Snowey88

(I just read all adults over 18 in cabin have to buy the pkg. ) 1 PKG would be enf drinks for me but that is still a lot of $$$ since we are doing a 13 day cruise.  Next cruise is w X and we did all included but it was 10 days but still cheaper.

Thanks for the review.  We were on the same time as you.

My favorite excursion was with "Sandy Hoofs" in St. Lucia.  Operator sent us a driver at $20 pp.  We had a 2 hour horseback ride.  I was able to go bareback and swim w the horse for about 20 seconds.  It was awesome.  The charge was $99 pp.  Not a ship excursion.  Facility was about a 30 min. drive.  You have to be able to walk up a steep rutted hill with rocks to get to stables.  Scenery was wonderful!  Got to ride on 2 smaller deserted beaches.   I did a roll call on another site with ship, title and date of cruise.

Our cruise leaves 1/2/2023 on the Equinox and sure hope the decorations stay!

On 7/7/2021 at 9:51 AM, cos24 said:

Animal Flower Cave (my favorite)

Looked at Flower Cave and the restaurant is kind of pricey.  Was wondering if it was in $$.  It does have a $ sign.  The cave tour is in Bds.  Kind of confusing.  I sent an email but was wondering if anyone knows here.

I gave up a few months ago trying to reach the CC.  I decided to try about 25 minutes ago today and go in after 20 minutes of holding.  Yea!  Thanks Mrs. Tiki!  I had opened the Visa, charged the required amount and did receive the $200 credit.  In addition, the CC added the $100 promised to my account for my next trip!  I filled out something when I got the credit card statement with the credit indicated for $100 but you have to call CC to get it applied (doesn't tell you that or I did not see it anywhere).

THanks!

Claudia -

I WANNA GO

1 hour ago, mauimary said:

This is exactly why we keep hand sanitizer in our pocket. We are constantly using it after exiting elevators and touching anything.  We use it immediately after picking up our things after the X-ray machine.   Wash wash wash.  So far it has saved us!  I know I am a little overboard on this.  We have never gotten ill  on any of our cruises from Noro or anything else. 

I respect that!  We just came back from Alaska via Solstice and had a great time. I hate the hand sanitizer.  I feel that the more you use it the more we create super bugs.  ie, soon nothing is going to kill the germs.  LOL.  I have never had Covid, am vaxed & boosted.  We sat at the martini bar maskless and at dinner but was just with my husband.  On the plane coming, were were 1.5 hours on the ground and most of the plane was maskless.  I felt like if anytime I was going to get it it, it was then.  I was not happy with DH since he took his mask off.  I guess it is the luck of the draw.  We had a great time.  We did not ride the elevators most of the time but I guess it just takes 1x.   I am blessed.  btw, I am O+ and I think this is in my favor, but who knows?  Oh, and I did wear a mask in crowded areas.

16 hours ago, mahdnc said:

That makes sense.  I know on our last cruise aboard Infinity there was a vending machine for medicine and bandaids located outside the dispensary.  So that is gone, too?

 

Or perhaps Celebrity is going to market a medical package to go with the Drink and WiFi packages.

 

 

Not a big deal.  They have them at the pier.  Make sure you have completed the ck in on the app.  Sometimes that triggers the email for the tags.

Sorry for ghosting this thread.  The internet connection was terrible. I did not get the upgrade package.  I spent way too much time trying to do stuff on my phone.  The X app kept saying that they were putting the finishing touches on and so it was basically useless.  Worked ok before we boarded.  

We had a wonderful cruise.  WE are not game playing/theater people so we did not go to any shows.

WE spent a lot of time before dinner at the Martini bar.  We sat on the ends so we would not be so crowded but let's face it, it is a cruise.

We rode the elevator when empty and maybe 10% of the time when peeps were in it.  Tried to mask when could.  Never had Covid.  I decided before we left that it is what it is.

