Jessie2013

We’re a half hour from Port CANAVERAL and we’re looking to watch a 12:00 football game before Sail Away.  Is there anywhere on the ship that will be playing the college football games when we board?

I'm new to Princess & looking to book a connecting Aft cabin, specifically for an Alaskan cruise.  Do the suites (say, E732 on the Emerald) connect to E734?  More specifically, do the balconies open up to eachother?  Is considered a "wrap around aft" for Princess?  

I'm looking for 2 rooms, as "wrap around" as possible, aft.  Any other rooms I should be looking at?

Thank you!

Hi- I'm an experienced DCL traveler but have never booked last minute.  We booked on the Fantasy for a sailing in 2 weeks & of course only second seating is available.  We have a child with narcolepsy, so an 8:15 dining will not be possible.  Of course, we realize there is the option to eat outside of the main dining room.  My question is, is there any way to submit a request based on medical need for the earlier dining time?  How do I go about making that request?  Thank you!

Correct, for dinner the (normally) buffet venue is a sit-down table service. There's also a carving station and salad bar. And it's not open the first and last nights of a cruise.

What happens on the last & first night? Is the dining room the only dinner option? I've done DCL several times before, but always eat in the dining room so I never noticed this.

Thanks!

The vendor is giving me a local time, but whether or not I can go is determined by the ship's time. If we're arriving at 10:30 a.m. local time and that's when the first tour begins, I cannot go to that one as I"ll be too late. If we're departing GC at 5:30 local time and the 2.5 hour tour ends at 4:00, I can't go to that one because it will be cutting it too close to getting back to the ship.

I have inquired with a company to book a private excursion on Grand Cayman. We'll be on the Disney Fantasy in March. The private excursion has two time slots open- 10:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. The Fantasy is scheduled to be there from 10:30-5:30. Is that Eastern or Central time?

Which time zone will be arriving/departing in? Thanks!

It is really your choice. Will you be dressing up for Star Wars day? Do you want your photos while you are in costume? Or would you rather have Star Wars day free to do other activities and be posing for photos at another time.

 

There is no right or wrong answer to this.....it is totally a matter of what you believe will work best for you.

 

My take would be that if I wasn't going to dress up' date=' I'd pose with characters on a different day. If I was dressing, I'd have to decide whether it was worth doing that twice.[/quote']

 

Thank you! If we’re not doing character events (during the day, not evening) on the Star Wars day, are there other things to be doing that are Star Wars related?

 

Also, I had previously booked the character dates on the SW day, and now I am unable to see which times are available on the other day. Is there a way to see that without cancelling my existing character meet and greets?

We have cruised DCL a few times before and are scheduled for a cruise this coming March. It is a Star Wars Day at Sea cruise, which we've never done before. I signed up for character meet & greets of Star Wars characters for the actual day that is designated on the Star Wars Day, but I noticed those characters are also available on other days. I am wondering if I should sign up for them on other days so that I'm free on the Star Wars Day for other Star Wars related things? Or is there an advantage to seeing the Star Wars characters on Star Wars the Star Wars day?

Any other Star War info I should know about that aspect of the cruise would be helpful! Thank you!

In a last minute decision this week, we decided we'd like to take a cruise over Christmas. I'm usually one to plan well in advance (next year's cruise has already been booked since the day the itinerary was released), so planning with such short notice is new to me. I'm looking at the Fantasy.

The cabins are available and they are so expensive. Before I shell out all of this money, I'd like to understand what I potentially may be missing out on if I book so late.

My primary concern is dining. We have someone in our party that has a medical condition that would require them eating dinner around their standard/reasonable dinner time, the first seating. Of course that is already sold out. I was told we can be waitlisted for the first seating, but how likely is that to happen for this Christmas cruise? I realize there are other dining options on board around that time and that is what we would do if needed, but it would mean we're paying a premium for to travel over Christmas and wouldn't be able to enjoy the dining room ever.

I also read that you have to get tickets to gingerbread house making. Would these be sold out by now?

