Giantfan13

Most meds say to take with food, so that should be of no problem.

Cheers

Len

We have done many TAs but never this early in the season. Most of ours have been either April, October, or November. In those cases, bathing suits aren't really appropriate, but in your case, I would say, take 'um and wear 'um. Weather coming back to NY in still early September, will be mostly warm.

Cheers

Len

3 hours ago, BND said:

 I received my old passport in the mail today.   So, 13 days after I received my new one.  Status had shown the old one was mailed 7/29.  

Us also. We received the old ones about 8 days after the new ones.

Cheers

Len

If you used a TA, just have them notify RCCL and it should be in your room when you check-in.

Cheers

Len

13 hours ago, cruisegirl1 said:

OP-you know how life works…… you got yours back early because you gave yourselves plenty of time.😀 If you had waited till closer to your travel date, there would’ve been some sort of delay.
 

 

m

 

 

But on reading and hearing all the 'horror' stories, we opted for expedited service. 

Seems we probably didn't need it, as several others have had the same experience as us.

But, as you said, if I had waited...................

Cheers

Len

seems things are slowly picking up so it would give hope that the long waits are about over.

Cheers

Len

Heide

 I'm sorry I can't answer that part of your question, but we visited the Johnson Space Center a few years ago and just loved it. We spent an entire day there, with a tour of the old Mission Control from the 'older' days and a wonderful tour of one of the three Space Shuttles that are available for touring. Just a remarkable place.

Cheers

Len

We have a European Cruise in mid-October and then a TA back to the USA right afterward. We needed to renew our passports and heard about the long wait. We did it at the end of June which gave us about 13 weeks. Since we are worriers, we also used the expedited service but we still heard all the horror stories. Lo and behold, in today's mail, were our new passports, in just about 4 weeks. We live on Long Island in NY and we went thru our county Town Hall to do it.

I am hoping that others, who are in the same situation, are having the same luck and maybe all the horror stories are over.

Cheers

Len

We were on the Voyager Artic crossing last September with a stop in Greenland, Qaqortoq and we found this one of the most unappealing cruise ports we have ever been in. First, there were very limited excursions, even from RCCL and private, forget about it. There was basically one store and as we wondered about the town, we found people to be pretty uninterested in cruise passengers. I know it is a popular cruise stop now, but one would think they might do something to help passengers enjoy this port. It's funny, because we usually love to wander about on our own and explore new ports, but this port was depressing to say the least. We were very disappointed.

We were also supposed to stop in Nuuk, but that was canceled.

The sail thru the Fiord the next day was thrilling though. We had a glorious day and each and every turn brought new vistas of grandeur. Wonderful day.

Cheers

Len

We are seniors, military, and Diamond on RCCL. We are booked on a TA on the Explorer in Oct and got a great rate. Now my son and girlfriend would also like to go on this cruise but when he entered his info, the price was higher than what I would pay. Can I book a separate cabin for him under my rates or must he do it himself and pay the higher price?

Cheers

Len

2 minutes ago, nelblu said:

Do mock bookings.  I'm sailing on Oasis on August 20 from Bayonne and got the kids sail free promo.  By the way my comments was in jest as Royal recycles the sale promos whether its 30% or 60% off the 2nd Pax.

Sorry, my comment wasn't argumentative,  also tongue-in-cheek. Sorry if it came our wrong.

I have tried numerous times for that kid's said free deal, but it always had those provisions like not applicable during the summer months. Our grandkids live in PA and go back to school last week in August, so I am never able to use that deal.

Cheers

Len

On 7/8/2023 at 12:41 PM, CruisinCadie said:

Our cruise next summer includes a "Perfect Day in Coco Cay."  We (mid-70's) are not big beach people because our meds make us sun sensitive.  I've seen the videos on Royal's website, but what exact options do we have besides sunning ourselves and water sports?  And I doubt I'll get my husband to go up in a hot air balloon.

 

Thanks,

Kathy

Like you, I simply cannot be in the sun as I have had multiple cases of Melanoma, so I avoid being in the sun at all costs. That said, when we did CoCo Cay in the 'old' days, we went off the ship basically after most had already gone, found our way to the other side of the island, and found a nice palm tree to sit under and just relax. Those days are gone with the 'new' CoCo Cay. We still let everyone who wants to rush off there go, and we get there much later. We have always preferred a quieter place to sit, so we took the tram to the furthermost area we could go, found a couple of chairs and the umbrella that has replaced palm trees and just sat. We do put our feet in the water, but that's about it and then back to the shade. We are usually back on the ship for a late lunch and that's about how we enjoy our 'perfect day on CoCo Cay.

Cheers

Len

2 hours ago, nelblu said:

Every day is a sale day for Royal 30% off and kids sail free.🤣

Do you work for Royal? 30% off is usually off the base price and Kids sail free, well try and find that when the kids are off from school.

Cheers

Len

On 7/5/2023 at 10:19 AM, Beachsidebob said:

Hi. How does it work for overnight port stays in La Spezia?  How late do shuttles run and can you come and go freely from the ship in the evening?

This I cannot answer. As I remember the shuttles are run by locals and not RCCL.

Cheers

Len

We were just in LaSpezia in mid May and there is no way around taking the shuttle. As was said, there are signs all over that you are not allowed to walk around the dock area and must take the shuttle. As we disembarked there were a stream of buses waiting. You board and as soon as it is full, off you go.

