theminnow

We are looking to take a cruise to Hawaii and Celebrity has 2 sailings in Sept, one in 2015 and one in 2016. The concierge class room for 2015 is $3439, for 2016 it is only $2149. Also the 2016 cruise in that class will get us all three perks (beverage package, OBC, and gratuities). Seems like a heck of a deal, almost too good. Besides supply and demand, or the 2016 cruise being a year later, does anyone have an idea as to why the 2016 cruise is cheaper and you get all the perks?

Thanks,

Craig

The wife and I have been on two cruises. One to Bermuda, and one to the western Caribbean (Labadee, Falmouth, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel).

In Bermuda we were not hounded to buy things by any of the merchants. Exact opposite for Labadee and Falmouth. Walking by, or heaven forbid you walk into a shop in either one of those places and the merchants are constantly trying to get you to buy something, and just one 'no' will not due. That got old very quick.

We thought the people were friendlier in Bermuda as well. While in Hamilton, Bermuda we were looking for the bus depot to catch a bus to the beach. Three kids (17-18 yearolds) walked with us to make sure we found the depot.

As far as expensive, yes Bermuda is kinda expensive, but not outrageous. We live in N VA so the meals we ate there were maybe 20% higher then what we would pay at home. But heck you are on vacation.

Only went to one beach in Bermuda, Horseshoe Bay, and that was better then any of the beaches we went to in the Caribbean. Grand Cayman was close. We went to Royal Palms on 7 Mile Beach. The beach was nice, but what we did not like is that it was very crowded.

One more thing we liked about Bermuda was that we were there for 2 nights. We didn't always have to have that clock on in the back of our heads to make sure we got back to the ship on time.

While we would not mind going back to the Grand Cayman or Cozumel, there are not a lot of cruises that just go to those places.

Craig

You pay the 18% gratuity when you purchase the drink package. So if you drink $450 you will not be charged the $81, you have already paid the gratuity.

Enjoy your cruise.

Craig

We used this port for our first cruise. Parking was very easy, we were able to park within a couple hundred feet of the terminal. Not only was the parking easy, but the terminal is very well organized. I think the lot opened at 10. Pull up, let the porters get your luggage, drive over to cashier to pay ($15 sounds about right), then go park the car, and finally check in at the terminal. Very professional, can't wait to sail out of Baltimore again.

We stayed at a hotel the night before and had breakfast there, so I can't comment on good places to eat. But if you are driving up the day of the cruise, you should be able to get on board by 11, and just eat in the Windjammer.

Enjoy your cruise.

Craig

Post-action damage control....and note how it was a spokesman doing the correcting. I've heard the actual words - it was no mistake.

Agreed.

I have heard her comments several times in their context and that is what she said. Did she misspeak, I guess that is possible. However based on the actions (or more like non action) by the police I think she meant what she said.

Craig

We were there recently and it was very crowded. All I saw was a swim up bar, but there could have been other things (didn't feel like walking thru the crowds to get to the pool and look around). Sorry I couldn't help more.

Enjoy your cruise.

Craig

This is just inexcusable. I'll concede the 'new member of the team' excuse, but not the supervisor. Royal screwed up and they should eat the loss not you. It seems the employees on the ship (servers, waiters, stewards, etc) know more about customer service then the people in corporate. Perhaps we should have the crew members teach these corporate employees a thing or two about customer service. God help Royal if the crew members start treating us like that.

Craig

Can you elaborate on what there is offered/to do right at the port complex? Is it a big area with lots of walking/shopping, etc? My mom and I will be there in about 3 weeks and she is fighting cancer right now and is doing remarkably well but tires easily and can't walk long distances. We'd like to shop a little as we don't have anything else planned for this day but don't necessarily want to stay onboard the entire time. Thank you!

It is a large area and there is shopping right at the port. Both stores and a good size open air market. There are places to eat as well. Margaritaville being the largest. When we were there Margaritaville was very crowded, and we did not use the pool.

When you dock, exit the ship at the closest end to the entrance to the port, this should help you mom with the walking. She can take a rest on the ship if your cabin is located at the other end. Maybe even talk to guest services about using a wheel chair.

Hope this helps.

Enjoy your cruise.

Craig

If it were me, I'd call the cruise line. I'd hate to book a cruise, show up, and find out during the check in process they are not going to let him board. Just my 2 cents.

Good luck.

Craig

Ship -Freedom

Deck -9

Stateroom # -9338

Stateroom Category –JS

Starboard or Port Side -Starboard

Quiet Stateroom? (With comments on problems) –Room was very quiet

Was stateroom a connecting stateroom? -No

Balcony View - Give comments on view, noting if location of any obstructions was an issue. –On the hump, so great views forward and aft.

