banderboo

Have they been offering High Tea onboard?

20 hours ago, aring75 said:

Visited the port presentation today. We have a tour planned for St. Kitts, but nothing for Guadeloupe. I looked and looked, but nothing really appealed to me except one that was already sold out (of course). We’ll see what happens.
 

 

We have another day at sea before we even have to think about excursions.

 

I’m never more excited to do absolutely nothing than when I’m on a cruise. 😊

Let me know how you like St Kitts and what you did? We are heading that way on our next RCL cruise and haven’t been before. 

On 11/6/2023 at 1:24 PM, aring75 said:

We drove the 3-1/2 hours to the port. Typical Monday morning traffic, but no real issues. We dropped our luggage off a little after noon, parked the car in the garage ($20/day parking), and got in line to enter the terminal. 
 

A man was there to direct eligible people to the green lane. This probably cut 15-20 minutes off our wait time. Through security, scanned medallions and passports, then on to the ship. Easy peasy. 

Do you need to make reservations or is it just drive in and park? Is handicap parking in the same place?

Excited to see your live. I will be on Ruby in a few weeks with my parents, sister and husband. Seasoned cruisers but first time cruising with Princess so any and all information you provide will be great. 

This is the fan I bring with me when I travel. Love it!

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QCWDQPW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

On liberty last week we were able to make UDP reservations using the app once on board. 

On 11/23/2021 at 3:17 PM, jlaw212 said:

Any recent experience as to when RCI is assigning guarantee cabins.  We cruise 11/28 - still no cabin assignment.  In the past we have been assigned cabins weeks or months prior to sailing.

I got my assignment 6 days before sailing. 

On 11/9/2021 at 9:56 PM, WindinmySails said:

Just had a PRC test, and came back positive for COVID.  I am fully vaccinated, and ironically got super sick the day I had scheduled my booster.  Sunday I had a fever, and felt like death, lost all sense of taste and smell.  Monday, felt fine but tired, had PCR test.  Tuesday today, came back positive.  

So my question is should I just cancel my cruise for  November 26th, or would I probably test negative by then on a rapid antigen test. 

I am sick about this, but need to plan ahead.  We are driving, not flying. Thanks

You are more than 14 days before your cruise so you "should " test negative by the 24th (2 days pre cruise) of course there are no guarantees.

21 minutes ago, kenns said:

 

UDP / Dining 101

- I know the dining room is closed on embarkation day for lunch on Royal (difference from NCL)

- since I have the UDP, can I go to any speciality restaurant on embarkation day? If so, do I need a reservation? Or do we just show up?

 

There is generally only one specialty restaurant open on embarkation day. I haven't used UDP post covid so YMMV but in the past you could go to whichever one was open or Johnny Rockets

-  if no, I suspect the other options would be windjammer, park cafe or cafe promenade?

That is correct

- I understand that Royal automatically makes a reservation for me on night 1 or night 2, but what restaurant do they pick? Can I change this on the app or only once onboard?

You can generally change by going to the restaurant that you want  and asking them to change it for you. I haven't used the app before so not sure how that will work.

21 minutes ago, kenns said:

- should I make dining reservations for speciality dining on the cruise planner or on the app? I’m sure you can change on the app if things change 

I have not used the app to make reservations, I always just go to the restaurant to make them.
- the UDP includes breakfast, lunch  and dinner, right? I know it’s $20 for playmakers but what about Johnny Rockets? 

Breakfast is not included in UDP, Lunch is included on sea days, Dinner on all nights.

- is the MDR open for lunch on sea days?
- is the MDR open for lunch on port days?

 

sorry for 20 questions, I’m just very used to

NCL where you can literally just show up to the MDR

we have the deluxe beverage package too, I suspect that not too many drinks are over the $13 per drink limit? 

17 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

 

Correct, bookings cannot be linked until they are on the same dining type.

I've had luck getting dining type changed when we've linked the reservations but that may not happen in all cases.

11 hours ago, mattR said:

Traveling with some family, unfortunately one family booked later so are wait-listed for early dinner.  One night Grandma and Grandpa are taking the grand kids out to a specialty restaurant.  On that night can we invite our other family to join us since there will be extra room at our table? 

