monorailmedic

On 4/2/2023 at 12:36 PM, ProvoAggie said:

I had internet on The Mardi Gras in January and it was very fast. I was able to stream live video without issue. I couldn't get my work VPN to work though. I ended up having to use remote desktop to connect to my home computer that could then VPN into work.

Happen to know what VPN protocol/type you use?  I work from ships frequently, and am trying to gauge the situation on post-Starlink CCL ships.  I don't have the remote option as I can only access resources via company hardware.  I can use a travel router to tailscale to my home connection and 'bury' the corporate VPN tunnel, which opens an option, but guarantee nothing (and adds latency).

One venue that doesn't seem to get much attention is the grab and go at Le Grand Bistro.  For certain windows of time you can get pastries and crepes there.  There is an additional fee, but it's nominal.  On our December sailing this was open right at embarkation.  I didn't notice one way or the other in January, but it is noted in Celebrity today as being open at noon.  You can find "Le Grand Bistro Terrace & To Go" listed under Coffe & Snacks.

Thanks for updating! This is really interesting, Don Julio Reposado, which I really like, is only 8.50 yet still not included even for the deluxe. That one is a bit of a head-scratcher as that particular tequila is usually top shelf but as far as tequilas go, definitely not ultra. Same goes for the Patron, I'm not a fan of Patron but they make multiple ultra premium versions above the standard 3 varieties.

 

Something tells me with proper tipping, anything is included, as is usually the case in my experience but every ship is different, I guess we'll see ;)

I too found this quite bizarre and guess it comes down to their cost-per-bottle. The mixed drinks I guess they're wiling to go higher on with the packages b/c often much of the cost there is in mixers and labor, both which allow higher margins than spirits.

Good luck trying to get them to go around this for some cash. I honestly didn't press too hard, but while I always tip extra and got great service independent of this, I wasn't able to get anyone to budge. I'd have been happy if I just had to pay an extra $1-2 per pour to get Ardbeg, but if it's not covered then you pay the full-price, no subsidy.

Another quick question, I've seen people mention that the asterisks denote items that are included in the drink package, is this different for the Deluxe all inclusive package? I thought it would say it on the menu photos somewhere but I'm not seeing it.

This question made me realize that the Super Premium page was missing. Ooops! I just updated it. The super premium spirits are not included in any package, which is quite annoying, as some (such as Ardbeg, one of my favorites) is priced well below the threshold for mixed drinks covered on the package ($13? I forget) - yet it doesn't qualify. Check out the new page (11) with that list.

I'm really interested to check out these menus since we have a sailing coming up at the end of the month but it appears these links have expired? Is there another place to Take a look at these menus?

I actually just linked to this yesterday but we're already on another page :-)

https://www.cruisehabit.com/content/msc-seaside-bar-menu

Wow, those are the cheapest drink prices I’ve ever seen. I️ swear I saw a picture of a tap the had Lagunitas IPA on it. I think it was the Sports bar. Can anyone confirm? The only Craft beer they list is Sam Adams and Yuengling, which neither are craft.

 

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Yes, they did have Lagunitas IPA on tap in the sports bar when we sailed in July.

Since the images seem to be gone from the original post I'll go ahead and link to this page with the full generic bar menu from MSC Seaside. I took these pics in July when we sailed the Easter Caribbean.

https://www.cruisehabit.com/content/msc-seaside-bar-menu

is there any site we can visit to find out if there is a group on our cruise?

What is the underlying goal?

I ask because there are frequently groups on cruises, but those sailing may not be aware they're in a group. While affinity groups (common interest/traveling together) are not uncommon, it's also common for an agency to get a block of rooms that they can push for extra perks.

I don't think HAL (or other lines) would share this. You could google the dates and find if an affinity group was advertised somewhere. Otherwise you'll find that some sailings, by some agencies (and others in their corsortia) may have different perks than other - this is often because of a group.

Point of clarification (mostly for anyone finding this incidentaly) I think the OP is looking to compare Vista class ships to the Queen Elizabeth. The QE2 was a Cunard ship (a fantastic one at that) retired in 2008. Where things get confusing is that there was an RMS Queen Elizabeth from 1939 to 1968 and the ship currently sailing is also called the Queen Elizabeth, though technically she is the MS Queen Elizabeth, and is a modified Vista class ship.

I've seen a number of menus when searching for Islay scotches but nothing official on HAL's site that I've found. Here is one link. http://www.cruisewithgambee.com/holland-america-drink-lists-current-liquor-wine-and-beer-prices/

Yes. It's available for use once the cruise starts.

