scott2165

I say pay what you're willing to pay and enjoy. This applies to all cruise lines, excursions, hotels, flights, etc. Someone there will always have received a better deal than you. You will also have received a better deal than someone else. I always set a budget for vacations and find things that fit that. I always try to get the best deal I can, but when I pay, it's a price I was willing to pay, even if it was higher than what others paid.

My first cruise was based on dates only due to child care. We just booked our second cruise, again based on dates we could all go as a family. You have to do what works for you. Our second cruise is the same itinerary as our first cruise but on a different and larger ship.

You have to do what you have to due based on time off and budget. I paid way more than I wanted because our vacation lined up with the 4th of July Holiday. For what I paid, I could have taken a bigger better cruise, but none of that lines up with work and school schedules.

Do what you have to do and have all the fun you can.

My only experience with this was 1 large bag around 55 lbs and a smaller bag around 20 lbs. They guy met us at the cab and unloaded it and placed it on his cart. I tipped $10. It arrived at my room in good condition.

I just booked a cruise Friday directly through RCCL. I tried to use a TA, both online and local, but none offered a better price. Most offered the same price the RCCL offered me and a couple charged even more. I actually got more OBC from cruise line than the agents offered. I guess each case is different.

I was on it last summer and the Centrum is loud. There is always a band or dj in the evening and an awesome 70's party there. There were doors closed at the corridor leading to staterooms, but I don't know how much they helped.

Go out and join the party then you don't have to worry!

It's a great ship. The outside needs a coat of paint in places, but the inside was very clean and in great condition. They crew is top notch.

I've been shopping pretty hard the last week for a cruise this summer. I've looked at all the lines really hard and none seem to be doing anything crazy good.

NCL has some good deals on the 5 free offers but in all reality they are a little higher on the front end anyway to make up for it.

RCCL seems to stick with the second guest half off and kids free, but none of the sailings I want are kids free and they inflate the cost so the second guest isn't really half off.

Carnival lowered some deposits, but nothing to make me book asap.

It's all marketing and right now the economy is pretty strong so it cost what it cost.

What I want to do and what I can afford to do are two different things, so we are finding a happy medium.

I bought one and my wife did not. I drink a lot and she does not. I got my monies worth for sure. She only had 2-3 drinks a day on a four day cruise. Her drinks were around $80-90.

I drank a couple beers before dinner, a couple with, a couple at the show, and several drinks at whatever bar we ended up at after. I also wore that card out on CoCo Cay.

We would likely do it the same way on our next cruise. The 18% grats is nice when prepaid with a drink package too vs drink by drink.

Thanks guys. I'm leaning toward this cruise. We did the same itinerary last year on the enchantment and really want to try a new ship and new itinerary but this seems to be a good way to introduce our daughter to cruising and not break the bank.

Anybody sailed this ship? Looking at her when she comes to Miami this summer. Will be me, my wife, and our 12 year old daughter. Seems like a lot of ship for a short cruise. That's a good thing.

Liberty was one ship we were interested in. Anyone know how the kids programs are?

I totally understand about the sail date effecting my prices. I've shopped pretty hard for the week we want, which is the week of 4th of July.

I know I can book cheaper in other seasons, but with our busy schedules, vacation dates, etc, that is the week we want.

Imo $2400 is far too high a price for a 7 night cruise . For 2 people it comes to $171.43 per person per day .

 

Recommend that you shop the cruise . You can look at the specials that cruise critic has on line ,as a start .

 

Believe that if you do your research homework you can save lots of money :D

I've shopped pretty hard and maybe I'm doing it wrong, but I can't find a decent sized RCCL ship for close to that price for 7 nights. Liberty looks nice, but the price I got was 3500.

Disclaimer: We've only sailed Royal Caribbean and LOVE it.

Having said that, we can't find a ship of theirs that fits our budget for the time we want to sail and meets our needs.

I found a sale on the Dream for the week of 4th of July that fits our budget.

Anyone sailed with RCCL and the Dream? I'd like to know what to expect in terms of service and the guests. It will be my wife and I along with our 12 year old daughter.

The Dream looks nice on the photo's and videos I've seen, but I'd like a personal opinion from someone who's been there done that.

Thanks in advance.

I've only cruised one cruise and that was on the Enchantment last July. We really enjoyed it. Part of it was it was the first time my wife and I had been on vacation without a child in a LONG time and part was the "new" of it all.

We were impressed with the cleanliness and excellent service. We didn't love the itinerary, but still enjoyed seeing the sights. We had an outside view room and liked it. We'd love a balcony if the price was right, but are very content with just an outside view.

We are looking at cruises this 4th of July and plan to take our 12 year old daughter.

The Enchantment is moving to Galvestan and has an itinerary we would enjoy. However, we didn't see enough to keep out daughter occupied on the cruise we went on, although we only briefly looked at the kids area. Any experience there with that age kid?

We've looked at other big RCL ships but they exceed our budget this summer.

I found a Carnival cruise from New Orleans on the Dream. The pictures and videos look like it has tons of amenities to keep us all occupied. We can do a 7 day if I book this week for $2400.

