Hypo

These days with winter weather, airline overbooking, and over-filled airports, we always go at least two days ahead. That way, we can spend some time at the departure port and are relaxed and ready for the cruise early on boarding day.

Full suites have a more extensive breakfast menu. Service seemed to be ok and the fod was usually hot.

I read the posted DD menus(with some difficulty on the RCCL site. They are not user friendly).

Nowhere in the "complementary" restaurants did I see listed a classic shrimp cocktail or escargot.

Anyone see these listed?

Hypo, deck 17 is also close to the pool deck, and VCL for now.

 

Side note, I see you are from Russellville. I have been there 4 times for work. A nice community. My favourite eating spot, Dixie Cafe, as we have nothing like that in Canada. I always wanted to go to Whata Burger, but I never got there. The place I would go to was west of Centerville a few miles.

 

If you were here for work, was it perchance at the nuclear plant?

I am a retired Shift Operation's Supervisor from there.

 

Whattaburger is pretty good, but try CJ's Burgers (they are just north of the interstate at exit 81). Big burgers, with fried onions on them. Mmmmmm

 

Mark

We stay in a GS on every cruise. The CL is two levels with stairs to climb to go from the bedroom down to the seating area. Also, they are all located on deck 17 which is a long way from everything except the Windjammer.

 

The GS, on the other hand, is centrally located near the aft elevator bank on all cabin decks. There are 4 on each deck, with deck 8 being our favorite due to the proximity to Central Park. Another optimal deck would be deck 11 wwhich would put them near to the Concierge Lounge. Note there are reports that the Concierge Lounge is to be moved to deck 17 as part of the Viklng Crown Lounge during the drydock of Oasis.

I found this video while searching You Tube. It shows the method used to replace the failed thrust bearing on Allure of the Seas a few weeks ago.

 

Fascinating video.

 

If the cabin is too warm, call Maintenance. They will come and they can adjust it. One of the guys told me that they are always being called to adjust the AC. Some want it warmer and they dial back the airflow.

Ok,

 

I know that this is probably not the correct place to post this, and if moderators move it to a more proper location, so be it... but you guys are some of the most well traveled, intelligent people I know..

 

I have been reading both on here and in other articles that the airlines are cracking down on carry-on sizes, specifically the width measurement of 14 inches.

 

We are getting ready to purchase a couple of new carry on bags. IT IS FREAKING IMPOSSIBLE to find ones that are within their exact 22X14X9 measurements... and since checked bags are not exactly cheap, I want to carry on the biggest possible bag....

 

The ones we found that we liked are hard sided and fall under the total length of 45 inches dictated by most airlines (in our case, Delta)... BUT... the measurements are 20.5 X 14.5 X 9.5.... so we are .5 over on the 14.5 measurement...

 

In you recent experiences, are the airlines being militant over .5 inches, especially if the overall measurements are UNDER 45? I don't want a 50.00 surprise at the airport when they make me check the bags...

 

Thanks in advance for your insights and experiences...

 

Don

 

We purchased new sets from Amazon,a couple of weeks ago. The smallest roll on is stated to measure 22x14x9 which meets the 45 inches. The brand was "Nautica". They are a nice looking set of luggage. When we receivedthem they measure slightly over the stated dimensions, so I made a cardboard box to the stated dimensions. I was able to place the bag within the box but it was a tight fit. We definitely won't overstuff them. Since they are soft side fabric and frames , they tend to bulge a little bit.

On Oasis and Allure, Deck 8 aft, it was located in the Oceanaria seating area. Numerous muster stations are located in the outdoors in the seating area at the rear pool area. There will be crew with signs to identify which muster station area you should report to. They will scan your Seapass cards and you then get seated to watch the muster drill. In the event of an emergency, after you muster there, the crew would lead each group to their respective lifeboats. (In theory anyway, that is how it should work)

 

The biggest problem with this muster station location, is that you are out in the elements. If it is hot and sunny or cold and rainy, you will be at the mercy of the elements. In the event of an emergency it would be the least of our problems.:D

I have read several, recent Cruise Compass' and they all say that breakfast in the MDR is an "Express Buffet". Do they still serve sit-down, order from a menu breakfast in the MDR?

Never had turkey and dressing in the MDR.

 

(I can always get the "blue plate special" at our local diner.)

Never had a hot dog on board.

Never ate Indian cuisine. (though DW loves the stuff)

That "bear" is just plain tacky. It is absolutely ugly.

83 till Oasis

We have not cruised from Galveston in the last three years. However, prior to that, they did not offer shuttle service to Hobby. We always used a company called Z-Limousine. They provided a Lincoln Town car and picked us up at the airport to go to the cruise and from the port at the end of the cruise.

