Yellowlily

I have to put in a vote for Jiffy Jeff Transportation.  Check them out!  We used them on our last cruise and absolutely loved them.  They have Mercedes Sprinter vans - you can do shared or private rides.  I did a lot of research on transfers prior to our last cruise.  Glad I chose them.  Just made our experience all the better.  They are based in Fort Lauderdale.  They service the Fort Lauderdale and Miami areas.  They told us they are expanding to the Orlando/Port Canaveral area in the near future.  We have also used Happy Limo, which we liked a lot too.  We've done cabs and RCCI transfers in the past.  Loved Jiffy Jeff the best!

Just wanted to add that Blue Planet on Allure was absolutely amazing!!  Also saw Mamma Mia which was equally entertaining.  

Does anyone know what disembarkation times are offered for Suite Guests (Grand and higher) on the Allure?  I thought there were 2 times (approximately), but not sure.  Our return flight has been changed and wanted to know what to advise our driver that will be picking us up in Miami.  The flight is later, so we won't have to be off the ship as early.  What are the breakfast options also?  Thanks in advance!

Thanks!

Wondering if and when to expect and email from our concierge pre-cruise.  We are sailing in a Grand Suite.  Thought it was about a week prior??  Thanks!

Is a better deal to pre-book a couples massage or wait until you get on board and wait for an advertised deal - say on a port day?  DH and I would like to book a couples massage but I'm thinking of waiting, but not sure.  We've pre-booked about everything else so far.  

We've never done a couples massage, I've only done a massage for myself on previous cruises.  Looking forward to it.  Which one is best ?  DH is not a massage person but does enjoy the thermal suite stuff.  This was his idea, and I'm absolutely thrilled.  I've been getting monthly massages as a part of my self care routine this past year and it has helped me so much.  I'm just happy he's supporting me and trying to help himself too.  

Lastly, wanted to ask about the thermal suite.  Is is worth getting a weekly pass or just a one time deal?  Also, we are booked in a Grand Suite - do suite guests get a one time pass to the Thermal Suite or no?  Thought I read somewhere something about that but not sure.  We are booked on the Allure, by the way.

Thanks for any advice!

2 hours ago, George C said:

a little off topic but make sure you have a drink in rising tide bar which moves from deck 8 in central park to deck 5

Will do!!!  Looks amazing!!

15 minutes ago, cb at sea said:

They don't serve room service meals "by course"...it's all brought at one time, unless you make multiple orders....dining "in cabin" isn't what you might be imagining.  Some love eating in...others don't.  I'm in the latter group.  I'd rather head to the dining room and be served!

Yes, absolutely, meal delivered as a whole not by each course.  What I was imagining/read/seen on Youtube reviews was many liked this option because you order off the MDR what you would like within the MDR hours and they seemed to like that as opposed to dining in the MDR because it was quiet, intimate and not hectic (especially if you have one of those days that you want a quiet evening). 

I wanted to get the details here on CC just to be clear.  I can imagine us doing in-room dining maybe once or twice.  However, all these things are really great to know going in, planning, etc.  Sounds like we really should take advantage of the specialty dining offers.  Glad to know what are options are going in so we can plan.

Just now, George C said:

Need to go to bar to get a drink to get it included with package 

Thank you

4 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Nopem they won't bring in a dining table.

 

Some move the table from the balcony inside.

Excellent - sounds easy enough regarding the table from the balcony.  So, is this is nice as I've heard or not?  Dining in room during MDR hours?  Also, we have the Deluxe Beverage Package - can you order this for your room if we happen to get in room dining one night or do we have to go to a bar/venue to get a drink?

So great about the water.  I'm still confused on the in room dining.  Everything I've read/seen says we can order room service (no fee for GS or higher excluding tip) and we can order from the MDR during regular dining hours right to our room (and from the reviews I've read this seems to be one of the favorite perks among suite guests(GS and higher), I hope it's an option still).  Wouldn't they set up a dining table for us?  We also have a balcony.  I'd like to clarify this to be sure.  

Cheese platter at 150 cp sounds amazing!  And yes, I'm thinking once we do a suite it will be hard to ever go back to just a balcony cabin!!  Looking forward to it!

2 minutes ago, George C said:

We just did sister ship oasis in a owners suite, same perks as grand suite. We got reservations from concierge for first two nights in costal kitchen, had breakfast and lunch there daily, dinner first night was excellent second night was ok. View is amazing. If you have drink package why buy water package you can get water and bring it to suite , you also get a large bottle of Evian for free in suite. We also bought 3 night package on the ship , really enjoyed 150cp should have done it twice. We also enjoyed habatchi which is not covered by restaurant packages, not all restaurants are open for lunch and you do have costal kitchen. Grand suites are great but no dinning table for room service that’s a advantage owners suite have . 

