FaithPlus1

Just curious what drinks you all like!

10 hours ago, RockHoundTX said:

My wife loves going to the gym and steam room as well. Based on sailings last year, steam room on the Quantum class has a cost (but gym is open until 1AM). Compare that to the Liberty class where they are free (but gym closes at 11PM). Just our personal experience (but seen RCL change policies on things week-to-week so always have to ask).  

Was there a steam room though in the bathroom of the fitness center?

6 hours ago, Biker19 said:

I don't remember one in the gym but you can also ask about this on other Q class ships (Anthem and Ovation) as their layout should be the same.

Both of them say yes, but many people say no on Quantum. I've also seen on a website with layouts and descriptions where people say that the gym has them, but then people on youtube said the fitness center has no locker room with no steam room. On RC's website it just says that amenities vary on ship so I emailed them but I don't expect to hear back anytime soon. 

I'm reading different things about this online. Does the fitness center have bathrooms that have a steam room available, or is it steam room free where you have to buy a spa pass if you want to use it in the spa? On many cruises that I have been on, there are 2 sets of steam rooms. The fancy ones in the spa, and the complimentary ones in the gym. Employees don't advertise that there are complimentary steam rooms and saunas because they want you to buy a thermal spa package. 

Has anyone here actually used the fitness center bathroom who can confirm this?

I saw on RC's website that you can now bring up to 12 cans of soda with you on emarkment day, however can you bring them onboard on a port day?

2 hours ago, OBX-Cruisers said:

I was also fascinated to see Icy Strait since it is featured in Michener's book "Alaska".  Main feaure is a restored fish cannery that now sells tourist stuff and a few food stands that ran out of food quickly

.  We went to "town" on the shuttle bus.  Don't blink.

Yeah when I first heard about Icy Strait I had a feeling it was another tourist trap created by the cruiselines. That said I have heard that it's a good place to just go whale watching from land without paying for a tour. I'm just up for somewhere that isn't Ketchikan or Skagway. 

2 hours ago, irishgal432 said:

Are there studios on Harmony?

 

From a RC blog, it looks like they have 3 studio interiors and 12 studio ocean view cabins. Info may be out of date though (it's from 2016). 

You had me curious so I looked on RC's website. In the plan for 4/4/21-4/24/22 it looks like they will have 15 studio oceanviews on deck 4, 

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Yes as long as it was same length, cabin category and a year away plus or minus 4 weeks

Ohhhh. I thought they were just being helpful! Oh well. 

13 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

You were the one that said it was different. I was just pointing out that different ports did not matter as long as it was the same itinerary TYPE

So any Alaskan cruise would have worked as long as it was 7 days and on RC?

9 hours ago, firefly333 said:

The waiting is going to be the hard part. I'm not patient. I like to book and go. All this planning ahead is well and great. The waiting is driving me c r a z y. 

 

2 months ahead to me is a really long time in advance. 

Yeah lol, I don't plan trips way in advance for that reason. I need more instant gratification :)

11 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Different itineraries are fine as long as the itinerary type is the same.  They will even allow a one way north or south to switch to a round trip.

 

 

How is that different though? Aside from Juneau, Victoria, and Dawes, the rest is the same. I'm just confused with the language. I never thought they would let me switch considering Ovation had plenty of dates next summer with the same room category. 

31 minutes ago, firefly333 said:

924 sounds like a good price for a studio balcony with insurance and a bit of obc.

 

Alaska is awesome, I'm so glad they let you protect you price and move it a year.

Me too. I didn't think they would let me switch ships since the itinerary is different, but they did. Looking at old emails when I booked last I had an oceanview guarantee on NCL which cost $753 including insurance, and then on an interior guarantee on NCL it cost $527 (no insurance). When I saw the price with a balcony, I finally decided to get one :)

Just wanted to share this because I know that there aren't that many studio balconies with unobstructed views. I booked my July 31 sailing on Ovation less than 2 weeks ago after using a website to look up prices which I cannot mention on here. I got the 7 night cruise for $924 including my choice of $55 OBC or insurance (I ended up getting both because they made an error in the listing). Naturally the cruise was canceled. 