 

Your OBC gets credited to your account once you board, not beforehand. The O and the B are the hint. ;)

It's still money you spend on board :-P

I figueeed as much, bu I know just recently RCI and X allowed you to use OBC ahead of time. Kinda nice but not a probem either way :-)

I believe that you save $5 a day by pre purchasing the beverage package. You cannot use your shipboard credit until you are on the ship.

Thanks. I suppose some of my OBC will go towards WiFi (as grats have been included).

Hi All,

Taking my first HAL sailing (scores of other cruises on multiple lines). I see that I can purchase a beverage package ahead of time but have several hundred in OBC I'd like to use for this.

-If I purchase the package once onboard is the price higher than pre-purchasing? Does it ever go on sale online or onboard?

-Is there a way to apply the OBC I have to pre-cruise purchases on the web?

Thanks!

BH

I have a question on the european outlet adapters.

 

Looking at this outlet chart http://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/ and comparing to googled images for Noordam outlets, it looks like the european side is Type F. I have a Type C adapter, will the Type C work?

 

Any help appreciated.

A type C will work just fine in an F. If you google 'gain extra outlets cruise' you'll find the first post has an explanation of a few options.

Thanks everyone for the quick replies!

I'm going to continue to scour the forums, but it seems I have a few leads to go off of now (potentially depending on exact sail date).

Much appreciated!

Hey CC People!

Does anyone happen to know who the current Hotel Manager is on Freedom OTS?

My apologies if there is a better place to ask, I didn't see a "who is on board" thread like in the X forums.

BH

This is a long term plan of ours, but not on RCCL. Nothing against RCCL, but we're aiming for a line that has longer sailings, little to no repetition, a quieter atmosphere, etc. Cruise lines do work with people who do this type of things (multiple people do this on different lines, though I wouldn't define it as 'common'). While they'll work with you because they have a known income from the space, it's one less cabin to market, etc - I know in some cases the crew doesn't love it because some people take on a sense of entitlement or ownership. I get it.

There are all sorts of tax considerations as well, as for immigration and other practical purposes you'ill need to maintain citizenship somewhere, but you'll want to plan that smartly as well. We've discussed maintaining a home base somewhere inexpensive if we need to time on shore but for other reasons too. If we were retiring today we'd likely look somewhere in Central or South America.

One day...

A few things to consider, you mentioned that all stateroom were sold out except for verandahs. Keep in mind that the majority of passenger staterooms on Indy have verandahs, so that could represent a large number of cabins.

Other considerations are cancelled groups, or just a larger than average number of pax who opt to stay in their staterooms much of the time.

I've heard of several times where people can't get to and from ships (severe weather somewhere, a giant cloud of volcanic ash coming across Europe from Iceland, for example) that deals have been struck. I suspect if you can't leave, and those scheduled to come take your spot can't get on, they try and work something out. This may vary based on where the ship is sailing in and out of too, as in the US at least, a ship has to have a complete manifest to the Coast Guard a couple days before sailing.

Surprisingly, it looks like you and I have a similar number of cruises under our belts and I've never been on a ship during an outbreak.

From what I have seen though, it seems like many cruise lines have phases of sorts. Cleaning and no self-serve of food being the first, then eventually things get cancelled.

Hope you enjoyed the Riviera, we really like Oceania.

monorailmedic, thanks I'll check tomorrow. Odd that one of your cruises has changed but the other hasn't. (unless it's ship specific)

There are a few possible reasons. We've seen different prices on different ships before. Further, prices are frequently set based on sail date (it would seem easier to manage price changes for all sorts of things this way). Of course, it's also possible that later the other sailing will have gone up, we just don't have enough data points to know.

It seems there are some changes happening right now with drink package pricing. My Feb 2016 sailing (Allure) shows a slightly higher cost than it did yesterday, but my Feb 2016 sailing (Navigator) hasn't changed.

Some on Royal Caribbean Blog are seeing that gratuity is now included (even when it says it isn't) and other oddness. Point being, it looks like they're tweaking some things as we speak. You may want to check back tomorrow.

One thing to keep in mind is that it never hurts to ask. If you booked through a TA this is especially true. While these are the rules, with many of these types of situations, on many lines, it depends on luck and who you speak with.

This is oddly encouraging for me. I prefer rough seas and am worried that the Allure will be a bit too smooth for us in February. That in mind, for those who *don't* like that, I certainly hope it improves...also, stay off my Feb sailing ;-)

It all comes down to how much you end up drinking, and *what* you end up drinking. You could review menus, estimate your consumption, and add it up to see where you're at.

Another option is seeing how it goes the first day or two and adding it after that. On seven night sailings I believe you can add a pro-rated bev package to your remaining sailing as long as there are 4 nights left.