Royal Caribbean bucket list!!!

[alfaeric]

-Trans-atlantic

-Panama Canal

- Baltic- I want to sail to Finland

 

Then- I'd love to cruise as transportation. So take a TA to Europe, spend some time there, and take another back. That's my dream.

 

 

Have to add one more- I want to be able to sail in rough seas without any aid for motion sickenss. That would be so very nice.

[nonnie&dgd]

Have to add one more- I want to be able to sail in rough seas without any aid for motion sickenss. That would be so very nice.

 

You might want to rethink that one.:eek:

[alfaeric]

You might want to rethink that one.:eek:

 

Why do you think so?

 

We've forgotten to take stuff overnight, and basically wrote off a half day due to the time it takes for the patch to work. Plus, I really don't like the side effects of the patch. I'll try something new next time, but it would be better for me that I don't need anything- just deal with the motion.

[Paulette3028]

Cruises DH and I would like to take:

 

(1) Alaska

(2) Panama Canal (fly to California and then cruise back to Florida)

(3) Mediterranean Cruise - add a few days in the embarkation city prior to cruise. This cruise would have to include stopping at Haifa and Ashdot ports in Israel.

(4) TA cruise -- flying to Europe, pending a few days in the embarkation city, then cruising back to Florida.

(5) B2B -- perhaps we can combine items #3 and 4 above to do it.

(6) Australia to Hawaii

(7) other Caribbean cruises we can get away on.

[jules815]

I've done all these except the Southern Caribbean and I would say you have a great list. I love the Oasis and Allure and Freedom and for my money the Med cruises are the absolute best.

 

Thanks! I actually think my list is pretty do-able. I probably should have added "make Diamond" and "sail in an Owner's Suite or higher." Our upcoming B2B puts me just 5 days away from Emerald status. :rolleyes:

[Paulette3028]

Jules815, fellow Chicagoan here. How about that winter we just had?! Yikes!

 

We did the Southern Caribbean out of San Juan on the Jewel last July. Flew American out of O'Hare. The flights were $535 pp but when I checked about a month before leaving they were like $800! We stayed at the San Juan Marriott Stellaris Casino & it was the BEST way to start our vacation. Walked out on to the beach so my daughter & little cousin could go in the ocean. Ate in their resort restaurant for dinner & breakfast buffet the next morning. Very good.

The Southern Caribbean was everything I thought it would be & more. Beautiful islands. We did a ship sponsored excursion every day except St. Croix where we went to Sandcastle Beach. It was like having a small private resort to ourselves. If you can try to do this itinerary. You will have a wonderful time.

 

We cruised the Southern Caribbean on Jewel in the summer of 2013 also. The cruise was very nice, enjoyable. Departing from San Juan wasn't the nicest experience. The port experience with the way they have people waiting on line outside in the heat was terrible. One experience in that port city on embarkation will be enough for me.

 

We are looking at another Caribbean cruise on Indy for Jan 2015. it actually goes much further 'south' in the Caribbean than I would have expected.....and it leaves from S. Florida.

[DiamondDiva23]

We cruised the Southern Caribbean on Jewel in the summer of 2013 also. The cruise was very nice, enjoyable. Departing from San Juan wasn't the nicest experience. The port experience with the way they have people waiting on line outside in the heat was terrible. One experience in that port city on embarkation will be enough for me.

 

We are looking at another Caribbean cruise on Indy for Jan 2015. it actually goes much further 'south' in the Caribbean than I would have expected.....and it leaves from S. Florida.

 

I'm not finding anything going further South Paulette. Which port does it leave from and what itinerary?

[Mary521]

We cruised the Southern Caribbean on Jewel in the summer of 2013 also. The cruise was very nice, enjoyable. Departing from San Juan wasn't the nicest experience. The port experience with the way they have people waiting on line outside in the heat was terrible. One experience in that port city on embarkation will be enough for me.

 

We are looking at another Caribbean cruise on Indy for Jan 2015. it actually goes much further 'south' in the Caribbean than I would have expected.....and it leaves from S. Florida.

 

 

Sorry u had a bad experience but I don't believe that is the norm. We've gone out of San Juan 3 times and it is by far our favorite route. Love staying in San Juan before and/or after the cruise too. Never had a large issue at the port, but we were just excited to be boarding!!

[Mary521]

Would love to :

 

- Baltic Sea cruise, looks amazing

- More med cruises. One is never enough :)

- B2B

- I would like to try a TA, but DH who gets sea sick will prob never agree to it!

- would love to stop in Egypt once it is safe to go there again

[nonnie&dgd]

Why do you think so?

 

We've forgotten to take stuff overnight, and basically wrote off a half day due to the time it takes for the patch to work. Plus, I really don't like the side effects of the patch. I'll try something new next time, but it would be better for me that I don't need anything- just deal with the motion.

 

My first cruise I didn't take anything. I was so dizzy and my stomach felt like the alien was inside. Did not enjoy myself at all. Of course, everyone is different. I would love to not have to take anything.

[alfaeric]

My first cruise I didn't take anything. I was so dizzy and my stomach felt like the alien was inside. Did not enjoy myself at all. Of course, everyone is different. I would love to not have to take anything.

 

And that's exactly on my bucket list- to be able to not have to take anything and enjoy the rough trip.

 

I know it's not that often- of the many cruises we've been on, I can count the days we were "out" on one hand. But it does happen.

