just booked on the rhapsody

[rkmw]

we have just booked on the rhapsody doing a b2b for the 2nd dec & 13 dec, over 55's have a great price plus $600 US obc

[Megagirl]

Did you book through a t/a or an on-line agency?

 

Jen

[bateau bay]

Is that in Australian dollars?

Have you been on her before if so what was it like?

[rkmw]

Is that in Australian dollars?

Have you been on her before if so what was it like?

 

the price was $4633.16 doing a b2b in US dollars for an outside twin on I deck with $600 OBC for 21 days for 2 people, we have been on the ship and its very nice, the price on the ship is in US dollars

 

we went thru an online TA, can i copy & paste this, i'm not naming names

 

$$$ Book now and receive a FREE per cabin discount of US$400 on select suite categories or US$300 on select balcony, oceanview and inside categories. Passengers 55+ qualify for additional discounts on select categories.

if anyone wants to know the site send me an email robertmanley@tsn.cc

[Tigerman00]

Great !! see you on the 13th Dec join the roll call !!

[arxcards]

Did you book through a t/a or an on-line agency?

 

Jen

Australian bookings are close for both online and streetfront T\A's, as the cruise is being operated by an Australian agency which is being pretty consistent with the deals available.

 

Seems that the booking price is similar across the agencies, but the extra deals are in the amount of OBC's.

 

Unfortunately (or is that fortunately), I don't yet qualify for the 55+ discounts.

 

When booking, instead of bargain inside guarantees, check out the category J insides. They are bigger cabins located higher up with all the suites surrounding them on the outside. To book this category for our 7 nighter cost us an extra $30 each.

 

Cruise is in US dollars, but there is not much difference when comparing to Aussie dollars these days.

[marconi]

Hi all, I to have booked on this ship but leaving from fremantle and doing an 18 nighter on the 13 march 2009.first time on royal caribbean anyone else been on this ship?

 

regards frank

[rkmw]

Hi all, I to have booked on this ship but leaving from fremantle and doing an 18 nighter on the 13 march 2009.first time on royal caribbean anyone else been on this ship?

 

regards frank

 

hi frank, i have been on on the ship and its a very nice ship, everything on the ship is in US dollars

[2005]

If everything is in US dollars, then what is the best way to pay?

Is it best to put it on Mastercard or take US dollars on board?

Do you have to put money in your account on the first day like P&O, or do you pay an account at the end?

Are there many things on board e.g. bingo, gambling, that you need US cash for?

If anyone has been on Rhapsody or found out these answers I would love to know.

[rkmw]

hi nigel parker,

 

i couldnt get your email addy to give you the details so can you leave them please

 

thanks bob

[arxcards]

If everything is in US dollars, then what is the best way to pay?

Is it best to put it on Mastercard or take US dollars on board?

Do you have to put money in your account on the first day like P&O, or do you pay an account at the end?

Are there many things on board e.g. bingo, gambling, that you need US cash for?

If anyone has been on Rhapsody or found out these answers I would love to know.

 

Do it all on your Mastercard. The only stuff you need cash for is Casino and personal tips. As with most ships, the only places onboard that handle cash are the Pursers desk and the Casino. All other purchases are handled with your cruise card. Most of the destinations will not take US cash either.

 

One important thing to do when paying your account by card:

Pay it in US dollars, and let your own financial institution convert it on you account.

Many US cruise lines (including this one) are happy to settle your account by charging your card in Australian dollars. Alas they charge 5%+ conversion fee, where as my bank only charges 1.5% international conversion fee.

When given the option, tick the "do not convert" box.

[2005]

Thank you Geoff

That's really useful information! Very helpful! Thanks for the advice about conversion.

Do you have to pay up front in the first two days like P&O or do you pay your account on the last day?

Thanks

[aussiedisneyfan]

If you register your credit card when you check in then you don't have to do anything. Make sure you double check about that conversion box. Friends we traveled with discovered that even though they checked the box Celebrity still converted. Assuming that RCCL has same policy/procedures as Celebrity since they are same company.

 

I have agreement from DH for the Rhapsody back to Hawaii April next year.

[2005]

Thanks

That sounds easy and straightforward!

[arxcards]

If you register your credit card when you check in then you don't have to do anything. Make sure you double check about that conversion box. Friends we traveled with discovered that even though they checked the box Celebrity still converted. Assuming that RCCL has same policy/procedures as Celebrity since they are same company.

 

I have agreement from DH for the Rhapsody back to Hawaii April next year.

 

It is also possible to pre-register your card through your online personaliser. Similar to Princess, we are hoping that we do not have to handle our card at all once onboard.

 

I think the double checking applies to most crusie lines operating in US dollars. I have read similar problems on other brand forums as well. We have pre-registered our card, and have checked for the account to be paid in US dollars. Once onboard, a short trip to the pursers desk will hopefully make sure they have the card transaction set up properly for processing.

The extra fees applied by them converting will only be approx $40 per $1000 spent onboard, but I am not keen to hand over money for an inflated fee like that.

