welshrich

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I need @Ourusualbeachto explain which obc isnt combinable. I book group rates and the D+ obc is then combinable but of course not the same obc as this wow sale. Usually if you book direct the discount or amount off is larger than the D+ discount so it's not combinable. Hence why group rates are better for me.

 

Booking onboard that obc isnt combinable with 1 of the obc I get booking direct group rates, so booking onboard isnt worth much to me. $25 obc on a balcony. Its certainly not all its cracked up to be. They got you coming and going.

Thankyou, the obc is showing as $226 when not using a c&a number, when I put my number in I get the balcony discount which is almost the same.

Hi, looking at a cruise and noticed a nice obc on there, when I went to book a balcony I see it's not combinable.

Sailing in two weeks time, does anyone know if I book onboard whether they will give OBC too?  I know I'm risking not getting the same price as today but it's been pretty stable recently.  

tia.

Hi, has anyone used Budget car rental at Tampa recently?   Have not sailed from there for a few years, just wondering if they still offer a shuttle from their downtown branch, have tried contacting them but not getting a response.

4 minutes ago, Pushka said:

It changed a few months ago and tips aren’t included either. 

Thanks for this, do they still honour cruises booked before the change, just checked two of them and they still say drinks, wifi and tips on my confirmation?

We've done about 45 RCI cruises, and last year did our first on Celebrity, wow!, what a difference, reminded us how RCI used to be.  We sail RCI more for the ship as we've been to most of the ports they service, we did the Celebrity as it went from Dubai to Singapore.   I thought the Edge was in lovely, not all the bells and whistles of RCI but apart from the indoor skydiving on quantum class we don't tend to use slides etc.   Service was so much better on Celebrity all over the ship from the cafe to stateroom attendant to restaurant service.  We ate in the dining rooms in the evenings, did not try any speciality ones as the MDR seemed same standard as speciality on RCI.

We've since booked 3 more on X, still like RCI and have some booked with them.

Hi, after many years sailing on RCI we sailed on Celebrity last year and loved it, although Elite through the reciprocal RCI program we chose the add on that included drinks, wifi and tips.   We've since booked 3 more cruises with Celebrity but noticed that on their website it only mentions drinks and wifi.

Does anyone know when this changed?  as we booked through a TA we've not heard anything from them, unsure if we still have tips included or if we need to now include them in our budget, also thinking that if it's separate whether to drop to the non included package and just enjoy the evening happy hour and pay as you go for any other drinks?

2 hours ago, Scottdalfonso said:

It definitely applies to the bar area...Playmakers only has a few bar stools, and should be left open for people ordering drinks, and honestly if you want to watch a game, the  tables offer better viewing anyway.  

I'll probably get flamed for it but I wish they would introduce a cover charge during peak times, it's frustrating when you want to have a drink and watch some entertainment and virtually every seat is taken with no one drinking.  

After 45 cruises I can name some of them, usually, the ones that have been great at events like the 70's night or the really bad ones that were so cringy we'd avoid anything they were involved with.  One of the worst (for us) is revered by people on here and I'd get flamed for naming them).   We don't really notice much on short cruises, but on the longer ones like Panama Canal or Transatlantic it can make a difference on how their team is with onboard events. 

Hi there, not been on Odyssey but have been on Anthem, Quantum and Ovation, you will have a great time as the solarium is enclosed should you get any bad weather.   We've done about 7 TA crossings and there are usually guest lectures, movies in the theatre on sea days and generally more activities planned on the crossing.  We also found that on the longer cruises you get to know fellow cruisers and the crew a bit more so it's a bit friendlier.

Hi,  Does anyone know if there is single sex steam or sauna available on Edge?  Only sailed RCI and a lot of there older ships have (or had) them.

This ship looks incredible, I remember following along with Genesis (Oasis) and then Quantum, just waiting for Icon 2 to go on sale and hopefully prices might come down a little and I will book, Looking forward to watching all the videos from the first few cruises.

20 hours ago, OCSC Mike said:

My embarkation day tradition after that, which seemed to be on every ship, was paella... and sadly they didn't have that either on Wonder in June.

