ggtjr

On 8/17/2019 at 7:37 PM, JohninDC said:

Ships typically offer a short day your at Kennedy Space Center, and then drop you off at the airport.

We did a Kennedy tour through the cruise line and the bus took us to the MCO airport after. It was a fantastic experience

On 8/27/2019 at 1:10 PM, havanadaydreaming said:

thanks everyone.  I had no idea about Tampa fog, so I think this flight is out. 

 

I was semi-desperate and considering risking it but.... nah.  

 

(deep background: we used an online flight search engine that I wasn't familiar with to book original flight.   about 8 hours later I received an email stating please call regarding booking.  Left a voice mail on generic box and didn't hear back so I called again.  it turns out the search company had an issue with the airline listed and stated we'd have to "wait" until they can resolve it with the airline.   it's now 10 days later, still not finalized, and im starting to scramble to find other options!)

 

 

You could book air through cruise line. We have done that many times with fair comparable to doing on our own. If cruise line  is significantly higher, I always counter "I see a fare for...." with them and can get it lower.

I would suggest a light jacket or sweater since you are sailing east coast in October. It will be chilly.

On 7/21/2019 at 4:57 PM, POF1234 said:

Our cruise is Royal Princess, Northbound Alaska, leaving out of Seattle.  

 

I have a cell phone question or two

 

My carrier, Verizon, treats Canada like US and all of our ports are US.  While we are cruising, I know to put turn off Cell Phone Data roaming and we are purchasing an internet package. 

 

When do we need to turn off Cellular - as soon as we board the ship ( some sort of force field LOL ) or do we have to be a certain distance offshore ?  I'm really talking about when we are in Vancouver, at what point do we go to ships WIFI ? 

 

I'm debating whether we need the package for both my husband and I.  Can I hotspot from the WIFI.  I'll have all my info downloaded so I won;t need to get on-line, but if I had too - it would be nice to have an option.  

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

 

Since you will have wifi, Turn to airplane mode and set phone to WiFi calling. You will be able to text or phone anywhere---even home without cellular charges.

Couples massage 

Whatever you do, fly in the day before, or more, for the cruise. Recently we flew from Houston to Venice for a cruise with a change of plane in Amsterdam. This was booked through the cruise line. The Houston to Amsterdam was a 747 with an extremely long taxi out to the runway. We arrived in Amsterdam with just 45 minutes to spare to catch the flight to Venice. Luckily, they held the plane since many same cruise passengers were on the flight.  We arrived in Venice WITHOUT our luggage because the luggage didn't get transferred in time. Luckily, we were spending a few days in Florence before 5he cruise and airline delivered our luggage to us. Unfortunately, other passengers to catch the cruise that day from Houston were not as lucky.

1 hour ago, melsmom303 said:

ok ive been going back and fourth all day and still cant decide on a 5 nite cruise, checked airfare and all that . airfare prices almost the same so thats not an issue anymore. ive never traveled from any of these ports .. choice a carnival paradise choice b carnival valor choice c carnival dream .port of calls similar. if you were me what cruise would you choose. mostly we just like laying by the pool during the day and casino at night.

Dream--you would have fun loving and great Texans on board!

On 7/5/2019 at 3:55 PM, SRF said:

 

As usual, you are wrong.

 

Royal allows bring aboard 12-500 mil non-alcoholic beverages.   This changed about a year or so ago.

Being a bit snarky? "As usual you are wrong"

On 6/28/2019 at 1:18 PM, cb at sea said:

You will find the experience to be pretty much the same.  Cabins are generally smaller on RCI than on Carnival or Disney.  The "official" rules prohibit bringing any beverages except for your 2 bottles of wine, but it's rarely enforced, especially with small amounts of water.  Water can be obtained at ANY bar or eating venue, so you won't need to carry that around with you on the ship!

 

You now may bring 12 16-oz bottles (plastic) of non-alcoholic beverage per statroom on Royal Caribbean in addition to the wine

On 7/2/2019 at 7:25 PM, hancock said:

CRY

PRAY!

On 6/22/2019 at 5:52 PM, ShakyBeef said:

FTTF finally became available for the first leg of my January 2020 Elation BTB out of Port Canaveral, about 200 days out from sailing.  I booked the cruise(s) 400-and-some days out and have been checking for FTTF several times a day, every day, for 200-and-some-odd days, now.  I was starting to worry it wouldn't be made available for my sailing.  Then, the third time checking that day, it suddenly was there in the Shore Excursions.  I grabbed it.  It's still not available for the second leg of the BTB, but that's OK, because for that leg, and forever after (hopefully), DH and I will be Platinum.  So, I have just bought my last FTTF.  Not what you expected when you saw the thread title, huh?  Sorry to disappoint. 

 

But here's something I've been wondering: with the rumours floating around about possible changes to the VIFP program due to the inordinate number of Plats and Diamonds, might those of us about to become Platinum, or having just turned Platinum be bumped back to Gold, just as some Golds were bumped down to Red (my daughters among them) in the last VIFP shake-up, when the Red level was introduced? 

 

It would suck to have this BTB booked for so long, have my cruise docs showing us as Platinum for the second leg (thus knowing I don't need FTTF for that leg), and then having our Platinum status yanked.

