brklyn78

I didn't find the cost to be inflated and we didn't book early.

Agreed. When we booked, we were in search of a particular room, and I didn’t know anything about the previous President’s Cruises. We booked in Oct 2017, so I don’t think that would be considered “early” and the room we wanted was at a better rate than other weeks around it. We serendipitously ended up on the President’s Cruise and were excited to learn that it’s a special week.

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Are the cups good on another cruise or just the one you purchased them for? Just wondering if they lost a revenue stream because of technology.

 

 

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When you first use the cup you get a pop-up on the machine saying that it will work until a certain date. I’ve not noticed how many days exactly, but it’s longer than a week, but probably less than two weeks. So if you did a B2B but on another ship I suspect it would work, but otherwise no.

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For your noon update, here’s what I’ve seen reported in Anthem reviews — but the information has been inconsistent so I can verify when I get to board on Friday. ([emoji7] !!!)

• There is at least one, but likely two (though it could be as high as 4) in the Windjammer. There was one report that suggested there were two on either end of the Windjammer. Another report said one on either side, and a third suggested there was one total in the Windjammer.
  
• There is at least one, but maybe two, at Sorrentos.
  
• There is one in the SeaPlex by the Dog House (I’ve seen a recent photo confirming this one).
  

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It’s not really a headboard. It’s attached to the wall but not to the beds. They still slide and separate.

Here’s a random photo from the CC photo gallery:

Source: https://www.cruisecritic.com/oasis-of-the-seas-deck-plans/dp/balcony-cabins/ct/

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Do you want pics or just confirmation of locations? I’m on Anthem next week and could snap photos if you want them. I didn’t see Anthem on your list under Quantum class, BTW.

Enjoy your snow day!

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This is true. The Miami Herald article is here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/article194336544.html It references an article in the Baltimore Sun, but completely leaves out the mechanical issue, and the real reason for the delay, reported there: http://www.baltimoresun.com/travel/bs-md-royal-caribbean-cruise-sick-20180111-story.html We're on Lady G on 1 February, and looking forward to a fantastic cruise!

FWIW, the Herald piece has been corrected.

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If you go through the process of booking it in the cruise planner — without finalizing the purchase — it should tell you the start time of the excursion. Then you will have the answer for your particular sailing.

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Since they have an hibachi, there's no hot rock. Sukiyaki has been removed. I believe most or all the tempura items have been removed.

Oh wow. I guess it’s been a while since I’ve been in one. Thanks for the updates.

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Doesn’t Izumi have non-sushi on the menu? I’m pretty sure they had things like chicken teriyaki for the “I don’t eat sushi” people. I’m not talking about the hibachi - just the regular Izumi menu.

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They got rid of the dynamic thing and all the dining rooms are just the MDR with different decor. Just like other ships, one of the MDRs is designated for MTD. The menu’s are all the same.

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Thanks for the info, and I think I agree it's an easy choice. So since gratuity is charged on the package already, no tip is necessary each time I use it? Or is a tip still going to be expected?

Oh, I am no where near brave enough to engage in a tipping discussion on cruise critic. But I will confirm that you are correct that a gratuity charge is included in the package.

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Thanks, and yes. Last January we got the 12 bottle Evian package. Since they came warm and the frig isn't really a frig (didn't know this beforehand), we barely used half of the bottles. The liter bottles are also a little big to be dragging around or off the ship. My only concern with the refreshment package was where I could get it and how often. It's about $25 more than the coffee card and Evian so just want to make sure I'm getting a similar value.

For me this would be an easy decision, but YMMV. The coffee card is limited to a certain number of drinks too. So you’ve got two limited options vs one unlimited one.

You can get drinks in more places with the refreshment package than the coffee card. In addition to cafe promenade, I’ve gotten espresso-based drinks in the main dining room, fresh-squeezed OJ in the Windjammer, and water bottles in any bar or counter service place (Sorrento’s, etc). I’ve also gotten non-alcoholic cocktails both on board and at the private islands (consider this if you itinerary stops at Labadee or Coco Cay). And since the free style machines are included in the refreshment package, you can get any of the soda/flavored water combos you want. Cafe Promenade also has specialty teas, so you can get those as well. On my last sailing, I enjoyed a decaf tea latte every evening and it was divine.

