Gayle V

Oops, duplicate posting.

Odd. It has always been first come, first served, on all our RCI cruises.

I have heard mention of assigned boarding order/times being done in European embarkations. Don't know if it's true or not.

When someone says "spectacles", interpret that as ordinary glasses, not sunglasses. That would mean going totally blind for people like me. Some how that seems less safe that wearing them.

Also there is a rule about the kind of shoes you need to wear to do the zip line. I hope someone else will pipe in with the info, but I think they said you had to be wearing tie on style shoes.

"The Spanish priest contracted Ebola at the Saint Joseph Hospital in the Liberian capital Monrovia where he worked with infected patients."

 

So far I haven't seen any reports of westerners dying of ebola who weren't directly caring for infected patients or family members.

 

It's concerning that a health care worker would be so unduly worried about contracting ebola from casual contact with someone who is from a country impacted by it.

Missing the point. The point is that only healthcare workers and family caregivers are catching it....UNTIL the day it's not only them. That is the point of the precautions.

And don't put down good healthy fear. If healthcare workers weren't frightened of this killer, it would have spread worldwide by now. Its the fear of this killer, and of other diseases that keeps everyone safe.

I meant nothing bad towards anyone. I was just wondering if Royal Caribbean or other cruise lines had stopped hiring employees from that area during this outbreak (as a precaution). I am a healthcare worker, so yes, these things do cross my mind. I have no intentions of wearing gloves, a mask, or a gown on my cruise in September, it was just a question. The way this outbreak is spreading, CDC and WHO are certain it's going to spread. The other things we can catch, like norovirus, are yucky but do not carry a 90% death rate. I work in a hospital so being exposed to most things doesn't bother me. Ebola on the other hand, scares the day lights out of me.

Hello Ladymom, I too am an RN and totally agree with you. Anyone who is complacent about a killer like Ebola is burying their head in the sand. No, it won't keep me away from cruising, but it's still a thought:

Too many people act like there's some kind of guarantee, that if you use proper precautions, then you definitely won't contract a disease, (whether that be HIV or Noro or Ebola) . Sorry to say, there is not. Look up the actual percentages of how certain diseases, liked HIV are caught. There is greater than 10 % of HIV cases where they cannot ID the source. How can you say a certain route is definitely NOT the source if you can't prove what actually is? Same applies for Ebola or any other communicable disease.

And discounting personal experience reports, like that of the woman who caught it just taking vitals, would be foolish. Yes, I know that blaming the victim makes people feel safer, (People like to think : she didn't wear gloves, so it's her fault. If I do what I should, I'll be safe. ) But just think: If she caught it merely by touching the patient's sweat, then who's to say you can't catch it from being crammed in a crowded elevator, or island shuttle. Your arm encounters the sweaty arm of the fellow next to you.....etc. etc. You can't say with certainty, what cannot happen. Every new patient, every new contact expands the knowledge about this disease.

Ebola is scarey as he11. Even contracting HIV isn't going to kill you as quickly.

This is for anyone who has recently cashed in their Royal Caribbean VISA card points.

I just cashed in some points via phone, for $150 off the cost of our cruise. They sent an email confirmation, but it doesn't have any kind of confirmation number on it. It has our name, address, ship, date and booking number, along with the number of points and and $ amt., but nothing that I couldn't have typed up myself. In my view, this isn't any real proof that I cashed in anything, without some additional confirmation number.

So if you've recently cashed any in, what kind of confirmation did you get?

By the way, we booked with a TA, not Royal, so I can't look up balance due on the website. I was hoping to have some proof to show her, in order to get charged the proper final payment amount.

I can never figure why people here try to convince others to ignore the cruise line's request that you not wear shorts in the dining room. If a poster cares enough about dressing appropriately to ask the question, why tell him to under-dress? I have to believe that anyone who actually asks the question about what SHOULD he wear, does NOT want to show up in clothing too casual for the situation.

True, if he does show up in inappropriately casual clothes, they will probably NOT refuse to let him enter the dining room. Probably, but not for certain. It does happen from time to time. Depends on how strictly they are enforcing the rules on that ship, or that itinerary. If I'm wrong and the OP really doesn't care about how appropriately he is dressed for dinner, then he should go ahead and listen to the "wear shorts, no matter what" supporters. But in that case, why ask?

