DeepC

Headed to Roatan and will be doing the sloths among other things...  Fiance' and her daughter are Sloth crazy! Thought it would be great if I could get them some kind of stuffed Slth moments.  I see some National Geografic sells that look pretty real. Are there any specific shops there that have something really realistic there? I follow these boards and always appreciate the tips. Makes me look good when I know what and where to look in a foreign port to find just the right momento. 

49 minutes ago, Snit13 said:

At times when site is acting up I simply pick up my phone and call RCCL and have them book for me.  I have not experienced the issues you described.  Good Luck and Happy Sails.

Wasn't the site acting up I don't think. Just coincidence that prices changed during check out... One set of prices did go back within a couple days. The others didn't....

Question over there as well but unanswered...

Not once but twice while in the process of checking out I had prices change on excursions... Two at Labadee went up by roughly $20-25 each... It changed after I had input the CC info and was about to commit . I backed off and a couple days later the prices went back to where I agreed to buy them  at. Same thing happened when booking excursions for Falmouth. Saw the Dunn's Falls/ River Tubing at $92. 99... I put the in the cart ad went immediately to check out. Again about the time my CC number was input but before I completed the sale  they jumped to $116.99 each...  Their price hasn't gone back since...  I'm getting tired of waiting. Anyone have a reputable excursion company who does that trip that they recommend?

I planned to book through RCL Cruise planner. Price was reasonable, I put in my cart and was in process of checking out. Price changed right before I was ready to hit the confirm button... Price hasn't returned to where I agreed to so looking for another reputable carrier...

On ‎6‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 3:16 AM, brillohead said:

Keep an eye out for sales in the Cruise Planner (I check at least once a week).  

It's showing up at $73.99 for me right now.  

If you buy it and the price goes down later, you can cancel it and repurchase at the new price.  

 

(Just to clarify, I haven't done this one, and for that much money would rather do a longer one somewhere else.  But that's a personal decision.  I'm pretty cheap with my money.)

Mine is still showing $99. 😣

Booked for next year... Cruise planner not showing much available this far from sailing date. It is showing the zip line at $99... That seems high but what isn't. Is that the correct price and is it worth it?

46 minutes ago, momofmab said:

Agree with HangryGrl - we did a ship's excursion and all we saw was a rusty anchor.  Save snorkeling for another port.

Not looking for excursions... Just a time filler.... Kids will be on zip line and coaster for their main entertainment. GF and I don't drink... She just likes being in the water...

Just looking to kill time... Another site had a couple good reviews in the Columbus area but not much...

Have the kids with us on next trip which includes Labadee. They will be zip lining and coaster riding for the bulk of the day so there's no time for formal "excursion". I'm hearing the water can be cloudy in an undisclosed area. Then I read that Adventure Beach some is off limits and other parts soft and lots of current? I'm a boat captain and fisherman by trade and can "read water" better than most. Would appreciate hearing from people where I might start looking so I can save some time???? Thanks in advance.

Other than a bad run around from the spa the trip couldn't have been better...

Pleasure is all mine... 

Yes, taxi. Ride was about $10 each way. Tour was 25 each... The class was about 2 hours.  Google KaoKao factory tour for more details...  No i'm not a rep. just recounting a different experience.

Off the beaten path but very informative and enjoyable.

17 minutes ago, legaljen1969 said:

Has she had her hair done in the spa/salon before?  I would be too scared to try that. I always make sure to have an appointment before I leave. I would never trust them to do chemical treatments on my hair. 

She and her daughter splurged a little our last cruise. Friends bragged about how wonderful it was to get various treatments at sea and kind of goaded me into splurging for her. She was so happy before going in. 

Prior to heading to Cozumel, I saw a hot button for my GF that would make her day. A Chocolate tour? I decided to educate myself on chocolate and its relation to the Mayan culture. While searching around I stumbled on a tour up in town. I compared it to the one the cruise line offered  and due to its hands on nature and very small class size the tour  at Kao Kao won the coin toss. 

