tomko2

Yes, it was waived as of last week yet.

Mary, were you booked through Club Royale? Wondering how it works for those of us who had Club Royale cards prior to the program change and have booked a cruise outside of the Club Royale program.

Question is how do they recognize you at the Cashier's Desk?

Thanks

Kathy

Thanks for your amazingly quick response. Wish they'd get with it. Remember the queue being ridiculously long. Oh well, not catching a flight till 2 pm, so no hurry. Perhaps will stay on the ship as long as we can, but also remember the crew wanting you to depart ASAP to get the ship ready for the next cruisers.

In late March the line for non-residents at FLL was really short, we were out of the terminal in minutes.

It is also a little unusual, in that we had to fill out a white form prior to departing the ship and present this to the Officer. The Officer stamped the form and it gave us until the end of September to turn it in. When we returned from Florida at the end of April we gave it to the Canadian Customs Officer and he asked "do you wish to surrender this now" and we said "yes". We spend 6 months in Florida every winter and did not want anything to jeopardize our future stays.

Not an issue, takes nothing to dry 2 thongs and 2 bikini tops.:)

LMAO -- I finally am thin enough to wear such garments however too darn old to even think about it.:eek:

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for putting a smile on my face this morning.:D

Kathy

We take three cruises each winter and the subject of the importance of the survey ratings for the dining room staff invariably comes up. Generally I am more than happy with the service and glad to rate our table attendants accordingly however this is not necessarily the case with the food as there are definite hits and misses. We take the time to fill out the survey and provide as much feedback - good and/or bad that we can squeeze on the form.

This thread disturbs me as I did not realize that by giving a lower score to the food, I would hence be penalizing the wait staff.

On occasion I have written to RCL post-cruise and commended certain members of the staff by name hoping they would receive recognition.

RCL seriously needs to look into a better method.:mad:

I take a couple of pieces of string (one for each chair). Tie on one end and then thread bathing suits or whatever and then tie the other end. Don't have to worry about clothes pins popping off. Pieces are secure. By tying the string at the back of the chair you can still use it without getting damp.

We are sailing the Allure in April of 2017. I missed the discounts on drinks, 25%, and dining, 30%, at the end of October. What are the chances I will see these prices again?

I see a 20% off beverage package today.

Kathy

I have never had a tax form on a cruise (largest single win only 1.5K :o) so I have no experience with tax forms being given out on a cruise. In Las Vegas, I have had 30% deducted from my winnings and a form issued.

Could anyone tell me if US Citizens are given tax forms when they win a jackpot? We are Canadian however a friend has asked about it and he is a US citizen.

Thanks

Kathy

Thanks for all the feedback! I've seen some great lists online of things to see in Naples, but elsewhere it seems to be getting such a bad rap. I'm glad to see that there are people who actually enjoy this city.

We really enjoyed our time in Naples. On our first time there we went to Pompeii then came back to Naples for pizza/beer and strolled around a bit. On our second visit we took a taxi to the Museum -- beautiful then we spent the rest of the day strolling around, toured the underground city, churches, shops and neighbourhoods -- absolutely wonderful. Finished up with pizza/beer and gelato. Perfect day in Naples.

Sailing on Freedom Sunday, October 2 and I understand you can take your bottle of wine or champagne to the dinning room. Has anyone done this? Do they keep the bottle for you? Seems like they would end up with a lot of bottles to stock and keep track of and yet I don't want to carry an opened bottle in a public area. How does this work? We've always just ordered our drinks at dinner but we are a large group this time and I know it will be brought up. Thanks for your input.

Your waiter will keep your bottle for you and put your table number and name on it. It will be waiting for you when you return the next evening.

Kathy

Totally agree with CB. Let your bags get taken off by RCL rather than lugging them yourself. Most people do not realize you have to take your luggage down stairs. When you fill in your Sea Pass information prior to your cruise you will be asking what time you expect to get picked up (take a plane, etc.) and you will get a luggage tag for departure based on that information.

Hope this helps.

Kathy

We really loved our excursion to the island of Delos off Mykonos.

Definitely get a guide book or google the ports to see what mind interest you the most.

Whatever you do - forget about shopping and go see the sites.

