rontravel

Since your final is not due till Friday I'm assuming you sail in May?

April May June is a great time to sail.

The chance of a storm of any magnitude in May is remote.

Go and have fun

Antigua has the best beaches. 365 of them. You could do the tour with Lawrence of Antigua. He is great. He'll drop you at Valley Church beach after all the sightseeing. Very nice beach although I have no snorkeled there.

St Kitts beaches are just OK IMO. I would do the tour with Thenford Grey. Just google his name and it will come up.

As others have said, the Ports of Call will help.

St Thomas

Thanks for posting the pics. I'm heading to Grandeur Dec 27 for back to back 10 night.

Do you recall Chops waiters coming around with flyers for a special dinner package that include Chops Izumi Giovanni and Chef's Table?

I was on her last April but can't find the flyer.

Hi all

We just came back from the 12 night on Anthem.

We parked in the garage. My only complaint about that is that I had to circle through the drop off area to get to the garage. I'm thinking I missed the turn to go directly to the garage but I don't think so. I was looking for signs. It would be easy if you could make a left just after the last warehouse on the way in. That would take you directly to the garage entrance.

Luggage drop off in the garage was a breeze. Plenty of guys to direct you. I do like the garage better than the old parking lot.

They had check in folks in the vestibule of the garage. Only problem was that many folks didn't have all their paper work complete. Keep in mind that in NJ there are many cruisers from foreign countries so you need to have some patience with that. There are also many older folks who just aren't computer savvy.

I would suggest that if the vestibule is crowded just go to the terminal and check in there.

Now that I've said all that, since I had everything complete, I was done in a couple minutes and on the ship.

They do need some organization though as crowds were forming surrounding the check in folks. Maybe a stand with a large umbrella for each check in person and just a couple of ropes to que the guests would make things more efficient.

As others have said, Ipads are just a tool. Nothing more. I pads do not store your info. It's stored on servers.

I'm not a big fan of the seapass card at the stateroom either but it's the way it is. Only drawback is I have leave the Schooner bar to go to the stateroom to pick up the cards so I get my buy one get one at the bar. LOL!!

So relax and enjoy the cruise.

As others have said, you never want to cancel a NCC. Especially if it is one of the old ones that gave the great OBC and reduced deposit.

Just call RCCL or your TA if you have one and move it. If you're not sure what sailing you want to move it to just pick a sailing way out into the future like April 2017. Then when you decide what cruise you want it on just move it again to that cruise. I have done this plenty of times.

Hi

I just got off Anthem on Saturday. I have sailed on Grandeur many times.

Given the ages of the kids you made the right choice by choosing Anthem. There is much more for the kids to do. Make sure to try ifly. The first flight is complimentary. It's great fun. The instructors are all great guys.

As a TA for many years there were some very basic mistakes in communication made here.

We constantly monitor pricing for our clients and if there is a significant drop in price the first thing you need to do is look at the current booking.

Is the price a significant drop to make it worthwhile to rebook?

Is there OBC or other amenities that won't transfer to the new booking? A simple call to RCI will verify that.

Even if OBC falls off is it still a benefit to the client with the substantially lowered price?

If so, contact the client FIRST!

Don't do anything before you discuss it with them.

Make sure they are aware that the OBC is going away and any other changes.

Only if the client approves do you go ahead and make any changes.

It's hard to really say what happened here without seeing the actual RCI invoices.

Auto upgrades do not usually result in a removal of the OBC or other amenity as it is not a rebook. It's just a change to another category of stateroom. The invoice pricing should remain the same. I've been upgraded before by RCI and the invoice looked exactly the same. Only the category and stateroom number changed.

But the TA needs to rectify this. If I make a mistake, it's on me and whatever I need to do to make it right is what I do. If I'm out of pocket I'm out of pocket. It's my fault. That's why you have error and omission insurance.

Good luck if it was booked via one of the many online TA's with major call centers.

Another great tour operator is Thenford Grey tours.

Just google his name and it will come up.

Thenford is a great guy and does an outstanding job.

Last time we went to the Calambara Beach Club. Had a great day there.

We were on these islands in November on the repo of Explorer

We did a great island tour of Bonaire for $20 per person. Just walk off the ship and you'll see a series of white tents. Don't be afraid to dicker. The landscape of Bonaire is very interesting. Sort of looks like Arizona. The salt ponds were spectacular. After the tour we walked around town. I enjoyed Bonaire. Reminded me of the other islands 30 years ago. if you dive or snorkel it is paradise.

In Curacao we walked around the town. Very pretty there. I've also heard great things about the boat to beach tour. Nice waterfront bars there to have a drink by the harbor.

Definitely beach in Aruba provided you have the time. We were only there for 5 hours so we just went into town. Really hot that day.

While most of the time booking via RCCL works out fine, it's this type of thing where a good TA comes in handy. We have access to management teams to resolve these issues quickly.

I had a group that had a similar issue. Names on cabins were the same because it was several of the same family traveling together. One cancelled due to a medical and RCCL's crack rep cancelled all with the same last name. Not only did we get the money refunded and the other bookings and air restored at the original pricing we also secured substantial on board credit for their inconvenience.

