MCEaton

21 hours ago, eel said:

 

 

We are also booked on the 4/8/25 Millennium cruise but would jump ship in an instant if a suitable sequence of Anthem cruises came out that get us back to North America! Fingers crossed! 🤞

That would be great if we can get Robin & Don to join us. They are are the same Japan cruise as us.

1 hour ago, little britain said:

I’m booked on Millennium in Japan for 3/25 but hoping to swap that to RCI if possible. But it would need to do a lot of Japanese ports which I think a repo wouldn’t. 

We are also booked on Millennium Japan for 3/15/25 but looking for a Repo or TP returning to the states. Would love for Athem to fit into our dates or maybe do a likable swap.

3 hours ago, Dancer Bob said:

Much good information, especially from Jayayeff. My own experience: I've done 4 repositionings from Dubai back to Italy, I arrive several days early due to the time change. The urban sprawl and traffic remind me of a US city. Dubai can get expensive if you're not careful. The Marina terminal is on the opposite side of the city from the airport, an expensive area and not close to anything (the tram is not too far away). Taxis get expensive because of distance. HOHO bus for 2 days would be efficient, although not cheap. Metro is crowded at rush hour. Shuts down at midnite, many flights arrive after that.

I've stayed in the Deira and Bur Juman areas, three star hotels I found quite comfortable. Many hotels say they're on a main street but are actually on a side street. Very confusing, many streets are numbered but seemingly at random. My last trip the taxi driver couldn't find the hotel because it was on a side street, but I had printed a map from the Metro station, so the station was all I needed.

Can you recommend a hotel close to the Mall and close to restaurants?

On 2/24/2023 at 11:02 PM, Jayayeff said:

 
In November when the Nautica was here the ship was docked in Port Rashid.  I had friends on that sailing and met up with, and dropped them off later in the day at the cruise terminal there…

 

Anne 

Thank you for all the helpful information.

We wanted to ask if you have any insight into Hotel Indigo or Gevora Hotel and if so could you tell us

if either one is close to the Metro and Restaurants? How what are the reviews for these hotels?

16 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

Wish was on this World Cruise, but Building new home at moment. We were Lucky locked it in at low Interest Rate from last Summer

Congratulations on new home. At our age we are ready to stay put in FL and enjoy the weather and cruising.

7 minutes ago, ONECRUISER said:

True, Bunch the smaller legs available on Royal now, Figure there isnt many Balcony/Suite Cabins and many sold on the longer World Cruise

Looks like all Balcony/Suite sold out yesterday or early this morning.

4 hours ago, Jimbo said:

Found a link to some amazing pictures of the new locks being built............you can see in some of the back ground where the original locks are at.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3664317/Expanding-Panama-Canal-Incredible-pictures-world-s-famous-waterway-transformed-5-5bn-project-features-locks-weighing-4-200-tonnes-4-4million-cubic-meters-concrete.html

 

Now when looking at what that just built makes you wonder though how in the heck they built the original one with no machinery like the have now. Just makes it more amazing.

 

 

Amazing, thanks for the information.

34 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

I contacted my  regular travel agent and they didn't have anything on hold.......This balcony did however became available this morning on their site so I'm just holding it for now.

 

Cabin is on deck 9 about 10 or 12 cabins behind the hump on port side........So location really isn't that bad. Category 2B.

We are on deck 8, forward 4D catagory. Did you ask your TA for group rates? Some TA's don't mention it you have to ask in order to get it.

7 minutes ago, Jimbo said:

Port charges for the 16 nite are almost $900, guessing most of that is for Canal. Any idea if the ship goes through the new or old canal? We have a Balcony on  deck 9 on hold right now for $3500, Just held it today when one opened up. Balconies look hard to find on that sailing. Does anyone know when that itinerary became available to book?

We booked ours March 9th when it first became available. You may want to contact a TA and see if you can get a group rate for this cruise, it was a little less and they may have a better Balcony location if you are looking to change cabins. 

