SSBrickNJ

On 3/3/2024 at 9:58 AM, leaveitallbehind said:

Actually IMO things have come pretty much full circle.  Having cruised often pre and post pandemic, the industry went through significant changes recovering from the pandemic with the restart with numerous caveats and regulations.  But in the three years since, things have returned pretty much to the way they were the last time you cruised, albeit at higher market driven fares. (I realize the ships went through a lot of changes to become a safer health environment, etc., but the cruising atmosphere is IMO back to where it was with none of the restart restrictions).

 

I think one planning comment I would make would be with regards to your GTY booking in that the issued staterooms may not be near each other.  However, once issued you can move one or both to any available location within the same assigned category and subcategory to try to alleviate that.  Just contact RCCL if you booked directly or your travel agent if you used one to facilitate this.

 

The RCCL app also will allow you more flexibility in filling out the preboarding information, loading boarding passes on your phone, and checking in.  This process is simplified as a result.  You also will need to select check in times at the pier via the app, which will be available in 30 minute windows typically commencing at 11:00 up to 90 minutes before scheduled departure.  This IMO organizes the boarding process in a smoother flow.   

 

You can schedule certain shows (Broadway shows, Aqua Theater, Ice show, Comedy club) through the cruise planner and the app.  Specialty restaurant dining, and other packages (wifi) and activities can be scheduled and prepaid through the planner as well.

 

Other than that, I would suggest to just look forward to renewing your cruising and plan to enjoy yourself on your cruise.

 

 

 

 

Even though I'm not the OP, I wanted to take the time to say that I found this post to be very helpful!

22 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

When you board you can go to a dining pedestal and ask to change to any time dining and ask for a time where you eat at a set table, or anytime allows you to stand in line and eat when you are ready each  night. It's not as good as carnivals. Carnival you just push a button in the app and the computer matches you to a table whenever you want to eat. 

 

You cant have both early and anytime. One or thr other. If you have early someone said they were allowed to come up to 30 minutes later. If you are seated with others it can hold up the table ordering. I'd let the table know the night before if you will be late if you are early dining. So the waiter takes others orders and then when you arrive does yours. 

Your first sentence is what I did on Holland America Cruise Line....August 2023. I went up to the dining pedestal within the first 90 minutes I boarded on Day 1 and requested a table for 2 every night at 5:30pm. My request was granted.

3 hours ago, firefly333 said:

My time is anytime you want to eat. It's not a set time. 3 options. Early late and my time dining. 

 

Early dining usually 5 pm is a set time. They been clearing them out and seating anytime dining in between settings. You aren't both early dining and mytime.

 I think I understand your explanation...but I admit that I don't know for sure my status. I can ask Costco Travel(I booked with them) to explain this to me. Yet I assume from your explanation that I am "Early Dining" at 5pm because that what I remember choosing on my device's screen. Unlike booking in person with a Travel Agent or over the phone in a conversation...I was booking on line and it SEEMED to me that I only had two choices using the Costco Travel software...5pm or 6:45pm

So....what IS "My Time Dining"? Can I switch to that IF it allows me to dine at 5:30pm or 5:45pm?

1 minute ago, firefly333 said:

You said you selected MY TIME 5 pm. Either it's a set time or its anytime dining, not both.

 

I go to the buffet the nights I dont want to eat at the set time. It opens at 6 pm

Yes, if memory serves me right, I was offered "My Time Dining" in which there were only two options..an early seating ( 5 pm ) and a later seating ( I think was 6:45pm ) We certainly don't want 6:45pm because we want to be going to entertainment venues...selecting our seats around 7:45pm. So 5pm My Time Dining is a large block of guests all hitting the MDR all at once...correct? If I am included in that 5pm list of people...but...my wife and I show up at 5:30pm...what will happen?

My wife and I have recently booked a 7 night cruise out of Miami for Dec 22nd - Dec 29th 2024. To keep costs down I selected an Inner Stateroom on Deck 8 that should be a "quiet room". It has a stateroom above and below it ( Decks 7 & 9 ). I had been pursing Wonder of the Seas for these dates but then I came to the conclusion those two ships had these things in common: The Boardwalk, a Central Park, and a reputation for great entertainment and even parades. I booked with COSTCO  Travel. For some reason the price was $147 less than my AAA Travel agent quoted. Additionally, 10 to 14 days after our cruise ends, Costco will give us a $200 plus ( I forget the exact amount) digital card ...like a gift card...free money to spend at Costco was a nice perk for booking with them. So here come my questions....1) I selected the 5pm My Time Dining for my wife and I. Yet truthfully when we are on a NON "At Sea Day" we will not want to arrive to the MDR until 5:45pm. Upon boarding on Day One, do you think I could approach MDR front podium staff and request a table for two for 5:45pm for the entire cruise. Same table...same servers...5:45pm all 7 nights. Might they put that in place for me if I ask nicely? #2  We will want to see the main theater show, the ice skating show and the aqua show. Since we will be on a Dec 22nd cruise, at what point do I start to reserve those? I am told I need to reserve my entertainment.  I have never done that but I assume I would accomplish that on the app? Thanks for taking the time to read this and for helping me. Steve ( from NJ )

