fourkittys

don't you purchase drink vouchers ahead of time that is the same as cash? If so, you should add that in because that money was spent either way that you go.

nope!

Had a blast without getting suckered in to the extras, did the 8 day and had a 92/pp charge on the room, had drink coupons and used em, went to the free party, watched people lose in the casino, didnt buy pictures, or t shirts/bingo

 

-Aruba took the bus to the high rise hotel district for 2 bucks and went to the beach

-Curacao hung out on the floating bridge took lots of pics on a long walk

-D.R. watched a baseball game free

-Grand Turk went to the beach and hung out free

 

Total room bill for 8 days just gratuity $184.00

Cost of the cruise with the free in mail voucher taxes/port fees $192.00

 

Grand total for cruise charges $376.00=awesome!!

Great example of you can have a great cruise and not spend your inheritance. We do about the same. Don't need a booze cruise, many ports have city cheap transportation or great beaches nearby. Our buget is tight and have an even better time knowing we haven't gone over it. Happy for those who have bigger budgets, tho.

You can have more than one entre. (I can't) JR does charge for Milkshakes. I wasn't found of the Crown and Anchor Benefit change. It use to be Gold and above got coupons that covered the "cover charge". I understand the reasoning behind it, but this was a coupon we used. They changed it to Buy one Milkshake, get one free, which we dont' use because we can't eat food and drink an entire milkshake ourselves.

I believe if you have the coupon for milkshakes, buy one get one, (or any milkshake purchase) you can get them TO GO without food and there is no cover charge. ALL food (after cover charge) is free but ANY drinks cost extra.

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that bikers were any different from any other large groups sailing together. In fact my DH and I belonged to a Gold Wing club in the 80's - 90's . We had so much fun and met LOTS of great people we are still friends with today. (No tatoos or skullcaps tho, lol!)

I just thought future cruisers should be informed so they can make their own judgements. The cruiseline will never tell you when such large groups of any kind will be traveling together.

I have just read that such large groups tend to fill up the piano bars, comedy clubs, smaller venues so the average cruiser doesn't have the option to participate because of lack of room . Frequently the cruiseline itself will section some areas off just for this group only to use for special get togethers/partys, etc. causing some inconvenience for some passengers.

These large groups ARE NOT charters. Charter cruises "lease" the entire ship.

Thanks Fourkittys,

 

do your know if those tables and chairs by the water slide are movable? They are right above the cabin.

Sorry, I didn't notice but I assume they probably are moved for cleaning but I don't know if you will hear anything. I hope someone can answer this question for you. Happy sailing!

FYI there is a High Seas Bikers Rally on the FOS Nov. 2 -9, 2014. SOMETIMES large groups can disrupt dining, pools, and entertainment because they freqently like being together thus sometimes not giving regular cruisers the same amenities we pay for. Not ALL groups, just information you might consider when booking.

We were on the Dream (sister ship) 4 or 5 cabins forward of yours and the only noise/sounds we heard was occasional music coming from the atrium opening. We had cabins overhead so no issues for us there. The halls were always quiet from people and elevators. Loved the location.

On our first meeting with our cabin steward we tell him/her that they only need to service our cabin in the morning and not come in in the evening. I don't need my bed covers turned down, we don't use any ice, and our towels need to be replaced in the morning. Makes it easy on the stewards and easy on us. We don't care about flowers, table cloths, or towel animals, they just get in the way.

I can live with that. I don't expect "broadway" comparable performers, just be enjoyable and comedians who can be funny without being nasty.

I don't expect 5-star meals but want the food to taste good as in not overy seasoned or under seasoned. There IS a middle ground that most of us will accept.

I like the outdoor movie screen-music but don't blast me to the next planet or break my eardrums ....again THERE IS difference!

I don't think my expectatuins are out of line with the majority.

Someone posted recently that the RC website crashed and has LOTS of problems. Maybe this is why everything is upside down. Call RC direct for verification and prices to be sure. Good luck!

I repeat my question:

 

Why have a menu at all, if you can order whatever you like, whether it's on the menu or not?

On some ships 3000+ people with possibly 3000+ different choices??????? LOL! I don't think so!

