 are the same price as the rest, but a lot bigger. This is a good thread to read...several videos of those 2 rooms too.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2088943

I'll forgive you about forgetting us here in Maine...just this once! :)

Good Luck on your decision!

2 families of 5 and 4 looking at cruising for April Vacation in MA. 1st cruise for all of us.

 

Looking at 2 Eastern Caribbean cruises, April 18 on Oasis and 19th on Freedom. Leaning towards 19th on Freedom since pricing about $1000 cheaper per family.

 

Wondering if other board members cruise during this time. I know I should expect many MA, RI, NH residents since all of New England gets their April vacation during this time, but is it crazy with too many kids.

 

Prices seem reasonable for the cruise. I am waiting for Southwest to release spring airfare in late Oct so hopefully will get good flight out but may book cruise deposit to secure rate and kids sail free promo.

Don't forget MAINE (we are always forgotten...sniffle..sniffle...:p) We will be on Freedom on the 19th...come join us! We snagged 8200...huge OV room. Maybe 8500 is still available...pretty much a mirror image of 8200. Separate master bedroom, bunkroom, and big living room. Can't wait!!

I know on our 1st cruise on Enchantment in 2001, we paid $699pp before taxes/fees for an inside. 10 years later we went on our next cruise on Freedom in an inside and paid $729pp for an inside quad and my parents paid about $1050 for a balcony, and friends paid $879ish for their outside. Those are the prices I typically feel OK with. Next April (school vacation) we are going on Freedom in a Family Ocean View and are paying $3033 for 5, so about $610pp. I don't pay attention to how much the 3rd and 4th person are, I just take the full fare and divide by the number of people in the room and see if I am happy with that price. I know there are deals to be had, but we can only cruise at certain times of the year because of school and work, so we do what we can. Hope that helped a little. Good Luck!

I just wanted to share the email I got from RCI about minors traveling with someone other than their parents. I was always under the impression that if a minor was traveling with just one parent then the other parent had to sign a notarized letter saying they give their permission. I also thought that if a minor was traveling with someone other than their parents, then both parents had to give permission. Apparently that isn't the case. I know it says so in their FAQs, but I wanted it directly from RCI to me so I could print it and take it with me. I thought the info might be useful to someone else as well. Their email to me is at the beginning and my original email to them is at the end.

Dear Melissa:

Thank you for your email. We apologize for the delay in our response.

Adults who are not the parent or legal guardian of any minor child traveling with them must bring an original, notarized letter signed by at least one of the child's parents, as well as a copy of the signed notarized letter. The notarized letter must authorize the traveling adult to take the child on the specific cruise and must authorize the traveling adult to supervise the child and permit any emergency medical treatment that must be administered to the child. The copy of the notarized letter will be submitted during check-in. The original notarized letter will need to be kept by the guests onboard and may be requested by shipboard personnel for verification purposes during the sailing.

The adult authorized by the parent in the notarized letter will be able to take the child on shore excursions and sign any activity or shore excursion waivers. The letter does not have to list specific activities the child can participate in, but may indicate that the parent does not want their child to participate in a specific activity or shore excursion. If a non-parent adult is a legal guardian, the adult must present a certified certificate of guardianship with respect to the child.

Additionally, traveling adults are required to present either the child's valid passport and necessary visas or the child's birth certificate (the original or a certified copy). For minors 16 and 17 years of age on a United States closed-loop sailing, a form of photo identification issued by a government agency, such as a public school identification card or a driver's license, will also be required along with the birth certificate. Kindly note, it is the guests’ responsibility to identify and to obtain the necessary travel documentation before commencing their cruise vacation. As documentation requirements are subject to change, please refer to the “Before You Board” section of our website (http://www.royalcaribbean.com) for the most current documentation information.

We would like to invite the children you are traveling with to enjoy Adventure Ocean, one of the most comprehensive youth activity programs at sea. Run by an exceptional, energetic and educated staff, the program is tailored to fit four separate age groups. Adventure Ocean is included in the price of your cruise vacation and all activities are free! Also, you can rest assured your little ones are in good hands. Every member of our Adventure Ocean staff holds a college degree in education, recreation, or a related field and has experience working with children ages 3-17.

The Freedom of the Seas represents an absolute marvel of maritime engineering. The minute you step aboard you will witness the innovations available to you. Catch a first-run movie in the 3D movie theater, give Shrek a high-five as part of the DreamWorks Experience, or have an intimate evening full of delicious wine and decadent appetizers at the Vintages wine bar. No matter how you choose to spend your time, your cruise vacation on the Freedom of the Seas will be an unforgettable experience.

