vplsh

Ship - Carnival Breeze

Deck - 6

Stateroom # - 6403

Stateroom Category – Balcony

Starboard or Port Side - Starboard

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) – Yes 

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? - No

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. – Not really an unobstructed view, given that deck 5 is further out. Also, people would smoke on deck 5, even though that was not the side allowed. Guys Pig restaurant is to the right below this balcony, and you had a strong bbq smell during lunch hours. 

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? - Normal

Was wind a problem? - No

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? - No

Any specific problems with this cabin? - Balcony door didn't latch closed. Needed to throw the bolt. Light in cabin and above sink were burned out. Balcony was dirty!

On 12/8/2023 at 12:57 PM, Harters said:

Lisa - design your own walking tour on gpsmycity.com. I note Liverpool already has six walks mapped out. But you can plan your own - just select the places you want to visit and the website puts them into order. Really useful - I've done it for a couple of cities on our last cruise and have planned out one for Cadiz for a 2024 trip. 

 

https://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/liverpool-2632.html

 

As I think I posted upthread (or maybe on another), you can easily fill a day without leaving the waterfront. FWIW, I visit the city regularly and have never done any Beatles stuff (although I did go to see them when  they played Manchester in 1965). 

 

That's great information! Thank you!!

1 hour ago, pattypawz said:

@vplsh, that is great.  You are so right.  I had no idea just how expensive Amsterdam is and since we are getting a bit older, we want to fly business class.  This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us, and we are so looking forward to it.  And since you will be there before us, I hope to hear some comments and see some photos.  Best wishes, and happy holidays!

I’ll definitely report back!! Have a wonderful holiday!

@kazu @pattypawz Just booked the Banks. Decided to do the non-refundable rate as it was significantly less expensive.  My TA did our insurance so it's covered if we don't go. Final payment on our cruise (Royal Caribbean Jewel of the Seas) is due March 13, so we'll just add that cost into this policy.

Thanks again for all of your help with making this decision. Can't wait to try the Banks Mansion for ourselves!

56 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

 

Wonderful.  I booked the flex rate as well.  I booked too far in advance to do non refundable.  I would have booked non refundable when the timing was closer but the price had risen so much there would have been no benefit.  there was a lot going on in Amsterdam and all the hotel prices skyrocketed.  It pays to book early much of the time 😉 

It sounds like you got the Executive Room (I think that’s what it is still called).  DD DH and stayed in it the first time and loved it.  Since it’s just me now, the comfy room was more than adequate.

I usually do all my booking far in advance as well, but this cruise just snuck up on me. We did a 27 day back to back in October that consumed my planning for most of 2023, and I’m only now really starting to plan our cruise on Jewel of the Seas in June 2024 and finding I’m having to spend way more for an Amsterdam hotel and airfare than I’d expected. My travel agent (who is my sister ) is going to get our travel insurance in place before we book the non-refundable rate so that if anything changes and we need to cancel we will be covered. 
Thanks for all the information!! 

1 hour ago, pmjnh said:

 

@vplsh We booked Banks for next September  for 3 nights. We never pre-pay a hotel, especially non-refundable. We  called and spoke to someone at Banks as their website only gave the non refundable rates, and we booked the flexible rate over the phone. Honestly, the difference wasn't that much in comparison to other hotels' flexible rates and they offer so much more than the other hotels at the same rates.

 

Joan

Thanks for the info Joan! I’ll check that out. 

25 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Lisa, those 2 rooms are the same size normally (some rooms can be bigger than others).

For me, the comfy room is just fine.  You have good views of the canal from the library (where the wine and cheese is served and the bar is).  If I was going to pay a higher amount, I’d go for the bigger room.  No canal view but it’s a nice room.  The top room does have a canal view but it’s very pricey.

DD DH and I had a larger room with a canal view the first time we stayed there.  It was lovely but honestly, once we took a look, we rarely looked out again except to gage weather.    I could actually see some canal from my comfy room last time which was a surprise.  

If you will look out the window a lot, it’s probably worth it but there are lovely park benches right on the canal where you can sit and watch the world go by and a wonderful view in the library.