Oh, the Pike Market is packed and would recommend a mask.  I bought flowers to bring to the ship for $20-$30.  After the cruise, we found a nice place at the market that had good food and was not swamped.  Emmett Watson's Oyster Bar.  It is a little hard to find but that is what made it not so crowded.  Near a public restroom.  Across from Market.  I had the mixed basked, clams, shrimp, etc.  My DH found the place and called me.  I had to have a local show me where it was.  He initially stopped there for a beer but we decided to order.

We had quite a bit of CC so I reserved the EAgle float (Haines).  It was a HUGE job getting there for litterly nothing.  Was not happy.  I am a professional photographer and was thinking this would be the highlight of the cruise.  The operators were  all professional, not their fault. I fault Celebrity in that it was just too early to do this trip.  Nothing to see.  One eagle does not cut it for me.  I know animals don't just show up because we are there.  I have many pictures of eagles and it was basically a float trip with having to hassle with putting on boots, raincoat, getting in boat,  taking a ferry to get there and a bus ride!  It is all in the lit so I was not surprised.  X should not have started this trip at over $400 for a couple to see what you can see on the ship.  Disappointed.  

With that being said, we did do 14 years ago a heli landing on a glacier.  That was other worldly and worth the money.  We did the Juneau Whale watching with an ind. and were on a nice small boat.  The ride was surprisingly smooth and not many people!!  The same or cheaper than X.  We did see 3 whales but don't expect them to jump fully out of the water.  I have some nice tail photos.

We ended up in the MDR on day 2 with a 10 top to ourselves!  Not sure why but we loved it.  We were next to a very cool group that have been traveling for years.  It was fun to see them with their games and trinkets they brought on the ship.  We were even honored with a mini British flag, and 2 flapping butterfly thingies.

Ship was 1/2 full and we had plenty of room to spread out.  There were times where we ate our breakfast at the last table where the door opens on the aft in the Ocean View Cafe.  We tend to eat breakfast later than most so by the time we wanted lunch the Cafe was closing a lot of the stuff down.  Pizzia & pasta was available.  YUM.  I understand they need to get ready for dinner.  Just be aware when you decide to eat a late lunch.

Our waiter and staff were wonderful.  He was an X chef from the Philippines.  He was pretty all business but at the end, we did get him to warm up.  VERY efficient.  Had wonderful selections.  One of the items on the menu was Chilean Sea Bass and you would never know it because the words were not on the menu.  He recommended it but I could not find it on the menu to look at it again.  He pointed out which one it was and again nothing to indicate Sea Bass.  He asked if I wanted the skin.  Don't think so but he persuaded me to try it!!!  YUM.  They make it crunchy.  Anyway, don't dismiss what the waiters recommend and ask questions.  I love different foods and it was fun to try them.  I had escargot almost every nite.

Room attendant was efficient.  We are not fussy people.  We got what we needed and did not lack of anything.

Skagway we just got off the ship and asked a cab driver to take us somewhere.  We  settled on going to a lake and having him pick us up in 2 hours.  Around $90.  We hiked around the lake and enjoyed it.  The weather was beautiful.

Oh, when we got back, it was so sunny outside that we sat outside the Oceanview Cafe (aft) and that is when it happened!!!  I was looking at the mtn. and town when all of a sudden an eagle was coming my way (deck 14).  I took my small lens off and snapped on the large lens and the eagle went parallel to me and soft of hovered there!!!!!!!!!!!!  THE MOST awesome pictures!  I was rewarded!!!  If he would have went fast, it would have been blurry since I had the settings at 1000 sec.  WOW.

Don't miss Tracy Arm and the Glacier.  We could not get very close, however, we have been to AK 2 other times and we were not disappointed.  It was soooo beautiful.  You have to get up early to enjoy it.  We took lots of pictures.

