On the Grandeur right now. 8-8-14

[luv2cruiserccl]

JS perks:

 

Bathtub, walk-in closet (all but Majesty and Vision class), priority check-in and boarding, tea kettle, coffee maker, bathroom amenities, robes, double C&A points, and a silver Seapass card.

 

Anything special u can order thru room service? What kind of coffee in room seattle best I assume?

 

sent from my galaxy s4 please excuse any error's thanks

[Clarea]

Anything special u can order thru room service? What kind of coffee in room seattle best I assume?

No special perks with regard to room service. Don't know the variety of coffee.

[Mystaken]

All of this time that you have been spending on Cruise Critic, and you didn't learn to carry your wine on with you?!?!??!?!

 

Did B2B on Grandeur in May. I had 4 bottles of wine with me for both weeks. I separated them, thinking I would have to surrender 2 bottles to be held for the second week. I was surprised that I was allowed to carryon all 4 bottles with me (after a thorough check). Actually, it was too much for me to carry around till my cabin was ready.

[Quartetlead]

Hi, Sailing the Grandeur in two weeks. Did you take a cork remover with you and if so, did you have trouble at inspection? Also, may folks purchase bottles of soda, ginger ale specifically, to take back to their cabins?

 

Thanks for your time and help!

 

Bud Laumann

"quartetlead" Grandeur 8/22-8/29, 2014

[dancinman66]

What other perks have u had with being js? How was parking at port and do u plan on doing mdr or any speciality restaurants.. thank you for posting.

 

sent from my galaxy s4 please excuse any error's thanks

 

 

That's actually all you get as a perk for being in a js is embarkation

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Clarea]

Hi, Sailing the Grandeur in two weeks. Did you take a cork remover with you and if so, did you have trouble at inspection? Also, may folks purchase bottles of soda, ginger ale specifically, to take back to their cabins?

 

Thanks for your time and help!

 

Bud Laumann

"quartetlead" Grandeur 8/22-8/29, 2014

We've had no problem taking a corkscrew in our checked baggage. It's a small version, with no knife.

[KirkNC]

Thanks for the report!

[leaveitallbehind]

Just got off the Grandeur yesterday from Bermuda. Excellent cruise! There is a new Concierge in the Diamond Lounge (Inna) replacing Ruth. The cigar smoking is on the starboard side of deck 5 (muster areas). You cannot smoke cigars in the casino.

 

Cigar smoking is also allowed on the starboard pool deck in the cigarette smoking area.

 

Ruth is off for a personal leave - return date uncertain. Inna is the second replacement since 7/18.

[leaveitallbehind]

That's actually all you get as a perk for being in a js is embarkation

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Along with double C & A points.

Edited August 10, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Parking at the Baltimore cruise port is very easy. The terminal is within sight of I-95. There are enough spaces for both ships [RCL--Grandeur and CCL--Pride is leaving soon] and it is a very short walk to the terminal. The cost is $15/day.

 

Here is a picture. [sorry--not very good quality] There is parking on the other side of the terminal, too. You can see I-95 [raised roadway] and that the terminal is right beside the ship. This picture was taken the morning we arrived back on March 18, 2014. [yes, that is snow on the cars!] You can see on the right side of the picture that there is a covered walkway to the terminal.

 

[luv2cruiserccl]

Parking at the Baltimore cruise port is very easy. The terminal is within sight of I-95. There are enough spaces for both ships [RCL--Grandeur and CCL--Pride is leaving soon] and it is a very short walk to the terminal. The cost is $15/day.

 

Here is a picture. [sorry--not very good quality] There is parking on the other side of the terminal, too. You can see I-95 [raised roadway] and that the terminal is right beside the ship. This picture was taken the morning we arrived back on March 18, 2014. [yes, that is snow on the cars!] You can see on the right side of the picture that there is a covered walkway to the terminal.

 

 

Thank you

 

sent from my galaxy s4 please excuse any error's thanks

[theorbo]

Any issues with I-95 traffic or construction near the port?

[BND]

Hi, Sailing the Grandeur in two weeks. Did you take a cork remover with you and if so, did you have trouble at inspection? Also, may folks purchase bottles of soda, ginger ale specifically, to take back to their cabins?

 

Thanks for your time and help!

 

Bud Laumann

"quartetlead" Grandeur 8/22-8/29, 2014

 

We take one that RCI gave us when we've had a bottle of wine given as a gift in our cabin. Also, you can always ask your cabin steward for one. They have plenty of them. They're the ones that the corkscrew part stores inside the handle and when you use it, you put the handle into the hole in the corkscrew part and use that to pull. Anyway, point is, either carry one or wait and ask your steward. Last cruise I took two bottles with screw tops. I prefer sauvignon blanc and several good ones have screw tops.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

Any issues with I-95 traffic or construction near the port?

 

I-95 can be congested with traffic at any time. We leave enough time to go another route if we need to. I like to arrive around 11 am.

 

From the south you can use the Baltimore Washington Parkway [295] until 1 mile from the port. It is a good alternate.

 

I have not encountered problems with construction in this part of Baltimore. We traveled most of this route to get to a Baltimore Orioles game last week. [during rush hour-on a Wednesday] :D

 

I noticed that you are from Michigan. If you are coming from the airport you will not have much of a problem. The two are fairly close.

 

If you drive there are several park and cruise hotels. I do not do this so can not give names, however the east coast departure board has several threads on this.