We would like to take the opportunity to welcome you back on Royal Caribbean International as a Gold member of our Crown & Anchor Society. Your membership level gives you access to exclusive onboard savings through our Ultimate Value Booklet, an invitation to our Welcome Back Party, Crown & Anchor savings on cruises, and much more. Visit http://www.royalcaribbean.com/cas/benefitsLoggedout.do for a full list of your benefits.

Melissa, thank you for choosing Royal Caribbean International. We look forward to welcoming you aboard the Freedom of the Seas in April.

Sincerely,

Martha Langner

Customer Service Representative

-----------------------------

My cruise information:

Booking ID:

Ship: Freedom Of The Seas

Sail Date: 19/Apr/2015

Phone:

Issue: My nephew will be traveling with us on our cruise. Do I need a notarized copy giving permission from ONE parent or from BOTH parents? Your website says ONE parent, but I was always told it was BOTH parents (or the 'missing' parent if traveling with just one). He will have a passport and I have Power of Attorney from his father as well while he is deployed. I would just like this in writing to bring with me to the pier so there are no problems. Thank you.

Thank you all for helping me learn! I'm really only getting them a few shares because they were sooo anti-cruising 3 years ago, and since that 1st one (for my 40th birthday), they have been on six...including several Caribbean, an Australian, and are currently packing for a Transatlantic next month. I just thought it would be a cute and cheeky little gift for them...and I know Mom would appreciate it. I may do some research and pick a few really cheap ones (under $5-$10) a share that remind me of them or things they like and get those too. Just something fun, different, and unexpected.

Go to Scottrade. They only charge $7.00 to purchase 1 or 100 shares. My stockbroker charges $60 to purchase stock. I use him when I need advice or an additional opinion.

 

My daughters bought several shares at a time and now have the 100 shares to get the cruise credit. They are young and are just happy to cruise on an interior room. They enjoy the cruise credit when they travel. They also enjoyed the run up in value of RCL stock.

Thank you! That is exactly the info I needed. Now hopefully I can figure out how to navigate the site as a newbie!

Not really. There used to be a company called One Share, but it went away since stock certificates/shares are all electronic now. The one that comes up on Google doesn't sell RCI.

 

IMO you would have to open a small account with an online broker and purchase it that way. Which might not be a bad thing, you could always open an account for yourself. Even if you have an account, there will be a fee.

Thank you!

I guess when I said "are there places I can go..." I did mean online, as opposed to a stockbroker (meaning real person). So as an individual I can go online and buy just a few shares of something (not like 100, but like 2) at one of the many online 'brokers' I see commercials for all the time?

Maybe someone on this thread can help me. After reading this, I thought it would be a nice Christmas present to get my parents a few shares of RCI stock as they've recently become addicted to cruising (yes, my fault....guilty!) I don't expect them to become rich off it or even make any real money, but it's something different. My Mom has always loved watching stocks rise and fall, but has never really owned any. Are there places that I can go and just buy a few shares of stock without a broker? Is there a fee for doing that? I know you probably can't name companies here, but I'm just wondering how I go about doing it.

Thanks in advance...

Here's a copy of a post on the same subject I made a few days ago....

 

What happened with me when I was attempting just about the same exact thing... I was on the phone with a rep shortly after 1PM for a sailing at 4:30 the next day. The rep told me that the manifest had been closed out and sent to the mothership, so no can do. I then asked just how late could I book and make a sailing, his answer was 24 hrs before sailing. Then with all my experience as a jailhouse lawyer I pointed out that there was more than 26 hours before sailing! He then told me that you could probably book the sailing by calling before noon on the day before, but after that it is possible to book, but only if they have not closed the manifest.

 

The ship was the Monarch not too long before she left PC.

Thank you, Bill. At least I don't feel crazy- I knew I had read a post about it recently! As with all things Royal...it depends on whom you talk to...or which way the wind is blowing I guess! ;)

Thank you all for setting me straight...apparently I had misinformation. :)

I just received a notice from RCI about their 2 day WOW sale. The description says

"Need a vacation? Start packing now and get ready to cruise as soon as tomorrow if you'd like. This offer is good on sailings through the end of 2014 and goes away on Sunday at midnight. So don't delay."

Cruise as soon as tomorrow? I always thought the passenger manifest had to be turned in 48-72 hours before sailing. I seem to remember someone on here recently trying to book with 24 hours notice and was told it was 'too late'. If that is truly the case, then their PR department needs to take note before sending out these mass emails.

OK...so here's a curve ball.

