Clydesmom7865

It appears RCCL and MGM have somehow joined forces as MGM now offers Royal Carribean rewards on the FB game MyVegasSlots.

I play that game (mostly for the comps when I go to Vegas) and I checked out the rewards: they aren't bad at all. You can use your slots game points to purchase OBC, discounts on cruises, companion fares, and drinks packages.

Since I play fairly regularly I rack up the "loyalty" points quickly and if I were going to cruise RC I would max them out and get the OBC and/or the drinks package. Though as a solo traveler the companion fare might be a better deal.

Hello all

 

My hubby and I are considering our first cruise and the more I research the more confused I become.

 

We are looking at a Mediterranean cruise on Equinox.

I am attempting to understand all the upfront costs.

So far it appears that I pay for:

Cruise

Tax

Drinks package (options), then 15% gratuities on this

Meal package (if we wish)

General gratuities per day

 

Have I missed anything.

Is there one place I can find all these details?

 

I also noted on one of the threads that purchasing the drinks package once out to sea was cheaper. Is that accurate. If so, how far out?

Any help or direction for me would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks for all the wonderful sharing.

Before you spend the money on a drinks package (if the 123 promo is not available) do the math. The amount of alcohol, bottled water, and special coffees you would have to drink every day to get your money's worth is astronomical. Some can do it but for me as much as I am in port I would lose money on a drink package.

If soda is a concern Celebrity does allow you to slap a luggage tag on a 12 or 24 pack and check it as luggage and have it sent to your room. That can save quite a bit. Many hit a grocery store after the airport but before the port.

I am a heavier packer and avoid laundry charges. As for the specialty restaurants those are cheaper on board. I simply ask what kind of discounts they are offering to the Maitre D' or the waiter. They get a commission for booking it and I get a discount.

The drink package USED to be cheaper when booked on board. Now to encourage people to do so in advance they up the cost once you board. Taxes are not the issue if the per day cost is much more.

I try to book my shore excursions on my own with private companies vs on board because the tours are better and less expensive. Now I do use the ship excursion if it is an ALL day adventure with a high risk of being late back to the port. For half day tours where I will wander and shop for a while when done I go it on my own.

Up front you will pay the cruise fare, port charges, and taxes. If you book select dining you will pre-pay gratuities. If you have a set dining time you can pre-pay them but do not have to.

If you have more questions let us know.

I couldn't have said it better. I watched part of two episodes of the first season, and quickly decided to not bother with it again. This is low class TV. It certainly isn't something of interest to serious cruisers. Just watch the promos for a good idea of what you will endure if you watch it. http://www.bravotv.com/below-deck

The ENTIRE production had to be staged. I am certain they basically offered unknown actors/actresses a free vacation on a luxury yacht if they agreed to be portrayed as the uppity obnoxious wealthy guests on the yacht. Based on the final show where they said the crew had all moved on most to non-yachting jobs I am certain they were paid to be the disgruntled crew members for the season as well.

The whole thing was contrived and an insult to the intelligence. I only caught most of it due to a marathon airing, a bout with the flu (Nyquil makes anything seem like a good idea) and an inability to locate the remote for most of the day. SIGH

I saw the first season. It is NOT about cruising. It is nothing more than staged reality TV about young people who are staff aboard a private yacht in the Caribbean. Their behavior was atrocious and if that is what you get from staff when spending five figures or more to lease a yacht then I would not be parting with my money (assuming I had that kind of spare shekels) to a charter any time soon.

They spent the majority of the time bad mouthing their clients and seeking new and inventive ways of getting out of working all while bickering with each other laced with profanity and nudity. The most appalling thing to me was hearing them bad mouth the clients. ANY wealthy person leasing a yacht is paying for not only the luxury but professionalism from the crew and discretion. Given how they publicly disparaged their clients why ANYONE would lease that yacht or hire them is beyond me.

Oh, and I forgot. They complained vociferously about the tips they received as though they had actually done a good job not even above and beyond.

It is nothing more than trash TV do not waste your time.

As a. Non. Medical. professional ------If the cruise means s o much to you have you considered trying to get the chemo at a hospital at a port---I would speak to my oncologist

While the idea is ingenious, as a medical professional the LAST thing a cancer patient should do is attempt to get a single chemo treatment in a hospital in a third world country in the Caribbean. If they even have it. Most cancer centers will not do something like this due to the liability.

No worries. You can change the card at the pier with no problem. I did on line check in with my debit card because a newer CC was coming in the mail. Then simply told the pier agent I wished to use a different card for my account. They didn't even blink.

You can even change your card once on board at guest relations. You will be fine. Enjoy the cruise.