I also got a specialty coffee in Chops once, but I can’t remember if that’s a regularly allowed thing or not. Our Chops server was super accommodating and gave our group free wine. He felt bad that I wasn’t partaking of the wine since I don’t drink, so when I asked about the decaf cappuccino he was very excited to be able to get that for me. He did take note of the drink package notation on my card. So specialty coffee in specialty restaurants is a “maybe.”

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BTW, if your ship has the coke freestyle machines, there are some nice flavored water options in there, too. Still and Sparkling. I get the refreshment package and like to mix it up between my bottled waters from the various bars and the flavored water from the machine throughout my trip.

Every other day or so I go “water shopping” - I grab a tote bag and take a walk around the ship, stopping at random bars to ask for bottled waters. I put the collection in the room chiller/fridge thing so that I have them in the room when I want them.

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As others have stated, it depends on what you are looking for. True, it is not enough time if this is your only visit ever, but for us we have been a lot and are planning a full vacation there in December. This is just a quick fix for us. We will be there on the Jan. 19 Anthem cruise...same as you Brooke? Ship is there from 7am-9pm so also is more time than when it is only there 12pm-9pm. We are renting a car and plan on staying there until about 5-6. If all goes as planned, this will give us about 7-8 hours in the park which is all we do in a normal day there when on land based vacation. We have driven from WDW to the port for DCL cruises and is about an hour if no traffic.

 

 

 

We are visiting MK as our kids still like it the best and will do some rides, but will be more of a “enjoy the atmosphere” type visit for us. By Disney standards, this will be a light crowds day for us on Jan. 22. Google Touring Plans for a great site for WDW planning.

 

 

 

Just my $0.02!

Yes, we are on the same cruise!

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The RC transport gets you back early, maybe to account for road conditions/accidents? Leaving at your own time much later may be risky? I don't know, how is that Hwy, is it like the BQE(I assume you are from Bklyn)?

The drive is supposed to be an hour, but I’ve seen suggestions to allow for an hour and a half. I plan to leave the park by 6:00, which should get me back to the ship by 7:30 or 8 at the latest for a 9:00 departure. I just didn’t want to be forced to leave at 3:30 in the afternoon. Even if we decide to leave the park at 5 we’ve given ourselves extra time by driving.

Oh, and I’m from DC.. my screen name is my name with all the vowels removed.

-Brooke

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We will be there 2md week in August, which I imagine would be a busy time as kids are getting ready to head back to school.

Ohh. August in the afternoon is going to be tough, and expensive. You are probably looking at $110 for the kids (over 3) and $115-ish for the adults and it will be really hot and rainy. Under those conditions I might suggest doing something else that day.

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I'm glad you had a good time. We are in Port 12 to 9. I was thinking Magic Kingdom. My daughter is obsessed with all things Princess and Star Wars. Honestly I have not conduct research yet, but inwas told MK is where I should go for that stuff. Like I said, I've never been. My DD wants to see Cinderella's Castle in the worst way. :D

MK is great for Princesses and the castle, but be warned there isn’t much to the castle - it’s kind of just a building. There is a shop where they do the Princess makeovers, and there is an expensive restaurant with impossible to get reservations, but that’s about it.

No Star Wars at MK. For that, you would want to go to Hollywood Studios.

There are lots of princess character greeting opportunities at Epcot too, but that will be a better visit when they are a little older. After reading your second post, I’d suggest sticking with Fantasy Land at MK and not even trying to do the rest. I’d go up main street, through the castle, and stay in Fantasy land until it was time to leave.

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Which park would you visit? How long is the ship docked the day you are visiting?

We’ve done Disney World as a port excursion and really enjoyed it. In fact, we’re planning to do it again later this month. The key is setting expectations. As the other noted, you can’t get the FULL Disney experience, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a great time and feel like you got your money’s worth.

We did Epcot the first time and are doing Epcot again this time because it’s our favorite park. We briefly considered doing Magic Kingdom, but decided against it because we worried that we’d feel compelled to try to do everything, and we couldn’t do that in a one day visit. Plus there’s a special event going on in Epcot when we are there.

I suspect the smaller parks are more conducive to an excursion day than Magic Kingdom, but that’s just my opinion. But if you were set on MK, I think you could have a great time if you decided ahead of time that you were only going to do certain parts. Since you have little ones, you could go through Main Street and Fantasy land (including that Dumbo circus area) and *possibly* tomorrow land if there is time, and call it a day. That’s half the park and your kids wouldn’t even notice that you skipped the other half. Along the same lines, personally, I wouldn’t bother with a park hopper ticket because, again, it’s probably too much for a quick visit even if you were visiting two smaller parks.