As others have said just keep on the resolution dept until they fix it.

Even though I have reached that level I don't often go to the concierge lounge because of the crowding. The noise is created by the small room with too many voices going at once. So you get a situation where you have to talk progressively louder to be heard. We just head to the Diamond lounge which is generally bigger and has an overflow into the surrounding bars. We still get whatever drink we want. Amazing what that initial tip will do. The snacks are neither here nor there to me. I'm eating in a couple hours anyway.

Have you heard about the new Pinnacle Plus category? I've begun wearing my Pinnacle Plus pin on every cruise. I designed it myself. When one of the obnoxious ones mention the pin I just say "Don't you know what it is?" and move on. It makes them completely crazy.

Fortunately with over 400 nights at sea I've only run across a few who are obnoxious. Just like anywhere else I just ignore them.

I've have met many very nice folks. Don't let the snobs get to you.

Whatever they do in Port Canaveral lets hope it's better than that fiasco when Explorer came in on Nov 15. What a mess.

Don't know who's idea it was to not let the shuttle companies come into the port and park awaiting their guests but they should be fired. Many people missed flights that normally would have been a breeze to make the old way.

I had a 9:30 AM pickup scheduled and our driver never did make it into the port.

Had to find another shuttle and barley made a 12:30 flight.

We've been on Grandeur many times. Love that ship.

You won't be changing in the closet in a JS on Grandeur.

As others have said smoking is pool deck starboard side and the casino.

RCCL no longer allows smoking on balconies on any ship.

Grandeur does have the benefit of an enclosed solarium that includes Park Cafe.

Perfect for those colder days. But if you want a pool chair get there early. We usually just grab a table for breakfast and play games during the day.

We've always found things to do without a promenade. The Schooner bar is very popular in the evening.

Diamond Lounge is on deck 6 aft. Enter through the Spotlight Lounge. It was totally redone after the fire and is very nice. Overflow is the Spotlight lounge.

Most drinks are available. A friend of ours drinks mudslides and they were available too. Just pick a bar server, tip on the first drink and anything you want will appear.

Casino games are the usual black jack, Caribbean Stud Poker, 3 card poker, etc.

My wife and I and another couple were invited to lunch with an officer on the 14 night repo of Explorer that ended Nov 15. We were fortunate to get Leigh's table. Erky didn't have anyone at his table so he joined us. Both Leigh and Erky are great guys. We had lots of fun and frankly were stared at by other tables. Probably because we were laughing hysterically the whole time.

Erky is recently married (2 months). He has a private pilot's license and is leaving the cruise line to pursue his commercial license in Turkey. He is leaving when the ship goes to dry dock in March. I believe Leigh is leaving then as well but will be back after dry dock to take Explorer to Southampton.

We have taken that cruise several times. It's always been fantastic!

Grandeur is an older (but very nice) ship and therefore does not have a great number of balconies. That drives the price up. We have sailed her over 15 times and have always been happy with the ocean view staterooms.

IMO it's not worth the added cost. Save the money for excursions. There are great ports of call on that itinerary.

I had a contract for a pickup of a party of 18 for 10:00 AM at the cruise terminal. The contract stated cancellations could be made up to 24 hrs prior to the pickup time.

I contracted for a pickup. It's up to them to get there.

They knew there would be traffic. They didn't leave their facility in Cocoa Beach until 9:30. I know because I asked another of their drivers that question.

If they couldn't make it they should have called me and I would have put everyone in cabs to the airport. Again absorbing the cost to keep my clients business.

I do not charge my clients for the shuttle. That is part of my service to them. I pay for it out of my pocket.

In my business, if I fail to deliver what's been contracted with a client, they get a full refund. Period.

Others can do what they want but I will never book with them again.

Just for the record I have disembarked at Port Canaveral 8 times. Never have we had such a mess. In all previous times ALL of the shuttles were in that parking lot across the street. You simply grabbed your bags, walked across the street and hopped on the shuttle. There was never any traffic or congestion.

Someone then had the brilliant idea of shutting off that parking lot to commercial traffic. That's what caused the traffic and shuttle delays.

But that's not the soul reason I would never contract with Royal Shuttle again.

The shuttle companies should have been in an uproar when the port announced no commercial traffic would be allowed into the lots and would have to wait outside.

They showed no customer service from the time I contracted with them last June. I continually tried to work with them to make adjustments to type of vehicle being used, number in my party etc. And this was all in June. They flat refused to work with me since they had been paid upfront. I even tried to cancel several times. Their own website said cancellations could be made up to 24 hours before the scheduled pick up. But they still would not honor a cancellation or refund my money.

There is no excuse for the way the RCCL people handled things or the way the port authority had things so fouled up. They had over a year to prepare. I had my reservation 16 months before the sailing.

As a TA it's my job to make sure things flow smoothly for my clients. Any problems and I pay for it out of my own pocket.

Whatever you do, DO NOT book with Royal Shuttle. This company is an absolute fraud. I'm sorry I did not read Trip Advisor before booking with them.

