xtremegk

On 6/12/2024 at 3:59 PM, Airbear232 said:

If the total number of cabins sold is static, it doesn’t matter.  However, if the bidders cabins are resold, then the amount the cabins were initially sold at becomes a factor in maximizing revenue. 

I think you're confusing WHO is maximizing revenue. PlusGrade doesn't care about Royal reselling a Royal Up'd cabin to a new booking. As it's a commission-based business, they care about maximizing revenue for themselves.

All that matters to them is what upgrade strings can they put together with the cabin allotment given to them by Royal to earn the most revenue off Royal Up strings. A & B being identical cabins, theoretically a higher bid will win IF it comes down to those two to move...but there are a long line of factors that they develop to determine the maximum commission they can earn.

7 minutes ago, xtremegk said:

 

Hold up...does that actually say a $250.00 bet on a $0.01 slot?!?

Nevermind. Just saw your explanation.

On 5/20/2024 at 6:58 PM, colesc15 said:

First of the trip finally

Hold up...does that actually say a $250.00 bet on a $0.01 slot?!?

Compare the price on connecting cabins -- the extra bathroom is worth it.

If you want to go family OV, your best value is likely to be on Liberty out of Cape Liberty in the summer. Symphony's prices for the ultraspacious OV (aka family OV) are sky high.

Best combo of rooms on Liberty would be 8200 & 8500, with the couple getting a balcony as far forward as you can on the port side of deck 8 (8200 & 8500 are both accessed through the port side hallway only).

They're the biggest of the family OVs -- the bunk beds are each in their own little room, the main bed gets its own little room, and then you have a little "living room" space. Biggest downside is the 1 bathroom.

Vision has some out of Baltimore...but is it the ideal ship for kids? Eh.

4 hours ago, Pratique said:

But the reality is that someone needs to be held accountable for this tragedy and it needs to be explained to the public.

 

If in the end that it all there is to say, then it seems like something else needs to be done to help prevent it from happening again. Maybe new ship design and/or bridge design.

There is not always going to be someone to blame. I do think you hit the nail on the head though when it comes to bridge design. Bridge technology has come a long way in protecting piers -- building them in shallower water by having larger spans, introducing much larger dolphins, etc. The FSK Bridge did not renovate to match the current standards by building out larger dolphins.

THAT is the takeaway to help try to prevent a tragedy like this in the future, IF in fact what happened on the ship was something unpredictable and unavoidable.

14 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

Independence. 

Late August?

We're on Icon, scheduled to be at CocoCay on Friday the 30th. We were supposed to be there solo, now guessing Indy will be joining us, similar to plans for July & Sept.

7 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

I was scheduled to go to Labadee on a cruise in June and again in August. I received e-mails on Tuesday stating both cruises were now going to Coco Cay instead. I was hoping at least one of these cruises would be changed to Grand Turk, if a change was required. Hopefully RCI ships will be able to go to Labadee again in the not too distant future. 

Which cruise in August?

3 hours ago, Lionesss said:

 

Crown plaza on Engle road 

park and fly. 

Stayed there one time. Highly disappointed.

On 4/18/2024 at 4:22 PM, Lionesss said:

We are spending the night in Cleveland. 

Very late to the party...

Where do you stay in Cleveland? I fly in/out of there for work fairly often and struggle to find a decent hotel close to the airport.

If you find the RoyalUp process stressful and you're content with the cabin you have, don't bid. Save yourself the stress.

Me, I'll continue to bid almost every time, despite being 0-for-275902592752109u359207 with RU.

Maybe I'm the ignorant American here...but why would EU rules apply to UK residents on a cruise booked in the UK and departing the UK? I thought Brexit was about leaving the EU...

4 minutes ago, toad455 said:

Has Royal ever sailed from there?

I sailed on Grandeur from there to Bermuda in 2008.

1 minute ago, chengkp75 said:

And having multiple contractors working the site would be the norm,  not a mistake.  Just like a home renovation,  there is a general contractor and subcontractors. 

