Paddcomp

I know this has been asked before, but it's reading the posts about noise from Lido deck in the mid ships that's concerning me.

We've booked a B2 suite as we wanted the extra space for a family of four and wanted everything to be perfect.  We tend to go to bed about 10:30 - 11:00 for the early starts on port days, so would like to be able to sleep.

Before deciding on the suite we looked at 2 balcony cabins, I'm now wondering if we should have booked these instead?  I see the posts about noise on Riviera suggests C Deck balcony cabins, and that these have double depth balconies.  Any one have any info on these?

2 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

 

Good afternoon Paddcomp.

 

Have a peep at my St Petersburg review...

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/05/14/one-way-to-do-st-petersburg/

 

While mine was a 'private' tour that company do small groups as well with generally the same advantages of fast track entry to the more popular palaces.

 

Great blog, and some worthwhile tips. I hadn't thought of sharing a private tour, something to consider. 

1 hour ago, clarets said:

Going here on our cruise a week sunday and looking at the cruise personaliser there are 4 pages of excursions something for everyone but looking at your question the nearest I can find to suit would be simply st Petersburg, a two day trip costing £237 or splendour of st petersberg again over 2 days costing £264 (adult ).Hope this helps.

Clarets, spot on what I wanted.

Thanks for all responses, all very useful.

As we don't sail until Aug 2020 I can't see the P&O excursions yet, but I can see the independent ones.

Does anyone know the cost of the 2 day excursions or have a link to where I can find them please?

We have children 16 and 11 so whilst we want to see the sights we're looking at the 2 day highlights tours. Private tours are just a bit too pricey, so this seems the best compromise.  How have others with children found the tours?

1 hour ago, Jules. said:

Ah that’ll teach me to read posts properly in future! 🤦🏼‍♀️

You’re booking a suite, how lovely! Enjoy 😎

No problem. We're very excited, last cruise was inside cabins so quite a difference. 

6 hours ago, Jules. said:

I agree that in the morning the sofa bed restricts access to the balcony, on about the third day of our cruise we discovered that we could easily fold it back into a sofa ourselves. Then when we went for breakfast we folded it out again so that the bed could be made up by our steward! 

I think the sofa is in a different room to the bed, curtained not walled, plus I'm sure the butler will put the bed away 😉

Great replies, helped make the decision to book. Whilst the 2 cabin option seemed a good solution we've been enticed by the extras offered by the suite and being all together. 

Just booked and very excited.  Family of 4, but wasn't sure about sleeping on the sofa bed.  Seemed preferable to bunks as my son has issues with ladders and heights.  Any confirm how comfortable these sofas are, assuming that P&O know what they're doing and wouldn't have guests uncomfortable.

I'm thinking about booking Azura for next summer for a family of 4, 2 kids boy 16 and girl 11.  We don't like the idea of bunk beds, so our options appear to be 2 cabins or a sofa bed.  Now the kids would be a nightmare sharing a bed and constantly fighting, so our options would be Dad and son in twin beds and Mum and daughter on the sofa bed, or Mum and Dad on the sofa bed?  Both Dad and son are above average in size, okay I'm portly and son is tall, so worried if the sofa bed would be comfortable for 14 nights.

What are your experiences of sofa beds and what age / size of person slept on them?  

As we're thinking of booking a suite, I could also go for 2 balcony cabins next to each other for similar price.  Everyone gets a comfy bed, but it would feel like we're on separate holidays.

We've cruised before, but not loads, last cruise was 4 years ago and we had 2 inside cabins which worked well.  Kids are older now though.

Are wine packages still available, I've looked in the beverage section but still no sign.

Just checked my invoice. We've paid $7,186 for 2 inside cabins on deck 7, for 2 adults and 2 children, which at the current rate is £4740. This includes gratuities but no drinks.

We went for the 2 cabins as the 3rd & 4th person fees were the same as one cabin. I looked at balcony cabins but couldn't work the same deal.

In comparison this is a similar price to a package holiday in Majorca.

Why is the same post appearing 3 times from different user names?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

We just paid $309 for our pre package photo cd on oasis last week, but we prepaid for it before boarding so it was a little cheaper. We also paid for prints for an extra $75 before boarding. so our sailing on Oasis was a total of $385 for cd and all prints, but we had two cabins so it was worth it.

