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ccotting

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  • Location
    Vancouver, BC
  • Favorite Cruise Line(s)
    Celebrity
  • Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
    Baltic

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  1. On our recent BtoB we walked off for a very short time and were the first in transit passengers to return. Everything seemed to proceed quite normally until shortly before departure we received a call from security on our stateroom phone. They seemed quite surprised we answered. The ship computer didn't show our return. We received a visit from a very stern security officer who examined our passports and us intently while we insisted "yes we really did badge in with our new cards!" Good thing we ate the BtoB lunch and ordered a drink so we could say "see! We were here". And then we asked how we could order a drink if the system showed we were not on board but were informed the systems were different. Felt like a stowaway for the rest of the trip!
  2. There is a sauna, steam, aroma therapy room, showers, heated tile beds (about 6 if I remember correctly). I like the steam room which has a long tiled bench and big windows to look out at sea. The aroma room is hit or miss depending on whether the staff keep up the essential oil. It functions as a cooling off room from your sauna or steam. Usually eucalyptus oil scent. It can be busy so I understand the point about crowd control but we tend to use it in conjunction with the inside pool going back and forth and so are not interested in being tied down to a single session on any specific day.
  3. Hello all: It's been a while since we were on RCI and I was looking forward to booking a week pass for the thermal suite but when I went to book online the system required I book a specific time. We always enjoyed wandering in and out as the day fell out. Do you now have to book? Same time every day? How much in advance? I understand that this might have applied at the height of COVID but is this now required still? I tried phoning in and the contact also wanted a time for purchase of a pass. Additional question just looking at the updated D+ benefits page someone else posted, does the 20% off spa treatment benefit apply for purchase of a week pass?
  4. Well, we are booked on Brilliance for Hawaii in September and we are stopping at Kauai and that was the planned itinerary before the situation with Maui unfolded.
  5. Hello: Just wondering if I should pre book hop on/off? We are visiting in September with Royal Caribbean and all our excursions are already sold out. I know that you can usually purchase at the harbour but given all excursions sold I wonder if I should lock in. If so, is there a particular firm folks recommend?
  6. If I remember correctly they are the type which requires you to continuously push a button while using it for safety reasons. I have arthritis in my hands and so I always bring my own as so many hotel provided hairdryers have this feature and are too hard for me to use
  7. I've been aft on Brilliance but I don't remember the rear stairs and whether we used them but on Radiance we used them all the time. They went up into the spa and were available to use at about 8 am and closed I think at 9 or 10. Really only useful if we wanted to scoot through the spa to the pool
  8. Well, I see the point you are making but in good and correct food service this is not necessary. I lunch regularly with someone who has a seafood allergy and good protocol for such allergies means that the kitchen must ensure the production line is clean when prepping a dish for someone with a specific food allergy. This includes cutting boards, knives and food handling. Most probably this was a training deficiency with the waiter who presented to the kitchen saying 'passenger doesn't want the lobster' and so they just popped it off rather than mentioning the allergy. The situation presented by lakeloraian is very serious and she has my sympathy. She could have died. It is not her fault. This is a company that plates hundreds of thousands of meals daily to people all over the world and they would know standard practice for food allergy. I hope she complained to a high level and the company responded with appropriate apology. This is a staff training issue and eminently correctable.
  9. An excellent discussion of the issues involved in living in close quarters with others. Situation is the same as in any apartment. Too much too close of something not to your taste. Have personally never had the music issue but our worst experience involved folks in the cabin below us having jello shooters to celebrate transiting the panama canal (they announced this to all from the balcony, still wondering how they managed that) and then singing "Sweet Caroline" off key multiple times. Painful. Can never hear that song anymore without reliving the experience. This went on for nearly an hour.... We take a small bluetooth speaker but have only used in the cabin precisely for the reasons expressed at length here.
  10. Point to note whether you stay on the coast or go through the St Lawrence. Sailing to/from Quebec City is very beautiful during fall colours and I recommend a full aft on a Radiance class ship as they have sort of wings that keep the balconies from being as windy. Full aft gives you panoramic view along the river transit. QC is full of fun stuff and lots of history. All of the Maritime Canadian ports are small town compared to Boston so bear that in mind in terms of what to do and what to expect. A lot of history, much cultural heritage. Concur with the post about early October for best colours. Around Canadian Thanksgiving is usually peak colours (second week October). September is usually most sunshine and clear weather in Halifax area. Great beer, wonderful celtic music, all things apples (Nova Scotia), francophonie heritage all through the Maritimes not just Quebec, old british forts, lots of handicrafts. Spectacular scenery. Lobster Lobster Lobster and all kinds of great seafood. Enjoy!
  11. I think the computer system can surely be programmed to not allow the booking. Never mind the reps, this seems so much a basic. Such a sin to put so many through this angst and we read about it on cruise critic many times. Come to Vancouver to start the journey. Radiance class ships are lovely. The Ship will have 1 more visit port than Quantum and 1 less tender port due to ship size. We have done this cruise itinerary many times and actually our best Hawaii cruise ever was on Rhapsody, a vision class but a lot of that was due to a lovely Polynesian group that was booked for the entertainment. Hula dance every day and music from Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti. Fabulous group and the entertainment really made that cruise stand out. I wonder what happened to them given COVID as I have seen no mention on cruisecritic.
  12. We are leaving from Vancouver. Roundtrip to Alaska from Vancouver on Brilliance then to Hawaii on Brilliance. As previously mentioned the Jones act looks at start and end port and whether both are US. So we are free to do the 2 back to back. I know many enjoy the size of the Quantum but for us we like the ports and Quantum is too big for all the Hawaiian ports. We like the Radiance class and have had many happy cruises on them including previous to Hawaii. My feedback to all is to think outside of the US box for your starting port.
  13. This all sounds so complicated to me.... We are doing a back to back starting Vancouver ending Honolulu, with the roundtrip Alaska. It is with the smaller ship though. Had you considered that?
  14. I empathize when the perk is something that folks plan for. My understanding of the coffee machine problem is it is often related to parts. They are expensive machines made for knowledgeable operators, passengers often are not and so they often break down from hard use. Concierges have complained to me that they cannot get the parts in a timely manner, even though the ship may carry some spare often they must order parts and wait to repair due to the unpredictability of what might be wrong. And that was before the current COVID related supply problems.
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