I looked at the dates for next year and with the exception of one sailing, all the cabins left had obstructed views in their studio balconies. I did see an itinerary that I liked more than the one on Ovation on the Quantum (I've been on 2 Alaskan cruises before on NCL which were the same 7 night northern one out of Vancouver). That sailing had most of their unobstructed views left. I asked the agency I booked with if they could lift and switch me to that ship and they said that would probably be okay but that they had to check with RC because it was a different itinerary. I heard back and they were successful in getting me on that ship using the pricelock feature of the lift and shift promo.

This was my first experience using an agency (as well as with RC) and they left me with a good impression. Just wanted to share that it doesn't hurt to ask. I'm very excited because I've never been to Sitka or Icy Strait which are on this itinerary. This also is the first time where I have a cruise booked this far in advance (with the last 2 cruises, I booked within 2 weeks of the sail date because that's how I was able to get a much more reasonable rate as a solo cruiser). I have over a year to be excited instead of 2 weeks :)

It looks like they have already closed the Alaskan July bookings on their website because it says to pick another date. My cruise was for July 31 =/ I would lift and switch it but I was in a studio room with a non obstructed balcony and those are already gone. I guess it was worth the risk even though I did give RC an interest free loan. 

4 hours ago, SuperCrewBear said:

Thru the middle of September sunset won't be until around 8:30 PM. It will still be light enough to see fairly well until after 9:00 PM.

I think you meant to quote someone else. 

It may depend on your age as I don't know if there's that many people say past 45 looking strictly for uh something casual and fun. I went on a Caribbean cruise with friends in my early 20s. Met a ton of 20somethings and there definitely was a lot of "hooking up" going on. This was on a NCL ship before they became solo cruiser friendly. I went on 2 Alaskan cruises solo also on NCL. Neither had solo cabins. The first time I did meet someone and kept in touch with him after the cruise for a little bit (yeah we probably would have dated if we lived near each other). I met him in a hot tub. At the time I was too shy to go to the solo cruiser events. The last time was last year. I did go to the solo cruisers hosted meets and overall had a good time. There was someone I was crushing on, but he wasn't interested lol. 

I think generally if you show your face constantly at night in the clubs, you will probably meet someone just for fun. I just don't really do the club thing as I've never liked the atmosphere of them. 

On 5/28/2019 at 2:49 AM, lisakoivu said:

I hope you will jump back on and let us know if you were successful! One time I got an upgrade from inside to balcony for $75 bucks, and I'm still looking for a story to top that, lol. 

Okay so I'm revisiting my old posts and have a response for you lmao. Sorry that it's almost my 1 year anniversary of my post!

I had a guarantee interior cabin (what I called the inferior cabin heheh). I was invited to bid so I bid on the oceanview for every bid and never won. My cabin was okay. It was the last one down on my floor and next to wear the crew does laundry. It definitely felt smaller than the oceanview cabin that I had on the Sun 2 years prior (also was a guaranteed cabin), but the layout was completely different so that may have been why. TBH for me the location of where an interior cabin is located is not an issue since there is no view anyway, I'm fine not being down an elevator, and I'm fine wearing ear plugs to sleep. 

When I was on the Sun, my guaranteed oceanview was great (although I would never sail on the Sun again but that's another story!). My room had a comfortable layout (I was by myself though), and it was on the floor where the crew leaves the art for the art shows so I often saw them bring back and forth paintings. There were hardly any cabina there so it was quiet. I had a HUGE port hole with no obstructions. That said, it was on the same floor as where the walking/jogging path was so every now and then I would see people walking by (not a problem). On glacier days, people did often obstruct the view though since many would watch against the railing. It was a great spot for me because I was just a few cabins down to open the outside door and could watch there too.  

