cruisegus

Sailing on Explorer of the Seas 11 night Southern Caribbean sailing the Southwest portion

Have a stop in Colon Panama and have been looking at this tour - Authentic Expedition to an Embera Indian Village

Anyone with recent experience for this tour?

On my future cruise it shows the 3 specialty restaurants, Steakhouse, Cucina Del Capitan, JiJi's all available to book pre-cruise. 

My question is are they the same price if purchased on board as in the planner (i.e. no pre-cruise discount for booking before cruise)

46 minutes ago, PlanoTim said:

We sail out of Galveston some and Cheers starting on day two isn’t a huge issue for us.  I guess Carnival could offer it on day one, but only after they got out of Texas waters (5pm-ish).  But that might be an issue for some passengers, thinking they were paying for a whole day of Cheers and only able to use it after leaving the state late in the afternoon.  In fact some folks might think Cheers available from the moment the boarded, but with a limited selection of alcohol sourced and taxed in Texas, would be a rip-off.  Maybe they just figured it was easier to just start on day 2.  But they should be up front with their reasoning, IMHO.  Either that or go ask Royal Caribbean how that do it. 😋

 Belive me it is a PITA for Royal to do in Galveston, bar shut down for 10-15 minutes in some cases to change out bottle with Texas Tax Stamps.

It is interesting I was on a Royal ship on their last 2 Galveston sailing before heading with no passengers to Florida.  Next to the last sailing they ran out of some types of liquor, then On last sailing they just used up the rest of the Texas Tax Stamped liquor 

Just an FYI when sailing from NOLA Royal eats the state sales tax and the last on Carnival in 2019 you could use their drink package, but they charged you the State Tax separately.

1 hour ago, BillOh said:

Not 100% true.   Sometimes it takes Royal years to find out a vendor has done this and then fire them "for the safety of our passengers"

@Charles4515 and @BillOh I'll gladly retract my "never" and suffice that word with "almost" never.

As at least one of you also stated to do sois against RCCL's contract agreements with the tour providers, which btw is very lucrative.  Most reputable companies won't risk to loss of business that would occur from losing the contract 

1 hour ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

... Look at the bill on your TV at the end of the day. If you are drinking more than the Beverage Package per day, they will let you sign up for it during the cruise...

Only embarkation day and the next 2 full days on a 7 night cruise at full non-discounted price.

3 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

The independent operator may have the same age restrictions.

Usually not.  Also you will never be able to book independently with the same providers as Royal uses. 

@DavidOrawan one other thing you have consider with Royal’s pricing is as @Cdude said CCL and it's childern line have a limit on drinks, Royal no limits.  NCL even when part of included is a lower level package that you still pay gratuities on, and if you want good liquor you need to pay an upgrade to that package.

MSC I'm not knowledgeable.

Yes Royals DBP is much more expensive now than say 3 years ago. Some will benefit if for no other reason than, knowing up front the cost, no surprise end of cruise bill.  Maybe just not having to think of cost in the decision, do I have a drink or not.

I hope whatever you decide it works out for you

On 8/19/2022 at 3:47 AM, Solo1959 said:

I use my VPN on Carnival all the time. Well, almost all the time. It needs to be turned off when 1st connecting to the ship's  internet. But once connected I can use it and it does work.

@Solo1959 which specific VPN software

On 3/22/2024 at 7:31 PM, mz-s said:

 

The only way to make audio calls with Carnival WiFi would be over a chat service like facebook messenger. You can't call someone's phone number over Carnival WiFi.

I can't turn on wifi calling on my Android? 

It works anywhere else I have wifi access with my phone in airplane ✈️  mode and wifi calling turned on

14 hours ago, lostsoulcruiser said:

To answer your question,  gratuities are not mandatory.

But they should be.

Call them what you want, service charge, resort fee, housekeeping & dinning fee.  Carnival should not allow them to be removed.

On 3/19/2024 at 8:37 PM, w&k said:

The StockPerks rep said in their email that they were working on a computer version for their website.  I am hopeful that they actually will do this for dinosaurs like me that still use desktops.  😄 

Not a dinosaur.  Web sites are far more function than phone apps in almost every instance.

15 minutes ago, mz-s said:

 

Guests can enter KTN's during online check-in.

Sorry stand corrected on that issue.

It has been a while, before covid, since I sailed Carnival.

And

Thank you for correcting/educating me.  I sail alot and my line does not have a spot for KTN.  I am hear because I am planning another Carnival cruise.  May I should just read more.