Ok, good to know, thank you.  Did not realize about the water.  DH purchased the water package, maybe he should cancel it.  Thanks for the heads up.  

I thought they bring you a dining table for room service in a grand suite or higher?  Guess no?

Great about 150 Central Park, it looks like my kind of place.  Thanks for your input!

Family and I are sailing this spring on Allure in a Grand Suite.  We've never done a Grand Suite before.  So, have read some different things about dining and wanted to get some advice, etc., about our dining options. 

I understand we can dine in Coastal Kitchen - do we need to make reservations in advance on our cruise planner or go through concierge or no?  

I've also read that the In-Room Dining during Main Dining Room hours is an excellent perk and imagine we will do this.  

Considering the Speciality restaurants - should we or no?  I'd love to try the 150 Central Perk and Sabor (for lunch).  What I'm mostly conflicted on - should we get one of the dining packages or no?  The 3 night and BOGO dining packages are enticing but looks like we have to go there the first day, correct?  We always do specialty dining when we've sailed in the past but usually once or twice.  We are sailing on a 7 night cruise.

Lastly, we did the get the Deluxe Beverage Package for both DH and I.  Kind of glad we did after I saw how possibly crowded the lounge can get.  Considering refreshment packages for my kids also, but not sure (they aren't really soda drinkers, I'll have to weigh the options).   We did buy a water package for the room.

So, in a nutshell, what are our options exactly and would it be overkill to book specialty dining if we have Coastal Kitchen and In Room Dining available to us? Any other advice, things to know, etc.?  Thanks!

On 12/7/2018 at 10:42 AM, The Fun Researcher said:

 

Just a story.  I haven't sailed with Disney myself, but have two close friends/families that have sailed Disney multiple times.  One of the two families had ONLY sailed Disney (many times) because well, it's the "Top Family Cruise line".  The other family had sailed as a couple on multiple cruise lines before kids, and joined family number 1 a few times on Disney cruises once they had children.

 

Once family number 1 finally tried other cruise lines, RCI and NCL, they never looked back.  Disney puts out a great product, but it's not the "end all, be all" of cruise lines.

 

Both families hate the pools on Disney.  They said it's pretty much crazy town.  Too  many kids, not enough parenting.  Plus, there are simply kids, kids everywhere (go figure) and it's just not as relaxing and enjoyable as RCI and NCL.  By the way, the kids agree.  The kids love the kids clubs on RCI and NCL, and all the other fun activities.  Both families now say, if you want Disney go to Disney World.  If you want to cruise, look at other options and don't simply default to DCL because it's the "Top Family Cruise Line"  Don't get me wrong, DCL puts out a great product, but it shouldn't be considered the default cruise line if you are bringing kids.

 

Dreamworks didn't play into it at all.

 

Dan

 

 

I couldn't agree more.....totally our experience.  People don't get it unless they are avid cruisers of non-Disney cruise lines.  The best part of my DCL cruise was the cabin size.  That's it. Price tag - ridiculous, Pools - saw a poor child nearly drown because he was stuck in the middle of an overcrowded pool packed like sardines, Entertainment - actually better at Disney World, not DCL, Excursions - Castaway Cay was not all it was cracked up to be (Coco Cay, Labadee and the like - way better in my opinion) and the Food - not very good or readily available, with two exceptions (lunch buffet that included amazing crab claws and Remy's specialty restaurant where we dropped some serious cash after "adding on" all the extra perks, but thoroughly enjoyed - caviar, wine course, champagne, you name it).  It's the whole reason we are going back to Royal.

We did this, after many RCCL cruises, we decided to try HAL and then Disney.  Afterwards, very much missed RCCL.  I do have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with the previous posters in saying that HAL has excellent itineraries.  We did not like HAL overall, but.....the itinerary saved it for us.  For us, that was the best part of our HAL cruise.  Thank goodness for that.  The food fell very flat, entertainment was scarce, just not our thing.  We were hoping it would be like Celebrity but didn't even come close.  

Awesome, sounds like this won’t be an issue. Thank you all!  Really looking forward to our cruise!!

Our upcoming cruise, we are booked in a Grand Suite  Wondering if this scenario is possible.....

If we signed up for the earlier time slot with the concierge, would it be possible to.....

1. Retrieve our luggage (we are now going on the Allure rather than the Oasis out of Miami but our flight is out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood). I didn’t think we would be eligible for the RCI luggage valet? We are flying Southwest 

2. Have booked transportation waiting - Jiffy Jeff - I’m thinking about booking them both ways for transportation. Mind you we are a family of 4 with luggage. 