I had quite a bit of CC so, I had 89 left at the end of the trip.  I had already hit the stores so I ordered the digi pkg.  I made sure we and myself got lots of pictures.  I had no intention of buying them.  Don't need prints of us, however, with the digi pkg, you can enjoy them on your device.  Glad I camped it up on some of the photos.

Sorry again for disappearing.  I am not sure if you get the upgraded wifi you will be much happier.  I did not let it spoil my VACAY.  My DH needs Wifi to keep in touch with his clients so it was kind of a buzz kill at times.

Claudia

On 5/13/2022 at 3:05 AM, Fly and Sail said:

PS: Don't expect the wifi to work, no matter what package you have - it was a disaster!

We just got back from the 5/6 sailing.  Funny, the last ship & destination we sailed to was AK and on the same ship 14 years ago!  Had a fab time and loved it being 1/2 full.  Yes, it would have been nice to have the upgrades but the VIEWS!!!  That is what you go to AK for.  Never went to a show!  We had a 10 top table to ourselves!!!

At Tuscan Grill  2nd seating everything is perfect.  Had escargot as starters.  So good.  Veal next.  BREAD great. DH says mom.

6 hours ago, TomBeckCruise said:

Aren't covid test free at CVS and Walgreens?  Ours were a month ago.

Guess it is state specific.  Here in TX u have to be experiencing symptoms or be exposed.  United HC does not pay for travel tests.

You might already know this but they must be proctored.

6 hours ago, Justprettynpink said:

 

My insurance will reimburse me for the home tests so it wouldn't be a waste 🙂

make sure because my insurance only pays for medically necessary, ie, exposed to Covid, feeling sick and not for travel.  Funding for travel has dried up.  I just found out yesterday.  You can use the tests you get for free called IHealth I and find an on line proctor.  Just be aware that I tried to use the IHealth proctor for the kit I already have and they said they were SOLD OUT.  I don't know if they are sold out if you ordered the kit with them with the proctoring included.  I tried to setup an appointment with IHealth  for tomorrow and had to scramble for another method that does not cost $100+ pp.

With all due respect, they are in the cruise business.  I am not going to worry anymore except, LOL, for our tests tomorrow at noon.  It is what it is.  

Thank you, but, don't you have to tell them that you were exposed or think you have Covid?

8 hours ago, Chloe168 said:

Has anyone that cruised gotten covid test for travel at walgreen , cvs etc or any urgent care?  Is it covered by insurance?  

our insurance does not cover for travel.  We got the free IHealth Covid kits.  I think anyone can order them.  I noticed they can proctor the kits.  Went on their website and tried to get a proctored test for a kit I already have and it is SOLD OUT!  Not sure if you order from them if it is the same.  Too late for me to order, so after an extensive google search, there is a testing company in Canada that is VERY responsive and it is only $20 plus tax to schedule a proctor test.  They let you see the dates avail. before ordering.  I spent hours trying to fig. out what to do.  This was my most reasonable choice.  I looked them up with the BB bureau and they are good.  Also, they test US people also.  They are based in Canada.  I made sure of that before I scheduled a zoom test.  Hope this saves some people time!  I spent most of my morning on phone with insurance and different test companies.  Quest Diagnostic is the next best choice but more $$.

On 4/29/2022 at 5:35 AM, Tigrou said:

 

I'm very sorry to hear your news Jim.  I hope you continue to feel okay and that Iain is okay too.

 

Interesting info about the Red Zone.  Earlier in the week someone posted that they were being isolated in their own cabin (Deck 10, I think it was), which could indicated the Red Zone was full then as you've been told it is today.  However, someone on FB (Celebrity Silhouette group) has posted that they and their wife tested positive yesterday and have been moved to the Deck 3 Red Zone.  I'm just wondering how space became available yesterday, has there been enough time on this cruise for someone to complete their quarantine and be released?

please excuse the humor, catch & release!  So sorry for your news, bet it will be fine but missing the next cruise is heart breaking.  

