LIVE LIVE LIVE from the MARINER with MERION MOM for 53 DAYS!!!

[patticakes40]

We will be on the 3/1/09 sailing - do you know if "ABe and Captain Johnny" will still be onboard?

[tahoemc]

1000 posts already - WOW - where will this one end?????

[TheMiz]

1000 posts already - WOW - where will this one end?????

 

 

It won't get close to the 12,000 plus that is on

Mariner of the Seas 1/4/2009 Around the Horn

[whirlybird3]

You do not have to go on a cruise ship excursion in St. Petersburg. You can book through one of the companies that offers group excursions, such as Denrus (we used them), Alla or Red October, to name three of the most prominent. They will take care of the visa requirements.

 

Also, we were advised by Denrus to bring a photocopy of our passports with us, so I'm not sure whether they would make one on the spot for you.

 

Finally, you CAN get off the ship on your own, but in that case you would have to have gotten your own visa.

 

 

 

I assume that my retainer check is in the mail?:rolleyes:

 

How's the bachelor life?

 

 

Thanks to the information. I did not know that you can use other companies to tour Russia. And yes, you need a visa to tour on your own. ;)

[whirlybird3]

The weather is FANTASTIC!!

 

I heard that it was miserable in Philadelphia today. :D

 

I wonder if they will delay implementing the "late night" room service charge here on the Mariner...........you actually CAN'T just go to the Café Promenade throughout the night..........because this cruise is so, um, DEAD, they close early, and last night they actually CLOSED the Royal Promenade with huge wall-doors.

 

They closed the Royal Promenade? Bizarre! Did they use that time for a cleaning or refurbishing?

[NorbertsNiece]

It won't get close to the 12,000 plus that is on

Mariner of the Seas 1/4/2009 Around the Horn

 

I decided early on to stick with this one..... I spend enough time on CC as it is!!!

[The Big Booper]

When we were on the Explorer Holiday last week, while in San Juan, they closed the promenade bulkhead doors for some testing. I have not downloaded all my pics yet from the cards to the laptop but will finish tonite and will then post a picture tonite. Those babies are massive and are 4 decks high.

[whirlybird3]

When we were on the Explorer Holiday last week, while in San Juan, they closed the promenade bulkhead doors for some testing. I have not downloaded all my pics yet from the cards to the laptop but will finish tonite and will then post a picture tonite. Those babies are massive and are 4 decks high.

 

Wow! "4 decks high" :eek: I look forward in viewing the photos.

[piercetc4]

i just read all 51 pages of this thread- woo hoo- some interesting info and great live posts!!!

thanks for sharing

 

hopefully i can keep up with this thread from here on out....lol- at least til we go on vos jan 25th

[rubrrick]

Just got off of the phone with Charlene of the D+ desk, asking for clarifaction of OBC's

 

What she told me was that as far as Fuel Supplement OBC goes........it goes with all other promotional OBC's and has no value. It is a USE it or LOOSE it proposition.

 

Except:"...Complimentary/Promotional Onboard Credits

This onboard credit is not transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Guests who do not use the full amount of the onboard credit during their purchased sailing, will not be refunded any of the remaining credit. This offer cannot be combined with another OBC on the same reservation. Onboard credit is issued in U. S. dollars only.

 

Onboard credits that are purchased pre-cruise through Shop Gifts & Gear, Royal Caribbean Gift Certificates or through the Groups Program are considered "purchased onboard credits". These are bought by the guest or for the guest by a friend/family/company. These can be redeamed for cash.

 

So, you still can go to the Casino and get $200.00 worth of chips, go play, and return with 200. in chips, and they will give you the cash, and this will go against your OBC. Don't forget you will pay 3% when you cash it in.

 

Also........one other question that I got answered today........all Gratuities can come from OBC's!!:D

 

There remains some confusion of the Royal Caribbean credit card.

 

So...........any unused OBC's are lost unless the rules of the OBC's that were pre purchased thru Gifts and Gear or programs that are considered to be purchased aboard credits.

 

Amazing that they would not refund money on the Fuel Supplement, but won't honor it as a purchased credit.:(

 

Rick

[truffles2]

DH had talked with D+ today also (to make sure our OBC's got there-they did) and he said they sounded unsure about anything. He asked for a clarification and they told him they would find out and call back. So far, no return call.

DH also asked how they would determine which credits they were using up first and they had no idea--said he was the first person to ask that.

[cruisenfever]

Just got off of the phone with Charlene of the D+ desk, asking for clarifaction of OBC's

 

What she told me was that as far as Fuel Supplement OBC goes........it goes with all other promotional OBC's and has no value. It is a USE it or LOOSE it proposition.

 

Except:"...Complimentary/Promotional Onboard Credits

This onboard credit is not transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash. Guests who do not use the full amount of the onboard credit during their purchased sailing, will not be refunded any of the remaining credit. This offer cannot be combined with another OBC on the same reservation. Onboard credit is issued in U. S. dollars only.

 

Onboard credits that are purchased pre-cruise through Shop Gifts & Gear, Royal Caribbean Gift Certificates or through the Groups Program are considered "purchased onboard credits". These are bought by the guest or for the guest by a friend/family/company. These can be redeamed for cash.

 

So, you still can go to the Casino and get $200.00 worth of chips, go play, and return with 200. in chips, and they will give you the cash, and this will go against your OBC. Don't forget you will pay 3% when you cash it in.

 

Also........one other question that I got answered today........all Gratuities can come from OBC's!!:D

 

There remains some confusion of the Royal Caribbean credit card.

 

So...........any unused OBC's are lost unless the rules of the OBC's that were pre purchased thru Gifts and Gear or programs that are considered to be purchased aboard credits.

