SailingShelley

Hello fellow cruisers :)

 

We are sailing on Serenade of the Seas in a few weeks and one of our ports is St. Petersburg, Russia. I have been reading that those who book shore excursions through RCI are allowed to disembark first. We booked through TJ Travel on our own, not through RCI. I am just wondering how much time we should allow to clear immigration in order to meet our tour guide, and if anyone has any advice/tips, etc.

 

Thanks in advance!

We booked thru TJ and it was an amazing three days! It took us less than 15 minutes to clear immigration including waiting in line!

We've had to sign up 3 times for our Brilliance TA this coming September. Now there are Zero people signed up, so this will be the 4th time. I can see their website going spastic one or two times, but 3-4 times? RCL needs to get their at together. I'm sick and tired of hearing "website issues." Naturally, Celebrity is just as bad.

How are you two doing?

I think the sign up list issue has FINALLY been resolved for both cruise lines! Chuck and I are doing the TA to Boston via Iceland and Greenland on the Serenade in 2019 after the BI cruise on The Reflection! Come join us!

We have never done a transatlantic but are seriously considering doing one.

1. Is spring or fall best & why?

2. Southampton Route (Northern Atlantic) or Spain Route (Southern Atlantic) & why?

 

TIA for any input.

We have taken 4 East bound TAs in the Spring. It's a great time for Europe since the locals are not on vacation until July or August and the Ocean is more calm. Sailing south is definitely warmer and smoother overall! Going over to Great britain early Spring was not the best since most of the ports were not geared up for the season and many points of interest were not opened and had very limited access. That is not true though for ports in the Med. We have been on many different smaller ships for the crossings including Vision, Radiance and Voyager Class with no major issues. You do lose an hour each day to adjust to the European time but nothing like jet lag all at once! For us, after we spend our time touring all over Europe, happy to fly home rather than hang out on a ship at sea for 7 days in a row. In 2019, after a 12 night British Isles cruise, we are taking a west bound TA that only has 4 days in a row at sea going across Iceland and Greenland and Canada to Boston. Obviously, not expecting any warm weather on this one and the seas will be more active but we should be far enough North to not be directly hit by hurricanes!

sad to hear this. I thought the market was shrinking. Quantum class is the best and USA deserves more than one. We already have 4 oasis class soon. oh well.

I wish they would have a Florida Home port for a Quantum Class ship. Who wants to sail out of the rough waters in New Jersey to try that Class? :confused:

If you book a cruise when the itineraries first open, you can get a great deal! If it sails to unusual ports that are in demand, it may fill up quickly so that is the best opportunity to have the best choices! We have already booked a repositioning cruise for April of 2020 from Sidney to Singapore on The Voyager! We booked early on a TA thru Greenland and Iceland for August 2019 on The Serenade and the prices have gone up tremendously! :halo:

Is Teo Strazicic The Captain on The Independence OTS? If not can you post a new list? Is the rotation 10 weeks? We will be on the ship from August 25th thru October 6th, 2018

If you decide to get off the ship to site see or shop. You will be issued an intransit pass which allows you to bypass the lines when you get back to the ship. Sometimes they send your new sea pass cards to your room. Use the old one to get off the ship and the new one to get on.

Humm In transit Pass? We do B2B all the time but never got on of these. Next Month we are doing five B2B on The Independence with each cruise having different itineraries. When we are in Port for the Turn around, if we get off, we just carry our new card and passports to get back on. We have the same Cabin, no moving, so the day is perfect! If we stay on the ship that day, it is wonderful! You pretty much have the ship to yourself! The ship usually has a sign up for a B2B lunch in the MDR and it is very special! :D

Just feel sorry for the amazing crew on the Vision having to clean up the mess

It's very scary to think this actually happened! :eek:

We just got off the Vision of the seas on 7th June.

We had considered doing a back to back and so pleased we didn't.