Why do you need it for second leg of you b2b since you are a continuing cruiser?

On 7/2/2019 at 9:42 AM, LynnTTT said:

We are taking two grandchildren, girl age 13 and boy age 8 on a 4 day cruise.  They are bright kids, well behaved and fairly sophisticated . So we are thinking about how to physically keep track of them on board.

First, we are not going to keep them chained to us every minute, so if that's your advice ... never mind.

If they want to go to the clubs, we will let the 13 year old sign herself out and join us .  We'll leave updates in the cabin.

The 8 year old cannot sign himself out, but we'll let his sister sign him out to join us.  He is a little fearful and will stick to his sister

In the buffet, we'll all go together and try to seat ourselves in the same area everyday.  Then when the kids leave the table they can go to the buffet and find their way back. (and I know the 8 year old will get lost!)

Naturally, they'll get the common sense rules; no going into any cabins, don't go to crew areas, don't drink anyone's drinks, don't sit on the rail, no running etc.

Any other advice?

You have all the ideas I would suggest!

Bring a small bottle of dish detergent to hand wash any clothes

8 hours ago, jimbri said:

Me again.  I wanted to know if anyone had experience texting from the ship to home.  I want to send and receive a few texts while I'm on board the Sunrise.  I get different answers from Verizon and Carnival.  I know it's 50 cents to send and 5 cents to receive but how do I set up my phone?  One person said keep roaming on.  Another said keep it off etc.  Very confusing.  Would appreciate any information.

We get the WiFi package, turn on WiFi calling on cell phones, and put phone on airplane mode. We can call and text each other on our cell phones. We also can do the same to those at home.

We will be cruising embarking in Tampa. We fly in the day before arriving in Tampa at 10pm. Is there a hotel that offers airport shuttle pick up that late at night? Also, would like a shuttle to the port. Any ideas?

On 6/7/2019 at 4:25 PM, CruisingLover said:

Hi There

 

Are power strips allowed on the ship? If it matters, I will be on Empress in 2 weeks.

 

Thanks!
Tracy 

My DH and I both use CPAP machines and bring our own extension cord that has a 3 plug on the end. If you have a power strip or extension cord, it cannot have a surge protector. We have not had any problems , but I think it might be the steward sees our CPAPS and know we need the cord. It also is in good shape.

If you want to see what happens, watch LOCKED UP ABROAD!

Aliens?

On 4/29/2019 at 7:06 AM, trish1c said:

 

I don't think the social aspects of cruising will be much different then living life.  What I do suggest you ask about is safety.  On a cruise they have a series of bells & horn blowing in the event of an emergency.  You are called the lifeboats by these sounds.  Please make sure you have a way to receive this information.  I'm sure there has to be a way but I am ignorant about how it will work.  

 

There are all sorts of differently abled folks on cruises:  wheelchairs, scooters, blind people, special developmental needs, so I can't see why your hearing challenges would be insurmountable.  

 

Bon Voyage! 

 

 

I have a friend who is an ASL interpreter and has sailed as an interpreter contracted to the specific cruise line for a specific cruise. Contact the special needs department of a cruise line to see if they have availability

On 6/2/2019 at 9:54 AM, leaveitallbehind said:

Note also FYI that the cups have a chip in their base that is date coded so that they would only be usable on your specific cruise at the machines.  (They can also be filled at the bars).  As a result, you would not be able to take them on subsequent cruises to use at the machines.  Only mention this as it has been asked before....

There is also a "wait" period between fills. I can't remember how long it was.

21 hours ago, Sean_B said:

Clear the cache in your web browser and flush the cookies. They're tracking your activity on their website and they know you are looking at that cruise, so they increased the priced in hopes you'll still be willing to pay-up.

 

This is a well known trick that travel websites use.

Good advice. I always explore cruise opportunities in secret mode that way the cookies can't track. When ready, I book regular web page

Change the passcode about a week, or how far out minimum to order online, so she can't get into the account. Save/move the confirmation email to an unrelated folder.

Do they still have a stir fry station? Yum! I hope so since I will be on Miracle the end of September.

31 minutes ago, coevan said:

 

 

I thought you can drink and pay sales tax, just not use Cheers until day 2. 

We don't drink so don't know the exact rules. Yes, CCL's Cheers package cannot be used until later. RCL's Ultimate Drink package allows a select menu upon boarding. Whether they purchase single drink or use Ultimaye, RCL allows purchase. So can cruisers on CCL out of Galveston purchase select alcoholic drinks upon boarding?

42 minutes ago, ULCajunCruiser said:

Another vote for New Orleans.   It is close, easy to get to, and has reasonable parking.   But sailing down the river, on a long summer day allows you to see all the history of the river!!   I can't wait to do it again!!

 

Galveston is almost as close, but I don't like it at all.  Texas's liquor laws are just crazy, and just make leaving out of there bothersome!

Unfortunately, I am bragging on Royal Caribbean that does allow alchohol drinking upon boarding in Galveston. Not sure what the difference is with their agreement with Texas' ATF, but RCL passengers can select from a few beers, etc, whereas CCL isn't allowed to serve until in international waters