like2cruise99

September 24 Brilliance of the Seas Vancouver to Hawaii. 10 days.

On 11/4/2022 at 12:00 AM, Crowbait said:

Hello! Do you have the contact information for the massages? That is something my husband and I want to do the end of the month when we are there. 

Sorry I just googled or did trip advisor to find something to do and I saw a lot of things about a lady that did massages at different places. She will go to a hotel, beach, etc. It's been some years since we have done that.

I second the Trikes in Aruba. I have done that the last 3 times we went to Aruba and our family loves doing this. In Curacao we were supposed to ride the tuk tuk cars but a hurricane prevented us from stopping there. I have also found a lady that does massages and she picked us up at the port, took us to the beach, gave us massages, and took us back to the port. All for about $45/massage. That's been a few years. Whatever you do you need to walk across the floating bridge.

39 minutes ago, princeton123211 said:

Best use of Marriott points (and recognition of Marriott status) hard stop is the Royal Hawaiian thats part of the Luxury Collection. You can't do better with points on the stretch of beach. Beautiful old school 1920's hotel. We always get a nice upgrade as Titanium Elite as well as amenities. Their free breakfast is great as well. 

 

Second place would be Moana Surfrider-- not as good but still a nice place and run by Westin. Charming older hotel with some more modern sections and a great location. 

 

A distant third for Marriott points would be the Sheraton. It's just a big ugly block and it's huge. Not a big fan. 

Princeton, thank you very much. I still have a little time before I book as I can't get airline tickets yet and I'm not sure how many nights I am going to stay but I do have some time to figure it out and how many points it will take. Any special area in the Royal Hawaiian or is there only one or all good rooms/views?

On 8/12/2022 at 6:15 PM, princeton123211 said:

It really runs the gamut in Waikiki. There's everything form budget friendly places that are a few blocks off the beach to luxury resort properties charging $600-700 a night. Will really depend on what your budget is and what amenities/location you want. 

 

On the higher end of things my personal favorites are The Royal Hawaiian and if money is no object Halekulani. They both have their plusses and minuses. The Royal Hawaiian is a little less expensive (can be had for $300-400 depending on when) and a little bit less luxe (when compared to Halekulani, RH is luxe by most other standards) but is right on the beach and oozes old Hawaiian vibes from the 1920's and '30s.

 

Halekulani is sort of at a Four Seasons level in terms of service, amenities, and accommodation. The downside is that the beach in front of it is eroded and there is a little dinky one off to the side-- nothing like what The Royal Hawaiian has a few doors down. 

 

There are several resorts along the beach that are part of Marriott and Hilton so if points redemption is your thing theres opportunity for that. The above two are my personal favorites though. 

I'm going to be there in October 2023 as well but I am cruising on RCI. What hotels do you recommend if I am wanting to use my Marriott points. I've seen a lot of places but I'm not sure where the best place/area is.

On 8/28/2022 at 12:29 AM, aururab said:

We are 6 adults, 4 kids between 6 and 10 sail on Feb 19 Voyager of the seas southern Caribbean cruise. 
 

There is so much to do on each island, and then fun to be had on the ship that we struggling to find a balance. Can some who has been on this route help me out?

 

SUN, FEB 19    San Juan, Puerto Rico        
MON, FEB 20    St. Thomas, USV

* private snorkel full day? (Is there a better island for this?
TUE, FEB 21    St. Croix, USVI    

* snorkel and SCUBA Buck island half day
WED, FEB 22    Philipsburg, St. Maarten

* free day, window shop and beach 
THU, FEB 23    St. Lucia    
* zip lines
FRI, FEB 24    Barbados

* no idea…. But would like to experience a bit of the island…
SAT, FEB 25    St. Kitts, Kitts and Nevis    
* no idea….
SUN, FEB 26    San Juan, Puerto Rico   
 

thanks so much!

When you're in San Juan you have to eat at Kabanas. Best tacos anywhere. I really loved the pork tacos but we had one child get nachos and another a hamburger and everyone said it was the best they had ever eaten. I haven't been in a few years but last time we went it was across the street from the Renaissance La Concha. Don't miss this place. We ate there 2-4 times every time we went there. The girls would talk about flying down just to eat there.