My DH and I have been in both and since there were only two of us the size difference didn't matter. But since there will be four of you in one cabin I would go for the D1 for the extra space. It's not huge but under the circumstances every little bit counts. You have picked our favorite ship! Have fun!

Grand Turk is now one of two of our favorite beaches (along with Half Moon Cay). It is right at the cruise port and so beautiful. Free chairs, some shade, and beautiful fish that swim right by you as you enjoy the water. Some find the rocks troublesome. But they are very smooth and sunk in the sandy botton. I didn't even wear my water shoes and didn't mind them at all. Since the ocean is so salty I just lifted my knees and floated around like a cork, no floaty needed. Very fun, easy in, easy out.

We were on the Dream and loved this location. Great view of the pool area and movie screen with a few rocking chairs. Stairs going down to Lido deck. A short walk around the other end on the walkway., down one flight and you are at the buffet. We were in a balcony room just a few cabins forward of the elevator and could sometimes hear music outside from the Lido. There is an area before you leave the cabin area that you can see all the way down to the lobby. Sometines you can hear music from there also .

Sorry! Double post!

I seem to be messing up today with my posts. I would really like for someone to answers the question if they know. Too much coffee this morning, LOL!

Sorry! Double post!

Can someone tell me if the Liberty and Breeze will be sailing from the same location in 2015 (Oct. & Nov.)? (Not itinerary)

We would love to cruise on one of these ships IF the DR menu and the entertainment have improved and are getting better reviews.

Thank you all!

SORRY! Double post!

Thank you so much for your review. Your descriptions were excellent and to the point. Liberty is on our bucket list if the reviews remain as good as they have been. Thanks for describing why and what food you liked instead of just saying "the food was good", etc.. I also agree with your assesment of Grand Cayman. Wish they wouldn't go there as often as they do. We loved Half Moon Cay. The most beautiful beach we have been to.

Does the FOS have a past guest party with free drinks etc. If so, does anyone know the location and what day? Thanks again for your information!

We loved the Jr Suite too, whats not to love? BUT the difference in that and the D1 we have booked on the FOS in November is $960. No way am I paying that much for a few extras. We had and E1 (slightly smaller room with love seat) last cruise and it served its purpose very well for two people. This time we chose the D1 (larger room with full sofa) because of its location (hump). The balcony is deeper than Carnival ships but doesn't have a lounger (wish it had) but was just fine for us.

For future informtion check out Hollands Nieuw Amsterdam V balconies on the eight floor. We had one last Nov. and is what all balconies should be in terms of depth, seven feet, and didn't have to pay for a suite. (But we still love RC the most).

My Dw and I have been on Carnival Breeze and going on Carnival Valor.

Carnival is nice but entertainment lacks,

food is good. Just feel like there is something missing am I right am I missing something?

 

 

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If you have never been on RC's voyager or freedom class yes, you have been missing something! We have sailed three times each with Carnival and Hal and will be our third time with RC this fall. RC is our favorite because of the WOW feeling we get from them. We have sailed Mariner of the Seas (Voylger class) then Freedom of the Seas (Freedom class) and loved each one. You won't bedisappointed with either, I PROMISE!!!

Anyone else having problems since Cruise Critic page was worked on? I get the page fine, click on forums fine, click on Carnival fine, but when a choose to read one of the entries I can't click and go back to the previous page so I can choose another entry after reading the choosen one. It goes back to my Aol page and I have to start over by clicking "Cruise Critic" (saved on my favorites) and enter everthing all over again> Thanks for anyone knows why this is happening now>

Thank you eveyone for your replys. There was a conversation somewhere on one of the reviews that suggested that the other two ships might be similar. Doesn't look I'll be sailing either one in the foreseable future. But I do have a lot of other fine choices.

We prefer MTD and have never made reservations for a table. But..we do go early enough as to avoid the most popular dining time. My DH likes to eat rather early so we go around 6 - 6:30 and very seldom have to wait over five min if that.

Does the Saphire Princess have a sister ship?. I just read an excellent review with great pictures now I want to sail on her. Unfortunatley she will be relocating to a region I'm not interested in sailing out of. I know the Coral and Caribbean Priness have similarities but was hoping there was another just like her. Thank you!