uvadover

Looking to rent a Jeep in Santorini and/or Mykonos when we are there on the Odyssey of the Seas next month.  25 years ago we rented ATVs, but with kids we now need a Jeep.  Back in the day, we just walked into town and found a place to rent one - left our passport as "collateral" and paid via cash.  Are Jeep rentals easy to come by by walking into town?  Or is there a site to reserve one to rent for the day?  Would love to spend the time driving around the island and enjoying the beaches.

1 hour ago, smokeybandit said:

There are hundreds.

Thanks for at least one.

13 hours ago, Ret MP said:

I think, which means it is my opinion, is that the big complaint was of those folks that come out early in the morning and plop their towel or whatever down on the chair/lounger and leave to go to breakfast, an excursion, or be gone for hours before returning.  I don't know about anybody else, but, I don't have a problem with people that are actually active around the pool/beach area and leave their stuff on a chair while they take a swim, go to the restroom, go grab an ice cream cone, go grab a drink from the bar, or go to the (Labadee/Coco Cay for example) buffet to grab a lunch or snack and bring it back.  So, I'm not for a blanket policy of no reserved chairs/loungers.  Maybe it should be a timed thing, not a utilization thing (and maybe it is a timing thing but I haven't read anything about that, yet).  Chairs left unattended for more than an hour, for example, will have the belongings removed.  

Pretty sure everyone on earth agrees with you.  This is the defintion of not chair hogging.  Going to the pool, or to pee, or to quickly grab food isn't hogging.  It's losers who put a pair of flip flops on a chair at 6am, only to return at 3pm for an hour - that's the issue that finally needs to be fixed.

I pondered this a few years ago, on a cruise that was ultimately cancelled due to COVID.  We chose Alaska because of the Ovation of the Seas - seemingly more wow for the kids.  The Norway itinerary was perhaps the Serenade of the Seas - still a great ship, but seemingly less kid friendly.  Also know the Alaska ports are more touristy, but they seemed more accessible for kids.  Can't go wrong either way, though.  I was on the fence, too.\

Total aside, but we are using our COVID cruise credits to sail on Odyssey in August.  Europe is amazing, though a different climate/dynamic between Norway and the Greek Isles.

Words what?

The good news is that everyone who declines the auto-gratuities comes on this board to boast how they over-tip, in cash, to all of the support staff, seen or unseen during the cruise.

Do 75% of cruisers sail for a free second lobster tail?  The disproportionate amount of posts and comments about them are insane.  FWIW, lobster is extremely easy to cook at home.  Most grocery stores run specials, even better at Costco or Sam's.  For easily $5-10 a tail, you can eat until stuffed.  Steam or broil for a few minutes, melt some butter, and you are all set.

On 2/5/2023 at 7:45 PM, noche_caliente said:

I found this thread researching what to do when we return to Naples in June, as I did the Vesuvius/Pompeii combo on my honeymoon in 2003 and LOVED it.  I was actually disappointed that we do not have that as an option through NCL.  I would do the same in a heartbeat(though I could do without the cameo factory).  When we were there it was in a heatwave with temperatures reaching 40*C that week.  It was for sure hot, but if you have plenty of water and a good hat to keep sun off your face and neck, it is doable.  I am jealous you have the option.

Bonus - we have a great pic of Capri from the top of the volcano

So this post is EXACTLY why I am here.  My wife and I were in Naples for our honeymoon in 2002 and did a Pompeii/Vesuvius combo and it was absolutely amazing.  We are sailing with the whole family on RCCL in August and they don't appear to offer a similar excursion.  There are tours of Pompeii but seemingly nothing to Vesuvius.  Does anyone have some recommended 3rd parties who might offer a tour that offers both?

Definitely fine.

We are headed back to Naples via cruise for the first time in nearly 20 years - Odyssey of the Seas in August 2023.  At the time, we booked an excursion that allowed us to walk Mt Vesuvius, then visit the ruins of Pompeii later in the day.  Does something comparable no longer exist?  So far, I don't see it in the Cruise Planner.  Plenty of options to Pompeii, but none to include the Vesuvius excursion.

Yes, I am sure you are going to individually tip the towel attendants.  This is next level funny post.

I am booked on the 8/13 sailing.  Hope it doesn't suffer the same fate.  Such a weird circumstance.  Sorry it happened to you.