 

Amazing that they would not refund money on the Fuel Supplement, but won't honor it as a purchased credit.:(

 

Rick

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO....................they can't do that.:mad::mad:

 

Everybody's invoice had the fuel surcharge "added" to it. Then in December they decided to eliminate it. They said if your cruise was paid in full the refund would appear as on OBC. If your invoice was not paid then it would be subtracted.

 

So the folks that have it appearing as an OBC are getting the royal screws put to them. The folks that haven't paid in full yet are getting the better deal.

 

That's NOT RCI's money to keep. If you receive it as an OBC than you are entitled to it back in the form of cash if you chose not to spend it because it belongs to you in the first place.

[The Big Booper]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO....................they can't do that.:mad::mad:

 

Everybody's invoice had the fuel surcharge "added" to it. Then in December they decided to eliminate it. They said if your cruise was paid in full the refund would appear as on OBC. If your invoice was not paid then it would be subtracted.

 

That's NOT RCI's money to keep. If you receive it as an OBC than you are entitled to it back in the form of cash if you chose not to spend it because it belongs to you in the first place.

 

Hi P & J - good to talk to you again.

 

As a still-working CPA, it sounds like Miami didn't think thru all the ramifications of this policy change but just implemented it muy rapido. They will have to work out a more detailed manual for how this is to be implemented and supply it to the ships and the CS reps. ASAP

 

We might be doing another TA again.

[dramaqueen4lyfe]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO....................they can't do that.:mad::mad:

 

Everybody's invoice had the fuel surcharge "added" to it. Then in December they decided to eliminate it. They said if your cruise was paid in full the refund would appear as on OBC. If your invoice was not paid then it would be subtracted.

 

So the folks that have it appearing as an OBC are getting the royal screws put to them. The folks that haven't paid in full yet are getting the better deal.

 

That's NOT RCI's money to keep. If you receive it as an OBC than you are entitled to it back in the form of cash if you chose not to spend it because it belongs to you in the first place.

 

Agreed 100% Bob is already prepping for a lengthy discussion with GR on Feb 1st when we board Indie. He wants that amount back right away before we even begin to use the OBC we do have.

[cruisenfever]

Hi P & J - good to talk to you again.

 

As a still-working CPA, it sounds like Miami didn't think thru all the ramifications of this policy change but just implemented it muy rapido. They will have to work out a more detailed manual for how this is to be implemented and supply it to the ships and the CS reps. ASAP

 

We might be doing another TA again.

It's the same old story...............they speak before they think.:mad:

 

Another TA...........maybe on the Jewel in September??:D

[The Big Booper]

It's the same old story...............they speak before they think.:mad:

 

Another TA...........maybe on the Jewel in September??:D

 

That is a possibility, have to see if it fits my work situation. As a self employed CPA, still have responsibilities to clients and good and bad time frames.

 

We loved the TA on the Indy, huge ship and practically no kids. Once we got down to the warmer climes, the adults took over the H20 pool (heated fresh water) and the sprays and water canons.

 

The Jewel does the North Atlantic, Harwich to Boston?? How is the weather in Sept on that run?

[The Viking]

I was looking forward to reading about this cruise to find that from time to time the thread is waaay off topic.

 

Please bring the thopic it back and stop jabbing all the other stuff.

 

Thank you so much

[wolfcathorse]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO....................they can't do that.:mad::mad:

 

Everybody's invoice had the fuel surcharge "added" to it. Then in December they decided to eliminate it. They said if your cruise was paid in full the refund would appear as on OBC. If your invoice was not paid then it would be subtracted.

 

So the folks that have it appearing as an OBC are getting the royal screws put to them. The folks that haven't paid in full yet are getting the better deal.

 

That's NOT RCI's money to keep. If you receive it as an OBC than you are entitled to it back in the form of cash if you chose not to spend it because it belongs to you in the first place.

 

I agree Patti, it was my money and I don't want to have to pay 3% to get it back!

[wolfcathorse]

I was looking forward to reading about this cruise to find that from time to time the thread is waaay off topic.

 

Please bring the thopic it back and stop jabbing all the other stuff.

 

Thank you so much

 

We will talk about the topic of this thread when Carol posts something for us to talk about.

[xpcdoojk]

Did anyone hear a giant sucking sound? I think it was the life in this thread.

 

jc:(

[wrp96]

Did anyone hear a giant sucking sound? I think it was the life in this thread.

 

jc:(

 

 

Maybe it was Carol taste testing a DOD for us.;)

[truffles2]

Looks like "another fine mess".....

 

Patti & Big Booper--I was looking at the Jewel TA (we did it 2 years ago) and wondering why it is so much more than the other ta's. Do either of you know? It is about $1k more (or more). I would like to do the Indy again but not on those dates!

[CruisinMommas]

I am not sure if some of you have excursions planned when you get to Bahia, but I spoke to someone who goes there twice a year. It was suggested you visit the Church of St. Francis in the upper city and for shopping in the lower city to go to the Mecado Modelo market place. Of course you might want to research these places but just a suggestion.

[xpcdoojk]

Maybe it was Carol taste testing a DOD for us.;)

 

That sounds lovely right now. :D Did you see where some "thing" went off on a reply of mine to you. Classic.

 

In an attempt to stay exactly on topic, where is Carol and the rest of the gang right now? Too many posts for me to go thru to find the daily schedule Theron posted a few days ago. :D

 

jc

[wrp96]

Yep saw that JC. Wasn't thinking when I posted that so thanks for your efforts.

 

Today they are at sea steaming towards St. Maarten tomorrow.