I can see a couple reasons it isn't sanctioned by the cruise lines. Small class size would be short on profit and its located pretty far into the residential part of town off the beaten path. We had time to shop in their little store before the class began. Not just candy. Soaps, hair conditioner, perfume, hair rinse , body wash. My GF aired my wallet pretty good on this stop. 

Class. Extremely informative. I will forever look at chocolate differently after it. It's history is interesting . More or less a symbol of wealth even used as a sort of currency. We learned that chocolates that we normally see in the stores are sorry knock offs of the real deal. We tasted 27 different kinds of real chocolate and each unique. From there we made our own coarse dark chocolate bars while our guide prepared a native chocolate drink with a chili added for a really fascinating kicker. 

I took the tour as my GF is a chocolate aficionado. Thought I would be bored but really enjoyed every second of it. Never too old to learn something!

Know full well about it being overpriced... What on a cruise ship isn't? Lacking quality is even expected... To be outright incompetent and potential for long term damage to hair  though is something I'm not going to just let go. I have a hunch you are right and the contingency plan is in place... I don't play nice when I give someone a chance to fix their "mistake" and they fail to. 

Dug deeper on the Steiner website and there was a section there dedicated to resolving cruise ship related issues. Forwarded a bunch of pictures and full description of events. Now lets see if they are customer oriented or just looking to scam a few quick bucks. 

6 hours ago, brillohead said:

In the USA, the Fair Credit Billing Act allows you 60 days from the date of the statement on which the charge appeared on to file a dispute.  

Disputing a charge with your credit card company should be a last resort, after exhausting all other avenues of recompense.

As I mentioned I'm really non confrontational. Though I am pissed about the padded tip, my main concern is with how to fix my gals hair and how to keep the stylist from botching some other poor unsuspecting patron. 

9 hours ago, twangster said:

Steiner Leisure does the spa service on Royal ships and many other cruse lines.

RCL were apologetic last night and forwarded me their info. No word back yet but it is a Sunday so I'll give em a little time. 

36 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Vitality Spa and Fitness employees are on contract with RCI. Try reporting your issue or complaint with Royal Caribbean by contacting its Post Cruise Guest Relations department. Call it at 800/256-6649 (514/285-9723 for outside the U.S.) or fax it at 800/256-6485 (M–F, 8 am–8pm; Sat–Sun, 9 am–7 pm EST).

Thank you... Dozen cruises and first time I have ever had t complain...

3 minutes ago, brillohead said:

Royal uses a contractor for their spa -- they just rent the space out -- so you'd need to know who their supplier is.  (I know in many cases it's Steiner, but not sure if that's the case for Royal.)  That's why Royal said to take it up with the spa directly, as they were the company that did the work, not Royal employees.

Hopefully you have before and after pictures of the botched job.  I haven't looked to see if you're still on board or if Indy changed today, but if you're still on board, definitely take it up with the spa people.  

There is an automatic gratuity added at the time of service -- nothing to be done about that -- but the additional $40 afterwards never should have happened.  

I get what you're saying but the salon was closed by the time we found out and again this morning before disembarkation. The cruise desk was told that and "not my problem" was the effective response. They did not answer when I asked what company is leasing that space. 

Too early to show up in cruise planner... Anyone have current pricing for it?

8 minutes ago, Cru1s1ng2009 said:

I am so sorry this happened to her. I am very vain about my hair and that would devastate me. I am also non confrontational and would smile while crying inside. 

I don't have the answer but they STOLE from you after you were generous and tipped them for poor service. 

I'm on the warpath... and seldom come out on the short end of things...

23 minutes ago, watson61 said:

I’ve never gotten a spa service on a cruise and am not tempted at all, especially after I heard about the hard sell for products that apparently is standard after every service.

She mentioned that they tried and she knows the game...

Guest Services guy was rude and did nothing for us.  Told me to bring it up with the spa but they were closed last night and this morning before disembarkation. I'l lean on RCL from the forums then directly... Absolutely unacceptable. Never had a problem in a dozen cruises until now...