bryanjaync

Jade is returning from Europe in November, with the first stop on Miami (8am-5pm), then day at sea, then Tampa. Tampa is last port for the TA cruisers. Jade then starts 7 day Caribbean cruises from Tampa.

Can/do TA passengers disembark in Miami instead of the final stop Tampa? Does customs / inspection do their thing in Miami since it is the first US stop after being overseas?

We are on the first sailing from Tampa (11/13) of the Jade for the season, and curious.

If in a Penthouse (SF) on the Jade, do you get to have breakfast and lunch in Cagneys?

I booked a shore excursion online (sailing November 12) at the NCL site, but have decided on a different one. Trying to figure how i cancel an online booked shore excursion through the NCL site. Any help? Do i have to call ?

On the Zuiderdam, is there a no -fee sauna / steam ?

Trying to find the menus for the now fee-free Asian Fusion restaurants, in particular the Jade. But I guess they are all the same between ships. thanks.

Question: Sailing on Jade in November (yes, a long way off) out of Tampa. Taking my parents, 88 years old. On embarkation day, i would prefer to avoid the hectic buffet (a bit much for my folks). Is the dining room open or Blue Lagoon? Other options? thanks.

I like live theater, but CATS holds no interest for me. I almost booked Allure just for the different show (Mamma Mia). My issue with CATS on a cruise is this.....i want to have fun. I want to laugh, smile, and tap my foot to music. CATS just does not do that for me. On land, I like musical dramas (Les Miz, Phantom, Color Purple, etc,) but not at sea. If you love CATS or just want to try it, go have a good time and i wish you the best. Plenty of other choices on a ship of things for me to do.

I am hoping that some line scoops up 9 to 5 or Sister Act.

We took my parents on a RCI cruise a couple of years ago which stopped at Labadee. My Mom is 85 and cannot do much walking, so I was concerned about her time there and actually thought she would stay on ship. But she was interested in the craft shopping.....so off we go.

There were either pedaled rickshaws or she walked from the ship down the dock, i don't remember. But the cool thing was there were these wheelchairs with huge rubber wheels for the sand at the end of the dock. Now my mom has NEVER used a wheel chair, but i explained to get to the tram and shopping, it was use the chair or probably not get to the shopping area. Well, off she went in the chair and loved it. She had a great time shopping and used the chair coming back. ( i tipped the chair pusher about $5 each way, he was such a good sport about it all)

OP: I am looking at buying before the cruise a 3 or 4 night dining package for all four of us....and telling my folks it was a freebie from the TA.

Getting ready to pull the trigger and book today! Taking parents (88 years old) on Allure. Will do AnyTime Dining (all that is available). My Dad wears two hearing aids, and on some prior cruises he has problems with noise in the MDR. I guess we will be on the lowest level in the MDR since we are AnyTime dining, and I will ask for tables in quiet areas, but no guarantee of course.

Any thoughts on the noise level in the Allure's MDR, ground floor, and coping strategies for AnyTime dinners. Thanks.

For many reasons, I am booking a six night cruise on the Oasis vs. a 7 nights. Besides one night sleep and maybe gaining a couple LESS pounds, will i miss anything vs. a seven night? Less Ice shows? Less Aquatheater?

Anything come to mind that is omitted on a six night Oasis cruise?

I am booked on Oasis and actually looking at switching to Allure because Mamma Mia is so much MORE fun than Cats ! Sorry, the Cats may be quality show, but on vacation i want a more light and fun theater experience.

And i still think "Sister Act" should replace Cats

OP: I was going to buy it in advance, and just tell my parents it was a free perk from the TA. They appreciate buying for their cruise, but would throw a fit if they knew we were paying for the speciality restaurant for them (so easier just to say it was a freebie perk)

My understanding is that if you pre-cruise buy a dining package (looking at the three night one) for the Allure, that they assign the restaurant for the first night, but you get to chose a time. I am fine with that.

Question: I am buying for our cabin, and for another cabin (my elderly parents). Hate to see my 88 year old folks wandering about the huge ship the first night trying to find their way around without us ! How do i ensure that both cabins will be assigned together for the same time and THE SAME restaurant on the first night.

thanks.

OP: Our TA has a package, and some of the free perks involve Labadee, like a floating mat, Aqua Park, ride on the coaster, and $25 beverage package per cabin.

Does the private island/beach area (Labadee) serve Cokes in cans (or just fountain)?

If I buy a can of Coke at Labadee, but dont open it can I bring it back on ship?

Reason i ask, is we have a $25 beverage credit at Labadee.

On Oasis/Allure, any way to tell which cabins share the entrance alcoves?

Taking parents (88 years old) on cruise. On other lines we found sharing the alcove was really convenient to keep to on eye on them. I don't mean this is a bad way, but was just very easy to keep in touch.

Any way to tell in advance ?

First, thanks for all the help on the boards. Second, RCI does not make researching dining easy at all ! Just want to know what 1) restaurants are in the dining package for Oasis, 2) which restaurants are one set cover charge, 3) which restaurant are 'al la carte' pricing. From what i have read, if a prepaid dining package customer exceeds $30 at an al la carte restaurant, the customer must pay the overage.

From a earlier post about Oasis:

Chops $45

CP150 $45

Izumi Hibachi $35

Giovanni's $30

Solarium Bistro $25

So which are fixed and which is a la carte ? Are any other restaurants in the dining package for Oasis not listed above. Thanks. (Yes, i know the MDR is available at no charge too)

I have read boards and the RCI site, but still having problems wrapping my brain around Dining Packages

So for the Oasis, I can pre-order a 3 Dinner package for $80, and get 20% ($16) back as OBC.

But if, as one of my three dinners, I go to an 'al a carte' restaurant (not sure which those are on Oasis), it counts as one of my three, but i pay at the restaurant on seapass card, but I get a $30 OBC for dining there (I guess to help defray costs).

Is that right ?

Doing a six night cruise on Oasis in October 2016. We have done formal on other lines, and just over it, but want to follow the guidelines too.

Is the formal night policy enforced in other dining venues (Johnny Rockets or the Italian, Giovannis ?) on formal night ? Or is the buffet the only non-formal dinner option?

Is is okay to attend shows later in non-formal attire, we will probably be wearing polo shirts and long khaki pants. thanks.

I guess the rule about photography of shows does not apply to everyone.

Seems like Oasis has alcoves in the hallway for two cabins.....we are booked in 7300, and elderly parents in 7302....any chance these are in same alcove. Thanks.

Some line needs to snap up the musical "Sister Act".....fun, fast, and pre-sold title because of based on popular movie.

OP: The live shows in the Reflection were pretty bad with one notable exception. 1) A voice impersonator who was not even lounge Vegas quality, he opened with an Aaron Neville bit, followed by Bob Dylan/Sly Stallone. It was very very bad. 2) a music revue with the cirque de Soliel type performers. Nothing new here, and the vocals were not worthy of American Idol audition levels. 3) A Tribute to Frank Valli and 4 Season...GREAT. Proves you don't need lots of glitz and special effects, just good singers and good songs. 4) Some comedian, did not see.

generally, showtimes were 7pm and 9 pm.

OP: Post above is the seafood tower from the Porch. Sorry, not too computer-savvy about pics and uploads.