Royal Caribbean Cruisers -- How Are Things Where You Are? (was "Routine" ​ 😁 ​day in lockdown... how was yours?)

[Sea Dog]

4 hours ago, maggieq said:

@Sea Dog  we were loyal to rccl for a very long time.  We love their ships and experience.  However, once you start adding in the extras, unless you get a super deal on the cruise price, it starts to get painful on he wallet.    We started cruising with celebrity a while ago and  have gone on one ncl and had a very good experience.  We like the all inclusive experience we have had with celebrity and ncl ((minus gratuities) 

 

I shop on a daily basis and have found some great deals.  
 

we do have the jewel booked for may only due to itinerary offered but we did get a great deal on cruise price.  Following that celebrity 9/9/2024 on a very unique itin on celebrity silhouette   All inclusive with $600 obc 

Yes I want to try Celebrity. It is more expensive than Royal but depends on the ship. I mocked booked the Ascent and it was 7k for a sunset veranda.

 

1 hour ago, h20skibum said:

Today was the one year anniversary of our daughter’s surgery.   Not something to celebrate, but to recognize one milestone on her journey.  So we recognized it with her.  

 

Lunch today at the Thai restaurant. 

 

Yummy Plate with meatballs, crab rangoon, gyoza, and spring rolls. 

 

My plate of Famous Pad Thai. 

 

Susan and I spent our evening serving at a funeral dinner at our church.  Seems like we have had too many lately. 

 

 

 

I’m glad you got to celebrate this milestone. I’m sorry you had to go to too many funerals.

 

1 hour ago, DaniDanielle said:

I will tell her this.  I told her miracles happen but right now they are trying to grasp all this.

 

 

 

 

I’m so sorry. There are no words I could adequately say.

 

18 minutes ago, patattack said:

I am finally diamond plus so I am going to try Celebrity Ascent Nov 2025.  I was going to email Ken this week and tell him if I inquired about the price of another cruise in 2025, to tell me NO.  I currently have Bella 2, Bella 2.5, Canada and New England on Liberty in Oct 2025 and Ascent Nov 2025.  I have never had 4 booked at the same time.  I do retire in May 2025.

Good for you. We have 5 booked too. Always something to look forward to.

 

[sgmn]

Here safely in Singapore. Nearly didn't make it, last night our flight was delayed leaving LHR.  Captain negotiated a one hour extension to the 11pm night flight ban and we made wheels up with 12 secs to spare. 

The hotel receptionist said something about an upgrade, but didn't realise till this morning that its a club room with happy hour access to the rooftop bar

View from our room last night

MBS Hotel

 

day time View 

Spot the river

[aussielozzie18]

6 minutes ago, sgmn said:

Here safely in Singapore. Nearly didn't make it, last night our flight was delayed leaving LHR.  Captain negotiated a one hour extension to the 11pm night flight ban and we made wheels up with 12 secs to spare. 

The hotel receptionist said something about an upgrade, but didn't realise till this morning that its a club room with happy hour access to the rooftop bar

View from our room last night

MBS Hotel

 

day time View 

Spot the river

Glad your pilot was able to get the flight out of Heathrow.    Congratulations on the upgrade.  Fabulous view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Edited February 23 by aussielozzie18

[sgmn]

On 2/21/2024 at 9:53 AM, aussielozzie18 said:

DD is planning on flying back home.  She has a fear of falling again with all the ice & snow.  She only had the operation on Saturday and I told her she must speak to her surgeon before she books a long flight home to Sydney.  I think there would be a risk with bloods clots on a long haul flight(s).

Sorry her adventure has been cut short. It won't feel like it now but shes young and has all her life ahead for adventures and travel.  I can understand her wanting to get home.

Great advice about checking with Dr's before travelling.  

[George C]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

Yes I want to try Celebrity. It is more expensive than Royal but depends on the ship. I mocked booked the Ascent and it was 7k for a sunset veranda.

 

 

I’m glad you got to celebrate this milestone. I’m sorry you had to go to too many funerals.

 

 

I’m so sorry. There are no words I could adequately say.

 

Good for you. We have 5 booked too. Always something to look forward to.

 

Celebrity prices have gone nuts , sky suite from nov 2022 was under 3k per person on Beyond, now it’s almost 2k per person more , that’s why we booked MSc yacht club which has better perks including a butler. 

[Coralc]

1 hour ago, George C said:

Celebrity prices have gone nuts , sky suite from nov 2022 was under 3k per person on Beyond, now it’s almost 2k per person more , that’s why we booked MSc yacht club which has better perks including a butler. 

We are taking a break until we get this house packed up and sold, and finish clean out and stuff on the other house. It is too expensive and an interruption to book cruises right now. The prices are ridiculous for run of the mill itineraries. 

[grapau27]

8 hours ago, DaniDanielle said:

Just spoke to my Michigan friend, things are not looking good.  They told her husband maybe six months.  My heart hurts.  

Prayers 🙏 on their way Marietta.

I'm so sorry for your friend and her husband.