 

Read on:-

https://dailym.ai/2JCIqBQ

It's scary to think that you could be sharing a cruise partially chartered with a group like this one!:eek:

Hi all,

You used to be able to check on Cruise Critic if your meet and mingle had been scheduled and what date and location it would be held on. I can't find that list anymore. I tried the link - but it takes me to RCI's customer service site on their web page. Did a search there and came up empty handed. Does anyone know how I can locate it (if it's still available)?

TIA

The program appears to be working again to be able to see how many are signed up for your Meet and Mingle Just go through the sign up and when it says you are already singed up continue until it shows you the number on the list. Make sure to take your confirmation email with you in case you don't get an invite in your cabin (lost you name on the list). Go to guest services with the confirmation email and ask about it on the day you get on the ship so you are added to the Party. I'm unable to find the actual list of who is signed up.

Good to hear so much good about TJ I will be on ship July 1st can't wait

We were with TJ Travel for three FULL days. Elena was more than awesome! There wasn't a question she couldn't answer! She teaches English at the University and is married to a wonderful man from Italy! Elena chose the best lunches, All planned and set up each day having some special local Russian favorite item on the menu. If you are lucky enough to have her tell her Shelley sent you! :D

Oh man...whatever happened to the ultimate favorite food ....chocolates on the pillow at night? :confused::o;)

Sadly Budget Cuts!They went the way of the white pens having Royal Caribbean printed in Blue with the LOGO down the side! And remember when the the towels and bath mats were a salmon pink! :)

Our 1st cruise was in 1990 on NCL Sunward II, Just apiece of card board twice the size of the Royal plastic Seapass cards! I have everyone of our SeaPass cards since! I keep them all together in a plastic ziplock!

28 cruises 19 ships 6 cruise lines 97 different ports! ALL but 8 on Royal!

they have swimming lessons now - watch your cruise planner!

:loudcry: lolol!

I shouldn't be laughing since I will be on Indy for 44 nights!

I'll be sure to attend ALL the Muster Drills (like there is a choice! ):eek:

What's up guys! I thought some of you out there might find this interesting!

 

I'm Chris from Liverpool, and I am a crew member onboard the Independence Of The Seas! I work in the Duty Free shops.

 

If any of you have ever wondered what being a Royal Caribbean crew member is like, give my blog post a read, and let me know if you recognise me or any of my friends.

 

I talk about my job, social life, travel, and overall ship life.

 

https://www.chriswongvlogs.com/work-on-a-cruise-ship-uk

 

More importantly, share this with anyone you know who wants to start working on cruise ships - or ask me any questions about Royal Caribbean ships in general. I can give you an honest opinion!

Just left a message on your blog! :D

Why is it whenever someone asks this type of question, some busy-body always feels the need to give instructions on how to fill a water bottle?

They think everyone except themselve is a small child...

You are kidding, right? How many people are totally oblivious to keeping others safe? Putting your bottle up to that water is like coating it with all kinds of bacteria, just like when you see so many refill a dirty glass!!

They’re making these websites too complicated. I’m going to miss that map [emoji16]

I called for a Map and the RCCL Rep actually gave me a Private travel agency website that still showed the maps:confused: to use! PRETTY sad don't you think! Who out there in the real World planning a cruise does not want to visualize the route before and after booking! :o

We have always asked our room steward to remove the table for us and have never had a problem.

Usually there is no problem but the last time Cabin attendant made us stow it in the closet taking up valuable shoe storage and long item hanging space! Go Figure!

We booked onboard the Oasis in March, and regret it. I don't like this refundable vs. non refundable crap. So much had changed since we booked onboard the Anthem in March 2017.

Exactly, March of 17 you booked on board for $50 to $150 deposit per Cabin depending on the cruise length-Minimum deposit always movable to another cruise with on board benefits or refundable! Not so anymore! So if you have any of those earlier bookings, just keep moving them out if you have to reschedule-DON'T cancel them! We still have a few lined up but years ago I had so many, I didn't keep them all-big mistake for that minimum deposit!

i read that Freedom will be refurbished 2020. In the past when ships are refurbished, do they bring them in another ship to cover the iterinary? Thank you

How long does that process actually take? Does it usually take 4-6 weeks to refurbish?