I had arranged for a shuttle to pick up 18 people at PC for transfer to MCO following the 14 night reposition of Explorer. The cost up front was $275. That should have been my first clue when they asked for money up front.

November 15 we arrive at PC. What a disaster that terminal was but that is another story.

I call at 9:30 that we were getting the luggage and would be at the shuttle pick up point for our contracted 10 AM pick up.

I'm told that the shuttle is on it's way and would be there at 10.

10:15 no shuttle. I call again and am told the traffic is gridlocked outside the terminal.

We have 12:30 flights so 10 AM would have been no problem. 10:30 and you're starting to push it.

10:30 still no shuttle. I call again and say we're going to miss our flights. I'm told that's too bad about that but they have no control.

11 AM and still no shuttle. I find another Royal Shuttle driver and he says he has no idea where the other shuttle is. He just has a van. I end up commandeering another shuttle service and had to pay them. We literally ran through Orlando airport and just made the flight.

Kudos to the guys at Southwest curbside. They did a fabulous job getting us checked in and getting the luggage on the plane.

When I called to complain and ask for a refund due to a breach of contract I'm told they did come to the port so there would be no refund. They got there at 12:45!!!

I am a TA and since I planned the shuttle I paid for the other shuttle.

I will be contesting the charge with my CC company but I'm assuming that will just be a $275 mistake and move on.

I had friends who did the Alaska cruise last May. They flew into Anchorage a couple days early. They took the Alaska Railroad (alaskarailroad.com) from Anchorage to Seward and absolutely loved it. I believe the train was the Coastal Classic. I know they selected the Gold Star service. You can book it directly online. Hope this helps.

I had secured a shuttle to take a large group from Port Canaveral to MCO on November 15. The group cancelled out on me and now I am stuck with a shuttle for 30 for only my wife and myself. Rather than just eat the cost and go with another service I decided to keep my reservation.

If anyone needs shuttle service from the port to Orlando International it will be very reasonable.

If you know of anyone please pass the word along.

Reply here and I'll get back to you.

I see many people book their own cruises and then have complaints. Use a TA and that becomes their problem. The TA has access to the Business Development Managers who can get things straightened out.

Any TA that is worth their weight should be checking constantly on your booking to make sure everything is as it should be. Also they should be checking the prices. That OV guarantee problem would have turned into a balcony.

You are going to pay the gross price no matter what. The TA gets a percentage of the gross. If a TA attempts to charge you a fee for their services it's time to look elsewhere for another TA.

We were on Jewel out of Boston during Sandy. Stayed tied to the pier for 3 days. When the Coast Guard lifted the restriction we left the harbor and ran into some bumpy seas. As long as it's only barf bags put out it's fine. It's when they start tying things down that it becomes interesting. It adds to the excitement.

Was on the 8th deck on the old Celebrity Mercury one cruise with a forward facing OV stateroom and got our windows washed for two days by the spray. Our tray with the ice bucket spent most of the time airborne. LOL!!

You'll have a great time. Just go witheit.

Living in Baltimore we have sailed Grandeur probably 15 times.

If you are not from the area coming in early and staying a night or two at one of the hotels mentioned previously is a great idea. The hotels near the ship are just minutes from Baltimore's Inner Harbor area. It will be February but you never know about our weather. Last February was very cold. Unusual for us. The previous February I was still playing golf. The harbor area is great even if it's cold. Plenty of shops and restaurants. a great aquarium and science center. The Constellation, etc.

Parking at the terminal is $150 ($15 per day) So if you're not coming in early I would suggest just paying the parking. The hotel and eating dinner will run you some money so it is basically a wash. If you do decide to park don't bother arriving at the port till about 10:30 or so. They have to let the lot empty out from the previous cruise before thy will let anyone in. No point in just sitting in your car.

Grandeur is a very nice ship. It was recently overhauled to build a new Centrum area, add some new venues, carpeting etc. The staterooms were updated with new vanities and soft goods. We've had everything from the least expensive inside stateroom to a balcony and have never had an issue that wasn't resolved immediately.

Definitely go to the aerial show in the Centrum. It's only done a couple of times. The 50's sock hop was fun as was disco night. Daryl ( activities manager) is a riot and super nice guy. The shows are worth seeing if you haven't seen them before. The guest performers are hit and miss.

The buffet is adequate but I prefer breakfast in the dining room. It's open seating so you'll be sitting with others which I enjoy. It's nice to meet new people. I don't generally eat lunch but the salad bar in the main dining room is fantastic. Also great beef sandwiches and other things in the solarium.

Speaking of the solarium, you are sailing in February. If you plan to get a chair by the pool get there EARLY. We generally just grab a table around 8 on the sea days and play cards or games and read. Very relaxing.

If you have any other questions just ask away.

Just got off Indy today. I asked C&A very specific questions.

You will get the most OBC and of course the reduced deposit by picking a specific ship and sailing date.

If you later decide that specific date doesn't work for you it can be moved without any change to the OBC or deposit provided it is a cruise of the same length.