Live from the CB (Aug 24 - 31)

[Berliner]

I'll be sailing on the ship December 7th on a S Caribbean itinerary (San Juan/Puerto Rico, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Tortola, Saint Thomas, San Juan/Puerto Rico), and the whole engine situation is giving me pause. Any folk experienced with the ship issues and itinerary have insight into whether the port times and/or ship experience would be compromised in any way? I'm considering the Adventure of the Seas instead for the same timeframe since I'm within cancelation, but thought I'd solicit some opinions.

 

 

don't worry the last inspection a week ago was cleared without any problems http://psix.uscg.mil/PSIX/PSIXDetails.aspx?VesselID=670768

(click submit under Coast Guard Contacts) so go ahead and look forward.

[resstation]

Sounds like we should bring our laptop so we won't have to wait in line at the internet cafe? I heard there is wireless access in a few places, correct? ENJOY YOUR CRUISE! Keep a seat warm in the casino for me. We'll be there 10/5.

[karmacruiser]

I'll be sailing on the ship December 7th on a S Caribbean itinerary (San Juan/Puerto Rico, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Tortola, Saint Thomas, San Juan/Puerto Rico), and the whole engine situation is giving me pause. Any folk experienced with the ship issues and itinerary have insight into whether the port times and/or ship experience would be compromised in any way? I'm considering the Adventure of the Seas instead for the same timeframe since I'm within cancelation, but thought I'd solicit some opinions.

 

We are sailing the week after you in December. This will be only my 5th cruise, but my husband has been on 25+ cruises and is not worried since we are leaving from San Juan and the ports are much closer together than sailing down from New York where they shortened/changed port times. Also, the excursions are up and they are not showing any time changes so I think we will be fine.:)

[Cinerama]

 

Someone posted that Bert Stratton was still on board yet I had read a while ago he wasn't cruising anymore. Just curious on that one.

 

 

We will be on the ship 10/12. I sent an email to Bert and he said

 

"I'm just filling in for a short time and unfortunately I don't plan on being on the Caribbean in October."

[Cinerama]

Hi everyone, I am live from the CB if anyone has questions.

 

We boarded yesterday in Brooklyn, getting to the port was a breeze, security, checkin and boarding were basically instant. We arrived around noon and we onboard around 12:15pm.

 

We are in the family suite, it is PERFECT for our party of 4, 6 or 8 would be pushing it I think.

 

:D

 

Being in a family suite do you get preferred boarding?

[dcrow72]

Did you make a mistake when you said dry dock in October? I'm starting to worry again! We're booked on the repo cruise 10/26.

[D&N LUV 2 TRAVEL]

The CB will be in drydock from Dec 28th until Jan 24th. Its 1st sailing will be Jan 25/09.

[traveler525]

Thanks Casshew for your posts! We are very excited as we will come onboard Sunday ! Yay!

 

Sorry to hear about all the lines -- we are also anytime dining :mad:

 

Am interested though also in the entertainment -- thanks so much for taking the time to let us know!

[njdgs]

Just another 'Thank You' for taking the time to post during your cruise!

[superdxa]

The fire was in E220

NOT E120 and E202, those were our rooms

[Casshew]

Oh my gosh what a GORGEOUS day we just had in Halifax, Nova Scotia... suny a blue skies, 70 - 75 degrees (18 - 22) Perfect, perfect PERFECT!

 

The CB arrived around 8:00am and we were off at 9 to meet our guide from www.yourcab.com (or it might be yourcab.ca - can't remember)

 

We went for a drive around the different areas of halifax and then to Peggy's Cove which is one of the most beautiful little places to walk around. Then we went to the Titanic grave yard, the Citidel and the boardwalk - which is shops and restaurants and the Titanic Museum.

 

Our guide was a retired Police detective (30 years on the Halifax force) and was such a nice guy and great with the girls. It was a really great day.

 

at 5pm we sailed away from Halifax on our beautiful large balcony - wind free - I might add. The Carnival Victory was here so we got to see her up close and personal.

 

Can you tell us more about the changes in the works during the drydock? Our sailing will be in May - after the drydock. Hopefully it will help with the crowded conditions! I'm glad we have Traditional Dining.:D

 

Moving the Casino, adding family suites without balconies... taking away Sterlings adding a crown grill, adding a sanctuary, new carpets, new brass, changing the atrium to a piazza, new generator, scraping and painting the hull etc...

 

 

 

Thanks for your time! We'll be sailing CB on 10-5. Looking forward to our first trip to New England. If you wouldn't mind...keeping an eye out for daily spa specials? I love the ginger and lime scrub/massage. RCI normally puts that on special one day during their cruises. If it does, I'd like to book the appropriate day. Enjoy your journey!!!

 

I have seen just one advertised so far (but I really don't pay too much attention) it was for a ladies night after Boston with facial and massage specials.

 

Thanks for the live updates! We will be on that cruise on Oct 5th. When in Oct will the ship be in dry dock for repair? Give us your thoughts about the entertainment. I've read some bad reports. We didn't book a tour in Halifax, we've been there before and went to Peggy's Cove (BEAUTIFUL). I would love to hear how you spent your day there. Looking forward to reading all of your posts. Thank you!!:)

 

Hi there - January 2009 is drydock

 

I have not really seen any entertainment yet LOL we have been tired, haven't even made it out to MUTS yet.