With that cruise being so far off there is no roll call for yours yet but you can start one here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=525

I have taken that early December Caribbean cruise on the Equinox and you could count the number of kids on board with one hand. You may find another child your son's age but given that schools are not out yet and it is a 10 day cruise there typically is not a lot of families with kids traveling.

I dined solo in Murano for lunch when my traveling companion fell ill and could not go. I never felt out of place and was treated excellent by the staff. I also took my tablet with books on it and read during the meal but it was not a necessity.

Go and enjoy without worrying about it.

No she won't be in trouble with Celebrity should something happen. Some women are not even aware they are pregnant yet at 9 weeks. The problem is for women who are clearly showing and do not have that letter on file or with them and are denied sailing. At that early stage no one will know she is pregnant but she should get that letter just to be safe.

I could see a woman getting in trouble for misrepresenting how far along she was (closer to due date) and something happening.

Not that I have noticed. I haven't taken many cruises but that is an activity that does not seem to be popular on Celebrity.

IMHO, the Southern Caribbean is so port intensive that you should be worn out by the time you get back on the ship every day.

As someone who has done the 14 day Southern Caribbean on Celebrity I have to echo this sentiment. There were many days that I was literally falling asleep in my dinner plate in the main dining room. In retrospect I wished I had done room service or the buffet I was SO tired.

I had the BEST time but there is a LOT to do and food became the least of my worries.

Anyone else have any input?

I organized my own private tour to the Jaguar Rescue Center with JJ. We had a blast. You can find his contact information in the Costa Rica forum of shore excursions. It included admission to everything and lunch at a local restaurant, banana plantation. We even had time to shop locally including a grocery store where I bought coffee that friends and family still beg me to return there to get.

I'm booked for the Nov 30, 2015 11 night cruise. Has anyone else taken this cruise?

It was the first cruise I ever took and I LOVED it.

I was flying back on a major carrier cross country flight last night when a woman and her inappropriately dressed teenage daughter boarded the plane with a DIRTY disgusting small poodle on a leash and not a crate in sight. My seat mate questioned the lack of a crate and when they ignored her I chimed in.

I raised my voice and indicated this was a symptom of the spoiled generation and they had clearly lied to the airline stating it was a "service" dog to avoid paying the fee to travel with a pet and kennel requirement. Others spoke up too commenting that the dog did not appear to be a service animal and clearly was untrained in obedience let alone to assist someone disabled.

They quickly took their seats and we listened to the thing whine and yap for 6 hours. After touching down in Atlanta they tried to get off the plane as fast as possible to avoid everyone and in her haste they boarded the wrong tram and she left her purse on the tram they boarded heading in the opposite direction of baggage claim. Last I saw of them she was hysterically screaming at an airport employee about trying to get the purse back.

Sometimes karmic payback just isn't worth it.

Sail Away on the Helipad is really a great

Not real sure of the criteria to get invited but I think it's being an Elite. :cool:

Nope. I am not Elite on Celebrity Captain's Club nor in real life but I was invited not once but twice on my last cruise.

The dishonest people do not always profit. I once lost my park hopper pass to Disney when I took off my sweatshirt and the lanyard went with it. I went back to "City Hall" on Main Street to lost and found a couple of times but no one had turned it in. The last trip there that night I made the comment that it was not a huge loss because that was my last night there and there was only one day left on the pass.

The park employee asked me to wait and searched their computers. He found where I had purchased/picked up the pass (Epcot) and every place I had swiped it to use Fast Pass. He then de-activated it and gave me a replacement for the single day I would have lost. His last comment:

"Now the Scrooge McDuck who thinks they found a free pass will get caught at the gate and will not be allowed to use it. Not only that they will have to return all the way to the Ticket Center to buy a park ticket."

I could not have been happier at their kindness and that they were able to thwart the greedy person who decided keeping my pass was better than turning it in.

I wonder if it has anything to do with being a CruiseCritic member and signing up for the CC party. There were many, many CC's on the helipad with us.

The CC group was not as active on my sailing and I did not see many members on the helipad either time. My invitation was in my room both times not at the CC party. I don't think that was it at least on my sailing.

There was a cash bar but I did not avail myself of it.

Hate to show my ignorance, but what is special about standing on the helipad and having a drink (obviously never having been invited or even hearing of such an event)?

It is a sail away perspective that most people do not get to experience. I enjoyed it both times even without a drink. It is a smaller more intimate crowd than other sail away venues. Some might not be impressed but those of us in our group had a great time.

It seems that suite, B2B, and CC elite and above get invited. At least that is our experience.

