SadmanCruiser

UBP definately attracted us to NCL. Being D+ with RCI means our bar bill is not huge but as we tend to do longer cruises it does add up.

First tried the Jade a couple of years ago, booked in the UK including UBP. As there is so little difference between the two lines, we decided to do the Transatlantic on the Getaway last year, again including the UBP.

Loved the Getaway even though the weather on the crossing was poor (well it was January)

Soon we board the Vision of the Seas for the crossing followed by a seven night Caribbean. We were due to stay on the Vision for another 19 nights but seeing the prices on the Breakaway, also for 19 nights, we swapped.

We saved over $200, including the flights from Tampa to JFK and an overnight hotel in NY, and we get the drinks package included. We also have a balcony on the Breakaway as opposed to an outside on the Vision.

We have been sailing with Royal for just over 10 years and love the product. We have noticed recently that prices are creeping up, especially on the newer, bigger ships. NCL's pricing may have increased to include the 'free' offers but the value for money NCL offers does seem, IMHO, better.

We have also booked the 3 night dining package for each cruise on the Breakaway which is also better value than Royal.

We have the Epic booked for 21 nights in February as the prices were just too good to say no to!

Pete

OP - answer to your question is Yes UBP has bought us in as new customers - we have done 3 with 4 booked.

The first thing the chef asked was if anyone had food allergies. They cook separate rice if necessary and keep meat, fish chicken separate as well.

Love Teppenyaki, can't wait till November to do again.

Pete

Which port in Turkey are you visiting?

If it's Istanbul, I would get some TL - make sure you get small denonination notes. There is a tram that runs from near the ship to the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace etc which are almost an hours walk away.

In Kusadasi we took a taxi to Ephasus. The driver was happy to accept US$, not so keen on Euros or GB£ and exchange rates were horrible.

Yes, there will be a hairdryer in the cabin - they are usually in a drawer in the vanity unit.

Pete

Forgot to add - you can normally get TL on board but again exchange rate is awful. They change GB£ into US$ then into TL.

Another one here that did not know the 3 day rule.

Perhaps because I have all paperwork and packing done at least 2 weeks before leaving and then checked at least a dozen times and rechecked......

 

Am I allowed to ask about other lines on here, or do I need to take it elsewhere? If so, any other recommendations for my son? RCI mainly appealed because of the Dreamworks thing.

Of course you can ask.

Have you cosidered NCL. The Epic going from Barcelona may be worth a look.

Pete.

A fairly Loyal Royal who likes NCL's UBP included in the price!

Can anyone give info on these cabins? They appear to have a much larger balcony, but then I see they say obstructed view. It also appears there are a lot left available on our upcoming cruise, so I guess they are not that popular?? Any details/pics would be awesome. Thanks.

Can't quite remember if this was the Mariner or the Independence. The balcony was huge. I do remember that the room did not have a walk-in closet. It was bigger than normal just not enough room to walk in.

Pete, wonder what Benny would have done...?

Benny would probably have run round at double speed, slapped a bald bloke on the head and then made a racist joke - the good old days!:D:D:D:D

Of course, Singapore has as much atmosphere and ambiance as an airport departure lounge, and India has......:rolleyes:

 

JMHO of course.

:):):)

Quote:

Originally Posted by marci22

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1611817

NorbertsNiece (uk) was the last one to respond. She seems to have the most recent experience.

NorbertsNiece was also on the Rhapsody Suez cruise with me - she also did the cruise prior to the Suez which went to India.

Her experience, and my BIL's experience of getting an Indian visa is what put me off getting one.

I will wait to hear back from Royal - if a visa is a must, I may just cancel and do something different. £160, having to send passport away and a whole lot of hassel just ain't worth it.

Pete

So what did they do.

I applied for 4 visas for freinds onboard as I had an internet package and my laptop. Turkey is an easy visa to get online. Many guests were queueing for the concierge and guest services who were helping.

Pete

Well no I have not been denied Boarding for not having a visa, as I would never even consider not having the proper travel documentation for a trip.

I have never in the past travelled without all of the proper documentation and insurance.

However, on a recent Suez cruise on the Rhapsody I was amazed how many people did not have a visa for Turkey. As the cruise finished at Istanbul a visa was necessary to leave the ship even if only going to the airport. These guests were not denied boarding but were told onboard they could not leave the ship without a visa.

Pete

You will be denied boarding if you do not have an Indian visa. You are in Indian waters.

 

It states this on RCIs website: http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/visa-information/

 

India

UK and ROI passport holders require a visa to enter India. Currently Immigration in India is not allowing any group visas onboard or exceptions to this requirement and if you do not possess the correct visa for India you may be denied boarding so we strongly advise you to obtain an Indian visa. Please ensure you give full details of your total holiday itinerary including cruise, as this will determine the type of visa required.

I read that on the website, I have also emailed RCI for clarification - it's the may be that interested me.

As for being "not really bothered" to get off in India......really???:rolleyes:

The Indian sub-continent and Africa are two places that I have never had any interest in visiting. The cruise looks good for a few days in Dubai before and an after cruise visit to Singapore and then onto Hong Kong.

