DrD

 

Last August we were in a GS on HOTS and I requested similar private tours and was mortified when they were pricing them out at over $1000 a piece. To this day I still think they were charging me more because we were in a suite. Naturally, we declined. On the Equinox we were not in a suite - we were all in Concierge OV balcony rooms (Celebrity's concierge level is a waste of money but that is another topic).

 

That is crazy. We have a private driver and guide all day in Naples coming up for about $650 total for 3. We didn't need a car seat though. I arranged this independently of cruise line

Car seats decrease the risk of, but do not prevent, serious injury or death in an accident. For toddlers the reduction is 54% per CDC.

The risk of a few trips without a car seat is exceedingly low.

If you are unwilling to accept that risk, then you should not drive your kids anywhere except for school and doctor, since a car seat does not eliminate the possibility of death or serious injury. Going out for ice cream? Why take the risk?

In other words, if you are ok going out for ice cream with risk X, why would you worry too much about a shore excursion with risk 2X? (54% risk reduction means risk is double when not using care seat.)

Or to turn it around, if driving without a car seat is completely unacceptable, then why would driving for something trivial like ice cream be ok given risk is still half of what it was without car seat?

The way people evaluate and understand risk is always interesting to me.

The question is do you enjoy yourself more or the same with or without the extra drinks? .

More for sure. To be honest.

I will check it out on my upcoming, but doubt I'll eat there. We almost never do the specialties as we like MDR and like having the same table/waiter each night. It's a big part of the cruise experience for us. Old fashioned I know. Plus it's not worth the up charge compared to the meal in the MDR.

Someone commented on freshness, but I'd imagine and hope they could get fresh seafood in each port.

You can also try viatour, they have a lot of great excursions that cater to cruisers. I've got 3 booked for my upcoming. If the RCCL offerings are not exactly what I want then I go private.

Example, RCCL offers tours of Marseilles, or Cassis, but not both. Viatour has an excursion that does both.

And RCCL does not have any walking food tours, which are our fav. Great way to see neighborhood and have great food.

I generally agree with you but not on this one. Drink package allows you to drink the alcohol of your choice. Not some of the garbage that is a Diamond Drink. Not to mention the water.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

True, but for me, I could probably get all the water/coffee and alcohol I would normally drink a la carte and pay less than the package, but when I get the package I'll drink like 4-6 drinks per day, plus water and coffee, so I come out ahead. But only because I drink more than I would if I had to pay each time.

Probably, but I printed it and will bring it in case they give me a hard time about being early!

So I have my set sail pass and my boarding time is 12:30. However I also notice on website where you check in it says “please arrive at least 2 hours before your scheduled boarding time.” So I plan to be there by 10:30.

I’m not sure what the point of a scheduled boarding time is if the fine print says to get there 2 hours early.

I’m boarding in Rome soon and my cruise planner works as expected, ie day 1 is embarkation in Rome etc. Our excursions show the correct date. So apparently it’s fixed.

I thought the OP just booked this cruise last minute, but I see it was in January!

Look, let's just be honest, the biggest benefit to the drink package is it give one an excuse to drink more. Just like we all eat more when food is included. We all want to get our money's worth.

The thing about us drinkers, is that we love to have excuses to over do it. It can be friends egging us on, a bad day at work (stress,) a good day at work (celebration,) or having to drink our money's worth.

I certainly drank ALOT more when I bought the drink package, and loved it.

I've never put phone or ipad in safe and never had a problem, 10+ cruises with electronics.

OP should have made it very clear in the title of the post as well as the text of the initial post that this cabin is an ACCESSIBLE Oceanview Balcony Cabin. Sadly there will be able-bodied people who will attempt to book this cabin and fraudulently attest to having a need for the features of the cabin to avoid paying for a Junior Suite.

 

Yes it was stated further into the thread that the cabin is an accessible but after seeing the photo posted they won't care and will still attempt to book it.

Wow I had no idea. Thanks for the tip.

You can run and grab coffee without makeup etc, or better yet send your husband to go get it. I’m sure he’d be delighted to.

Next time (there will be a next time!) price a balcony and inside cabin. Often 4 people in 2 cabins is the same price or just a tiny bit more than 4 in one. Having 2 bathrooms is key. And privacy for the adults is great also.

Normally I'd so no but for a surprise anniversary present, yes. You're gonna get a lot of points for that from DW and make her very happy. So go for it.

Just make sure you drink enough to justify the price. The higher the price, the more you drink. Easy peasy.

really enjoyed your review!!!

 

royal really has to do something about smoking in the casino....it really bothered me on the radiance....not that i was in the casino, but you could smell the smoke in other places...i don't know why they can't make it non-smoking!!

 

.

Yeah smokers tend to be gamblers an vice-versa. I mean smoking is the ultimate gamble isn't it? If you're willing to gamble with your life think how easily you will gamble with your money.

Thanks for posting those. I assume you're planning your next cruise, it's the only way not to be depressed after a cruise I find.

Can you say "loophole?"

Would I be required to purchase a hands-free accessory, such as a mount or bracket?

No. The proposed law simply states that a driver cannot hold or support a mobile phone. A phone can be left on a vehicle’s console, a front seat, etc. However, for the safety of all Georgians, state and local law enforcement recommend the purchase and use of a hands-free device if using a mobile phone while driving.

• Unless you plan to drink more than 5 drinks per day-- every day including port days-- per person, don't buy the drink package. Instead, wait until they offer the 10 drink punch cards (around the third or fourth day). Those can be shared between people and will save you a little money.

Or you can do what I do, first buy the drink package, then plan to drink more than 5 drinks per day!

Yesterday's "First Time" thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2650905

And if you click on the link, be sure to check out the 5 links to other "first time" threads.

Or better yet, tell them that whatever they spend over the limit comes out of their savings accounts, or out of their allowance if they have one. Or must otherwise be paid back.

I can use my phone to transfer money out of my kid's accounts in to mine in about 10 seconds, and they are well aware.

Yeah, change was the "New and Improved" website..

But are you past 49days before cruise? Might make difference...

Yes. See my sig.

Just signed all of the waivers for a 23 Sept cruise online.The options are hidden away at the bottom of the "check-in/set sail pass form".

This isn't available for my upcoming. I could do it online last year on Oasis, apparently something has changed.

Beware, some recent reviewers have said if you come up to the activities desk with a drink in your hand, they won't let you sign and you have to wait at least 30 minutes to come back. So finish your drink first!

Thanks so much. I'm boarding in Rome also and I had heard some of this negative feedback. I understand some of it is unavoidable but I don't understand why they can't get the app right.

It must be nice though having the ship be so much less crowded on embarkation day.

We have traditional dining, I hope they don't somehow change or mess up our table assignment.