3 hours ago, PNW Traveler said:

Uber is easy when arriving at SeaTac airport.  You will walk from the main terminal across a skybridge to the parking garage, then follow the signs to Uber.  Look for a row of Uber cars waiting for passengers.

Embarkation - Seattle's cruise port embarkation has generally been organized with short lines.  If you just have carry-on luggage and no large bags, proceed past the porters and luggage drop-off directly into the terminal.

Regarding disembarkation - we usually walk off the ship with our bags.  There is often a short wait for prearranged shuttle services heading to SeaTac airport.  You may wait for a cab - taxi fares to the airport are flat rate.  There is a separate area for Uber but expect a short wait there also. 

Yeah I typically just bring a carry on and have just brought it on with me. It's not paranoia, I just don't see it as an inconvenience as say large luggage. Do you think there's less of a wait getting their early or getting there late? 

I've never been to the Port of Seattle, but to bypass long lines when waiting to leave, can you just walk a bit to catch the bus to take you to the light rail, or just walk away from the port to wait by yourself?

Unrelated how are you doing in WA right now?

22 minutes ago, scheat said:

Health stuff aside, as far as smell goes, this is an extremely subjective question.  I've seen non-smokers sitting in visual smoke saying its not that bad.  I've also seen a non-smoker see one person light up on the other side of a large outdoor area and literally run away from the area due to the "stench" within 10 seconds.  

For most non-smokers there will definitely be a "smoke smell" in the casino, but you'll end up having to judge this for yourself as far as the severity goes.

Did it smell good to you when you were in the casino on Ovation?

24 minutes ago, crilski said:

I did a Lift & Shift -  Same ship, one port changed.  But no 6D's were available - so had to go to a 4D.  Had to go from Deck 9 to Deck 8 - maybe they should have compensated me with a Drink Package!   😆

Okay this is good to know. I figured they would downgrade you instead of upgrade you, but my agent thought the opposite. For me it's a bigger issue because I'm in a studio balcony room. 

10 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

The smoke is pretty bad. And the organization of the non-smoking sections really don't help,,, you'll get smokey. But if you want to gamble, you'll get smokey. 

Okay thank you. I've just read all different things on here, but wasn't sure if maybe they changed their ventilation system, or made it nonsmoking altogether. 

I just saw that for $25, I get 2 drinks an $25 free play, but will skip now. 

9 hours ago, PhoenixCruiser said:

How do we even know that smoking will still be allowed when cruising returns? Don't waste energy until you need to.

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
 

I burn calories this way. 

7 hours ago, SNJCruisers said:

I'm inferring that you're flying in the morning of your embarkation day.  Let's hope that it's  not delayed because the ship will not wait for you.  Maybe embarkation time will be pushed back if there is going to be extended time disinfecting the ship on turnaround day.

This is why people fly in the day before, even if you need to work a full day, just catch a night time flight, stay at a cheap hotel at the airport and catch an Uber in the morning  to the cruise port.  Or roll the dice to save a few bucks.

Yeah that's why I asked. Normally I do fly in the day before a cruise, but there's several connections on Alaska from where I live to Seattle. 

I'll just Uber in. I think that ends up being more expensive for me (again 1 person) than doing a RC affiliated shuttle, but at least I wouldn't have to wait and wait. I just thought that the incentive (aside from convenience) of booking cruise transportation was a gurantee like they do with excursions. 

Have you been to the port of Seattle? Is embarkment and disembarkment as bad as I think it is based on the number of people on Ovation? I usually like to be one of the last ones on the cruise ship, and one of the first to leaves (I don't need valet assistance with luggage). Ovation would be the largest ship that I have ever been on and my first RC. 

2 hours ago, irishgal432 said:

I had an ultimate panoramic suite in Allute that is not being built. I cannot lift it because there is no other room available on that itinerary or any other ship. 

Did you just take a refund?

21 minutes ago, cruisinfanatic said:

If your flight is late enough you don't really think they'll wait just because you booked their shuttle do you?

They will with excursions even the less expensive ones.