reedl

I wish I had known I could schedule the interview at an airport. When I applied for my TSA precheck, I explained to the interviewer that I wanted the GE, but didn't want to drive 2 hours each way to do the interview. She said many people in our area say the same thing and offered no suggestions even though I told her I had flights scheduled. Thanks for the info.

The only negative is that the timeframe to get an appointment is so long right now.

because some people work for a living?

I work for a living. I just add an extra day to my vacation. I just make sure to add an extra day on both ends of the cruise.

No one is ever going to say to themselves "I Wish I had taken less vacation time!" in their life.

I always use my weekends as days away. No reason to sit at home on a weekend if you can be sitting somewhere nice.

As to hotels, I typically use Hilton brand hotels, and can get a Hampton Inn for $100 in the cruise ports pretty much any time of the year.

My next cruise is 12 nights (approved months in advance). It leaves on a Sunday night and arrives back on Friday. Since it leaves from my home town Port (Boston), I can just have my DD drive us to the port. When we get to FLL, I will rent a car from Budget, and sightsee. We stay overnight near the airport and have a 9 AM flight back to Boston.

There is no roll call thread for that date yet. Why not create on in this board?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=457

You just Post a new message (like you did here) with the Date, and cruise type.

I prefer a very firm mattress. So I actually like the firm mattresses on the ships.

If they are too soft, I cannot sleep well.

I believe we were on that one too, it left from NYC, if I remember correctly and it was a fine cruise.

 

 

PS We are 32 and zero upgrades.

This one left from Boston on Aug 18, 2003

There was a medical emergency and we had to go directly towards Boston so that a passenger who was sick could be airlifted off the ship. We did 28 knots due west towards Boston. The Captain thanked all the crew for 'getting his 28 knots' that day. Then since it was a new ship we did a lot of crazy turns and figure eights, etc. Nothing that caused any tipping or the like, but changing direction constantly for example.

As to upgrades, everytime I see an 'upgrade fairy' thread, I do not believe them. She does not exist.

Another option depending on the time you are departing Miami is to rent a car at one of the car rental locations near the port (they have free shuttles to their office), and dropping it off at MIA.

That way you can sightsee, etc.

If it's a DEBIT card, it's the BANK that issues the "holds"...not RCI! The holds can last a week or so after your charges have been settled....it can totally mess with your spending ability!

 

If you were going to use a debit card, don't. Take CASH out of your account, and use that!

The way a card works (both debit and credit) is that the merchant (RCCL) gets an authorization (hold) for a specific amount. I do not remember what that amount is when you first board, but there is an authorization done to validate that there is sufficient credit available on the payment method.

Then when RCCL finalizes the transaction (In Credit card processing a term called 'Batching'), it will supply the authorization code and the actual amount that needs to be charged. When that happens, the hold is disposed of, and the actual amount supplied is charged. If the Batching is never done, the hold eventually goes away, but that typically takes a week.

I have my phone notify me for every authorization that occurs on all my cards. This way I can see what is being authorized in real time.

The difference is when using a credit card, it merely lowers your available credit, versus a debit card which lowers your available balance in the checking account. Since the holds stay around for typically a week, or until the transaction is 'batched', you will not have access to the money while the hold is active.

I never use a debit card for any purchase. With a credit card, if there is an errant charge, I dispute it and do not have to pay it. OTOH with a debit card, the money is gone until I work to get it back. I do not have the money.

...I never knew my career a few years ago working on credit card processing systems would come in handy. :)

I was on the Serenade back in 2003 for its first Revenue cruise which was a charter booked by National Leisure Group (Vacation Outlet). Before that was the same three night cruise to Halifax NS which was a invitation only cruise.

The staff, ship and everything else was incredible. It was our first cruise, and got us hooked on cruising.

I always rent a car before and after cruises. It is usually surprisingly affordable, and many times the same or less than the cruise line transfers.

That way I can see what I want to see and do what I want to do.

If you use Budget the Location code for the Miami Cruise port is P2F. You can return the car to the airport. Budget rental car has a shuttle that picks you up for free and brings you to the rental car location. I have used this before on my Majesty cruise a few years ago. It was great being able to see things instead of just sitting.

I checked on the day you are arriving (7 Jan 2017), an a full size car is around $80. You can go to a museum, a Mall, or even just drive around and see the sights.

Then drop it off at the airport.

On a four night cruise years ago in California on the RCCL Monarch, we sat next to a very nice gentleman who was an assistant District Attorney from LA.

It was interesting talking with him.

Sadly, according to RCCL's web site, the Connoisseur Club (cigar lounge) located on Deck 5 will be turned into a card room/library after November 14, 2016.

It will take a lot of cleaning to remove the smoky smell I am sure.

Are the transferrable? If they are, you could sell them to someone, perhaps either at face value or the discounted price you paid.

Either way, you need to read the 'fine print' for everything you purchase.

But the best advice would be to book another cruise.

