hazeleyes46

Just now, OCSC Mike said:

 

We never go to South Beach but I would think pretty early. I know I've gotten a drink elsewhere at 9:30am or so. The bars open before the food venues.

Ahh ok, thanks 🙂

Does anyone know what time they open as I would rather go their first before drinking at the pool for awhile and having to try and swim? 😮 lol

22 hours ago, The Fun Researcher said:

Maybe it fluctuated by ship, but last month on the Anthem simple mixed drinks were $14 including gratuity and beers around $9 including gratuity.

 

I think there are two factors that come into play with the drink package:

1. The straight up economics.  Do I drink enough to at least recoup the total price paid?
2. The stress free factor.  It's paid for, I don't need to think about it.  I can drink as much or as little as I want and don't need to fret about it.

 

Personally we've never purchased the drink package on Royal.  We are moderate to heavy drinkers on a cruise but we've always saved a lot by not getting it.  We tend to ebb and flow with our consumption during a cruise.  Hit it hard one day, then the next hungover day it's just not as appealing... 😄  Repeat.

So $16.52 and $10.62 per drink. That adds up. 

The average drink now with gratuity is $16 so you should figure from that. Also, not just alcohol is included in the deluxe package so you have to account for that.

36 minutes ago, styme123 said:

I got off Anthem about 2 weeks ago and from my house in Nassau county it was 45-50 minutes to Cape Liberty on Sunday morning at 9:00. Used Waze.   

Not bad at all. We are actually going to meet another couple in Nassau county this time and trying to figure out when we should leave their house if we can get the earliest check in time. We were thinking like 8:30am to get there about 10.

49 minutes ago, RFerrington said:

 Yes.  You can have your old WOW bands reprogrammed.  Originally they said that only old WOW bands without the muster station printed on them could be reprogrammed, but Dan brought an old WOW band from an old cruise which did have the old [incorrect, of course] muster station printed on it and they successfully reprogrammed it (no charge)….so it seems that any old WOW band can be repurposed.

Oh wow, that is great. I don't think we have ours anymore.

9 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

Yes. 
$10.00. 
 

 

Thanks. Guess that price went up too, it was $5, 5 years ago lol

Do they have the bands on this cruise to use instead of/with your card?

On 3/11/2023 at 10:48 AM, njhorseman said:

10:35am Saturday. Per Google Maps best driving time Ronkonkoma to Cape Liberty 1 hour 33 minutes via LIE, Cross Island Pkwy, Cross Bronx Expressway, GW Bridge, NJ Turnpike, etc. 1 hour 33 minutes  is close enough to @hazeleyes46's 1 1/2 hours in my book.

 

Southern State, Belt not among the best routes right now....1 hour 54 minutes via that route.

 

 

Right now, 10am Tuesday morning, I just looked from my house and it says 1 hour and 35 minutes.

On 3/10/2023 at 2:19 PM, lenquixote66 said:

Driving from where I live to Ronkonkoma on a Sunday morning,a trip that we have done numerous times is an hour without traffic.However,regardless of the day there is always traffic on the Southern State Parkway

From my residence to Cape Liberty is always more than an hour.It involves taking the Southern StatevParkway,Belt Parkway,Verrazano Bridge,Staten Island Expressway and the Bayonne Bridge. There is always traffic from and to JFK and traffic from and to Newark airport .

Virtually impossible to go from Ronkonkoma to Cape Liberty in 90 minutes .

Well I can tell you in 2018, when we went on the Anthem in June, we left at 8am and got there at 9:30 because I remember parking in the garage and we were early. By the time we sat down it was 10am and they let us onboard at 11:30. 

On 3/10/2023 at 2:06 PM, lenquixote66 said:

Are you exceeding the speed limit ? We could not possibly get from Ronkonkoma to Bayonne in less than 2 1/2 hours

No lol. At 8am on a Sunday the roads are empty.

We come from Ronkonkoma and it usually takes us an hour and a half on Sunday mornings.

On 3/3/2023 at 7:14 AM, Donsyb said:

In the last couple of weeks. I saw a post on FB from someone onboard now and they had them

Great, thank you 🙂

22 hours ago, Donsyb said:

They are available on Oasis

When did they start back with them? We went in August and they didn't have them. I LOVE them and with going to Cococay now with the swim up bar, they would be perfect to get a drink.

1 minute ago, davekathy said:

How would you feel if that great water you have been receiving as Emerald has now been eliminated as one of your perks/benefits? 

Honestly I probably wouldn't care as I don't drink too much water but I get what you are saying. I haven't had the luxury of many perks/benefits yet with my status so I really can't answer this.

2 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Then you won't be disappointed going forward. 

Exactly lololol

I am Emerald and thought the water was actually great. lol

14 hours ago, wrldtrvllr said:

We’re on deck 9. I imagine 11329 will be better—less slide interference. That was the case for 11729 when we had it and thought it was very nice. 

Ahhh ok, enjoy 🙂

20 hours ago, crewsweeper said:

That's worse!!!😮

Oh no lololol

43 minutes ago, crewsweeper said:

Really like the Oasis.  But DW doesn't necessarily care for heading down to Miami.  Long drive...for me.  But looking forward to the rest of your review.  I think these more minimalist cruises can be the best.  No expectations.

Oasis is coming back to NJ if you prefer going out of there 🙂

What room are you in? We just booked 11329 for September 🙂

On 11/20/2022 at 6:57 PM, cruiseboy89130 said:

Don't test = problem solved!

Exactly!!!

thanks everyone 🙂

Great, thank you 🙂

Has anyone done this before as we are interested and didn't know if it is worth it. Thanks 🙂