When we go later this month we are renting a car rather than dealing with the RC excursion. We want the flexibility of driving straight to park (the RC transport takes you to MK and we’d have to monorail to Epcot), and the ability to leave when we want (the RC transport gets you back to port by 5, but our ship doesn’t leave until 9 pm). Also, the cost of renting a car was pretty close to the cost of two adults on the RC transport.

Park tickets vary based on which park you want to visit and the day. Visit the Disney world website and put in your day. It will give you the costs.

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So, out of curiosity, would the folks on the Anthem be allowed off the ship tonight? Or do they have to wait until they would normally be allowed off, at 7:30-ish tomorrow morning?

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We have an outside accessible cabin on Grandeur. My husband needs the scooter only on the ship. It is really just a precaution - my husband had a minor stroke a few months ago and has some weakness in his legs. He had some trouble on the Anthem a few months back but of course the Grandeur is a much easier walking ship. I guess I will call Special Needs to see what they say. Thanks for the information.

The two companies referenced earlier are your best bet, as they will have it in your cabin when you get onboard and will pick it up from your cabin when you disembark. I’ve rented them several times for my husband who has a neurological disorder. He has good days and bad days, so sometimes he needs it and sometimes he doesn’t. In my experience, it is MUCH better for BOTH of you if he has the scooter and barely uses it, than if he doesn’t have it and neither of you end up being able to enjoy the trip the way you would have liked. (This, btw, was how I convinced my husband to get it when he was being stubborn about it). Knowing that he has the *choice* of either going back to the room to rest or use the scooter and stay out and enjoy the trip is worth far more than the $30 a day.

Also, FWIW, I’ve seen it reported here that if your scooter won’t fit in the room, you can take it to guest services and they will store it for you. This is less than ideal, but will get the job done if your room won’t accommodate the scooter. But if you have an accessible cabin, you shouldn’t have a problem because those doors are larger.

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If you are looking for a quick and dirty estimate it’s a little under $30 per day for someone under 250 lbs and of average height.

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My sister did this while we were in FLL on the Uber ride to the port in Ft Lauderdale. There is a store called Total Wine and they offer a “buy online, pick up in store” option. So she bought the wine on her phone, and we had the Uber driver go there first, then to Starbucks, and then to the ship. No problems at all. Just let them know what you want to do and they will likely be very accommodating. He had us do something in the app to add a stop or something but it was fine. We did tip him nicely and the original fare did go up so the app did accommodate the request properly. Since we could do the wine and Starbucks orders online, the stops were very quick.

I’m sure the folks who responded above have more experience than me, but I know that Haitian crew who have the day off leave the area to visit their families and often bring other crew with them. Further, I observed “visitors” sitting with a crew member on the island - presumably they were Haitian friends or family of the crew member who were allowed to come visit them for the day.

Obviously rules for the crew would be different than those for passengers but it seems worth a try. I believe RC has an office of some kind in Haiti (or at least a local contact, which is listed on the compasses for emergencies). It’s probably easiest for your daughter to try contacting that local office/contact to see what’s possible. I cannot imagine a scenario in which calling RC customer service in the U.S. would end in anything but frustration on this one.

I do hope you are able to work it out.

We’ve done several January cruises out of Baltimore, which is similarly cold and not that far away. One of my absolute favorite things is showing up on the cruise ship, wearing Uggs and sweaters, and having snow on my balcony. After sail away, I check the “snow status” a few times throughout the afternoon/evening, and then by the time we wake up the next morning the snow is all gone and the air is starting to get warm. That progression from snowy cold to Caribbean warmth feels magical to me (Yes, I know how weather and geography work, but it feels magical nonetheless).

So I’m very fond of balconies on winter cruises, but you have to choose what’s best for you. There’s nothing wrong with saving some money by buying a different kind of room and using that money to enhance your fun in another way. If I were going that route, I’d probably choose the VB because that also seems like a unique experience and you can’t get it on many other ships. Then again, the front facing OV could make you feel special because you have the “captain’s view.”

Bottom line is you are going on vacation. There’s no wrong answer. Enjoy!

Two questions from this picture, if you don’t mind:

1. Is JR-To-Go a Star Class perk or open to others?

2. Is that “hospital band” thing on your arm related to departure?

Never mind that second question. I just realized you guys have one more day. I got confused by the departure info in an earlier pic. I thought that only came on the last day.