lovethesun1960

We will be travelling with my parents in a separate cabin. If there is Gold check in at New Orleans, will we be able to take them with us? They are both legally blind, so we can't send them through a different line.

been on both the serenade and jewel.. they are in fine shape..nothing to worry about..Royal takes care of their ships..sometimes people will find something, anything to complain about.

Ooops, not really complaining. That was absolutely the only thing I can remember about it that was bad, but it was bad. The rest was lovely, clean and wonderful. I am well travelled, but squeamish. Anything below a Holiday Inn Express is as bad as camping to me, so sometimes I come off as whiny.:)

My husband and I cruised on RCCL for 4 nights in 2005 and 7 nights in 2012 and 7 nights on Celebrity in 2013. I chose Celebrity because I wanted to try a step up and I thought (apparently mistakenly) that the Celebrity cruise would add points to RCCL. I guess I was not paying attention. So what pitiful status do I have now-we were not in suites on any cruise.

I am trying to decide between Serenade of the Seas out of New Orleans or Reflection in February. I am aware of the big difference, but I want to know whether Serenade is run down like Majesty was in 2005. Mostly nice, but there were a couple places where it was always damp and smelly-I remember the drinks area in a buffet mostly. We like the idea of spending a few days in New Orleans beforehand. My parents have always liked it there.

Then tell me please of your experiences on Serenade (or Reflection). We need 2 cabins and will be doing balconies-do the balconies on adjoining cabins open up? That would be nice because last time we sailed with my parents we kept calling them to go eat or check plans and they would be out on the balcony and could not even hear me on the phone or knocking.

Any and all replies will be appreciated.

they told me that a week for 1 was $135, for 2 it would have been $210 for unlimited use. I did not follow through so I don't know if it was plus 15%.

I made sure that my husband and dad had their military ids out. They are both retired from the Air National Guard. This was the only time that we were asked for military ids to substantiate the great 15% off that Celebrity gave us and the guy barely glanced at it. They had something that looked military and it was ok with him. I think that the policy was written by someone who is non military and was not really thinking because I am certain that they intend that veterans of wars, no matter the length of their service, to get a discount.

Be sure to watch for discounts on Veteran's day weekend next year and possibly other holidays like 4th of July, etc. 15% was super!

I know there is a link stating some rules for luggage valet. I just don't know how to find it. I do remember flight time restrictions....such as from port of Ft Lauderdale to Miami airport,no flights before 1:00. Ft Lauderdale to FLL....no flights before noon It was also stated that if there were not enough people to warrant it,then it would not be available.

I was stressing about that as we had a 5:15 flight with Southwest and the thought of dragging 4 bags around was awful.

As far as a weather delay I figure on the way home I don't care if the luggage is delayed...good excuse not to do laundry right away.

You are correct, no flights before noon out of FLL, but I am not sure about Miami, since I wasn't using it.

Our flight on Sunday was Southwest at 4:25 and it worked beautifully. Don't stress. There will be dozens of people in your exact situation at FLL. I would highly recommend doing a tour and letting them lug your bags around in the bottom of the bus rather than sitting at the boring crowded airport. My husband would not hear of it, he was internally freaking and wishing for a transporter instead of having to do the whole TSA thing. Jeez what a baby.

I want to add that my unhappiness at Labadee was mostly my fault. I had told my husband in advance where we would be (he went to run first) and was stuck with my choice. He says I should have abandoned him and gotten on the boat.

So are you saying that Adrenaline Beach was the one with all the rocks? Also going there in March, traveling with a mobility impaired senior, and trying to figure out the best place to take her so she can enjoy the water but not need to walk far or deal with rocky shores. Any other advice anyone can give in this regard is very much appreciated.

Adrenaline beach is strictly for viewing the zipliners and sunbathing, barely any access to water for able people, let alone impaired people. They do have wheelchairs with big wheels and people to help you push (be prepared to tip them for this hot work), plus trams, so you will be able to go anywhere you want to go to get her into the water. I wish I had paid for a cabana, but by the time I thought of it, it was too late. You might consider that.

Any idea if you could claim your luggage at airport if flight is cancelled? We've used luggage valet before and I never even thought of that scenario but after this winter....

Hmmmm.....Another question to start a new thread for. I never thought of it and it might differ on a case to case basis.

Very vague information. Does anyone know where I can find more details on the luggage valet?

 

Luggage Valet streamlines and simplifies your return home after your cruise is over. Enroll onboard at Guest Relations for a fee of $20 per person (for two pieces of luggage per person). On the final night of your cruise you'll receive an envelope with debarkation instructions, airline boarding passes, luggage tags and baggage claim checks. Simply place your luggage outside your stateroom door and don't think about it again until you pick it up at your final destination airport. Available in select ports and on select airlines.