What other items would I be putting at risk or missing out on if I book this late?

Also, anyone else want to chime in with all the reasons why spending a small fortune for this cruise is worth it, I'd like the small doses of encouragement to push me over the edge to book :)

Thanks! So the photos online of our room (Disney Fantasy, rooms 8118 and 8120) seem to be the "stock" photos that DCL uses on their site, which does have the plexiglass.

Where did you find the ship photos you posted above? Id like to confirm I have plexiglass- I [emoji173]️ having that ocean view from my room, as uninterrupted as possible. Thank you!

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How do you know which your balcony room has? It is based on ship/deck?

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So, Jessie2013 - what happened with the diffuser? Were you able to use it in the cruise? Did they confiscate it? What kind did you take, and what cruise company? I am now thinking about taking mine and need more information. Thanks.

I decided not to bring mine. I only have large ones (I have one YL one, 2 Stadler Aroma diffusers and a Roaily Oily one) and I didn't want to deal with it. I did pack my oils and I also packed several spray (glass) bottles of essential oil sprays so I could sanitize the room and then spray lavender before bed. We slept with the balcony door open every night, I think the sea air was more healing and enjoyable than the diffuser would have been ;)

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If its a delayed boarding why don't you ask at the check in counter

Because they wouldn't tell me ;) all is well now- we are on- but it was a longer wait than normal.

I was just asking because of the issues the ship is having, I didn't know if it was related.

We did not have the option to cancel and we're on board now and none of the guest service people will tell anyone the on board credit amount- so still no news on that.

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Who is the tour operator?

Shore Excursions Group

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Thanks everyone :) Im on the ship now- there's a couple here who had a wedding booked in the afternoon at St Maarten (which is now only a half day port) and their beach wedding is now moved to inside the cruise ship because of the itinerary change. On behalf of that bride- I'm just accepting what is with my St Thomas excursion....it could be worse!

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We are at the pier now, waiting to check in. We've been told it's delayed boarding and unknown estimated time to board. Anyone know why? Thanks :)

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I may have missed it, but did you ask about changing the excursion rather than canceling?

Yes, they won't allow that either :(

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Why not book one for morning?

We basically want to be driven around the island, do the route to the top to see the scenic stuff, maybe stop at a beach or two for a short time and then shopping. An overall island tour. Anything we would book would be a duplicate, although longer, version of what is already booked.

I want one in the morning, and then it can be over and we can have lunch on the island....or the inlaws can head back to the ship and we can take my son to the beach....but a 1:30 tour in the middle of the day is annoying now. I realize it wouldn't be to everyone- but it is to me. I have a kid who naps, I originally planned to do naps before 1:30 excursion and now that means we'd have to stay on the ship.

I did read all the fine print- which stated I could cancel in the event of an itinerary change. It is an itinerary change....although they feel since I'm still on the island at the time of the tour, it's not grounds to cancel. I'm just bummed- I'm spending $360 for a private tour of St Maarten for a fraction of the time now....and our day in St Thomas is segmented because of a tour in the middle of the day.....and no coco cay. And all of this is released just an hour ago officially (just got an email) and I've been on vacation handling it all....

It's a cruise, we'll have fun, My vacation isn't destroyed, but it's inconvenient and Would have been more preventable and less inconvenient if RCCL had communicated the changes earlier.

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Sorry for my many FOS posts, but as our cruise grows nearer (tomorrow!), I become more frustrated. It's not supposed to be that way :(

As you know, FOS has had mechanical issues for weeks that effect the speed. There has not been a formal announcement, but through these boards I learned of an itinerary change for our sailing tomorrow. Most everyone else won't be informed until they get to the pier.

