Chadr135

On 1/18/2024 at 11:40 AM, Mar1987 said:

When in the past we docked at Messina port, we hired a private driver through "Sicily-tours.it" and it was great! They picked us up at the port and drove us to Mount Etna, where we could take a chairlift to a higher part of the volcano, then they drove us to Taormina where we had free time for lunch (our driver suggested us a good local restaurant) and walked through the city visiting the greek theatre and having magnificent views towards the volcano again! I highly recommend you them!

Thanks for this suggestion. I just reached out to them for our cruise in July. Do you have any other tips if we go forward with them? Thanks again!

On 12/12/2023 at 8:33 PM, TACMS said:

New to Casino Royal benifits, but not new to cruising (diamond on RCCL). We recently received a complimentary inside room for two on select cruises through the casino.  Does anyone know if we pass this up, will we be offered a different offer/sailings next month?  Thank you

Have you enjoyed this program thus far? My wife and I are also Diamond and although we are not big gamblers, we are considering putting money aside on our next cruise to play with (and lose 🫠) so we can potentially start earning some benefits. Thanks for any thoughts you have!

1 hour ago, Mar1987 said:

We took private tours in order to avoid taking public transportation where a little of risk can be. Watch out and do not bring values or lot of cash with you while touring and leave your passport in your hotel safety box bringing just a copy of it with you. Unfortunately there are some gypsies in Europe coming from a couple of eastern countries considering pickpockets their regular "job". Anyway following the simple security measures, nothing happens and we really had a great memorable time in Germany, Austria and Italy!

Thanks so much for the tips!

35 minutes ago, lisiamc said:

I have a Pacsafe that I take everywhere. It’s my handbag at home too. They have a distinctive look, so I am sure that pickpockets can identify one at 50 paces. I’d like to hope that they’d decide I was too much trouble, and choose another mark. 

I'm sure you're right, thanks so much!! 🙂

On 9/30/2023 at 10:51 AM, megr1125 said:

Get a theft-resistant cross body, don't do dumb stuff like walk with lots of cash.  Pay attention to surroundings.  Figure out where you're headed before setting out.  Don't keep wallet in back pocket.  Don't set your phone or camera down. 

 

Really be smart like you would ANYPLACE.  Think positive and pay attention.  

I'm looking at a Pacsafe bag for Europe this summer. Is this the crossbody you have? Do you like it? Thanks!

I'm more concerned living in a country where assault weapons are legal. 🫠 That being said, we are taking our kids to Europe (Italy, France & Spain) for the first time this summer. My concern isn't terrorism or violent crime, but scams and pickpockets in some of the cities we are visiting.

Thanks for posting this, I was unaware! We are staying in Venice for two nights prior to our cruise departing out of Ravenna next summer. It looks like we will still have to generate a QR code but will be exempt from the fee. Thanks again!

On 6/29/2023 at 1:16 PM, ClipClop said:

Thanks for posting this question and the replies.   I'm on week 12 and still waiting for my passport status to change. Cruising in 17 days and doubt I'll have my passport and I was wondering if I had other options.  Thanks again.

We are waiting on our daughter's passport as well...Did you pay for expedited? Thanks!

8 hours ago, 5280mom said:

Would someone be able to share personal pictures of the Barefoot Beach Hilltop cabanas and the Nellie’s over the water?  We have reserved the Nellie’s one but now I’m second guessing.  We have a couple travelers that will spend most of the day in the shade as well as ones in and out of the water.  I’d rather be on Barefoot but unsure of the hike being mentioned.  Thanks!!

I've found one or two Youtube videos, but there isn't a lot online unfortunately. We booked a Hilltop at Barefoot...I can share after our cruise in July but I'm not sure if that will help you! 

13 minutes ago, bajathree said:

That is a picture of the over the water cabanas at Nellie

Ugh! That's the photo that comes up above our reservation for the hilltop cabana.

On 4/28/2023 at 11:27 AM, Engineroom Snipe said:

At about 11:15 am on April 27, 2023, (yesterday). I was sitting on deck five outside of the midship  elevator bank on the port side. I witnessed what appeared to be an F 18 do a high speed fly-by cutting from our starboard bow and sharply following our port side with the one wingtip lower than the top of the deck railing. I had a complete view of the top of the jet.  It might have been about 200 feet away at most. In all of my years in the Navy, I have never seen a plane almost touching the water on its side at about 390 knots.

 

It was a Top Gun moment where I could distinctly make out the details of the pilot's helmet.

 

The same jet made another high speed pass from our stern passing along the starboard side before doing a vertical afterburner ascent disappearing into the clouds in about five or six seconds.

 

I guess we looked threatening but after closer review, found not dangerous.

 

I do think it was a bit unsafe. I would hate to think what would have happened if a wingtip touched the water or God forbid, have struck the ship.

 

The Navy is not proud of it for I cannot find any reports about it with any search engine.

 

"Maybe it was the Air Force.........."  😉

 

🫢

So cool!!! Sign me up for that cruise!

Thank you for posting this. Our first cruise as Diamond members is in July and we weren't sure how this worked.

8 hours ago, oasisorbust said:

I am cruising on the Independence of the Seas on Monday and it is my first cruise as a Diamond. I understand that I receive 4 drink coupons per day. My question is can you tell the bartender when you want to use them and when you don’t? Or is it the first 4 drinks no matter what? I’m not a big drinker but I was thinking I might want a beer during the day - especially on CocoaCay- and would prefer to pay for that and save my “coupons” for a more expensive cocktail later on. Thanks in advance 😊

It appears there is water access from the photo on RCCL's site...Has it changed since then? You know for the amount of money they're charging for these kinds of things you'd think they'd have more than one or two photos...