36°F frosty but sunny here at the moment.

[h20skibum]

Daryl spent the night at our house. 
 

 

He is here for repair of a small leak, so he is ready for his summer adventure.  He was happy to be back in the water this morning. 😁

[grapau27]

@Ocean Boy.

I saw this and thought of you and your gorgeous cat.

[Arzeena]

14 hours ago, maggieq said:

@Sea Dog  we were loyal to rccl for a very long time.  We love their ships and experience.  However, once you start adding in the extras, unless you get a super deal on the cruise price, it starts to get painful on he wallet.    We started cruising with celebrity a while ago and  have gone on one ncl and had a very good experience.  We like the all inclusive experience we have had with celebrity and ncl ((minus gratuities) 

 

I shop on a daily basis and have found some great deals.  
 

we do have the jewel booked for may only due to itinerary offered but we did get a great deal on cruise price.  Following that celebrity 9/9/2024 on a very unique itin on celebrity silhouette   All inclusive with $600 obc 

We love Celebrity. However, gone are the days of the real "All Inclusive". One is paying for everything: wifi, drinks and tips, while booking or later via cruise planner. Your itinerary looks very nice. I love the Silhouette and the Equinox. You will enjoy this ship! $600 OBC sounds like you are booked in a suite ?
 

We also liked NCL a lot. We are Sapphire on NCL and love their perks too, although DH maintains that no perks like Royal's D+ and up. Have not had an opportunity to go on NCL in the past few years, but always window shopping.
 

MSC......UGHH!  But willing to give them a third chance.

Virgin.... don't know, don't think so, but still reading reviews and researching.

Carnival....been on three and not hesitant to try their newer ships fro FL.
Princess...YES PLEASE! Been and will go again!

 

JMHOs, based on our cruises. I think there is something for everyone out there!😁

[Sea Dog]

8 hours ago, George C said:

Celebrity prices have gone nuts , sky suite from nov 2022 was under 3k per person on Beyond, now it’s almost 2k per person more , that’s why we booked MSc yacht club which has better perks including a butler. 

Unfortunately while we saved well and have good pensions and 401k’s we are not made of money. When set up our retirement with our financial advisor she asked us what we wanted to do while retired. We said cruise. We figured out we could go on 2 cruises a year. Sometimes 3 if the prices are good. If the prices continue to rise we may end up only going on 1 a year. That would be a shame.

 

Which MSC Ships have you’ve been on and liked? Any special itineraries you liked with them?

[Sea Dog]

21 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

MSC......UGHH!  But willing to give them a third chance.

What happened that soured you on them. I really don’t know too much about them.

[Sea Dog]

8 hours ago, Coralc said:

The prices are ridiculous for run of the mill itineraries. 

Exactly! I am having a hard time even finding an itinerary that we haven’t already done several times.

[Ocean Boy]

47 minutes ago, Arzeena said:

We love Celebrity. However, gone are the days of the real "All Inclusive". One is paying for everything: wifi, drinks and tips, while booking or later via cruise planner. Your itinerary looks very nice. I love the Silhouette and the Equinox. You will enjoy this ship! $600 OBC sounds like you are booked in a suite ?
 

We also liked NCL a lot. We are Sapphire on NCL and love their perks too, although DH maintains that no perks like Royal's D+ and up. Have not had an opportunity to go on NCL in the past few years, but always window shopping.
 

MSC......UGHH!  But willing to give them a third chance.

Virgin.... don't know, don't think so, but still reading reviews and researching.

Carnival....been on three and not hesitant to try their newer ships fro FL.
Princess...YES PLEASE! Been and will go again!

 

JMHOs, based on our cruises. I think there is something for everyone out there!😁

I'd love to read your thoughts on MSC.

[mo&fran]

16 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Exactly! I am having a hard time even finding an itinerary that we haven’t already done several times.

I guess it is time to expand your cruising. TA cruises are fun. The ones we did visited some Med ports before the crossing. Those were Celebrity, the our first B2B on RCI, eastern Med , then across to Fl.

I'd like to go to Asia and Australia , but the long flight home makes me hesitate.

[Sea Dog]

Experimented with a mock booking on MSC for Yacht Club for two on a 7 night was over $6k not seeing that it is that much cheaper than Royal.

[h20skibum]

You all talking about cruises has me window shopping again.  I know I probably shouldn’t, because we have those bigger trips scheduled this summer.  With our week in Myrtle Beach, Utopia cruise, week at Disney($$$$$), and our Sun cruise, I am getting overloaded with planning.

 

Not only cruise prices are insanely high, but so are excursions.  I keep looking at that Bella cruise, but prices are up on it, and it is 3 weeks after we get off the Sun.  To do that one, I would have to either drive back to PA, then fly back to Florida a couple weeks later, or just stay in Florida for those three weeks.  
 

Decisions, decisions. 

[Sea Dog]

Just now, mo&fran said:

but the long flight home makes me hesitate.

Yes I don’t do well on long flights with my knees. Need to be able to move around.