On 8/28/2022 at 12:29 AM, aururab said:

We are 6 adults, 4 kids between 6 and 10 sail on Feb 19 Voyager of the seas southern Caribbean cruise. 
 

There is so much to do on each island, and then fun to be had on the ship that we struggling to find a balance. Can some who has been on this route help me out?

 

SUN, FEB 19    San Juan, Puerto Rico        
MON, FEB 20    St. Thomas, USV

* private snorkel full day? (Is there a better island for this?
TUE, FEB 21    St. Croix, USVI    

* snorkel and SCUBA Buck island half day
WED, FEB 22    Philipsburg, St. Maarten

* free day, window shop and beach 
THU, FEB 23    St. Lucia    
* zip lines
FRI, FEB 24    Barbados

* no idea…. But would like to experience a bit of the island…
SAT, FEB 25    St. Kitts, Kitts and Nevis    
* no idea….
SUN, FEB 26    San Juan, Puerto Rico   
 

thanks so much!

When you're in San Juan you have to eat at Kabanas. Best tacos anywhere. I really loved the pork tacos but we had one child get nachos and another a hamburger and everyone said it was the best they had ever eaten. I haven't been in a few years but last time we went it was across the street from the Renaissance La Concha. Don't miss this place. We ate there 2-4 times every time we went there. The girls would talk about flying down just to eat there.

5 hours ago, Jenna1983 said:

All I know is they haven’t switched my Enchantment reservation to Brilliance for Alaska and show me on the 15 night Transatlantic at this point. 😂

Is that in November? That’s what mine shows and I was scheduled for September 24, 2023 to Hawaii.  I was told that they weren’t doing that just Alaska then going to Australia with no passengers. Mine now shows 10 day November 8-18 in Australia. 
while they say they aren’t doing Hawaii the website does show Brilliance going to Hawaii Sept 24-Oct 4. 

So can I call my TA and ask them to prepay them for my September 2023 cruise?

We just got back from Haiti and were also booked in a suite and we didn't get an early option to purchase a cabana. In the cruise planner we could get a cabana at one of the other beaches but not Barefoot Beach(suite beach). We were offered to purchase one when the concierge sent us his email which was about a week out but they were so expensive we didn't see the benefit vs cost of it. We ended up going 2 days to Haiti due to a Hurricane headed to Curcao and the first day(unplanned) I don't think any of the cabanas at Barefoot Beach were rented. The second day there were only like 3 rented. We were glad we didn't rent one because we were in the water all the time except to come out and eat and go to the bathroom.

5 hours ago, Bo1953 said:

Heck, let the couple in the suite collect the fee from their friends, just to dine together one (1) night in Luminae?

 

Is that better for you?

 

More than likely they have OBC which can handle it, if not, I do not envision it being a deal breaker by them paying for it.

 

It was mentioned that neither couple wants to pay for specialty restaurants AND they are friends with both AND it sounds like they asked each couple to join them on the sailing at one time or another.

 

So, yes, ante up for a joint dinner with the other four (4) friends to dine in Luminae.

 

bon appetit and bon voyage

They didn't ask the other couples to join. Both of the other couples asked them what cruise they were on and the first couple asked if they could join and decided not to spend the money for the suite. The second couple booked it without saying anything. Until you have that talk with couple #3 to explain the difference in rooms and perks you won't know what they are thinking. It could be they want to eat together every night and then again they may not expect anything. Have that talk soon so both of you can decide how you want to proceed.

43 minutes ago, ALWAYS CRUZIN said:

I own a good amount of Royal and Carnival. So far I have lost over $30,000.00 I really hope it turns around. Will it stay above water till November? 

Do you get anything extra for having above the 100 shares or is that all you get regardless of how much you own?

On 11/27/2018 at 12:09 PM, John&LaLa said:

So did anyone ever check and see if their Enchantment block has a sky bridge?

 

Pretty sure all my Vision blocks look the same

I should reach my 140 in September of 23 on Enchantment. If I remember I'll let you know. Lol.

Well I guess I'll be the one that says I always pack mine in my suitcase. When it gets damaged or gets lost then I'll rethink that after my horrible trip with no CPap and no sleep for me or anyone in the room with me.

