ADS94

This is a really clever marketing aspect for them. Now with a massive water park, they can better push those 3 and 4 night cruises out of southern Florida that stop at Nassau and Coco Cay. Casino for the adults in Nassau and water park for the kids in Coco Cay. This would make sense with them manoeuvering a ship like the Mariner OTS to bring more people to the 3/4 night spurts. Wouldn't be surprised if they stick an Oasis-class ship on this route once this is all finished and try and maximise profits that way.

Patrick, who was great.

 

But, you are unintentionally bringing up a sore subject. I WAS there in time for bus #1, but I was traveling solo and they took a couple ahead of me.

 

So, that would mean that I was first in line for bus #2. But, as we were lining up, the guide pulled me out and brought me to the final bus #4 because they miscounted.

 

So, after I was waiting for almost an hour, I finally left on Patrick's bus and he was very good. It was not a good start to an otherwise wonderful tour.

 

 

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I remember that. I am not sure which bus I was on (#1 or #2 - I believe #1, Silvia's group), I felt like that whole ordeal was a mess. They kept us waiting for a long period of time under that large tiki hut, and several members of our group didn't have tags with the tour guide's name on them.

From what I heard a few people missed out on the drinks at Margaritaville because of it.

Have my two for 2018. Looking for my two for 2019 now.

Funny, just found this thread now. I was just on this cruise as well, surprised I wasn't in one of the shots of the sailaway going under the bridge in Tampa, I was up there as well. Who was your tour guide for the Mayan ruins? Almost looks like we were on the same tour bus.

Any port in Jamaica. St. Maarten as well. Just been there too many times.

I have 120 points right now as Diamond. My plan is to get to Diamond+ next year, should have enough booked right now in order to get there... might need to book another cruise just to be sure. I've been on all of my cruises and did not inherit anything from my parents. My goal is to get to Pinnacle before I am 40.

I am currently 22.

All GS are booked on all three. I wonder how many are just being held and will be released just before final payment?:mad::mad:

Empress does not have any GS... only JS, OS, and one RS

Just booked the May 20th sailing (My BIRTHDAY!) I am SO excited!

Only problem I've ever had is with my upcoming Anthem cruise... All emails sent to me go to one of the people in my stateroom who I am bringing along... they are PAX 3, never been on a ship before but all emails are addressed to him, despite me being PAX 1 and Diamond... Always found it very irritating.

Thanks for the responses so far folks.

Here is the link for the list:

http://www.cruisingpoweruk.co.uk/uploads/news-product_19_256722736.pdf

Great, thanks! That's actually very helpful for us. Will pass it along to them.

I figured I would give this a shot here. I'm a teatottler, so never paid any attention to the liquor while on the ships, and have never been on the Anthem. However, in January I'm bringing two friends of mine with me on the Anthem, one of whom likes a specific Vodka called "Viniq" some sparkly drink. Can't say I've ever heard of it or ever noticed it, and was wondering if the Anthem had any onboard from those who have went. I was hoping there was a list of the ones available or any indication of its on there. Thanks.

I found the VOOM WiFi to be shoddy in my cabin. Nonexistant on the balcony. Theodora Suite, 9184. Don't know if that's any help

I still do not understand the Anthem's dining situation... I feel when I am on it in January I will just use the windjammer out of confusion.

Price shows $43 for me + taxes and fees, but when going to the final checkout, shoots up to $910.

My guess is that Royal IT hit the button too quickly on making it live. Or maybe we are going to hear some news today...

Knowing Royal IT, it is the former.

Disregarding Christmas and New Years, prices seem steep for other sailings. I love the Empress, but am not willing to pay almost another cruise more to move from a JS on the Anthem to what is essentially a D1 on the Empress.

Are you going to book?

 

 

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If the price is right. Even if it wasn't, I might swap my Anthem booking to the Christmas cruise. My biggest problem with the Empress was the limited itinerary and the short cruise length. These Yucatan cruises are just what I was looking for in other sailings too.

Just got off the phone with Royal... it's in the system, no word on when you can book them. Was told on a "day by day basis"

Yucatan voyages certainly have my attention.

RCL transfer (coach buses) from port to IAH = $49 per person.