I had booked a private excursion through a reputable shore excursion site, one that books for all cruise lines and most islands. I verified that it was refundable due to missing the port or itinerary changes. We originally were to arrive in St Thomas at 1:00 and depart at 5. Now we arrive at 7 and depart at 7. We originally booked a 2 hour excursion that begins at 1:30. Now that we have all day on the island, I don't want a 2 hour excursion in the middle of the day. I want something longer or for this one to start earlier. I've been on the phone with the shore excursion people and they won't allow me to cancel- saying I'm still available for the excursion. I am, but it interrupts the whole day, and every other port is already messed up as a result of this itinerary change (and it being announced so late).

Is this standard that I shouldn't be able to cancel under these circumstances?

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Oops- to answer your question- the arrival and departure for the cruise are the same.

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With your itinerary change, did it mention anything about the return time to Port Canaveral being changed?

 

 

 

Also agree that 100$ OBC is a joke. And agree that RCCL could communicate with this issue better. We called to see if there were any changes for ours leaving Dec 21st and they had zero information. Couldn't even advise if the trips FOS was on now had any changes.

It gets better. So I logged into my cruise account and noticed my Chops reservation was missing. I thought with all the changes, perhaps things were lost, so I contacted RCCL again tonight. I've spoke to 3 different reps now and all have confirmed the itinerary change but only the 1st mentioned an OBC. The other two said there is not an OBC. I find that hard to believe, so I guess we'll continue to wait and see.

Both reps said that the passengers will be notified of the changes at the pier. Their website isn't updated to reflect the changes either. There was zero effort put forth to notify us in advance. So disappointed.

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Wow, $100 OBC. That's kind of a joke for only having a day and a half of ports. The first cruise to the Bahamas where they removed the propellers received $450 for a balcony and a 25% future cruise credit. That cruise made it to Nassau, Cozumel and Coco Cay. Something's definitely not right.

Anything that can be done about that? Does my TA have any pull for OBC? I know I'm going on a cruise and I'm grateful for that, but is is a retirement gift for my in laws, a type of vacation they will likely never take again. I've planned it for over a year and RCCL has had ample time to give us more advanced notice.....I'm so frustrated.

Wow...did they give a reason for skipping Cocoa Cay? The times we have missed it was last minute due to weather or rough seas.

 

 

 

With only a 1/2 day in St Martin you still might consider a tour.....it's a neat island. I would recommend contacting Bernards Tours and see if he can put anything together for your group as a private tour. He is very popular with cruisers and he is great!

 

 

 

St Thomas is not a huge island so I can't see doing a tour for all day, especially since your group does not like the beach or shopping. I would contact Godfrey again for suggestions

 

 

 

Have fun!!!

Sorry, typo originally....it's Bernard's that our all day St Maarten tour was booked through. I'm contacting him now. $380 for a private tour was a significant expense, but we felt well worth it, but now I'm not spending $380 for just a few hours.

Is St. John's just beachy? I really enjoy being off the ship....I have no idea what to do all day in St.Thomas....

Just called RCCL, we are a balcony room and being credited $100 per stateroom. Considering I'm now handling this while on vacation, and RCCL has known for weeks that something to happen, $100 isn't impressing me.

I'm on FOS that departs Sunday, I'm already in FL.

Our itinerary was Coco Cay, St Thomas from 12-7 and St. Maarten all day.

I am traveling with a 4 year old and my in laws that can't walk much. We aren't into beaches or lots of shopping- but rather want a tour of the islands, some shopping, checking out cool sites, etc.

I had booked a private tour (godfreys) for st Maarten all day and a 2-3 hour tour in st Thomas to go up to paradise point (I think that's what it's called) and some stopping at scenic spots and shopping.

Now, our itinerary has eliminated Coco Cay, made St Maarten only a half day (8-1) and 7 am - 7 pm at St Thomas.

What can I do in st Thomas all day long that would satisfy my group? Can I cancel the tour we had booked due to the time change? Yes, I'll still be on the island but I'll want something that is more all day long instead of just 2-3 hours.

I will need to cancel my St Maarten tour, as it was an all day thing. What can I do for just a few hours there?

I'm so thankful we are still going to visit both places, but really disappointed that I have such short notice to make changes (I'm already on vacation). Many thanks in advance for your help!!

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