We are leaving in two weeks for our 10th cruise. This will be the 9th cruise that we have had 4 in the room. Our daughter and a friend have gone with us each time. We have managed just fine but I might add we have had a GS most of the time and OS once or twice and this one will be an OS and it will also be our daughter and SIL. I always get ready and sit on the balcony or go to the SL. 

Granted a suite is easier than a regular room but it's doable. 

Good luck and enjoy.

We will be there in late May and we booked the Tuk Tuk cars for 2 hours. They say they will take us around the city and take us to see whatever we are interested in so we thought we would do it. SIL wants to see the city so that's why we are doing this. In the past I found someone that does massages and she picked us up at the dock and took us to a beach and she gave 3 of us a massage. She actually had another person give one of the massages so I played on the beach and in the water while my daughter and her friend got massages and then I got mine while they played on the beach. After that she dropped us off to walk across the bridge and we walked around some and then walked back to the ship. 

My cruise that is leaving in 8 days doesn't have any excursions that I want to go on with RCI so I have booked mine through independent tour operators. I usually google things to do in ???? in this case Nassau. I check out trip advisor and viatour. My cruise agent also has a link to some they have connections with. I don't worry about not getting back because if I don't I will post on their website and they will be out of business pretty quick with me and others complaining so I have had good luck with these excursions. Once I find something I am interested in I usually go to the website that has what I want to do and see what they have on the particular excursion I want to do such as cost and transportation and I figure out which way I want to go.

You will LOVE Freedom. I agree with most of the comments and suggestions above. Some of our favorite cruise memories involve Freedom. We've sailed on her twice before and in 18 days I will be boarding her again...this time with my DD for a special girls get away.

I will be on that cruise with you leaving on May 26th!!!!!

We sailed out of San Juan in May of 2017. We stayed at the Sheraton in Old San Juan the night before the cruise. It was an older hotel but well taken care of and a nice location if you like the Old Town. You can walk pretty much everywhere. You are going to have to get a taxi to get to the port wherever you stay. When we got back we stayed 4 days at the Renaissance LaConcha. This was a great hotel. Very nice hotel, pool, beach, restaurants, casino. The restaurants were a little expensive but there are plenty of places to eat around there. We found a taco truck called Kabanas that was the absolute best tacos, nachos, and hamburger we have ever eaten at. My daughter griped about us going and we got there and we had to sit outside and it was raining. She liked it so well we walked in the rain to it the next day. They have moved and they are indoors now and they are right in front of the LaConcha. We are doing the Southern Caribbean cruise again this year on May 26. We are staying at the LaConcha for 3 days before we cruise this time. We loved everything about the hotel and the area.

Does anyone know what the drink menu is like for the 3 free drinks? My wife and daughter drink non alcoholic drinks and I am wondering if that is on there? Do they have margaritas?

I'll try to get on here when I get back. We're leaving in 3 days and we're staying at the Sheraton Old San Juan the night before and when we get off we are staying at Renaissance LaConcha Resort for about 4 days.

For my family this doesn't sound like a very good thing. It may force me to start trying other cruise lines. I am a suite booker and I have never cancelled or changed a cruise from when I originally booked it other than to rebook for a cheaper rate. I spend from $6000-10,000 for a cruise for 4 people and they are going to force me to book non-refundable and give me $100 for doing that and if I do make a change it will cost me $400. It will have to be a much better rate for me to go to the non-refundable option. I can see myself either booking other than suites or RCI doesn't care about me and wants me to go find another cruise line. I don't think I am going to like this.

Thanks for the info but sorry I don't base my decision on which is the best cruise line by comparing how you get a 10% discount on a gift card versus a gift certificate.

When does RCI come out with their itineraries for the Hawaii cruise? I'm wanting to take a Hawaii cruise and we usually book a suite but every time I look the suites are gone. I'm wanting to find out when they come out with them so I can jump on them fast while their is still a suite left. I'm looking for the September 2018 or the May 2019 cruise. Is there some way to find out before everyone else knows such as a TA or RCI direct or possibly the C & A for higher level members?

We always get a suite and my daughter who is 22 and a friend will share the sofa bed and they've never complained.