Unfortunately all too familiar with this as I work in an industry that follows federal ICS structure during major events. We have to bring in contractors every time due to the sheer volume of work needing to be done in a shortened period of time.

2 hours ago, MrCruze said:

From his description: In this episode - maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discusses the three salvage operations that have to be attempted and the lack of an incident commander to oversee the situation.

 

I just hadn't heard about the three companies that will be doing the salvage.  Seems like a far more trust-worthy source as compared to people like me.  🙂

Lack of incident command? It's been more than 24 hours since the ACOE announced they were in the incident command role.

58 minutes ago, OnTheJourney said:

I'd say you're right. First they have to contract with a dredger and then get all the equipment there. Could be a pretty extended project. And then you've got currents and changing conditions to deal with.

23 minutes ago, death_star said:

Isn't there some navy salvage group in Norfolk? Not sure if they could use them though. 

Army Corps of Engineers is already on-site and tasked with clearing the main shipping channel (Federal channel).

Army Corps of Engineers is supporting recovery operations following Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse > Baltimore District > News Releases

2 hours ago, sandebeach said:

I have been to Grand Turk on a Carnival cruise pre-Covid and it was a relaxing day for us. The beach is right at the pier, in front of the ship. The port area has some shopping and an interesting small display about the U.S. Space program (a space shuttle once landed in the water there).  We went to Margaritaville for lunch, I don’t know if that is still open. 

Not a space shuttle, but not just any ordinary spacecraft -- Friendship 7, the Mercury capsule the flew John Glenn on the first manned orbit of the Earth, splashed down just off Grand Turk. There's a replica of the capsule at the airport.

15 hours ago, mac_tlc said:

Symphony has one 9-nighter departing on July 4, 2025 and one on April 30, 2025,  They usually do one to switch their departure day from a Friday to a Sunday. (July 4th). The one on April 30th gets their departure day to a Friday. 

 

And those four cabins that were $9,700 in 2023 are over $28,000 for July 4, 2025. 

 

mac_tlc

We were on the 9-nighter with you this past August. Snagged one of the deck 7 ultraspacious balcony cabins at the very aft for $3800 for 3 people. Booked that the day it opened, so a tremendous deal considering what things were selling for last year.

We booked our 2025 cruise as soon as they opened last month...ultraspacious balcony on the 9-nighter for 3: over $12,000. In fact, our $3800 from last summer couldn't get us on the ship, period. Right now, looking at $5600 for a cabin that sleeps 3.

We settled on a 7-nighter on Symphony and went all the way down to a Central Park "interior" as we found we spend so much time out of the cabin doing things that we'd rather save on the room. Cost us about $3200 for that room.

On 2/25/2024 at 5:22 AM, Tin can said:

 

I know this is going off topic a bit but I was wondering if US passengers get hassled at Nassau more than English (in my case) as I just don't get the general safety concerns as I certainly have never felt unsafe.

 

I have been all over the States - LA, New York, Chicago, San Francisco to name a few and yes there are a large variety of areas just like the UK. Every time we have been to Nassau though since our first US cruise in 2002 we have met US folks who live in these cities who will not under any circumstances get off at Nassau.

 

Each to their own of course, I just find it strange, and to be honest whilst I know there are some recent specific warnings for Nassau I'm starting to question myself whether I am missing some obvious every day danger there as we always have a great time.

Apologies for resurrecting the veer off topic...but we sailed Oasis this past summer and left the port area in Nassau. On Oasis's 9-nighter, it was Emancipation Day when we arrived in Nassau, so it derailed some of our plans (the pirate museum, for instance, was closed).

We walked over to the Queens' Staircase, then down to the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory. Never felt unsafe. The infrastructure is in rough shape (sidewalks were more like stepping stones in many places), but that's not surprising.

We do live along the Jersey Shore, about an hour from NYC. I worked in Manhattan for 10 years and we still go up to the city a few times a year. Hard to compare the two, but I feel like general safety awareness is the same for either.