Kathy:)

We'll be getting into BCN late at night, about 10:30pm. Our cruise departs the next day. I know nothing about Barcelona as far as transportation or hotels or how far the airport is from town,

 

What would be a good plan or where to stay with getting in so late to a foreign town that would be the easiest to deal with just getting off a flight. We wouldn't want to spend a lot of money, especially being we won't be there that long.

 

We do plan to stay a night or 2 post-cruise.

 

Thank you in advance! I appreciate any recommendations!

The Hotel Regina is quiet and close to Las Rambas for a stroll in the morning.

We booked it with breakfast which was excellent. Short taxi ride to the Pier.

Room 410 has a small balcony to stand out on. Friends have also stayed here and liked the location and ambiance.

I eat right, work out a few times a week, take vitamins and supplements and am very healthy.

 

However, whenever we cruise, I get a sore throat which progresses into a cough a few days later. Takes a long time to get rid of when I get home.

 

Wash hands frequently onboard.

 

I've read this cruise cough is pretty common.

 

Any hints to help me avoid this would be greatly appreciated.

You might consider Pure Oil of Oregano. Just a couple drops in a glass of water or juice -- stir really well. Starting taking it a day or two ahead of the cruise and continue each day of the cruise. My DH just sips on it throughout the day and it keeps coughs, sneezes, etc. away. We are also full advocates of hand washing and I also keep a dispenser of anti-bacterial gel hung on my purse or bag so we can wipe our hands when on-shore.

Hope this helps.

KathyT

Did you get a new booking number after making these changes? I don't see why a cabin number change should generate a new booking date.

Marci, I kept the same booking number and the original booking date stayed the same.

I always ask them to send me a detailed transaction sheet (to help me keep my records straight) whenever I make a change, e.g. price drop, cabin location, etc. I was cross-checking the new transaction sheet to my old one when I noticed the change in the final payment date.

Bob, you are probably right about making a phone call to have the change reversed. I am not going to bother as it doesn't matter to me however I really hope others will check their records to ensure they make final payment on time.

KathyT

Yeah, I saw that, just wasn't sure if "Bookings on or after" meant the date you made the booking or the sail date the booking was made for.

The changes I made were to cruises booked over a year or so ago and the fact that I made changes (to cabin numbers) caused the new final payment date to kick in.

So I reserved a 2017 cruise last week and was told that the final payment date has been moved up from 75 days to 90 days. Is this just for new bookings? We have a cruise we booked last year for this August, just over 100 days out. Will that cruise still have the 75 day final payment window, or will it be the new 90 day?

You probably should call RCL and check. I recently changed cabins on a number of our bookings for 2017 and the final payment date was moved up on them. Glad I noticed and updated my reminder notes.:eek:

KathyT

Am I missing something, Jewel in Ft Lauderdale??

This was just a fill in cruise after the dry dock for 4 nights prior to the ship doing the TA for repositioning to Europe.

Jewel is generally in San Juan or elsewhere during the winter months.

KathyT

Thank you for sharing. Good to know.

KathyT

You need to provide a bit more information so you can receive relevant feedback, e.g. how long a cruise, are you interested in beaches, cultural tours, etc. Also, what is your age bracket and your likes and dislikes with respect to music, activities, food, etc.

In any event, you will get lots of good information on this website so Welcome to Cruise Critic and hopefully, Welcome to cruising.

What a wonderful review. Hope you joined RCL's Crown and Anchor Society (loyalty program). If not, call them now, join up and get credit for your cruise.

Lot of info on the program on their website.

We were on the Oasis in December (2015 Royal Poker Tournament). My DH won the cruise in a Texas Hold'em tourney in January 2015. He lucked out and won again this past January so we will be on the Allure this December.

Don't know how late you stayed in the Casino but it is generally 10pm or later that the cash Texas Hold'em games get going. We were on the Independence at Easter and my DH got to play most evenings.

Your son will love it. Did you check out the Adventure Ocean programs for children?

BTW, my DH makes sure we go to a beach and skip the shops if we go on shore. LOL.

KathyT

Have read in maritimematters.com the full list of Cruise ships are to be built/delivered in the next few years..

I create this topic , in order to ask if someone of you who are travelling with these companies have heard anything about their future ships names.

