LSKC

How long of a Uber ride is it from EWR to port? Are there any hotels that you'd recommend that are closer to port than 40-60 minutes?

Where are you currently - beach/restaurant?

We are in Ontario. About 6 hour drive to port. Trying to decide if it's easier to just make the drive back and forth or fly in from nearest Airport (Toronto).

1) If we drive, what is the cost of parking for a 5 night cruise (with Royal Caribbean anthem)

2) What is the drive like? We will either drive down day before or get up nice and early and arrive straight to the parking/pier at 10:30-11am for check-in.

3) If we fly into NY La Guardia the cost is currently at $250/pp round trip. From this airport...what are the logistics of getting from NY Airport to the pier/hotel near the pier. Cost of Uber? Is there any other easy mode (remember we aren't familiar with NY/NJ and city transit/driving, etc.

4) while we are at it... I think if we arrived a day early (either by car or plane) I'm the type that will want to likely have a hotel near the cruise port. What comes recommended in the moderate price range?

Thanks.

Thank you for all the help. I think I like the longer rooms better as I want a sofa. I could definetly 'live' with either though lol. Great help, much appreciated!

I am not sure when you are cruising but we went the end of May and it was chilly on our balcony and very windy. We did sit outside while in port. You mentioned sea days so if not in heat of summer you might want to bring something warm. Enjoy your cruise!

Anniversary cruise - looking at 2 dates (depends on when Grandparents are available for the kids lol)...

September 15 or Sept 30/18

Also, I did notice that the lifeboats are only a couple decks below for cabins on 7th floor. You look down to them no matter what deck but maybe moving up another 1-2 decks would make them less of an issue when looking down the side of the boat or forward. I know looking down will result in the same view regardless of deck.

8244 or 8246 to be near the aft elevators. 8162 has a large balcony, but it's too far forward for my tastes. 8244 and 8246 also have larger balconies that extend out to the edge of the hump.

 

I think 7254, 7258, and 7658 are family junior Suites, not regular balcony cabins. No 7645 - do you mean 7654, another family junior suite?

Carol,

The ones you are referring to as Family Junior Suites are showing up when I do a search for "Oceanview with Large Balcony". I wonder if they've recatagorized them? They are all showing as same price. Mid ship.

I'm assuming from this that if they used to be family junior suites...I should snatch one up for same price as the skinnier longer OV with large balcony?

Looking at the Large Balcony Oceanview Cabins. There are the following left:

8246; 8244; 8162 on deck 8

7260 (which is long on deckplan); 7254; 7258; 7645; 7658 (short and wide on deck plans) on deck 7

Anyone see anything I should avoid or are all these cabins relatively the same in every way/location wise/port side vs starboard, etc.

Don't want to have an overhang to fully shade balcony if possible; would like a nice unobstructed view as I'd love to spend lots of time reading on my balcony on sea-days if the pool deck is too busy for my liking.

Thanks

Is the snorkeling good directly from the beach at Labadee?

Is BOGO available to all or just Diamond +?

Does it show up as an option to buy once you book sailing?

Can't wait to follow along~

Is Labadee owned by RC and is it like Disney's island where your bev package works on the island (so not paying additional for drinks). Is food included or is it pay at the island/restaurant? I guess I'm wondering if that is a fairly cost-free day other than your cruise fare and any excursions you choose to do/rent cabana, etc.

Thanks.

Since you are at port in Bermuda for 2 days straight...is there a preferred side of boat or a way to figure out which side is best for view from balcony?

Bumping this thread to the top. Would be interested in hearing from those affected and how the altered itinerary went. I live in Canada, although not east coast, so would prefer Bermuda but with 50% credit I suppose it may be worth the gamble for Sept 2018. I'd like to make a decision and get our trip booked. I'm a scardy-pants about it but love the NY port (drive for us from /ontario) and want to try Anthem.

Another question for those affected last year: was anyone able to cancel (didn't want to go to Canada/colder climate) for a 100% future cruise credit? I'd be tempted to do that - but didn't see that in RCI's write up above.

I was on this sailing and we had a wonderful cruise. Nothing but warm sunshine up in Canada, and 50% refund, we were happy cruisers. It's always a gamble in hurricane season. I can drive to the port so I don't have to worry about flights but I would book September again and take my chances.

What 2 ports did Anthem do in Canada? I love the East Coast, I will admit that!

Just stumbled across this post. Really wanting to book the 5 day Bermuda from Bayonne on Anthem but have been hesitant to go ahead with it b/c I'm concerned about re-routing the itinerary to Canada. Love me some Canada (live in Ontario) but have tropics in mind for our anniversary vacation.

Seeing this 50% refund makes it worth the gamble I think. Is this always the case if they make such a drastic itinerary change due to weather?

