shellster1

Oh geez, sorry for the typo. I'm on my phone! I don't know what an "update" excursion is. LOL!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Thanks guys. This is so helpful! If I do not do an update excursion, I'll still need to disembark, right? Do I go sit in the waiting area? Also, for about how long? Oh and I just realized something: there's a mid-week boarding in Barbados for this particular route. Hmm. I wonder how this works with so many peeps?

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Considering this out of San Juan. Wondering if I'm able to book the same cabin for both weeks, can I just leave all my belonging as is? If I book an excursion for the embark/debark day, do I just proceed as usual? Or do I need a new key card? Is there any other process(es) I should be aware of? What happens if I can't get the same cabin? I assume this is huge pain in the butt??? Having to pack everything up, then unpack?? Any advice would be great! Thanks!

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Shellster, sorry that happened to you. I'm not a DCL apologist (most likely a one and done for me), but I'm pretty shocked about the treatment you describe. They have such a reputation for being the go-to vacation company for disability, special needs, dietary restrictions, etc.

 

Thank you. I probably should not have posted my experience. I don't like being negative. I know as with everything, sometimes we all encounter poor customer service that is considered rare for a company with a great reputation. It was unfortunate. My mom never batted an eye about it, though. I have a letter she wrote me telling me of all the cruises we took together, the Disney was here favorite, because "she was with the people she loved the most." It was the first cruise we took with my son, her only grandson. I try to only remember the good parts of the trip...but sometimes I guess other memories come to mind. Still, I just can't bring myself to try them out again. :(

I'll just be totally honest here: I wouldn't go on another Disney cruise if you paid me:

1) They treated my disabled mother terribly. This alone makes me hate them.

2) We didn't book a year in advance, therefore we had late dining. Tell me, what 3 year old eats dinner at 8:30pm? Why is that even an option on a DISNEY cruise? I get it, they cannot accommodate everyone at the same time. Fine. BUT....for all us losers that booked late, the buffet turned into this cheesy sit-down restaurant with very few options. It was horrible. So basically, we were forced to skip dinner.

3) I love kids, even those that are not mine...but truth be told, there's way too many on Disney. Obviously. It's bad enough I have to go to D-land/D-world every year for my son's benefit. However, I'm on vacation, too. I want some kind of break from all the little rugrats.

4) It's way cheesy how they announce the family names. Do they still do that? Gimme a break.

5) The character dance parties are great, but again...God help your pre-schooler from the other kids knocking them over. It was every man/kid himself at those "parties".

6) Service was horrible.

7) They treated my mom horribly. Yes, I mentioned this. This is personal...but she had a terminal illness, had to bring on board with her an O2 concentrator, had trouble with mobility, had a lot of meds, weighed about 90 pounds, etc..The bad treatment began the first day: I had to INSIST on disability boarding. I should not have had to do that. Believe me, it was obvious she needed it. It just got worse from there. Anyway, it has stuck with me these past few years. I'll never go back on their ships. I loved her so much. It kills me they treated her that way.

8) Plus they are crazy expensive. Total rip-off.

Ok, I'm done with my rant. Feels good to get that out!

Happy for everyone that loves them. Seriously. To each his own!:)

I have a 24-hour hold on a cabin: It's a promenade interior on the 7th deck #7295. Will this area be noisy? It's not a connecting cabin, but will it be too close to deck 5 as far as noise at night time?

Also, will this ship be fun for a 9-year-old?

I've been on this route twice before. It's by far my favorite itinerary...just wondering what to expect from this cabin....and the ship?? (I've been on Voyager, but this was at least 10 years ago!!)

Thank you!!

No way would I pay "someone" to save a chair for me, if that is the question....but...ok, here it comes: I would pay for a chair if a cruise line offered them!!:o

I know, I know! It's awful!!! I'm a terrible person!! But here's the thing: I cruise with my son and he hates the kids club, so I have never been to any "adults only" area. I can't bring myself to join in on the "reserving a chair with a towel and a flip-flop" thing at 7:00am in the morning, so yes, I would pay. It's shameful, I admit. And I agree, we shouldn't have to, and most likely we won't...but I CAN NEVER find a chair, you guys!! Like, NEVER!! It's so stressful walking around the lido with a 9-year-old, scouting out the area. I feel like a stalker every time.