On 1/13/2022 at 8:54 PM, Momto3girlsintheCarolinas said:

While I agree that one must be realistic in that it's a pandemic and your experience is bound to be affected, I do agree that folks are overpaying.  We are just off Serenade and I did not fee like we got our money's worth.  The service was poor, and many amenities were unavailable. The shows were lackluster and the food in WJ was not what we've enjoyed on past cruises.  

 

RCI is correct in asserting that they can make changes without notice (it's in the contract),  and I understand that these things are a result if staffing shortages and other pandemic-related annoyances.  However,  it bothers me that I have paid a premium for the Oasis in May and may not be able to enjoy many of the amenities which were the reason we were willing to pay more for THAT ship in the first place.  It seems a little like a bait and switch.

 

I just think that if I order prime rib  and pay more for it because it's prime rib - and the chef/restaurant has an issue and can only  give me a cheeseburger, that I should be compensated in some way - not told "You knew this might happen."

 

My $.02.

We are on the Explorer now and the food is the worst we have ever experienced. The WJ food is nothing but leftovers from the night before and the food in the dining room is tasteless.

The service is awful, with only 1100 people on this cruise we expected more.

We understand the set back in staff and help shortage but we paid for a full cruise and expected our room to be made up daily.

This cruise is a real disappointment to us and will make us reconsider RCCL in the future. 

1 minute ago, island lady said:

 

I am just happy we are still continuing!    And apparently will still make St. Maarten (love that port).  Doubt we will make St. Thomas..but no big deal.  😉  

 

Enjoying our time on board..while we still have it.  🙂

We are on the Explorer this week and just made our first port stop in St Thomas.

On 12/2/2019 at 2:15 PM, John Bull said:

Get to the Vasa earliest - numbers build as the day progresses, and to avoid over-crowding it's one in for every one out when numbers have been reached so the line is very slow.

 

Do you know where you'll be berthed?

There are bus and ho-ho boat options, depending on your berth

 

JB 

What is the best option to get from Vasa to Old Town?

5 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

The prices are listed on the website, subject to change!

https://paradisebeachcozumel.com/restaurant/

 

They are certainly not a bargain basement $1 beers, but are in line with other beach clubs offering facilities on Cozumel.
 

Also keep in mind local time and ship time depending in where you are sailing from and time of year. Port times are precisely why we rarely do AI unless we are on a land visit.

 

They used to open at 8am. Hours may have adjusted temporarily until cruising resumes? They have only just reopened at all.

Thanks for the tips

16 minutes ago, c-leg5 said:

Water park pass extra, maybe $18pp?
 

Sorry I have only gone a couple of times and didn’t buy a pass. In normal times this board would be very active and lots of people would answer.

Thanks again, from what I am reading on several websites the drinks and food are expensive so we are trying to decide which way to go. I have read that the Resort will not open until 10 AM so we will eat breakfast on the ship and the price for All Inclusive is $65 pp so not sure we would eat or drink enough to justify the cost.

11 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

 Think it used to be $3/5 entrance and $12pp minimum consumption?

 

You would need to email or FB to find current charges.

Thank you

5 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

 

Their menu continues to display prices but I would confirm directly nearer your sailing as to whether this is still an option.

From their website blog:

 

The All inclusive option

Reaching Paradise Beach is only a 10 minute drive from the cruise terminal, but once you’re there, visitors have several options: paying just the entrance fee, or the all inclusive option. So many travelers pick the latter because of all the perks: all you can eat and drink all day! Unlike most all inclusive resorts on the island which offer buffet menus, Paradise Beach is completely a la carte menu options, meaning you can enjoy international food from any of the two restaurants, all you can eat tacos from the taco truck, and an assortment of drinks (beer, cocktails, sodas) from the bars or the mojito cart. Fellow visitors won’t let me lie, about how great the food is, and even though everyone has their favorite the truth is that at Paradise, all dishes become a favorite for all!

 

 

 

Does anyone know what just the entrance fee is?

8 hours ago, c-leg5 said:

You will need a taxi, rates should be posted on a board at the pier. Rates are for up to 4 people in a taxi. 
 