 

Bert Stratton is on board

 

 

Hi Bob! We had a full hot breakfast in the suite today including pancakes, eggs, bacon, etc... every day they have been delivering chocolate covered strawberries, tonight we recieved a letter with 4 VIP immigration passes so we don't have to line up in Bar Harbor for US Customs. Haven't used laundry yet, but I will.. the robes are EXTRA nice, really think and comfy - not the light robes that are usually there, and we have slippers which we are all wearing as the balcony floor hurts our feet lol

[Casshew]

Sounds like we should bring our laptop so we won't have to wait in line at the internet cafe? I heard there is wireless access in a few places, correct? ENJOY YOUR CRUISE! Keep a seat warm in the casino for me. We'll be there 10/5.

 

There was only a line up because the internet was not working earlier and I guess people were all arriving at the same time. It is Very very slow, it seems like ages to load a page, even to login takes like 5 minutes +++

 

 

Being in a family suite do you get preferred boarding?

 

Yes you do, when you enter the cruise terminal there is a sign for Priority check in and even priority security check,. However, there was no one in any of the lines so we just took the normal line and went straight on the ship there was no reason to take the priority line.

 

We are going to the buffet tonight and skipping the dining room... we can also order from the dining room to the family suite - they bring in the dining menus menus every morning. (Lunch and Dinner) It's Italian night :)

[NeurosurgeryNP]

I'll be sailing on the ship December 7th on a S Caribbean itinerary (San Juan/Puerto Rico, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Tortola, Saint Thomas, San Juan/Puerto Rico), and the whole engine situation is giving me pause. Any folk experienced with the ship issues and itinerary have insight into whether the port times and/or ship experience would be compromised in any way? I'm considering the Adventure of the Seas instead for the same timeframe since I'm within cancelation, but thought I'd solicit some opinions.

These ports, like the NE/Canada ports are all relatively close together (like out repo cruise ports) and should be unaffected from what we have heard.

[marvelous M]

Thank you so much for the updates. We are on Sunday 8-31 I only hope our weather is as good as yours has been. Do you know if there is a waiter on board by the name of Silva? Which dining room is the anytime dining? Is it the one in the back of the ship or the one in the middle of the ship? Do you recommend bringing our own lap top? Again thank you!

[tango9]

we will be on CB 2/14/09. Looking forward to the changes to be done in drydock, but it sounds like a lot of work ( moving the casino to a different floor!) I hope there won't be any glitches in getting it done on time

 

Do you know which regular balconies are covered and which floors are not?

 

Have a great cruise!

[Nymue]

Hey Darlin~

 

Hope your are having a wonderful time :D What is the 'Ultimate Tour' all about?

 

Hugs to you & Noel,

Anne :p

 

He talked about the new Ultimate Ship's Tour that will take place on the Ruby.

.

[psupa]

For anytime dining, what time are most people going that there is a waiting time of 30 minutes or longer. Just curious because we are doing anytime dining on our cruise in October. This will be the first time we are trying it.

[RASHOPPER2]

we will be on CB 2/14/09. Looking forward to the changes to be done in drydock, but it sounds like a lot of work ( moving the casino to a different floor!) I hope there won't be any glitches in getting it done on time

 

Do you know which regular balconies are covered and which floors are not?

 

Have a great cruise!

 

THE BALCONIES ON THE CARIBE DECK ARE LARGE AND HALF COVERED.

[Love Boat Dream]

We loved our Caribe balcony that was half covered. It was a very large balcony. The balconies on Dolphin are all uncovered.

 

PS: Hi RA!

[Woobstr112G]

Hope you enjoy your cruise......Sorry to hear about anytime dining. Probably due to all those that think that reservations are the "Cure All." IMHO reservations actually defeat the real purpose of anytime dining.....

 

Despite the dining issues, I hipe you have a wonderful cruise....

 

Bob

 

Future: Diamond Princess Aus/Nz 01/09

Future: Emerald Princess Med/Trans Atlantic 10/08

Constellation British Isles/Norway 07/06

Summit Alaska Repositioning 05/05

Summit Panama Canal 10/02

Rhapsody Of The Seas Alaska 09/01

Spledour Of The Seas Baltic 09/99

Veendam Eastern Caribbean 07/96

Holiday Western Carribean 07/93

[geesherry]

Thanks for taking time to keep us all informed.

 

 

 

Are the menus the same as we've seen for the Caribbean itinerary? What's the order been so far?

[Avatar345]

We are sailing the week after you in December. This will be only my 5th cruise, but my husband has been on 25+ cruises and is not worried since we are leaving from San Juan and the ports are much closer together than sailing down from New York where they shortened/changed port times. Also, the excursions are up and they are not showing any time changes so I think we will be fine.:)

 

These ports, like the NE/Canada ports are all relatively close together (like out repo cruise ports) and should be unaffected from what we have heard.

 

Thanks guys, that's what I'm hoping. :) I'll stick with this booking, baring any additional drama/damage.

[1 cruise]

I know that the CB doesn't yet have the International Cafe, but does anyone know if it costs extra for the sandwiches, hot tee's, bagels, etc...I know that you have to purchase the coffee card..Thanks for any information.....;)

[ggprincess2004]

Hi Cass,

Thanks for taking the time to post during your cruise. Enjoying your reports. Sorry to hear that anytime is a problem this cruise....we have not had that experience with anytime luckily. But in a suite you are supposed to be able to get priority reservations. Check with the cc hostess......:)

 

Hope the weather continues to cooperate.....and you continue to enjoy the suite life!!!!:D

 

Ginger

[Natasha708]

Ship is cruising at around 17 knots comfortably - you would not know anything is wrong.

 

Casshew!

Thank you so much for your updates. It's very nice of you to take the time away from your vacation to keep us " have to know it alls" informed. :)

 

Personally, I would like to hear more about the menu in the dining room and Carib Buffet.

 

I'm also interested in hearing about the Movies.

 

Thanks again for your time.

Have fun!

 

Warm Regards,

Natasha