And to be even more brutally honest: I would pay extra for a good seat during the hairy chest contest!! :')

I'm considering this cruise, but would not arrive in San Juan until 2:00pm the day of departure...(non-stop from Miami). I realize this is not ideal but I wouldn't be able to fly in the day before, so I'm wondering if it's doable:

According to Carnival's website, the 7-day cruise from San Juan departs at 10:00pm. Does this later departure time mean guests who can check-in later? Isn't the rule typically that guests must be on board one or two hours prior to departure?

Thanks!!

For my opinion no one cutting the line. In America if one person standing by the soup for 5 min and can not decide what to take, all others will stand behind her and wait, even they don't need the soup. Europeans will just move ahead and grab what they need and for me it's a correct thing to do. Why create the line and wait for something you don't even want to take?

Maybe it's just me, but in all the times I've been in a buffet line, I've never waited 5 minutes for the person in front of me to make a decision on soup...or anything else for that matter.

Perhaps you mean as we all move along the line, people will skip over one food, and choose another? In any case, IMO, I don't mind at all if THERE IS ROOM for someone to sneak in in front of me and quickly grab what they would like. However, I feel it is rude no matter where you are from to cut someone off for your own benefit. Perhaps not in a small bakery in Italy but unfortunately lines are necessary at the buffet of a cruise ship. Can anyone imagine if there were no lines? I'd rather wait civilly a few extra minutes than battle massive chaos. Nobody likes to wait. Americans least of all, since we have proved ourselves to be an impatient bunch, i.e. all the American complaints of the 2-3 hour dinners?? :D (I'm American, but I love the long dinners!)

Some great advice on how to save $$!

OP, just for the record...I don't think you're over thinking things. It's YOUR vacation! IMO, it's way better to "overthink" everything, rather than be kicking yourself afterwards, true? I'm more of a within 3 months, or totally last-minute cruiser, thank goodness. Otherwise, I might be on this site all year long, driving myself nuts! I hope you and your DW make the best decision for your vacation. It's so much fun to plan ahead. Don't be bugged by the less than enthusiastic comments. Most of us on this forum are all the same: We have an upcoming cruise, and are SUPER EXCITED!! (I still hope you guys keep the aft-wrap!) :D

Well, I was asked if I was serious??? Why would I cram a table in a room???? Ive been told that would make our CS feel bad! I seriously doubt that a lot of cruisers understand that when you see folks being escorted off the ship faster, that those people have paid for that service! Or when you see folks escorted to a show and they get to sit right up front, there is a cost for that also ( I have herd many people say nasty things to those people)! I seriously doubt that a lot of folks understand that a concierge is there to help you with any special requests, including helping with a special dinner in your suite or balcony! So yeah for that kind of money I don't think I was asking anything out of line, and I only mentioned money when others began to make rude comments! I wish I would have just called RCC and asked, I cannot believe how rude people can be when someone asks a question! If you have something good to contribute to a conversation Great! if not then don't! When did this country get so nasty!

So, you "seriously doubt" your fellow cruisers understand why other guests board the ship first, or why there's a section of reserved seats at the shows? With the exception of first-time cruisers...people know these things. The general population isn't stupid. Things like this are.....obvious. Common sense tells us as a society why things are the way they are. Take for example traveling by air: Anyone who has flown on a plane can figure it out: First-class passengers board first, and so on.

Perhaps a small percentage of regular guests do give an eye-roll, but I bet for every one that does, there is an equal percentage of suite guests who present themselves in such a way that warrant it:

Even though one has paid a hefty price for a vacation or service that they are indeed entitled to, doesn't mean one should present themselves as "entitled." Please don't deem this as rude. I'm only stating what is evident.

I agree with most, I have been on Imagination (out of Long Beach) several times, and honestly it's one of my favorite cruises! I travel with my 9-year-old son, though, so maybe that has something to do with it?? We ALWAYS have a great time: Love the water slides, we rarely have to wait in line for ANYTHING, we love the Hasbro game show, the comedians are far better (perhaps because they usually come from Los Angeles??), fellow cruisers are so chill and fun, and the crew is cool as well. Also worth noting, the food is far superior to that of the Liberty in Orlando. (At least as of late.)

