MS52

I bought one last week on the Grandeur. It specifically says there is no expiration date.

[quote name='JohnSnowGOT']YEs You can drink in Labadee on the drink package.
The bars on the Island are pretty sorry IMO.... I really expected better.
But they serve drinks!!!!! and the package is accepted.[/QUOTE]

We were at Labadee on Saturday. They ran out of Labadoozies by about noon. Bars closed at 2 - we were scheduled to be there until 4:30. I think they ran out of booze. One in our party (with the drinks package) wanted a beer at lunch time and they only had one kind left.

The Explorer and Grandeur were both there. I wondered if the drink packages contributed to the well running dry. I was surprised they were not better prepared.


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Sitting in the Palladium Theatre right now waiting to disembark. Wish they would let us out of here so we can get on the road.

 

But in answer to the OP- 10 days ago we arrived at the port at 10:30 and walked right onto the ship.

 

 

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Yes..however if you happen to be renting a cabana it's included as one of the ammenities...Enjoy Labadee it's a favorite of ours.

 

As of the changes that they made on 10/4/13, it is no longer listed as an amentity. I will be there in a cabana next week and can report back if they include them.

I just found out this morning that AT&T and Royal Caribbean have a cruise/phone package.

 

$30 - 50 minutes talk

$60 - 50 minutes talk, 100 texts

$120 - 50 minutes talk, 100 tests, 100 MB data

 

I like to touch base with the kids while I'm away (even though the kids are grown) and $30 for 50 minutes is a great price IMHO. You can't get it online, you have to call AT&T. Best part is that you can sign up for only a month so you don't have to worry about cancelling it when you get home.

 

Sorry if this is old news but I just found out about it - we're leaving on Saturday and I signed up this morning.

Does anyone know what the plan is called? I can't find it as an add-on.

 

found it:

 

http://www.att.com/att/global/affordable-world-packages/?cruise

Haven't played bingo in years. The cost is outrageous compared to the awful odds. Take that $36, walk to the roulette table in the casino, and plop it all down on black. You're much better off. :rolleyes::p

 

EXACTLY. They'll get my $$ one way or the other, but it won't be playing bingo!

In the end, it costs them nothing really.

 

Sure it does. It potentially costs them lost revenue.

 

And as far bingo being a ripoff, I would rather people play bingo voluntarily and the cruise line make $10,000 plus on a game than raise the cruise fare on everybody. If it's not for you, don't play it.

 

It's all about profit - and profit is not a dirty word. They have to make it somewhere.

I am not looking for trip cancellation insurance (at this point we're self insured)How ?????

 

We have never gotten cancelation insurance only medical/evacuation. We do about 2-3 trips a year times about 12 years that we've been traveling. So about 25 trips times $xxx not paid in insurance. I consider us self insured. I have saved the above premiums. If I missed a trip and lost the money, would I be upset? Heck, yes! But I'm ahead of the game at this point.

 

Having said that, we cruise in 8 days with my sister. Right now, I'm on hold (for 40 minutes so far) because my sister went into the hospital today and it doesn't look like she will be able to go. She ALWAYS buys insurance and it looks like she either chose not to or forgot for this trip. I told her husband that I would call and check on canceling/refund. I don't see it listed on her reservation. Unless it's included in her cruise fare - which I don't think it is - she's sol. :(

Bad news. That's usually the only coupon that I use.

 

 

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We were able to book in advance for 30% off first night reservations - on Jewel. I think it was because our travel companions booked it for the group and they're D+.

 

That's a deal available on the pre-cruise planner to everyone. A great deal IMHO.

 

 

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Gina, you are correct. Many are jumping on the GF bandwagon for various reasons and it makes it more difficult for celiacs who aren't doing it because it's the latest fad.

 

But I do disagree with you that celiacs shouldn't cruise. Should my DD, who at 30 years old was diagnosed with celiacs, never cruise, never take vacation, never eat in a restaurant, never go to a business conference? You have to live life and be proactive about what you eat - sometimes this means packing your own lunch at a business meeting.

 

She has cruise before and had an excellent experience.

 

 

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You're welcome Maryann - I know I love seeing what the rooms look like so I can decide if I want to splurge on a suite or just stick with the normal balcony room. We like Junior Suites too, they are quite roomy and the walk-in closet is great.