I've changed my mind at the last minute, in the past. Just told them so at check in; said I wanted to use a different one, ( just for the points) They didn't even blink.

I can't imagine RCCL would have these packages if they weren't making money on them. In aggregate, they likely bring in a significantly higher amount of money than they do by people drinking a la carte. Since gratuity is automatically added to every dollar spent in the bars, the bartenders theoretically should be making MORE money than before, even if no one adds a single penny on top of the auto-grat. Any added tips are icing on the cake.

Undoubtedly RCI is making money on this, but the waiters get the same amount out of it, whether they wait on you once or ten times during the cruise. I wouldn't doubt either that some servers just figure, why hustle to take care of the passenger using the drink package when serving the fellow at the next table or lounge chair, will get him more tips. And (if they are anything like some people I've worked with), they may just ignore those package holders as long as they can, in hopes of leaving them for other servers to take care of. There are workers like that, wherever you go.

I agree, show up when you usually would. Just be aware of the potential for a wait. Chances are you will board as usual also. But if you know that standing for a while, in the sun, is not in your repertoire of abilities or patience tolerance, consider waiting. FWIW, we got the same message when we sailed the Allure last November. All we did was take our time about leaving our hotel. Waited till the 11 am check out time, then taxi-ed over. Got right in line, and it was moving nicely.

We have several of the glass "hurricane" style glasses from our drinks of the days, from years ago. They sit on the bar and collect dust. I told hubby to please stop buying them, as I really hated trying to get them home in one piece. Several did not make it. (Just not enough room). So he started buying those shooter ones instead. .

I usually bring a different formal outfit for each formal night, but I don't see any problem with wearing the same one twice. I doubt if anyone will notice anyway, unless the "one" is spectacular, or really eye catching in some way.

And you really don't need to be that spectacular. I always say that the proverbial "little black dress" works just fine, if you dress it up with some showy bling, sheer hose, and heels. Accessorize it a little differently for the second night.

I think you would be far more appropriately dressed, wearing the same formal outfit for both nights, than those that show up to formal dinner in casual clothes, that's for sure.

Did you check on your Booking Dashboard to see if they are issued? They will probably show up there before you get an email.

"Booking Dashboard" ?? Is this something new? Never heard that phrase before.

Well, I believe in packing everything I think we might need. I'd much rather pack something and not need it, than need something I haven't pack. Now we always have to fly, and usually are stuck paying the fees for all our bags. I just consider the price part of the cost of our cruise, from the beginning.

For a 7 or 8 day cruise, with one or two day pre-cruise stay at a hotel, I pack four bags:

-Two pullmans, one large that usually hits real close to the 50 pound limit, and one medium that usually hits near 40 pound. They hold most of the fold-able clothes.

-One large duffle bag with most of the shoes, flip flops, our snorkel gear, the utility kits, hair setter, sun screen bottles, and what I call a just-in-case bag (you know first aid stuff, sewing kit, duct tape, corkscrew, laundry soap, bug repellent, all the little things they recommend) etc.

-A garment bag/case - holds all the hanging clothes (dresses, suits, shirts) plus some other items.

I also take a carry-on, with money, documents, reading material/tablet, medications, my jewelry case, purse, one days clothing for both of us, including swimsuits and anything I feel is vital. I keep this bag stuck to me like glue.

Yes, it's a lot, but all the bags have wheels and we are adept at handling two apiece. The carry-on and hubby's camera bag both can piggyback onto the bigger bags. And the pullmans, and carryon all nest, for easy storing under the bed.

And and since I do ALL the packing my hubby knows better than to object to any of it. And that he darn well better not dare to give me any limits on what I can and cannot take. Not if he doesn't want to find himself doing all his own packing, including the washing, drying, folding, ironing and packing of all that he needs. And that includes the organizing, planning, shopping for and remembering of it all.

One note here, IF perhaps hubby and I were much smaller people, perhaps our clothes would take much less room. I know that my swim suit takes up a space the approximate size of a woman's shoe box, while my size 2 niece can pack hers in the coin pocket of her jeans. Suffice to say, some of us just need more luggage.