 

Several of my roll call stayed there on my recommendation.  They all thought that what I was saying was too good to be true and they all told me later I was right.  Everyone was very happy with the Banks.

Thanks so much for the response Jacqui!! Just have to decide whether to bite the bullet and pay now or wait a bit. 

On 10/6/2023 at 8:27 AM, kazu said:

So for those interested here are some pics of my room at the Banks Mansion.  it’s the cheapest one they have (comfy room).  Now all rooms are not the same size - like the beloved Prinsendam, they don’t have cookie cutter rooms.

My friends are in comfy room and have a bathtub and a shower (room description says shower).  My room is shower only.  If they weren’t already unpacked, she would have traded.  My aching legs needed a bath tub.  LOL.

 

 

Bed is very comfortable too.

 

 

 

 

 

Mini bar is all included of course 😉 

 

Hi Jacqui,

We are thinking of staying at the Banks in June and can't decide between the comfy room and the one with a canal view. What was your view from your comfy room, and did you find it noisy at all?

Thanks in advance!!

We will be in Liverpool in June on Jewel of the Seas. Way back in post 336 @Towncar T recommended a walking tour of the city. Tom, any ideas that are different to those you mentioned in that post? I love the idea of seeing the city without a tour. We're not Beatle fanatics, so I thought something more city oriented would be more our speed.

Thanks in advance!

Has anyone stayed at Charme 308? We've booked it for our pre-cruise stay in October. 

On 2/10/2023 at 4:50 PM, CruiseMomTX said:

That was our first thought not enough venues to use the UDP but we thought it sounded like a good price. We have not done the UDP since 2019 and only on an Oasis class ship but thought we might like the variety since it is a longer sailing for us.  We could enjoy some nice lunches on sea days.  Do you know if we can do lunch on embarkation day in a specialty restaurant?  

 

We just got off the Radiance 10 night and it was amazing! We had the UDP and loved it. We made a list of all the dates and times we wanted and headed to Chops for lunch when we got on and had the maitre d there make all our reservations. Any changes you want to make you can do in the app once you’re sailing. 
We ate in Chops three nights and two lunches (ask for Linda and tell her Lisa and Steve say hi!), Giovanni’s four nights(Dorian and Christian are great waiters) and two lunches, Samba grill twice and Izumi once for dinner and once for lunch. 
We loved the UDP and even with just a few restaurants to alternate, we weren’t tired of any. 

Update on Via Zara. I messaged them through their Facebook page and received responses. Apparently they are no longer self service, however they are open from 9-6. 

We booked Charme 308 for 3 nights prior to our back to back in October. @cruisemom42would you have any knowledge of this hotel? It looks to be in a good location for all the things we would like to do. I'd be interested in any info anyone has! Thanks in advance!

20 hours ago, euro cruiser said:

Well, they have a Facebook page but the last post was in 2020.  You might want to reach out to them and see:  Via Zara Wash & Dry

Thanks! Will do!

On 6/1/2021 at 1:49 PM, marazul said:

Well, it still exists according to google street view!  (And I am with your DW - no laundry days in port for us.)

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0907105,11.7935303,3a,75y,152.05h,90.99t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sQ7bqShkGXca9bYE1JpFqBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656?hl=en

On 6/1/2021 at 4:58 PM, euro cruiser said:

Yes, but that street view is from August 2018.  Fingers crossed it's still there.

Does anyone know if this place still exists? We are doing a back to back in October, 12 nights and then a 15 night transatlantic. We do get free laundry on the ship, but we will need to wash some other items that we don't want to send to the ship's laundry. We thought we could go here on the turn around day. Any info on whether it is still there would be appreciated!

We booked our three night pre cruise stay at Charme 308. Looks like a great location and reasonable price for a nice b and b. Anyone familiar with it?

12 hours ago, sunsetme said:

are only the casino people getting upgrades??

16 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

no, I got an upgrade on a regular rate

We bid $360 total for an upgrade on Discovery Princess from an obstructed balcony guarantee (DW category) to a mini-suite. We received it last week and our cruise sails November 26. We were given an MC category on deck 8 and were able to move to a different cabin within that category so chose one on the Marina deck. That's typical for upgrades or guarantees- you can move the cabin within the category as long as there are cabins available. 

