CruisingHusker

We will be doing Uber going forward as we had a bad experience with a taxi from the ship to FLL airport last Saturday. We got in the taxi and realized halfway there that the meter wasn’t running. We got to the airport and my husband wanted to pay by credit card and he said the machine was broken. He then said the meter was broken too and told us $20 (which I know was too much from previous experience). Luckily, I had just enough cash. As I was paying him my husband called the taxi company to complain. They told us that was not one of theirs even though their name was plastered on the side. He must’ve bought one of their old taxis but wasn’t a legit taxi driver. I will be ubering from now on.

I am not getting near the deals I used to since they changed the program. I used to get 25-30% off but yesterday they offered me a 5% discount for a casino rate. They won’t allow you to use the certificates earned on a cruise in conjunction with the casino rate. It was a better deal for me to pay regular price and apply certificates from my husband and myself that we just got on the Harmony. Unless you’re a big spender things are changing. I am not happy with the changes and I won’t be cruising as much as I have been. I’d like to point out that I’ve spent more than I ever have the last couple of cruises and I’m still offered a measly 5% off.

I’ll be on this sailing with you! Hoping for good weather! ☀️

I keep mine on a lanyard that has a sleeve and there is a spot to just tap the machine to keep track of your points. Just make sure you are still signed in occasionally as I was kicked off a couple of times.

My best deal is for Harmony October 13, 2018. Two bedroom aqua theater suite on deck 8 (the largest of the aqua theater suites) for 4 $8005. It was a casino rate before they changed the program. My discounts are not looking anything like that now so this will probably be my one and only time with Star Class. I’m going to take full advantage of it!!

As someone who has never complained to Royal Caribbean about my frustrations with the casino program the last few years, I just fired off an email to Mr. Bayley and Club Royale. I have never sailed on Carnival but if this issue cannot get fixed I am done pouring my money into RC. I don't understand why they can't get it together. Ridiculous. :mad:

Conclusion—Based on our experiences, I expect that we will sail Sky Class on our next cruise. That limits is to Oasis and Quantum Class ships. We really like the Freedom’s Southern Caribbean itinerary so we have some thinking to do.

 

This concludes my thoughts. Sorry for the many typos that I’m sure that I made.

 

I have not received many questions so feel free to ask anything that you want.

 

Happy Sailing.

 

 

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Thanks for the review! I will be sailing star class for the first time in October on Harmony. The only question I can think of is: Did you have any food delivered to your cabin from the specialty restaurants? If so, how much did you tip whoever delivered it?

Thanks!

We were in Costa Maya in October and definitely needed bug spray. The mosquitoes were huge.

I called on Monday to inquire about upgrading my stateroom on my upcoming sailing. I waited for over an hour for a 3 minute call. Also, the casino rate discount they are offering me on future sailings isn’t anywhere close to what I have been getting the last couple of years. I don’t know if it’s the changing program or what but I will not be sailing very much if I don’t get a decent discount.

I would email the concierge a couple of months prior to the cruise. The over the water cabanas (and other barefoot cabanas) are offered to star class first and then sky class has access to any that are left. We are on this cruise with you if you are sailing on the Harmony!

We did this excursion last October. The ferry is very close to the ship. I’m pretty sure you can’t take the ferry on your own. They walk you as a group from the ship. The excursion itself was a blast. We loved the sea lions! The pictures are a little pricey but totally worth it. After the excursion you can stay at the beach that is there if you want. They will tell you the different times that the ferry will pick you up.

Thank you! I just booked 9408. I’m sure we’ll love it.

I am looking to book a 2 bedroom grand suite (formerly Royal Family Suite) on the Independence of the seas for spring break 2019. There are staterooms available on decks 6,8 and 9. Which deck is best? It’s been awhile since I’ve sailed on Indy.

Thank you! This is very helpful! Did you use the concierge service at all? I'm new to "the suite life" :'):')(ha!), and was wondering if this service was worthwhile?

The only thing I used the concierge for was booking a cabana in Labadee. I know some people use them a lot for a variety of things. Welcome to the suite life! I am warning you though that it is really hard to go back to a non suite cabin. I love not having to book the shows and my favorite part is being escorted off the ship straight to customs when disembarking.

I have stayed in 12648 on the Allure. The door from the master does not open to the balcony in this one but it does in the one you're booked in. There was a table with 6 chairs along with 2 loungers and a small table on the balcony, if I am remembering correctly. There is also a hot tub on the balcony. It takes a long time to fill it up so we didn't use it very much. We really enjoyed this room. It is so nice to have the extra space and 2 bathrooms.

I was just looking at my cruise planner for Harmony in October. The over the water cabanas at Nellie's beach are priced at $579. Seriously? I thought $499 was pricey.

We did one of the excursions through Royal. It was a bus tour. They stored our luggage in the bus and dropped us off at the airport. It was very reasonable and I would do it again. Just make sure you choose your correct airport when booking.

I am booked on the 3/31/18 sailing of the Harmony OTS in an owner's suite. I started in a balcony and then moved to a Grand Suite and currently in an Owner's Suite. There is only my wife, 16 year old son and me in the suite.

 

A Royal Family Balcony Suite just opened up for about $1,000 cheaper. Since we are past the final payment date, I assume that I can't change cabins and get the lower price. But should I consider changing suites?

 

The total size of the suites and balconies look similar although different layouts.'

 

Thanks for your help. I have never sailed in a suite before hence the questions.

We love the Royal Family Suites. Your son would get his own room with a door for privacy plus an additional bathroom. I think the balconies are the same size as the Owner's suite or pretty close- we usually have 2 loungers and a dining table with chairs and plenty of extra room.

I booked one of these “free” cruises last night. Usually my offers are for the smaller ships with shorter itineraries but I happened to get one for Harmony, which I haven’t been on yet so I jumped at the chance. All I paid was $200 for port taxes and fees for my husband and I. We did spend enough in the casino to cover this cruise on our last trip but the discounts I receive are so good I get my money back that way (mostly). We have started sailing in suites with our kids because of the discount. I wouldn’t spend the money on a suite otherwise. My free cruise is not in a suite ( ocean view) but I will enjoy it - with no kids!

now that you have been in both...do you have a preference? the extra bedroom seems a bit wider in the deck 9 version. The deck 12 version doesn't look bigger than the bed

 

thanks for taking the time to check in :)

I would stay in either one of them again. They’re both great. I think I prefer Deck 9 though because I like being closer to Central Park. I also liked a little more space in the living room area. We felt like our closet in the master was squeaky in 12648 and it didn’t have a sliding door that opened to the balcony from the master like the other RFS. Not having a hot tub also gave us a lot more space on the balcony and the deck 9 balcony had built in binoculars. I hope that helps.

I am on the Allure right now in 9244. The living room is more spacious than 12648 but the bedrooms are about the same size and the balcony seems bigger without the hot tub. Also, there are 2 Pullman’s above the twin beds in the guest bedroom. It was just the 2 twin beds in 12648.

We were in RFS 12648 on the Allure last year. There is a tv in the 2nd bedroom. The space is fantastic. We only used the hot tub a couple of times because it takes so long to fill it up. We are staying in a RFS on the 9th floor on the Allure starting Sunday. I’ll be curious to see if there’s a difference.