njmomof2

As stated above, most of the time 3rd and 4th passengers are lower priced than the 1st and 2nd passengers. But most lines will average out the price so that it's shown as a per person price (total price $2,000; per person price $500/pp), rather than showing 1st and 2nd at $750/pp and 3rd/4th at $250/pp.

Most of the lines will offer either a kids sail free or 3rd/4th sail free at different times and on different ships/routes. You just need to keep looking. And even when they don't pay cruise fare, they will pay taxes and port charges.

I think medical evacuation is extremely important. Just saw a story last night on Nightly News about a woman who was medically evacuated for injuries and ended up with a bill over $30,000 from the medical transport company after her insurance paid only a very small portion.

Now I'm sure this was a domestic incident of an accident or injury and the medical personnel where she was taken deciding she needed upgraded care somewhere else. But, if medical flight transport could cost over $30,000 within the US, I don't want to think of the cost if you're out of the country and need to be brought home. I know I don't have that kind of money laying around, and once I leave the US, my medical won't cover me.

I always purchase a policy with $1 million in medical evacuation for piece of mind. I suggest you look at www.insuremytrip.com or www.squaremouth.com for more information and the ability to compare policies and the things that are important to you when you travel.

As stated above, they don't open reservations for dining until 90-120 days out of sailing. However, since they could decide to offer specials at any time, it pays to keep checking back into your cruise planner and see if something pops up. You might be lucky enough to catch a beverage package sale at some point or a dining package special.

It's hard not to be excited, even when your cruise is 10 months away. Just keep checking.

I don't know what deck plans they are looking at, but I'm with MM. That cabin is a double occupancy room and only has set beds for 2 people. It might have a sofa, and they figure they can throw a sheet on it and make it a bed at night, but it is not a "sofabed".

I just sent Mr. Frau another email asking the same question second time, to put in writing that our room will have a sofa bed. Here is the copy/paste of what I wrote:

 

"Dear Mr. Frau:

Can you put in writing that our room will have a sofa bed as you told me on the phone? In your previous email it only said "your stateroom will be able to accommodate your three guests" it doesn't not say anything about the sofa bed.

Accomodate 3 guests can meant anything such as put in a roll away bed for 3rd person.

I'm hoping it is not a roll away bed which will put near the sofa and put a sheet or mattress on top to join the roll away bed with the sofa.

I'm expecting a room designated for 3 which will have a sofa bed. A sofa bed is a bed that fold out from a sofa and during the day time I can fold it and tuck it away inside of the sofa.

Thanks

"

I need to comment on your last paragraph. You are aware that a "sofabed" on Royal is not like a sofabed in a hotel or even one you have at home in your office should a guest come over.

They are regular sofas, and they pull the seat part forward and the backs flatten down, and they put a sheet over the seating part and the back part, which is now flat, and it becomes a bed. When they used to have the foam mattress toppers, we'd sometimes get those as well, but I understand those are gone for sanitary reasons. So if you're expecting a pull out bed that comes from underneath the cushions, you're definitely not getting that in any form.

You finally hit up the MDR for the fabulous Tutti Salad Bar! One of our absolute favorite things on the ship. It looks like the Jewel's is more like the one on Freedom, unlike the super small one they have on Anthem that is somewhat of a disappointment.

The chicken sliders are made from ground chicken and grilled like a hamburger. I'm sure you were thinking that they were probably going to be small fried chicken patties or something like that. We've learned to skip that one since neither of my boys like ground chicken burgers!

Looking forward to reading about your final days in PR.

Oh, and since today is National Nurses Day, a big THANK YOU to you for all that you do for your patients every day!!!!

ETA: Just saw the pictures from Pigeon Park. It's obvious that Sakari is a bird whisperer too, but I have to say, having grown up in NYC with lots and lots of pigeons, this one is something I'd be fine missing. To me, pigeons are gross, dirty birds and I just hate them. I'm glad she enjoys them and it appears that they really liked her too. But for me, nope!

