traveler1980

We have one on an upcoming cruise and my husband likes it dark in the cabin.  Will we be able to turn it off on our own or do you have to ask the steward to do that?  Once it is turned off, is that it, no turning it back on during the day for example? 

Glad you joined!  I've learned a lot from this forum.  Wishing you all the best on your upcoming cruise.  

I'll try to answer regarding excursions.  

I wouldn't wait on Alaskan excursions this year.  They are selling out fast.  If you see something still available you'd like to do, book it!  You should be able to get a refund from almost anyone (cruise line or not) if you have to cancel due to covid.  Just verify before booking.  Some excursions may be available through the cruise line after boarding, some might be available at the pier, but I wouldn't risk it with Alaska. I'd book now.  

Thank you for posting the correct email address.  I tried today with the other one and it bounced back.  Trying again! 

Our online agency made a pretty big mistake and left us with a lot of on board credit to use.  It is not loaded into my Royal account now, so I assume I can only use that credit once on the ship.  I have two rooms booked with two different reservation numbers.  Can I use that OBC to pay for tips on both rooms?  Is there a way to "cash out" the OBC or use it for drinks/voom that I usually purchase before the cruise so it is cheaper?  Thank you! 

3 minutes ago, klfrodo said:

I’m currently on the Radiance. They cancelled Sitka and substituted Icy Point.

Did they give a reason for cancelling Sitka?  

Thank you, I appreciate your help.  That gives me hope we can get our reservations together. 

About a month ago we were onboard and made two NextCruise bookings.  No specific booking made, just the deposit made for two cruises later.  We got home and had to go through who we used previously to book so called them and booked the two rooms on an upcoming August cruise to Alaska.  They are now saying, even though I have the confirmation with the Royal OBC and online agency OBC offers and dining offer, that they will not honor the offers from the online agency since it was a NextCruise booking.  This has been an insane experience overall to try to get these NextCruise certificates to go through the booking itself took the online agency almost a month to process.  We had it on a "hold" that whole time.  Now we are dealing with them saying we aren't able to to combine all the benefits and one of our rooms was put into a "Group Booking" without us knowing and we've had this happen before and I knew that then it won't let us make our reservations together onboard and they are trying to get the other cabin moved into the "Group Booking" saying then we could get our reservations to be made together, but I need to pay $300 to do it (it is towards the cruise). I don't even know if that will be the fix for getting our two rooms to make our reservations for dining onboard together.  

Do you know if NextCruise certificates should give you the benefits of who you book through as well as the Royal OBC for doing the NextCruise onboard?  

Do you know if moving that other cabin into the "Group Booking" will allow our two rooms to then be able to make our dining reservations connect?  

Thanks for any help.  This has been a mess. 

We were on the same cruise with you!  I didn't realize till last night though that you did a live report. I love that you gave so many details and important details for those with mobility challenges.  I do want to correct that the escape room was open.  We had a great time doing it with the couples we were traveling with and then others that joined us.  It was $19.99 a person. The lack of crew did seem apparent with not having everything up and going as much as it used to be, mostly times of service impacted, but I was sad that the Solarium Bistro was closed all week.  Since I had read on Cruise Critic about the absence recently of printed Cruise Compass, I knew to ask our room steward.  He gave us one each night, which was much appreciated.  I really think this is something they should not get rid of.  There is a lot more information on it than in the app and particularly for our friends who were first time cruisers they were really lost on many occasions (what to wear for dinner, how to plan your departure) without having a printed copy to tell them.  For example, on the Cruise Compass there was a QR code about departure.  Was this anywhere else?  Not that we knew of.  When the crew talked to us about having fewer staff they said it is an issue with the U.S. Govt. and not processing visas fast enough.  They have employees ready to work, but cannot get their visas.  We also noticed they ran out of a lot of items during our cruise.  The very first night they ran out of moscato in the dining room.  We had similar experiences with other types of alcohol and some foods.  Nothing that bothered us, we actually kinda laughed it off. We had an amazing cruise and I think the key to enjoying a cruise right now is to go with the flow and just be positive and happy to be back on a cruise again!   

My room steward left one for us each night after I asked.  I asked at guest services why they didn't have paper copies available next to guest services and they said to add it to the survey.  I did. I found it humorous that the CD was talking about relaxing and putting our phones away while we cruise when the cruise line is the one making us have our phones out now.  

The above is not correct, at least it wasn't two weeks ago on Oasis.  Even after you attend the show the app will not let you book it again.  I did go ask at guest services and they got me a reservation since we weren't able to see the first.  

I'm particularly interested in knowing if the aqua show is running on the Oasis?  Thank you

I've been wondering about this on Anthem.  Is there access to the front or a peekaboo bridge on Anthem?  I had a nice list of places to check out from CC last year on Adventure.  Any tips/trips to fun places on Anthem?  