Anyone have experience with Carnival, particularity the Dream?

I'd like to hear a thought from someone who loves RCL like we do, but has experience on the Dream. Good or bad, just looking for different opinions.

Thanks in advance!

We sailed Enchantment back in July. There was plenty of entertainment and most was pretty good.

In the main theater there were two musicals. I can't remember their names, but one was a medley of music in the movies and was good. The other show was so so and we left early.

There is a comic who does a clean show, then an adult show around 11 pm. He's funny and the adult show was much better.

They did a game show for married couples that was really fun.

The piano guy in the Schooner Lounge is really entertaining. He takes requests much like a piano bar does. We had fun with his show.

We also enjoyed a show in lounge at the back of the boat behind the Schooner Lounge. It was an adult game show and was hilarious. Best people watching you'll ever see right there.

Enjoy the trip. We loved the boat. Ask for Don Don at dinner. His service can't be beat.

We wanted to sit in a spot that didn't offer shade so we rented an umbrella and my wife got a floating mat. It was about $25 I think. There were plenty of shady spots on other beach areas, but we found a spot with a view we loved and paid.

I didn't tip extra at the actual bars often as I got ho hum service, but when we were at a show or sitting a table in one of the lounges or bars and the staff got my drink, I tipped extra. By late day two this one waiter had served me a couple times in other bars and came over without me asking and brought my drink of choice. He kept them coming and I never ran dry. I tipped him very well and it paid off with excellent service in the lounges. He seemed to be at several places I visited so I assume the rove from bar to bar based on demand.

Seems like on Enchantment Makers was same price as Gentleman Jack which was 8.95 plus 18%. That was in July.

I found the drinks were okay in some bars and very weak in others. I rarely drink anything other than beer or whisky. I ordered a whisky and coke and it was too weak for my taste. I tipped the bartender well and asked for a stronger drink. She almost did me in with that one, so round three was the perfect mix. Our issue boiled down to a language barrier. I had no issues at any of the bars getting a little extra sauce when I wanted it.

My last trip, which was my first cruise, I prepaid and didn't plan to pay anything else.

However, my room steward was sneaky good. If we left for more than 5 minutes our bed was made and everything was refreshed/replenished as needed. We gave him an additional $5 a day at the end. That was not much, but I assume others do it to and he was over several room.

Our waiter was absolutely the best I've had anywhere I ever eaten. He made us feel like we were the most important guest there and was quick to refill drinks and even tossed in some free drinks. We tipped him an extra $10 a day and his assistant an extra $5 a day.

Maybe this was excessive, but the service was above and beyond and it fit our budget.

On the flip side, I would not feel guilty not giving extra. If you prepay, that's all that is required. Each cruise and each guest is different.

My wife and I sailed on Enchantment back at the end of July. It was really great. The only downside is the outside has some rust around the windows and what not.

The inside looks close to new and is very clean.

The food was great. Ask for Don Don as a server. He was absolutely amazing.

The shows were good to great.

The bar staff was top notch.

Our room steward was really good too.

Overall a great trip that didn't break the bank.

I bought the package ahead of time for the Enchantment. I paid $48 per day. I had a drink in hand with in 2 minutes of boarding. I got my moneys worth easily. Beers are close to $7 and mixed drinks averaged $12. Do the math for your drinking style, but it was a no brainer for me. If you get a specialty coffee, a bloody mary at breakfast, sip some beer all day, have a couple dinner drinks, and one or two at a show, plus mixing in bottles of water and soft drinks, you will come out way ahead. I didn't use my package the day we got off and I don't remember if the bloody mary guy was set up in the windjammer that day or not.

I sailed it last week. The inside was really nice and lots of the carpet looked new. The outside looks rough with the rust around the windows and what not. If they would paint this ship, it would look so much better. I was disappointed when I saw the ship in person the first time. It was the ugliest in the port. Once inside, I was very happy though.

Sounds like most all the questions have been answered, but I will share my experience on the Enchantment regarding bartenders and strength of drinks.

I had the drink package and only used that big cup a couple times. It's a pain to carry around.

I was able to get bottles of water, basic soda's on ice, along with whatever alcoholic beverages I wanted. I was even able to grab 2 bottles at once to take to my room.

As far as drinks and bartenders go, some were really good at their job and some were not. By day two, I learned what bars and what bartenders were good at mixing drinks and usually went there unless I was having beer. I was drinking whisky and coke one night and they were week. It was one shot with a full cup of coke and ice. I preferred a stronger one. I tipped an extra dollar each on my first two as the service was fast. (keep in mind the package is prepaid 18% gratuities)

I then asked her to either add some whisky or take away some coke on the next one. She did both. It was a little stout, so I asked for a splash of coke to be added. It was perfect. After that, she knew what I liked and provided the perfect drink each time.

Look around and you'll quickly find what you like.

I'm not sure what the benefits are either, but I noticed last week on my first cruise some lines had signs for higher levels of crown and anchor. I walked on to the boat very early, about 20th in line, and I also walked right in to dinner without reservations. I entered all the bars I wanted. I don't see what the benefits on board would be.