MedicKen

Due to Homeland Security regulation boarding is closed 90 minutes prior to sailing to allow vetting of the passenger manifest. So, if you are scheduled to sail at 5 then you need to board before 3:30.

Although DW and I don't take any scheduled medications (narcotics) we are both diabetic and other issues as well. We have never had any medication challenged. We have sailed to Bermuda 5 times and the Caribbean as well.

Sunrise,

Welcome. A few suggestions, if I may. This is the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line sections of Cruise Critic. Royal Princess is part of the Princess Cruise Line family. SO, it may be better if you go there for your questions. Also, Please put a brief description of your question in the subject line rather than your member name.

Happy sailing and I hope you get your questions answered.

Starboard side, right outside Maharaja's Lounge. My son and I spent every night of our 7 night cruise there in '09. Great space.

Help a girl out there Mr. Keller, you know you want to.

Excell is a spreadsheet proram, part of Microsoft Office, that can help you do a slew of things. It can be easy as well as quite powerful without being too intimidating.

TP is a master at things from Microsoft X (as opposed to Celebrity)

I recognise your right to your opinion and will defend that right. As for my sarcasm, I apologise.

Please excuse my spelling errors as I am quite dependant on spellcheckers and this system has none.

We were there November 2013.

We waited 1 hour 45 min. just in not moving traffic to get into the

Cape Liberty parking.

There was some type of issue with the luggage.

We have used the parking lot 4 times already for different cruises and

never had an issue with parking there. It's convenient but expensive.

($19 per day).

Go early, avoid the mess.

I'm sorry if you feel $19 is expensive. You can always go across the river and pay $40 a day. I apologize if I sounded a bit sarcastic but if you park for 9 hours in a lot at the Hospital where I work you are going to pay $11 so 19 doesn't seem too out of line.

We LOVE Explorer and highly suggest you give her the nod. Freedom, we've sailed her twice, is a great ship as well but considering you have to fly, as we would, I don't think the Flowrider would be a dealbreaker. As for condition of the ship, EX is in excellent ship for her age, she certainly doesn't look 13.5. We feel Explorer has the very best crew on the water. We will be sailing her in September as kind of a farewell cruise before Quantum comes to Bayonne.

As someone else has said, if you are looking for issues, they will be there.

Enjoy your cruise, whatever ship.

We boarded Enchantment of the Seas (I know different ship) on Jan 5th. They left decorations up until the 8th, one day after Orthodox Christmas.

I am cruising on Royal next week, and was just wondering what time should I arrive to park at Cape Liberty? Thanks

There is plenty of parking at Cape Liberty. If you want to be assured of a close space, 9:30 or 10. Any earlier and you will get tied up in the departing guests traffic.

Safe and Happy cruising to you.

I agree with the previous poster. However, if you are driving you may want to consider a short jaunt over the river to Bayonne NJ where you can sail on either Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas or the fine Celebrity ship that docks there.

The reason for the driving is parking. Manhattan prices are $35 a night and Bayonne is $19 a night.

In a word, YES.

All points are awarded after you return. That being said, some folks have had success talking nicely to the Loyalty Ambassador and got the new status sticker added to their Seapass. What you fail to reveal is what the step is. The reason I ask is the benefits are minor for most moves (i.s. Gold to Platinum and to Emerald)

My DW (aka The Boss) uses a scooter and we bring it with us. As was posted before, tell the man directing traffic at the drop-off that you need a handicapped chute to drop your luggage and Mom off there, find a RCI person and tell them you need a wheelchair. We unload our scooter and

The Boss heads to the inside for shelter, if needed, and waits for me to park the car. We then check in together after that we queue up for the bus and get in the right line where one of the boarding folks puts us into the front of the buss via a ramp that the driver deploys and this is reversed at the ship and at debarkation. If RCI assigns you a wheelchair escort they will take you to the WindJammer, or any other public area, where you can wait to get into your cabin. Then someone, or Mom, can go to the cabin and get the scooter. I have had sucess peeking my head into the corridor early ans asking if I might get the scooter (and that is ALL I do) run it to The Boss and we start having some fun running people down (NO WE DON'T). If Mom has never used a scooter go to the grocery store or Wal-Mart and try one out.

Enjoy your cruise and have a ball on a great ship.

As with other similar, but different, situations that arise on Cruise Critic, I suggest you CALL THE CRUISE LINE. As you have read above, there are conflicting answers for your inquiry. Some are correct, some are partially correct, and some are plain WRONG.

I know this is a forum of very knowledgeable cruisers but this issue is very important and should not be trusted to the "public".

Although the rest in my party had the fliet, which looked FABULOUS, I prefer the 18oz. Porterhouse. The Porterhouse has both the New York Strip and filet components. It is a lot of meat but I have never had a bad one. My Wife and friends swear by the filets too.

Good advice but I have a question. If the other parent is deceased do you need to bring a copy of the death certificate? What if the other parent was never involved, what then? Thanks.

This is a federal thing, you can call probably the TSA or again, contact the cruise line as they administer the program as far as cruising goes. You may have to provide a copy of the CoD (Certificate of Death) as a "Bridging Document" which would negate the parental permission letter.

Call the cruise line for absolute confimation of this issue. Although many folks here are quite knowledgeable, many are not. Call for yourself and write down the name of the person you talked with.

Also, single Dad, you will need a letter for your two minor children (under 18) from their Mother allowing you to take them out of the country. Samples can be found on Cruise Critic.

Back from another fun cruise with my friends. . .

 

Now I can take some time to go back and see what I missed!!:eek::D

 

Wonderful images as always Radio. . .

 

Hope everyone made it home safely!!

 

I can't see to find the Windjammer here........:confused: And I had to PAY for dinner last night!

I second what my esteemed cruising colleague has written,

Radio,

It was great to cruise with you again. Thanks for all you do. Keep taking those fine images and writing those gems of prose.

Signed,

MedicKen and The Boss (Crusielover58)

Looking forward to sailing on this fine ship with you and our friends.

See you in the morning.

We never have and have sailed out of Bayonne 4 times and once to pickup our DS.

My favorite, all over the ship, is Coconut Ranger Cookies. I adore those circles of love and have been known to secret some off the ship at the end of the voyage. SSSSHHHH, don't tell please.

Portable fan, pillows, extension cord, ziplocks, rubber bands, flashlight, Garmin, battery clock, cooler, scissors, binoculars, insulated coffee cup, insulated cup for soda, visor hat, poncho, medical stuff, bunge cords, snorkeling equipment, extra carry off bags(new purchases), bug spray, empty water bottles, clothes pins, command hooks, and just ordered a occupancy motion sensor led light that runs on batteries from Maxxima Style ( $9.99 plus shipping ) and an open mind.:)

Do you have any room for clothes? (This is a joke)

Your fee will be based on "Nights Sailed", in your case, the fee should be $171 payable upon entry to the lot. Cash and Credit Cards are accepted.

Have a safe and fun-filled voyage.

If I may, I would like to totally agree with my esteemed sailing buddy Carol in her endorsment of parking at the Cape Liberty Terminal.

We have cruised many times out of Cape Liberty parking at the dock each time with a minimum of fuss or discomfort.