Anyone have any idea when December 2025 cruises will open? I see up through October for most ships. Most other lines are already available to book holiday cruises.

On 3/7/2024 at 8:30 AM, alserrod said:

About opening/closing ports and so near ports.... where do ships sail at night?

Or they just stop in the middle of the Ocean?

 

Until now, I thought Genova >> La Spezia, which are just 100 km away, was the shortest distance.

 

But Puerto del Rosario >> Arrecife are just 65 km

 

 

Generally, they just sail very slowly, occasionally in circles between the ports.

Seeking opinions from people who have stayed at one or the other (or both). DW, myself and DS (will be 6) flying down for one night pre-cruise. Will be there early enough to have the afternoon to go get wine (they do sell it at Whole Foods and/or Publix, correct?), muffins for the next morning's breakfast and then have a little fun for the little guy.

Interested in hearing about the area, easy activities and dinner options nearby (we're easy to please, so something as simple as pizza for dinner works for us).

Can get the Hilton Miami Downtown for minimal points + $180 cash + $25 taxes (bay-view room). City-view room at the Intercontinental would run me $188 + $40 taxes (and looks like there's a roughly $40 resort fee).

Trying to weigh whether the Intercontinental is worth the extra $$.

With self-assist or an early tag time, you should make it comfortably. EWR is an easy ride from the cruise pier.

1 hour ago, Ocean Boy said:

Why should RCI settle?

100% they shouldn't, and I don't think they will. But there are unfortunately a lot of companies that settle just about everything that comes their way (without admitting fault) to just make stuff go away. It contributes significantly to the litigious society we live in because there are companies that will settle lawsuits they should fight.

I worked for physicians previously...the number who were advised by their malpractice insurance companies to allow negotiated settlements that don't admit fault for every suit against them was insane to me.

I guess Royal shouldn't dock at CocoCay since getting to a hospital from there requires a wait for a medivac.

I feel bad for this family, I genuinely do. But they are only going to be hurting more when this lawsuit (at least against Royal) is dismissed. Probably hoping Royal settles to make it go away, but I can't imagine a company as large as Royal just settling every lawsuit.

1 hour ago, alserrod said:

 

 

Yeah, there are some news

 

MSC Opera will operate in Autumn-Winter 2024-25 in Spain (and one call in Portugal) instead of the Read Sea.

 

This is press release

https://www.msccruises.com/int/news/canary-islands-new-itinerary-winter-2024-2025

 

This is cruise description

https://www.msccruises.com/int/our-cruises/destinations/canary-islands

 

 

I have a relative in Fuerteventura island. MSC Opera will call there on Tuesday whilst winter.

 

I do not know reason but it seems every week will have a different itinerary.

 

But

Every Friday in Funchal, Madeira (Portugal) where you can have embarkment

Every Sunday in Santa Cruz, Tenerife (Spain) where you can have embarkment

Every monday in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria (Spain) where you can have embarkment

and every Tuesday in Puerto del Rosario, Fuerteventura (Spain) as I have seen

 

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday may vary

there are weeks where you visit Lanzarote island AND/OR Lanzarote for two days AND/OR La Palma island AND/OR La Gomera island to summarize 4 days more. All of them have one day at sea.

 

 

I will ask about what does the sea do at night....

 

Fuerteventura island to Lanzarote island is only 11 km away. 32 minutes by ferry. From cruise port to cruise port.... a bit more but.... what on hell it departs one island by 20:00 and it doesn't arrive till 8:00 to the next port???

 

If someone wanna have the experience of failing when "all on board", try here... It is strongly easy to move to the other island

Appreciate that update...but it in no way answers the question I posed. This redeployment goes through March 2025 and does not include 2025 holiday cruises.

As for the short jumps, much of that is down to port opening/closing times (the authorities have to staff when the ship is there). Not too different with some islands in the Caribbean (St. Thomas and Puerto Rico are very close to one another, for instance).