mommyof2monkeys+princess

Thanks!  Trying to decide if a $2k upcharge is worth keeping the 2br suite.  I like the bigger balcony but not sure I $2k like it LOL! 

We currently have a 2br grand suite on Adventure of the Seas but I am seeing two - 1br grand suites that are connecting available for a lot cheaper.  The rooms are connecting so we would have a door in between but I would want to have a shared balcony too.  Now sure if there are perks with the 2br that are not with the 1 br.  Trying to see why there is such a big price difference and if I can basically get what I want with two - 1brs I might switch.  

8 hours ago, orville99 said:

Did two Carnival cruises in suites, and will never sail on them again. Their suites are a joke compared to RCL. All you get is a larger cabin, but literally nothing that one would expect in a suite. Certainly nowhere near the amenities and perks that we get in suites on RCL.

 

Also, their loyalty program is the worst in the industry.

We decided the 4 day cruise on RCI vs the 7 day cruise on Carnival b/c I could not figure out what perks came with the suite.  The suite didn't even look big.  We are excited.  It is a short cruise but it will be fun!

1 minute ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

Cruise by  yourself in that suite and get 6 points per night!  😉

 

This made me laugh!  When hubby and I were going through our pre-martial counseling I thought traveling by yourself was the craziest thing in the world!!  Now 3 kids later who are young adults and teens and been married a while and we were all stuck in the house while said house was being remodeled during covid I can totally get behind being alone at times HAHAHAHAHA.  

We are looking at a suite on Adventure of the Seas so should get all the benefits of priority boarding and such.  My understanding is free internet does not come with the suites on Adventure so I was looking at adding internet.  We have never done "The Key" but looking at adding internet it seems that is basically the same price.  Is getting the Key worth it if you have a suite?

Thank you yes I was meaning 1 point times 4 🙂  

Trying to decide between two cruises and the points could help decide LOL

I am looking between a RCI cruise and a Carnival one (never sailed Carnival).  Royal's site says double points through 2022.  I know booking a suite gets you double points so does that equal times 4 for booking a suite through 2022?

3 hours ago, sellwingri said:

What did you get with the $39 package?  I’m assuming you get 6 cards for each game.  

That sounds right!  I didn't think to snap a picture of that.  It just seemed like a no brainer to skip that one or not play at all with our family all wanting to pay so I didn't really look at it.  It would have been nice if we had actually won the cruise or cash HAHAHAHAHA

39 minutes ago, rachel_f99 said:

We found them knowledgeable on everything we needed.  But, it was all basic stuff.  Didn’t ask for anything out of the ordinary.

They were helpful but just lacked some knowledge that seemed basic.  Like Nancy said the earliest you could get off the ship was coming to the suite lounge at 7:30am vs the early disembark - I was at the airport before 8am.  A few other things that basic.  That aside it was very nice like when John Rockets charged my son when they should not have a quick 2 secs while grabbing a drink in the lounge and it was reversed.  As a first timer to the suite level I loved it 🙂 

If we venture to ever pass Grand Suite level I will definitely think about the view of the balcony 🙂 

My daughter had a blast on the flowrider so we were back there on the deck a bit LOL

We were on the same cruise in a grand suite!  I thought Nancy and Claudine were nice!  It was great to go in there to get stuff taken care of but we found them to not really be knowledgeable on quite a few things so that was a little frustrating.  

It was our first time in a suite.  Thanks for the review of Crown Loft.  Hubby is already wanting to skip to the next level to star level but I am not sure our pocket book is ready HAHAHHAHA 

2 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

Yes. The prices are high now. Would it be a good idea to get two of the $39 and get one free Rather than one of the $69 ?

You could not get the buy 2 get 1 free option on the $39. Only the $49 or $69 - the $69 came with so many more chances we decided to fully play if we were going to play.  🤣 Our ds2 is happiest sitting home and he actually seemed excited to play bingo so we went all in lol.

