Calgon1

So, I take it the next Behemoth OTS will take Oasis' berth in FLL?

Any pronouncements on where Oasis IV will go? Also to Canaveral? England? Mediterranean? Los Angeles?

A few years ago, we learned a new "trick".

We were at a table for six. That first night, when desert time came around, we were all discussing our options. It was the regular, "Oh I don't know"; "There are so many"; "I can't decide"; "They all sound so good"; etc.. One of the ladies asked our waiter to just bring one of each and a lot of extra spoons. When he delivered the order, we each took one, tried a sample bite (or two), and passed to the right. Once we had all sampleed each one, we knew what we wanted, and what we didn't. Then, we placed our "real" order(s).

As the primary seaport for Rome, Civitavecchia has trains that frequently take commuters and cruisers to and from the city. Commuter trains take about 80-90 minutes between stations. With fairly-early departures, the service makes effective day-trips possible, though rush-hour times find them rather full.

Tickets cost about 4.5 euros each way. Or you can purchase round trip B.I.R.G. tickets for roughly twice that.

Cruisers are usually provided shuttles from their ship to and from the port pedestrian entrance. From there, you'll find the train station about a 10 minute walk along the seashore.

Take care with your belongings... Thieves like to grab items and jump off trains just as the doors close.

Your TA works for you. That's her job.

Definitely prefer traditional (set time/table) dining. Always have the option to skip and elect My Time to accommodate late shorex, conflict with a show, etc.

Military, Police, Fire and EMS - First Responders

Hospital staff - First Recievers

The "powers - that - be" (corporate boards) elected to market to the ones who go into harm's way.

Plus, by and large, the First Responders are compensated way below the First Recievers ...

Originally Posted by lewinr

Please accept my feedback regarding our recent cruise (Jewel of the Seas, Dec 27). I am sending this to the executive office as it is not a “customer service failure” but a strategic question of the relationship between RCCL, your TAs and your mutual customers.

You distinctly stated, "your TAs"

Originally Posted by lewinr

You think that's the outcome that RCCL wants to have resulting from their customers working with their agents?[/color][/i]

The way you worded this sentence identifies:

1) You (us) as RCCLs customers. You are the TA's customer.

2) "their agents" implies the relationship is to "RCCL".

Originally Posted by lewinr

I am suggesting to RC that they change their policy to help their passengers, themselves and even their TAs

ibid.

And yet again . . .

Originally Posted by lewinr

Where did I state this even once, nevermind repeatedly?

Obviously the TA is not an employee of RCCL.

However TAs do in some ways represent the cruise line, because (as far as know) they should have an agreement with the cruise line to act as their agent. If a cruise line has poor agents working for them, they will have more problems and it will reflect poorly on the cruise line. I believe that the cruise line understands that it is in their interest to have competent, honest and reliable TAs working as their agents.

Also, Travelocity and Orbitz.

You can also write your blog, post, e-mail on your laptop without being connected. Then, when in a port, find a location with wifi (Internet cafe, $tarbuck$, library, etc.), connect, upload, check mail, etc.

OK folks ....

1) The OP has repeatedly stated that he/she believes the TA to be an employee/representative of RCCL (note: it's RCI. Has been for years.) Sorry lewinr, but the TA is not an employee of RCI.

2) The TA is your, the cruise passenger's, employee. When you use a TA, you are hiring them to represent you in negoiations with the cruise line.

3) If you have hired a TA, and then are are contacting the cruise line directly, there is too much of an opportunity for quid pro quo disconnects. Think about it for a moment. If you are the cruise line, to whom do you listen? To the person you hired to represent you, or to you (that person's customer)?

4) The only things the cruise line is obligated to provide you are those items, goods and services identified in your cruise contract. And, that is readily available to you before booking. If you chose not to read/understand it, then don't blame the cruise line.

5) If your TA promises you this perk, or that upgrade, etc., then they (not the cruise line) are making that promise. Any failure to receive what you were promised is their fault and your issue is with them. not the cruise line. If your TA made those promeise in writing, then you have a valid claim (tort) and the option to take legal action (against the TA) is available to you.

Oh? You didn't get it in writing? Well then, just consider it another cruise . . . Up $#!T Creek . . . without a paddle.

Please don't get me wrong. I do feel your pain. I have had the distinct displeasure of having dealt with (translates to: "hired") TAs who were "less than" competent. Far too many are not really "agents" who are going to work on your behalf. Rather, they are salesmen for a store (using the title of "agency") and are more interested in selling you a product, and getting their commissioin/paycheck.

My suggestion: Either do without a salesman (masquerading as a TA) and handle your booking directly with the cruise line . . . or . . . Find a true TA, who will work on your behalf and fulfill their promises.

"OK Calgon, how do I find a real TA, as opposed to what you call a salesman?"

Easy - Peasy . . . Go to http://www.cruising.org/ CLIA, the Cruise Line International Association has established KSA (knowledge, skills and ability) standards for certification of a Cruise Counselor. They also provide you, the potential client, with a means to locate a CLIA accredited, master, elite or scholar counselor.

=10&zip[country]=us"]http://www.cruising.org/vacation/agencyfinder?&zip[search_distance]=10&zip[country]=us

alaska!!!!

I was just a kid when we sailed from Seattle to Yokohama in 1952 on the "Simon B. Buckner," a military transport ship. There was a huge crowd at the pier with streamers going back and forth. I was so excited about it all.

Thanks for the memories....:)

My first "cruise" was on the Buckner also . . . 1953. Yokohama to Honolulu. I was three and the only thing I really remember was ice cream. Lots of ice cream!

