AnnetteSC

We used joebananalimos, aka Italytoursharing.com, last June while cruising on Azamara and had a great time!! Price was half what the cruise ships charge and service was impeccable!

I am Italian from Italy and I agree that you cannot do Capri and Pompeii in one day. I also agree that you should do Pompeii and Amalfi coast.

Don't forget to have a freshly squeezed lemonade in that region. Amalfi coast lemons are the BEST!! Enjoy!

The BOGO@50% is not what it seems. When you place it in your cart, it's two packages at the price shown...for my cruise it's $47pd before gratuities.

When I called on it, CS said the price reflects the discount but the math didn't add up. CS said regular price is $55 but I said that $47 is not 25% off of $55.I didn't get anywhere.

Like you said, RCI runs fake sales...LOL

Annette, if you post your itinerary, someone here might be able to find a recent Cruise Compass which will show the formal nights.

Thank you, Bob! We sail on March 10 out of Ft Lauderdale. Itinerary is: Day 1 (departure day), day 2 and 3 at sea. Day 4 in St Thomas; day 5 in San Juan; Day 6 in Labadee; day 7 at sea; day 8 back in port.

I would think a CPAP would be considered a health reason.

 

 

If you use the special_needs@rccl.com address, you will likely find the extension cord and distilled water in your stateroom when you arrive.

Thanks again! We'd like one because of all the electronics we'll need to charge and not for health reasons.

I don't think that qualifies us for one of the special need extension cords.

Does anyone know when the 2 Formal Nights will be on a 7 night cruise on the Harmony?

We have MTD and made reservations already. It does not specify on the online calendar which will be Formal nights, therefore, I'm asking here.

Also, what is the dress code for Formal nights? And, actually, what is the dress code for other nights in the MDR?

RCI has so many ships and, as I understand it, with different "rules". This is our first time cruising RC and I want to learn as much as possible before cruise day.

Thanks!

It's a possibility. You don't have to bring one, they will supply one.

Thanks! I hope it doesn't turn out like it did on Celebrity....

When they took ours, they told us to ask our room steward for one. When we did, he got upset because he said they don't have any to give out unless it's needed for health reasons. :eek:

I just made My Time Dining reservations for our cruise on the Harmony and got the same result when I look at the online calendar.

I guess it's not just the Anthem having this issue.

Will they confiscate the extension cord if you bring it yourself? Two years ago (on Celebrity), they held back my suitcase because I had an extension cord in it. I had read on CC that it was ok to bring one but Celebrity denied it was true.

Don't want to make the same mistake again... :)

No chief blogging officer. There used to be a Royal Caribbean International poster that would post once in a while, but I haven't seen that for a while.

Thanks!

How would you interpret this?

Last year, we cruised with Azamara and there was (and still is) a Chief Blogging Officer on the Azamara board of CC to listen and help with people's questions/corcerns.

Is there one for RCI here?

I'm new to RC and have never been on this particular board before so please forgive my ignorance.

Thanks!

I usually book our cruises a year or more out. I have never seen a "sale" that was less than what I paid. Those 30% of the 2nd pax, BOGO, etc are all marketing tactics. The drink package sales our always based on the on board cost, which on our last Oasis was $56 +18%. Bottom line is don't chase the "sale" just compare overall cost and if it's good, BUY IT!

But it's false advertising! The CS rep on the phone told me the $47 was the already discounted by 25% price (which is not mentioned anywhere in the *Details) and that the regular price was $56.

Well, if you deduct 25% from $56, it gives you $42 not $47! Someone should report them and it may just be me! :mad:

Standard Operating Procedure for Royal.

Well, this may be our first AND last times we cruise with such a sneaky company. :(

I just posted about the experience I just had with RC's BOGO@50%. It's not what you think! When you place the packages in the cart, it's the price times two. At least, that's what happened to me. When I called, I was given the runaround about the price ALREADY being discounted. But it does not say so on the beverage packages page. The page says BOGO@50% off! Be careful...

We booked late for a Harmony cruise leaving in March. I've been looking to add deluxe drink packages (although our cabin comes with soda packages included) and noticed that today they have a sale Buy One get One at 50% off. Small writing says it will be calculated at 25% off each package, which should total the same. well, it does not!

Advertised sale picture shows deluxe drink package at $47pp. Banner above says Buy One get One 50% off but, when you place it in the cart, total is $776.44 instead of $582.33 (including 18% gratuity)

When I called about it, I was told the $47 is the already discounted price and, therefore it's $47x2 pp per day plus 18%, which to me doesn't sound right.

I logged in two days ago (before this "SALE") and price was $47 per person. Now, with the special BOGO@50%, the price is the same as if I purchased the packages for two before the SALE.

This is our first time with RCI but this looks like a bait and switch tactic to me! Very sneaky tactics! :mad:

I'd like to hear comments from the RC experts, please. Thanks!

I just found this perfect article after I posted this! Thought I'd post if anyone was a newbie and overwhelmed like myself!

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=983&pgtype=dining

Newbie to RCI here too. Thanks so much for the article!! And, by the way, I live on the other side of the bridge from you! (Southbury) :)

Thanks so much for your answers!