We are thinking of booking this cruise for September for our 20th anniversary. I'd love to see Bermuda and it would save us flights by driving to port (longer drive, we are in Ontario)... my only concern is hurricane season. It's the only thing that has stopped me from booking. Anthem looks like a great ship to me. I wish they had a 7 day with Anthem during august/September. I'm a beach lover so 1 day at the beach doesn't feel long enough.

Will follow along and learn from advice you are being given. :) Happy planning.

So much helpful info. Thanks!

following

Drawn to all the newness and options that a Mega ship (anthem, harmony are two we are looking at) offers but they are so big and probably much more busy than a bit smaller scale ship.

This leads me to wondering if there are some newer non-MEGA size ships that are still very impressive, on the new side and maybe offer more port stops (like the southern caribbean, etc)

Things we are looking for:

1) great food (will get the specialty dining package)

2) we will just be booking a balcony cabin

3) good shows/things to do on the ship

4) on sea days, a less crowded (reserving seats at 7am is not my idea of a vacation) pool deck

5) shiny-new ship would rate higher than an old one for us

*should mention we are in Ontario. The only port we could drive to is NY. We are open to that or flying into FL or San Juan even if the price works in our favour. :) Thanks!

Escape has everything you are worried about. 1 main pool for 5,000 people. Definitely feels crowded and a total mess. I imagine Bliss is similar.

 

Really, what are the bells and whistles for teens on Escape? They'll hate the entertainment. And besides a couple water slides and ropes course, the ship offers nothing else. Main pool and Spice H2O is adults only, and you can't get loungers anywhere, anyways, because it's overcrowded for such a small space. Your teens can basically hang out in the kids pool.

 

The only ship class available that nails the big ship concept is Royal Caribbean Oasis. Don't think Escape is even close to the same class, it's not even close.

 

Go sail on an Oasis class. The newer ones, Harmony and Symphony will have the most to do. I'd suggest Symphony, personally. Nothing on the planet comes close. Your kids will thank you.

Yes, I keep coming back to these things about Escape. We are also looking at Harmony (out of FLL so would need 5 flights) or Anthem out of NY (no flights - drive to port)

Thanks for your input.

Took us four months to find the right deal for this winter. Finally booked Jewel out of San Juan leaving tomorrow, 5 of us in a balcony for $2,200 Canadian, so about $1,700 US by a rough calc.

 

 

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Wow, I'd love to find a deal like that. Did you book last minute? How much prior to cruise?

I have 3 kiddos as well. Just booked symphony yesterday for Dec- so excited! First time on Royal after many on Disney. Here is what I was told, the Oasis and Allure have many more rooms that sleep 5 than the Harmony. It was less expensive for us to get two connecting balcony cabins. Our price was around $4600 total. Disney the same week for us was $9700.

My DH is a balcony guy so we didn’t price out any connecting insides but I would imagine they would be less.

The rep I talked to at Royal was so nice!! I did almost everything by email. As you know, Royal has so many more choices than Disney for ships, itineraries, etc and she priced many many different ships for me and always did it within hours of when I would ask her. The only time we talked on the phone was for our deposit. If you want her name and email I will definitely pass it on. I was really impressed with her customer service.

Good luck and whatever line you pick, hope it’s great!! :)

 

 

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Can you send me her name and email? We are a family of 5 also and calling to price out options just never happens as we live very busy lives. Email for most things is much better. Thanks! My email is: llightfoot@xplornet.com

The demos for our May/June 2017 cruise were

 

 

 

Breakaway Capacity 3963

Total passengers 4764

Total US 4379

Total Non-US 394

Total Crew 1627

 

1-10 years old 200

11-20 years old 476

21-50 years old 2023

51-70 years old 1496

71+ years old 382

 

Average Age 42.6



See my thread for an idea of what's was offered on the identical itinerary last season https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2504449

Thanks for this, it is helpful. I know the US southern states let out of school earlier (is it mid-May?) so this number probably is similar to what you'd see in June-July. I also would like to sail mid August but don't know if that is a risk with hurricane season starting up. I have no interest in a different itinerary out of NY (like Canada,....live there - want to head somewhere different for a change).

We've only cruised one time and that was on Disney Wonder many years back when my teens were little.

Researching for my family (18, 15, 10 yrs old) always leads me to the big ships because there is so much to 'do'... but I haven't bit the bullet and booked because the whole crowded ship, small pool, line ups and general feelings of (maybe) chaos and busy-ness scare me off.

For NCL I'm mostly drawn to Escape and Bliss because they are new with all the bells/whistles. Is there any smaller ships I'm overlooking that still have lots to do, nice pool/solarium/lounge around and enjoy the sun areas, with great food and a new "feel" to the ship. I like the idea of a newer or a fully-redone ship for the 'wow' factor.