All things Independence of the Seas

[Lisa-UK]

Nerysj

 

That info is much appreciated - very helpful.

 

We have a Nationwide credit card and I believe there is no charge (or a small fee) for withdrawing money, so thanks for that great piece of advice.

 

I forgot to ask one thing - the letter recently received re MTD encourages that reservations are made via RCI no longer than a week before sailing. If we do go for this option, would you recommend this? I was hoping to make the arrangement once on board, but if this may prove to be risky, will book our timeslot(s) ahead.

 

sorry- and another question please - (I am on a real roll now!). We are pre-paying our gratuities, but would like to leave tips for crew members and the cabin steward - will they be happy with payment in Euros??

 

 

thanks again

Lisa

[Pemcorgimum]

The tips for your steward are included in the pre paid gratuities or do you mean extra money- if so then Euros would be okay as long as they do get a chance to go ashore.

 

Some people were making MTD arrangements after getting onboard but maybe this was because it was only announced a few days before our sailing so not many had a chance to get it booked beforehand.

[Lisa-UK]

Hi Laura

 

thanks for your advice, the tips would be extra.

 

MTD...........:confused: I will have to rally the troops into making a decision about that one. I personally would prefer to book ahead, to save disappointment.

 

thanks again

Lisa

[henny penny]

Lisa UK - we have a Nationwide credit card but they DO charge for cash withdrawals!! There is no charge for using it to purchase with. We took all our euros for spending in port and $20 for tipping for room service. It is a cashless system on board ship - use your seapass card to pay for drinks , gifts etc then this will be charged either to your credit card or you can settle it on the last night at guest relations. All staterooms have a safe so you feel happy about leaving valuables behind!!

We did MTD as aparty of 6 - some nights better than others - harder to get a bigger table. Having said that we enjoyed the flexibility. Pre paid gratuities - vouchers left in your room on the last night - along with envelopes, you then give them to waiters and room attendants. Hope this helps!!!

 

Sue:)

[nerysj]

Nerysj

 

That info is much appreciated - very helpful.

 

We have a Nationwide credit card and I believe there is no charge (or a small fee) for withdrawing money, so thanks for that great piece of advice.

 

I forgot to ask one thing - the letter recently received re MTD encourages that reservations are made via RCI no longer than a week before sailing. If we do go for this option, would you recommend this? I was hoping to make the arrangement once on board, but if this may prove to be risky, will book our timeslot(s) ahead.

 

sorry- and another question please - (I am on a real roll now!). We are pre-paying our gratuities, but would like to leave tips for crew members and the cabin steward - will they be happy with payment in Euros??

 

 

thanks again

Lisa

 

Hi Lisa

 

We also have a Nationwide CC ..........ALWAYS use that to pay at the end of the cruise...........I hope you have registered it as your method of payment at the end of the cruise. PLEASE make sure that you tick the box on the online Setsail Pass that you DO NOT want RCI to convert your onboard account to GBP for you...........otherwise you will loose your 0% CC conversion fee. RCI will charge 3% for the honour!!! Henny Penny (Sue) is also right in saying that cash withdrawals will incur a charge. When are you going? Have you got time to aply for an Abbey Zero C card? It took my DH 2 weeks!! On my advice of course!!!

 

MTD

 

We were contacted several times in order to make a standing reservation for the same time every night - and as I pointed out to them, this did rather defeat the object of 'My Time Dining' ........it would therefore be 'I've set a fixed time dining'!!!! As I mentioned previously, turning up without reservation (as you are perectly entitled to) worked for us as a group of 4, but I have my reservations (excuse the pun) that you would have as much luck in securing a table for 7 without delay. I may well be wrong, but I have a hunch?

 

I think Euros would be OK, but I would think perhaps that dollars might be their preferance? As I said you could withdraw dollars from the casino's cashier in order to pay the staff - without charge. The pound has considerably weakened agains the dollar in the last few days.......bad news for those going away just now on US ships. Typical!!

