M5M

4 hours ago, twangster said:

CP is connecting.  I tend to avoid connecting cabins.  YMMV.  

Twangster, what would be the downside to connecting?  The door is there, but locked...did I miss something? Do you lose usable space somehow? 

Thanks baldilocks. What about noise? I can appreciate that Deck 8 looking down would be hard to see clearly, so 7 would be nice.....or 6?  We've never had an inside Promenade or Central Park..... so we're looking to experiment.

Trying to decide between a 2T cabin (Decks 6,7,8) or a CP on same decks.  The CP is a little cheaper but seems to be more mid ships to me. The 2T would be near elevators but forward.  Suggestions welcome!

We are considering Adventure Of The Seas in October, up the New England Coast and a little of Canada.  I'm wondering how many children tend to be on a fall sailing when school is in process?  Most of our sailings have been on Celebrity, not in summer, and typically there are few children. Is RCL different since their demographic tends to skew younger?

On 2/18/2022 at 10:59 AM, greydog said:

I just emailed Sonesta Maho Bch resort/casino for details about a day pass (hoping the direct approach is more "horse's mouth" than 3rd party vendor).  The day pass description says 9am-5pm with

• Complimentary beach and pool lounge chairs & towels
• Unlimited dining at on-site restaurants for freshly prepared meals and snacks
• Unlimited alcoholic beverages, cocktails, sodas and juices
• Fitness center
• Non Motorized water sports
• Casino (open from 1pm-4am)
• Bathroom and changing facilities
• WiFi in Lobby & public areas - touch base with family and friends back home for FREE!

Im not sure your travel date, but this line popped us when I was checking out Soesta for March 2.....

"NOTICE: Sonesta Maho Resort Day Passes are Not Available for travel March 1 through April 30, 2020"

We're considering a cruise from NYC up through Newport, Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax....wondering about the dates...are these areas still in tourist mode with attractions and restaurants open in September?  

8 hours ago, LadyBerard said:

Thank you bajathree.  I have not gone to the east side.  Sounds like a plan for when we return in Oct. on the Serenade OTS.

Lady Berard, consider the Cozumel BarHop......its a tour for $75-80US it takes you over to east side and to 4 bars, you get a drink or shot at each stop, buy your food as you choose.  We've done it a couple of times, fun, not crowded, they will take you close or all the way back to ship.  

We  have an international cruise scheduled for late spring on the Getaway, stopping at several countries .  I wonder how the disembarkation is handled with multiple ports in multiple countries?  Do you have to have a new PCR test at each port...what if we don't disembark at X port? 

We could upgrade for about $270 total  from Royal Adventure of the Seas J4 to a Grand Suite.  You get some lounge perks with the GS, but we are Diamond so think we get those perks from our loyalty status.  However, I know some the lounge situation have changed so wanted current information as to what we might expect.  Thanks!

17 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

We think many are overthinking the issue and also exaggerating the problem.   A majority of the passengers are not symptomatic and likely not even carrying the virus.  Since a majority of those folks are from outside the USA, they will need access to a major airport and possibly a rescue flight to their country.  South FL offers both MIA and FLL.  Some  of the passengers and crew are symptomatic and will need a place to self-isolate until they recover.  This can easily be done in a hotel and there are plenty of empty rooms in South FL.  It would also be possible to care for those folks on their ship, but the Diamond Princess fiasco proved the wisdom of getting folks off ships.

 

  There are certainly a few passengers/crew that will need hospital care and South FL.has numerous excellent facilities.  We are not talking about the need for hundreds of rooms, as only a few of the sick will require a hospital.  At this point, what seems to be lacking is a plan!  We might assume that this is quietly being discussed by the cruise line, CDC and local authorities, but the NIMBY attitude works against a solution.  We continue to think that South Florida owes it to the cruise ships, passengers, and crew to work towards a good solution.  This is the part of the country that benefits the most, from the cruise industry and passengers.  Now, it is time for FL to open their arms and help those who routinely help FL.

 

Hank

 

 

Well said, Hank! I am so insulted by the attitude of Florida's governor and Fll mayor.....neither seems to have any ability to formulate a plan of action.  South Florida profits heavily from tourism overall, it is very disappointing to see such a lack of care, whether that starts from a financial point or from  a base of compassion for others.

We are finishing a Celebrity Equinox cruise arriving FLL on Feb 29, and move over to Nieuw Amsterdam departing Fort Lauderdale the same day.  Does anyone know which dock the Nieuw Amsterdam will be.....will we need to Uber or can we walk from one ship to the other?  It should be easy, but I want to be sure ….

I emailed Maya Chan about massages yesterday, they replied quickly that yes, they have massage available at $25 half hour and $45 full hour.  

Just off the phone with X Customer Enhancement person. Our sailing is Feb 22 on Equinox. I had tried to purchase/book the first night dining special, and the only times shown online are 9,9:30, 10 PM.  So I called to see if "Customer Enhancements" would find an earlier time.  Nope.  Not even "gosh, I'm so sorry, but all the times are booked, ". Just "NO".  Same for Tuscan.  Is this likely?  Wondering about booking the 9 PM and trying to switch to an earlier time.  5:30 would be better than 9, IMO.  

What is the best way to request a 1 category upgrade that is listed as a loyalty perk for elite status?  Do I call my TA? Is there a timing that must be followed?  My cruise is 3 months out....

Thinking of booking  RCL out of Galveston, Jan 5-12....anyone have experience with this timing? Will parents be keeping their children out of school for this sailing?  Thanks!