40 minutes ago, jean87510 said:

So basically you want people on here to do the work for you.  If you venmo me, I will gladly help.  Otherwise, sorry, I don't want to waste my time planning your vacation.  If this comes off a bit harsh, so be it.  This information is on the website and I see no need for me personally as well as others cutting and pasting info on here so you can just peruse at your leisure.

I never asked YOU to do anything.

SOME people LIKE to help others. My original OP was aimed at those type of people. the rest of you should simply not waste your time on me.

As I explained earlier in the thread....I personally help others on Tripadvisor all the time. I provide others with info they could find themselves....but when they come back to thread and say "thank you" it brings me satisfaction.

By the way...

This thread can be done....and I basically said that in my Post #35

In conclusion...

I did thank those who participated happily in the thread and I regret I took up the time of those who chose to post in an unhappy manner. 

O...one more thing....

My wife is inching closer toward agreeing to cruising out of Cape Canaveral on the Wonder of the Seas.

Someone helped me to discover that and I bet it brings them some satisfaction that I appreciate them. I really am thankful 🙂

No one needs to help me find a cruise anymore. Thank you to the nice folks who have taken the time to provide me additional options. I personally have decided on Wonder of the Seas out of Port Canaveral.  My wife is not ready to say "yes" just yet. She admits it seems like a good idea...but she is not ready.

Does Wonder of the Seas have karaoke?

RCI in general has now brought back karaoke?....or since Covid it has not yet returned?

6 hours ago, SG65CB said:

 

I work in IT and have developed websites but only recently figured out you can search on the website for specific dates and not just full months at a time. I don't think it's related to how familiar anyone is with computers, the functionality is not obvious. 

That makes sense. The person you quoted was being a bit rough on me.

Yet the overall point some people were making was I should have invested more time myself rather than posting a thread asking for help.

Some people ENJOY helping though. 

I do as well enjoy helping others.

On Tripadvisor forums I help people all the time!

People ask questions in which the answers would have been achievable on Google...but I don't say that. I simply provide them the answer they were seeking.

If I help someone and they come back to the thread and say "Thank you"...I get satisfaction from that.

Here's an example...

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g659474-i11672-k14647741-5_nights_Jersey_Shore_family_two_teens_19_and_17-Jersey_Shore_New_Jersey.html#119810756

21 minutes ago, SSBrickNJ said:

I have not booked the cruise yet.......but just in case we do....I HAVE just now booked our pre cruise hotel.

Country Inn and Suites by Radisson Cocoa Beach FL

 I wanted to edit my post but it's too late. The hotel is in Cape Canaveral....not Cocoa Beach.

I have not booked the cruise yet.......but just in case we do....I HAVE just now booked our pre cruise hotel.

Country Inn and Suites by Radisson Cocoa Beach FL

28 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

Well idk I suggested it. I booked it with friends, but it's not cheap. It's the  newest oasis class out right now. Icon just started about a week ago, it's a new class, wonder is the newest oasis class. I am booked but just saying price reflects the newness of wonder. Utopia isnt out yet, but will be the last oasis class. I hope its nice,  I'm booked feb 2025 on wonder, ..I'm booked on adventure b2b over xmas 2024. Eastern and then xmas. But it leaves the wrong day.

 

I got most of them out of florida booked lol, but havent done wonder yet, feb 2025. But its booked. 

Our last 4 cruises we have opted for the inner stateroom and this Port Canaveral Cruise might be an inner stateroom as well. It fits our schedule and we will surely consider it 😉

@firefly333 this is the ship for your suggested cruise Dec. 22 - Dec. 29th out of Port Canaveral...correct? 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/cruise/royal-caribbean/wonder-of-the-seas

*
I'm excited for this possibility!

40 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

The 6 day oasis the oldest oasis class is the best priced out of ft Lauderdale. 

 

The only other I could find leaving dec 22 or 23 was wonder 7 day and wonder up until utopia has been the newest and priced accordingly high. I looked at my xmas adventure and it leave dec 21 so not the dates you requested.