[rkmw]

hi Sweet_successes

your email addy did not come thru so can you give it to me so i can give you details

thanks bob

[sweet_successes]

Hi bob

 

Sorry its rnrjay@bigpond.net.au thanks

[marconi]

hi frank, i have been on on the ship and its a very nice ship, everything on the ship is in US dollars

 

Thanks rkmw, What is the food like on this ship and is it dressier than the P&O ships.I received my invoice and it has the gratuities included,but I assume that I will still be paying an added 15% on all drinks.

 

regards Frank

[rkmw]

Thanks rkmw, What is the food like on this ship and is it dressier than the P&O ships.I received my invoice and it has the gratuities included,but I assume that I will still be paying an added 15% on all drinks.

 

regards Frank

 

hi frank,the food on the ship is not bad, if you smoke you can buy your duty free smokes by the carton and take them back to your cabin, not like p&o where you can only buy 2 packets at a time

 

with the drinks you still pay your 15% extra

[matmar]

We went on the Rhapsody in Dec 2007 - Sydney to Singapore.

 

Great ship, great food, great crew...

 

Not so good at tender ports...

 

Just ensure its not a Cruiseco Charter as Cruiseco seemed to skimp on certain things, such as we ran out of tap beer and peanuts between Bali and Singapore. Also if you like Vegemite, take your own.

 

All drinks have 15% surcharge, if you enjoy wine buy the pre-cruise wine package from the RCCL website before you go, its much better value than buying onboard and you take the wines to your cabins.

 

The Rhapsody only has one large restaurant, no specialty restaurants.

 

Here is a link to some pics of our cruise.

 

 

I would certainly travel on her again.

 

Cheers

 

Mark

[arxcards]

Just ensure its not a Cruiseco Charter as Cruiseco seemed to skimp on certain things, such as we ran out of tap beer and peanuts between Bali and Singapore. Also if you like Vegemite, take your own.

 

All drinks have 15% surcharge, if you enjoy wine buy the pre-cruise wine package from the RCCL website before you go, its much better value than buying onboard and you take the wines to your cabins.

 

Mark,

They are Australian chartered cruises, but now handled by "Discover the World Marketing"

 

Are the wine packages available for purchase for the same price when you board? I would prefer to look at the packages before buying.

[susie2shoes]

Mark,

They are Australian chartered cruises, but now handled by "Discover the World Marketing"

 

Are the wine packages available for purchase for the same price when you board? I would prefer to look at the packages before buying.

 

Hi, we sailed on Brilliance of the Seas last year and the wine packages were the same price on board or if you booked online. We are going on Legend of the Seas in 5 weeks and the prices to order online are exactly the same as last year. The wines are nothng special but they are drinkable!

[arxcards]

Hi, we sailed on Brilliance of the Seas last year and the wine packages were the same price on board or if you booked online. We are going on Legend of the Seas in 5 weeks and the prices to order online are exactly the same as last year. The wines are nothng special but they are drinkable!

Thanks Susie,

Drinkable will do just fine.

[Guest012]

Great input from those who have sailed on this ship.....

Geoff the only charter cruises that i have heard of is in Sept this year from Vancouver to Sydney.....can't mention t/a...but it starts with c and has co on the end...lol..it's exclusive to them ....all other ROS cruises are available through a multitude of sellers... including DTW which is the Australian Agent for RCCL.

Cabins.....always check whats above and what GOES ON above, below and on same deck....if not sure ask cruisers who have already sailed on her ....Royal Caribbean section is great for that..bigger is not always necessarily better !!!! As for payment ...how other ships do it is their business...read up on how RCCL do it and check with YOUR credit card co in regards to fees and charges on foreign currency transactions....then make that decision, an informed one for yourself....hey if you can buy your US$ at a great price and the commission isnt too grand well what can i say......we bravely ticked the box....and paid with US$....the ones i won in the casino...lol...didnt feel hard done by or get charged exorbitant amounts for the privilege of using credit card....... will do the same in December and again in April next year....

cheers shiona

[arxcards]

Cabins.....always check whats above and what GOES ON above, below and on same deck....if not sure ask cruisers who have already sailed on her ....Royal Caribbean section is great for that..bigger is not always necessarily better !!!! As for payment ...how other ships do it is their business...read up on how RCCL do it and check with YOUR credit card co in regards to fees and charges on foreign currency transactions....then make that decision, an informed one for yourself....hey if you can buy your US$ at a great price and the commission isnt too grand well what can i say

cheers shiona

Thanks Shiona,

Merely suggestions from me, mostly from reading the RCCL boards.

 

We were ready to book an inside guarantee, and asked the T\A about the price for category J out of curiousity. When we found out that the cabins that are 25% bigger and on a deck with less passenger traffic for an extra $30 each we could not pass it up. We are aware that the pool deck is above, so we checked the deck plans and hand picked our cabin in a spot we hope will not be exposed to much overhead noise. Time will tell if there is much noise, but we are glad for the extra space anyway.

 

I would also suggest anyone check out the best way of paying to suit their own needs. For our circumstance, we will take the 1.5% over 5% anyday. My suggestion is a heads up that you will usually pay extra for the priviledge of them converting your bill to AU for you. If I get arsy in the casino, I will also be more than happy to settle in US cash too.

 

Sorry if I am confused about the role of DTW, as I was led to believe that they had taken over the same role from where cruiseco left off.