 

AIDA CRUISES

AIDAPERLA 125,000 Spring 2017 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Japan

UNNAMED 180,000 Winter 2019 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

UNNAMED 180,000 Winter 2020 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

 

Rendering of the new AIDPRIMA and sister ship

 

AMERICAN CRUISE LINES

UNNAMED 4,500 January 2017 Chesapeake Shipbuilding, Salisbury, MD, USA

 

America Cruise Lines Launch. Photo courtesy of American Cruise Lines

 

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

 

CARNIVAL VISTA rendering courtesy Carnival Cruise Line

 

UNNAMED 133,500 March 2018 Fincantieri, Italy

CELEBRITY CRUISES

UNNAMED 117,000 Fall 2018 STX France

UNNAMED 117,000 Winter 2020 STX France

COSTA CRUISES

UNNAMED 180,000 Winter 2019 Meyer Werft, Turku, Finland

UNNAMED 135,500 Winter 2019 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 180,000 Winter 2020 Meyer Werft, Turku, Finland

UNNAMED 135,500 Winter 2020 Fincantieri, Italy

 

Rendering courtesy Costa Cruises

 

CRYSTAL CRUISES

CRYSTAL ENDEAVOUR 25,000 August 2018 Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany

CRYSTAL EXCLUSIVE 100,000 Winter 2019 Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany

CRYSTAL UNNAMED 100,000 Winter 2020 Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany

CRYSTAL UNNAMED 100,000 tons Winter 2023 Lloyd Werft, Bremerhaven, Germany

 

 

DISNEY CRUISE LINE

UNNAMED 135,000 Winter 2021 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

UNNAMED 135,000 Winter 2023 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

DREAM CRUISES

GENTING DREAM 150,000 November 2016 Meyer Weft, Papenburg, Germany

WORLD DREAM 150,000 November 2017 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

 

GENTING DREAM rendering Dream Cruises

 

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE

UNNAMED 99,500 November 2018 Fincantieri, Italy

 

ms KONINGSDAM

 

LINDBLAD EXPEDITIONS

UNNAMED 1,450 June 2017 Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland Washington

UNNAMED 1,450 June 2018 Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, Freeland Washington

UNNAMED 16,500 (est.) TBA 2019 TBA

MERCY SHIPS

ATLANTIC MERCY 36,600 July 2017 Tianjin Xingang, China

 

Rendering of new Mercy Ship newbuild

 

MSC CRUISES

MSC MERAVIGLIA 167,600 January 2017 STX France

MSC SEASIDE 154,000 November 2017 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 154,000 May 2018 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 167,600 April 2019 STX France

UNNAMED 177,100 October 2019 STX France

UNNAMED 177,100 December 2020 STX France

UNNAMED 154,000 TBA 2021 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 210,000 2022 STX France

UNNAMED 210,000 2024 STX France

UNNAMED 210,000 2025 STX France

UNNAMED 210,000 2026 STX France

 

MSC Newbuild

 

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE

NORWEGIAN JOY 167,600 Spring 2017 Meyer Werft, Germany

UNNAMED 167,600 Spring 2018 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

UNNAMED 167,600 Fall 2019 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

 

NORWEGIAN ESCAPE (launched 2016)

 

P&O CRUISES AUSTRALIA

UNNAMED 135,500 Winter 2019 Fincantieri

PONANT

UNNAMED 10,000 Summer 2018 VARD Group, Norway

UNNAMED 10,000 TBA 2018 VARD Group, Norway

UNNAMED 10,000 TBA 2019 VARD Group, Norway

UNNAMED 10,000 TBA 2019 VARD Group, Norway

PRINCESS CRUISES

 

MAJESTIC PRINCESS rendering courtesy Princess Cruises

 

MAJESTIC PRINCESS 142,714 April 2017 Fincantieri, Italy (actual name 盛世公主号 Shèng Shì Gōng Zhu Haò)

UNNAMED 143,700 November 2019 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 143,700 November 2020 Fincantieri, Italy

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES

SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER 54,000 June 2016 Fincantieri Sestri-Ponente yards, Italy

UNNAMED 54,000 May 2020 Fincantieri Sestri, Italy

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL

HARMONY OF THE SEAS 227,700 June 2016 STX France

UNNAMED 227,700 February 2018 STX France

UNNAMED 168,600 Spring 2019 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

UNNAMED 168,600 Fall 2020 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

 

ANTHEM OF THE SEAS Artist’s rendering

 