Balcony Size? Normal or oversized for class? -Normal. We had two chairs two lounges and a small table with plenty of room to move around.

Was wind a problem? - Little breezy at times, but not too bad.

If an aft cabin, was soot a problem? -N/A

Any specific problems with this cabin? -None

Any other comments? - Cabin was very close to steps and elevators yet very quiet. Two decks below WJ and pools. Would definitely get this cabin again.

Check your cruise compass as to specials and which bars have the specials.

There were not as many specials on our last cruise as there were on our first cruise. Seems like they have cut back on those as well.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise.

Craig

Read a lot of reviews about Falmouth and a lot of people says its unsafe outside the portarea. We were thinking about the Red Stripe Beach sponsored by the ship. Then we found resort for a day.com. Its an organized tour but not a "Royal Caribbean tour"

Any thoughts or experiences? Consider us as first time cruisers, since we just cruised once, 20 years ago, without the kids. Never been to Jamaica before and would like to enjoy the beach during our stop.

We were just in Jamaica a week or so ago with another couple. The weather was not that great so the wife and I stayed in the port but our friends did the Red Stripe Beach excursion. They said the beach was alright, probably would have been better if the weather was nicer (overcast and drizzle at times). There are bathrooms there as well as a place to get food and drinks. I believe the beach is only available thru an excursion, and is not open to the general public. Also the shuttles between the beach and Falmouth run fairly frequently.

Hope this helps.

Craig

Just off the Freedom and we had the best waiter and assistant waiter, but the guy (Richard) taking the drink orders was exceptional. I had a few of the shooter glasses as well as the 2 long stem martini glasses from a previous cruise and was hoping to get some more of each. However after reading these boards, it appeared that RCI was not offering these anymore. I asked Richard if it was possible to get either one of these glasses, and he replied he would check for me. Well the next night after dinner he brought 4 shooters to our table in the stemmed shooter glasses, and continued to do this for the next 3 nights. The last night he brought me one shooter glass, not the stemmed kind, but the one with a ball at the end. Never seen that before. But that was not all. He was also able to locate 2 long stemmed martini glasses for me. Knowing how fragile the glass part is, he wrapped them in paper and placed each one in a separate box.

While I don't care for a lot of the decisions made at the corporate level, it is people like Richard (and others) that will keep me going back to Royal.

Craig

We went to Bermuda in October 2013 and had a great time. The water was warm enough to swim in, and the ocean was about as calm as you will ever find. Best part is there should be very few kids on board.

Enjoy your cruise.

Craig

Just back from a cruise, and was asked by some friends we cruised with 'who gets the tips at the bar'. Never thought about it, but now I am curious.

Who gets the tips under these scenarios?

1 The 18% automatic tip. Does it go to the server that prepared the drink, or is it pooled?

2 Adding additional tip to receipt. Again the server or pooled.

3 Additional cash tip. I assume the server would get this.

Thanks

Craig

Just got off the Freedom in JS 9338. Very quiet as you had staterooms above and below. We picked the starboard side, because the port side had a suite above it that had a piano and I had read a review that you could hear the piano being played. It is very convenient as it is only two doors down from the stairs and elevators, but we never heard any hall traffic. Would book the same room again.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your cruise.

Craig

Just remember this seasoning ending show is an hour and a half long. Not sure if that will have anything to do with using a DVR, but I would hate to get only the first hour.:eek:

Craig

Looks great. See you guys in a few days.

Craig

The way Daily Drink Special was posted it made it sound like each bar will have it's own DOD. Is that how other people read this?

Looks like some days will be that way. But on a few days where the DoD is listed, it still says something to the effect of each bar having their own DoD as well on those days. Very confusing.

Craig

Wonder if the champagne is 10.00 bucks a glass now [emoji33]

Yes it is but the price is not listed.:D

Craig

Doing the same cruise in less then two weeks. Thanks for taking the time to do this live review. Great job.

Craig

I would cancel, and rebook!

Better yet just outright cancel and go with an excursion company.

If this is another (insert adjective) way how RCI wants to make more money then there are many more cruise lines available. Not to mention just plain old (dare I say it):) LAND vacations.

Craig

******UPDATE*****

 

Passport interview for my son will be on March 26th. I'm sure we will be given his passport at the will call window, later that day. The agent called yesterday and was very nice on the phone. He says with everything I have, the interview should only take 10 minutes. I guess it's just to see if he is warm and breathing. He also said, that I will be able to be in the interview room with him and interpret for him.

Sweeeeet!

 

p.s. we did get him a new certified birth certificate as well.

Hope all goes well for you and your son.

Craig

Says you can sprinkle it on cereal too.

Breakfast of champions.:D

Craig