Hello,

We have always cruised on Carnival and we are thinking of trying Royal Caribbean and have some questions.

I have seen that a few of the ships have Johnny Rockets, does this restaurant cost extra? Does Royal have a drink program? On Carnival we have always used cash to set up our on board sign and sail account. Can we do this on Royal? Hate using my credit card and never would use a debit card. I have gotten different answers and decided people that have cruised would be the best people to ask.

Thank you for the help. :):):)Stephanie

Of course it is all a matter of taste! The setting is completely different, in general more adults on Royal! The larger ships with the Promenade decks do provide different twists and turns but don't rule out the ships that are without that. The Radiance Class ships which are 90K ton are probably the most open to feel like you are in the middle of the Ocean! There is a lot more intimacy on the smaller ships which is another feature.There is so much glass that there is always a close view of "The Sea that is Calling!". The little nooks to get a quick meal or snack on the Royal ships remind us of French Bistros. The ones on Carnival are more like picnic areas. We are pretty "Loyal to Royal" but if another line's itinerary is what we want, no hesitation to book it!

We sailed on Carnival Sunshine and had a wonderful experience. The crowd was definitely different. Since Sunshine's $2 million over haul in 2013 the colors are more like a Royal ship. The entertainment is so different. For us that was very welcoming! There is no singer and dancer troupe or orchestra but instead there is a completely different venue. Carnival has very talented staff behind the scenes creating new experiences in entertainment. They have amazing computer animated backgrounds for their shows in the round where you feel up close and personal. Their pyrotechnics are well worth seeing as well! The comedy clubs every night with different shows were a great way to spend late hours! The food was better than Royals and their desserts not only looked good but had taste to match. It is the general consensus that Royal's desserts are artistic but flat and do NOT have the "WOW' flavor to match! After experiencing the food on Carnival with that 2.0 program, the pizza and Guy Fieri burgers and desserts, i understand why cruisers say they live for the Creme Brulee and Chocolate Lava cake on Carnival! No comparison to the Pizza and burgers on Royal!

You have to give up the laundromat on Royal and pay for laundry until you are Diamond Plus status. But who wants a Cabin near the noisy washing machines anyway! It doesn't really matter unless you are on an extended cruise!

We love Royal's Loyalty benefits that no other cruise line can touch. The ships have a lot of upscaled art work and beauty. You can spend a day just walking the ship to see all the different art everywhere. You can tell where your cabin is located by the art down your hall. It is easy to get lost on Carnival since every hallway looks the same and the artwork in the cabins is identical.

So as long as Chuck and I can figure out when there are school vacations or breaks, Carnival is also a good cruise to consider. We do watch the age of their ships!.

I just spoke with Alex at Royal. I was informed that our cruise luggage tags are NOT ready to be printed for an August 25th departure because booking our flights with their agency- Air2Sea, delays them until around 30 days :confused: before the sailing date! :rolleyes:

Sailing aboard the Explorer OTS mid September .....I've printed our set sail pass but when am I able to print luggage tags....? I don't see anything yet that allows me.......thanks

I begin Chuck and my adventure on the Independece for 44 nights starting August 25th and although, I "think" I can navigate RCCL's Website-I can't find the link for the tags anywhere! I'm calling 1-800-398-9819 for Technical support! :eek:

Cruising on a ship that is non smoking on the inside with all the entertainment and activities to keep busy, sounds like an excellent opportunity to curb or even give up smoking!

....Just a thought as I know, easier said than done! :eek:

Good luck! No reservations but there can be long lines! It's all in the Timing! Just keep checking and jump in line when it's short! If you have done real zip lining, this one is short but a novelty! Once on The Abyss :eek: was one too many for my taste! :evilsmile: