Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[Sunshine3601]

9 hours ago, Arzeena said:

You must. I am really looking forward to seeing you then and even before …..you know we are practically neighbours😁

Yes, it will be great to meet.  I have a couple cabin selections for when I go to next cruise desk.  Looking at aft hump on deck 6.  

Eric is suppose to be picking a European cruise that we can book next week for summer of 2024.

[Sunshine3601]

6 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

I understand how long flights are not easy, when I flew to Cambodia it was very long.  Our next cruise from Hawaii is not as long but long to us.  We decided we will first fly to LAX, spend the night and then fly to Hawaii the next day.  If you fly half way to a nice stop, spend a couple days then fly the rest it would maybe lighten the jetlag.   

The thing is if you booked with a refundable deposit it would reserve a spot for you now and if closer it looks like things won't work you can easily cancel and be out nothing.

As for cost, if you can enjoy an OVB or less you can book an OVB for about $2,600 us right now.  That's total cost, not each.  THE TA saved us about $1,000 compared to booking through RC.  And it's a refundable deposit.   So you can reserve a room now and decide later.  We were able to book OVBs on our favorite deck 8!  Not sure it will work out but there is always hope!

I forgot about THE TA.  Maybe I want to check with Ken before booking at next cruise desk.

[dani negreanu]

6 minutes ago, Sunshine3601 said:

I forgot about THE TA.  Maybe I want to check with Ken before booking at next cruise desk.

 

Me thinks you can always book and then have 30 days (?) to transfer... A win-win.

[Jimbo]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

 

I'm amazed... Not much inventory left.... I was just looking, may I recommend #8664 or #8668? Excellent location, category OVB 2D.

Maybe the cruise line doesn't have all available cabins showing?

[dani negreanu]

2 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Maybe the cruise line doesn't have all available cabins showing?

 

I was looking at a cruise agency site, usually very up to date, and only at 2 categories of OVB -- 4D & 2D.

[brillohead]

15 minutes ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Me thinks you can always book and then have 30 days (?) to transfer... A win-win.

The danger with that is that if you booked the current cruise with a TA, they'll automatically assign the NextCruise booking to that TA.

[molly361]

I'm a deck 6 fan.  Near the aft elevators.  Starboard side  One deck down to the Promenade, 2 decks to the casino and 2 decks up to Central Park.  Works for me

Edited March 21, 2023 by molly361

[molly361]

1 hour ago, dani negreanu said:

 

I'm amazed... Not much inventory left.... I was just looking, may I recommend #8664 or #8668? Excellent location, category OVB 2D.

What you see online is deceiving.  There's a LOT more than what shows on their website.  I don't really know why.  It's worse now than it used to be a showing availability.  My TA was able to get me my favorite cabin when on deck six it only showed 1 cabin left

[xpcdoojk]

1 hour ago, Keksie said:

I tried that but no response.  I know I was not on the original so maybe I have to wait until they have a chance first.  Or something like that.  It is ok and my TA is really great and going through a really bad time right now so I don't mind going with her as long as I can be part of the gang for all the fun stuff onboard.

Edited March 21, 2023 by xpcdoojk
Nevermind

[xpcdoojk]

31 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Maybe the cruise line doesn't have all available cabins showing?

I think Jimbo is 100% right.  The Group is likely holding several cabins including deck 8.  

[reallyitsmema]

12 minutes ago, molly361 said:

I'm a deck 6 fan.  Near the aft elevators.  Starboard side  One deck down to the Promenade, 2 decks to the casino and 2 decks up to Central Park.  Works for me

 

Deck 6 is our preferred deck too for the reasons you listed, plus being on the same deck as the boardwalk.  We have done the dreaded deck 7 and only got off the elevator on the wrong side once all week.  Next cruise is on deck 8 as there were no GS left on deck 6 that weren't connecting.

[c-leg5]

27 minutes ago, brillohead said:

The danger with that is that if you booked the current cruise with a TA, they'll automatically assign the NextCruise booking to that TA.

You can always decline.

[Luckynana]

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEB!!!

I hope you're having the Best day!🥰

[Luckynana]

5 hours ago, Ozark_Kid said:

On Bella 2 we booked our OVBs on deck 8.  We like to be near Central Park and the restaurants. 

 

4 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

Us as well.  I think it is a nice place to be on this class of ship.  

 

4 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

 

Deck 8, and, if not available, deck 6.

 

 

 

When we first cruised on Allure, I thoroughly researched which deck is the best. Deck 8 unanimously got the most votes, proximity to Central Park.

 

And that's what we booked. The recommendations were spot on.

 

Far away second was deck 6, proximity to Promenade.