Call Royal and ask them to link your reservations together. With linked reservations, they 'should' be able to just seat you at a bigger table. (at least that has been my experience when linking reservations together even when they weren't booked at the same time)

14 hours ago, shelby2002 said:

We leave in 3 weeks to board the Allure of the Seas, my mom who is in her 70's fell 3 weeks ago hurt her leg and broke her shoulder.  The Dr's have cleared her to sail.  Here is my question we got her a scooter from Special Needs at Sea she is only 110 lbs so I got the standard one that is 20" wide so that should fit through the door of a regular cabin correct?  We are in a 2 bedroom suite.  Also I need to know do I have to call someone now for a wheel chair at the port or can I just ask a porter for one, she is not fighting me on any of this she said please get me the assistance I need so I can enjoy myself so yeah takes a little stress off of me.  Thanks for any help and experiences anyone can share with me.

 

To be safe, I would call Royal and ask that they add your mother's name to the list. You will also need to add her name to the disembarkation list as soon as you get on board. It has been my experience that if your name is not on the list you are last in line meaning if someone on the list comes up, they take them first. On our Liberty cruise this past May, they disembarked in the order you registered.

When Explorer sails from Miami, does the ship offer luggage service to FLL? 

Hi,

Has anyone used wheelchair assistance at the Royal Caribbean cruise terminal in Galveston? If so, how does it work. Do you ask a porter? Any information would be appreciated.

Thanks,

DH and I (mid-50's) do the Chef's Table every cruise and consider it one of our favorite activities. My parents (mid 80's) don't particularly care for it. It really depends on you and your likes/dislikes. 

1 hour ago, cincychad said:

banderboo - did you also have the deluxe drink package?  Any credit from the drink package for the wine at Chef's Table?

 

We did not have the drink package. I have not heard of anyone getting  a credit for the wine for having the drink package since it's included as part of dinner. 

3 hours ago, Floating Lanai said:

 

Thanks for the information. Do you know if a discount is given for the Bottomless Galley Brunch? 

I don't know for sure about the brunch because we didn't ask about it. However, whenever we told them we had the UDP and wanted to do one of the specials they gave us some type of discount.

On 12/7/2018 at 6:45 AM, Raycin said:

Thanks for all the great information! Quick question: I know we’ll get a $35 credit at À la cart restaurants. Is this per person or per check? And also is this a one time credit or can we go to one of these restaurants more than?

We didn't use use the A la cart restaurants but when we asked I was told the credit was per person (the Chefs table credit was per person). 

My experience using UDP on the 11/25 sailing of Oasis was the following:

Once on-board we were able to book all reservations for the week. We did not have any issues getting a table for the time/restaurant we wanted.

• Only Giovanni was open for Embarkation lunch. Chops was reserved for people who purchased the 'Key'
• We were able to book Izumi for habatchi on the first night and were told if space is available they will allow you to use the UDP package.
• JR was not included with the package
• Our waiter brought lobster tails to the table on lobster night (we did not ask for them, he just brought them)
• Tip/service charge is included but if you have an exceptional waiter then I would tip more (in cash)
• We were given a $30 discount off the price of the Chef's table - which I highly recommend
• Sea day lunches have limited hours 11:30 - 1:30 so if you want to eat at a specific restaurant for lunch then you need to make a reservation (high recommend doing this)

On 11/22/2018 at 6:01 PM, molly361 said:

Is JR's considered a specialty restaurant?  Would it be included for lunch or dinner with the UDP?

On Oasis now and have UDP. Johnny Rockets was not included as part of the package. We were allowed to do Izume habatchi the first night. This is offered if space available.

On 11/3/2018 at 5:28 AM, handbellplayer said:

Lunch on embarkation day will be at Chops or Giovanni’s. 

Was the embarkation day lunch included with the package?

I've never been charged but I generally open the bottle in our room and then carry it to the dining room.

 

Today we have the full day beach bed rental in Labadee. I'm pretty excited for it! We get a bed with two towels, two floating mats, a cooler of Evian water, and a waiter. We are bringing sun tan lotion so our pale Canadian skin can not be so white. That's the dream, anyway.

 

We just arrived to Labadee! Announcement was just made. Time to get out of PJs and get some sun.

Please update if the beach bed is worth the money. I've done cabana's in the past and they are great but just can't justify the money for two people when neither of us are really beach people.

Wow!! We have 150 Central Park assigned to us tonight!!

Hoping that is what we get for our first night!

My understanding is that the 3 drinks are available at any bar not the dining room during the same hours that the diamond lounge is open.