Cheers

Len

We are Diamond on Royal but we have done 3 MSC cruises and another booked for October. The first thing about MSC. If you booked them in the States it is so different cruising MSC in Europe. They deal with an entirely different clientele and, while we feel like strangers sometimes, as most of the passengers are European, we enjoyed those cruises. Their shows are well done and the cast of their shows, at least the women, are simply gorgeous.

Royal has been nickel and diming its passengers to death and continually taking away things that brought many of us to Royal in the first place. We still cruise with Rpyal but we are now exploring other options.

Cheers

Len

On 6/22/2023 at 10:08 PM, DT1304 said:

I am 1 point shy of diamond status. I have a 9 night cruise booked so will in theory become Diamond status after the first night. Would my status be upgraded at that time or only after the cruise?

 

 

We had the exact same problem, as we were 2 points shy and the answer, as they told us, is NO. You have to wait until the next cruise.  Sorry.

Cheers

Len

We also bank with Chase and we always pre-order money when we will be in Europe. Saves us valuable time while in port. AND, as was said, Chase doesn't charge any fees.

Cheers

Len

We sailed the Enchanment for her TA this past April 30 and there was NO MDR open. Let me make this clear, the MDR was NOT open for any lunch. She sailed from Baltimore to NJ as an empty ship so we were able to board as soon as we checked in and our rooms were already done. We were on the ship at 10:45 and had to wait until 11:30 for the buffet to open. We did inquire if the MDR might be open and we were told NO.

I hope this puts this to rest.

Cheers

Len

If you are sailing into the Artic circle, prepare to get your nos painted blue.  

Tradition

Crossing the Arctic Circle; The Blue Nose Ceremony! – ThatTravelLadyInHerShoes (thecadyluckleedy.com)

We did an Artic TA last  September on the Voyager and this was a big part of your celebration of crossing into the Arctic Circle. Several crew members did do a 'dunk' into the frigid waters while everyone cheered them on. 

And don't forget to get out when the skies are completely dark and try to see the Northern Lights. We had the great fortune of seeing them 4 times.

Cheers

Len

9 hours ago, Lorabelle said:

I completely agree.  The first time I saw Mendenhall Glacier was in 1992.  It is much smaller now than it was back then.  It has receded quite a bit.  Same goes for the various glaciers in the bays that the ships cruise.  It's very sad to watch over the years.   Nothing funny about it.

The last time we were in Alaska maybe 4 years ago, we met one of the rangers at Mendenhall Glacier at the visitors center. She took out this book and showed us pics of when the visitors center was first opened, I believe it was sometime in the 1960. If you have been to the visitors center there, they have these huge picture windows from floor to ceiling. She told us they used to open the curtain and the glacier was right there. Now it is about a mile away and receeding a lot more quickly than back then. 

Cheers

Len

Really, if you need to be 'sold' on taking an Alaskan cruise, you already have it in your head you won't like it. If that is your attitude, stay in the Caribbean and see basically the same exact thing on most islands there. People don't go to Alaska just to see it, they want to experience it. As the slogan goes, it is America's "last frontier".

That said, we have been 4 times and would go again in a heartbeat. It is more than fantastic, it is an adventure. In the Caribbean, you get up go to the beach, drink some exotic drinks, and do the same thing every day. In Alaska every day is different. Yes, it can be expensive, but it also can be pretty cheap. Like in Skagway, rent a car and travel at your own pace into the Yukon to Emerald Lake. Do a Kyack thing in another port, see a glacier up close and personal in Juneau, and don't forget the whales, the eagles, and bears and you don't have to pay to see them. Just get out and they will be around. And, the misbelief that you need to walk around in a coat, hats, and mittens, well is just a misbelief. YES, if you get onto the glacier it will be cold, but walking around town, or riding in a car it is usually mid 70's, nowhere near cold.

AND you would deprive yourself and your family of the chance to see all of this because you 'might' feel cold. REALLY.

Cheers

Len 

Does for us also, if you ask nicely.

Cheers

Len

2 hours ago, John Bull said:

 

Hi again, Len

 

Main area of interest is Sultanahmet - take the tram across the Galata Bridge which crosses the Golden Horn and uphill to the Sultanahmet stop.

The Blue Mosque is close by, plus the Roman Cistern (007's "From Russia With Love") and Hagia Sophia. Then cross to the Grand Bazaar & walk thro it to down near the Galata Bridge. Mebbe  look in at the Spice Market too.

That side of the bridge are ferries up the Bosphorus (I recommend. much better than the tour boats) or across to the Asia shore). If the ferries run late into the evening mebbe  stop off for dinner at one of the stops.

Or dinner in Sultanahmet or on the lower level of the Galata Bridge.

 

Super-interesting city, friendly people, you'll love it.

But no hippos.😏

 

JB🙂

 

Thanks John for the great suggestions. I'll definitely look into them.

Cheers

Len

It did make me wonder a bit when I read it.

Any tips you can give for Istanbul? We are there for a full day and leave like 1 in the AM.

I do remember some of our conversations, especially when I see something on one of our favorite places, Stonehenge, which you always referred to as 'that pile of rocks'. Good memories LOL

Chers

Len