We loved our location on Deck 8, booked again for Bella 2

5 hours ago, DaniDanielle said:

I know how you feel. We haven’t booked any cruises yet.  With Charlie’s various problems we never know from day to day how he is going to feel.  Even Atlantic City has been on hold.  SIGH

Thinking of you and Charlie, Marietta🙏

[DaniDanielle]

18 minutes ago, Luckynana said:

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEB!!!

I hope you're having the Best day!🥰

From me too🎂

[John&LaLa]

3 hours ago, brillohead said:

As stated, all the restaurants are only accessible from inside the park itself, and all the staterooms are in passenger hallways.  Totally separate areas. 

 

There's a secret door for Chops into the deck 8 hallway. I've left through it, but never entered. 

 

Johnny Rockets has one as well

[John&LaLa]

1 hour ago, molly361 said:

What you see online is deceiving.  There's a LOT more than what shows on their website.  I don't really know why.  It's worse now than it used to be a showing availability.  My TA was able to get me my favorite cabin when on deck six it only showed 1 cabin left

 

We got deck 6, but there's someone in the cabin between us. Is that you🤣🤣

 

Nevermind, I think we are Portside. Closer to Schooner😉

Edited March 21, 2023 by John&LaLa

[Coralc]

5 hours ago, Tree_skier said:

The weather is still shockingly cool here in California.  It's pouring rain again.  Yesterday DW went shopping and I had the day off so I went to Six Flag by myself.  It's a weird feeling going to a theme park by yourself.  It was surprisingly dead in there.  I walked up to several rides and just got right on.

 

I've started of review of my Oasis cruise on the main page.  It is the precursor to the mighty Bella cruise.

It is a good thing you went to Six Flags yesterday. Apparently, they are closed today because of the storm. ☺️

[Tree_skier]

59 minutes ago, Coralc said:

It is a good thing you went to Six Flags yesterday. Apparently, they are closed today because of the storm. ☺️

Man alive is it raining today... This weather this year is unbelievable. 

[Coralc]

3 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

Man alive is it raining today... This weather this year is unbelievable. 

It sure is. Very, very wet. And with the high winds, we keep losing trees and power locally. And losing roadways. 2 lanes of 580 over the Altamont are closed because a retaining wall washed out. Bad news for E/B commuters out to the valley. 

 

It was nice to be away from it in the Caribbean for a couple of weeks, though. Only to come back to more of the same. 

[Sunshine3601]

2 hours ago, molly361 said:

I'm a deck 6 fan.  Near the aft elevators.  Starboard side  One deck down to the Promenade, 2 decks to the casino and 2 decks up to Central Park.  Works for me

Same here deck 6 aft elevators is perfect for us.

 

We just booked the Bella 2 sailing thru The TA.  

Group rate plus OBC is nice to have.   

 

I elected to prepay tips when final payment is due, that way we should be protected incase they raise tips by 2025.   We usually don't do this but we usually don't book this far out in advance.   

 

We haven't used a TA for several years but he may now be my go to guy😃

 

I'm excited to meet everyone but hate to wait almost 2 yrs.  

[Tree_skier]

1 minute ago, Coralc said:

It sure is. Very, very wet. And with the high winds, we keep losing trees and power locally. And losing roadways. 2 lanes of 580 over the Altamont are closed because a retaining wall washed out. Bad news for E/B commuters out to the valley. 

 

It was nice to be away from it in the Caribbean for a couple of weeks, though. Only to come back to more of the same. 

Yikes, that is always terribly backed up during the rush hour at the best of times.  Down two lanes some folks ought to just get a motel in Livermore.  By the time they get home it'll be time for them to turn around and head back to work.

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, John&LaLa said:

 

We got deck 6, but there's someone in the cabin between us. Is that you🤣🤣

 

Nevermind, I think we are Portside. Closer to Schooner😉

I just booked deck 6 portside near aft elevators  with Ken.   Maybe we are neighbors🙃

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, Luckynana said:

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEB!!!

I hope you're having the Best day!🥰

+1. I hope your special day is filled with love and happiness🍹 Cheers @Momof3gurlz

[SteelCityCruiser10]

1 minute ago, Sunshine3601 said:

Same here deck 6 aft elevators is perfect for us.

 

We just booked the Bella 2 sailing thru The TA.  

Group rate plus OBC is nice to have.   

 

I elected to prepay tips when final payment is due, that way we should be protected incase they raise tips by 2025.   We usually don't do this but we usually don't book this far out in advance.   

 

We haven't used a TA for several years but he may now be my go to guy😃

 

I'm excited to meet everyone but hate to wait almost 2 yrs.  

We have a deck 9 on hold with Ken as well.   Was considering deck 6 too due to proximity of schooner.  Been so long since I’ve been on a ship that size.  May need to see what else is available on 6.

Great point re: the tips ☝🏼