son3cruisers

We took our kids ( who were young teens at the time) on a Disney Cruise to Alaska. They still talk about it today as one of their favourite cruises. You often think of younger kids with Disney, and characters and shows - but our boys loved the clubs, the dining all of it. The teen clubs and activities were amazing and if they are science buffs there was a lot of experiences and seminars just for them. Many great excursions in Alaska for families as well. And with the kids loving the clubs, there is adult only areas as well that we took advantage of! If you are pricing out a Disney cruise , just remember that the price show online is for 2! Not like other lines that give single pricing. If Disney is not your thing, I agree with Royal or NCL. We travelled to Hawaii on Pride of America without kids. Beautiful itinerary but can’t comment on kids activities and whether or not there was a kids club.

Same. Signed up again ( and again ) but have received nothing this year. No Power up points emails but daily marketing promotions. Thank you to the posters who post the opportunity for the points. It’s the only way I know. I’ve contacted CS and their reply was to sign up again . Umm thanks?

Just sailed on Rhapsody in March. Very clean ship and we experienced excellent crew. But it is one of Royals older ships, so capacity is much less than the newer ships - which we like very much. Staterooms were a bit tired, but again, our balcony cabin was spacious and very well kept. There is a rock climbing wall and a track for running/ walking, a casino as well as a spa and gym, but that’s it. No slides, or race tracks or ice rinks. There are three specialty restaurants as well. Debby in the schooner bar was fabulous and had drink recommendations for us every night!

We just got home from Rhapspdy cruise out of Colon. We had to use our translator app for our transfers at the airport. No one spoke any English, not the driver or the rep waiting at the airport. Not even the other passengers boarding the bus with us. The bus was an hour late and communicating that to us was a challenge. Not sure we could have made it through the week without the app. Onboard, Spanish was always first, then the English translation. Our stateroom host spoke enough that we could communicate our needs/wants but her English was limited. Our fabulous waiter ( Victor ) tried his best as well but our close table mates were all Spanish. We met a few English speaking guests, but often found ourselves saying “English” when we ordered drinks from the bar, or coffee, even shore excursions. It was a wonderful cruise overall, and I would also say there were lots of first time cruisers onboard. The menus in the main dining room ( paper ones on leather holder) were often passed to us inSpanish, but we figured out you could pull the paper out and flip it around. Im not sure you will have the same experience sailing out of San Juan. We have taken many Southern Caribbean cruises starting from San Juan and never encountered a language barrier like this recent cruise out of Colon. The ports are always so beautiful when you sail out of San Juan!

I wanted to come back and post that YES the $400 extra port fee was returned to my stateroom account as credit on day 6 of our 7 day cruise. I did email CS before sailing ( nothing they could do on their end they said- need to ask onboard) Onboard also said nothing they could do - if it was to be refunded it would be done shoreside and could possibly show up as stateroom credit or a refund to my credit card. So, mixed messages for sure. The CS agent onboard wrote down my room number and also entered it into the computer which makes me think that only those who asked for the refund were given a refund. I met another couple who did not realize their port fee was reduced, had not asked and it wasn’t posted on their account - at least not on the cruise.

Just won an upgrade today - 12 days out from sailing- from an inside cabin to a balcony. Bid one notch over the lowest bid. There were about 16-18 balconies open for a few months . Oceanview cabins have been sold out for over a month. The cabin I won was NOT showing as available so I guess someone else was upgraded to a suite and I got their cabin. Still many other open balconies left.

That’s disappointing for sure. Many on this sailing cancelled and rebooked a different sailing. We unfortunately had booked flights and any other cruise that week was double the price ( we are limited to our vacation days and this was the only week we were able to go) .Still looking forward to getting away somewhere warm. Disappointing as well to hear Royal decides if or when they will credit money on a case per case basis.

Ok thanks!

Interesting. Did these changes in itinerary happen before you sailed? We’re you given advanced notice Or during your sailing? Maybe because a change from port to port to can happen anytime during a sailing they didn’t want to refund? Because it can go up or decrease, I get that. But going through the canal is a big change in fee. Over $400. I have taken a screen shot of the reduced price on the new current sailing and will send another email, I guess. Not sure what else I can do.

We sail on the “ enhanced” Southern Caribbean cruise in a few weeks. This was the Panama sailing including Costa Rica that was cancelled and changed to Aruba/ Curaçao. Royal referred to it as an “ enhanced” change. Our port fees for the original sailing was $634 ( Can ) for two passengers. Now that we are not going through the Panama Canal I emailed Royal before final payment and asked when we would see a reduction in the port fee since we are no longer passing through the canal. Their response was “ if you are eligible it would be on your credit card before sailing or as stateroom credit. “ I just did a mock booking and the current port fees for the new sailing is $205 ( Can). That’s a big difference. For those of you that have ever received a reduction in port fees maybe due to a change in itinerary, did you receive it as stateroom credit? If it was a credit on your credit card when did it appear? I feel like the port fee should have been adjusted before final payment but Royal wasn’t budging. And if I don’t see any credit at all, any advice as to next steps?

https://www.resortpass.com/hotels/eagle-aruba-resort-casino

Yes. We booked through Resort Pass.

That’s what we just did. We booked Eagle Aruba resort and casino. Reviews looked good. Wondering why it hasn’t been mentioned yet by experienced cruisers to Aruba? This is our second time in Aruba , first time using a day pass.

Just booked TOURS-BY-LOCALS who has no problem picking up from the port. Thanks again for you suggestions.

Could be. When I questioned why on their site, under reviews it states that they offer transfers to Colon the reply I received was .. Amber Moon Panama Taxi Servi mixed message for sure if they are offering it to some . I’m sailing in March, so maybe that could be why? You might want to have a back up plan!!

Interesting. Here is the response I received just now.

Thanks for your suggestion. We’ve contacted 2 companies that offer excursions from Panama for $99 each, but when I request a pick up in COLON its $200 more. Panama on Wheels and Panama your way. So $400 for a 3 to 4 hour city tour for 2 is out of our budget. We might just do the same and use the Lounge.

Just wait about an hour to rebook. This happened to us. Sometimes, it just takes a while to process. Also, log out of your account while you wait.

Thanks for the link. I’m still 59 days away and was able to make some bids. Also, have not checked in yet either!

Great. I will check them out. I know there are other cruisers on the “ enhanced” cruisers who will need to travel from Colon to Panama and wondering what you have planed to do?

We have a 3 pm flight after our cruise ( PTY) but our cruise port is in Colon. Right now we just have a transfer booked. Anyone have a recommendation or experience with a transfer that would includes some kind of a tour? Most tours that we have found from Colon return back to Colon, and don’t give the option of an airport drop off. The cruiseline is only offering a 3 hour bus tour- without being able to get off the bus. We would prefer to see wildlife, tour the locks or at least be able to walk around to some extent. Any recommendations appreciated.

So interesting. You are expected to pay when there is an increase, but Royal has yet to decrease our port fees for the “ enhanced” Panama Canal cruise that was adjusted . Our port fee/taxes are still currently $634 ( Can ) for 2 passengers for a 7 night Caribbean cruise - which no longer includes the Panama Canal. Emails have yet to be answered.

We are March 9th. And I haven't heard of too many being cancelled last minute, but this was also an unexpected itinerary change, like a completely different sailing so who knows anymore.

Agreed! I just hope Royal doesn’t cancel this cruise last minute. Still lots of staterooms available in each category on our sailing.

Just took a look at some shore excursion for our March “ enhanced “ sailing and noticed this :