EpcotBill

Hi Kevin, I just wanted to point out that if you put $660 in the machine and had 2640 credits you were playing a Quarter machine not a Dollar machine. I know, a minor detail, no big deal.

Enjoying your trip report. Thanks.

I wonder if the strenghtened chain of command means that Edie Bernstein(AZA) & Micheal Bailey (=X=) now answer to Adam Goldstein instead of Dick Fain....( as well as the top huncho at Pullmantur and the RCCL's ''portion'' of the management team at TUI Cruises...)

The fact that a recruitement drive has now started for Goldstein seems to point to the fact he was not yet grooming his own succcessor, something every executive ought to always carry out.

 

Good luck to Mr.Goldstein. He certainly ''paid his dues''.

Edie left AZ awhile ago. She's now with Crystal.

I just wanted to take a moment to let our cruise family here at cruise critic know that The Andrew passed away on March 16th. It's only been a week and I am already just lost without him.

I am shocked and very sorry to hear this Nancy. You two seemed like such a fun couple who loved life and each other so much. You have my condolences.

Unfortunately we're getting the same old itineraries.

How were the sea days going to PC? We board as soon as you get off :)

Pretty calm until around 10 pm last night and then it wasn't really that bad. Some newbies onboard thought it was awful.

Entertainment is quite horrible except for Hi Lux the house band. They play have been playing in Starry Nights lounge.

Time to get back onboard.

I'm on Pride right now,posting from PCV, the roof has been closed since we left Baltimore.

This is probably a reply to my question about an in-cabin coffee maker....

Thanks, but I'd rather make my own, it'd be nice and hot, and I could make it when I needed it. We hardly ever use room service just because the food is generally cold, and I believe they say the delivery is plus or minus about 30 minutes. You don't know me, but I GOTTA have that coffee in the morning! :eek:

On my one cruise on Dream we did not have a coffee maker in our Balcony stateroom. I don't think you can get one so the closest coffee is up 2 decks to Lido.

Jules, I have Platinum so I don't need it, but if they had FTTF earlier, I would have jumped on it. Immediate access to your cabin is great! The dedicated guest services line is just wonderful to have throughout the cruise. I used to plan my trips to guest services around their busy times, but with the dedicated line, any time is fine. I'm sure you'll appreciate it greatly. Just wondering...Do you also get a dedicated phone line for guest services?

I used FTTF in September on Liberty and yes we had a dedicated phone number to call.

Epcotbill, Was there a lot of restaurants within walking distance. We don't want anything real expensive or fancy. We are going to be there on Thanksgiving Day, and hoping that there will something open that day. If Publix is open we can at least hit the deli.

Claudia

We didn't really look for restaurants so I'm not sure about that. We ate lunch at the bar in Doubletree which was kinda crappy. We walked to Bubba Gump for dinner (not a short walk) and took the free trolley back.

I just stayed at Marriott Biscayne Bay before my cruise last week. Before my trip I tried to find where I could buy wine near the hotel to bring onboard the ship. There wasn't very much information that I could find in the internet.

So here it is for anyone else wondering about this. There is a very small mall in the Doubletree attached to the Marriott. There is a small liquor store there with very limited choices. There is a Publix about 2 blocks from the hotel with a very large, reasonably priced wine selection. It's an easy walk, only about 5 minutes. Just be careful crossing the streets. To get to Publix walk out the front of the hotel and turn right. Follow the curve around to the left and walk straight ahead. You'll see a GNC sign first, then the big green P sign for Publix.

Here are a few more;

Here are a few pictures I took in August 2006 when Empress of the Seas was docked in Philadelphia.

It is possible to Over-Disney. I've been going to WDW at least once a year for 24 years but when I cruise I don't want to see any mice. Congratulations on branching out.

Something that is handed to me by a cook from across a counter because I don't do buffets - I've seen too many people do too many disgusting things.:eek:

 

If eating at the Mermaid Grille, I usually get a tuna melt or grilled ham & cheese from the deli. Or a fresh-tossed chicken Ceasar salad from the pizza station. Or a burger from the poolside grille.

