moshek

On our first cruise in 2013 we used RCI private train transfer to Rome. Yes it was more expensive than doing it ourselves but reasons for doing so were:-

1. we knew we would get a seat on an air conditioned coach on a train - there were 4 of us including 2 reluctant teens and I hate to think how they would moan if they had been crammed into one of the local trains

2. ease of journey we got off ship on to coach and transferred straight onto train, we were given advice from a guide on the train, train stopped close to Vatican

3. assurance that even if our train was late returning ship would wait, journey to Rome can be up to 90 mins

It was extremely hot in Rome and it was a very tiring day, the next day we were at Pisa/Florence, we decided to just do late morning visit to Pisa just to see tower (again with RCI)!

With a bit more experience (and probably without my teens) we would do our own thing using local transport.

Michelle x

Thanks for a great review Melissa, glad you had a good time. I am really looking forward to doing same trip on 26th July. I love the Schooner bar too although have a habit of missing the start of the quiz.

Michelle x

I ordered some through gifts and gear prior to our first cruise (think they were part of romance package) they lasted really well. They can be ordered separately as well as being in some packages.

I always book time slots on cruise planner before sailing and then if we want to amend time for following day we just ask to do so as we leave the restaurant. We don't use MTD to swap and change times that much but just because we prefer to eat at 6.30/6.45 but as we are not hanging around waiting for other guests to join us at the table service ends to finish at same time as 6pm set dining people. It's also perfect for our teens who come to dinner then excuse themselves just before 8 to go off to teen activities (occasionally they miss dessert but not often).

Kia ora,

The U.S. applies the same rule and doesn't admit tourists from other countries into into their country if their passport expires within six months. We have been forced to renew our passport early to comply with this U.S. requirement (and renew our tourist visa).

Aquarians

It's the same for all EU nationals, to enter the US we must have 6 months left on passport and purchase visa. Last time we visited I had to renew all 3 teens passports early so we could complete our trip.

47 days until Explorer

American Icon has a la carte breakfast option as well as a buffet, they may also open silk (next to AI) if it gets too busy. We had breakfast there in May as hubbie likes eggs benedict.

Last year on Indy we were quite far down docking area, MSC ships were closer to road. We got a taxi for 4 of us to Cathedral area for €20 and then took a slow walk back to ship along promenade.

Michelle x

BTW that's approx $1600 U.S.

 

When it's just the 2 of us with freshly squeezed OJ at breakfast, a nice latte mid morning, couple of beers over lunch and a glass of wine or two, a cocktail or three in the afternoon, a pre dinner martini and a couple of glasses of good wine with dinner ..... and finally a drink or two in theatre or in bar after dinner plus several bottles of water in between ...... Add that up and even at full price the drinks package works for us ...... and if it's just a $15 pp per night upgrade to premium from a free (built in) select package it's a no brainer !!

Agree with this on recent trip we upgraded from included select package to premium and typical day was bellini about 10am, a few frozen cocktails during day, couple of glasses of red with dinner and another cocktail or two in evening. Certainly got my moneys worth.

Will be upgrading for summer break too and even though its port intensive it is still worthwhile as just 2 cocktails is more than upgrade cost.

Just off the Independence. Had second seating and has others have said you have to do regular or MTD. Did meet several people who had MTD and had their reservation for the same time each night - usually around. 7:00 - as they didn't like the early or late seating times. You could do this, or pick a different time each night with MTD.

 

Dining room maitre de was available the first afternoon for changes etc. time was listed in the compass given on boarding. Personally would try to change ahead of time, should you decide to do so. Quite a few people waiting to talk to him and friend said he tried to be helpful (they wanted to change tables) but was limited because of full ship with many large groups.

we have done MTD on 2 previous cruises, we usually book for 6.30 and you tend to be served quicker than lower floors on traditional 6pm dining as we are not waiting around for others to turn up.

This summer we have 2 late ports and I have booked for 8pm, it is easy also to change bookings if plan changes.

Our Anthem cruise is not until November 30 out of Bayonne, NJ. Can you give me an idea or suggestions of where to have our first lunch on the ship when we board? Windjammer on most Royal ships is usually a zoo at this time. Has anyone found a less busy spot to enjoy a first meal aboard? Many thanks!

On our recent trip on Anthem we ate in café 270 for first lunch, it was very quiet (it was only 12 noon) and had a nice choice of salads and sandwiches. Devinely decadence in the solarium was also serving lunch on first day, it's promoted as a healthy eating place, again perfect for a nice salad.

I avoid the WJ if possible I always find it too noisy and crowded.

Your review made very interesting reading. We had sailed on Anthem at the beginning of May on one of the 3 nighters. I had hoped as the weeks progressed that the staff may improve but clearly they still have some way to go, God help them when the summer season starts in earnest in a few weeks.

I found the staff in the restaurants very disorganised and there was just not enough bar staff.

We are doing 14 night Med cruise this summer in GS and I will be having premium package. We already received select package included with cruise price so only $15 a day to upgrade. I love frozen cocktails and the occasional peach bellini at breakfast and I feel I will have got good value for money.

My other consideration is that we will probably not go to CL much as 2 older teens are in interior cabin across from our suite and I would rather go for pre- dinner drinks with all my family. I have assumed they will not be admitted to CL.

Michelle x

Hi, Just having a look around RC website at this cruise for things to do while in ports. Mmm!!! Reviews on most excursions non existent :( Anyone offer any advice?? Is it going to be a looooooong two weeks??

 

Thanks

We are on this cruise (26th July) bit of a discussion going on in our roll call just now about port days. TBF it is a Spain and Beaches cruise and many of the stops are close to nice beaches rather than cities.

