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What's open when in port?

Jeanie821

By Jeanie821,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Jeanie821

Jeanie821

Posted
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I'll be on the Radiance of the Seas for a Western Caribbean sailing. For reasons I'm not going to get into here (don't want to get flamed, and it's been discussed to death on other threads and boards), I may be staying on board while the ship is in Montego Bay. Since I've never opted to stay on board while in port, I'm just curious to know two things:

 

1. What will be open while the ship is in port?

 

2. What does everyone recommend?

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katiel53

katiel53

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One of the best things open is the Solarium. It is so quiet and relaxing when the ship is in port and most passengers are off.

 

There is usually a dining venue, not the dining room itself, but the buffet and I am not sure about the Seaview Café.

 

The casino is closed, shops are closed. I love being on the ship when most people are gone. It's a time to relax, read a book, go to the pool.

 

The cruise paper that is given out nightly will list all the things open and activities while in port. I wouldn't expect a lot of things, because most people go off ship, but there probably are some things.

 

It is probably the one time that you "own the ship". Enjoy.

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glgolfer

glgolfer

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The dining room will probably be closed. The Windjammer will be open for lunch. The Seaview Cafe might be open, I think it opens at one.

 

The shops and the casino will be closed.

 

They will have limited activities that vary from ship to ship depending on the Cruise Director.

 

It's a good time to get pictures, loaf around the pool, explore areas of the ship you haven't been to, if you have a balcony, sit on it and read a good book, take a nap to get ready for a big night.

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Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

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The spa is open and offers "special" on port days that are a decent savings over their usual high prices.....

 

Just a note to Jeanie, and anyone else enticed by this.

 

Please be aware that the spa will NOT combine discounts. In other words, if you have a C & A coupon, they will NOT further discount the "port day" discounted spa services. (the amounts are often equal, i.e., 20%, so you may be able to get the same deal on a SEA day as a non-C&A member has to wait to get on a PORT day.

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Silvery Seas Cruiser

Silvery Seas Cruiser

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The gym will be open. You can play putt-putt golf. The ping pong tables are available and the game room has cards, Scrabble and other games--if you will have companions. You can throw baskets at the basketball court. The library is open. The Lattetudes coffee bar is open and Ben and Jerry's ice cream beside it.

 

I love to stay on board when the ship is in port.

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Tranquil Waters

Tranquil Waters

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Oh yeah, forgot about the spa. Don't use it anymore as we can get a good massage here for around $60 or so. Full acupuncture is about the same.

 

And there are better restaurants where I live and better wine cellars than on the ship. But many people are too busy in their everyday lives to take advantage of the spa services their local community may offer. But on vacation, they may take the time and opportunity. And that being the case, a port day is certainly such an opportunity. :)

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glgolfer

glgolfer

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No problem except for the"better restaurants...." leadin. I probably knew that already.

I was basically agreeing with your spa is open statement and just commenting why we didn't use them anymore.

 

We have used them in the past over the 20 years we've been cruising. They have just become too pricey for us and we got tired of the hard sell.

I did get to where I countered that by telling them up front the more they tried to sell me something, the more it affected their tip. Seemed to work.

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Tranquil Waters

Tranquil Waters

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No problem except for the"better restaurants...." leadin. I probably knew that already.

I was basically agreeing with your spa is open statement and just commenting why we didn't use them anymore.

 

We have used them in the past over the 20 years we've been cruising. They have just become too pricey for us and we got tired of the hard sell.

I did get to where I countered that by telling them up front the more they tried to sell me something, the more it affected their tip. Seemed to work.

 

I understand. We don't use spa services at home or on the ship. We just never seem to find the time - there is always something else we would rather do.....

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Merion_Mom

Merion_Mom

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Jeanie, I haven't yet cruised on a Radiance class vessel. (first time coming up in January!), but I have noticed that on Voyager ships, the Cruise Compass had LOADS of on-board activities on port days. I often have a moment of regret that we won't be on board to do all of them!

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Quampapetet

Quampapetet

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Hey, Jeanie, I was thinking of bringing a board game of some type to play whenever. Might be a fun thing to do for those of us staying on the ship at either one of the ports I can't get off at (or at other times, of course - doesn't have to be then!).

 

Any suggestions for what type of game you and the others would like? I need to be buying a game for Thanksgiving Day play, anyway.

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