I have always used a TA but I have not cruised since 2009 and I just made the reservations and forgot about using a TA.  She took care of price drops. 

I just reviewed what I sent into X and realized I did not have the same package as the orig. one.  I had no idea that it did not include the elevate pkg.  It looked like it did from the web page.  Needless to say, I redid it with the elevate package added in and sent in the "price guarantee form".  I immediately got an answer back:  "

"Hello,  Thank you for your submission. We have submitted your OBC request for review. Once confirmed an invoice will be generated reflecting the non-refundable OBC value. If for any reason, the booking does not qualify, notification will be emailed to the address on the booking.
Thank you,
Best Price Guarantee Team
Royal Caribbean"

The form that I sent in 8 days ago got ZERO response.  Not even a rejection and when I called they asked me to wait a few days.  So glad I resubmitted.  These boards have been very helpful.  Thank you!

Also, I had no idea there was a non refundable/refundable deposit.  Those both matched but I needed to add the elevate pkg to show that my price was almost $500 higher.  

So make sure when you send in the Best Price Guarantee form you are comparing everything with your first package.  Hope this helps someone.

I hope I did it right this time and get the credit.

Claudia   

Update:  Still no on board credit.  We sail next Fri.

It is now 1 wk from sending in paperwork.

Claudia 

12 minutes ago, jelayne said:

I would give it a couple of days before calling  and check your Cruise Planner to see if the OBC has been posted before calling.

Thank you.  OBC was not posted to our Cruise Planner.  

And, it was Wed. afternoon that I sent the request and Friday I resent (to make sure they got it) and got this:

"Thank you for contacting us. This is an automated confirmation that your email has been received. Our representatives will reply to your inquiry in the order in which it was received. Please reply only if you need to provide additional information related to your original email. Follow-up emails regarding the status of your query may further delay your response.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to service your request."

I just got off the phone with a nice rep and she said to give it a few days.  They are busy.  She could not do anything.

Thanks for everyone's help.  At least I know if I get the credit, i need to use it on board.

Cruise date is May 6th.  I booked directly with X.  Final payment paid.  I see now I get OBC.  The guy who I initially got on the phone with gave me two different answers.  I thought maybe to give it some time.  I guess I will call again.   

I haven't cruised in 12 years so I forgot about checking the prices.  In the past I have always used a TA and forgot about her.  She was great.  I need to look her up for next time.

Can you use OBC to do a move up bid?  

Thanks,

Claudia

Has anyone used the Best Price Guarantee recently?  Our cruise price dropped a considerable amount.  I filled out the proper paperwork and emailed it with attachments with price paid and a screenshot of X's own website with the lower price.  All offers are the same but the cabin price.  It has only been since Friday but was wondering how long it takes to get a response.  THank you.  Claudia

19 hours ago, mikewomb said:

I have cancelled a few appointments for this week just not to have anyone in my face. We do our test at Walgreen on the 4th and fly on the 5th, and board on the 6th. We love South America and know how disappointing not being able to do your Peru trip. Have you done the 2 weeks around the Horn. We have done that several times and it was just as enjoyable each time. Is someone watching your parrots? Our dog sitter is so good about keeping my plants healthy…it really is a lot of work to get ready to go somewhere..more now than ever. 

Our kids are evangelists.  They have been living close to the Brazilian boarder.  We spent one week in Lima and another in Pucallpa.  They have been there for 3+ years.  One of our grands were born there! and we just got to see him just before his 1st birthday.  My DIL tested + and just had a scratchy throat!  Our usual parrot sitter does not do stairs anymore and my new substitute has to go to a graduation in Tucson.  I am having a neighbor who is a nurse (man) who has never been in my house! take care of them. Wow, 2 weeks around the Horn, no we have not done that!  2 weeks in Peru was the longest of any vacation, well maybe our transatlantic years ago was 14 days.  My neighbor has a garage that is all organized, not us!  Hope he does not get lost in our house!  LOL