RSLeesburg

Yes.  They were gone last summer on our Harmony cruise.  Was not sure if this was new standard thing or just a fluke as they were running limited shows at the time.  

Alas, when I went onto app it said everything was booked.  In all of our previous cruises, the area reserved for suite guests did not require reservations - but was first come, first serve - so I did not bother to try and make any reservations when they opened up.  On my last cruise, the concierge told us that the suite areas were taken away on Harmony, and that we would need to book reservations, but they did not open up until you boarded - it sounds like they allow people to prebook and everything is full.  This is why I was asking if they brought back the suite areas - to see if there was any chance to catch a show.  We have seen all of the shows on Harmony, so it’s ok if we can’t get in but would love to catch the water show or the musicals if we could.  I will wait to hear from concierge - they usually reach out a week or two ahead of cruise.  

Thanks!  

We booked the North Lot in the covered area.  Is there anything we need to show to get into this lot?  I printed out the receipt, but it’s not like the reserved parking passes you get at Austin airport.  

We did Radiance southbound with only three day land tour, and it was fantastic.  If we did again, we would do longer land tour up front.  
 

In terms of ships and/or itineraries, my advice is to find the best price for cruise as the more money you can spend on excursions is the way to go.  You will have amazing cruise no matter which line you take, but if you can put more money towards excursions with one cruise line over another, I would do it.  So much to see and do, you really want to get in as much as you can on one trip!  

30 minutes ago, rockmom said:

There will be a section for guests in full suites, but you still need reservations.  And as mentioned, they release those seats about 10 minutes before show time so that people in the standby line can find a seat.  

 

Perfect - thanks!  Do you make reservations with concierge?  

Yes.  They used to have a reserved area that they would open up to anyone like 15 minutes before the show.  They always called it the gold area because you had to show your gold card to get in.  

Last summer was our first cruise back since Covid, and we noticed that the Gold area was removed in the theaters on Harmony.  Is this a permanent thing on all the ships?  I just read on our FB group that all the shows are booked for upcoming Thanksgiving cruise, and trying to figure out whether there will be a section for suites or not.  Does anyone know?  Thanks!  

On 12/20/2022 at 9:39 PM, cynt said:

We cruised Royal over Thanksgiving. I highly recommend parking at the cruise terminal. Nothing like parking your car and walking to the cruise terminal to check in. We will always park at Royals new terminal going forward. It is so convenient now to park at the terminal. A no Brainer for us. 

Is it a ramp garage or just a large lot?  Plenty of parking?  We are thinking about booking our first cruise out of Galveston next summer and are interested in parking at pier.  When we lived in FL, we would drive and park at pier a lot, but now that we are in Austin, thinking about trying a cruise from TX.  😉

I just brought Cascadia on our Harmony cruise.  Printed out the solo cards and boards in case the family did not want to play (and they didn’t), so played twice solo - great game, and it packs up nicely!  

Here you go - entertainment schedule from July 3rd Harmony cruise.

1 hour ago, sadiwest said:

Max is $50 per day in the arcade.  At least it was when we were on Oasis in June.  

It was same this week on Harmony.  My son told me his sea pass was no longer working, and when we checked, he had hit the $50 limit for the day.  The next morning it was working fine.  

On 7/1/2022 at 5:46 PM, sellwingri said:

Where did I say that I didn’t like Harmony because of the “big thing made of steel”?   Not sure what your pet peeve is about.  I’ve had problems on my 3 cruises on Harmony like elevators always being broken, shows never running, and, like I mentioned, that I had to show my reservation on my cell phone.  I don’t dislike the actual ship. 

Not saying they fixed all the problems, but this cruise they had list of cabin numbers - and you just had to give them yours.  They checked to see if you had a reservation, and if so, let you through.  Progress!  lol

59 minutes ago, sellwingri said:

I was on a b2b on Harmony in April and suites did not have reserved seats unless you were in Star class and had a genie.  In addition, you now have to show your reservation on your cell phone when you arrive at the venue.  They used to have a list of rooms and they would check you in that way.  

Thanks.  That’s new.  

We are sailing on Harmony on Sunday and concierge said that suite guests must also reserve seats at all shows.  Is there no longer a reserved section for suite guests?  

We are on that cruise too.  I tried to select check-in times this morning, but it did not work for me either.  

29 minutes ago, dcgrumpy said:

We sailed on Harmony 2 weeks ago. They had a separate short line for suites/pinnacles/the Key. 

 

The rest of us were in one very, very, long line with no enforcement of check in times. what a **** show. So be very happy that you are in a suite. LOL

How was Harmony?  We have not been on her in a long time.  Were supposed to sail on Anthem this summer, but something came up and cannot spend two weeks in Europe like we planned so switched over to Harmony at the last minute.  

Thanks.  Our checkin time has not been assigned, but we’re planning to get there earlier.  We will see what time we get assigned, and then what concierge tells us.  

5 minutes ago, reallyitsmema said:

There is not random testing throughout the cruise.  Non vaccinated kids are being tested prior to the cruise and at the end of the cruise but only other testing I am aware of are of those who go to medical.  
 

Gotcha.  I saw people posting about being quarantined, but no one was saying how or why they were being tested.  But if they feel sick and go to medical, they get tested and if positive they get quarantined.  

We are scheduled to take our first cruise since 2019, and wondered about how they are handling suite guests now.  In the past, we just showed up whenever we wanted and boarded when we arrived.  But has that changed?  Will be assigned a boarding time that is enforced?  Curious to know what others have experienced as I booked a car service for that morning and want to know when I should arrange for pickup.  We are traveling on Harmony out of PC if that makes a difference.  

How are people being tested during their cruise?  Is there random testing throughout the cruise?  

On 4/4/2022 at 8:37 PM, John Bull said:

International Friends is a long-established coach operator who added cruise tour-transfers about 6 years ago. Well received by CC members.

Pre-cruise tour-transfers are quite limited because of the need to register at cruise terminals mid-afternoon, their three post-cruise transfers to London are much more comprehensive.

The service is just for cruise passengers, and is from the ship via the listed sights to hotel drop-offs in  Heathrow or central London. 

https://www.londontoolkit.com/travel/southampton-from-london-via-stonehenge.html

 

(useful logistical info about London on other pages of that website)

 

JB 🙂 

Excellent - this is exactly what we were looking for!  Thanks.  

I am looking at booking transfers from London to Southampton for our July Anthem cruise - considering Blackberry.  But after the cruise, I was wondering if there were any that ran transfer plus a sightseeing stops.  I noticed that RCI offers two but then they go to airport after tour and we are going to hotel afterwards.  

Never stayed at JW Grosvenor, but have stayed at 47 Park (Marriott Grand Residences) just down the street.  We found that location to be great to get around.  But not sure if you can use points there.  

Historically, they have been strict about the ages, but they sometimes will allow kids to move up or down in the kids club - however, I have never heard about them doing the same in the nursery.  
 

When we took our son on his first cruise, he was somewhat potty-trained but occasionally had accidents.  So, we made sure that he went potty before we took him to the club and then never left him there too long - usually picked him up after 2 hours.  It worked - he enjoyed the club and never had any accidents so got to go there every day.