Edited August 10, 2014 by DragonOfTheSeas

[TeeRick]

The Baltimore port was the easiest I have experienced both on arrival and departure. On arrival you will drive in to pay for parking ($15/day cash or credit) and then proceed to drive right up to the terminal and drop off your checked luggage with the porters. Make sure you keep your passports/documentation with you. You are then directed to a parking lot right beside the terminal. Having a JS we checked-in at the Suite line and were on the ship in about 15 mins from arrival off I-95. If you are in a JS note that they are smaller on Grandeur (250ft2) vs other ships (300ft2) and have somewhat smaller closets, but still nice. Perks were as mentioned previously including double points. On departure the JS gets you into the first group to leave the ship (8:10AM) and no line in Customs. We were off the ship, through customs, collected our bags and in the car in about 10 min. I-95 is right at the exit to the parking lot. All very very easy.

[Goofyisme]

The Baltimore port was the easiest I have experienced both on arrival and departure. On arrival you will drive in to pay for parking ($15/day cash or credit) and then proceed to drive right up to the terminal and drop off your checked luggage with the porters. Make sure you keep your passports/documentation with you. You are then directed to a parking lot right beside the terminal. Having a JS we checked-in at the Suite line and were on the ship in about 15 mins from arrival off I-95. If you are in a JS note that they are smaller on Grandeur (250ft2) vs other ships (300ft2) and have somewhat smaller closets, but still nice. Perks were as mentioned previously including double points. On departure the JS gets you into the first group to leave the ship (8:10AM) and no line in Customs. We were off the ship, through customs, collected our bags and in the car in about 10 min. I-95 is right at the exit to the parking lot. All very very easy.

 

I agree. Easiest on and off I have ever experienced even without being in a suite. Baltimore has it down to a science.

[herbanrenewal]

Is there a kiss and ride area?

My DH will drop us off (best friend and I) if there is and easy in/easy out area.

Edited August 10, 2014 by herbanrenewal

[BND]

The Baltimore port was the easiest I have experienced both on arrival and departure. On arrival you will drive in to pay for parking ($15/day cash or credit) and then proceed to drive right up to the terminal and drop off your checked luggage with the porters. Make sure you keep your passports/documentation with you. You are then directed to a parking lot right beside the terminal. Having a JS we checked-in at the Suite line and were on the ship in about 15 mins from arrival off I-95. If you are in a JS note that they are smaller on Grandeur (250ft2) vs other ships (300ft2) and have somewhat smaller closets, but still nice. Perks were as mentioned previously including double points. On departure the JS gets you into the first group to leave the ship (8:10AM) and no line in Customs. We were off the ship, through customs, collected our bags and in the car in about 10 min. I-95 is right at the exit to the parking lot. All very very easy.

 

Actually, you pull in and drop off luggage and then you pay for parking and go around and park. After that you walk right into the terminal. Very easy port and even though we live an hour or so away and used to live near Baltimore, it's easy for anyone.

Edited August 10, 2014 by BND

[Merion_Mom]

We take one that RCI gave us when we've had a bottle of wine given as a gift in our cabin. Also, you can always ask your cabin steward for one. They have plenty of them. They're the ones that the corkscrew part stores inside the handle and when you use it, you put the handle into the hole in the corkscrew part and use that to pull. Anyway, point is, either carry one or wait and ask your steward. Last cruise I took two bottles with screw tops. I prefer sauvignon blanc and several good ones have screw tops.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As they say, a picture (or pictures) is worth a thousand words. :)

Edited August 10, 2014 by Merion_Mom

[TeeRick]

Sorry BND I disagree with the order of things at the port that you describe as I just did this last week:). No matter it was very easy!

[Merion_Mom]

Sorry BND I disagree with the order of things at the port that you describe as I just did this last week:). No matter it was very easy!

 

My experiences have been the same as BND's. The porters are BEFORE you get to the pay-for-parking booths. If you managed to bypass those gentlemen and go straight to the booth, then pull up to the front of the terminal, then you did things differently. (and deliberately ignored the porters)

 

;)

Edited August 10, 2014 by Merion_Mom

[Mystaken]

Agree with BND and Merion Mom. My experiences were both recently. I parked once and got dropped off once. When you first enter the port, a worker will ask you if you are going to park or not and direct you to the appropriate lane. There are separate lanes for those who will park and those who are being dropped off. Both lanes have porters to help with unloading and checking luggage. Then, if you are going to park you go to the booths to pay for parking, then to the actual parking lot. If you are being dropped off, you enter the terminal from the luggage drop off area.

 

I don't know about kiss and ride for drop-offs on embarkation. But for returning, there is an area where you wait to be picked up. It has a couple of glass bus stop type shelters and very limited seating. You can ask a porter to take you and your luggage to that area.

 

I'm not sure how it works if you carry on your own luggage?

Edited August 10, 2014 by Mystaken

[dixieva]

Have cruised from Baltimore many times and I agree with the others- you drop off your luggage with the porters, then are directed to the lines to pay for parking and then park.

 

But whatever- it is a great port to sail from.

Edited August 10, 2014 by dixieva

[Mystaken]

A great port to cruise from!

 

Better signage would help. After pulling into the port area and upon leaving. We tried to follow the signs for I-95 N. It was very confusing. We went way too far before finally giving up on the signs and using intuition.

 

For people coming from the Eastern Shore or S/lower Delaware, Route 301, then 50 and Route 2 is another option for getting there.

Edited August 10, 2014 by Mystaken

[retiredgram]

Is there a kiss and ride area?

My DH will drop us off (best friend and I) if there is and easy in/easy out area.

Our son drops us off. When you pull in just tell the worker that you are dropping off and he will tell you where to go. You will pull up in front of terminal where there will be porter to put luggage in the luggage carriers and you enter port building right there. If you just have carry on, there is no reason to be concerned with the porters.

 

As you leave terminal there are signs directing you to 95 N or S.

Edited August 10, 2014 by retiredgram