SAGA CRUISES

UNNAMED 55,900 Summer 2019 Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

 

New vessel announced Sept 30 2015 image courtesy Saga Meyer Werft

 

SCENIC

SCENIC ECLIPSE 16,500 August 2018 Uljanik Group Pula, Croatia

 

SCENIC ECLIPSE rendering

 

SEABOURN CRUISE LINE

SEABOURN ENCORE 40,350 November 2016 Fincantieri, Italy

SEABOURN OVATION 40,350 Spring 2018 Fincantieri, Italy

 

SEABOURN ENCORE and OVATION Exterior-renderings. Courtesy Seabourn

 

SILVERSEA CRUISES

SILVER MUSE 40,700 April 2017 Fincantieri, Italy

 

SILVER MUSE artist rendering courtesy Silver Seas

 

STAR CLIPPERS

FLYING CLIPPER 8,770 Winter 2017 Brodosplit Shipyard, Split, Croatia

TUI

MEIN SCHIFF 6 99,700 Winter 2017 Meyer Turku Shipyard Oy., Turku, Finland

MEIN SCHIFF 7 99,700 Winter 2018 Meyer Turku, Finland

MEIN SCHIFF 8 99,700 Winter 2019 Meyer Turku, Finland

 

A rendering of MEIN SCHIFF 3 and MEIN SCHIFF 4, courtesy of TUI Cruises.

 

VIKING OCEAN CRUISES

VIKING SKY 47,800 January 2017 Fincantieri, Italy

VIKING SUN 47,800 May 2017 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 47,800 November 2020 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 47,800 January 2022 Fincantieri, Italy

 

VIKING class rendering

 

VIRGIN CRUISES

UNNAMED 110,000 April 2020 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 110,000 April 2021 Fincantieri, Italy

UNNAMED 110,000 April 2022 Fincantieri, Italy

Wow, that is a lot of new ships. You have to wonder at what point the industry will be saturated.

KathyT

My wife and I are considering taking my MIL on a cruise for Thanksgiving this year. We're in our early 40s and she's in her late 70s. Our Thanksgivings together are often stressful , so my thinking is this would be a way to avoid cooking or anyone worrying about money spent at restaurants because it's all paid for in advance!

 

I'd love some advice on what type of itinerary or cruise line might be a good fit for mom. Or advice on holiday cruises in general. She doesn't drink, and doesn't really like it when others are publicly drunk (or honestly, if people drink around her). She's a strict vegetarian but not squeamish about meat being around. She loves games, meeting new people, and a quiet nook with a book. She likes the beach, and gets nervous in cities. She considers anything with more than 25,000 people a city, btw. In contrast, my wife and I love big cities, cocktails, and in my case, eating plenty of meat.

 

So...any advice? All of her friends have been on cruises and she never has so I'd really love to do this for her. We're in California, but could definitely travel to another port. I've been looking at 3-5 day Carnival, Princess, and Disney cruises to Mexico but I'm not sure how she's do in those ports.

I think you should stick to a 4 -5 night cruise for your MIL's first time. We had planned to take my MIL and we would have chosen RCL 4-5 night or even a 7 night Alaska cruise. In all our years of cruising on RCL we have never run into a "boozer" group.

Naturally over Thanksgiving there will be more families onboard but we were on the Independence at Easter and even though over 25% of the passengers were under 21, the young ones were not boisterous or any problem at all.

I also would suggest visiting the Archeological Museum. Especially given the fact that you have already visited the sites where much of the content is from. Also, there is quite a bit of interesting things to look at just walking around the area that you can reach via walking from the port (Piazza del Plebiscito, Castel Nuovo, Via Toledo, etc).

I second this suggestion. We had a wonderful day in Naples visiting the Museum and other areas as we walked. My DH also took an Underground Tour which was amazing. I am not comfortable in close spaces so he went and I visited a Church and some shops -- felt totally comfortable wandering around on my own in Naples. Topped off our adventures with a Pizza and then Gelato -- perfect Naples day.

KathyT

How do I get an early boarding number

Our daughter and her family are taking their first cruise on the Valor next winter. I didn't realize you had to board by number. Thanks for the info.

Don't take off your bathing suit to shower by the pool (solarium pools on RCL) -- those are clear glass showers folks! Watched a woman one day step in and take off her bathing suit. :D