PelicanLvr

Never been to the port at Sea-tac.  But based upon multiple Europe and Caribbean X cruises.....Do unassisted walk off carrying all you luggage.  That should start around 7am.  You do not put luggage out the night before, but rather walk off rolling all your stuff.  

You will be one of the first off the ship and the port will be quiet.  Get a cab or arrange car service.  Do not wait for a shuttle.   

My guess (for whatever that's worth) is you'll be fine.  

One Beach Towel per person is usually left by your room steward on your bed the night before the first port (beach) stop.  These towels are much larger/plusher than the pool deck towels.

The room steward exchanges them when left of for him/her to take.  We leave ours on the balcony to keep the room cleaner.

We also grab a pool towel each as an extra and just return these to the pool area each day.

Do Not return the larger beach towel left by your room steward to the bin in the pool area ....  you must exchange with the room steward or risk being charged.

Speak to the room steward and set up a system.  They will look for the "dirty" beach towel where you tell them you will leave them.   No sea pass card involved.

10 minutes ago, Happy Cruiser 6143 said:

 

Which is why I advise to relax and let them do it at the pier.  Takes all of 10 seconds.  And then they will have it the way they want it.

Another vote for...Relax and do it at the pier!

Oceano in Condado Beach. 

Outside right overlooking the beach.  make a reservation!

Really suggest the Amazon universal adapter. 

No more multiple adapters, just slide out the plug type you need.  Has USB ports too.  Works great!

Sailed Summit this past January 2019.  Arrived in SJU a day early and spent departure day on the beach.  Arrived at port around 4pm and breezed on with no wait at all......BUT almost missed the 4:45 muster drill.  

Crazy to have it hours before departure!  From the roll call during the drill it was obvious that many were missing.  Ship was in port early for the following 10 straight days....so don't know when the make-up was??

Just be sure to know the "Drop Dead" time to be aboard.  Because it's a departure port, customs rules are different than a mid-cruise port.  Be sure to know the all-aboard time, regardless of when you check in.

Yes, all "regular balcony" rooms on M class ships are a bit smaller than the Concierge class cabins.  However, the sweet-16 double-deep balconies more than make up for that.  Best balcony staterooms on the ship.

PS:  Put a pool towel or 2 over your small table and it becomes your foot rest.  

IMHO, online check-in just makes it easier/ faster for the pier staff (read that as hire less people). 

Always still have had to line up and show documents.  

Maybe some day the benefits of on-line check in will trickle-down to us too.

Was on Summit in January (2019).  LPC was scheduled to replace Qsine within a month.  Never Happened.

Perhaps the opinions above are why the roll-out of LPC is sooo slow.  Not really being well received.  Current corporate culture would never admit that.  So we'll see what happens next???

I too ate regularly in Qsine, and will not partake of LPC.  It's an overpriced gimmick.   

Qsine gave us lots of dining options and will be missed.  Perhaps the last straw in X's "evolution to modern luxury" for us.

34 minutes ago, amunhbuu said:

 

Interesting thought.  What about the flight differences coming from the US?  I have found even going to San Juan is significantly more expensive and time consuming than flying down to FLL/MIA.  In some cases, it is more effective to take a 10/11 day cruise out of Florida than fly down to SJU for a 7 day cruise.

But the Big advantage is not having 4 sea days (2 down and 2 back) needed for a Florida departure.  Some love sea days....4 is too many for us.

We love the SJU based Summit cruises and would welcome more ships home-ported in the Caribbean.   You spend the entire cruise in the beautiful tropical weather!

Always have your GE card.  

We have renewed and been in program about 6 years without an issue.  Last entry, the darn GE machine malfunctioned.  Agent looked at card and waived us thru....easy.

But have your card even though you should not really need it.

All you winners....please share details.  

Thank you, it's appreciated!!

