bogofman

How does this euro VAT work?, if a purchase is made onboard in international waters, in the med, why should VAT be charged and who would get it?

I can understand being charged if moored at the key in Barcelona, but surely not when out at sea in international waters.

i remember being charged VAT on a drink purchased in Spanish waters some years ago, but the ship did warn us that would happen, as soon as out of Spanish waters no VAT,

never been charged VAT at any other port in Europe.

Isn't this why the shops are always closed until the ship is at sea and in international waters.

Now the lines are giving out the included drinks packages there is no need to worry about VAT,

so it looks like they are tailoring the packages for the type of cruise.

A 3 day taster will be booze intensive cruise ( for some) hence the high price

i wouldn't want to be on one of those.

I had bad reports of a similar type cruise from a neighbor, with 3 nights for Southampton.

From reports of what they spent the package might be a bargain :D

Not sure exactly to what you refer, but Veranda cabins last year were $1699 on the Equinox and $100 more on the web site for next year. The price started dropping steadily and the last group sold for $699 about 10 days ago.

 

Have never seen perks on TA cruises. Only shareholder rebate or on board booking allowance. We got the equivalent of about $550 for a couple booking on board the year before for 2016.

If you want perks try Royal caribbean,

We have Premium drinks included in our Upcoming TA, by booking early,

currently prices are higher than we paid for similar category

I feel , you would need to a serious drinker to make these packages work for 14 night cruises,

Having to drink £50 worth of booze every day for 14 nights just to break even.

I wouldn't buy unless included in the cruise offer, as they are discounted doing it that way, when you calculate the Base price plus the package purchase separate.

It usually comes out much more.

We are on this cruise, as well, and took advantage of all the price drops to move into our first suite. Can't beat the price for the amenities and perks! Each price drop we just called and got the price adjustment. Can't you do that instead of losing deposit and rebooking? I have noticed that the prices have stabilized in the past 2 weeks, even gone up on one suite class, so if you plan to do a price adjustment or upgrade you'd better move on it, no way to know if they will dip again.

 

We are not keen on Turkey, either, but we'll assess once we get closer to decide if we tour or have a ship day.

I emailed and we lose the deposit, as we are uk, I did ask if we can upgrade without losing the deposit, but they didn't answer that,

Does anyone from the UK, have experience of upgrading to a better cabin, when prices have dropped,

I.e. if the cabin you are upgrading to is actually less than you are already paying, will they let us do it without losing the £300

We have a Reflection cruise booked that has two stops in Turkey and the ship is more than half empty,

Prices are falling through the floor, and its now possible to get an Aqua class cabin for a lot less than we have booked at standard balcony

We are also getting a bit concerned and may consider canceling and losing our deposit

then either rebook at the much lower price ( will wait it out until near final payment.

The way the prices are falling, they will be paying us to go

or just cancel

Common celebrity move those Turkey stops to Greek islands/Malta/Italy

and watch the bookings rise!

I'd never buy a package, as its not possible or sensible to try and get your monies worth :rolleyes:

paying as you go ( for us) always saved money)

over recent years we have had the package included,

There is a saving usually here over the

garenttee+ package price,

plus its more enjoyable to not have to consider the price when deciding to have a drink, or how many to have

We usually get the package on celebrity, included, ( which includes cocktails and spirits) so can be a good option when included.

I'd never try all the drinks if i was paying per drink, and if you don't like it , ( like my half a glass of gin with a splash of tonic, just leave it and get another:)

Royal ships out of Southampton also have a good selection of beers on draft, such as , guiness, speckled hen, london pride , stella etc.

Celebrity ships we have been on only have bottles :mad:

Try cruisedotcom

i'm in Coventry

Prices continue to tumble and the concierge class are now less than we paid for a standard balcony,

i'm considering ringing up and seeing if i can convert without losing my deposit here in UK.

i'm sure if i want the lower price i will need to cancel and start again. then celebrity get my £300

however the price is close to £300 lower already and there are still 4 months to final payment:mad:

it works perfectly for me 1:30pm from UK

using google chrome

WoW bands

Yes they do, used mine all the time for paying for things and entry to cabin, never had an issue.

I think its the user not the technology ;)

Now that WOW bands have to be purchased,

can anyone comment whether i can bring my band to another ship and have it programmed for my cabin,.