58 minutes ago, bajathree said:

I would choose Barefoot over Nellie....Barefoot is private and much less crowded. Just a heads up on the hilltop cabanas...you have to walk up and down a bunch of steep stone steps to get to your cabana and up and down from the beach each time. I have done all the cabana categories on Barefoot and now just book a standard..least expensive and very convenient location for food/bar/water ...you honestly wouldn't be spending as much time as you think in the cabana.

43 minutes ago, bajathree said:

I would choose Barefoot over Nellie....Barefoot is private and much less crowded. Just a heads up on the hilltop cabanas...you have to walk up and down a bunch of steep stone steps to get to your cabana and up and down from the beach each time. I have done all the cabana categories on Barefoot and now just book a standard..least expensive and very convenient location for food/bar/water ...you honestly wouldn't be spending as much time as you think in the cabana.

Thanks for the advice...I didn't realize there would be a bit of a walk to the water...That's a bummer...I looked at the standard cabana but I didn't like that you're looking at loungers instead of the water.

So I started looking at the cabanas at Nellie's Beach again but that beach looks so crowded in comparison now to Barefoot now! 🫠

On 4/14/2023 at 6:47 PM, Scoobydobe7 said:

Barefoot Beach is the suite Beach, so imo ... less crowded  and the buffet is right there...also not far from ship

Thank you! We booked a hilltop cabana on Barefoot Beach! My wife vetoed the over the water cabana due to price. 😂

Which would you choose and why? Or is there little difference? Thanks!

We are looking at this itinerary next summer on the Voyager for our family of four (kids will be 10 & 12).

Has anyone sailed this itinerary or similar, with kids in this age group? How was the trip? Any regrets, advice?  Between jet lag and lots of sightseeing, I don't want two miserable kids! 🤪

Thanks!!

On 7/29/2022 at 11:07 PM, CuseJeff44 said:

I asked the waiter “is one order of onion rings enough to share or should we order one each”. He said “it’s shareable”. So we ordered one. 
 

COVID spreads in the air. Not on surfaces. So they had us all packed in by the elevators breathing each other’s air so that we could wait to wash our hands to prevent non existent surface transmission. 

Hand washing helps prevent other things from spreading, namely Norovirus.

I'm just jealous you're in an OS! 🙂 Just came back from a cruise on the Oasis, great ship!

Thank you everyone for the information! We recently sailed on the Oasis in a spacious balcony room and felt incredibly cramped with two adults and two kids. I hope this room will be just the right size, without the price tag of a JS!

5 hours ago, Sunshine3601 said:

You will love this cabin.      We try to book corner aft's whenever they are available.   Love love love🤩

Majority of the phone reps have no clue what they are selling.     I had one insist the balcony was the same size as other OVB's.      I suggested she view a video online showing the cabin and the balcony.    

Thank you!! I got off the phone so confused! 🤣

5 hours ago, xpcdoojk said:

Yeah, we in a corner aft on several cruises on Explorer and Freedom class.  The stripper pole is a bit of a danger at night on bathroom trips, but other than that we ignore it.  Even on the decks with smaller balconies, the balconies are huge compared to other balcony cabins.  We were in a similar room on the last cruise, Adventure, and we had two lounge chairs, two regular chairs and a table.  There is more superstructure to deal with, but we love those balconies and cabins.  

 

JC

Thank you!!

5 hours ago, Jimbo said:

1700 is pretty much the size of a JS Cabin but you are just paying for a regular balcony.

 

If you want the largest balcony on the entire ship including the suites, then book the corner cabins on deck 7. The cabin itself is not as large as cabin #1700 though.

 

Either cabin you will be happy with, larger cabin go with deck 10, larger balcony go with deck 7 corner afts facing the wake.

Thank you!

6 hours ago, Mum2Mercury said:

You've booked a unicorn.  

 

I've stayed in a corner aft (not 7th floor, but similar), and they are wonderful.  The interior room is the same as any other balcony room -- adequate for 2 parents and 2 children, but cramped if you're talking about 4 adults.  Ours had a pull-out sofa, which wasn't the greatest, but the kids were still small, and it worked.  The space might be a little different (short/fat instead of long/narrow), but the interior space is roughly the same.

The balcony is the star.  It's easily 4Xs the size of a standard balcony, and we love-love-loved it.  

 

Negatives: 

- The pole in the middle of the room.  Not a significant problem.

- Being at the back-back of the ship, it's a long walk to ... everywhere. 

 

Positives: 

- Being at the back-back of the ship, it's quiet. 

- Unlike side balconies, a part of this balcony is always in the shade, so it's usable pretty much all day.  

- Plenty of space to store kids' things on the balcony. 

- Plenty of space to hang wet towels or swimsuits on the balcony.  

 

Here are a couple You Tubes of this room: 

  

Thank you so much for this information, super helpful!! I feel much better about the decision!

I recently booked stateroom 1700 on the Liberty of the Seas because it looks considerably larger on the deck plan than other balconies in the same category. What I don't understand is that RCCL says the square footage is exactly the same (199 sq. ft. & 65 sq. ft.) as the other balcony rooms. When I asked during booking, RCCL reiterated that 1700 is the same size as 1702 next door.

I booked 1700 anyway, but can anyone clarify? Does anyone have any experience with this stateroom for a family of four? Thanks!!