SharkCruiser24

Hello everyone, I’m sailing onboard Explorer of the Seas later this month and currently have the Picture Aruba shore excursion booked. I was double checking available excursions and saw the Arubas Hidden Gem excursion. I was hoping someone has taken one or the other and can offer some more insight on them. Thank you in advance. 

I’m in agreement with the last post. The concierge team on Symphony was amazing!! They took care of all of our dining and show reservations for me roughly a week prior to boarding. My favorite thing about Coastal Kitchen is breakfast and lunch. No reservations required for those options. 
 

Symphony’s was on par with Allure. The only difference is the Coastal Kitchen is on the port side on Symphony instead of the starboard side like on Allure.

In June, the lovely host at Giovanni’s made all of my reservations for me while I had lunch on boarding day.  I had the unlimited dining package.  It was great!  I always eat at off times and was able to get every reservation I wanted.  In the past, I had concierges take care of it, but I wasn’t  in a suite that trip. 
 

As for shows, you don’t need a reservation for any shows. Just get there early for the ice skating shows, as others have said they do fill up quickly. 

20 hours ago, lovetocruise/diamond said:

I apologize in advance for asking this question but with 300 pages to read I am hoping some extremely nice person can help me. When I did my upbid I didn’t realize that I could place multiple bids at the same time.  When I go back and try it again only shows the 1 bid I placed.  Is that it?  All bids must be done all together??

Go back to the original email you received.  You should be able to enter additional bids from there.  I did a few weeks ago! 

If you're in a CLS go to Coastal Kitchen!  It's on the same floor as you, 17.  I went there every morning when I had a CLS on Allure. No waiting, great service, and delicious food!

Also still waiting in taxes, fees, and gratuities however I did receive the FCC in the correct amount. Already re-booked for Symphony. I did received all pre-booked activities from the pre-cruise planner refunds. 

On 3/14/2020 at 11:16 AM, Biker19 said:

You need to book and pay the deposit - then you can apply the FCC, whenever it shows up.

Already booked 😉

Thanks for the laughs everyone! Needed that! 

Does anyone know if we can re-book with the FCC now or do we have to wait till it’s issued in April? 

My set sail pass will not load on the app. I do have a printed out copy but would have liked to try out the digital version.

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We will be on the same cruise!!! I’m so excited to sail on Allure. This will be the biggest ship I’ve sailed!

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I send my boyfriend to JR. he picks up food for both of us and brings it back to the cabin and we eat on the balcony. Only one charge that way, plus I get to nap longer [emoji16]

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I’m not a heavy drinker when at home. Working overnights it’s hard to be! But we have purchased the deluxe drink the last two cruises and our upcoming cruise on Allure in a sky class suite. I’m allergic to beer and really enjoy trying different drinks and of course the frozen delights! My boyfriend is a drinker so he’ll get his moneys worth. I just like that everything is paid ahead of time and I don’t have to be thinking about how much are these yummy fruity drinks adding up to on my account! I find I am able to better enjoy my vacation without worrying about the bar tab. But truth be told I usually get a sugar headache around 4 and have dubbed 4-7:30 the daily nap time!!

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I always take dresses for dinner. Two jeans and loads of tops for after dinner wear. And two shoes for dinner (black and beige heels) or I’d go overboard! Never re-wear the dresses and always re-wear the jeans!

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We saw Grease on a 4 night sailing last year. It was wonderful! We showed up 15 minutes before the show and got great seats! There is an intermission as well, just so you know.

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See you onboard! We’re planning on samba the second night. Waiting to hear from our concierge to set up everything! Can’t wait to read your review when we get back!

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In the upgrade process I believe they look at location of your original room and how easy it will be to quickly re-sell it. That being said I try to always book a cabin in the middle. I’ve had three upsell offers. 2 on carnival both from balcony’s one aft one middle to ocean suites. Took one refused the second. I’m sailing allure in a few months and had a JS booked with an extended balcony for $2600. Two months ago I received a call to upgrade to a crown loft suite for $900 total. I jumped on it figuring I’d never ever pay full price for that suite. We do have around $1500 in ancillaries purchased already for the cruise so not sure if that had anything to do with it. I’m going to be emerald if it makes any difference. And it was the second time I booked a junior suite.

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Seconding 2 & 6. Plus you can check the Royal app and see the menus!! From what I’ve heard they are very accurate.

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My opinion on the drink package- we are sailing in a crown loft suite in a few weeks on allure and have purchased the deluxe package. I know we have access to the suite lounge for drinks. Similarly to you have access to the diamond lounge. I’m allergic to beer and love those fruity frozen drinks!! So for me my options are limited in the suite lounge. I love trying new drinks and hate when I try something and hate it!! So imagine having to pay for that mistake a bunch of times!! The beauty of Allure is that there are so many special drinks you can only get in certain bars! And we will be visiting all of them!! So for us the idea of everything being paid for up front, being able to try any drink, and not worrying about the open times and crowds in the suite lounge made it an easy choice. Plus for what we paid I’d only need to drink 4 drinks a day!! I can do that in one session on the pool deck [emoji4]

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I love cruising with the drink package. I’m allergic to beer to all my drinks are $12+ so after 4 or 5 drinks a day I break even. Plus I love trying different drinks without worrying about wasting money on something I don’t like.

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If you have the Royal app it will show you the menus of all restaurants! Pretty accurate and vintages is on there under dining!

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Independence is one of my favorite ships!!! I sailed on her the last two years. She’s a very stable ship with lots of entertainment! You will enjoy her. Last time was me and my boyfriends first cruise together and it was perfect. Attentive crew, yummy food, great people!!

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If you looking for a great breakfast place uber to the O-B House in downtown ft. Lauderdale. Get a cast iron pancake. They open at 8 and get busy.

 

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I love that restaurant! I live here and go there at least twice a month!!!! Their eggs Benedict is amazing too. Plus they make their own bread!!

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Guessing you need to have same address?

I think you do need the same address. We live together, so I’ll just make the call and update his status to match mine. My first Royal Cruise was back in 1997, so it’s been 21 years lol! But I was also only 8 at the time!

I don’t see why not. Plus it’s air conditioned. It’s still really hot down here in October.