2 minutes ago, twodaywonder said:

We are bingo nuts on cruises not on land. On the Harmony they always had a special just before it started. If you already purchased your bingo cards, you could get a pad while they last for only $5.00 Were they any specials on the Allure? What was the cost of playing bingo? Thanks! We will be on it September 1st.

The smallest package was $39 then $49 and $69. If you did the 2 more expensive ones it was buy2 get 1 free.  There was 5 of us so we bought 4 of the biggest to get 2 more for free.  Part of the biggest package was an iron to pick a shirt,  the stuffed mascot or the matching strips so we did 2 matching strips (you get 2 each), a shirt and a mascot.  Of course hubby gave me a joking hard time for picking the shirt and mascot when someone won $2k for playing the matching strips 🤦‍♀️ who knows if that would have been us. It was fun.  We have never paid that much before lol.

Yesterday was Nassau and the stop that everyone was waiting for.  Ds2 wants to be a profession pilot so he did the jet simulator.  Royal Caribbean offered it but then took it away so I contacted the company off Facebook.  Awesome experience.  I told him ahead that ds2 had ground school done and was going to college in August to be a pilot.  He put ds2 through more multitasking situations.  Ds2 loved it! Dh said ds2 was beaming and he is our laid back never gets excited.  

Then myself and the other 2 went to Atlantis for the dolphin swim.  The dolphin swim was sho worth it.  One tip wear a normal swimsuit vs. A swim dress or such and trying to fit the material into the wet suit.  We did a family dolphin hug,  touched the dolphins as they swam around us,  did the fin hold and was pushed on the feet by the dolphin as well. I did plunk down $200 for all the pictures.  The lesser iron was $100 for 6 but that would mean taking the time to choose 6 and at this point time is short.  It took forever to get off the ship then long line for the shuttle was forever! If I had to do again a taxi is $4 a person I would go grab a taxi once I got my wrist bands. The aqua park is huge! We just got a couple slides in after the dolphin experience. 

Last night, dd hung out with all her friends skipping dinner with us.  We ate at the Mexican restaurant.  The margaritas were good.  The food was ok. Then the boys ditched us to go to the room.  So just DH and I saw blue planet.  It was really good! After that we went to the room and packed.  

This morning we carried our luggage off the ship.  We were off the ship through tsa at the airport in one hour.  So now what do I do with all this built in time 🤣🤣🤣

Having breakfast now that is crazy expensive but is good!

Yesterday was day 6 and an at sea day.  We did room service for breakfast. Then lunch was coastal kitchen. We had yet to try CK as we  bought dining package. I was very disappoint in the menu. I really have liked the dining package giving more choices. We ate at the Italian place for the 2nd time. Our poor waiter was so overwhelmed he was awful.  Not sure if it was one bad night or if he needs a new assignment on the ship.  

We paid for my daughter to do the $69 group lesson flo rider.  I felt like it was short as there was 7 in the group but still worth it.  One of the staff rises the wave with them showing then what to do.  My daughter gained a new skill. 

We dropped some money playing bingo that normally we never would but our ds2 who's are introvert was excited about bingo. We never won but had good family time. We paid $3 per person for the dabbers bc we didn't come to the venue with anyway to mark things. 

6 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

What kind of politically incorrect statements does it take to win such a show?

Battle of the Sexes (not sexist) 

It was guys vs. Girls like taking a small ball and exchanging it with the next person under your neck,  then it was who can collect more clothes from the audience,  the was a popping the balloon one as well.  The guys ended up winning last night. 

Forgot to add we did battle of the sexist show.  The director was clearly annoyed that a family brought in a young girl. They kept announcing this was not a kid show and no one under 18 should be in.  It was a crowded show so don't go late if you want a chair.  We got there 10 mins early and fell like we got the last chairs up in the 2nd floor area (of Dazzles). It was funny to watch. 

