TigerCruzin

Tried it for the first time on our last cruise. Worked perfectly. Three bags checked, only cost $40 total. Will definitely do on future cruises when it's an option.

On Serenade in March saw a fellow in the Centrum a few times with his white robe on...:confused:

If the room flooded then I can see how that room would not be available.

 

Even that wouldn't be an excuse in my book...

Our corner aft 1700 on Freedom DID FLOOD entirely...on day 2 or 3 in May 2013. We came back from the pool to find water pouring from the bathroom. It went all the way to the balcony door before they got it stopped. There was enough to make ripples as the boat rocked, so yes it was plenty wet. Sent us to dinner and removed all the furniture then had the entire room carpet and pad replaced by the time we were ready for bed. We even had a towel animal! :D

We've kept the car overnight both times. Never had a problem getting on the next shuttle to the port from the agency within a 15 minute wait, if that.

Depending on how many in your party, you could drive to port and do a drop off, then return car and have one or two people only taking shuttle without bags.

But we've just dropped at rental agency and taken shuttle (family of 5) with no problem.

Just off Serenade 11N a few weeks ago.

Surprisingly didn't mind the bed at all... But the pillows were terrible - flat and small!!

We had 1700 and an inside across the hall on Freedom last May. I booked my daughter in the room with us at a higher amount to make sure we got the cabin. Her 2 brothers were across the hall. She decided each day which room she wanted to be in and the cabin attendant made sure her bed was ready.

1700 was worth the extra for us.

I've learned much from this thread. Certainly some easy recommendations for just in case scenarios. Better to be prepared for the worst in the event of a surprise.

On Serenade a few weeks ago. Seems like we waited about 20-30 minutes past departure time at each port. They paged a passenger at one stop. Don't know if we left without anyone.

My DH and I just returned from our 25th anniversary cruise. I planned the trip and chose to put our $ towards our activities. It was just the 2 of us so we took advantage of not having to pay for the whole family and found some great things to do together

We drove around Aruba on a trike, snorkeled in Bonaire, beach in Grenada, catamaran and turtles in Barbados, island tour and pitons in st Lucia and stingrays in Antigua

We had a D1 on the Aft and enjoyed chocolate strawberries at sail away

I couldn't see spending the money on the decorations and in hindsight still feel that way. The memories of each of our days will far outlast the decorations.

Even if you choose to do just one special activity, it will always be something you remember

Congratulations on the 25th!!

Just off Serenade- with drink package - we never got a slip to sign. It was so nice!! I requested one a few times to reward great service.

Very nice, what category of stateroom did you have?

We were in 1604 a D1. Not sure if location made a difference.

I was expecting the shampoo conditioner combo dispenser so brought my own. My hair is pretty particular if I want it to cooperate :eek:

Oh and the last thing I couldn't remember was body wash. :D

Is there any reason to choose one of these cabins over the other?

I'm concerned about the window washing equipment being an obstruction. If anyone has any experience or photos of this view that would be great.

Thanks in advance.

One thing that may be different than Holland are the bathroom amenities. Royal gives you two bars of soap and a combo shampoo/conditioner dispenser in the shower. That's it.

We were just on Serenade last week. There were individual bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and (something else I can't remember) along with bars of soap. :)

We received an email and a text. Yes I believe you are just confirming you received the information regarding the virus and the offer to change if you are pregnant, etc.

Make sure they attend the first night of the teen club. After that, my kids met up with their new group of friends and did their own thing. Sometimes that was what was scheduled, sometimes it was what they all decided to do on their own.

Thank you all!

As the title says, I have already completed online check-in and printed my set sail pass. I would like to change the credit card that I have set up for my onboard expenses.

Is this still possible to do ahead of time? We sail on March 7th.

Has anyone seen the increase on cruises longer than 8 days?

If you find yourself drinking "a lot", then you can buy the package(s) at any time, as long as there are at least four days left in your cruise. Pricing is per day, so it doesn't matter.

 

:)

Definitely something to consider. From past experience I don't usually drink on the last day. Busy packing and just plain tired from all the activity of the trip.

The good news is this cruise ends on a Friday. We fly directly home and I have the weekend to relax before work on Monday. :rolleyes:

We are wondering about our 10 day next year. I got the premium package for our 6 night coming up and I will see how it goes. It's really a large bar bill, hard to believe we will drink that much.

 

Same as you we are looking at a port intensive cruise and not as many sea days.

I also want to enjoy the port visits! :p

We're debating as well, and want the bottled water and wine so it looks like it will be the premium package for us. We love premium coffees, but for $20 more (for both of us) per day, we won't take the ultimate. My issue is, as wine drinkers (and rarely spirits), the $8-$12 threshold doesn't seem to include a lot, especially now that Kim Crawford SB has gone from $12 per glass to $13 per glass. I'm posting January 2016 wine prices on another thread. Good luck with your decision!

If we decide to skip the package - and I am leaning that way - we will bring along a case of water and a couple bottles of wine. That should help some.

You can save some by getting your husband the Select package, which is soda, wine, and beer only.

That price was with the select for the DH. :eek:

Thanks for the suggestion though.

I wouldn't do it on an 11 day trip (coming from people that know how to run up a bar tab :o). Are you really going to drink $1100 worth with your 6 port days thrown in? We usually fizzle out towards the end of a 7 day and only have a handful per day. Say drinks are an average of $12. You would need to buy 92 drinks to break even. We contemplated this same thing for an 8 day itinerary and unless they have a sale that includes the packages again, we will pass. I just can't sustain my drinking that many days to make it worth the cost.

That's the way I am leaning as well. I'm sure we could make good use of the package for a few days, but sustaining that for 11 days and 92 drinks just to break even? I really doubt it.

I suppose there will be a few days we will be a bit stunned by the size of the bar bill. The days we drink less because we are on excursions or just don't feel like indulging will even that out pretty easily I think.

I also don't want to feel like we are just drinking to make sure we break even. I know on our past 7 day trip, neither one of us had more than 2-3 on that last day, if that.

I'm going back and forth with this. My DH wants the select package. If I were to get one it would be the premium. I just don't know that we are going to break even, especially with 6 port days.

We are doing a few excursions that will have drinks included (x). Port times are:

10-8; 7-2 (x); 1-8; 7-5 (X); 7-4 (x); 7-4. We will have 4 full sea days in addition to the day we set sail.

DH only drinks beer. I drink mainly wine in the evening and frozen drinks around the pool.

Total for the two packages including gratuity $1,142.24 :eek: We are still gold, but trying. So no free stuff yet. ;)

Help me rationalize this either way...:confused:

Someday I am going to have to try a port / starboard balcony. ;)

My first cruise I was a guest of my mother in an aft suite. The aft sort of stuck with me and so I haven't wanted to try anything else. Must be fear of the unknown. I know I LOVE the aft balconies! :D