Thanks for the quick responses. I've noticed that when choosing 2 vs 3 people, the room numbers you can choose are different, even though they have the same square footage and furnishings in them. Like someone above said, they're technically different room classifications, which I think is a bit of trickery on their part. Anyway, I guess I need to make another friend before September so I can get 2 rooms.

It's not trickery.

Rooms that hold 2 people don't have a sofabed or pullman for the 3rd and/or 4th person. Often, a double occupancy room has a chair or a sofa that does not convert.

So they may be the same square footage, but they are not classified the same. Triple/quad rooms almost always have a premium attached to them. You can't add a third/fourth to a double occupancy room, so you need to change categories and that generally means more money. Sometimes the third person is much less, other times, if the ship is selling very well for triple/quad bookings, that third person may be hundreds more than passenger 1 and 2.

It's just the way it is. And it's almost always the same on any line. Like anyplace else, rooms that hold multiple people are less available, and therefore more money.

Thanks for the replies.

The only one that actually has any interest in the alcoholic options in the CL is my friend (the wife). Husband doesn't drink and kids are underage, so she's thinking that her heading to the CL on her own is an opportunity for a little private time with a glass of wine LOL!

I've told her that if it's important, she can ask the concierge, but not to count on it. She's fine with that.

Thanks all.

I will also be on the June 2nd sailing.

 

He'll definitely be doing some kind of presentation. He sounds really excited about it. This is a long podcast from him a few days ago. Watch what he says at the 15 min. and the 1:08 min. marks and tell me what you think. He says that he'll have lots of surprises for us.

 

 

 

 

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Completely off topic of this live thread, which is absolutely terrific, BTW, but if you guys are going to see Wyland you're in for a real treat. We were lucky enough to meet his mom when we were out in California many moons ago, and then met him when he was doing a show down south of Atlantic City. He's incredibly charming and so talented. He signed several small pieces I brought with me, and I have a substantial (at least for a non art collector) collection of his pieces, from giclee pieces to brush stroke drawings to statues.

You're so lucky!!!!!

Has no one been in the suite in the last few months who can confirm for me?

So I was just lucky enough to book clients into the B&J Suite on Freedom. They also booked the connecting cabin for their two (2) children, aged 12 and 9.

So I know that the parents will get the coupons/punch card for a scoop of B&J each daily. I know they will get concierge lounge access and maybe better seating for shows.

My question is...what about the kids? Because they are obviously not in the "suite", can they join their parents in the lounge in the evening or will they be denied? Never had a client in that cabin before so not sure of the protocol. I'm sure they can ask the concierge if the kids can come with them (if they even want to) but since they are on the younger side, parents may not want to leave them on their own for an hour or so to grab a cocktail in the evening. They could certainly tag team if needed.

Anyone been in the suite recently on Freedom and had kids in the connecting cabin who can speak to this? Bob, if you know anything concrete, would be happy to pass the information along.

Thanks.

Thank you all, good to know. It's a Celebrity cruise with the $300.00 OBC and Drink Package. The TA added the tip's comp. I guess I should have asked first.

I think this is the key. It's important to ask any agent what the effect of a price drop would be on any perks they are offering. Obviously, if the cruise line is providing the perks, like OBC and drink package and that is still available at the lower price, that would be given. But if the TA is providing additional OBC or paying gratuities out of their commission, and the price of the cruise goes down, there is a subsequent drop in commission for the agent and therefore, the cost of those additional offerings becomes too great.

So ask your agent if a price drop occurs, will they adjust any perks they are offering, so that you know going in whether something is a good deal or not.

I can only speak for my area (NW New Jersey) but we go back to school on Tuesday, September 4th this year. Another area school starts on September 6th (Thursday), while still another starts the same day as we do.

With the cruise you're discussing returning on September 6th, that is going to cut into the first few days of school in most northeast areas. People will take their kids out, but I think less so than the week before this one.

A belated Happy Birthday to Sakari! Sorry I didn't check in again yesterday to see your post.