 

We have the corner aft JS on the Grandeur in two weeks - I'll have to figure out how to post pictures

 

 

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For example, $100,000 in evacuation coverage should be enough protection for a cruise to the Carribbean, however, travelers visiting Asia or Africa may want to consider a travel insurance policy with at least $250,000 in evacuation coverage. -

from

http://blogs.squaremouth.com/press-room/top-five-myths-for-travel-insurance-during-cruise-season-warns-squaremouth/

 

InsureMyTrip Explains: Medical Evacuation Costs

from

http://www.insuremytrip.com/mailings/17Jan2013_newsletter.php

 

Thanks, I was looking at Squaremouth but missed the links. Very helpful

Interesting. We buy insurance for each trip. Had not thought of an annual plan.

 

 

The annual plans seem to be much more reasonable for someone of my age. :D Just need to make the best decision. The problem for me is that you're insuring for something that you hope will never happen!

We're looking at several trips this year, so instead of getting insurance for each trip I'm looking at an annual travel insurance policy.

 

Coverage and costs for a policy is all over the map. One policy offers $10,000 for medical evacuation, another offers $1 million for the same. I would assume that $10,000 would not be nearly enough especially if you needed medical transportation to home. But is a million overkill?

 

If I were to be evacuated from a ship, does anyone have any idea just what it would cost?

 

I am not looking for trip cancellation insurance (at this point we're self insured) just medical/evacuation. If anyone has any guidelines, thoughts, they'd be appreciated.

 

Let's not debate the merits of insurance here - I'm just looking to make an informed purchase.

 

Thanks :o

Nice! thanks for sharing.

Haven't I already paid for those since I am MTD? (not that you knew I was, but I am) I thought that was already included in my total for the cruise ??? And also, I thought pre-ordered drink packages also already included the gratuities ??? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

If you're MTD, you have already prepaid your tips. Also tips are included in the drinks packages.

 

Since most things are paid for up front, you can book a specialty restaurant, do a little shopping in the stores on board, draw the funds out at the casino, book an excursion. I think you'll find that $100 will be fairly easy to spend.

You can get cash advances at the casino - last January they charged 3% but I believe it may have gone to 4%. We used up our obc that way.

Sandytoes - very well said. As I said (not nearly as well as you), if you're proactive, RCCL takes very good care of you. I don't think you can just show up at a restaurant and expect them to do things out of the ordinary. They bend over backwards to assist but they too need to be prepared.

 

Bythehex - I think you will find that RCCL is very good when it comes to celiacs. They even have a special area of the kitchen where they prepare the GF food so there's no chance of cross contamination. Once again, you need to notify them before you board and then talk to them when you board. Interestingly enough, on one of the celiac's web pages, RCCL is recommended as one of the places that you can take a worry free vacation.

It is amazing how such important things like vegetarian and food allergies can be handled from one to ship to another.

 

 

I think it is very, very important to email them prior to your cruise and also to stop and see the head waiter as soon as you board. it's been our experience if you're proactive, they take better care of you (gluten free issues).

 

Last cruise, my DD wanted to eat in Chops. The head waiter visited the chef in Chops and arranged her menu. She even had a GF crab cake. They made sure that all seasonings on the steak were GF, made her a GF salad dressing, etc. It was a fantastic evening. (I sometimes get riled up when people say the head waiter doesn't do anything!).

I will be ensconced in my nice hotel with my travel buddies waiting to board Grandeur the next morning:D

 

Doing the happy, happy dance!!!:D:p:)

 

And TWO weeks from today, we'll be on our way to our nice hotel waiting for you to arrive back in Baltimore to get off the ship the next day!

 

Have a great cruise - and take care of the Grandeur!! ;)

This is odd. I am booked on Brilliance of the Seas and pre paid the $115 for Chefs Table, Chops, Giovannis and Izumi,. I just called to see if it was cheaper and they told me it was $130 on the phone???

 

 

Odd and funny. We booked a month or so ago at $130 pp for the Grandeur. After reading this thread, I checked the price online and saw it was $115 pp. I called this morning and cancelled the $130 reservation and rebooked for the new price of $115. Savings of $30 for us!! About FIVE drink of the day :rolleyes:

I believe the V stands for Vitality, their healthy menu, not vegetarian. I believe that's another symbol.

 

The wheat stalk indicates gluten free

The milk carton indicates lactose free

The V indicates vegetarian

And a triangular "thing" indicates a vitality dish.

 

Perhaps the staff need more training in why some of these labels are critical AND necessary.

 

My DD, who has celiacs, will be on the Grandeur in two weeks. I sincerely hope that they are better at labeling gluten free.

 

Interesting side note: I went onto RCCL's website to find their menus so I could check the above symbols. One of the items for a main course is a Sweet and Sour Premium Vegetarian Chicken Chunks with Jasmine Rice. It is marked with a V. In what universe is Chicken a vegetarian dish?

I can't comment on what you experienced but IMHO, Samana was my favorite port ever. We were there in January 2013. Do your homework before you go and you will have a great day!