Distance depends on which pier you dock at. There are three. Google maps shows 6 miles to Puerta Maya, the nearest pier. You can put in your pier if it is a different one.

Thank you, that's very helpful

On 6/9/2021 at 3:08 PM, 25dbb said:

We have been to Paradise Beach a few time over the years and hope to return in September. After being a Facebook friend of Paradise Beach, I keep seeing they call themselves an All Inclusive now, which they weren’t over the years when we were there. Are they only an all inclusive now?

 

25dbb

How far is Paradise Beach from the ship dock? Do you need to take a taxi to get there? 

 We will also be there in Sept and was looking for some place different to go.

21 minutes ago, JBSteelerfan said:

 

 

• Mon 25/04/22  Honolulu (Oahu, Hawaii) / USA 20:00
• Tue 26/04/22   Kailua (Kona, Hawaii)* / USA   08:00    20:00
• Wed 27/04/22   Lahaina (Maui, Hawaii)* / USA   07:00   23:59
• Thu 28/04/22    Mount Kilauea (cruising) / USA   08:00   17:00
• Fri 29/04/22    At Sea
  • Sat 30/04/22   At Sea
    • Sun 01/05/22   At Sea
      • Mon 02/05/22   At Sea
        • Tue 03/05/22   At Sea
          • Wed 04/05/22    Seattle (WA) / USA   08:00   18:00                                                                                        Thu 05/05/22    Vancouver / Canada    06:00

Tks

47 minutes ago, crzndeb said:

FYI....if anyone is waiting for Ovation HNL-YVR in Apr/2022, call Royal or TA. It’s available, but not on website. 

Can you share any information & pricing?

1 hour ago, mattymay said:

You can't book the Brisbane Quantum TP yet. Maybe they will give the Sydney customers a chance to switch as well before opening it up.

We are hoping they get the same option. That would be the fair thing to do. 

11 minutes ago, Wine-O said:

It looks to me that Radiance and Quantum TP's were both cancelled.  Only TP is Ovation leaving on 10 April???  🍷

Some people have received emails stating that we will be given the option of taking the Quantaum TP out of Brisbane.

No itinerary has been posted yet just an email saying we would be automatically changed to the Quantaum TP but

can opt out of it for a full refund.

3 hours ago, internetwhiz said:

Rc deployed ships. That happens. Quantum TP and Radiance TP affected, April 2022. All they did to Quantum was change the departure port to Brisbane. Same date, same ship. So we get a letter cancelling Quantum TP with no option to move to the new sailing at Brisbane, they just cancelled ours. Only option, re-book at prevailing prices with 100 obc for our trouble.
 

With Radiance TP cancellation, they tell them them can move over to the Quantum 4.11.22 from Brisbane, and they’ll do it automatically for them. They get Our ship, our sail date-just from Brisbane rather than Sydney. It would have worked for me. But noooo

Such a slap in the face. I haven’t been so angry in a long time. 

I really hope that after all is said and done that RC does the right thing and offer all the people that was booked on the original Quantaum TP the same option as those on the Radiance. Some times it takes RC a couple of days to realize that they screwed up again.Were pulling for all the Quantaum people to be able to join us. 

6 minutes ago, sparkers said:

I just called Royal directly and asked about possible changes with the Radiance TA April 15, 2022 cruise. He connected with a supervisor and said in their system they have it as April 16-May 2 but that everything else is the same? I am trying to plan a cruise right before this and it is difficult to plan with all the possible changes and what ifs.

We are booked on Quantaum 10 night NZ and will have 4 days in Sydney before going to Brisbane for the Radiance TP.

This is our 3rd time trying to do this TP and hope it dosen't get cancelled again by RC

21 hours ago, MichellePerth said:

 I lifted and shifted to quantum in that same route in 4/22.  
 

im just curious why you folks chose radiance when you could have sailed on quantum at the same price.

We chose the Radiance TP doing a Lift & Shift. We liked the itinerary better with the two stops in NZ