[mo&fran]

2 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Yes I don’t do well on long flights with my knees. Need to be able to move around.

I do not find the TA flights to Europe bad, they have all been over night flights. 

We did do an east bound cruise, TPA  to AMS, that was great.

But it took a few days for the jet lag to go away.

[helen haywood]

Greetings from Puerto Plata. 

 

 

[George C]

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

Unfortunately while we saved well and have good pensions and 401k’s we are not made of money. When set up our retirement with our financial advisor she asked us what we wanted to do while retired. We said cruise. We figured out we could go on 2 cruises a year. Sometimes 3 if the prices are good. If the prices continue to rise we may end up only going on 1 a year. That would be a shame.

 

Which MSC Ships have you’ve been on and liked? Any special itineraries you liked with them?

Only recent cruise was on seaside , it’s fairly new , MSc has built many ships in last few years . They have a very nice Caribbean island which had a private area for yacht club, private island had waiter service for their lunch . You would love their private lounge huge bar with a piano and live music from 5 to 11. Yacht club is similar to celebrity suites on Edge class . If you want to see a show in main theater butler will escort you to the theater . Outdoor area has a pool and hot tubs bar and you can have lunch and breakfast there loads of very comfortable lounges never an issue on finding seats . Currently wife has a very good job but when she retires in a year or two we will need to budget , but I rather do less trips and do suites and fly first . If you are diamond on rccl , MSc will give you matching status which gives you a 5 percent discount, I get a ten percent discount because I am a veteran. MSc is also moving to Galveston at end of next year.

[Sea Dog]

1 minute ago, George C said:

Only recent cruise was on seaside , it’s fairly new , MSc has built many ships in last few years . They have a very nice Caribbean island which had a private area for yacht club, private island had waiter service for their lunch . You would love their private lounge huge bar with a piano and live music from 5 to 11. Yacht club is similar to celebrity suites on Edge class . If you want to see a show in main theater butler will escort you to the theater . Outdoor area has a pool and hot tubs bar and you can have lunch and breakfast there loads of very comfortable lounges never an issue on finding seats . Currently wife has a very good job but when she retires in a year or two we will need to budget , but I rather do less trips and do suites and fly first . If you are diamond on rccl , MSc will give you matching status which gives you a 5 percent discount, I get a ten percent discount because I am a veteran. MSc is also moving to Galveston at end of next year.

Thanks George for the info. Definitely will take a hard look. I do like being spoiled.😉

[bobmacliberty]

Just checked out of our resort. Having one last drink with lunch before being picked up at 12:45. Then, a long day of travel. Yuck. Should have decent weather, although not as warm, when we get back. Lunch view. 

[Arzeena]

1 hour ago, Sea Dog said:

What happened that soured you on them. I really don’t know too much about them.

This was our experience so nobody please scold me:
MSC was total chaos and confusion galore while booking and on board. All three times. Two times we booked directly through them and once with our TA. He was pulling his hair dealing with them too. The TA's company is not working with them anymore. One of our friends from the ex NCL crew is now HD on an MSC ship we were on....he has totally lost it! His being onboard did not help. It was just not for us. I never say never, and will give it a try again, but sitting it out for now.
MSC ships we were on: Divina (once) and SeaSide (twice). Cancelled the Meragvilla  because of too many headaches with the reservation.

We are not Yacht Club people and have never booked YC before, so I cannot sing those praises or say what I didn't like of YC. We are the normal stream "cruise enthusiasts" who will look for a deal more than a suite, points and amenities, (so perhaps our experiences with MSC are not that stellar) .....if the suite has the greatest deal, we will look definitely at it, I mean who would not like a suite and be pampered, I'd love that!!! but putting all the numbers together take priority to us than a butler, a drink package, chasing points, etc etc, so we will always look for deals, group rates , etc.
And I also keep getting the line, "Do you want to cruise once a year in the best suite or go on more cruises?". You know which one I am picking so far!😁 but everyone has their own desires to follow, so no right or wrong answers.

So having said that, I have cruised in a suite only 3 times : once in a Crown Loft on the Oasis, another time on NCL and once on Carnival. Crown Loft took my breath away. NCL was WOW and their service was WOWer! Carnival was a big suite, lots of space, no complaints.

[Arzeena]

2 hours ago, h20skibum said:

You all talking about cruises has me window shopping again.  I know I probably shouldn’t, because we have those bigger trips scheduled this summer.  With our week in Myrtle Beach, Utopia cruise, week at Disney($$$$$), and our Sun cruise, I am getting overloaded with planning.

 

Not only cruise prices are insanely high, but so are excursions.  I keep looking at that Bella cruise, but prices are up on it, and it is 3 weeks after we get off the Sun.  To do that one, I would have to either drive back to PA, then fly back to Florida a couple weeks later, or just stay in Florida for those three weeks.  
 

Decisions, decisions. 

We booked Bella 2 and 3 .
Excursions: our usual thing is to just go to the beach, in the ports, unless Royal has an excursion we would like to do.