Thanks. That's a good hard number to work with.

I too like the Serenade itinerary better but I have hi-lighted what you have posted to us to help you as I feel you needed to point out certain important criteria for yourself to help us understand your decision making?

• 14 days vs. 12,
  
• aft JS (with double points) vs. balcony,
  
• you don't care about the ports,
  
• you already like Vision Class better than Radiance Class.
  

Who cares that Galveston transfer may be 1/2 hour longer and $25 more than Ft Lauderdale.... how about the previous 14 days on Vision in that aft JS? :)

I think your answer is clear actually... do the Vision cruise.

 

Whichever you choose, have a great cruise!

Vision remodeled in 2013... pictures with short ship tour here (also aft JS pictures):

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1973232

Thanks for the link! Balcony looks pretty good, not the one that is open, sadly. I had aft JS on the Grandeur and I loved it, might have spoiled myself too much... haven't had a normal balcony in years! I actually forego Grand Suites and Owners because they aren't on the aft.

The Vision looks great. I'd like to hear if anyone has information on the Serenade and that itinerary before I make a final choice. Might just have to put a hold in on the JS before anyone else comes by and swoops in...

Smoking should be banned from all ships. If not, then in an area not frequented by normal pass-thru or locations on the ships. Not next to a pool. Smoke and come back...

Smoking should be limited to the lower muster station deck. It has no place by the pool or the jogging tracks. There is ample space on those decks down there to smoke, and it is much less frequented on all ships. I've barely seen a soul down there at any hours when I walk. Mostly crew and smokers.

Yes, the transfers tend to be more expensive than a similar Florida port (distance to airport), such as Port Canaveral. I believe taxi runs about $100 to HOU. I'd also check with Galveston Express. They have gotten some postive reviews on the Gulf Coast Departures forum.

Thanks, I'll put some research into it to see what I can find

You will find that Galveston is one of the least convenient cruise ports for fly-in travelers.

Does it work the same way in reverse? The Vision cruise would just me needing to get from the port to the airport to go back to New Jersey.

This would explain why all the cruises out of there are such good deals.

With regard to the flights from Galveston, you have a choice of Houston Hobby (HOU) and Bush Intercontinental (IAH). Hobby is much closer to the port, about 45 minutes, and has service mostly by Southwest. You will find flights to EWR from there, though I don't know about non-stops. IAH is much farther, at least 90 minutes will have flights by all the major airlines.

 

Transfers will be much more expensive than at Ft. Lauderdale.

Thanks. I did not know the airport was so far away. It would explain why "Galveston Airport" never showed up for me.

I am currently booked on the Liberty out of Galveston for next year and have found the ease of getting from airport to cruise port limited to either car rental for the week or shuttle which averages around $160 & up each way from IAH. We will be doing a car rental. We haven't been on a Vision Class but have been on the Serenade and love that class.

Don't think I can swing a car rental just to get from point a to point b sadly... That is rather expensive for a transfer :eek:

I'm trying to get together a list of pros and cons for two cruises I'm looking at. The first is a 14-Night repo on the Vision from Cape Liberty to Galveston. The second is the "Beantown & Beaches" on the Serenade from Boston.

The price is right for both of them, although I can comfortably afford a JS on the Vision, and a normal balcony on the Serenade.

The Vision-class ships are my second favourite after the Empress, although the Radiance-class ships come a close third.

What is around the port of Galveston? Is there an easy transfer to the airport? Do they offer direct flights to Newark? What are the prices like? I'd be driving to either Boston or Cape Liberty, so getting to an airport easily after the cruise is a must, and I know that Fort Lauderdale is very easy.

The ports are a non-issue. I've been to all of them.

I know the Vision was recently refurbished, did it bring her to the same level that the Grandeur and the Enchantment are on?

The Serenade... when was she last refurbished? I was last on her in 2009.

I've been leaning towards the Vision, especially with an aft JS still open, but there's a lot of uncertainty about it for me. But I personally like the Serenade's itinerary better. Has anyone done this itinerary before? I see it is offered in 2016 and 2017... was it offered in 2015? Can anyone comment on how it was?

Thanks for the help in advance.