What's a ' Ripple ' communicator? I prefer to keep kosher. Is there a Mad Dog 20/20 available? :D

RCI - Theme Park at sea

CCL - Party Barge

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What I think is marvelous, you may abhor. What I think is unbearable, you may enjoy.

You'll never know till you try.

Go for it !!!

Calgon1, Please change your font and colour. I almost had a seizure reading it!:eek:

 

That combo is a Pandora's box.

Whoops. Sorry 'bout that (that is the Canuk way of saying that, isn't it?). Just mark it up to my insanity . . . :o

Your cruise cost just went up $500 per person . . . .

 

reaction?

No Cap'n. It won't.

Has the cost of a cruise gone up by $500 because there are dedicated security officers on the ships? If so, please explain cruises costing less than $500 per person, per week.

Based on an "average ship" (can we agree that 2,000 passengers a good working number?) . . . $1,000,000 per week, per ship to hire lifeguards? :eek:

Using that figure and applying it to the Behemoths of the Seas (Oasis & Allure), with 24 pools/hot tubs, that would break down to $1,736.11 per pool, per hour, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. :rolleyes:

If so, I'm a CPR/EMT/Lifeguard . . . I want piece of that action! :D

Yes.

And, not just because of the risk to children, but also to adults.

Having a trained/certified responder present is not a guarantee that an event will never happen, they may be the difference between an incident of risky behavior and a terrible tragedy.

Whether an attendant is, or is not present, the final responsibility for safety falls on each person or to their parent/guardian, for those incapable of exercising judgement.

She left port pretty much on time, headed for Labadee. But, now she's on a heading of 270 and headed back toward the channel.

We are considering a 7 day Caribbean cruise for a class reunion. We are looking for Spring 2016. For a large group and some people from far away we obviously can not book any last minute deal. I understand that most wave season (Jan-Mar) sales are also only covering saling by the end of 2015.

 

Based on your experience when would be the best time to book the cruise and get reasonable price (deal) for Spring 2016?

 

Thanks very much for your help!

Unless you are an experienced TA, or a world class masochist, I STRONGLY recommend you contact a CLIA certified TA - ( http://www.cruising.org/vacation/welcome ) who handles group bookings.

Doing your own booking can be complicated enough. Handling the booking for a family group (12 people in four cabins) is a true challenge. Setting up and coordinating a group cruise can easily end in multiple disasters.

A certified TA, can easily handle multiple bookings and possible ground and/or air transportation, hotels, insurance, cabin changes, visas (if necessary) price and/or cabin changes and a host of other factors which can easily come back to bite you in the fanny. Plus, there are some individual and group perks above and beyond what the cruise line may offer you, that a TA can arrange (adjacent cabin locations, on-board credits, group photos, wine, flowers, special celerations, etc.). In addition, if you're the "bird-dog" (the one bringing the business to the TA), you may be able to get your cabin with a significant reduction, or even for free :eek: !!

Think about it for a minute . . . Do you gather/hunt/grow, butcher and prepare all your foods? Do you self-insure? Solely manage your financial invewstments? Represent yourself in court? Preform your own surguries? Well, maybe for one or two of those, but the odds are that you go to a professional for many of your needs. A cruise should be no different. A TA is not just someone who sells travel packages. He/she works as YOUR representative to ensure you get what you want with the least adverse impact.

You'll get all sorts of opinions here. Some love the Eastern and hate the Western, and vice versa. Others will tout the Southern. Everyone has their favorites. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so are cruises. If an itinerary was horrible, for everyone, it wouldn't exist, or have repeat cruisers.

I would suggest you try every itinerary. That's the only way you'll truly know what works for you.

Looking at the Solarium area, it appears that there will be a major expansion. On Oasis and Allure the glass roof is composed of three wind deflector panels. The rendering above shows five. Has anyone heard/read anything on this?

Would also LOVE to see a private, suite only, sunbathing deck on top of the crown. With two sides, they could even have one side "adult" (nude or topless) only. And (of course) yet another bar between the stacks.

Oh yeah. That makes sense. "Smuggle" $4.50 beers off the ship, in your backpack (where they'll get warm, if not hot), into a town where you can buy ice cold beers, just about on demand, for a buck or so . . .

We're booked on the Oasis for next November, for a family cruise with DS and DD and their families. They've never experienced "traditional", so they'll have nothing to compare DD to. Regardless of whether it is better or worse, I'm sure the kidlets and grand-kidlets will have the time of their lives.

We've done Anytime/As You Wish/My Time/Freestyle and a couple others. While we do like the ability to dine when you want, we really like having "our table and our waiter". With traditional dining, you are not locked in. You can always opt out and hit an alternative venue, or even the traditional at a different time if circumstances change. I don't know if I really need 2 dozen options and 20 different times and prices.

So, after this cruise, we'll probably return to Holland America, with an occasional foray to Princess.

Is this document allowed? Can I use that document? Certified ? Notarized ? etc. etc. etc.

The bottom line . . . For the price of a couple of nice dinners . . . A passport ALWAYS works!

1) Welcome aboard!

2) There is no such thing as a dumb question. For every question you put forth, there are dozens of lurkers out there who have the same question, but lack the courage to ask. Besides, it gives those of us (who think we know EVERYTHING) a chance to show off!

3) What to do in your ports-of-call are gong to be many and varied. The deciding factor will be what trips your trigger(s). One thing SunFlower ("She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed) and I do is look at the offerings separately and pick our favorites. Then, we compare notes and begin the 'cussin' 'n' discussin'. On occasion, if we really have our hearts set on something, we tour independently. That way, we have more to discuss over dinner.

4) Would also recommend you go to the Roll Call for your sailing.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1880610

Meet the rest of your 'Crew'. Odds are that you'll find a few kindred souls and possibly a shopping/touring buddy, or two, or three . . .