It's before taxes. Once you make the booking you can then deal directly with the hotel. We have booked the Hyatt Place with Valuetrips (last March pre-cruise) and would recommend them. What details are you needing ?

Thanks for your reply. :)

Does the shuttle pick you up at the airport? How much does it cost? And does the same shuttle drop you off at the port on cruising day? How much does that cost?

I understand there is a free breakfast included with stay, is it continental style?

I guess I'm trying to figure out cost before I book this place. I'm comparing it to a cheaper hotel I saw on trip advisor but that hotel does not have a shuttle nor breakfast...

I did a search and this thread was brought up. Sorry to bring it up again but I have a question about valuetrips....

Is the rate quoted on their site BEFORE taxes and fees?

I have never heard of this site so not sure on their policies. Also, their website does not have a lot of detail (at least that I could see... lol).

We have a RCI cruise leaving Ft Lauderdale in March and the Haytt Place seems to be the favorite hotel to book before a cruise. I do want to make sure I understand their policies though.

Thanks!

Another very satisfied customer here! We booked three tours with italytoursharing and were extremely satisfied with their service!

Knighthunder...we had Luigi also for our Florence and Pisa tour last month!! What a gentleman and such attention to detail!

AnnetteSC, thank you so much for taking the time to totally fill me in! You have convinced me!!! The only cruise ship excursion we might do is amalfi so we can go from our port in Salerno to amalfi then to Pompeii. I'm trying to avoid that crazy curvy cliff hugging road!

Did you communicate w tour people via email? How did u set up?

PS we did the big red boat too 20 years ago! Lol

Glad to be of help, Ldanna! :)

Yes, I communicated with the tour people via email and once by phone (they have an 800# that answers in Italy).

I booked the tour on their website and then posted in our roll call. Also, once a tour is booked, italytoursharing.com's website posts a scrolling marquis of all available tours by date and ship's name. That way, if someone is booked on your ship but not on the roll call and looks at the website, they can join your tour. You will get an email informing you that someone has joined your group. In the rare case that no one joins, you have the option to cancel up to a week in advance.

Please let me know if you have more questions. :)

PS. Yes, our Big Red Boat trip was that long ago also! lol

We recently got back from a Mediterranean cruise with stops in Livorno, Rome and Sorrento/Amalfi. We used italytoursharing.com and were extremely pleased! New 8 passenger Mercedes vans with AC, some with WiFi, and always fresh water waiting for us!

We did all the thing you are wanting to do but with a personal driver! lol It's so much easier to get around in the little streets of Italy with a car/van that a bus. We booked three tours with them and got a discount. We paid so much less than if we had booked with the cruiseline! Plus, some people we befriended on the cruise who had booked with the cruiseline told us how they didn't like the bus experience, the extra walking (sometimes buses cannot go all the way to a certain place to visit), and the waiting for some 50 people to be done and to board the bus to the next destination.

Our tours were to Florence and Pisa (from Livorno); best of Rome with Vatican, with tickets and guides included; and Pompeii, Amalfi coast and Positano.

Extremely happy with the service, including communication prior to cruising, and would book with them again in a heartbeat!

We got back recently from a Mediterranean cruise with a stop in Livorno. We booked a shared tour with italytoursharing that picked us up at the port and took us to Pisa first and Florence next. We had an amazing time! We were able to see everything we wanted to and still make it back with plenty of time before our ship's departure time.

We went to the Accademia and it only took about an hour to visit it. Like cruisemom42 said, it's only 8 Euros entrance fee plus 4E reservation fee. At time of purchase, you get a designated time of entry, with a 15 minute flex time. You'll receive a confirmation email at time of booking. When you are at the Accademia, you have to go to the ticket office across the street to redeem your actual tickets. Then, you get in line to get in. The line is quick and you'll be inside by your reservation time.

After the Accademia, we walked to the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio and the church of Santa Croce. There is plenty of shopping along the way but, for better deals, go to the San Lorenzo market, which is located nearby the Piazza del Duomo. The market is open Tuesday to Saturday.

If you're doing shopping in open markets in Italy, be ready to find different prices for the same item (from different vendors). Compare prices before you buy and don't be afraid to haggle (I'm Italian so I know! LOL).

We just got back from a Mediterranean cruise and Rome was one of the port stops. We used italytoursharing and were extremely happy with their service! Some friends who went with the ship's excursions bus tour were complaining on how expensive and inconvenient it was!

We were concerned about cost also but others (on the roll call) from our ship joined our small group so it was doable.

If this is your first time, a tour is the best way to make the most of the limited time you have in Rome.

Annette

 

I do not have an Apple Watch, but my understanding is that it is paired and dependent upon the use of an iPhone either by data or Wi-Fi. Stated another way there is no data plan associated with the watch itself.

 

Based upon my understanding my response would be that it is all dependent upon your iPhone's data plan.

 

 

 

 

 

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7895167?start=0&tstart=0

Thanks again for ALL your help, Tom!! I really appreciate your patience and kindness!