May her year be filled only with good things. She's a beautiful young lady!

I'm enjoying your review on Oasis. It's been a number of years since my boys were too small to do stand up but I remember the frustration of standing in line and only getting one ride. My older one is a flowrider junkie, so he's up and waiting each morning for advanced stand up, and will go to each stand up time all week. Neither one bothers with boogie boarding any more. When we sailed on Allure with just my younger one (my older one is in college as well), he got up each morning and did the advanced on his own. One of the best things about flowboarders is the comraderie that develops among the riders.

My boys only cruise on ships with flowriders, so I'm waiting until my younger one is gone (only 2 more years) and my mom and I will be able to expand our sailing choices.

Okay, glad you were told you'd get a refund of some of the cost; hope that it shows up on your CC statement.

Honestly, I just stayed at a Springhill Suites in Texas for a total of $86 that I have to tell you was just a terrific property. To think you ended up spending almost that much for such a mess is terrible. But I guess with some hotels still not up and running after the hurricane, there wasn't much of a choice for you.

But you're posting this will make sure no one ends up in a similar situation going forward so I'm sure we're all thankful for that. Looking forward to reading more as you post.

Kim, I'm anxious to hear whether you were able to speak with a manager and get any financial refund due to the condition and lack of amenities at the hotel. Seriously, no working a/c and then waking up with condensation all over a dirty floor? YUCK.

This is why I explain to my kids that the cheapest type of hotel for me is one that doesn't offer room service! We've stayed in motels where I was afraid to take off my shoes!

Kim, I've been watching for your review to come up as I've been anxious to know how you liked the Jewel and RC after these many years of cruising Carnival and NCL. Will hopefully see more later on today when I check in from work (shh, don't rat me out LOL!).

So if it doesn't say that when I am booking on the price description that means I can't get price drops right? The only option that has price protection is early saver.

 

Now, if I had to cancel for any reason Early Saver means no refunds at all right?

Up until final payment, all booking rates get price drops, provided you are eligible and there are cabins in your exact category (or higher if you want to upgrade).

After final, the only rate that gets price drops is Early Saver. If you cancel, change or downgrade your reservation under Early Saver, you pay a $50/pp penalty, and the balance of your deposit goes to a future cruise certificate (obviously this is before final payment is due).

 

I'm not asking whether or not to tip, whether or not to do it automatically, etc. Just if I'll see an additional charge for tip for My Time Dining on top of the $14.50/day/guest that I've read about. Thank you in advance for any responses!

You will not see any additional gratuity above the $14.50/pp/pd that guests in standard cabins are charged. There is no additional gratuity if you use MTD.

Guys,

DW and I are going on 2nd cruise in Dec. on BOTS. I know the rules against throwing streamers and such from the ship. Was wondering about possibly dropping a small amount of Mom's ashes from the stern at sea. Dad was a navy vet and his ashes scattered at sea from a navy ship. Thought a scattering of hers might be nice.

There are procedures in place if you're interested in scattering ashes of a loved one at sea. I've seen several reports from people who have done this and it sounds like the ship goes out of its way to make it a meaningful experience.

I don't know the details of who needs to be contacted, but I'm sure someone (maybe Bob) will be able to provide more information.

Condolences on your loss.

Same for ours. Up about $300/pp from where I booked. Adventure 8/10/18.

Call C&A now and have your wife linked to you. As long as you have the same residence address, C&A will link you and your wife will be Diamond.

Bob, you beat me to it by justthatmuch!

I'm Diamond but my wife is not does she get in the lounge and does she get 3 drinks on her card?

 

Thanks, Rick &Harriet

I'm assuming you and your wife share an address. You should contact Crown & Anchor and have your wife's account linked to yours. She would have the same status as you.

Is this for NY area? The link does not work for me?

 

 

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Not sure where in S. Jersey you are, but South Jersey Regional weather is predicting about 3 inches accumulation. But Sunday will be up in the mid-high 40s so it will all melt away. It's not due to start until Saturday afternoon/evening.