Giantfan13

Thanks so much. Cheers Len

We have sailed MSC a couple of times. Last time we did, we did the Fantastica experience, but me getting old, my memory needs a jolt as to what the major differences are between the two. Last time, we got coupons for free Gelati everyday and like 12 free drink coupons, ( we were on an 11 day cruise)are these things still available? I understand Bella is cheaper and is probably a basic, no frills experience. So, if I pay the difference to to Fantastica experience, what am I really getting for the money these days? Cheers Len

WE sailed the Allure, TA this past March, her last sailing before the virus. We were able to make reservations 90 days out. Several of the 'minor' type shows had openings even on the day of the show, like the ice show and the comedy show. Cheers Len

USAF 1966-1969 3 years Ramstein AFB Germany 3 Month TDY Da Nang AFB Viet Nam Glad to meet all of you Cheers Len

We have a TA booked Nov 6 on the Explorer leaving Rome. We also have a 7 day NCL cruise booked prior to the Explorer. We will not cancel until final payment, which will, at least, give us the opportunity to see how the world is going. We just got off a TA on the Allure, March 13 where no one was sick, but getting out of Barcelona was a nightmare. We are glad we were able to get out when we did so we will not go thru anything like that again. We are old, but better safe than sorry and there will be many cruises in the future. I disagree with the poster who said cruises will be sky high once this ends. I really feel that the cruise lines will offer some really attractive deals to try and lure people back. After reading these horror stories of people stuck on ships, would you want that to happen to you. Many cruisers will not, so in order to get the average cruiser back, deals will be attractive and plentiful. The hard core cruiser will always be there, but the cruise industry survives not on them, but the average cruiser. Cheers Len

Where do I sign up-- for ALL of them Cheers Len

Late to this thread and if others mentioned this some 50 pages back, I apologize. We were also on this cruise, though not in such lavish accommodations. We had a lowly inside cabin, but that didn't stop us from having a great cruise. Anyway, we are one of the few who didn't buy internet for the cruise, we never do, preferring to just lay the sea days away without needed to 'be connected'. So, when the preverbal hit the fan on Thursday, RCCL was great in giving us 2 free hours of internet to try and get things in order. Since I am IT devoid, the agent who was assigned to help idiots like me, was tremendous and finally figured out that one of my flights to return home on Sunday had been cancelled. Since I am sort of hard of hearing, they let me call my airlines (United) from our room. We were on hold with United for 3 1/2 hours, but when we did get an agent, she was friendly, not stressed and got us on another flight on Sunday, non stop, back to NY (Our home). RCCL even provided me with a phone to call home to let our kids know we are safe and tell them when and where we will be arriving. We had a tour booked thru SDT to go to Monserrat and then drop off at our hotel after disembarking. Just to be honest, we felt most safe and secure with anyone from the Allure. Our biggest problem was Saturday in Barcelona, where there was no where to eat, shop, anything. We had a walking tour booked, which we cancelled and just hunkered down for the day in our hotel. We did venture out to try and find something open. Best we could do was a bakery with some bread and cheese. Far cry from the lavish meals on board the ship. Airport on Sunday was a nightmare. Thousand people waiting for United to open the check in windows. I am partially handicapped, so I got taken a bit earlier. Just wanted to get out. Even had an hour hold up to take off as small staff at flight control, but finally off and back to the US. On arrival, CDC boarded the plane, gave everyone forms to fill out, seat location,addresses, phone number. After getting off, massive lines thru immigration with everyone having their temp took and, like the OP, were told to self quarantine for 14 days, which we are definitely complying with. Maybe unlike some others, we are scared as I am 74 and am not taking this as lightly as some others. If I had it to do over again, We never should have gone, but you can't live in the past. Cheers Len

Appreciate the kind thoughts. All we can do now is sit and wait and hope all is well, and catch up on those TV shows and movies we always meant to watch but never had the time. LOL Cheers Len

Your statement might be correct, but you could have been a bit more polite about it. Just no need to be crass. A polite reply goes a lot further than some stodgy remark. Cheers Len

Thanks for the all the replies. This helps a great deal. Cheers Len

We are sailing on the Allure, this Sunday, Ft Lauderdale to Barcelona. I think we are more worried about the plane rides than the cruise. Planes recirculate the same air, so you breath what everyone else does. Cheers Len

We are sailing on the Allure this Sunday and we have reserved a 6:30 slot for MTD. We have never sailed on the Allure, but on most RCCL ships, downstairs is for set seating and upstairs for MTD. From my understanding the Allure's dining room has 3 levels (??). Is there one specifically used for MTD? WE have reserved a table thru our roll call and we are scheduled to meet, but since there is so many floors, we were just curious where most people go for MTD? Cheers Len

Without a reservation, you might have to wait, maybe 5 minutes, maybe 1/2 an hour, depending on how full the dining room is. People with reservations are usually taken before those that just show up. We have done it both ways, and we usually want to share a table, so we never really have had a long wait, but we see people with those beepers all the time, outside the MDR, waiting for a table. Cheers Len