 

https://houston-airport-town-car.com/

Another company that we use is Care Vacations. http://www.carevacations.com

When the scooters are delivered to the ship, they are usually placed in the cabin. If you need the scooter before 1 PM when the cabins are available, we have just opened the closed hallway door and asked the nearest room steward that is working in the hallway if I can go to the cabin and get the scooter for my wife.

 

We alleviate this problem by having the scooter delivered to the hotel for our use pre cruise. We always fly into FLL two days before the cruise and stay at Embassy Suites. We have the scooter delivered to the hotel, and they keep it in the back office at checkin until we arrive. DW can use the scooter around the hotel and to go over to the shopping center behind Embassy Suites. We arrange for transfers to the ship with the hotel concierge (in the lobby by the front desk) I believe, IIRC, that the charge for the shuttle is about $20.00 total. When they load the luggage, the bellmen just pick up the whole scooter and put it in the back of the shuttle. At the port, the porters and the shuttle driver just unload the scooter and we are off to check in.

 

One word of warning if you use this method, when you are actually boarding the ship and going up the ramps, at the very end of the ramp before you get on the ship there is a small, very steep ramp. Do not try to drive up this ramp with the scooter as it will tip over backwards. Ask the crewman that is at this point to assist, or make sure someone that is strong is assisting by supporting the scooter from behind while driving up this last short ramp.

 

After the cruise we have been directed to leave the scooter in the cabin and get wheel chair assist off the ship. In the past, we have left the scooter (on Oasis and Allure) in an area of the promenade near the Starbucks coffee shop, which is where they take you by wheelchair off the ship. Our supplier of the scooter, Care Vacations, has requested that we start leaving the scooter in the cabin as they have recently had some scooters stolen off the ship from the area near Starbucks. What I plan to do is have her ride the scooter down to the assembly area, wait there while I return the scooter to the cabin, and then we will go off ship with her in a wheelchair.

 

If you have any more questions please ask and I will try and answer them.

We have found that if you can leave the wooden cabinet door open, the mini-fridge will cool more efficiently.

 

The only problem with this, is that some of the mini-fridge's have their door attached to the cabinet door by a plastic strap; when you open the wooden cabinet door the fridge door opens.:(

We are sailing on the Allure on 24th. We have a hire car which we shall park at the official on site port everglades parking.

 

Our flight is from orlando at 1430. I would like to arrive by 1230 to give ample time for rental return.

 

What time would you be aiming to disembark, allowing for bad traffic etc?

 

Looking at Mapquest, that is a good three to four hours drive. Add in getting your car from the parking garage, I would say four hours for the drive is a good estimate. Therefore, to be there by 12:30 you should be on the road by 8:30, The only way to assure that you can make this tight schedule is to carry off your own luggage as soon as they start deboarding. They often start self deboarding around 6:30 to 7:00.

Both are working fine for me in Firefox.

Rosemary Lamb Shank

 

Key Lime Pie

These get my vote, also.:o

We have transferred numerous reservations to our TA, and it usually takes less than an hour.

About 49 days prior to your cruise, you will be able to print out your cruise documents. (Not your Setsail Pass). When you are able to print out your cruise documents, you will find that the last page is a facsimile of a cruise luggage tag. The design is such that it will print one page per sheet of paper from your printer. When you print them, print whatever number of copies as you will have bags to check with the porters at the pier. Each of these pages will have fold lines on them and instructions as to how to fold the pages to make a relatively sturdy luggage tag. You essentially fold each page (5times, if IRC) lengthwise to form a large narrow tag. You can affix them to your bags with scotch tape or clear packing tape. If you have a staper they can also be stapled.

 

Since they are just printer paper, a lot of people laminate them with clear packing tape on both sides of the paper tag. If you do that, they definitely won't tear or fade if they get rained on.

Interesting note, my DW is slightly handicapped and cannot do stairs. We wanted to attend the Chefs table which is on the second floor of the concierge lounge.

 

They took her to deck 12 and came in through a crew only access door which allowed her to get to the Chefs table.

If in a suite (GS and above) you can still order the luggage tags to put on your bags when you turn over your checked bags to the porters at the pier.

 

They used to give them to everyone, but now only suites. Everyone else has to make their own or fill out tags that the porters have at the pier. Not a big deal to do. You can also print out the last page of your setsail pass and it has a copy of a luggage tag for you. You can print them and laminate or put in some sort of plastic carriers.

 

The tags that they print and mail to you are similar to the luggage tags that the airlines use for checked bags.

Does RCCL still offer luggage tag order for suites?