danv3

Going on Explorer in January...looking like our first cruise in a while where the ship won't be available on the app.  😕

I’m at Coco Cay right now. I had assumed the tip was built into the price like with the drink package. 😬

This is a surprisingly anti-guest decision.  Clearly people booked based on these promised perks.  RCI should, at a minimum, honor them on existing reservations.  

4 hours ago, TripleQ said:

Probably should just stick to "no shirt, no shoes, no service" and be done with it.

This is essentially the rule now.  They should just say so.

I see on Mariner that the "dress code" for other nights is "Laid Back Lounge."  What is that supposed to mean?  😂

Why does Royal always make the dress code harder than it needs to be?  The dress code is "wear whatever you want."  Stop trying to be cute and just say that!

What a dumb name.  "Wear Your Best" implies more formality, not less. My "best" is a tuxedo, which I've never worn on a cruise and wouldn't plan to.  

If they're getting rid of formal night, just say so and don't stick a misleading label on it.  

55 minutes ago, Cruisegirl6 said:

Does anybody know whether they have a hurricane shelter on Coco Cay?  Where would they put all those chairs during this hurricane?  I would assume they take the balloon away also but where would they put it?

I am positive but hoping I am wrong, Coco Cay will have alot of damage from Hurricane Dorian, I am booked on October 14th on the Navigator and going to assume I won't be going to Coco Cay because of the damage?  Anybody know where they dock now in place of Coco Cay, any guesses?  I will be on the Harmony in January and I would assume she be all good by then.

 

Just wished we had some news about Coco Cay and this hurricane, but I realize its pounding the heck out of the Bahamas and nobody knows.  Wonder, if any workers stood on the island?  Disney kept their workers there and claim they have a hurricane shelter on the island there that withstands a Cat 5 hurricane, wonder if RC has one on Coco Cay?

We don't really know yet, but if Coco Cay is out of commission in October, I would guess you'll get either an extra sea day, more time in Nassau, or both.  We're supposed to be there on October 13 on Mariner.

We've got a late flight out of FLL following our upcoming cruise on Explorer of the Seas.  Since we've basically got a whole day to fill, we thought we might like to visit the Everglades.  Our current plan is to rent a car at the Miami airport and then drive over toward the Shark Valley entrance of the park.  We definitely want to take an air boat tour (seems like a quintessential Everglades experience).  What should we do after that?  Does it make sense to also do the tram tour inside the park, or will we have seen basically the same stuff by doing the air boat?  Other options nearby?  

Thanks in advance for any thoughts!

1 hour ago, Heymarco said:

Anyone know when/if they were last changed on Serenade?

Was on Serenade last month.  The main production show, VIBE*ology, seemed pretty dated.  I would not be surprised if it has been present since the ship launched in 2001.  😁

I don’t know about travel to those places from the ship as our cruise started in Stockholm, but I can say that the ABBA museum was expensive and crowded. I’m not sure that would be anywhere near the top of my list now looking back. Maybe if you’re a huge ABBA fan. Otherwise, there are many other better things to do in stockholm, including the outstanding Vasa Museum which is right by the ABBA museum. Just my two cents. 

2 hours ago, forgotmyCCname said:

Is this anything to worry about?( In the far recesses of my mind i see them "Royal Upping" someone else to our 2br GS and leaving half of us at the pier. )

 

I’m sure this is highly unlikely, but given Royal’s IT, I would have the same worries until I had a seapass card in my hand. 

7 hours ago, Host Clarea said:

 

You are fortunate, we've had several flight changes with no notice given.

Me too. Including complete re-routing involving additional layovers with no notice. 

They’re free to charge whatever they want, but trying to spin the addition of a cost to a formerly free activity as “improving guest experience”? 😂

On 7/14/2019 at 7:25 PM, Earl Rosebery said:

There is no need for roubles . Discussed many times.

This was certainly my experience.  Tour company took Visa, stores we stopped at (and at the port terminal) took Visa, and guides (gladly) took USD for tips.  Perhaps they'd be less interested in tips in CAD, but you could always get some USD or Euros.  

I was planning to get a 5-port USB hub from Anker (https://www.amazon.com/Anker-5-Port-Charger-PowerPort-iPhone/dp/B00VH8ZW02/).

Looking at Anker's website, they specifically say that this device offers "surge protection" https://www.anker.com/products/variant/powerport-5/A2124112

Allowed or not allowed by RCI?  Or maybe just a coin toss with security?  

Better to take in carry-on or checked bag?

UberX appears to be 177-223 SEK so that may be the better option.  Are ubers widely available in Stockholm?

I'll need to get from my hotel in central Stockholm to the cruise terminal at Frihamnen next Sunday.  Are taxis available to hail on the street, or do I need to have the hotel call one for me?  Also, any idea what we can expect to pay?  I understand that taxi rates in Stockholm are not regulated and so can vary from company to company.

16 hours ago, kruzerci said:

Wonder how you handle the “close proximity to livestock” on the customs form when you return...

I can tell you from personal experience that answering "yes" to that question does not lend itself to a fun re-entry experience.  I assume most people just lie and say no.  I decided to be honest... 😑

25 minutes ago, Luckiestmanonearth said:

My neighbor is booked on RCL in Oct on the “Best of Cuba” cruise and didn’t know any of this was going on until we informed them .

 

Yesterday they received a call from their TA and the only thing the TA was calling about was to confirm dinner time. After some prodding to the TA, there was a comment that removing Cuba was only a temporary thing and shouldn’t affect their cruise (which my neighbor believed)

 

Is it just me or does this sound odd that the TA didn’t know anything ?  Or were they just lying ?

Sounds like they need to find a better TA.  

Seems like the cruise lines are generally doing the best they can for their customers given the situation.  Offering a full refund or a half off cruise to lesser ports seems like a reasonable solution.  

32 minutes ago, navy60wife said:

The cruise line will refund you. Not your fault.

I wouldn’t assume that. As of now, these cruises aren’t cancelled, only some ports are changing. That’s well within the cruise lines’ rights under most cruise contracts. Some lines may end up choosing to offer refunds or allow people to change reservations, but there’s no guarantee at this point. 

1 minute ago, shellindc said:

Source? We just booked a sailing for Aug 4 and we're freaking out. We can get 75% of our payment back today if we cancel, but today's the last day. 

A website that can’t be linked here. With Royal Caribbean and blog in its name. 

RCI canceled port stops in Cuba on its next two sailings (starting tomorrow). 

Heading to Stockholm for a Baltic cruise in July.  What’s the easiest way to get very small denominations of Swedish krona and euros for tips (e.g., for tour guides, etc.)?  I understand cash is hardly used at all up there, but I expect we’ll need a little bit. 

If you wear “starched jeans, button up shirts, boots and maybe a sport coat” you’ll be more dressed up than a good portion of your fellow guests even on formal night. 😅