dolfan1980

What time does the MDR open? Is it not until 6pm? I reserved my time for 6pm which was earliest I could find, but that is quite late for us. On Oasis we were able to get 5pm. My fear is my wife and kids will want to go to the buffet every night rather than wait.

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My husband and I are celebrating our 45th anniversary in June and we booked a cruise on Freedom out of San Juan last year before all the storms hit. I know the conditions are still not good there and we are hesitant about this cruise. Does anyone have any hotel suggestions for our pre cruise stay? Near the airport or other suggestions? How about getting around? Would we be wise to have Royal book a hotel for us?

 

 

 

We mainly need reassurance about this as a departure port and the airport. We have seriously discussed canceling.

 

 

 

Thank you for your thoughts and suggestions!

There are plenty hotels re-opened now and one would think that by June there will be even more. To avoid booking one that may not be ready and could cancel on you, book one that's open now. We're booked at Hyatt House before/after a March cruise. You can try RCCL, but their option for me was a resort at $550/person/night, more than our 7 day cruise!

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Unless you're scheduled to visit an area with a bad outbreak, I would go and just take extra precautions, perhaps staying on board. The chances of getting it and having an issue are pretty low. You could stay home and be in a bad car accident too. Obviously only my opinion and runs contrary to most.

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Yeah...you could say that. In my book $1,100 pp is definitely not cheap! Gotta confess my ignorance here in saying that I've never heard of a 'radiation resort' before. The taxes are what really kills you. Never stayed at a hotel in San Juan before. The last time we cruised out of there we flew to SJU on embarkation day - hesitant to do that again being that we were lucky to even make it onboard the ship - had a 5 hour flight delay out of PHL.

Sorry a typo, Radisson resort!

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If I know I’m doing the drink package, I book it right away, and keep an eye on the price in the planner. If price goes down, I cancel and rebook it. I feel like I’ve gotten a good price, when it’s less than $42 per day.

 

 

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Good to know, thanks folks for the advice.

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Yeah..I see your point after doing more research on this. What I don't care for is that Royal will not commit to a room category. TA says they will reserve a room that is the "run-of-the-house", which, at least for the La Concha, is probably the cheapest city-view room. They only put in their rooming list 3 weeks prior to the cruise, and then by that point an upgrade may not be available. I like to know what I'm getting. (Similarly, on a side note, I dislike these tour company airline packages where they can't guarantee you a seat until closer to the trip).

 

The rate I come up with at La Concha as a Marriott rewards member, going directly through their website, appears to be cheaper then the quote Royal gave my TA. I think that, as you said, the best way it to just book it directly with the hotel, thereby guaranteeing the room category. Didn't expect Royal's price to be more than what I can get on my own. Don't the cruise lines get discounts for booking blocks of rooms and then, if need be, giving them back to the hotel? Assuming they do that sort of thing.. (?)

When I was having trouble finding something affordable I called Royal and determined what I found was very cheap in comparison - they had a radiation resort only which was $1,100 per person for two nights and no other options! I think this was Cdn$, but either way pretty steep.

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I know the package says it includes premium coffees, but does that include Starbucks?

 

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It includes Starbucks except the ships that have a specific outlet on board.

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The prices change quite often.

Is there a 'good price' per day? I'm seeing $53.76 a day for deluxe or $70.40 a day for delux w/ one device internet (all funds Canadian).

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Did anyone hear about the Deluxe Drink package being on sale today?

 

 

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Does the price often change or go on sale? Same price for my upcoming March 7 day cruise from what I can tell.

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I respect the rules. My issue is that the rules are outdated.

 

There is no reason that nice shorts should not be allowed in the MDR.

 

Society evolves. So should our dress guidelines.

 

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March is my first RCCL cruise since 2009, largely due to what I found in those days as unnecessary rigid dining rules around times and dress. I'm all for formal wear, but also prefer to not carry it all the way from the Canadian Arctic where we were living at the time.

We've since sailed NCL which had more flexibility. With my-time and some of the 'society evolves' as you put it, I have a feeling this will be the right fit now.

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Maybe. We are unsure if we are able to go this year.. and I wasn’t sure if it expired.

How much is it for? Maybe you can find someone cruising to use it and get you back most/all of its cash value.

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We booked a fairly cheap sailing on the Jewel in March, but a heads up that I underestimated hotel costs significantly. I can usually find a nice hotel for $100 US most places and $225-325 US seems the going rate in San Juan depending on the night. I have no idea if this is the norm or only due to the hurricane closures and hotels taken up by workers/residents, but a significant additional cost for us, especially since we are in Canadian dollars.

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Just booked at the Hyatt, would love to find something cheaper though.

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The current rule is that you have to pay 15 bucks if you want to drink your wine (you can bring to bottles per cabin) in the public places, meaning it is free if you drinking on your cabin.

 

Honestly, i find this rather expensive especially since even good restaurants charges a corkage fee similar to this one. And they are basically live on selling wine.

Thanks very helpful. I was reading posts from others about paying it upon embarkation so I wasn't sure, really appreciate the response.

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Corkage fee is back, but several reports of people not being charged.

 

 

 

But to avoid being charged, open the bottle in your cabin, carry glass of wine to dinner.

What is the current rule? Sailing Jewel in March.

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What a shame for those folk who thought they were purchasing a cruise where the published guidelines expected decorum, at least at dinner.

 

 

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It's 2018, people wear dress shorts at bars and restaurants. Sounds like you may be confined to nicer specialty restaurants if you want everyone to dress the same as you.

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