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Max and Ruby

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Everything posted by Max and Ruby

  1. I first started sailing with Carnival and I would like to go back at some point. Actually booked a Havana cabana in 2020, but of course that cruise didn't happen. What keeps me with Royal lately is the extra point for being a solo cruiser and the Cape Liberty port. I see Venezia sailing out of NYC and once I get someone on board with going on that cruise I will try it. Also want to try that Havana cabana cabin category sometime as well.
  2. My time with the Big Box store agency was a nightmare...I'm glad it is in my rear view mirror. May I also add that for both cruises I booked I was supposed to get 5% cash card back. Well I had to chase that both times as well. My original agent was like "I just don't understand why this is happening....." in reference as to why I didn't get my card X weeks after the cruises.
  3. Something like this happened to me when paying for my daughters' cabin. Apparently the card was declined because both girls were under 18, but their cabin was next to our cabin and our agent didn't note this on the reservation. So Royal's "system" saw it as a free standing cabin with under 21 as passengers. Thank goodness I called weeks ahead of final payment because the "pending" that you see on your credit card statement will fall off eventually. Pay again, bottom line you should not be charged double. IF you are charged double, you then just have to have agent call Royal back , explain and then get a refund issued. That is what my agent told me. All worked out fine. Although.... I had a big box store agent and had to sit on the phone every time she called Royal. That was my last time dealing with the Big Box stores. Good luck!
  4. I saw that shower and bathroom and hope that the bathroom is the new norm for new builds!
  5. THIS. We are planning our first trip to London this summer and I admit I am a bit paranoid. This fear has more to do with pick pockets although you can be pick pocketed anywhere. I bought a RFID blocking neck purse to wear under my clothes. I also bought something that attaches to my phone and on my wrist so I'm a bit of a challenge if you want to take my phone. I've also heard stories of people leaving their Passports in hotel safe and staff "being in on it" and stealing right out of safe or leaving hotel room doors open for a long period of time as they clean so others can come on in. And now someone in this thread said to keep Passport physically on you on plane since someone's was stolen while on the plane. I know, I know, don't leave home. So since it has been a while since I have actually gotten off the ship in Nassau I thought I'd ask for some opinions as how to handle Passports. Mine was recently renewed and was $$$$ to get it in time!
  6. Thanks all. I know it is 50/50, but in hearing some explanations it reminds me of things or gives me ideas (like the take a photo on your phone). This is my umpteenth cruise, but my last few I have only gotten off ship for private islands or USA ports (Canaveral, Alaska). And you would *think* I'd remember if I brought my passport to Victoria this summer (probably did), but I don't remember! LOL!
  7. No passport cards here. Use driver's license for the photo id. So I am good for getting off and on ship. I always take my driver's license even on private island .
  8. Yeah, I forgot that a picture of Passport could be a back up so glad I posted since that gives me another option.
  9. Hi all, It has been a while since I have gotten off the ship for more than a private island stop or walk around the port. What do you choose to do? Bring passport off the ship or just driver's license for the photo ID? Right now, only have excursion through Royal in Nassau. I know I can also bring a photocopy of Passport and leave original in cabin safe, but I want to hear your thoughts. Thanks in advance!
  10. My cruise prices for VOOM are pathetic and I'm American. πŸ™‚ Dec Anthem is 18.99 pp, March Wonder is 21.99 pp and Utopia early Nov is 22.99. I don't need access to 3 or 4 devices and that seems to be where the sales are for my cruises.
  11. I bought Chacchoben Mayan Ruins in Puerto Maya for $95.99 pp in September. Was really hoping for sales on Atlantis Submarine- Cozumel and King Kong Zipline- Roatan. KKZ was as low as $108.99 pp in the past but in the past Black Friday was THE sale to save money. 😞 So glad that I did save money on dinners with the Crown and Anchor sale though.
  12. Disappointed that my March Wonder of the Seas excursions that I did not book already are the same price as yesterday. The 1 I did book for a decent price months ago is now that same sale price. Only saved on a few lunches. Even internet is the same price as yesterday.
  13. Good to hear . Hope next month there are no Coast Guard inspections or some other tanker ship does not need to get out. April 2023, we were notified a couple days before the coast guard inspection . My scheduled 10:30 arrival time was moved by Royal to be 1pm! All those who signed up for the first time slot were moved to the last. But in the end the coast guard inspection was over earlier and I only found out that I could arrive on time from my Facebook group that morning and not by Royal. Then when we sailed summer 2022 on Oasis , and had 10:30 arrival, we got there at 10:10 and were told that we had to stop boarding because Oasis had to pull away from the port to allow the other ship to get out. So we sat for 2 hours in the holding room just waiting for Oasis to come back. No early notice that morning at all until after we arrived. So perhaps Royal is to blame, not Cape Liberty Port, but let’s just say we want smooth sailing this time!
  14. I find it 1 of the most disorganized ports, but it is convenient to drive to. We have only sailed twice from there since pandemic, but both times it wasn't smooth sailing. We'll see next month if anything else happens.
  15. I personally like grabbing a quick breakfast in the Lounge after working out. Would be disappointed if I could not get that on future cruises. I have been doing many Quantum class cruises recently and I really like those Crown Lounges as opposed to the Oasis class ones. The windows are really nice.
