bonsai3s

4 hours ago, Womack21499 said:

Does anyone know where the plugs are in a balcony room in ovation? Will I need usb adapters with two people in the room?

Currently on Ovation. There's one by the bed, and a set of oulets by the vanity. Happy sailing!

@kwokpotlf you have the Royal Caribbean App, the menu is there.

* Food and service at CK (Ovation) outstanding...the menu repeated last night and the filet was absolurely sublime. 6:45pm reservation for us and many open tables.

38 minutes ago, txtechmk said:

Good to know that the buses take cash only and when you board.  However, I read somewhere that you can get a combo ticket (I think at the port) for a boat to Oia that includes a bus ride to Fira.  ??  I wanted to make sure this isn't a gimmick for the boat people to collect extra money.  Should we purchase everything separately? 

Boats from below Fira to Oia drops you off the dock below Oia and you have to take a bus up to Oia. I'm guessing this may be the bus they are referring to.

* Local buses to and from Fira and Oia cost us €1.60 per person each way (current price may be higher now, but it's still cheap). The bus ride takes about 1/2 hour with 5 stops. Most of the passengers on the bus goes straight to Oia or back to Fira...so it can even be faster. Happy sailing!

4 hours ago, little britain said:

I have only received notification about the Sou Rom leg not the Rom DXB leg??

We received emails from RCCL informing us that BOTH sailings were cancelled. Are you booked on the Dubai-Singapore leg?

12 hours ago, Jayhoaps said:

Hello everyone, I will be cruising to Santorini, OIA, FIRA in September. My question is do they have a lot of public restrooms there? Or is the restrooms only in restaurants? Any guidance on this manner, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Best Regards. 

In Oia, there's a nice restroom across the street fron where the local bus stops. Happy sailing!

@Tlbecker1@sandebeach@gumshoe958@wdwkings@alfaericAgree with everyone...all spot on.

Curently onboard the Ovation.

Current sailing (ending this morning, in a few hours), had 76 Pinnacles...a number of them weren't able to eat at CK. 

2 families staying in JS's asked the AMD if they can reserve all 10 nights on Day 1...the AMD said: "Come back again tomorrow, I'll see what I can do."

We said hello to both families dining at CK when we were there. We spoke to them 7 out of 10 nights.

* The access restriction for CK became relaxed after about 4 days...it was relatively empty most nights.

* The next sailing is Sydney to Honolulu...and expecting over 100 Pinnacles.

Agree with @TeeRickhe is spot on. Love the Suite Sun Deck on the Symphony. I had the hot tub for myself pretty much every day...the best bartenders (strong drinks)...bags of chips to munch on...comfy lounges in the shade...and of course a shower and loads of towels...a quiet respite from the crowds.

Our experience out of Vancouver.

We had a JS and showed up at 11:30 am...no problem. Our SetSail pass showed "Suite"...and used the Suite queue. Happy sailing.

Our fridge on the Voyager.😁

Just spent a truly memorable week in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and visited many of the magnificent temples including Angkor Wat.

We have visited the Pyramids, the Great Wall, Ephesus, Macchu Piccu...the intricately carved stone walls of Angkor Wat...IMHO...gets the gold medal.

Cambodia was safe, and the people friendly. Many 5-star hotels if that's what you're looking for.

Food...absolutely cheap.

Draft beers 50 cents, Rum and Coke 1 dollar, Mojitos 1 dollar...most dishes were under 8 bucks for TWO people.

Laundry=$1per kilo...folded, prompt, and a beautiful scent of lemon grass.

Note: Cambodia was extremely hot and humid...but we were prepared for it.

* We are currently enjoying the lovely beaches in Bali...saw Celebrity Solstice docked yesterday. All I can think of was: "How much of Bali will they see?" Happy Easter.

We were on the Quantum last year (Brisbane to Vanvouver) and much like 99% of the passengers, we walked past the Noodle Bar. No fried rice...but menu could've changed.

Yes, we've also talked to bartenders and lifeguards who said they love their contracts and time on Coco Cay.

On 3/20/2024 at 6:00 PM, Jetdriver787 said:

We did a B2B in Barcelona last November (same suite.) We were very impressed with the setup which was done in the MDR by simply organising a short walkway through one door and out of the other. In between, we were ushered past a few tables where we were scanned off one cruise and then presented with our new cards. These were then scanned on to the new cruise. All took less than 2 minutes  and never had to get off at all.

 

@Jetdriver787This is spot on...we had exactly the same efficient, well organized, and speedy process on TAD in Barcelona...last year on the Symphony.

@TinkrbellAgree...just talk to your cabin steward and your belongings will be moved to your new cabin. Don't forget to empty your safe.

Enjoy Barcelona and Happy sailing!