Looking at doing the Ovation in May 2016 from Dubai to Singapore.

The visa required is over £80 per person for the stop in India. As we are not really bothered about getting off the ship in India I am considering not getting visas.

Have you ever been denied boarding for not having a visa or is it just a case of you cannot leave the ship without a visa once arriving in India?

Thanks

Pete.

Then you each get your own amenity.

Not any more.

Wifey and I had different cabins on the Quantum in May and we were told it is not only one per stateroom but also one per household.

Pete

Yes I am from the UK but on this occasion the turkey visa site (the new e-visa site launched in 2014) seems to suggest the same for US and UK - the part that is very unclear is it now says no visa required if staying about the port area- It is how far that extends I am trying to check. "According to the Law on Foreigners and International Protection which entered into force on 11th April 2014, those foreigners who arrive at sea ports and intend to visit the seaport city or nearby provinces for touristic purpose are exempt from visa provided that their stay does not exceed seventy two (72) hours."

 

It is the "remaining in the port " that sort of worries me

Do not worry. I went to Ephasus in January and no visa is required.

A visa is only required if you fly in (or out) of Turkey. I cruised into Istanbul in May, left the ship to fly home and needed a visa.

Pete

Last year we cruised on Indi from the UK round the med for our summer hols and this year we are off to florida

 

Was looking at cruising next year, again from the UK, but really disappointed to see no newer ships in the UK next year.

 

I knew that Anthem was only here until the autumn, but I would have thought RC would offer one of the other oasis or quantum class ships.

 

Very disappointed. Will have to find something else to spend my money on.

No newer ships ??????

What about the Harmony and the Ovation - are they not newer ships?

Be careful cancelling one of your party.

I am considering going solo in November on a cruise we booked under the buy one get half off sale.

My U.S. travel agent rang RCI to ask about cancelling one guest to be told that any change would result in a re-price to current rates.

I was on the Rhapsody in May and asked the future cruise people for clarification. After talking to the supervisor, who rang Miami to check, I was told that the cruise would be re-priced for a solo traveller and even with 150% solo supplement it would be $1000 more.

The advice I was given on-board was to just turn up on my own and the wife would be a no-show which would not incur a cost.

Pete

My

We had 12263 on Oasis - never noticed any real noise. Wifey spent many afternoons on the balcony with her glass of wine and a book and loved it.

We have 14177 booked on the Harmony next year - could of had a sea view balcony for almost the same price but loved the CP balcony.

Pete

You will both get the D+ amenities.

 

You will get 22 points and your wife will get 11 points. Since you are linked with each other, your point total will show up as whichever of you has the highest individual total. For example, if you both have the same number of points now, then you will both show an increase of 22 points.

We did not get the D+ amenities. Even though we had 2 rooms, me in one and her in another, the D+ amenities are 1 per household not per room.

Pete

It generally depends on the currency you booked in. If your invoice says ££ it will come under U.K. booking terms. (O.B.C. for booking onboard will be $$)

We book onboard but as we have a U.S. travel agent the next cruise will be booked in $$ and subject to U.S. booking conditions.

Pete

I've seen paid, late disembarcation in Europe but never it the U.S. Could be down to the U.S. rules where they have to have a zero count before they let new guests embarc.

Pete

That I what I meant regarding the BOGOHO promotion w/ solo travelers. You pay 1/2 of the second still.

 

So the August sailing you mentioned earlier is (for sake of this discussion round numbers) $1000pp or $1500pp for 2 travelers, but a solo rate is $1250?

Royal's current pricing is hard to understand. I am watching two cruises:

Legend Aug 26th 2 pax $1200 = $2400 - $600 total $1800 plus taxes

Solo is $1800 - $350 total $1350 plus taxes

Splendor Aug 22nd 2 pax $1400 = $2800 - $700 total $2100 plus taxes

Solo is $2800 - £700 total $2100 plus taxes

As the base fare for the Legend is only $1800 it has a 150% solo supplement. The promotion shows as 'single specials'

Pete

Yea it is just the BOGOHO promo. You will find that on all sailings except Quantum and Anthem. It is a good deal for solo travelers. Sometimes.

Not a bogoho promotion. Our Navigator cruise next April is $1600 solo or $1700 for 2. Difference in price is $120 taxes.

Currently the Quantum May transatlantic has 150% solo supplement on a D2

Most times I put 1 traveller the prices go way up.

Pete

Pete,

 

Are you talking about something in addtition to the BOGOHO promo? That is the only 150% supplement that I have found!

The Legend sailing on August 26th 2015 starts at $899 p.p. For a solo the fare is $1347 plus taxes.

Pete

What was really strange was a couple of days before the second upgrade I received this from my travel agent:

Hi Peter,

I just received an email regarding an upgrade....

You have already received a complementary upgrade for both rooms. However, the room that Carol and Mark are in is a Balcony Room with an Obstructed View. If you wanted to upgrade to an unobstructed view it would be an additional $450 total or the room.

Would you like to take advantage of the upgrade?

I turned it down because I was well happy with the rooms we had.

Pete