So we actually did stop at San Juan. The guys did the ATV excursion.  Hubby said the ATV employees were thrilled top have business. Daughter and I stayed on the ship.  Found out she could not get a massage which she was begging for.  They don't allow 12 yr olds. Her birthday is 4 months away.  We went to Chops and they did the steaks to perfection (we are from Texas and picky about steaks). I also finally found an awesome chocolate dessert!

Yesterday was also the first time during the day I ducked out in ther hall to use the bathroom since my son was showing after the atv. Not planned but having our room just about 3 doors from a public one made it easy to go there vs. Disturb my son. Overall loving the suite live and would definite pick this again over two regular rooms. 

As families get back in the ship they are saying there u.s broken glass everywhere. Many of the buildings are spray painted.  Cops are everywhere so people said that was good but everything is basically shut down so they got back on the ship.  My husband and boys are still on their atv excursion.  Word from cops is the riots will start up at 1pm. Everyone is suppose to be in the ship by 1:30pm.

Im on the allure now with a grand suite and the drink and dining packages.  I email concierge the week of sailing all my reservations. It was super easy.  We had one lunch reservation lost which ticked DH off but really it wasn't that big if a deal and they were making a reservation for us.  

Yes we are on Allure and at San Juan now. Excursions went as planned.  We're leaving at 2 so maybe since we are avoiding the evening time they felt fine with us stopping. The guys on their atv excursion.  Daughter and I are still on the boat.  Im not sure we will get off.  The governor's place is close to port. 

Im on Allure now and we are at San Juan. The ship was all talk last night. Most of the staff thought we would not port. But we are here.  Hubby and our boys are on the bus to the atv ride. My daughter and I were going to go explore San Juan on our own - she is too young for the atv. We most likely are just going to stay on the ship. 

Yesterday was st. Kitts. The night before st kitts was the marriage show which is always a favorite for us. Daughter is living staying out until the 1am crew - we are not young sle and fading 🤣🤣. On st kitts day,  We did a snorkel excursion that was perfect.  It didn't start until after 12 so no rush.  We ate at the wind jammer for the first time.  The catamaran was great.  The right about if fun time without drunks 😉 Leaving the area on the catamaran we went around the port,  a carnival ship was in port.  It was crazy to see how small it was compared to the Allure.  We snorkeled for over an hour.  When we were pulling back in there was a catamaran that my daughter proclaimed everyone wasted on 🤣🤣🤣 We got back to the ship breezing through security at port and on the ship. Plenty of time for showers before 6pm dinner. We had sushi at Izumi with our daughter.  The boys ditched us for Johnny Rockets instead.  Dd ran off to the living room but promptly came back saying it was shut down temporarily for an incident. She claims a young teen was drunk and biting security is the rumor mill - sounds crazy to me.  The ship was all a buzz with whether we were going to San Juan.  We are in port now - the staff last night seemed to think we would not.  Hubby and the boys are off to ride atvs. Dd and I are probably not going to get off the ship.  The plan was for us to just explore the city but news articles are saying fires were lit last night and tear gas and such. 

7 hours ago, mariefisher said:

Thank you for taking the time to post. I want to ask if you made the Hibachi reservations when you boarded?  I know they sell out and with the Unlimited pkg. I was curious how easy they were to come by.   Enjoy your time with your family! 

 

I emailed the concierge the week of sailing with our list. So probably about 5 days before sailing. 

8 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

 

What ship and what entertainment is listed at noon?

There was music playing at the time.  We went early and was able to get on the ship in about 30 mins. 

28 minutes ago, gatour said:

twodaywonder, your are amusing.

 

Just because you or someone else was able to sneak something aboard, doesn't mean it is safe.  It also doesn't mean the next person attempting to do the same will not be caught.  Please do not come crying here when your two/three prong outlet is confiscated.

This is my picture - it was not hidden at all.  I bought off Amazon with it saying it was cruise approved. The set up has been in full display of my room attendant.  There is no chord it just plugs into the wall outlet.  It does cover up the 2nd outlet but it gives us 3 plugs plus 3 usb so it's been working great for us this week.  It allows the 5 if us to charge at night.