3. Make an 11:30 am flight out of FLL. I realize it takes 40 minutes or an hour to get from Port of Miami to FLL. I also realize it would be better to book after 12 pm flight but we either take the 11:30 or wait til 5:30/6 pm. Not interested in waiting all day....could change our entire plans if we have to. Prefer to catch this flight if it’s even remotely possible. If not, we go to plan b. This is on a Sunday morning. 

Thanks in advance!

Thanks, that was helpful!!!

As far as hotel, really doesn't matter location - you're exactly right, we will have a car.  Those hotels were higher on my list with being ranked higher on TripAdvisor, etc., and looked like what we might like.

Could I get some hotel recommendations for a hotel pre-cruise in Port Canaveral?  On my radar:  Courtyard Cocoa Beach, Hilton, Residence Inn.  Trying to narrow down.  

Also, renting a car at MCO and returning in Cape/Port Canaveral.  Would prefer to do Enterprise - do they have a shuttle to the cruise terminal once we return rental car?  Also saw that Hertz was an option especially if staying at Residence but shuttle runs from hotel.  Not sure, looking for convenience.  This would be for myself and family of 4.  Thanks for any recs!!

Also, how is the pier, was looking at dining at Rock the Guac??  Looks good!  Is it family friendly?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I have a 6 year old and they have always been great with her. That said....if she is hangry or tired, we kindly ask if they can bring out a fruit plate fairly fast. They have yummy kid food that she loves! No worries!

 

 

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Excellent to know about the fruit plate, thanks!

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More pics

 

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Kiddie menu will work in a pinch.

 

Banana Split is my favorite

Thank you for the menus and pics! Definitely gives me an idea now how things work with CK. Sounds like we should do most meals here! Looks fantastic!

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We have tried several different lines and keep coming back to RCCI. Been taking our oldest cruising since she was 6 months old. That being said, she was the easier traveller than my younger little one. We love Disney World (took off several years of cruising for Disney parks vacations) but were not at all impressed with DCL. Just my opinion as a seasoned cruiser. You will find a million other people with the opposite opinion. However, keep in mind that DCL is ridiculous $$$$, the pools are practically unatainable because they are so overcrowded and I could go on. One exception, the staterooms are awesome. And their specialty restaurants are amazing (Remy, in particular - however expect to drop about $500 for this experience). Anyway......overall, we like RCCI overall for cruising with kids. Their programs are great, they have the Dreamworks characters on certain ships (character parades, breakfasts, meet and greets, etc.) and cater to children and parents alike. The other lines have great kids clubs too but if you're going for the most bang for your buck (not just money, but keeping the kids happy while the parents are able to have a good time too), don't rule out RCCI. We have been very happy with them. Good luck and have fun!

Talk to me about Coastal Kitchen. Haven’t found too much info, mainly menus.

We are Sky Class Suite guests on the Oasis with 2 kids. Have read food is amazing. How child friendly are the meals? How would you compare to a nice dinner at Chops or Giovanni’s? Can you have embarkation lunch there? Any pics, advice would help. Thanks!

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Best beach break excurions (on Royal Carribbean) in Falmouth, Jamaica? Just looking for recommendations for a low key, fun beach day. Beautiful waters, nice and relaxing. Would love some recs. Thanks!

Looking into booking a future sailing (Eastern or Southern Caribbean) possibly on the Reflection. Have not sailed X in many years but extremely excited to go back since our past X cruises were the best we have ever sailed. We are a couple (I'm mid 40s/ Husband is in early 50s) with 2 kids (13 & 4). Have been doing a good bit of research and keep coming back to the Reflection. Silhouette and Equinox are other possibilities. In the past, we have done Concierge Class and loved it. For this cruise, we were looking at a Family Verandah cabin but realized they go fast since there are so few of them per ship (4 of them per ship - I think??).

Another option we would like to explore is a Sky Suite cabin. I've seen some pictures and it looks like it would suit us well. Just would like some opinions, did you like the perks, the room, sleeping arrangements, - especially if you have children. How is Luminae compared to the other speciality restaurants, etc. How is the balcony - is it big enough to enjoy a nice coffee/breakfast for 2 or even 4? Husband loves relaxing in the evening on the balcony and having a night cap. Are the bathroom linens upgraded from regular cabins (when we sailed CC on previous X cruises, we had special Turkish cotton linens (bath towels, robes, etc.) that were divine!! Just wondered if they still did that.

Lastly, I've noticed X has revamped their kids program. From what I've read, it sounds great. However, have not seen much as in personal reviews, just information on X's website.

Thanks in advance for any information you could give. The last few cruises we have taken, have not been up to par for us (or our hopes, anyway). We have always loved Celebrity and most of RCCI, but not all. Excited to go back to X. What we like in a cruise - more traditional, the food has to be the star and a focus, good service, and lots and lots of music. Love shows, enrichments and nice shore excursions.