DiJohn

We are on the May 5th Black Sea & Greece cruise on the Pursuit. Just received an email with our revised itinerary.

5-May-22: Istanbul, Turkey
6-May-22:Istanbul, Turkey
7-May-22: Varna, Bulgaria
8-May-22: Burgas, Bulgaria
9-May-22: At Sea
10-May-22: Canakkale (Kepez), Turkey
11-May-22: Kavala, Greece
12-May: Thessaloniki, Greece
13-May-22: Volos, Greece
14-May-22: Cesme, Turkey
15-May-22: Mykonos, Greece
16-May-22: Athens (Piraeus), Greece
17-May-22: Athens (Piraeus), Greece

It is now called a Greece, Turkey & Bulgaria cruise.
 

We are on the Ovation cruise from Vancouver to Hawaii this coming September. Airfare from BWI to Vancouver on Delta was $300 for Economy Comfort. Flying home from Hawaii on American with their version of Economy Comfort is $560. We are island hopping in Hawaii on Hawaiian Airlines and flights were $100 - $120. Hotels are expensive in both Vancouver and Hawaii, but we're lucky enough to have points we used.

Your airfare from the NJ/NY area should be comparable.

Thanks for the enjoyable thread and the good memories of our experience at 150 Park Central!

I'm really enjoying your review. We'll be on the Enchantment the end of October for a 3-day cruise out of PC.

:cool:

Can't resist this post. From National Geographic: Green, or common, iguanas are among the largest lizards in the Americas, averaging around 6.5 feet long and weighing about 11 pounds. They are also among the most popular reptile pets in the United States, despite being quite difficult to care for properly.:D

Another thing I forgot to mention was being in a cabin below the solarium, we heard chairs scraping and anytime a cart would go above our cabin (which was often, and through the night), it sounded like an airplane taking off

Glad to hear this review as we are on Rhapsody in October. We're 51, don't care about entertainment or the dining room. Just drinks and condition of the ship. We are in a JS on deck 8. Any thoughts? We have one day at sea. Thanks.

Last month we were in JS 8028 and sister and BIL in JS 8030 and there was quite a bit of noise from the pool deck. I was surprised at the number of children aboard and the running around on the pool deck even late at night--at least I hope it was the children! I wish we had brought our small blue tooth speaker with us to mask the sounds.

On positive note, the crew was great.

We've use the product, too- works well for us.

 

As for the patch (which is the main thing doctors prescribe)- I don't like the side effects of using it, so we have been looking for an alternative. Which is what we found.

We also love the product and have used it for many years. We've never had any side effects.

Heading out on the Grandeur in August for a 9 nite Canada/NE and have some questions for anyone who's been on similar:

 

1) Formal nights? Nights 2 and 7 or 2 and 8?

 

2) Anyone have the progression of menus through the 9 nights (i.e. menu names Moja, Saffron etc)

 

3) What time are the main shows in the evening? We are trying to pre-reserve some dinner reservations and want to make sure we don't interfere with those.

 

4) Any suggestions on something not to miss either on ship or in the ports?

 

5) What table games (other than BJ, Roulette and Craps) do they have in casino? Is it smokey? Is is crowded?

 

6) We are driving from NJ, how's dropping off luggage and parking at the port? Parking and luggage drop off in Baltimore is a breeze. We were able to pull right up to the porters and they removed the luggage from the trunk. Parking lot is a very short walk to the terminal for check-in. We loved the Grandeur and the crew was wonderful. Enjoy your cruise.

Thanks to those who take time to provide info! Booked quite some time ago and just starting our planning!:)

Sorry I can't help with your other questions.

Our waiter told us lunch only.

When we were on Oasis last year, they had lasagna for lunch only. If memory serves, it wasn't on the menu, but we were told to ask for it at lunch.

CJ, glad I could help. My sister was in 8092 and noticed that beam in 8094 while talking to the couple in that cabin.

N

Hi, I have a question about the Aft JS on the 8 deck, do the three cabins 8092, 8592 and 8094 all have the large beam running down the middle?

 

I saw this on you tube, on the cabin 8094, and i am a bit concerned about this,

 

of course i would love to get one of those wraparound cabins, but all taken??

 

looking for some detailed expert help here? MY DH is pretty Tall.

 

thanks a bunch.

 

No beam. Our party had 8092 and 8090 and neither had the beam. Wonderful balconies -- two loungers and two chairs and small table. No noise issues either.

Thinking about it a bit more, I don't think the JS with the large aft balconies have them.

You are correct, they don't have the poles.

Most likely the 19 year-old got demoted to whatever the parents level was when he turned 18. Children are not supposed to stay linked with their parents after they turn 18, but Royal does not catch it all the time. It's usually caught when the child has their first cruise after turning 18.

