sharpasice

Glad you found it. We have used our "free membership" for over a year and a half with no problems and no charges. I love the liberal cancellation policy. Gives you time to shop around closer to the date. I have cancelled and rebooked here a couple times with no problems. They give the credit card a refund within 3 or 4 days no questions asked.

 

And yes I have used valuetrips once. MANY others use it booking that hotel in Ft L. Sometimes if it's a peak season you will be told they will get back to you with availibility. BUt most often they can add to their room inventory and you get the room.

Just wanted to thank you again for the valuetrips info...I booked the Hyatt Place for August..I was unable to get the room thru their normal booking site..it kept saying unavailable for my dates but I did get a confirmation thru value. I did check the confirmation number on they Hyatt site and it is there...total price, including taxes $109...and they had my special requests listed!!! Sooooo thank you, thank you, thank you!:D

We take Clorox Hydrogen Peroxide wipes (tho I just recently read that peroxide is not effective against noro don't know how true that is) and in hotels and on cruises we wipe down counter tops, phones, remotes, door knobs etc..there is always something I think of later that I should have wiped down, like light switches.. Haven't gotten sick yet..but I will continue to do this because maybe this is why we haven't gotten ill AND it takes only a few minutes to do. But then, what about the fabric on the sofas and chairs?? I've heard noro lives on them...so it's difficult to know what to do, but doing this when we arrive at least makes us feel better.

We also take a supplement called Esberitox...learned about it on the Disney message boards years ago and have been taking it whenever we travel and whenever we feel like we are "coming down" with something...I swear buy this stuff..have not been sick like I used in years!

Thank you all for you help..boy oh boy ...he's going to go thru withdrawal! LOL

I am asking this for a friend who is a Pepsi addict, who will be sailing with us in August. Does anyone know what is served on the Oasis? Although I have been on several RCI cruises, I have no clue since I do not drink soda. Anyone know? Thank you so much in advance.

Glad you found it. We have used our "free membership" for over a year and a half with no problems and no charges. I love the liberal cancellation policy. Gives you time to shop around closer to the date. I have cancelled and rebooked here a couple times with no problems. They give the credit card a refund within 3 or 4 days no questions asked.

 

And yes I have used valuetrips once. MANY others use it booking that hotel in Ft L. Sometimes if it's a peak season you will be told they will get back to you with availibility. BUt most often they can add to their room inventory and you get the room.

Thank you for your help and quick reply..helps make my decision easier.

I just went to Last minute travel.com and tried to join their club...it was not free...they wanted $49.99 Am I missing something?

I just found a link that gives me a 100% discount so please disreguard..sorry.

Since you are going when rates are dropped pre holidays, I'd look at Embassy Suites on 17th St. Or check valuetrips.com for the Hyatt Place which is right behind the E Suites. Rate there is only $129 then and a great location for stores and restauarants. I wouldn't stay at the airport since rates will be very affordable in town close to the port and the city for walks.

eandj have you used valuetrips often? I have never gone thru a travel site before. Have you had good results? Any problems? I am asking cuz they have Hyatt Place for $99 when I need it! Wonderful price ..too good to be true? Thanks

If you really want to bang for your buck then go to Hotwire.com where you can book two rooms at a time. There are going to be great deals there for your date. Use the HOTEL LISTS on betterbidding.com to narrow down which hotels you are looking at. And read reviews and location info. No cancellations, so be sure when you book.

OR...

Another option is to go to lastminutetravel.com, join their club for free and you can get great rates there and KNOW the hotel PLUS no cancellation fees up to 3 days prior to stay. I just checked and you can get a one bedroom suite at the VERY NICE Doubletree Gallery One for only $101 by joining the club. If you don't want to join, then just do a "chat" with one of the agents or call and they will give you a few dollars off this property. It is the first one listed for $108 on that site. FANTASTIC deal, walking to anything and right on the intracoastal. MUCH MUCH better than a chain hotel out at the airport. :)

This site is very popular and safe to book with.

 

Honestly your date (Dec 3) is going to give you some great rates and I would NOT EVER stay out by the airport when deals abound in town.

 

Good luck.

 

PS Make sure your ship leaves from Port Everglades. Sounds like you didn't know for sure.

I just went to Last minute travel.com and tried to join their club...it was not free...they wanted $49.99 Am I missing something?

We are booked in Cabin 8608 on the Enchantment. On the deck plan, there is a small blank space next to the cabin. Can't figure out what it is? Could it be a linen closet?

 

Anyone have any idea?

 

Thanks.

I honestly do not see what you are talking about to be right next to your cabin, but actually a few cabins down. Anyway, I have always heard these spaces are for housekeeping carts ..makes sense to me. Don't take my word as gospel but that's what I think they are.

On the Oasis we were in a JS..don't think that made a difference though on the card. We used the card every evening..(I did worry about someone changing it or taking it but that never happened)..whether it was for just coffee & pastries or for a full meal..I did write items in on the card...one day ordered lox & bagels and got it with no problem. We did not order eggs...Our usual thing ..prior to getting showered & going out was a carafe of coffee, bacon (extra), fresh fruit, yogurt and pastries..sometimes just the coffee and fruit. It was always on time, always fresh, coffee was always hot..and it was actually good....bacon was not hot..but it wasn't cold either. Every morning they would call us about 10 mins prior to delivery. We thought it worked out great. AND in the middle of the week..room service sent us chocolate covered strawberries and other fruits and tiny pastries....with a note of thanks...very nice.