My parents have temporary custody of my nephew (their grandson) for a year while my brother is deployed. He will be coming along on our cruise. His mother (my brother's ex) is in the picture, but not in the picture. Getting a notarized letter from her may be like asking her to part the Red Sea. It's not that she wouldn't let him go, but I just know it will be impossible to get that letter. As it stands now, getting the passport is going to be a feat of epic proportions! That being said, I always thought BOTH parents had to sign the letter if their child was going out of the country without either of them or ONE had to sign if the other was taking the child away. According to Royal's own site, that isn't the case. Since my nephew has my brother's last name, which is also my parent's last name as well, I think just a notarized letter from my brother and my nephew's passport should be fine if I'm reading the requirement correctly. Anyone??

And always remember that if you have any kind of pre-existing condition that the insurance company could come back on, PLEASE buy the insurance within 14 days of purchasing your cruise, otherwise they won't pay if you have to cancel. My Mom has had some health issues on and off over the years, so I always make her get the insurance within 14 days because insurance companies can call just about anything a pre-existing condition.

I usually don't post on these "what should I wear on formal night" threads, but I just felt the urge tonight.

Yes, Royal does host a 'formal' night, in the hopes many will dress a bit 'dressier' that night and pay hommage to cruise days past when everyone wore their 'Titanic' finery. Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on which camp you reside in, that just isn't the case anymore. The idea of Black Tux on some ships has gone the way of the corded telephone and tube tv. I think it is a combination of cruising becoming more 'family friendly' and buying a tux for an 8-year-old isn't something most want to do as they will most likely grow out of it before the next cruise. Baggage restrictions have also put a big damper on formalwear as suits, ties, pants, dresses, dress shoes, etc tend to make a suitcase pretty darn heavy (and therefore, expensive), especially if you have formalwear for four for 2 formal nights. I know this from experience.

That being said, I enjoy dressing up. I am from Maine. We have very cold winters and very warm summers and I hardly ever get to wear a fancy dress and have a nice family picture taken. I do lug all that stuff in my suitcase, and sometimes pay the price for that extra heavy suitcase, although I am a super duper packer (thanks, Dad!). Some chose not to. Some people want to be more casual on their vacation, and in my opinion, that's ok too. The way I see it, what you wear in the dining room is not going to affect the taste of my food one bit, so you wear what you want and I'll wear what I want and we'll both enjoy our vacations! :)

Remember: Don't sweat the petty stuff...and don't pet the sweaty stuff!:p

I figured it out. They take the BOGOHO sale into account and work it into a price per person. I guess I feel better now...I think.

I'm sorry, but this one may be a little hard to explain.

I'm already booked on our cruise, but often look for price drops as most do.

Today I clicked on my cabin catagory, and instead of saying "Prices starting from $1286pp", it said "prices starting from "$1094pp". When I clicked on the E2, it said "Per Person Price Guests 1-2: $1,098.5 - $1,121.5, Total $2,197 - $2,243".

Well that was great, I thought, since MY current price is $1465pp (base price). When I picked a stateroom and viewed my "summary of charges", the room was back to $1465pp base price.

I called RCI.com and asked WHICH room exactly was the $1098.50? She said "at one point we must've had staterooms that started at that price, but they aren't available anymore." Then shouldn't the per person price say $1098.50-$1465pp?? I have been checking the prices daily since we booked a month ago and the balcony has ALWAYS said "prices from $1286", never anything as low as $1094. Am I missing something here??? If they give a range in a specific cabin catagory of $1098-$1121 for guests 1 and 2, doesn't that mean that the entire cabin catagory should fall within those parameters?

Thanks for any insight you have. Normally, I wouldn't have even bothered to call, but $300 is a big drop (or mystery drop I guess), and I think it may be a bit of false advertising.

I live in Maine and we are a little on the cool side right now. Forecast is for mid-high 60's (F) during the day and upper 40's to low 50's overnight for the next week or so. We're running about 10 degrees below normal. I'd bring a jacket and a few pairs of pants if you aren't used to it. Sadly last Friday it hit 90 degrees, so waking up to 44 this morning was quite a shock....and I live here! :p

They *usually* are May and October, but it could be whenever the mood suits them. They had a 5day WOW sale last month, and I booked during it, but for the past few years it has been May and October.

We ate at Milliken's Reef the night before our last FOV cruise. The food was awesome and we loved sitting outside at a table with our toes in the sand! They also have more 'formal' (but not formal) tables inside if you'd like air conditioning and no sand!

http://www.millikensreef.com/

You may want to email special needs and ask what, if anything, they will provide. I would definitely pack a plastic sheet just incase, though.

I know I'm old school, but I still bring traveler's cheques. I hate carrying cash, especially large amounts, and the ATM fees on the ship are crazy expensive. This also helps because if I feel the 'casino bug' grabbing hold of me, I can't just reach into my pocket for another $20- I have to physically leave my seat to go cash a check. This helps me decide if I reeaalllly want to throw that twenty in the machine or not. :p

Yes, the rep emailed me an updated reservation and it all looks good...so I do have it in black and white! Thanks!