All our experiences with genies have been outstanding.

After covid, during the restart, we were in Civitavechia. The Italian authorities wouldn't allow us to board the ship...saying we were missing documents.

We politely explained that we were consecutive cruisers (b3b), had In-transit cards, seapass cards, and luggages already onboard...still wouldn't let us board.

We happened to see our genie and yelled "Ellie HELP!"

After a brief explanation, she spoke to the Italian authorities and we were allowed to board. Point of this story is: Our genie helped us even when OFF the ship.

* As one Captain told us: " Genies are the second most powerful crew member on the ship."  Happy sailing!

6 hours ago, gavvy said:

 

Is it really a faf to get a Chinese visa then? I thought you just paid an agency and they did it all for you or is it a lot more involved than that?

That's the smart thing to do.

I drove a bit over 4 hours to the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco. (My mistake.  * I did not want to mail and relinquish my passport to an agency.)  Arrived early and the queue was already around the block.

When I got in, there was no courtesy...people cutting lines and insisting they had priority (?)...when I finally made it to the window, they told me the photos I'm submitting were unacceptable.

To make a long story short, I asked for a supervisor who ultimately approved the photos. I was told to come back at 2pm.

When I came back, same scenario inside...long queue and chaos. At the end of the day, I did get our visas.

This was over 10 years ago...perhaps it's better now...perhaps not.  Most of the other countries we've visited, that required a visa, we can easily apply online. Curious if China allows U.S. citizens to apply online?

2 hours ago, MyriamS said:

I think for me the problem is not so much the airfare as the visa (I've been to China twice already and do not feel like going through the trouble of getting a Chinese visa again) and the poor itineraries. Very short, lots of sea days. I understand I'm not the target market here: people working in China seem to have very few days of paid leave, so the short itineraries work for them. 

Currently leaning towards Japan instead: I've also been twice but no visa and Celebrity has some pretty good 12 day itineraries. 

Chinese Visa...agree, after our last (really bad) experience with the visa process...never again.

* All other asian countries...yes.

@wolfcathorseOh my, you are so right about those incredible sales during last Alaskan cruises.

I remember walking in Skagway and everything was on sale for a dollar...hats, beanies, scarves, mittens. I still have a few with tags still attached. 

Two nearby hotels also offers "Park and Cruise", for 1 night stay...

Crown Plaza: 2 weeks free parking (secured/basement of hotel),  shuttle ($5/p) to cruise terminal. It's approximately 12 minutes if you choose to walk.

DoubleTree Hotel: Free parking for as long as you need (safe but outside the hotel), free roundtrip shuttle to/from cruise terminal. Not walkable.

Happy sailing!

If you can easily lift your luggage and going from Terminal A to Terminal G...another option is taking the free Miami trolley.

The trolley stops near each terminal.

If you are going from Terminal G to Terminal A...it will be a much longer ride. After Terminal G, the trolley goes over the bridge and heads to downtown Miami. It then turns around and goes back to the Port of Miami...first stop is Terminal A.

Happy sailing!

34 minutes ago, thefog said:

Any hotels near pier cruising out of L.A for night before cruise?

Out of San Pedro, there are 2...Crown Plaza and the DoubleTree Hotel.

2 hours ago, taznremmy said:

Look at Princess.

Yes, we have done Princess to Hawaii roundtrip..4 times...2 out of San Pedro and 2 out of San Francisco.  Loved the ukelele and hula lessons...lei making and lectures onboard. Just hoping Royal Caribbean would do the same.

We've done the one-way Hawaii to Seattle and Vancouver a few times as well...with RCCL and Celebrity.

* 🥰 Hawaii.

Sigh...was genuinely hoping for a Hawaii roundtrip.

Yes.

* Would like to try a Virgin......cruise.

@SoloAlaskaagree...perhaps posting on the Royal Carribean forum can help.

@FionaMG...did a wonderful review of the Odyssey of the Seas.

* We've sailed on the Odyssey of the Seas and have sailed out of Rome (port is in Civitavecchia).

Tipping...your choice...no right or wrong answers.

Drink package...your cruise will probably be port intensive...so not worth buying it.

Shore excursions...will cost you a ton of money booking with the ship. There are many private tours available that cost less. We do mostly DIY because I am cheap and comfortable using local transportation. 

You may also want to join your "roll call"...you can meet others sailing the same week and learn about private tours others are organizing.

Websites we use for planning: Cruise Critic, whatsinport.com, YouTube, cruisemapper.com, and rometorio.com

Happy sailing! 

We tip $1 or $2 per drink. Then extra tip placed inside the "Tip-Tip Hooray" envelopes at the end of the cruise to the best bartenders.

* Tip less, tip more, don't tip,...your choice. Happy sailing.