 

Hope this helps.

 

Nerys:confused:

[nerysj]

Lisa ..............I see you're sailing 28th August .....no time for an Abbey Zero card!! I did mention this card on CC months ago......you probably missed it!!! we've only been back a few days.......we already have the CC bill!! Hey ho!!

 

Nerys:)

[Lisa-UK]

Hi Sue / Nerys

 

thanks again for your helpful advice...........that is why I love these boards - the people here are so helpful :D

 

It is a bit late for the Abbey card, (yes 13 days to go!!!!) We got the Nationwide one especially for this cruise - so hubby was quite organised :rolleyes: bless him!

 

I have definitely ticked the box with regards to the conversion! Ted from our Roll Call thread advised about that - invaluable advice...

 

Thank for the MTD info - so true Nerys it should be - 'I've set a fixed time dining'!!!! that made me laugh.........I am holidaying with the parents and a friend of theirs and so will leave that decision to them.........I don't want to get the blame for anything going wrong:eek:

 

thanks for your help

 

Lisa

[nerysj]

Lisa..........yet another tip about the conversion!!

 

I have heard that although people tick the 'box' about RCI NOT converting your on board account.............please double check when you check in...........and also on the last night before you leave. Finding out after you've left the ship is too late. Ours was ok, but just in case?

 

You know it makes sense!!

 

Regards from your friendly financial advisor!!!:p:p:p

[Lisa-UK]

Hi again

 

Thanks to my friendly financial advisor!!! Nerys........

 

I will definitely double-check the paperwork at check-in and again when we get the bill - that is a good tip and much appreciated.

 

thanks again

 

Lisa

[6MonthsHere6MonthsThere]

Hi again

 

Thanks to my friendly financial advisor!!! Nerys........

 

I will definitely double-check the paperwork at check-in and again when we get the bill - that is a good tip and much appreciated.

 

thanks again

 

Lisa

 

 

 

 

Also to help with this, we also use a highlighter pen as well to mark the box, really makes it stand out and also 2 or 3 days before the END of the cruise we pop by the Pursers Desk and ask for a printout of our Seapass account to date and you can check on there as the total so far will show in $US to the bottom left but if they are converting the currency it will also show a figure in GBP at the bottom right of the bill.

Have a great cruise:) :cool:

[Lisa-UK]

6Months.............

 

Thank you - I have just 'glow-ed up' the whole line on my SetSail pass in lurid yellow highlighter - :eek:

 

Great tip and many thanks for that...........

 

Kind regards again

 

Lisa

[Pemcorgimum]

I only ticked the box Lisa and checking my credit card bill yesterday it had gone through as I wanted- it was only for 10 pounds though as we had cleared most of it from casino winnings and from my American niece giving me dollars in exchange for Euros I had brought with me.

[Lisa-UK]

Hi Laura

 

Thanks for your reply.

 

Wow - sounds like you had a nice win in the Casino!! :) I can't wait to be onboard now and love the slots - I hear they have quite a few slot machines oboard Indy? :D I'm not so good on card/table games though......I get confused easily:confused:

 

I'm pleased that you had a great time.

 

kind regards

Lisa

[Pemcorgimum]

Lisa- we discovered the deal no deal machines the second week- they are from 1c up but we were usually playing 25c a time and we did find that the machines paid out for newbies but after a few days playing they weren't so kind to us- we think they had a sensor or something to tell if you had played before ( joke) They are next to the tables to the right as you come down the stairs from the Royal Promenade. We were glad we didn't discover them the first week as we would have been broke then. We won at first on them and then the rest of the time we were playing with RC's money not ours so it seemed a good deal ( or no deal) LOL A lot of fun though as there are 6 in two rows and we all played together.

[Lisa-UK]

Hi Laura

 

Ooooh - thanks for the tip re Deal or No Deal - my hubby will be pleased!!! :eek:

 

You are so right - it always seems that you have a little win early on and once you are hooked, the losing streak starts!