Plus it's like, one of the cheapest cruises that Carnival offers: One of the comedians noted that during his performance, as he was light-heartedly making fun of all of us!! Can't go wrong! LOL! I loved it!

OP,

I hope you enjoyed your cruise and that you are feeling better!

Just for future reference here on Cruise Critic, I have compiled a list of all muster stations on the Oasis class of ships.

 

A1 - A2 - Vitality At Sea Fitness Center, Deck 6

B1 - B2 - Main Theater, Deck 4

B3 - B4 - Main Theater Balcony, Deck 5

C1 - Jazz on 4, Deck 4

C2 - Blaze Nightclub (Oasis & Allure), The Attic (Harmony), Deck 4

C3 - Comedy Live (Oasis & Allure), Diamond Club (Harmony), Deck 4

C4 - On Air, Deck 5

D1 - D2 - D3 - D4 - Studio B, Deck 4

E1 - Royal Promenade, Deck 5 (Next to the Rising Tide Bar)

E2 - Royal Promenade/ Cafe Promenade, Deck 5

E3 - Royal Promenade, Deck 5/ Champagne Bar (Oasis), Champagne & Martini Bar (Allure), Bionic Bar (Harmony)

E4 - Royal Promenade/ Guest Services, Deck 5

F1 - F2 - F3 - F4 - Main Dining Room, Deck 5

G1 - G2 - G3 - G4 - AquaTheater, Deck 6

 

So all stations are inside, except for the AquaTheater. Many have seats, however the ones in the Fitness Center and some of the ones on the Royal Promenade do not. Others have some seating, but not enough for the capacity at that station, so it's all a matter of first-come, first-serve. The stations go in alphabetical order from forward to aft with even numbered stations on the port side and odd numbered stations on the starboard side. Therefore, if you are on the port side, you will more than likely have an even muster station, and odd if you are on the starboard. As far as I know, only exception to this is C1-4 in Entertainment Place, which can have even and odd on both sides because unlike the others, while 3 of the 4 are in the same area, they are all in different rooms (that's the only explanation I can think of). Other than this section of the ship, the muster station assignments should follow the pattern. On Oasis mine and my family's muster station was B2 in the Opal Theater, and on Allure it was F3 in the Main Dining Room. Both times we had seats. We are going on Harmony in 2 weeks from today and our muster station is D4 in Studio B, so I imagine we will be able to find seats without any issue. This was not the case last year on Liberty. Hope this helped for anyone who was wondering. We always stay in 2 cabins directly across the hall from one another, so we always have the same muster station as muster stations are determined by fire zones. Happy cruising to all!

Wow, this is really great info. Thank you for posting it!!!! I, for one, will be printing and saving. :)

• Another vote in favor for keeping the aft-wrap! I noticed one great feature of the wraps is if it's too windy on one side of your balcony, you can move to the other side, and the wind seems to disappear! I usually don't devote much time on the balcony either. However, I noticed when I had the wrap it was so much more enjoyable, and it was so nice to retreat to my balcony when the lido starts to overflow with guests...and this was only on a 4-day cruise. For me, I discovered it was money well spent! Whatever you decide, enjoy your trip!!
  

Good for you for being proactive, and doing something about your concerns! As someone who knows from first-hand experience how challenging it is for guests with mobility issues, I'm thrilled to hear RCCL was understanding and able to accommodate you. Enjoy your vacation(s)!

So according to MSC website, there is a private sundeck available for free to guests who have booked the Aurea experience. It also states any guest can access this deck, but they will need to pay a daily fee if not an Aurea guest.

I'm wondering, is this the same deck as the YC sun deck? I've been looking at pictures of the deck plans, but I cannot see a "private sun deck area" except for "The One Sun Deck"...which looks like it's for the YC only. ?? Can anyone provide info on this?

THANKS!!!