  16. 2 of my cruises are significantly higher and 1 is the same as when I booked. Group rates are definitely the way to go!
  17. Was Dance Fitness on Anthem April 2023 every morning I believe, also had it on Ovation this summer. So I am banking on it in 270 for my December cruise! Only downside is we had very different people teaching. Once in a while it was Zumba (just teacher not certified) and other times it was dance fitness (slow and not what I was expecting ). Have fun on your cruise!
  18. I cruise similar to @OCSC Mike and @budmeister, except I hit the gym and except for a few mornings on days 1 and 2 it's quite pleasant and not crowded. πŸ™‚ Now for the OP @paulfoel I have not noticed as many drunk adults as I have rowdy kids/teens in my cruises since the restart. I have an 18 yo and 16 yo and they have refused to attend the teen clubs because of the behavior of others. When they were 10 though they loved the Royal kids' club. We felt it was a good product. Yours being a family vacation you of course want to spend time with your 10 yo at the pool and it is a shame that people were acting that way. We have experienced the exact opposite adult behavior back in 2019. Anthem of the Seas out of NJ... they were older 14 and 12, they wanted to go into the pool and just hang out. Not splashing. Not even allowed to move because.. older adults decided to park themselves at the edge of the pool with drinks in hand. As soon as my girls got into the pool they started complaining about them. Girls said they figured people were afraid of the young ins making a ruckus. In your experience it was the adults making the ruckus! Sorry your vacation wasn't the greatest experience!
  19. I know many here probably don't care about the pins, but my teen loves them. Picked up our diamond pin in April with the loyalty ambassador.
  20. We were on the June 23-June 30th cruise and although I admit our MDR (early seating) was the worst service I ever had, that was probably the worst complaint. First time ever I did not give extra tip in person. We knew it was our waiters. Other tables around us were in and out and our table of 4 was slowly getting there. Service was better when this huge table of like 12 didn't show up 3 nights. The worst was I ordered wine the first night and although my Diamond voucher was used I never got it. I know, I should have said something, but the waiters were just not showing up and I was like "heck with it." I just wanted my food and to leave. LOL! So yes, a cabin attendant (ours was very nice and got extra tip money), wait staff, even your neighbors (ex: smokers on balcony , door slammers, etc) can really be random and affect your cruise enjoyment.
  21. No,Royal Caribbean. I got back what Royal claimed was the non refundable portion, but their math and my invoice appeared to have a $500 some discrepancy. The ship knew we were not on the cruise, but somehow corporate thought we WERE. It took a slew of phone calls ( my TA was a big box store and I had to stay online each time they called Royal!). In the end I submitted an email note from Royal to the Insurance about the amount Royal called β€œ non refundable β€œ. Augh because of this I changed travel agents. They can keep their % back on travel. I just want my agent to do all this type of work! It’s bad enough we half to submit the travel insurance ourselves anyway. Good luck!
  22. I'm so sorry to read about your story. We were burned at Christmas time with Southwest and their fiasco. Missed our Christmas cruise. At least our bags never left either. In your case, at least your excursions and Airbnb are being reasonable and giving you refunds! Just make sure you have screen shots of the cancelled flights, and all documentation that you can. I did get partial cruise money back (a long story that involved the cruise line), but depending on your brand of Travel Insurance, some are easier to deal with than others.
  23. Hi! I tried searching the forum for this and can't find the answer. I just ordered Izumi dinner for $36pp and scheduled using the app. I understand that the sushi rolls will be half the size than if you buy ala carte. My question is this. How do I make a dinner reservation when paying ala carte? I know you can do that for lunch as I did that in April 2022, but that was during pandemic and ships were running differently. Now I don't really care about the sushi size, but I think I can save money on our dinner because my daughter only wants 2 servings of the Shrimp Tempura appetizer and dessert. I am OK with just 1 sushi plate and passing on dessert. So... do I have to schedule the dinner in person as soon as we board or are all dinners prix-fixe regardless if you book online ahead of time or in person on ship? I do like the day and time I received online, and there are 2 others eating with is that would eat more than us 2 "birds". If it was just me and DD I would push for a lunch. Thanks in advance.
  24. I have been at Cape Liberty 2x over the last 12 months and boarding that ship was a mess both times. I was unfortunately boarding last June when Oasis had to pull away from the dock and was away for about 2 hours before we could board. We had 10:30, and could not board until 12:30. What a mess! Then in April 2023 (the week before Easter) again I had 10:30 check in time, but it turned out to be a surprise Coast Guard inspection. Those with the 10 and 10:30 check in times were texted to now arrive at 1pm with all aboard at 1:30! We guessed that was because boarding would be delayed due to Coast Guard. But why not just shift all embarkation by an hour rather than make those who got early times last? To top it off, the Coast Guard inspection was over early so those with the 10:30 check in could have arrived on time rather than wait. So you just never know what is going to happen!
  25. Thank you all for your thoughts. I'm nervous leaving my bags outside the cabin last night of the cruise and for me not seeing them again until 2 days later 6am! (Red eye flight). Even dirty clothes are my favorite clothes and I'd hate to have them lost. πŸ™‚ We will have carry ons with us for valuable items, passports, etc..
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