 

Somehow I survived and found plenty to eat, of course, but I did enjoy the paella when it was freshly made.

Same here, the chicken and then the paella, truly a sign that the cruise had begun.

We did a b2b twice last year and had to move cabins, it's really easy to do and does not take long.   We did ask the LA on the first segment if there was any other availability but it was a full sailing.

They did advise to ask onboard and if a swap or the existing cabin was still available they may have been able to change it.

20 hours ago, Toddcan said:

Pillow Mints @ turndown service. 😉 

 

Not too worried about the turndown service but I would like to see the mints return, was nice at the end of the day to have that while reading the compass for the next day.

We recently did a s2s out of Port Everglades, we let guest services know and on the last day we debarked, got our cases and cleared customs, then went to the suite checkin outside the terminal who had us and a few others on a list, they directed us to a bus who took us to the other terminal at the port, we then waited outside until check in opened and checked in as normal.  hope this helps.

We did a b2b on Radiance last June out of Vancouver.  We were meant to do a landtour but I got the dreaded Covid and as the prices had shot up we did the cruise instead.  Glad we did as the weather was not great the first week, misty and some rain and our helicopter tour was cancelled, the second week was amazing weather.   We hiked in Skagway one week and did the train the next, did sledding with dogs on the glacier.  Saw some amazing scenery and would really recommend.   Planning a return trip for my birthday to hopefully do that land tour!  The other thing that might appeal to you is that the cruise was really casual, although they had 'formal' nights everyone seemed to be relaxed about it as it was the most tiring cruise I'd been on.

22 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

The AIS transponder has been turned on so she can now be tracked.

Have followed this thread all the way, not booked on her yet as the prices are too high for me right now, hoping that when her sister(s) go on sale the price will drop a bit and we will experience her for ourselves.  Can't wait to see the pics and videos when the sailings start.

Our first cruise was on Freedom, it was the one that got us hooked, our second was Monarch which was the smallest in the fleet and we enjoyed it just as much.  We love any ship we are on and have recently sailed on Radiance class (more by coincidence than choice) which we love.

You'll have a ball, we've only ever felt crowded at the old style muster drill which does not happen anymore and when the shows end and everyone leaves at the same time.

Hi, was on Brilliance about 2 weeks ago, they have a 'book nook' on deck 8 or 9, very small selection, these were removed halfway through the cruise due to a noro outbreak.  I usually take some and then leave them or swap them but hardly worth it this time.

13 hours ago, aimcat said:

So my fiancé and I just went on Indy out of Port Canaveral on the March 6 cruise. This would be my 9th cruise and my fiancé's first, but be both our last. I never thought I would feel like about cruising. I use to think it was the best vacation you could possibly do for the money, but no more. We planned this cruise very spur of the moment as we had to miss the one the month before due to getting Covid. With flights, hotel overnight at port, drink package, and everything else that goes into planning a vacation and cruise we were several thousand dollars into this. We were so excited and ready to have a fantastic week of vacation but it was nothing like that and all we got was literally the FLU and an absolute horrible experience and several thousand dollars feels like it was robbed. So here goes because I guess I want to think I am not the only one who feels this way.....

 

1. Pricing - we had a balcony room and with taxes and all it was almost 2800 dollars given it was booked 2 weeks prior to departure I just think that this first off is a complete rip off given the quality of rooms, size, etc....

2. Food - our food this trip was the worst I have ever had. We did the main dining, Johnny Rockets, and Buffet. All bland, tasteless, main dining room barely ever had anything on it we liked. NY strip was a sliver of meat, uncharged for lobster now, a cesar salad was a few pieces of lettuce and crouton, desserts were mediocre. 

3. Drinks - we paid 800 bucks for a drink package for 4 nights for us both to literally most of the time get some watered down cocktail and at least 2 times I saw bartenders literally put half a shot in my drink and had to ask for more and say something to them. 