Thanks for your reply.

I know opinions on food can vary to extremes but what is your favorite for lunch at Mermaid Grill?

MrFunInTheSun,

 

Could you please give an overview of the Drink Package. There is little information online about specifics of beverages included vs. excluded. Specifically are the follow included:

 

Beer: Stella Artois

Liquor: Knob Creek Bourbon and Sauza Conmemorativo tequila

Wine List: Any sparkling wine/champagnes

 

 

Thank you.

Check out mpoole3's Navigator review, http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1823287. There are pictures of the drink menus starting on page 4.

I will say I would take Capt. Johnny any day taking me through a hurricane like he did back in 2005 with hurricane Wilma...we did the b2b and saw what he did getting in and back out.

 

Compare to the freak storm on the Freedom we had in Oct 2011...it was more a wild ride that will never forget!

I was on the Western Caribbean cruise with you that turned into an Eastern Caribbean cruise.

We had Wiwik as our server a couple of years ago on Pride. We did Your Time Dining and had her the first night. We asked to be in her section the rest of the cruise. If it's the same Wiwik (how many could there be?) you'll love her.

I don't know if this is true or not but I heard for RCI ships that if you are sitting on a lounge or bar and have a waiter bring you a drink then you get 15% service charge added to your bill (in a group of 4 having an $8 cocktail each this is $4.80) but if you buy straight from the bar yourself you just pay the drink price. Any one able to confirm.

It's been 4 years since my last Royal Caribbean cruise but I was charged the gratuity whether I bought from the bar or a waiter.

Thanks for the info. The pictures really help. We were on the Pride a few years ago and I don't remember having anything below our balcony other than the water. I think we will be right about where the yellow cone is in the firest picture. Not as much worried about someone seeing us as would really just love to sit and see the ocean. Now I am not sure that a cove balcony would be such a bad thing. Only have the lifeboats above you. Once again thanks for the info.

The hot tubs and promenade were a real annoyance for us. If I ever go on a Dream Class ship again it will be in a cove balcony. When I look down from my balcony I want to see the ocean, not loud drunks in a hot tub.

Since Fantasy has been homeported in Charleston has there been a time that her itinerary was altered due to hurricane or any other severe weather? Where could she go to avoid the weather? Bermuda seems unlikely on a 5 night cruise.

I'm boarding in exactly 1 week and with what's brewing in the Atlantic I was just wondering. I'm not worried about it though. I've had a Western Caribbean cruise turn into an Eastern Caribbean cruise because of a hurricane once. It was actually pretty exciting not knowing where we were going until the day before we left. It definitely shakes things up. Of course there were people moaning about how their vacation was ruined because they didn't get to go to Cozumel and they should be refunded the full amount of their cruise.:rolleyes:

I stopped in at the Hampton Inn & Suites in West Ashley on my way home from work. Just a note to you guys that end up staying there; it can be a little confusing to get to. You have to turn down Ashley Town Center Drive and then make a right onto Citadel Haven Drive (behind the Toyota Dealership) So you actually enter the property from the back and will drive around to the front from there.

 

The front desk clerk was very friendly and said that I could take some pics of the property. (It's always nice to ask )

Thanks Nancy. That was very nice of you to do that for us. The hotel looks great. I'm sure it will be fine.

I drive right by there on my way home if you would like for me to snap a few pictures.

That would be great Nancy. BTW, reading your Fantasy reviews helped with my decision to book Fantasy. Thanks.

Thanks for the quick replies. I can't wait!

I've read a couple of not so nice things about West Ashley. I have a reservation at the Hampton Inn & Suites West Ashley later this month. I'm doing the Snooze, Cruise & Ride package. Will my car be safe there, will my family be safe there? Did I make a mistake booking this hotel? This is our first time in Charleston and our first Fantasy class cruise.