Nope. I have never sailed in a suite, never done a B2B, and am not even close to Elite and got invited twice on my last 14 day cruise. They invite who they invite and I did not see any special criteria used.

Is it correct then, that cruiselines can prohibit dogs that are emotional support dogs?

If the passenger identifies it as such: yes. ESA are NOT service animals and have no additional protection under ADA. However the scammers are smart enough to know that.

As long as they say it is a service dog they know the airline, cruise line, hotel cannot ask what it is for or any other detailed questions. They also cannot ask for proof. This is why legislation is needed to identify true service animals and separate them from the idiots who insist they can't bear to leave Fluffy behind when they travel and LIE about the dog's purpose.

I got this same virus last December when I flew to Las Vegas. I have NEVER got so sick so fast. The fever was unrelenting, coughing until passing out, vomiting, NO sleep, sinuses clogged. A quick trip to a walk in clinic revealed: bronchitis, sinus and bilateral ear infections.

I went through EVERY towel in the room and the next day when housekeeping came by I simply asked for more linens and would NOT allow her to make up the room. I even put my dirty linens in the cart for her. She seemed distressed by the idea until I told her I was ill and did not want to pass it to her or anyone else. Then she was grateful.

Thankfully in Vegas there is literally nothing you cannot get from room service and I ordered chicken soup and ginger ale. The employee who took the order and asked if I was sick felt so bad for me as he listened to my plight that when the tray arrived it had two popsicles on it too!

It took me 2 months to recover and I hope I am never that sick again.

The stateroom bar package information is here: http://www.celebritycruises.com/planAndBook/tabLanding.do?pagename=onboard_beverage_packages#onboard_beverage_packages_stateroom_bar_tab/onboard/asrPanel.do%3Fpagename=onboard_beverage_packages_stateroom_bar

Classic Stateroom Bar Setup

The Classic Stateroom Bar Setup includes a sophisticated collection of brands such as Seagram's®, Beefeater®, Captain Morgan® and more. You may also choose from a list of mixers, including Coca-Cola® products, Ginger Ale, tonic water or juices. *Starting from: 80.00 USD Per PACKAGE

Premium Stateroom Bar Setup

The Premium Stateroom Bar Setup includes a sophisticated collection of brands such as Crown Royal®, Bombay Sapphire®, and Grey Goose®. In addition, you may also choose from a list of mixers, including Coca-Cola products, Ginger Ale, tonic water or juices. *Starting from: 100.00 USD Per PACKAGE

I know some people are huge fans of the boarding the nanosecond the gangway is open to new passengers to start their cruise portion of the vacation as soon as possible.

However, I am not one of them. I loathe standing in long line in crowded hot places doing absolutely nothing while waiting interminably. I much prefer to arrive later say around 1pm to much shorter lines and the distinct possibility that my cabin will be open and I can dump my carry on stuff.

There has always been plenty of time to eat and explore arriving at the pier later and I start my vacation off in a relaxed go at my pace mode and not tracking the increasing up ticks in my blood pressure fighting crowds.

I couldn't agree more Jenna, would much rather see only truly trained service dogs.

 

While good citizenship is a low bar, it is a bar, and most pets used as emotional service dogs could not pass it. It was suggested as a minimum.

 

In our past we were hobby breeders for Bichons, (would have enjoyed speaking to Dee, Jenna) I say hobby because no way can we make a profit if all animals pass CHIC before breeding. And also have no allergies and proper temperaments themselves.

 

So we have seen many owners with dogs for these purposes and the ones willing to get even this minimum designation at least know basic training and care of their animals in public. My bet is most pets in the US could not pass it!

The issue is not what breed is suitable as a service animal but whether a dog in a stroller or being fed from a plate in the buffet line is even a service dog at all.

Personally I don't care if that yappy Chihuahua is on board if it has passed a test showing that when the diabetic owner is in trouble it is trained to get help, the insulin kit, or dial 911 for assistance. However, if it is being wheeled around deck simply so its self absorbed owner can avoid kennel fees at the expense of damaging the reputation of true disabled and their service animals I object.

However, it seems there is a reluctance on celebrity's part to do this.

And THIS is what these clods count on. That they can merely state it is a service animal and out of fear of the passenger screeching "discrimination" the cruise line doesn't question when Fluffy is in a pink stroller and whizzing on the carpeting. Until the cruise lines place common sense front and center these self absorbed narcissistic people will continue to defy the laws and do as they please.

Saw the white baby carriage "service dog" as well. I really ?'ed what service that dog provided!

Saving it's owner $$$$ on boarding fees at the kennel.

I have never seen it on the menu there but could go for some beenie weenies. Had that for dinner tonight! :D