Williamsburgcruiser

I want to say that this post contains some awesome advice for all cruisers! Well done! And Thank you all!

1 - Carry the port agents phone number with you

2 - have a "standard" watch - set to ship's time

3 - if you're nervous about an excursion - stick to the cruise line's excursions - where there is some sort of guarantee - even if to meet up at the next port

4 - get back to the ship at least an hour before "all aboard" if you are on your own

and I would like to add - BE NICE! Karma will follow you, and if you are assuming the ship won't leave without you - oh, it will.....

Happy sailings everyone!

I am interested about the water being brought on board - how about for medicinal purposes? We always bring a small case among 4 of us to use. Never had a problem before, and I'd like to do so on Anthem next year when we sail.

My hubby always tells people he only married me for my status...... ha!

He's probably been on enough cruises now to get the status on his own... but it was nice to be able to include him in mine when we married. Before that, his card was always different, and our perks were too.

I'm going to concur with most of these posts..... have used the "wash and fold" for intimates, and t-shirts, nothing of true value - and it was fine. This past cruise, my son sent 2 shirts to be pressed - on boarding day - to be returned the next day - and the laundry called him because they had damaged (ripped) one of the shirts. He got OBC, but was really annoyed - because we never had an issue before.

So - exercise caution and do not send anything that is irreplaceable, and you shouldn't be disappointed.

My first response is to measure your suitcase - because your suitcase should slide right under the bed.

Honestly - every one of my waiters, and assistant waiters in the MDR have been great. Which is precisely why I don't want "my time dining" - but see where it can be very useful - so don't bash me.

Most recently - Ronnin and Awayain on Grandeur.....

Justo Wright was way back in the day on Empress - I think when it was Nordic Empress - and everyone has been compared to him since!

Our bar server on Grandeur in 2014 was awesome.... never let the wine glass get empty.... perfect timing.

Christian from Australia on our Splendour of the Seas 2004 Europe cruise.

Just to name a few!

Happy sailing!

I'm reading the posts and am surprised... I have ALWAYS booked onboard (after that first one) and have yet to find a lower price when booking off the ship - even today, with the current "sale" - the price I received onboard is still $30 less (in total) than booking off the ship... and yes, we got a little bit of onboard credit, but nothing big. When you book onboard, you are also given the price guarantee - so if you do find your cruise less expensive online - then the lowest price gets honored. I have yet to use that, because I have never found it less expensive.

So, go figure.... I'm happy booking onboard.

Thank you for the quick review! Quick question - are the fridges in the rooms able to be emptied and filled with water/soda?

Every ship I've been on in the past two years has had dusty cabins. Some worse than others but I don't think they do a good job with that. I generally didn't complain because it seemed a bit trivial to take him on a white glove tour to show major spots missed. Also, I don't think they vacuum much.

 

As to dishes laying around, again some ships are worse than others. In Windjammers, I've seen bus people walking around cloth in hand, but somehow didn't notice the unbussed tables./

I have booked Anthem for 1 year from now - over the Halloween week - and am now very concerned about rough seas and a lack of staffing on the ship for the quantity of passengers. I've never been a fan of the bigger ships - for just the point of trying to keep the ship managed, but wanted to do this ship because of the port location - and that I wouldn't have to take a plane to get to the ship.

I'd be curious to know as the trip goes on, did the service get any better? And how were the seas? Barring the Sunday storm (which may not repeat in a year) - how was the sailing from Cape Liberty?

Just returned from Grandeur last Thursday - and while I enjoy the Freedom class ships - Grandeur's staff were wonderful - the main dining room was great - really, no need to any other "restaurant" for me - and a very easy ship to navigate. Was just looking to see if I could book another on her - before our next one next October.

I like the ones with the cascading reels - if you can find them. Probably no better than the others, but for me, those I like.

I have never thought about cancelling an excursion that I have booked - I have had the ship cancel them, and refund the $$ back to my OBC.

Given that I'm heading to Bermuda on this Saturday - and we've booked the Horseshoe Bay beach transfer (with RCI) for Monday afternoon when we arrive, it sounds like, if we don't want to do it - we'll need to cancel when we step on the ship on Saturday.

Sound right?

Of course, the weather is always changing! So we still have time to decide.

Thanks all!

Love reading the boards and getting the information I need to make my trips wonderful.

The Diamond lounge....

The 3 free drinks on the card each day - because that's about all I need in the evening. Hubby still gets the drink package, and I'm not a fan that they'll now make both of us get it - because we were not abusers, and it is disappointing how many people were.

And I really did not know about the balcony discount! Probably because we are always interior folks - and have had an outside balcony once - and it was "ok" but hardly used - but we did really enjoy the central park balcony for "people watching" and used that more - and would book that again.

Have your friend contact special_needs@rccl.com and request a medical refrigerator.

Just want to say THANK YOU! That contact information worked and we're all set for our trip in 9 days.....

I'm glad I read cruise critic a lot....:D

Have your friend contact special_needs@rccl.com and request a medical refrigerator.

thank you! I have shared that information.... personally, I like having the mini-fridge, because I'll buy a few chocolate bars while in port, and store them there - and I may also get a white wine, and store it there - and even for the 2 bottles we bring on board.

