Rocket3D

We only cruise in Caribbean.

We want to see some 'overnights'

in Coco Cay, Cozumel, St. Martin,

San Juan....

:cool:

Maybe PR cabins are quieter than CP balcony cabins.

Noise starts at 9AM from pool deck speakers.

:cool:

We don't like dragging around carry-on bags.

So we show up about 12:30 since cabins

aren't available until about 1PM.

Works good especially with priority boarding.

:cool:

I'm sailing to Cozumel in a month and was looking for things to do. The excursions that are offered by Royal Caribbean don't really interest me. Was looking for suggestions on nearby attractions, beaches, activities, etc. Thanks!

Check out Cozumel Bar Hop dot com.

:cool:

On the old format, you were able to query a specific cabin. Does the revised booking system allow for the same. If yes, how does one go about.

An option to Royal website....to do cabin research...is cruisedotcom

or sescannerdotcom. They show up to date availability in each category.

I have found cabins not listed on Royal site this way....but then you need

to call them to book it.

Of course, for many reasons, Royal will sometimes only offer 'guarantee' cabins and

then those sites can't show remaining cabins in that category.

This is a little extra work, a few more clicks, but it's how many of us here do it.

:cool:

Let me add...I have called Royal when booking and just asked if they had anything

closer to the elevators than the cabin I chose...guess what they did. It didn't show anywhere.

Maybe it was a recent turn-in from a travel agent.

Right, that was billed as the welcome back event.

 

This VCL gathering sounds like an appeasement for the D and up crowd that complains about the lack of a D lounge.

Possibly.

We were at the Pool Bar for a CC meetup...spring breakers were 5 deep surrounding

the bar. Most all had drink packages. Impossible to get served.

We went to Bolleros for the welcome back event. Hotel director spoke to

everyone individually, cordially, and mentioned he was opening Crown Lounge every night

for D and up from 5-8:30.

Specifically mentioned the unusual spring break crowd and wanted to mitigate

the situation....hope they keep it going, we are back on Empress next month again.

If you want formal pictures with the Captain...for posterity... then dress up.

After that, the extra luggage costs and weight of formal wear makes zero sense to most people,

especially if you fly and pay by weight.

Luckily, no one will say anything if want to wear a tux, gown, jewelry every night to dinner.

We did the Allure after years saying no way.

Ship is state of the ship building art.

Momma Mia was great.

But once was enough....not our kind

of ship.

Probably if sailing with multi generations

would be better.

Crowded, too much walking from one end

to the other. Never could figure out why the

New York style in a Caribbean ship.

Many people like it...just not for me.

Best ships are Freedom class followed

by Voyager class.....we even prefer Empress

to the monstrosity class or the new erection class, hehe.

Hi,

DW and I just off Empress today.

They opened half of the Viking Crown Lounge

every night for D and up...no swiping cards

from 5-8:30. Very nice since it was heavily

spring breakers....so us old pharts had a place

to get away from it.

If you left during those hours and ordered

at a bar, they did begin swiping your card for 3 more

free drinks.

I hope they continue this for D and up on your cruise.

There was a C&A event also in the Crown Lounge one evening.

Captain and officers very cordial to all.

I must say after several Empress cruises that the crew and officers

are the friendliest, and since it is a small ship you see them time and again.

For D+ and up they had a special lunch with officers in the upper

level of the dining room. You will get invitations in your cabin.

Florida Lobster the last evening, even in the Windjammer.

We enjoy the small ship experience...just adjust to it.

No skating shows, but the singers and dancers were very good

as on all Royal ships.

Hope this helps...it is a small ship with a big heart.

Enjoy.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Hey Steve....hope all is well...Robinn finally retired so hope

to meet your family on a cruise.

edit...I should add that it was wine, champagne, and mixed drinks

in the lounge from 5-8:30. No food though.

In the Schooner Bar ask for Anthony...waiter in Schooner Bar...tell him Robert

and Shelah (Robinn) said Hi...he will take good care of you.

One more thing...after muster there is a sailaway drinks event on Bolleros aft deck,

from about 4 to just after 5....D and up.

We did Allure...too big too crowded...never again...we prefer the Freedom class or Voyager class.

Hi,

Here's what a rep told me.

Hey,

If you send Liberty back to Ft Lauderdale, we will

send you one of the monstrosities (Harmony or Allure)

and a future draft pick.

:D

Those dates, Dec 10-12, are usually very good bargains.

Lately it seems, future prices ARE very high.

So, (because I don't have to fly) I wait and book after

final payment.

Just booked a bargain today...after final payment

on an unpopular sail date. $167pp Empress, 4 night

to show an example of waiting!

The first week in January and, this year, the last

week in January were other good scores.

Of course...if you fly....the prices of air fare

will be so high it isn't always worth it.

Have Fun.

:)

Last week I was docked on another ship in Cozumel near Liberty of the Seas. What have they done?! It had these horrible giant Carnival style water slides on the highest level at the aft of the ship. Horrible thing to do to such a beautiful ship. It looks like a floating amusement park now. So sad. I saw Freedom of the Seas a few days later. It did not have this modification. I guess the young and the young at heart will enjoy the slides, but to me it looks like a horrible mess on top of such a beautiful ship.

We were docked next to Liberty; cruised on Indy.

Slides are just 'training wheels' for adrenaline junkies.

We want Royal to replace tenders with ziplines!

Save a few bucks on Belize Tender contracts....give us

a 3 mile zipline....charge a fee..plus gratuities.

:cool:

I am looking for a good shirt pocket size camera. While I have a nice SLR camera I really enjoy a good camera that will fit in my pocket and not have a large camera to lug around while on shore excursions.

 

Recommendations appreciated.

I use Panasonic Lumix ZS100 4k as a pocket camera.

Not shirt pocket, front pants pocket.

Amazing pics, awesome panorama mode. Good battery

life. Great low light camera. Good for snaps around ship.

Also have Canon S120 pocket camera, terrific pics but short battery life. It is now a backup camera.

Pocket cams don't usually have high magnification....I use a

Canon SX60 also.

Check out the ZS100.

Reduced size panorama pic...ZS100.

Just booked Cuba onboard Indy....Wow.

..

:D:D

On Indy now....

Captain just announced news that Empress is

finally going to visit Cuba....April 2017.

:D

You can 'fast track' it.....from 80 to 175.

32 days of cruising solo in a junior suite,

or

48 days of cruising solo in an inside cabin.

:D:D

Done both.

Indy wins for me.

Entertainment is better.

:o

We booked a last minute Thanksgiving cruise and having a hard time picking excursions at each spot. I have one booked for St Martin,

but still need Nassua and St Thomas. Any great ideas? We would like to snorkel in St Thomas and thinking a beach day in Nassau

or snorkel to see Sea Horses. My husband and I are cruising with our teenage daughters.

 

Also wondering about Laundry service. On carnival they have midweek bag specials. Does the Allure have that?

Second that motion....Trunk Bay!

Take ship tour to St John from St Thomas.

One tour was a swim at Trunk Bay, another was a

van tour with photo ops at Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay etc.

Awesome beach.....

Hi all. Is the beach in St. Maarten where you can see the airplanes within walking distance from the port? Is it a public beach?

We shared a van from ship, $18 for 2.

We arrived at 11:00 and went back to ship at 1:30.

Roads are jammed there....took an hour to get back.

Don't wait too long. Many planes, not all big.

Have Fun.

Here's my vid from 3/16...

Allure, deck 11 CP near Diamond lounge....lots of noise at 9AM in the morning

from Pool deck...not for late sleepers.

:D