anjomojo

I thought you could still pay gratuities by pre paying until a certain date which I thought I read was Jan 2 i have an upcoming cruise scheduled Jan 13th and am going to go online to pre pay my gratuities tomorrow.

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It is an awful experience to be bombarded like that, but unfortunately it can happen in multiple ports. One tip I have is to WAIT for a while before departing the ship. Most of the tour operators are there right after arrival. But if you give it an hour or two before you set ashore its gets much quieter.

So true!

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I will be in same situation January 20th. I will either be doing a ship sponsored excursion in SJU that includes trip to airport. Or in the past I had luggage held for day at Barrichina restaurant so I may do that instead and visit the forts.

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Try QLS Transportation. I am flying into FLL on April 28th staying in a Miami airport hotel. Received a quote of $45. But decided I am using Tri Rail between FLL to Miami and then the hotel I am staying with in Miami has shuttle at Miami.

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My boyfriend and I have been to San Juan 3 times now. We rented a car and went to the Rainforest on our own. Also while staying overnight before and after cruises we took public transportation to various places saving $ so we could thrn splurge on good meals and activities.

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I am on an April 29th sailing. On other lines I never see much participation on theme nights though I would love too. Amy feedback on MSC?

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I booked a solo about 3 weeks ago on an April 29th Divina sailing with no issues. Hope you are able to secure a booking.

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The rain forest is so doable on your own. My boyfriend and I rented a car and did the rainforest on our own among other things and saved $$. Definitely make sure to check the moon phases...otherwise you will waste time and $ on bioluminescent bay. The Baccardi tour is also a fun time waster. Walking through old San Juan, a pina colada at Barrachina, shopping and of course the forts... so much to do in SJ....one of my favorite ports.

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I fly out of Cleveland Sunday for a cruise out of Long Beach on Monday. So 3 days!

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Flying into LA for a cruise out of Port of Long Beach. Not sure whether to book pre-cruise hotel in LA or LB. Need hotel for a couple of days. Prefer mid range hotel within walking distance of restaurants/shopping and beach if possible. Thanks in advance!

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Was on Navigator a few weeks ago and saw bottles in the Windjammer along with other miscellaneous condiments. Good stuff!

We were booked on the original 4th cancelled cruise. Glad it was cancelled after all we heard/read and happy we were then not going on Empress at all. Just got back last week from our rebook on an 8 night on the Navigator. Wouldn't take my chances on this ship now. Would at least wait a couple of months before booking it. Good luck!

I just got off Navigator Sunday. Windjammer will open more a it gets busy.

 

Don't forget to Washy Washy!!(it's a Navigator saying).

 

Let me know when you hear it! LOL

I don't think it's the case the ship will just open another side if "it gets busy." Rather I think they are using the one side for whatever meal (breakfast / lunch / dinner) and the other side may be closed for short periods during transition times to next "meal" time frame.

Never been on Navigator but had heard the term for years in many many ships ...

I too have heard the phrase on many of the Royal ships. I don't believe it's exclusive just to Navigator. :)

Was on Navigator that left April 16th. Weather wasn't great first few days. And pretty much rain most of day in Labadee. San Juan was a bit nicer but mostly overcast and cooler than when I've been there previously. In any case you will be on a cruise so just enjoy despite the weather! :)

We too were on Navigator in October 2015. Ate at Chops 1x and Izumi 2x. We to enjoyed Chops but quite honestly (since I love sushi) really liked Izumi. I also enjoyed their hot stone meal where they brought chicken steak seafood and veggies that were sauteed on th hot stone. Fun dinner! We didn't get to try Sabor or Giovanni but leaving on Navigator again this Saturday on an 8 - night do hoping to make it to them this time around.

Hi all,

 

Will be going on the Oasis of the Seas shortly and I understand Lobster night is usually the second formal night in the MDR. Since i will be travelling with a 3 year old, I'm not too sure if he would be able to sit still and behave for 2 hours for dinner. Last thing I want is for my son to be disturbing other guests so we will possibly have to eat at the Windjammer. Does anyone know if they serve lobster at the buffet? Hoping i won't have to miss out on Lobster night! :(

I have yet to see the lobster offered at the buffet. Can you maybe request your own table in the dining room on formal night? Not sure if you are doing traditional or my time dining.

I don't think this was negative at all. It's the truth. There really is not much more you get at Emerald status versus prior tiers. With Diamond there is more of a difference with perks.

I live 5 minutes from North Olmsted. Lots of good reasonable hotels suggested in this thread close to airport. Fat Heads Brewery in North Olmsted is a great place for a sandwich, pizza or wings with a lot of different beers. Try the Bumbleberry or Head Hunter. There's also a great local place in Middleburg Heights called Rivals. If you have any other questions let me know. I've lived in the area my entire life.

First day? Lunch? Yea....you will find me having a margarita or mojito lunch near the pool. :)

Just booked a 7 day Liberty cruiser for June. Will make emerald a few days in... Curious if we will have that status on boarding...

I will make Diamond on an upcoming cruise 3 days in. I am not expecting the status until my following cruise.

my wife and I play a game on facebook and rci is one of their parnters. And last week and this week Royal Caribbean had comp cruises for rewards. so for a 7 night balcony on oasis it cost my 420.00 for 2 people and for the 5 night cost 310.00 only had to pay taxes and gratuity.

So essentially they were not "free."

It's doable on your own. We were in San Juan a full day. Got a rental car and drove there ourselves. No problems at all.

Apologies if this has already been stated in this thread and I missed it.

 

Has anyone who booked directly with Royal (not through a TA) been notified by Royal of the cancellations? The letter to the TAs went out on Friday. I guess Royal sends the news to TAs first to allow TAs to service their clients, but is there a typical lag time between TA notification and direct-book client notification? I am curious because some of those price-protected Majesty sailings have already sold out, so if a direct-book client doesn't get Royal's cancellation note until tomorrow (Monday) and isn't on CC/FB/other social media to have heard the news indirectly, that client's options have been significantly reduced. I recall at least one direct-book client posting that they hadn't received any notification from Royal.

I booked directly on RCCL. Received cancel email Friday mid day. I immediately called RCCL. Happened to speak with agent who didn't know (yet) about cancelled sailings. He was very helpful in getting us on the Navigator going out same day our cancelled cruise was supposed to leave.

I asked to be changed to Navigator or Independence but the rep said no, Majesty only. I asked her to price it out to see how much "upcharge" there would be but she said no, Majesty only.

 

How did you get from Empress to Navigator? How much did you have to pay difference and what room did you have and what did you change to?

Our April 16th Empress sailing was cancelled as well. Since I was following the activity early this week I called RCCL immediately Friday morning when I received word of the cancelled sailings. Was on the phone with a very nice rep who got us on the Navigator out of FLL on the same day April 16th. So we got an 8 night cruise and 2 extra ports and the difference was approximately $225 per person. Still trying now to work out the details and charges to rearrange our flight home. I think those who called earlier upon hearing about the cancelled sailings may have been treated differently in terms of service than those who contacted RCCL later. In any case not fair overall. I'm hearing some pretty negative things about how Royal is handling this. Good luck to others out there. On a positive note after our 8 night cruise we transferred to I will be 2 points from Diamond. ;)