We are having the same discussion. Looking forward to any suggestions others may have.

On 10/25/2022 at 3:03 PM, cruisemom42 said:

 

I have walked by the Pantheon Iconic hotel several times since it opened in 2018 (and while it was being renovated). It is in a wonderful location just behind the Pantheon and very close to Piazza Navona and Campo dei Fiori which is just a bit further.

 

It looks like a great place if you have the points. 

 

Not familiar with the W Hotel itself, but the location is farther out, not as close to the three places I mentioned above (which I consider the heart of the historic area).

 

Thank you @cruisemom42! The Pantheon Iconic Hotel is our first choice!

17 hours ago, llhillman said:

 

Thank you for the info!!

So much great information on this thread! Thanks so much!!

We will be in Rome for a back to back on Odyssey next October. My question is about using Marriott points for a hotel. We are looking at either the W Hotel or the Pantheon Iconic Rome Hotel, as they look to be closest to Campo de Fiori. Would anyone have any experience/opinion on these or any other of the Marriott properties? Thanks in advance!

Wow! Thanks for this amazing thread. It’ll take me a while to get through all the info before I’ll know what to ask. We are doing a back to back on odyssey out of Rome next October and are looking to stay in Rome a couple of nights before. We love food and wine tours if anyone has any recommendations. 

Yes, it is. We were on Navigator last week and had a great lunch at JR. You will have $20 per person credit. We only spent $14 for the two of us.

3 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Maybe seeing this thread again will help others for getting their Suites back that Royal said weren't available. Royal opened up cabins again right after the deadline.

Not a big surprise but there are currently only JS guarantees available. Will continue to check to see when they start opening up cabins directly.

1 hour ago, turquoisewater said:

I got my response from Emed:  Thank you for contacting eMed. 
 
 
I understand you may have some concerns about the expiration date on your BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card  HOME TEST kits.  
 
The BinaxNow COVID-19 test kits were originally made in a bulk in late 2020 thru early 2021 and was approved for testing by the FDA under the EUA (Emergency Use Authorization).  The test kits have an original expiration date of September 2021, October 2021, and November 2021.  Effective immediately, these expiration dates have since been extended for an additional 6 months by the FDA making the new expiration dates **March 2022, April 2022, and May 2022. 
 
**The new expiration date will be determined by the date you have on each test kit. Please take a look at second line of the white label to find the original expiration date. Once you locate the original expiration date, you can add an additional 6 months to that date. 
 
For example, if if your current expiration date is September 6, 2021, your new expiration date is now March 6, 2022.
 
Please note, if your purchase was made on or after December 1, 2021, you should have received test kits with an expiration date in October 2022 or November 2022.  These particular kits are not under the extension at this time since they were just recently manufactured.
 
When you are ready to test, please visit www.emed.com and click on "start testing".  Once your test kit expiration date falls within the afore mentioned dates, you will be able to test with no issues.
 
For more information regarding the extension date extension, you may visit www.fda.gov or click on the actual link to the FDA extension letter:  https://www.fda.gov/media/155326/download
 
 
Thank you for choosing eMed.
 
 
Best,
eMed Customer Support Team

This is such helpful information. Thank you for sharing it. We have two tests left that have current expiration dates of October 2021, so we can still use them until April, which will cover our next cruise in March!!

We decided to switch to the October 1 8 night cruise on Allure in a balcony. When our TA called on Sunday to make the changes, she was able to get them to hold 7626, a J3 cabin, for us until revenue opened on Monday morning. She was told that they had J3 cabins available but that they weren't open for booking due to limiting of capacity. When she called back yesterday morning, she was able to get 6640, a J3, booked for us. Apparently they didn't have a record of the hold put on 7626. That worked for us, but then yesterday evening she got a phone call from the agent she'd spoken to on Sunday, who had noticed that we were in a different cabin and made the change back to 7626 for us. 

Needless to say both our TA and we were both surprised and delighted to have this level of customer service from someone at Royal Caribbean.