There is absolutely no noise difference between an adjoining and a non-adjoining cabin.  There are back-to-back doors between the two cabins.  If anything, that might be a bit MORE of a sound dampener than just the wall.  But this is a total non-issue.

Booked on Odyssey for August 2023 out of Rome, but already considering things like The Key, Drink Package, and/or Specialty Dining.  Any deals that are legitimately worth locking in now, or are there plenty of opportunities to buy-in for just a few bucks different?  Assume this would apply to most, if not all, ships, so posted a new thread.

1 hour ago, FishOn55 said:

Yes, I am one of those who  choose to cruise partly because of the shows. I don't have the chance at home to see a production show, ice show, Aqua Theater show, live comedy show, etc. during a weeks time. I read at home and live in Florida so have the advantage of tropical sun almost every day. On board, I would certainly enjoy not having to make beds, cook and cleanup. While I understand why those shows were cancelled, I would be very bored every evening on board with no scheduled entertainment and would be disappointed had I found that out once onboard.

I feel the same way, and am shocked at some of the vitriol in this thread along the lines of "at least you are on a boat in the Carribbean."  Cruising, especially on a huge ship like Oasis Class, is the whole experience - it's big shows, nightclubs, shopping on board, huge casino, grabbing pizza at Sorrento's, Flo Rider, etc.  Not only are those activities fun on their own, but they spread people out across the ship - which is especially critical during a holiday sailing.  Without a majority of these activities, it could absolutely be "boring" for a family.

I don't think anyone is saying this is Royal's fault per se, but to dismiss someone's disappointment, frustration, and even anger is completely absurd.  And "you chose a holiday week, so it's supposed to be a cluster" is not an answer either.  My family sailed on Oasis for New Year's 2020 and, while super packed, it was a tremendous experience.

22 hours ago, miraflores said:

I am currently onboard the Ovation of the Seas, and was recently interviewed by Vice.  Here's a link:

https://www.vice.com/en_au/article/v7g8k3/what-its-like-maintaining-an-empty-cruise-ship-liner-during-covid

 

I also made a video ship tour that you can see here:

 

Super cool.  Bittersweet because we were supposed to be on Ovation in Alaska last month.  Hope to make the voyage one day.

Would be super interesting to hear ongoing updates of daily life from the bare bones crew who remain on the ships.  I always enjoyed the YouToob Chris fellow, who was most recently a casino host on Oasis.  Are there any sources for lore/photos from what ship life is like these days?

1 hour ago, puerto penasco lady said:

I am totally depressed.  Just called my travel agent and cancelled 10 of the 15 cruises I had booked this year.  I had already had 5 others cancelled.  Now I have nothing until Nov 22, not sure I can survive that long.  I would have made Pinnacle in February, but now who knows....I hate this damn virus.

 

Brenda

This is the most Cruise Critic-est post ever.

I just never realized it had left Yokahama.  Became a fixture there for many months.  

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but I noticed on the marine traffic site that, after an extended stay in Yokahama, the Diamond Princess is sailing again.  Feels like a noteworthy milestone.  

22 hours ago, uvadover said:

Anyone call yet about this?  Admittedly I was being lazy and hoping that there would be an update via email of a system glitch and that all was fixed, but nothing yet.  Also tweeted RCL and got no response.  

I can answer my own question.  Got a response via Twitter and they indicated it was a glitch that affected a small number of folks.  They corrected my credit and re-issued via email.  The full $250 per person, must be applied by 12/31/21 for a sailing by 4/30/22.  All set.

Anyone call yet about this?  Admittedly I was being lazy and hoping that there would be an update via email of a system glitch and that all was fixed, but nothing yet.  Also tweeted RCL and got no response.  

I still need to figure out the right thing to do with my Ovation 8/7 sailing, because final payment date is this week.  Long story short, I have a non refundable deposit down for 2 cabins (family of 5), and have paid approximately half the total cruise fare via installments over the course of late last year - yes, an interest free loan etc but helps me stash money away for a trip.  There is zero chance I am taking the family on a cruise in August, so what is the right course of action?  Can I get the money above/beyond the deposit refunded, then apply the deposit amount to a cruise in 2021?  That would be ideal at this stage.  Interested in what I could/should do.

Good signs, for sure.  I think it's odd that Chris has gone so sparse with his content after such a blitz to capture readers in recent weeks/months.  Perhaps he's under agreement with RCCL not to share much, if anything.