4. Service - service was just so disappointing. Wait staff acted like they could care less even after giving them good tips the first night, at Johnny Rockets we literally sat one day waiting for food even just some fries for 35 mins...when she brought it she plopped it down and took off like dont bother me. Our room attendant had a major attitude as well and just brought us a card told us his name and took off again like dont bother me. Absolutely nothing like it use to be like you were treated like a king and queen...that is over. 

5. Room - our room was filthy - someone had popped apparently a confetti popper prior to us getting there by previous guests and it was still all over the floor, on desk, balcony everywhere. Room attendant came and half way cleaned up after we pointed it out. Our sheets has ripped spots and ragged worn spots in so many places along with just looking like they had been through it for way too long. Our bathroom had mildew spots in places and just looked run down. Def not a room worth 2700 bucks! 

6. Entertainment - lame...our comedian - so lame, the ice show just looked like a D rated high school performance honestly, karaoke was just a bunch of kids singing, never saw a live band on the ship when we were out and about, and missed Grease so couldnt tell you much about that.....

7. Excursions (blue lagoon and coco cay) - I was so excited about Blue Lagoon but it was just a huge disappointment..an almost hour boat ride on a hot smelly boat to go to a tiny island with just mediocre beach with tons of raging kids everywhere?! Coco I wanted to enjoy but was beginning of the end for us due to getting sick

8. CROWDS - OMG I have been on ships 3x the size of this one like Harmony and Symphony and never seen crowds like this one....everywhere a line or crowd, or being herded like cattle into and out of places. Never a chair for all the chair savers, so just move their crap out of the way for them to come back and give you a dirty look. Never a spot in a hot tub. Being herded into and out of areas for shore excursions. 

9. WE GOT THE FLU ON SHIP - Our morning getting off at Coco Cay we both brought up how we both felt unusually tired. So we instantly thought could we have Covid again ( we had just had it 3 weeks prior) and thought surely not. We are both healthy 40 year olds. We had done plenty of WASHY WASHY and hand sanitizing etc. We dont touch our faces or bite nails etc. By 12 at Coco we felt awful....tired, achy, miserable....so we go back to ship.....we go back to room, fall asleep....miss all that useful time to enjoy a good beach...we wake up at about 4 to find we are even worse. We know something is wrong....so we stay IN OUR ROOM all evening....no appetite.....got a pizza brought to room and some drinks which we couldnt really stomach. By the next morning the day of departure we were horrible....chills, sore throat all that....it was all we could do to get to airport and get home that day to find out when we got home and to doctor we were flu positive and STILL trying to get over it all today! 

 

So there are probably a lot of things I missed in this but in other words I am over cruising....its just not fun and after all we went through on this trip I am done. Just wondering if anyone else feels this way and completely ripped off!? We took a beach trip last August and paid a fraction of the cost including flight, dinners, drinks, activities etc. 

 

Wondering others likeminded thoughts. 

But what did you think of the play, Mrs Lincoln?

Sailing in two weeks and looking forward to seeing the new menu.  I've read about complaints about the food for years but have yet to come off the ship lighter than when I went on.

Maybe RC are looking at going more like the Norwegian way with having just a couple of basic free venues and then all the others for a fee to encourage people to spend more.

Thanks each.  I have seen an excursion but now am wondering if it's the genuine thing.   Been to Nassau several times so was just looking for something different.

Other thing we've never done is gone over to Atlantis so might try that.

Hi there.

Visiting Nassau in a couple of weeks, been a few times so want to try something different.  Has anyone done this excursion or can advise the best way to do it?  I find it a bit off putting when we get off the ship there and are bombarded with offers for tours so would like to sort something out before we go.

ria.

I miss the honey stung chicken too, but I do like the butter chicken and also the fresh pineapple as I never have the time or patience to cut it up at home.

They seem to be phasing out the boarding day Paella too which was a bit of a tradition as it meant we were 'on a cruise'.

Hi, cruising soon and have an OV cabin, there is a chance to bid on a royal up for a balcony cabin.   My question is, if the bid is successful would they then apply the D+ balcony discount that we would normally get or is this only on 'normal' bookings?

Tia.