Yes they do change you, occasionally.

On our first several cruises we booked guarantees. Twice, when we got our docs, they showed one assignment, but when we got to the pier, we were given a different cabin location. (same category).

FWIW, if that happens, and if your luggage should be late in arriving to your room, go look outside the door of your first assignment. That is where we found our bags, since they had the original cabin numbers on the tags.

Don't hold your breath waiting. They had both our e-mail addresses. Neither of us ever received it. (BTW, I watched my junk mail file closely, and it didn't end up there either.)

Just my opinion, but 5 is kind of young for the non-connecting room idea. But should you choose to go with that, you might consider packing a baby monitor. Put the transmitter in the kid's room and keep the receiver turned on in yours. That way your children need only call out: "Mom !" if they need you, just like at home. You'll be able to hear if they call, and listen in on any activity in there, like if they're staying awake too late, or if one starts to feel sick in the night, etc.

Any cruise is better than no cruise, but for us it would depend on the cost of the air. Lately the air can be more than an inside cabin for a week. I wouldn't let the hassle of flying stop me, but the price....

I was going to ask if you are locked into the Wellington hotel reservation, perhaps something closer would save a little on transportation. Your best bet is to find a hotel somewhere between the airport and the pier, so you're not paying cab fare to backtrack over the same ground.

But even then, you have to realize that there is NO hotel that is actually "adjacent" to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port Terminal, and none that an average person could reasonably walk to. The area around the pier is rather industrial looking, if I remember correctly. So you're going to need a cab either way.

If you are looking for a different hotel, share which airport you're flying into, and folks might be able to offer suggestions.

I always get the packing mostly done before dinner, so I can enjoy our last evening on board. I have the clothes and sundry needs well planned so we have what we need for that evening and the next morning.

That evening includes dinner in the MDR so we can say goodbyes to our table-mates. (I take a pen and paper along to swap emails or addresses.) Also say goodbyes and give tips to the crew (tip the room steward just as we head out to dinner, and the wait staff as we leave the dining room) .

After dinner we enjoy whatever entertainment is about, until just before eleven-ish when we stop back into the cabin, change into our travel clothes, zip up the luggage and set it out in the hall.

We end the evening with a walk around the outdoor promenade, and other favorite places, saying our goodbyes to the ship. The last stop is always at the aft rail, watching the wake for a while, till we tear ourselves away and turn in.

Sunday and Wednesday. (Day 2 and Day 5) Lobster on 2nd Formal. Enjoy!

Let me add my thanks too. I'll be making not of that for planning my packing list.

Yes this Marriott is a beautiful hotel. You will not be sorry if you choose it. We spent five days there, March of '12. (Casino didn't pay well for hubby, but our friends did nicely) The pool is fabulous, but I really loved the beach.

mlmbar is right about the ocean barrier keeping the waves calm. We did not encounter rough water at all during our time there, but the photo posted above, does look much rougher than when we were there. With that rock barrier out there, the snorkeling along it was very good. We could not have snorkeled as close to those rocks as we were, if the waves had been as tall as those in the photo.

There are several places to eat there, some casual near the pool and some dressier. I was very happy with the food at all the ones we tried.

We went on our own too. Really enjoyed it, and Coki Beach next door. We used the lockers at Coral World. Did not see any for the beach itself. It really a simple thing to just grab a cab and the pier to go there. You can even set up a time to meet the same cabby, to go home. The driver seemed eager to do so. It worked out well, and we tipped nicely, for the convenience of that.

Be aware, Coral World closes fairly early, depending on the time of year, and our ship was leaving a little later. So while we were relaxing on the beach with time to spare, I almost forgot to go reclaim our belongings (wallet, purse, ship cards etc) from the locker, until just minutes before they would have locked the gate to Coral World. We would have been in a real mess, if that had happened.

On the Allure, the ice rink was definitely chillier than other areas of the ship. I was very glad to have a sweater, and actually wished it had been heavier. (BTW, I do feel a bit cold in the theaters, and sometimes in the dining room, but the ice rink was colder.)