I keep revisiting RCCL's website and watch the fares drop for my upcoming cruise after final payment.

 

WHY do I do that to myself?? :cool:

Because if you see a lower price, you can upgrade to a better cabin. Also it gives you something to do while you are waiting for the cruise.

I actually like Samba the Brazilian steakhouse. The view of the sunset at dinner is incredible, and the food is actually quite good.

It is not a formal as the other places, but the view and food I think are better.

I just read a very interesting tale of woe on Christopher Elliot's blog (he is a well known travel advocate). The history here on CC is that there are some who have long argued that obtaining a Passport for a closed loop cruise is not necessary (true) and a waste of money (false). A group of 4 was booked on a 7 Day Carnival cruise to the Western Caribbean and departing from Galveston. While in transit (the day of the cruise) to Galveston their Southwest flight was delayed many hours (in Memphis) due to a major mechanical problem. Southwest was unable to get them to Galveston in time for their cruise but finally agreed to fly them (for no additional charge) to Cancun where they could make their way over to Cozumel and catch their ship at the first port. However, one of the Group (we think it was a family) did not have a valid Passport. As a result, they could not fly to Mexico (you must have a valid Passport) and missed their cruise. Southwest assumed no liability since they were willing to fly the group to their first port. Not sure if these folks had any trip insurance (not mentioned in the story).

 

Hank

For every one of the examples given of someone not making the cruise because of flight delays, Bad Weather, Zombie Apocalypse, etc. There are hundreds of thousands of people who cruise without issue with just a BC and driver's license.

If you are a family of four travelling on a cruise and will most likely not travel internationally, getting Passports is a significant expense (~$600) which has no real payback.

Using that logic about getting a Passport 'Just in Case' would also mean you should purchase thousands of other things 'just in case'

Does the Concierge contact GS residents before the cruise? Or does that only happen for the Royal Genie level cabins on those ships?

On the Majesty there was no contact, but of course there is no concierge.

Imagine the resale opportunities! When someone gets older and does not sail anymore, he could sell his points to the highest bidder...

Since the points are more of a history of your travel, and not like airline miles which are accrued and then used, there is no valid reason to transfer them.

OTOH, airline miles are more line currency in which you receive a credit of points, and then a debit of those points when you use them up. If you do not use them, they can be transferred to a spouse for example since they are worth something.

I wonder when RCCL (and the other cruise lines) will be required to quote the entire price (like the airlines have to do now)...

I hate when you get a price, then realize that you have to add taxes, fees, and eventually prepaid gratuities.

But as to what you saw, I have seen it also. I was doing a mock booking for a cruise and the price almost doubled from the initial fare to the one that I would have paid.

I was recently on Majesty in a GS, and we got some champagne the first day, and a fruit basket. The rest of the days we got small treats in the room. I know there is no concierge manager on that ship.

There is a Suite/Concierge lounge on Serenade, and I know about the nighttime drinks, etc. But are there any other 'special' benefits on the Serenade like a sailaway on the bow of the ship, or the like? Tours? Anything? Free treats in the room?

What have people who have travelling in a GS gotten on the Serenade?

Thanks!

We never stay after the cruise...you'll be off the ship plenty early enough to head on home!

I pretty much always stay at least one day after. My feeling is that I am on vacation, why should I rush home?

That way I am in no hurry to get off the ship, and can relax.

Since AT&T WiFi works quite well over Voom there is no reason to use any other program since I can call and receive calls using my regular phone number without issue.

Just make sure to put your phone to Airplane mode, then re-enable WiFi and connect to Royal Wifi. As long as you have previously enabled WiFi Calling, it should work.

The call will NOT go out as a cellular call.

Kelly's is great. It is sort of a tribute to Kelly's Roast Beef which is a Mass institution.

Great fried clams...

I recommend it highly.

This is why I pretty much always stay overnight before and after the cruise. My feeling is that I am on vacation, I should not 'rush home'

I relax, and usually I am one of the last people off the ship. Why rush?

The only thing you can possibly get for free would be soda if you get the Soda package, and they have the freestyle machine. You can fill up the cup in the machine while someone else uses their card to get soda at a bar.

The other way is for one person to get the soda package, and then to 'lose' the cup and purchase another one for $5. That way you have two cups. Since they have no idea what the ID of the old cup is, they cannot disable it.

But soda is such a high markup item that it most likely makes no difference.

Canadians NOTE: as Canadians ashore for the day in Puerto Rico, we were demanded to produce our passports when we were in line to re-board our ship. Americans in line were not asked for theirs, but we were. We were very glad we could produce them.

I find that very hard to believe. When you are going through the first part of security, you need some sort of government ID to validate that the 'John Smith' on the Cruise line card is the same John Smith. Perhaps that Island did not understand that a Canadian Driver's License was a valid form of ID.

Furthermore, how would they even know you were Canadian? Did you say 'eh after every question? :D