 

Was digging around and can't find anything.

Not sure what further questions you have other than the Virgin America inclusion. You should start a thread asking "is Virgin American included in Silhouette luggage valet program" and probably someone will answer. I think they probably don't list it online because it is a fluid thing...agreements between the ship and airline come and go.

You can also use bags to go (google it). I did not use them, just saw some ads and investigated. They do a reverse luggage valet-give your bags to them at FLL and they go to your ship and also you can drop off your bags with them at the pier on return and they check in your bags for you. More costly, but still some convenience.

No luggage valet on Silly last year... Very excited to hear they have it this year. Now to see if Virgin America is a participating airline...

I did not bring back a luggage valet paper, but I do not remember seeing Virgin America on the paper.

What did you do for lunch at Columbus Cove? In the other main areas they have that big bbq lunch which is quite good. Is it the same over there?

 

Also, interested in the charge for the boat shuttle. Thank you.

I did not eat lunch on land. I was so upset by the crappy beach that I chose (there should literally be giant signs that say " don't go here if you want to swim or you will be in pain from the rocks") that I left my parents on Adrenaline Beach and went back to the ship and cleaned up. Big baby, yes I know and probably my fault.

My parents ate at town square and it was fine. They are campers though and have lower expectations than their prissy daughter.

No charge for boat shuttle. Biggest bargain in the Caribbean.

Thanks for the tip on Labadee - I had really no idea what to do there, or what to expect. Is there a cost to take the express boat? Will the boat operators make sure you get back to the ship in time? I'm so glad you had a wonderful cruise; we're doing it in April!:)

No cost for the boat. It is right there at the gangplank as you get off. You could walk over there, but it was 94 degrees that day (yes, last Thursday it was 94 in Haiti!!) The boat operators are the cruiseline, as is everything but the crafts market, so they or your feet will make sure you get back to the ship.

We were on this same sailing. So glad you took pictures since I only took about 20. I'll just link to your pics and tell people on facebook to refer to your review for the variety of things to do.

We were on the Silhouette last week and ate most of our meals in the Oceanview Cafe. There was some strange music playing most days and one day it had some rap (I hate rap). If you are talking with your companions, you mostly don't hear it. The solarium is practically silent, but whenever the doors to the main pool area slide open you hear their music. Sit somewhere away from those doors. Don't pass on an amazing cruise for this.

I'll do a review later (but it seems like one word says it all-wonderful), but I just have a couple of quick thoughts.

Labadee was my last shot at beach and warm water for a long time and I really feel like this needs to be said over and over. Go straight to Columbus cove if you want a beach that you can walk into the water without water shoes and pain from the rocks and reef. There is an express boat as you walk off of the ship, take it. Other people might jump in and give you more info, but that was my experience.

We signed up for luggage valet for our cabin and my parents' cabin. They were denied the service and we got it, so I was furiously trying to think why the airline would not issue boarding passes for them when the itineraries were the same. Finally came to me-they were on a senior citizen fare on the return. So if you have a special fare where the passenger has to show id before getting checked in-child's, military, senior citizen and probably international-you won't get luggage valet which is an amazing service. We simply asked for 4 bag tags and tagged my parents' bags with 2 of them and they left them outside their door and they got picked up that night and we only got charged luggage valet for 1 cabin.

We will be at the Embassy Suites in Fort Lauderdale next Saturday night and need to get my parents to a mass before we get on the ship. We won't have a car unless we have to. Is there St Sebastian's (the closest one) actually on a walkable route? We could easily walk the 30 minutes back and forth. Any other suggestions that are better?

No one knows quite how to get to you like your mom.

We are travelling on the Silhouette on 2/9....so excited! I am buying the drink package that gets me all the fancy coffee and tea and smoothies I want, but my husband, mom and dad all just drink black coffee. When we were on the Freedom of the Seas, there was a coffee shop where you could buy Starbucks coffee at the front or walk a few feet more to the back and get all the free hot tea and Seattle's Best Coffee you wanted plus eat the free snacks. Is there somewhere comparable on the Silhouette? Also where can we get black coffee to go any time of the day?

Also, I am a crafter and am interested in these master artists who teach jewelry making etc-does anyone have any info on that.

And Where is your favorite place to just sit around out of the sun and talk (and knit-only I will be knitting) and read without taking up space that they would prefer extra food buying customers to use.

I really doubt it. The Grammy's aren't exactly 'must see tv'. They do put important sporting events on either bar or cabin TVs, but as far as I know the only US based tv event that gets a party is the Super Bowl. I believe the Super Bowl gets special dispensation because it drives people to buy drinks ...

We are going to be on the Silhouette during the Olympics, will we be able to watch any of it on our tvs in our rooms or in a bar, do you think.