 

I will definitely be having a gambling budget - I could sit on those things all night!!!

[Pemcorgimum]

We just limited ourselves at the beginning and then after a few little wins we were using their dollars to play with LOL

[paper girl]

My wife is from Plymouth England and she has family in Pinner. We will be cruising on Independence of the Seas with her family on your side of the pond. We will be watching and chatting with you about this great ship. We have sailed on the Freedom twice now and just loved it. Can hardly wait to sail on the Independence.

 

We are from Pinner and have just booked for Oct 15th when are you sailing?

[Pemcorgimum]

We are from Pinner and have just booked for Oct 15th when are you sailing?

 

My aunt taught in Pinner Grammar School for many years. She retired in the 70s.

[atlaturne]

I read on some post that if you are traveling Eastbound vs.Westbound,that your cabin will either be in sun/or shady side.I never really thought about that, but it makes sense.Having said that, in traveling from London to Ft.Lauderdale,which side is sunny/shady?Port or starboard?Thanks

[6MonthsHere6MonthsThere]

I read on some post that if you are traveling Eastbound vs.Westbound,that your cabin will either be in sun/or shady side.I never really thought about that, but it makes sense.Having said that, in traveling from London to Ft.Lauderdale,which side is sunny/shady?Port or starboard?Thanks

 

 

After completing around 14 Transatlantic crossings, I hope I can help.Which cruise have you booked as it will depend on which ports of call you have, as to whether you will be taking a more southerly route (Maderia) or a more south westerly route (Azores), in both cases you will have more hours of sunshine(presuming there is some;) :cool: ) on the PORT side, but a couple more on the South westerly route.

[Kesaelcele's gramma]

I read on some post that if you are traveling Eastbound vs.Westbound,that your cabin will either be in sun/or shady side.I never really thought about that, but it makes sense.Having said that, in traveling from London to Ft.Lauderdale,which side is sunny/shady?Port or starboard?Thanks

 

It depends alot on your route. If you are sailing pretty much due East/West, you are heading into/away from the sun, and both sides are pretty shady! On our last TA (and we were sailing pretty much due west- Nov. 07) we were on the starboard side, and my husband says we were in the shade most of the day. For THIS November (pretty much the same route!) we are on the port side- hoping for a bit more sun! (Personally, I'm expecting the same thing. If the sun is in front of you, how can the sides be sunny?)

Any one else have any ideas? I'm really curious!

[6MonthsHere6MonthsThere]

It depends alot on your route. If you are sailing pretty much due East/West' date=' you are heading into/away from the sun, and both sides are pretty shady! On our last TA (and we were sailing pretty much due west- Nov. 07) we were on the starboard side, and my husband says we were in the shade most of the day. For THIS November (pretty much the same route!) we are on the port side- hoping for a bit more sun! (Personally, I'm expecting the same thing. If the sun is in front of you, how can the sides be sunny?)Any one else have any ideas? I'm really curious!

 

 

 

 

 

If you are as you say sailing virtually due west this November then you will definately have more sun on the PORT side as the sun will not be in front of you until late afternoon/early evening when it starts to set in the West.

[cruzobsessed]

someone wanted to start a thread just like this one not knowing that this one exists......so i thought i'd give this one a little bump:)

by the way this is what i know about the indy......i'll be on her for new years and I CAN'T WAIT!!!:D

[Alysia]

someone wanted to start a thread just like this one not knowing that this one exists......so i thought i'd give this one a little bump:)

by the way this is what i know about the indy......i'll be on her for new years and I CAN'T WAIT!!!:D

 

Let me tell you what I know about the indy.... We were on her in June and the ship is GREAT. The best food ever on RCCL. We will be on her again during Xmas and New Years!

[honeywell]

Where is your review!? :p I would love to hear about your trip and what you experience aboard the Indy...