4 hours ago, LeeW said:

 

Open his checkin information on the app and rescan his passport with your phone.  Worked for us.

We also have this same situation.  The kids and I all got expedited boarding and my husband didn't.  I just tried to rescan his passport again and it didn't change.  Any other suggestions?  

Depends on the age of your kids and what you allow them to have.  We rarely allow our kids any kind of soda, almost never anything with caffeine.  We did allow them to get the soda package and it was such a fun thing for them.  They have the touch screen machines and the kids loved it.  Many caffeine free options.  They loved having the cups and feeling grown up.  Definitely a vacation treat for our kids. 

Thank you so much for posting these.  I'm hoping we will catch a much lower price than the $999 currently posted.  We had a cabana on Labadee last year and really enjoyed the privacy.  

We never walked through or mingled at all with any vendors.  Got off the ship and took the tram to Columbus Cove.  When we returned on the tram back to the boat I commented to my husband that I wasn't sad at all to miss that part.  So you can completely avoid that and have a lovely beach day.  

This is also already sold out on our cruise planner for the all day pass.  Is this something that they might have available again once onboard?  Maybe a better question to ask, will my kids see this if we are spending the day at Columbus Cove and want to ride it?  

We leave next Saturday on Adventure with our two boys 9 and 6 so I've been looking at height requirements.   Our oldest is tall enough to do FlowRider, but our youngest is not.  The boogie board requirement is 52".  The rock wall looks to have an age requirement and not height requirement, the age requirement is 6.  There doesn't look to be a requirement for ice skating.  As you already saw the big slides have a height requirement of 48".  As to the shows at night, I don't know yet.  I do plan for us to go to the ice skating show but that's all I've really looked at.  There is mini golf on the ship as well.  

I'm not familiar with the Oasis class and the height requirements there, but I'm guessing you will probably find the same issues on most ships around these ages we are at.  We had the same thing two years ago when we sailed NCL.  My oldest was tall enough to do the ropes course, which he loved and sounds like your girls would too, but my youngest was only tall enough to do the "baby" course.  They also had a really fun trampoline type thing and only my oldest was tall enough for that.  Neither of my boys at that time wanted to do the rock wall.  

Is the issue of ants and needing bug spray also at Columbus Cove?  We have a cabana reserved at Columbus Cove and definitely want to be prepared if that is an issue.  

6 minutes ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

Technically, you did not complete Edocs, you completed on line check-in which is required to obtain your Set Sail Pass. If you have completed everything but the photo, you have done enough. They can/will take your picture at the pier.

Am I missing something here?  What are Edocs then?  You are correct at the end of what I completed last evening I was able to obtain our Set Sail Pass.  I did think the process was pretty fast last night with info needed and info for accounts on board.  

No worries, I didn't take it as being critical.  I appreciate the help these boards provide in making sure I have completed what I should before arriving at the pier.  Thank you! 

I completed our edocs last night with the exception of the photos.  Will they still do photos at check in at the pier or is it considered incomplete until I upload photos into edocs?  Thank you.

1 minute ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Correct, if you are linked, you each get the same C&A level.

How do I request to link my children to my husband and I for C&A status? 

I loved reading your review and the details you put into it.  We are not going on Allure, we are on Adventure in March, but just love reading about others experiences.  It will be myself and my husband (39/41) and our two boys (6/9).  Side note, we are from Kansas City and enjoy weekend trips to Omaha!  I am definitely the planner of our trips, seriously I am not even sure if my husband could tell someone else where our ship is stopping.  The best reminders I am taking away from your review are to go with the flow and just enjoy.  We've cruised many times, so it is not new to us or the boys, but often I do find myself getting caught up on timing or feeling rushed to do "all the things".  The best part of any vacation to me is spending time with family.  I do have a question in regards to Bernards as we are also booked with them to do the island tour with beach stop, which I am really looking forward to.  Do you remember how much time, or around what time, you got to Maho and did you feel like it was enough to see several planes land?  Maho is a big deal to my husband (bucket list item), so I might even say the most important stop to him on this trip.  I've already emailed Bernards and they said it would be fine to stay there and find our own way back if we wanted, but just trying to get a feel for timing there and if we'd miss anything after Maho on the tour. Thank you so much!  

Very interesting.  Oh yes, we've had the talk already about he may not be tall enough.  I'm not even sure if he would really want to do them, but just wanting to be prepared for all scenarios of course!  Thank you for following up!  

@msuspartanbigten How did it go for your family on Adventure?  Almost seems silly to ask details about measuring for height but I am curious as my guy is right at 48" with no shoes on.  When and how do they measure?  Any tips and tricks from your experiences this past week?  I hope it was a wonderful week!