A trip to Seville (when at Cadiz) would be a good option and Nice (when at Villefranche), Palma and Malaga are fairly easy to explore on your own or on tourist bus rather than organised tour.

We are doing our own thing in all ports, not always sure whether our 3 teens will join us on port days as they often prefer to stay on board. They have so far agreed to day trip to Monaco (their choice) and a Segway tour in Palma.

Michelle x

Thank you for your review, looking forward to being on board in 9 weeks. Love the photos of the dining room it looks so bright.

Michelle x

With only a week to go until our first ever cruise, I have a few queries.

 

Embarkation - we are driving to Southampton and have prebooked parking. After parking up, what is the procedure? When are our bags taken etc?

 

 

TIA from a clueless poster. :)

Leaving from Southampton is really straight forward, is your parking booked with ABP? If is follow directions from the port staff at Gate 8 they will direct you to car park. Once in parking space get luggage out of car and hand to port staff who will be close by (make sure it has RCI luggage tags on) and that's it. Walk to terminal building (2 mins) and check in, probably be on board within 30 mins of arriving. Remember to take what you need for the afternoon in your hand luggage as your cases may not appear until early evening (but usually sooner!) and you don't normally get into staterooms until after 1pm.

On our first cruise my husband didn't believe parking was so simply, he thought we had to hand keys over and car would be moved! It took me a few minutes to convince him our car was staying there right beside ship.

Have a great trip

Michelle x

Yes really.. only my husband upgraded in our cabin.. and in my mums cabin only my mum upgraded :)

Oh did you mean the rules had changed so now only one person has to upgrade not everyone in cabin, I thought you meant RCI were only allowing one person per cabin to upgrade!

In summer I will be upgrading as I like cocktails but husband probably wont as mainly drinks beer during day and as we are in suite can have 3 other drinks such as spirits in evening.

We upgraded before we even got on the boat.. once you check in there is a stall to do it at :) then you can get on.. and go straight to the bar hehe!

The rules have changed regarding upgrading now.. only one can upgrade.. which is crazy really because they try and discourage sharing of drinks packages and that just totally encourages it but i am not complaining because (yes you can all strike me down and slap my wrists) but that's exactly what we did.

Really because we both upgraded on Anthem at beginning of May.

Ah yes, I should read before I post, thank you so much, cant wait, first time sailing on 9th August x :)

You will love, this is now our 3rd year in a row, love sailing from Southampton it's so easy. I am on the sailing before you xx

Hi, there are four of us in our party, three of us have Select Drinks Package and our son the Soda Package (All Inclusive Deal). Myself and husband would like to upgrade to include Cocktails but my daughter does not, I thought we all had to upgrade to the same package, could someone help me with this please, thanks in advance.:o

See post #18 above, you no longer have to purchase the same package for everyone in the stateroom, just upgrade for you and husband and daughter can remain on select, your sea pass cards will show which package you have.

xx

That's interesting...I thought to upgrade drink's package from Select that both of you would have to upgrade the package. My husband would be perfectly happy with beer and wine on the select package but I like G&Ts and bottled water so it is good to know that just one of you can upgrade.

Do you have to wait till you are on board or can you upgrade for one at the time of booking?

Rules have changed all adults in stateroom used to have to have same drinks package now you don't.

You can only upgrade once you board but really easy to do so as they have tables/stalls dotted around on first day to sell drinks packages just ask and they will upgrade.

We also have the select drinks package for our August cruise. I only drink beer so mine is fine but my wife drinks spirits and cocktails so i will be upgrading her package. I believe it will cost an extra £140 approx for the 14 night cruise. So basically 2 or 3 cocktails a day and we are quids in. I think lol.

Sean:p

Yes you are correct, difference between select and premium is $15 a day so around £10 a day. It is well worth it if wife wants cocktails/spirits. I was recently on Anthem, most cocktails are $10-12 so 2 cocktails and you have broken even! Another tip if you purchase on board credits from RCI prior to sailing you get a better exchange rate than your card provider. You can currently get $100 for £60 so our 3 nighter on Anthem cost me £54 for both of us to upgrade - bargain given I was having about 6 cocktails a day!

Hello all, just wondering is anyone else thinking about rebooking on another cruise having seen the reviews on EOS today (shocking):eek:

I think it is certainly a staffing issue with many of the problems. Just out of interest I have browsed some of the early Anthem reviews (including the 3 nighter I was on) and I have to state that the problems/complaints about bar/restaurant service on Anthem I agree with. Hoping staff will soon get the hang of things or UK cruising season could be interesting for RC.

We sail on Explorer in July but these reviews have not put me off. Last year I read some awful reviews about Indy that were nothing like what we experienced on board.

The review complaining about lack of time in port did they not read itiniery when they booked. May be just me but I do my research on ports and possible attractions to visit - we mainly do our own thing in port based on advice from ports of call board on here.

I have just returned from short cruise on Anthem and service was not too good on there either so may be staff just are not up to speed yet.

Be interesting to see if reviews improve over next few cruises.

My hubbie pointed out to our waiter that there were no Chic choices on day 2 menu and waiter's response was "oh isn't there" and took menu to look at it.

Donsyb, I didn't even get an email to pre-warn us that we were not getting full dynamic dining. I only knew because of reading facebook and here that it was going to happen.

I did enjoy most of the food I ordered put felt disappointed with organisation in restaurants. Two out of three dinners waiter couldn't find the table he was told to put us on, service was slow, the couple sat next to us waited over 20 minutes for anyone to ask what they would like to drink!

Back to the simple life on Explorer for 2 weeks in summer where I will know were my table is, my waiters will know I only like cheesy bread rolls and will find my favourite Merlot before I arrive :)