You won't be charged anything extra for getting cash if you put your seapass into a slot machine, load the desired amount into the machine (as if to play - you do have to set yourself up with a pin), promptly cash it out and take the ticket to the cashier.

Of course, this must all be done when the casino is open for business.

How do you set up the pin? Can you do it right on the slot machine or do you have to go to the cashier? Can you do this on the Oasis? Was on Oasis recently & no one ever told us that. Will try it next August when we are on again. Thanks for the tip.

I believe there is either a mall or large shopping center within walking distance. Also, the best place to buy wine is Total Wine in the Harbor Shops on the way to the port. You can place your order on the web and they will have it waiting, to minimize taxi waiting time.

 

I also read that the Springhill does not have a free shuttle to the port anymore, so that may cost a few dollars per person if you choose that instead of a taxi. We use a taxi for around $20 -$25 so we can stop at the wine store.

There is a BJ's within walking distance from Springhill Suites in Dania beach. It's across Stirling Rd. I've heard they allow wine sales without a membership. There's also a Walgreens for other last minute things. I know some of the hotel shuttles in the area will drop you off places if you only want to walk one way or take a cab back.

I called the hotel yesterday and they said they do not charge a fee for the shuttle to the port..only if a return trip to the hotel is booked.

Thank you both for the info on the shops..I really appreciate it.

 

We like the Springhill Suites in Dania Beach. Free airport shuttle. Free port shuttle. Free breakfast. Free WiFi.

Clarea, I booked this hotel yesterday ...such a great price! $109 with all that included..Thanks for the heads up. I heard it was undergoing renovations at this moment..I hope they are done by August. All I really care about is that it is clean. Can you tell me if there are any grocery stores or someplace we can pick up wine and last minute items close to the hotel? Thanks!

We stayed there in December, and the shuttle to the port was NOT free.

I just called there..and asked about the shuttles.thinking of staying here in August....from the airport ..free, to the port ..free..return from port $10..and it states all this on their website..maybe the driver just tried to rip you off? JMHO

Tried going into My Cruises to print out passes. I was able to do this. Then I tried to print luggage tags and got this message

"The requested reservation is currently being modified. Please try again at a later time

 

What does this mean?

I was told by RCI that could mean they are looking at your reservation, changing it, amending it, adding info, ..anything that has RCI opening your reservation since your reservation cannot be accessed by two people at the same time...Have you ever tried talking to a cruise planner from RCI about your reservation and then try to access it yourself? Well, that is the message you will get ..it takes at the least 10 mins for that to clear up. Poor technology on RCI's part.

They do charge 5% when you take cash out at the casino against your SeaPass card.

You do NOT get charged in the casino to take cash off your seapass card IF you are an MLife member. The cashier told us this when she happened to see our MLife cards from then on we were never charged the fee.

I had this excursion suggested to me, heard it was great. However, cannot seem to get any info on it, when I go on their website and punch in RCCL, it takes me to a page with no info...Do I have to book this by calling RCCL?? Can this not be booked privately?? Forgive me if this post is in the wrong place..

What ship, what port?

This is true. On the Oasis in October..we handed our stateroom attendant $30 up front and he said "but you have already paid gratuities". I thought that was very interesting..and nice of him to mention..so yes, they are aware. BTW he was the best stateroom attendant we have ever had!

Natty bumppo, I guess I read your post wrong..I was trying to say they do indeed know who paid grats...actually I don't know if they get a list of who removed them. Sorry for the mix up.

Over the years, I have read on the CC boards that crew members sometimes know when gratuities have been withheld. If you are cringing now, consider when you are sitting at your dining room table in the evening with the deadbeats and the hard working waiter and assistant might know that half of your table will be stiffing them!

 

Have you told them of your concern?

This is true. On the Oasis in October..we handed our stateroom attendant $30 up front and he said "but you have already paid gratuities". I thought that was very interesting..and nice of him to mention..so yes, they are aware. BTW he was the best stateroom attendant we have ever had!

We bring the 3 outlet plug. No problem.

Some people who carry power strips say they are fine as long as they show no signs of wear.

On the Oasis this past October we brought a power strip and were told by security that is was good since it was brand new and UL approved. I did read that somewhere on CC so I purposely brought a new one..no problem.

Please comment and tell me what you think of the tour, would it be worth it for you? I know there were a lot of pictures but there is SO much left to be seen!

 

See you tomorrow everyone! ;)

Thank you, Thank you for such a wonderful review and pix of the All Access Tour. I really want to do this myself..with my hubby but neither of us can do all that walking. This is like being there without having to walking. Again, thank you ..wonderful review!

Whenever i have canceled a booking with RCI I have had the money back on my CC within 3-4 business days.

 

Bill

Same here..the last refund was back on my cc within 24 hrs!!

I had a virgin Pina Colada and virgin mango lava flow..both very good.

If there's no alcohol in it (and even the non-virgin frozen drinks are very light on booze), it's not worth the $$! Lemonade or soda, or even ice water will do the trick!

When we were on the Oasis in October..they were heavy on the booze everywhere we went except the theater. Otherwise ..worth every penny.

I read on another thread sometime back that they have something similar at Walgreens. I believe they said they have toothpaste and a toothbrush in them for travel. They said they work great for this. I haven't thought to look for them though when I was there. You might check that out.

I have seen those!!! In fact, I have them in my travel kit..we got ours at Walmart in the travel size isle.