Have a good day

@AstoriaPreppy @FTLCruiseGal I have a different opinion than both of you. 

First a redress number (KTN-Known Traveler Number) would not have helped this at all as there is nowhere in your cruise profile to store this number to be used.

2nd point is the DHS check is done one of 2 ways, either Carnival sends or inputs a list of pasengers to DHS (could be electronically) and a computers system checks for matches on the banned list. Then contacts Carnival.  Or

Carnival security has an "current" list of banned names that they then compare to the passenger list. And any matches get denied boarding.

Most likely the first match electronicly, is last name; first name that is then kicked out and needs to be checked further.  This further check could be manually, matching other associated info, middle initial; birth date; etc

Seems like the names matched (between husband and son) and someone failed to perform the secondary checks to verify.  I under stand this more than most as my name has a suffix and many times I have been confused with my father.  For us a saving grace is neither of us have a record!

Bottom line in my opinion, Carnival made a mistake, which they admitted, and more importantly they FAILED to address this issue promptly.  The first part is understandable, the 2nd is just bad customer service on the part of Carnival's security.  OP should be better compensated for this failure.

Just my opinion and if yours differs that OK.

7 hours ago, gumshoe958 said:

Wonder doesn’t have a Broadway show, sadly. The main theatre has two Royal in-house productions: Voices and Effectors 2.

Both of which are very good shows and well worth seeing at least once.

54 minutes ago, ckorni1 said:

My grandson is going to need to be able to take a college final while we are on a sea day on the Jewel of the Seas.  It will be a monitored test from Germany (if that matters) Anyone have any ideas on how best to do this?  A 12 day package is $371.  But in addition to taking this test at 7:00 pm specifically, he will need to study the material before hand.  

 

Any suggestions on how to do this, and a $ savings if possible over 12 days.  They told me I could do day to day for $25 but can't book it beforehand only at the internet cafe once we are on board.

 

I'll be honest, based on my experiance having internet on every cruise I take.  If it is really that important and being a monitored test at a specific time, understand that in addition to position of the ship weather both affect how good of internet access you'll actually have.  Test that important? maybe the cruise is not where you Grandson should be. JMHO

Yes only for paying for the cruise.

I did it once about 5 years ago to pay for my first Grand Suite.  Saved about $600 dollars but with all the restrictions and not being refundable even if it's Royal that cancells the cruise.  Was not worth hassle and worry.  

Other cruise lines AARP cards are easier to use

12 hours ago, FionaMG said:

 

Are you sure about this? Just asking because we were on the same cruise and the letter from the Crown Lounge concierge didn't say anything about Ds not being allowed in. We didn't actually go so I don't know if we would have been turned away at the door or not.

Symphony 4 Feb 24 - 6 night cruise 93 Pinnacle's Crown Lounge accessories restricted, some at door checking card only 1st 3 nights.

Symphony 10 Feb 24 - 8 night cruise 48 Pinnacle's who al had SL and CK access so Diamond not restricted in Crown Lounge.

Was on both sailings.

48 minutes ago, earn said:

We've got flights booked, which makes that a bit more difficult.

Every time we have had a cruise canceled within the 11 month booking window for flights, there as been paragraph after offered option that allows for Royal to reimburse $100 change fee for Domestic flights and $200 for international.

That's just been our experiance

You are not allowed to leave Royals Compound at Labadee.

There are a few excursions that slightly leave but you don't get out and about.  Ie Zip Line and boat trip to fabricated local village

Did a b2b on Adventure in Late November and had a fantastic time.  Nice ship and great crew.  Would have no qualms of a repeat cruise

1 minute ago, cruisegus said:

I tend to agree that this particular cruise is not those that falsely believe that the "casino" pays for their cruise habit.

 

Completely different crowd. 

 

More towards my cruise paradigm 

I would belive that shore excursions are the main revenue producer on this cruise 

I tend to agree that this particular cruise is not those that falsely believe that the "casino" pays for their cruise habit.

Completely different crowd. 

More towards my cruise paradigm 

33 minutes ago, gerig said:

i have heard that is not true.

Then way is it excluded from the BoGo opertunitiy??

4 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

A free bridge tour is a nice perk, though largely unwritten since the restart.

And not been avaliable that I have experienced.

Unless the upcharge from a balcony is very little or you actually need the extra floor and cabinet space, there are little benefits to a suite on less than an Oasis or Quantum class ship.