Thanks for the replies. Cheers Len

Those of us who have cruises booked with Royal have receive their emails about banning certain people from boarding ship and doing health screenings. We are sailing on the Allure, Ft Lauderdale to Barcelona on Sunday and was wondering what type of screenings they MIGHT be doing/ Has anyone who has boarded a ship since these precautions have come out, been 'screened' for anything and how are they doing it. On reading others boards, it seems as if it's business as usual with nothing really changed regarding boarding. Has anyone experienced anything different as regarding health screenings? Cheers Len

Ha----- I got tired just watching you. Thanks Cheers Len

Without having to go thru 20 pages of this thread, so if this was asked already and answered, I do apologize. We have a cruise booked out of Bayonne mid May. We live on Long Island NY and we are asking what would be the best way to get to the terminal. We don't mind driving, but what are the charges for parking at the terminal and are there other options, like parking say a mile away and shuttling over. We were thinking about maybe doing the train, but we know nothing about NJ Transit. We have a good access to the LIRR into Penn Station, but what happens after that. We are two seniors who really don't do well schlepping luggage. Is there a sort of direct route from Penn Station to the terminal? Thanks, any helpful advice would be appreciated. Cheers Len

Our present cabin is also on deck 9, right near the elevator. Thanks for the tip though, as we have never been on a ship this size and I do walk with a cane. Cheers Len

On relooking at the ships deck plans, we ended up submitting a bid on ''Neighborhood' inside with a view of the park. seems all of them are on Deck 9, basically mid ship. All the others are balconies. Thanks to everyone who tried to help. Cheers Len

We just do not liker all the way aft as my DW is a very light sleeper and she says she hears the engines all the time. Happy wife, happy life, so prefer mid ship, especially if we are lower. Cheers Len

Thanks for all who responded with those helpful suggestions. I guess it wasn't so much the question of what I would get for any upgrade I might want to bid on, but more the location. As I said, I just do not want to be all the way forward or aft while crossing the Atlantic. I purposely picked the cabin we are in for that reason. If I read the rules, if I submit a bid and it is accepted and they put me in a different cabin and location, I have no choice but to accept it even if I hate the location. Is that correct? Cheers Len

I would also tell you to forget any notion of doing a ship's tour. The private tour companies get you a 72 hour visa and you will tour, at the most, with 16 or so people instead of 60. They will cater any tour to what you might want. You also have to understand that the private tour companies will go out of their way to make you happy and come back to CC with a great recommendation. Most ship's excursions couldn't care less if you recommend them or not. A private tour company can and will change your itinerary according to the weather, traffic and any other things that might arise, but they will make sure you do see everything you are entitled to see. We used SPB Tours, which have been one of the highest rated tour companies in St Petersburg. They will or can arrange tours at many of your other ports and the more you book with them, the cheaper the price gets. When we toured with them, we mentioned that we would like to see the Grand Choral Synagogue in St Petersburg. We are of the Jewish faith and really wanted to see it, but it wasn't on our itinerary. You could have guessed that they did arrange a visit there for us and the rest of our group. Tell me any ship's excursion that would do that. You will never remotely have any chance of missing your ship. Most companies book the furthest places on day one and then usually keep you local on day 2. Do yourself a favor and take everyone's advice and find a company you are comfortable with and use them. Cheers Len

We are sailing the Allure, TA on March 1. We have booked an inside cabin, mid ship, I believe on deck 9. Now we received the 'bid on an upgraded cabin' for this cruise. Since this is our first time on the Allure, we really know nothing about the cabins. Price wise we still would like to stay in an inside cabin, but they offered several cheap upgrades. Like what is a 'Neighborhood view' inside. That is available for like $20 PP more? And, I guess, my main question is, if you do this upgrade, can they assign you a cabin anywhere on the ship, like right up front or all the way aft and on any level. We like where our present cabin is located and for a TA, we want to be mid ship. Should we really forget anything about upgrades? Cheers Len

Try making a reservation and you will have no wait time. Cheers Len

WE haven't booked an excursion thru the ship in almost 20 years. No need to. With some reasonable research you can have the same tours and more, at a more reasonable price. As long as you stay with reputable tour companies and there are hundreds of recommendations for so many ports of call, you will be fine. I look at it this way, if anything happened and you missed your ship that tour company would be mud and would never have another tour booked. I have found that private tour companies will go out of their way to make sure you have a great time, come back on CC and recommend them. Do you really think that RCCL cares if you have a great time. If you do, fine ,if not, there are thousands of others who will probably sign up. The, of course, is the Do It Yourself option, which in many European ports is so easy. Grab a copy of Rick Steves books, with what to see, terrific walking tours with little cost to you. Another suggestion, when we did a Baltic cruise, we emailed the tourist info center for each port and asked them to send us maps, walking tours and any info they could, and most did. Do a bit of research and ask questions on the ports of call boards, and you will see how easily it all opens up for you. Chers Len