Bummer that so many "little things" are being cut back for cost savings.

Hello!

Thank you for posting this.....

1 - who were the entertainers in the Centrum area?

2 - are there small fridges in the large interior staterooms - deck 7? My friend is a diabetic and must have the insulin refridgerated, and I've heard there aren't any fridges anymore. :loudcry:

The Radiance class will fit, also we sailed the Enchantment and Celebrity's Mercury from Balt.

I am really hoping they switch out Grandeur and bring in a Radiance class ship. Grandeur is fine - and sailing multiple times on the same ship has some advantages - but experiencing different ships in the fleet makes my vacation more enjoyable. I've been on Enchantment out of Baltimore already - so I'll keep my fingers crossed for a Radiance class ship.

Yes, to each his own, but I am not a fan of the "huge" ships unless I'm in a large group.

The Baltimore cruise terminal is within a hundred miles of millions of people in the Washington DC/Baltimore/Philadelphia corridor. That's a whole lot of people within two hours of a port - no airplanes, no hotels, no problems with weather most of the time, etc. The cruise lines will stay there as long as the numbers work.

I have sailed from Baltimore more than once, and also Philadelphia many years back, and also Boston last year, and really hope that RCI keeps the East coast locations. I do not enjoy cruising out of Florida "all the time" and have no interest in going to the mid-West to cruise. I wish RCI would bring another similar size ship to Baltimore - to give variety.

Yes, food quality and presentation has slipped - but I still prefer the personalized service of the MDR and at the "set" dining times, and not "my time". I want the same waiter/assistant waiter each night - as when I sit down, there is my iced tea, and they always have the decaf coffee ready. Sailed Oasis years ago and couldn't get a decaf at all due to the size of the ship and how far the servers had to go for it. Now, that, I will complain about... make me feel special while eating, and the food doesn't matter so much.

Best I can hope is, that the OBC credit shows up before my cruise. I redeemed points once before, and had no problem. .

I had this happen once.... and if you have your transaction confirmation number, the office should be able to find your OBC.

I had redeemed a bunch - in different amounts - and one redemption "wasn't there". I went to the pursers desk, showed them my transaction numbers, and they had to send it to Miami - and it took a couple of days - and then the OBC showed up. This was all during the cruise.

Can be very frustrating - and I now like to see it before I sail - so I'm hoping to redeem early enough to see it when I log in - rather than always keeping my fingers crossed and watching the TV when we board.

Yikes! Follow-up question on the corkage fee....... if you bring your own "twist-off" wine (no cork!) to the dining room - will you still be charged? It's not like the servers are doing anything - you'll twist it off yourself. Or should you just snag some wine glasses and bring filled glasses with you to the dining room?

Sorry for the multiple questions! Obviously very important to some of us who like to bring their own wine on the ship!

The onboard credit I redeemed showed up on my cruise planner two days later! I was surprised 😊

 

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I redeemed my RCI visa points, and in the "information" section specifically asked that it be applied so I could use it in advance of the cruise - and viola! within the week, there it was. I was very pleasantly surprised - and immediately spent it!

Ah yes, a little confusion. For "Room Service" there is a $7.95 per room delivery.... which is on page 2 of the menu. But for the breakfast menu, it is still free unless you are getting the "American" breakfast side. :confused:

Truly a bummer about the corkage fee. Being able to bring the wine onboard, and use it for dinner helped save a few $$.... we always bring a corkscrew, so we'll just have to make sure we open the bottles in the room first. :D

As you see from my signature, I usually only cruise once a year - and in an interior cabin - because I have to save my $$ to cruise... took me 10 years to get Diamond - and reading the boards, it is distressing that people want to make it based on $$ spent - just "buying" your level - when some of us diligently are loyal in order to get the recognition. :(

OK - so just a couple of observations, and questions, since I'm sailing in 60(ish) days.....

1 - regarding a corkage fee for the dining room. When I took a cruise last October, there was no fee, and everyone in our party brought a bottle of wine on board with them. When did it change that there is now a corkage fee?

According to this link - there is no fee. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2416505&highlight=room+service+fee

2 - regarding room service.... from the RCI website today - the $7.95 charge is only on the "American Breakfast" - and not everything. Which is ok, because we usually only get a couple of pitchers of coffee and tea in the morning, and then head up to breakfast. I would be very disappointed to be charged for that.

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/Room_Service_Menu_2017.pdf

I am "loyal to Royal" and I'm still not 100% sure of the non-refundable deposits, and don't want to jinx myself as I have never had to move a cruise - RCI has cancelled on me - but not me on them.

Happy Cruising!

No, the minibus is not included. The minibuses are privately operated. I advise against doing the public buses to Horseshoe. There used to be Special public buses that went to Horseshoe only, but they were discontinued. As a result of that and a shortage of buses on the #7 route the buses are crowded and sometimes people have to wait for the next bus. Private minibuses or taxies are the best option.The minibuses charge $7 per person.

This is my fear - I've done this before where I waited, and waited, for the public bus.

Therefore - I'm looking at the RCI excursion to/from horseshoe... I know, I can hear you all now - No!, not the excursion - but my peace of mind in guaranteeing that I get back to the ship is worth the extra money. :)