PobsyB

Hi we have purchased two Deluxe drinks packages with Royal Caribbean. Does this already include the gratuities or do you still have to pay them for each drink you have at the end of the cruise.

Also we are sailing on IOS this summer from Southampton (90 days today!), are you able to book the entertainment prior to the cruise. Nothing showing on the RC website as yet.

Thank you in advance :)

Lovely video :)

First time cruising this summer on IOS, looks amazing, can't wait!!

Thank you everyone for your responses :)

Hi first time cruising with RCI this summer on IOS :D

Been checking out the forums and trying to get as much info as poss.

Do you have to take your passport each time you leave the ship?

What is the air con like on board? Travelled to USA before and found inside shops, restaurants etc it can be very cool :(

How easy is the embarkation process, is it best to do the online check in first?

How many nights are the main theatre shows on?

Thank you in advance :)

Turn right when exiting the tender dock and follow the sea wall to the train station,

Trains leave very regular , maybe every 30 minutes, and it's only a short ride to monaco,

 

Google map it and you will see,

 

Last time we easily had time to visit the hill where tge palace is, the gardens next to the aquarium and also walk tge full grand prix circuit

Returning in good time to also tour around Villefrance old town

Thanks this is very helpful as we are hoping to see these sites along with the casino and yacht area of Monte Carlo :)

The tender tickets are usually issued on a first come first served basis maybe the day before you dock or early on the morning of docking.

There is absolutely no need for all of your party to stand in line for tender tickets just one of you can collect how many tickets your party require.

After docking the tender numbers will be called and you simply then make your way down to the deck that the tender boats are leaving from.

It is only about a ten minute tender ride.

I suggest you get off the ship early to have a full day ashore.

As another poster has said both Nice and Monte Carlo are very easy to do on your own.

I would also leave enough time to walk round Villefranche it really is a lovely port.

Thank you this is very helpful as have been unable to find any info on the RCI website as regards to tendered docking :)

It is quite easy to take the bus to either Nice or Monte Carlo. Once you exit the tender area....walk across the street and to the left. You will see a walkway that goes up a steep hill.....there was a sign there that said Bus to Nice Bus to Monaco. Walk up that hil and you will eventually find a little square where the buses stop. Just hop on whichever bus you want.....to Nice or to Monaco. Really easy.

Thank you Jane for the info. Just deciding whether to take the bus, train or taxi :)

If tendering operations have to be suspended because of weather or sea condidtions, they won't treat you differently if you were out on your own for the day. Just give yourself plenty of time to get back to the dockside queue, tent, or podium before "all aboard" or "last tender", and the ship's staff will take care of you regardless of whether or not you were on a ship run excursion.

Thank you for the information :)

First of all you are not tendering into Nice, but into Villefranche sur Mer.

 

Tendering procedure can vary By ship, usually it´s either forming up a Queue on a first come first serve Basis or they give out tender tickets. There is no Charge for those tender tickets it´s just a method to organize the crowds. Once you and your Party are ready to leave you get in line for a tender ticket and then have to wait for your ticket number to be called.

 

Should you decide on the do it your own Keep in mind that especially with tender ports you are quite dependent on the weather and sea conditions. It´s not unknown for tender ports getting cancelled due to wind and sea conditions. While it´s rare, but it has happened at Villefranche sur Mer that People couldn´t get back onboard in the afternoon / evening. People on ship tours are then taken to the next available port for the ship to dock. If you are out on your own this might not be guaranteed.

 

Oh btw, plan accordingly for your return to the ship. The tender lines can be loooong to get back on the ship. So plan enough time for that.

Thank you for the information :)

We are first time cruisers on the IOS this summer. Our port at Nice is a tendered docking. We are hoping to visit Monaco and Monte Carlo either independently or via RCI excursion. The ship arrives at 9.00am but we have noticed the RCI excursion does not leave till 1pm, which seems to us to waste a lot of time in the morning. Therefero we are thinking of doing the trip independently on the train.

What is the procedure for disembarkation for a tendered docking? Do you need to purchase a ticket? Is it form a queue to leave the ship?

Thanks :)

We are first time cruisers on the IOS this summer. Our port at Nice is a tendered docking. We are hoping to visit Monaco and Monte Carlo either independently or via RCI excursion. The ship arrives at 9.00am but we have noticed the RCI excursion does not leave till 1pm, which seems to us to waste a lot of time in the morning. Therefero we are thinking of doing the trip independently on the train.

What is the procedure for disembarkation for a tendered docking? Do you need to purchase a ticket? Is it form a queue to leave the ship?

Thanks :)