For mef_57....we were just in Dubai in March. It is well lit, safe, easy to maneuver. The airport is so close to town you could drop your luggage and come back in pretty easily. We used public transportation, the metro is immaculate. But a taxi would probably be your quickest in your limited half day. You could sightsee till 9 or 9:30 PM and then go to airport. You say you’re not much for shopping, but Dubai Mall or Mall of the Emirates world be open and is great for people watching, checking out the indoor aquarium or ski area, depending on which mall. Or a trip to top of Burj Al Khalifa, then on to airport. 

Regarding taxis at the cruise port: there is a surcharge. My examples here are from Abu Dhabi, which I remember best from our March cruise, but I am pretty sure that Dubai is the same.   When you step into a taxi at the cruise port, the meter reads 25.  When you start with a taxi outside the cruise port area, it starts at 5 dirhams.  There is a minimum taxi fare of 12 dirhams for any trip.  Note that 25 dirhams is about $US 6.81. You cannot walk around in the Dubai cruise port, some sort of transport is necessary. Also note that there are choices of taxi sizes.  If you choose a larger taxi (for more passengers) the minimum charge is a little higher.

Also, yes, the Big Bus is at both cruise ports and the tours started from there.  In addition, in Abu Dhabi, the Big Bus was used to free shuttle passengers to a mall when the ship docked on our last afternoon.  You could then continue on a Big Bus for an overall city tour.  Of course, any of this could change:)

I’m adding real-time information to what Anne has posted as we are now at Millennium Plaza in Dubai. It was a great suggestion by Anne to stay here as the location has many advantages. Standard taxi from airport was 41.50 dirhams at 4 PM Friday, took about 15 minutes. There are numerous restaurants and services around the hotel within 3 blocks, as far as we have explored. There is a Lifco Grocery 1/2 block on SZR and a pharmacy the other way on SZR. Inside the grocery is a laundry/cleaners. They are washing hubby’s jeans and will deliver to hotel within 24 hours for 10 dirhams... significantly less than hotel and faster. Other items were similar pricing. Across SZR (via the footpath bridge to metro) there are a multitude of restaurants (as well as up and down SZR). Starbucks, Wendy’s, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, coffee and pastry shops, numerous more upscale, Mexican even! 

Our booking was for a standard room , we were supposedly upgraded to a king.. it is enormous with a sitting area ant two full size windows overlooking the city. 

On the the other hand, the concierge does not seem very knowledgeable and wants mostly to sell his hotel taxis and in house eateries. They forgot to bring an adapter 3 times. The hotel is more than adequate but not over-the-top,  more LaQuinta than Ritz Carlton, perhaps. We are happy and appreciate Anne’s suggestions. 

Anne, a new question, I am narrowing down my itinerary for our days in Dubai, and can't get comfortable with what I have lined out.  Which days makes most sense to do what? If you could offer some suggestions on how I have this listed, I would appreciate your input.  Will the weekend crowds make Burj over crowded? Is there a better way to do this using metro mostly, some taxi...….should I change up anything, or need to add something?        (I know it's all whatever a person thinks is important, but I am dithering:)

Friday March 1:  Arrive Dubai mid afternoon, to Millennium Plaza hotel, following two weeks in India. Tired.

Saturday:   Burj Khalifa, Dubai Fountain, Dubai Mall, Aquarium

Sunday:    Mall of the Emirates, Miracle Gardens, maybe the new water ferry? Which route is best for this ferry?

Monday:  transport to Abu Dhabi to board cruise ship which docks next day in....Dubai!

Tuesday:  Deira area  (starting from Port Rashid)

Wednesday:  ...what to do?.....we have a half day, ship leaves at 2 PM.

Anne, a new question, perhaps you know....I have heard that some of the malls offer a free shuttle from cruise port to their mall.  I am thinking of using this option if it is available for our day in port at Dubai.  We will have already been in Dubai on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then board a cruise ship on Monday in Abu Dhabi, which comes back to Dubai on Tuesday for its first stop. So we should be slightly familiar with getting around, and could maybe start from a mall on that Tuesday.  Any thoughts?

Anne, Simon, you are both so helpful.  After hubby and I giggled about the US$ 1900 a night for one of the premier hotels,  I'm looking at the Le Royal Meridien and found some postings about the Southern Sun....I'll put Holiday Inn in that mix, too.....it seems a few blocks away from the Corniche but still a good location...It seems Abu Dhabi is not so spread out, perhaps, will still need transportation but maybe not so far, do you think this is true? .  

Anne, a new question, just in case you have some insight....about Abu Dhabi......now I'm looking for a hotel there, probably in the downtown area.  Do you have any experience there?

I did book the Dubai Millennium Plaza that you suggested, and even discovered they have a laundry facility on premises.  That will be nice so we can wash our clothes after two weeks in India on land.!

Anne, don't worry about the unique hotel thought.....I think we will go with the Millennium Plaza suggestion...it certainly looks central, nice enough without being overly pricey....I think we will likely use metro to get to the hotel when we arrive, and then will need to figure out transportation on a Monday morning to Abu Dhabi cruise port.  Any suggestions for that?  

21 hours ago, Magar said:

Regarding Deira vs Bastakiya area...….

Oh, disappointing!  So, just to be clear, we were intrigued by the part about staying in an authentic house/B&B, interacting a bit with local innkeeper sort of idea,  as opposed to a modern hotel....We do want to be efficient with our few days, however....Is the transportation an issue? It seems the area is near the green line metro.  I looked for B&B or guesthouse in the Bastakiya area and got off on a VRBO/Airbnb tangent with modern apartments for rent.  Do you know of any other suggestions, or should I go back to a traditional hotel?  We will check in on a Friday, out on Monday, so time is limited.  Thank you for being open with your thoughts.  I appreciate your local input.