 

The other result of that bucket list- theoretically, I could sail around the Caribbean. At this point, i'd not be able to... :o

[Paulette3028]

I'm not finding anything going further South Paulette. Which port does it leave from and what itinerary?

 

We are looking at the 8 day Indy cruise that leaves in Mid January 2015 and include Martin Luther King Day. It may not 'technically' be Southern Caribbean ports, but it appears to cruise further south and has a nice itinerary.

 

I don't do the research, my DH does it with our TA -- they just book it and tell me when to be packed and ready to go.

[joyride21]

My travel list is really long, but as far where Royal can (currently) take me:

 

1) B2B out of Venice - Greece/Turkey/Croatia

2) Around the Horn

3) Alaska (crossing that off soon!)

4) Australia Cruisetour followed by B2B New Zealand and New Caledonia/ Vanuatu

5) Westbound TA via Iceland

6) Full Transit Panama Canal

 

Re: San Juan - I did have one nightmarish boarding experience, but regardless, if I had time and money I would cruise out of there every year. Love, love, love it there!

[Paulette3028]

Re: San Juan - I did have one nightmarish boarding experience, but regardless, if I had time and money I would cruise out of there every year. Love, love, love it there!

 

Since I live in S. Florida and with such easy access to Port Everglades and Miami, where the boarding experience is outstanding.....it was a miserable experience in San Juan. Not something I will do again any time soon.

[proudpatriot07]

I really want to cruise to the Northeast (Boston, Maine, Canada), Alaska, and I also want to cruise on Allure or Oasis.

[purplethorn]

Since I live in S. Florida and with such easy access to Port Everglades and Miami, where the boarding experience is outstanding.....it was a miserable experience in San Juan. Not something I will do again any time soon.

 

 

Can you elaborate on the bad experience?

 

As for the topic - I want to sail all the possible destinations RCI offers and in a GS or OS

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Freo]

-Around the Horn

-Norway / Arctic Circle

-Sydney to Fremantle / Perth

-TransPac Vancouver to Sydney

-Any suite

[Paulette3028]

Can you elaborate on the bad experience?

 

As for the topic - I want to sail all the possible destinations RCI offers and in a GS or OS

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

Can't say I desire to cruise in a GS or an OS; but I would love to cruise many of the itineraries that RCCL offers -- not all of them interest me as much as some of them do.

 

As far as our the experience in the Port of San Juan -- We flew out of S. Florida very early Saturday morning for a Southern Caribbean cruise on Jewel that would depart, 8:30pm. Our plane arrived on time, at about 11am in San Juan; our TA had arranged transfers for us from the airport to the cruise ship through Royal; we had to wait about 45 minutes for the shuttle, which was OK, not great. Then the half hour ride to the terminal. The transfer company separated us from our luggage (telling us to make sure we had everything we might need in our carry ons for the afternoon, until our luggage came to our cabins); since we would next see our luggage in our cabins. At the time I did not like that idea (in the end it worked out fine). When we got to the terminal, I was glad that the transfer company was in control of our luggage, because the line of cruisers had to stand in the heat/sun outside the terminal -- no inside lobby. Not many porters to take luggage. Most people had to have one member of their party stand on the line and then take their luggage over to the luggage carts. When you got into the terminal, there was no separate line of people who had 'priority boarding' and even inside the terminal, when we asked where to go because we have priority boarding status, were told, "we don't offer that". That did not go well with my DH, so he asked for a supervisor. We are Diamond and that is one of the perks of being Diamond. The supervisor relented and took us to one of the stations to get our SeaPass material taken care of....then we boarded. By the time we boarded it was probably after 2pm.

 

It was hot and nasty in the terminal inside and out. I felt terrible for people who were older or traveling with small children or who had lots of luggage. It was a mess. What took 90 minutes or more, in Miami or Port Everglades would have taken 15 or 20minutes, maybe 30, with no hassles.

 

I can't imagine how ridiculous it would be later in the day, as it would get closer to the time to sail.

[rhuntington3]

Panama Canal cruise is on my list.

[purplethorn]

@Paulette

 

Thanks for sharing, indeed terrible .. makes me re-consider the Souther Caribbean itinerary for this alone because we do have a small child

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Sailor_Sally]

I want to do the Quebec to Quebec cruise in the fall .

[emeraldcity]

Alaska!

 

Trans-Atlantic!

 

... in that order

 

@Paulette

 

Thanks for sharing, indeed terrible .. makes me re-consider the Southern Caribbean itinerary for this alone because we do have a small child

 

I've done one cruise out of San Juan and there was a long line since we chose to arrive right at 11:00. The port agent doing the check-in had the bedside manner of Cruella DeVille. The porters were cut out of the same mold as many porters (mercenary, and lacking in warmth and charm). Boarding didn't start until 11:30 due to some delays in getting the previous passengers off ... here's where it gets better ... the line moved pretty fast, but there was definitely a priority line once you got inside the terminal, so that saved me some time.

 

Was it a turn-off that overshadowed the cruise? ... not at all. I would cruise out of SJ again in a heartbeat ... am looking at 2016, as a matter of fact. The Southern itineraries are amazing.

 

Bring snacks for the child (boxed cereal and raisins are my old stand-bys). Not sure I would have bothered with RCI transfers to the port ... the taxis really are more efficient. You don't spend time sitting on a bus while the line is growing.

Edited May 11, 2014 by emeraldcity