Armac

Sailed Vision last June for a Baltic Cruise and found her just fine for a port intensive cruise.

Probably the most we have spent is about $500, mostly excursions, that was back when we paid cash for gratuities. Another time swiped my sea pass card to get off the ship on the last day and was told we had to report to the pursers desk before we could get off, they owed us $8.00, left over from on board credit.

Last year on Navigator there was a party on Deck as well as in the ice skating rink with burgers and pizza

Sailed on Explorer this fall with a party of 3, requested a table by ourselves about 3 weeks before the cruise (late seating). We were seated at a four top by ourselves. Defiantly email before the cruise and check your table assignment when you get on the ship. I have found that if you ask ahead Royal will do everything they can to accommodate you.

Friends of ours had them delivered to their precruise hotel in Florida. Front desk staff told them it was very common.

The only difference with Diamond breakfast was specialty coffees. Now most ships have a cappuccino machine in the Diamond lounge, so most have done away with Diamond Breakfast. Not sure about the tender tickets.

Just booked a Transatlantic that stops at Norway, Scotland, Iceland, Greenland and Nova Scotia. No way we could travel to all those places for the money we paid for this cruise.

35 cruises and we typically do one Caribbean per year and one or two to other destinations, Europe Alaska, Panama canal etc.

Last year we stayed in Paris for 4 nights after our Baltic cruise, we have also done this in Rome and London after cruises

Priced a 7 night cruise, a couple of days later received an email from the cruise line, 30 % off. Went back to the website and repriced the cruise it was now $50 more. I think the lesson is to book at the price that you are happy with and don't look back.

I had surgery on my leg had to walk with a cane and had difficulty with stairs etc during recovery. I do not like to generalize but older people tended to cut in front of me, let the door close in my face. If someone held the door for me or offered to help it was usually a young person Teenager or Twenty something. Renewed my faith in the next generation. Having a temporary disability really opens your eyes.

The cruise ship dock is very close to the Central station. We walked it easily with our luggage. Only about 1 block . I think a cab would be the other option.

We did the Baltic back in June on Vision, we had an interior, on our cruise a balcony was about $2500 more than an inside. On 2 of the sea days it rained and was cold, common in the Baltic even in summer. This is a very port intensive cruise, you will be off the ship for long periods of time. I agree with other posters that a balcony is nice but from our research we found that on the Baltic cruises we looked at the difference was too great. We were very happy with our inside room. Whatever room you choose the Baltic is a great cruise one of our favorites.

We always give our robes back to our room steward for someone else to use.

Several Options make friends with the people next to you everyone has the same problem I will what your stuff and you watch ours. Remember that most places in the Caribbean the only id you need is your seapass card etc. If we are having a beach day we just take a small amount of cash no credit cards. You can purchase a small waterproof container that goes on a lanyard and wear it in the water. hope this helps

We have sailed about 25 times on RC, just made it to the Quest about 3 cruises ago. I regret not going sooner.

A couple of years ago on a Panama canal cruise we sat at a table for 8, one very nice couple was from Ireland, however the wife was a very soft talker and if you asked her to repeat herself she would but not any louder, very frustrating we ended up smiling and nodding a lot

Lost my wife's passport on Baltic cruise, we were leaving for a tour in Sweden. We did not need it for this port but panicked when we could not find it in the safe. My passport was there but not wife's. At the service desk they said with our permission our cabin steward would do a search of our room if it did not turn up they would contact the Canadian embassy at our next port. I was sure I saw my wife put both passports in her purse at the previous port (St Peters burg). Made for a worrisome day in port. When we returned to the ship the passport was on our bed. Apparently at some point it had fallen out of the safe and ended up under the bed, our cabin steward found it. Extra tip for him

I have another perspective, the first few times we cruised we waited in our cabin for the actual signal to go off ( as instructed) then proceeded to our station only to find hundreds of people already there giving us the evil eye. Seems the experienced cruisers go early them blame others for being late

Sailed the last west coast cruise on Explorer this fall. Many Diamond and Diamond Plus on board and they did use the Star Lounge in the evening

We did the 12 night Baltic on Vision last June, one of the best cruises to date. We watched prices on this itinerary for a few years before finally pulling the trigger. Sorry we waited so long. We booked our Russian tour with SPB, we did not have a group and were paired with other people. I can try and answer any other questions

You could try Detroit. We live in Ontario but usually fly out of Detroit when traveling in the US. Prices are usually good even with the exchange and it is actually convenient. Robert Q bus travels to Metro Detroit down the 401 corridor.

Paid $40us for umbrella and 2 loungers back in Feb

We are Diamond plus on Royal so we get 2 free photos. Most cruises we do not even bother with pictures even for free

We have about 25 Caribbean cruises under our belt and have been to all these islands multiple times, I do not think you could go wrong with either itinerary I personally would favor the Aruba Curacao, Bonaire cruise. Aruba has great beaches that are easy to get to by bus or cab. Curacao is a beautiful island with beaches and snorkeling. Bonaire is not a beach island (rocky shoreline) but the diving and snorkeling is the best in the Caribbean. There is also a Donkey preserve on Bonaire that the kids would like. Golf carts are road legal on Bonaire, on our last visit we rented one for the day and had a great time. Good luck choosing your cruise, remember there is no wrong answer

Cancelled our cruise in January, as the final payment date arrived my 91 year old mother was having health issues, so we thought it best to cancel. First time we have canceled. The price has dropped significantly and my moms health is improved so we may re book. We would not cancel because of the storm damage.

Another vote for SPB, toured with them in June. Also agree that Talin can be done on your own, easy walk to the old town