 

Just make sure if you pay for prints you check that they are all actually printed prior to disembarking the ship, because you will not get them afterwards. I was missing 60 prints:eek:

 

My kids took a lot of photos, I believe our photo total was 344 pics!

Was this for 2 weeks? I'm sure we'll take the photo package just trying to avoid any nasty surprises.

Brian

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

I suppose it's all relative to the base price paid, after we booked RCL increased the onboard credits so our agent tried rebooking our cruise, but the overall price was more.

Brian

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

Does anyone know if they plan to do Dynamic dining after the refit next year on Explorer?

What's Dynamic Dining? We've booked My Time dining rather than set times.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

Each to their own, you pay your money and takes your choice.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

On one recent occasion I found it far cheaper to park at Southampton Airport - even taking into account the cost of a taxi both ways.

 

As I was driving from the north, the total journey time was similar because my journey took me fairly close to the airport.

Liked this idea as we usually pay about £50 for airport meet 'n greet at Manchester Airport but cruise terminal is £97 for the same duration. Southampton airport is £82, so similar with taxis.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

We have used parking4cruises. You meet the guy in the short stay car park opposite the terminal (having phoned about 1/2 previous to let them know how close you are). You take the cases (or even driver drops other off at the terminal with the cases for them to put through hole in the wall and then drives to short stay carpark) guy takes your keys .Car is taken to a secure area for duration.

On your return meet up with man in short stay car park ,take keys back ,put luggage in car and drive away. Cheaper than cps.

This sounds ideal for us, we've used airport meet n greet before and it works well. We're travelling from Preston to relatives in Surrey on Saturday, then onto Southampton Sunday morning. No need for a hotel, but do like not having to wait for a shuttle, hopefully!

Thanks

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

Were not regular cruisers and this is the first with the kids, so I anticipate wanting lots of formal pictures. An unlimited photo package seems the best option.

I've seen a few prices mentioned in previous posts, do prices vary on cruise length or location? We're on a med cruise for 14 nights if that makes a difference.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

We're in 2 cabins, but one family, 2a,2c. Can I still have one photo package?

"Prior to Explorer of the Seas' arrival in Southampton, she will undergo a ship-wide revitalization that will refurbish much of the ship. This refurbishment will be similar to other refurbishments that have been taking place across Royal Caribbean's fleet."

We're on EOS from Southampton in August 2015 therefore interested in the refurbishment. Can anyone expand on "similar to other refurbishments" as this is our fist RCCL cruise.

Thanks for the cruise review. Always good to read a positive review.

We're on Explorer OTS Aug 2015 in the Med, so good to hear that you can DIY shore excursions.

Thanks

The soda package for kids is even lower in cost--maybe $4.50/day?

Are you on a ship that has Freestyle soda machines?

If so, the only thing one needs to operate the machine is the mug with the RFID chip that comes with the $20 Royal Replenish. If you don't drink much soda (and I assume your kids don't drink much coffee), you COULD, rightly or wrongly, just hand over the mugs that will come with your package to your kids. The machines don't ask to see your seapass.

I'd spotted the soda only option, should have called it Royal Refreshment, but thanks anyway.

We're on Explorer OTS, which is having a refit before we sail so not sure if it will have Freestyle soda machines.

What I was really asking was do people share drinks on the adult packages, alcoholic or non-alcoholic. I'm not trying to cheat the system, well not too much, just DW likes the odd drink but not every day.

Looking at the non-alcoholic drinks, can I assume that we still get coffee and orange juice at breakfast and dinner, for free, and water for that matter?

Trying to decide what drinks package if any would suit us, we're a family of 2 A, 2C. Evenings for us will be taking in the shows after dinner, so a few drinks of wine with dinner and another one or two afterwards.

We do enjoy our specialty coffees during the day and lots of sodas, so the RR package seems best. I can't see us making use of the difference between the RR and the Ultimate. May opt for the RR and some wine bottles.

Kids will no doubt have the Royal Replenish sodas.

I know that sharing isn't allowed, but what are the rules on ordering another drink on the same card shortly after ordering the first one?

We're on a 14 night cruise so packages quickly add up.

We've booked for Explorer in Aug 2015, 14 day Med from Southampton.

I didn't know about the refit until after I'd booked, so an extra bonus.