10 hours ago, Wine-O said:

Unless they've changed it since this past July, Elite gets 30 items (20 on shorter cruises), and Elite+ gets two 30 items.  It doesn't matter whether you use 1, 2, or 3 bags, it's the number of pieces (a pair of socks = one piece). 

 

You have to turn it within 3 days prior to the end of the cruise.  Check with your stateroom attendant for the cutoff date.  🍷

Good Point WINE-O, all laundry benefits are NOT valid during the last 3 days of the cruise.   So you can't use them right before you go home.

In addition to the wash bag, don't forget the dry cleaning and pressing.  Comes in handy! 

Make full use of the benefits!

We have eaten for quite a few cruises in specialty restaurants every night.  Used to be that the final night was a bit of a let down as turnover was looming and seemed more important.

Recently however, final night dining in the specialty has improved.  Still a bit subdued as the cruise comes to an end, but a big step up from the MDR.

Another vote to leave the balcony lights home!

In our experience when the mini-bar is emptied, the contents are placed in a container and put under the bed.  We were told no place else to store it.  Never been an issue.

This has happened to everyone of us (including us) that have reached Elite Club status.  

Simply put: Points are earned and awarded at the end of a cruise and not earned nightly.  The points you earn at the end of the cruise are indeed calculated by the number of nights you sail....but only earned at the end of the cruise. 

Your belief that points are earned nightly is the problem....they are not. 

So you will be elite level on your next sailing.

YES - Ask to move and see what happens.  

Sounds like your cabin location matters too much to you to take the GTY risk.  I would feel exactly the same.

Don't possibly dampen your vacation with constant thoughts that you should not have moved.

IMHO, Stay with the cabin you have!  Not worth the risk.  

4 hours ago, ipeeinthepool said:

 If the suitcases are a little wider you may need to lift the bed to allow the suitcase to clear the side of the bedframe.   

Have done this too.  Good tip.

If you have never been to Rome and may never get back.....don't let this opportunity slip by.

Another vote for Romeinlimo.  Have used them and very satisfied.  Contact them and explain your situation and they will let you know how to use your rather limited time in Rome to see as much as you can.  Also you will see what you want to see, at your pace and not what the slow X excursion goes to.  Also with them you would have a car at your disposal in Rome and that would be helpful if you decide to do a "drive-around" to see sites like:

Coliseum (from the outside)

Trevi Fountain

Pantheon

Spanish Steps

Piazza Navona

That's all very doable.

If you decide you want to devote all your time in Rome to tour one of the  big site like the Coliseum or Vatican take a look at "Walks of Italy".  They are small group tours and they have time-slots to get a group into the big sites without the line.  Have also used them with great success.  You walk past the lines or use a special entrance.    Perhaps you could coordinate to be dropped off for one of their tours.  There are other companies that have these time-slots as well....but I have not used them.  You should be able to find them on the internet.

Yes, you can do it!  It will be expensive, but from your posts I get it that this is a "now or never" opportunity.  Hope you decide to go for it.  These two types of companies I believe are your best best!  They give you transportation and skip the line access. 

Good luck!!!!!

Have a wonderful day in Rome!

Getting back to the OP's story.....WOW!!  Really happy for you that X stood by you and made sure you were safe. 

Quite a story to tell!

Bet it was GREAT to be back in the USA.  

Forgot to say....Yes, you can change the "assigned" reservation the first night.  Just talk to them!  They want to make you happy!

We have dined in specialty restaurants exclusively for quite a few years.  Of our last 10 X cruises we have never been in the Main Dining room (MDR).   

Upon boarding go to a specialty restaurant.  They want to make a party who intends to dine with them multiple time happy.  We have purchased a 14 night package and eaten where ever we want each night.

Tell them what you would like.  The will do there best to make it happen.

Yes, on a package you can dine every night in the restaurant of your choice.  

We have always found that they are accommodating.  Just be polite and tell them what you prefer...they will do their best.

The specialty dining folks are great.