Based on RCI's website, we were all expecting the downgrade to Emerald. Just wanted to confirm for everyone since there seemed to be some confusion as to when/if children lose unearned status based on parent's cruises.

No, once the kids get old enough, their status will be based on the cruises they actually took. So if they have sailed enough to be diamond at 21, they will be diamond, but if they sailed just once (as a diamond) they will be gold.

We just completed a cruise with my sister and her family. Sister and BIL are Diamond. Their 19 year-old son was "demoted" to Emerald which is what he had earned on cruises he took with the family. Their 17 year-old daughter still had Diamond status. If she was older, she too would have been Emerald status based on her cruises.

I would pick 7694 because it's sandwiched between two cabin decks and will be quiet. 1694 is up on deck 10 and right beneath the Island Grill portion of the Windjammer Buffet, this could be a very noisy spot to be under especially with tables and chairs being moved around at night or early in the morning.

 

Pick 7694 it's in a perfect location.

 

Have a great cruise!

 

Jonathan

We were in 1394 and our friends in 1694 on the Adventure two weeks ago. We didn't notice any loud noise from the Windjammer. Minimal noise occasionally during day, but nothing at night. There is less infrastructure for the aft cabins on the 10th deck to block your view.

Best by far was Baltimore; we drove up and they took the luggage out of the trunk. Breezed thru security and on board in less than 20 minutes. So far no really bad experience anywhere.

Can you please tell me if Vintages accepts the Diamond vouchers and if the martinis are covered by the vouchers? Thanks

Vintages took our Diamond vouchers on Oasis in January. Very limited selection available though.

I just called RCCL to confirm that we will be having a Catholic priest on board our Transatlantic sailing on Allure of the Seas ..regarding Sunday mass 4/19/15

I was told that yes RCCL does provide a Catholic priest on such a sailing but they are not positive we would have one on our sailing so we must check it out once we board ....

On our repositioning cruise on the Mariner in 2013, there was a Catholic priest on board. He told us that on RCI, Apostle of the Seas provides a priest on repositioning, Easter and Christmas cruises. I believe Transatlantic cruises are considered repositioning. You might want to contact Apostle of the Seas: http://www.aos-usa.org/

Yesterday I was told I am cancer free, today a gin and tonic never tasted better, and tomorrow I don't care what it cost. In two weeks time my cruise will never be better...

 

It's all perspective...

Congratulations! Have a wonderful cruise!

[quote name=joandian;46146451

I'm sorry you all had a bad cruise and I have to say I'm disappointed with these reviews of Mariner. She was our favourite ship and we spent a lot of time on her and did the Galveston to Dubai part of her repositioning to Asia. We had hoped to cruise on her in Asia but after reading these posts' date=' that probably won't be happening.[/quote]

Just read this part of your post -- we were getting on the ship right after you departed. Was the debarkation at Dubai a huge mess? It sure was getting onto the ship!

We were on the Mariner almost two years ago for the Dubai to Singapore leg of her repositioning from Galveston to Shanghai. We loved the ship and the crew members were all wonderful. I am sorry to read about the changes that have happened since then. Many of the crew members at that time were very concerned about the transition and what would happen to them once the ship was permanently based in China; it sounds like they were right to be concerned. On that 11-day leg, they began running out of food items such as lamb and certain bottles of wine. They must have really stocked up on lobster tails though as they were plentiful on the last formal night. Overall, the food was well prepared and ranged from good to excellent in taste and presentation.

I know, right!! That lamb chop was asking for it and it was yummy!!

The whole experience was yummy! Karen posted the invite to the CC group on our forum and we had been "online dating" for about a year, so we were dining with a great group of friends. Great food, great company and the culinary staff was incredible! And yes, we all picked up our lamb bone and gnawed on it!

Dianne

We didn't hear anything, but that could also have been because we were completely exhausted!

Hi, Karen is my sister and we were on the trip with her and I'll be chiming in occasionally (she's doing a great job).

I think the outside noise at the Hotel Continental depends upon where you room is located. Early in the morning, the restaurants break down the tables at the outdoor dining areas (located in the median across from the hotel). They actually put the chairs, tables and canopies into storage bins and that is very noisy. Even with that street noise, I would still stay at the hotel. The location is perfect and the staff very helpful.

Dianne

The Legend has had a turnover in staff, from what I have heard. Some of the Mariner crew have been brought over! Glad to hear Staff and Crew are pleasant and welcoming.

 

 

Celia - Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That is great news -- we were on the Mariner on one of her repositioning legs as she was moving to Asian service. The crew was outstanding!

Lisa, thanks for your reviews. We will be on the Legend next month.