Thank you so much, to everyone who replied!! I appreciate it and feel relieved now. :)

I'd like to ask a couple questions regarding specific alcoholic beverages because I honestly cannot find an answer on any previous threads.

I'm older now and prefer quality over quantity. I enjoy mostly wine, with the exception of drinks and martinis mixed with a higher-end vodka. Examples of this would be Grey Goose vodka, As for wine, I'm thinking at the very least, a Kendall Jackson glass of wine would be suitable for the dinner table on a cruise.

In all honestly, "unlimited" drinks in any category, on any cruise line, stateroom, or class level mean absolutely nothing to me if I cannot drink what I prefer. I'm NOT saying a less than adequate drink package is a deal breaker by any means! I'm simply trying to figure out an appropriate budget for this cruise!

That said, based on reviews I've read, is it safe to assume being booked in the YC will not save me any money in regard to alcoholic beverages? Should I still expect to pay a premium to drink to my taste? Am I correct in this assumption? Again I realize sodas, bottled water, and non-alcoholic drinks play a huge role, and I have certainly considered this in determining my budget.

Also, regardless of what "class" I book, I have the option to purchase the unlimited drink package, BUT...it still does NOT cover "premium" liquor or wines. Is this correct?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not knocking MSC. Quite the contrary! Despite my inquiry, I think they offer stellar prices based on everything I've read so far. I'm very excited to cruise with this line. Again, my only interest here is to estimate a budget that will suit my particular taste in wines and mixed drinks.

Thanks for any input. I appreciate it.

I have been twice on a themed cruise that if I would have know would not have booked the ship. Royal Caribbean will not advise you that they have a large group of any sort onboard and they knew because the compass had LGBT meeting times. I don't have anything against certain demographic groups but I would have preferred to not have my daughter witness guy on guy make out session all over the place. It seems to be getting worse on some of Royals ships leaving out of Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.

IMO, I don't want to see ANYONE have a "make out session all over the place", regardless of "lifestyle", and regardless of whether or not I'm with my son. That stuff's for the cabin...or, as I read on another thread...for the Vintage Lounge? ;p

Yes under the old system I am/was booked into the x gty. Wife 40th she wanted ocean view. Didn't want to feel like it was a hotel with an atrium. I wanted the boardwalk as close to the back as I could afford. Figured I would get ocean view, Aria, neighborhood perks and people watching. But with little outside views around the ship it will be nice to have a somewhat private view of the ocean and maybe the island.

Thank you!! :)

Yes, there has been, but it's now always available. Before they changed the categories, the neighborhood guarantee would be an "XN" category, where the oceanview balcony would be an "X" category. I don't know what the new designations will be with the new categories.

That's right, I remember reading something about the categories changing, but I didn't know what exactly that meant, or why they were changing. It's so confusing! Thank you, Bob, for the info!!

May I ask what type of guarantee you booked? I'm curious because I also booked a guarantee on Allure in June. I booked a "neighborhood balcony" guarantee.

I'm wondering if there's also an "ocean-view balcony" guarantee" option? There wasn't for me, at the time I booked. I think most would prefer to have an ocean view balcony, but I'm hoping to experience a central park or boardwalk balcony. Thanks!!

If you go to Cruisedeckplans.com, there's actual pics of that specific cabin that a previous cruiser posted. It looks nice; has a balcony. I would be happy! Enjoy!!

Years ago on the NCL Jewel, GMA with Diane Sawyer was broadcasting for the week. I don't remember the specifics, but the show had apparently awarded many free cruises to deserving women nominated by their families or friends who were on the sailing. I found out only about two weeks before the cruise....from another poster right here on CC!! I was very excited but not nearly as excited as my mom! She loved Diane Sawyer and watched GMA every morning. We got to see her fly in by helicopter and broadcast live every day from the pool deck. All the contestant winners were obviously beyond thrilled to be there. The energy on the ship was unlike any other cruise I've sailed. My uncle watched GMA every morning from back home and even caught a glimpse of my cute little mom dancing in the background. He recorded it, so I'll always have that memory on tape!

I thought all week the Allure would be perfect for 11-14 yr old boys! Have a great cruise!

Thank you!!:)