 

Wonder 7 day is the only other choice I found 7 days from port Canaveral. Its eastern, my favorite. 

 

 

 

This is great! Thank you so much! 

40 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

If there are mone out of miami matching your criteria except that 4 day showing on their site, a TA cant find one either. 

 

Ft Lauderdale of port Canaveral meet your dates over xmas but not miami. 

Thank you. I am grateful for the feedback and I am open TO ANY FLORIDA CRUISE PORT...not just Miami.  🙂

24 minutes ago, Morecruisesplz said:

Sounds like you need a TA, they will do all the work for you while saving you some $s.

Yes...seems like that's true.

I am a 5th grade Band director who is perfectly capable of navigating many things on the web. I just didn't anticipate responses like yours and the other person. I have had many friendly threads here in the past. Sorry that you feel I didn't try or am incompetent.  I did enter filters but they are not as narrow as what I want. I had hoped for some friendly viewer of my thread to help out.

I struggled to get the very specific filters that I presented here. I am confident that with patience there will be people here that will drop me some links and suggestions. 

Hello!

We've been on Royal Caribbean in the past but not in the last 5 years. I'm a school teacher who has to time my cruise within the guidelines of the school calendar.

I've started a thread here for the purpose of requesting posters to suggest RCI cruises that #1 Depart Miami #2 Do not depart until at least 12/22/24....departing 12/23/24 would be ideal btw...and #3 the cruise must be back by 12/31/24.  5 day...6 day..7 day...8 day cruises are all fine. I'm grateful to learn of all possibilities that happen to fit within the calendar framework I've mentioned here.

Thanks in advance for any and all responses!

Steve from NJ

5 hours ago, Mary229 said:

If you are getting “unsolicited” emails from lines you have never sailed with, even if under the same corporation you need to check your profile settings on their website. Additionally when I have hit the unsubscribe button on lines I am no longer interested the emails quickly end. 
 

this is different than selling your demographic information.  Those are two separate enterprises.

Truthfully I am NOT getting emails from companies I've never reached out to.

I DID actually reach out to Princess a year ago. I ended up selecting HAL. I'm fine with receiving emails or postal mail. I created this thread because I was curious, not because I was inconvenienced.

Have a nice weekend everyone 🙂

11 hours ago, PigsCanFly said:

We have never sailed Princess, we have not sailed Carnival in 30+ years, and sail Holland America frequently.  As soon as we book a HAL cruise through a HAL casino offer, we get lots of HAL and Carnival emails, sometimes Princess.  We also frequently sail Royal with casino and crown & anchor  offers.  When we book we seem to get Celebrity emails and occasionally a Azamara email.

At least , in our case, I believe our status & casino play incites the interest from sister lines of HAL and Royal.

So thank you to EVERYONE who has participated in my thread.

I've chosen to quote @PigsCanFlybut I have read what everyone has said.

I've learned thru multiple people about the HAL-Carnival connection. Yes, Carnival is the one sending me the most postal mail. I've seen others reference PRINCESS. Yes, I'm getting emails from Princess.

I also get the occasional flyer from NCL, but that seems to be just a continuation in what they've done for years. No uptick there.

I'm getting more cruise solicitation mail than in the past. They want my future business.

I'm thinking since I took a cruise earlier this month that this is not a coincidence.

1) Has anyone else experienced an uptick in various Cruise Related Mail after returning from a cruise?

2) Does anyone know if certain cruise lines happen to all tap into a mailing list of potential clients?

In case anyone cares....it's me... the OP 

Anyway....I got my statement from HAL because someone answered my email and provided it to me there....provided me an attachment of my Final Onboard Bill.

I'm glad.

Carry on without me though.... 😉

6 minutes ago, richwmn said:

It takes a bit of time for the pdf to appear, and I believe 2 weeks is about the time frame.

OK.

Thanks for your time.

24 minutes ago, richwmn said:

If you log into your account on the Holland America website and go to Already Booked, then My Account, then My Cruise History you will find all your cruises. Each one will have a link to your final statement as a pdf. Click on that to view or download.

If you were on a linked BTB, the statement will be attached to the first of the linked cruises.

 

The approach you took in the previous response should work as well

So...I am coming back to report the final step is not available to me.

I've left the tab open though.

I went to "Already Booked"

I selected "My Account"

It's on the other tab that is open

The screen displays my one and only HAL cruise...which was earlier this month...Nieuw Statendam Aug. 2 - the 9th.

I personally do not see any link to my final statement.

Tapping on anything and everything on that page accomplishes nothing.