The only issue i can see is if Royal want to make extra $ and force everyone to buy new.

I hope not

as i won't buy them now i have two.

Will be diamond after next cruise,

how do the coupons work, are they added to the sea pass card?

when in the lounge do they check your card to see if you have used the coupons else where?

What are the times the 'free' drinks are allowed to be used?

As royal seems to be adding a free drinks package to most cruises, how is that affecting the diamond drinks?

Miaminice,

 

It also depends on which pier the ship is at. Last year on Equnox, we were not docked in the pier that you are showing in your photo. We were much further around, at the very far end of the port. It took us a good 40 minutes to walk to the ferry terminal from where we were docked. Another ship (think it was NCL :confused:) was already berthed in the pier shown in your photo, which was probably 15 minutes from Equinox ;). Unsure if the bus came to the far pier?

We were on the same cruise as yourself, the picture above is from the far pier, we walked 2 minutes from the ship to the bus stop and caught the bus into town, no need to walk to the train anymore. The bus also stops at the other pier, but on the road out side the gate on the main road. It not obvious as the stop is on the wrong side of the road. That is because the bus turns around and then returns on the oposite side.

If we were not already on the bus we would not have known.

Problem with the European cruises, Royal keep doing the same itineraries.

Freedom next year will to the routes that Harmony are doing this year and allure did previously

7 nights from barcelona/rome

Barcleona, marseille, Livorno, rome , naples.

There are only so many times someone can keep going back to the same old ports time after time.

putting older ships on the same routes is no incentive, although the price they were asking for Harmony for 7 night this year, we normally get 14 nights at the same time of year, hence did not bother.

Just looked at a similar TA on independence next year ( as we have booked for this year)

prices are currently more than we paid for the up coming cruise and we also got the premium, drinks and grats included :-)

I'm sure in a month or so the offers will start.. :)

if its the one near the port its about 1/2 mile walk

have a look on google maps

I don't think we'd ever tip at the start of a cruise.

Isn't that a bribe

I bet the staff hate the Non-US clients

They were certainly very grumpy on last years mainly British crowd on the Anthem.

what about the diamond lounge happy hour ( or what ever its called) free drinks. I read some where these can now be taken in bars around the ship

is that the case?

although not that relevant when most offers now include a drinks package.

What drinks are available in diamond lounge not included on drinks packages

( we are diamond after our next cruise)

We are on the Reflection the week after you, looking at the web site seems like not many cabins have been booked.

I sense the ship will be crammed with last minute bargain hunters if things don't pickup soon.

I'm from the UK ( England) right in the middle and have never been to

Scotland :o

once to Ireland ( cruise stopped in Cork)

Never stayed in London over night, just a few day trips and its only 100 miles away

But have traveled extensively over seas for holidays and city breaks

Strange isn't it how we don't take advantage of things that are so close to us.

on UK site it said the 4th March

other destinations following a few days later

This shows the dates

http://www.royalcaribbean.co.uk/pre-register/

Pirates is a Huge port area and not good place to stay, it safe to walk around during the day, don't know about night. There is a harbour area behind the port, that looked better with yaghts etc. Did not know it was thee until the bus took that root. Google maps the area and you will see it in sat view

Info here

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTopic-g189400-i194-k7444969-Bus_X80_Piraeus_cruise_terminal_Acropolis_Syntagma-Athens_Attica.html

And

http://mygreecetravelblog.com/2014/05/12/new-athens-x80-express-bus-links-piraeus-cruise-ship-port-to-acropolis-and-syntagma-square/

There is a new port bus, into duce last year. We were on Equinox and the bus stop was operate the ship, in the port area.

Costs only 4 euro for a day pass, purchased from the kiosk at the stop. The ticket also includes all buses and metro in Athens for the day

The train is about 30 minute walk from the ship and takes you into placa area beneath the acropolis, we we use the bus gain when in Athens this year

We sailed Anthem last June from UK, and the food in the 4 MDR was disappointing compared to our other Rci cruises, probably the least enjoyable of all our cruises.

And we are no way picky eaters.

We thought if it did not change there would be many complaints when the ship moved to the US

I queried this when we booked and was told the pre pay still stands for Uk bookings

Not when booking on uk Web site, I was able to remove and will pay onboard.

But the way exchange rates are going, maybe should have prepaid