Self Disembark and Other ?'s.

vital1 · #1 August 13th, 2012, 05:02 PM

Hi everyone! We are preparing for our first RC cruise in November on the Navigator out of NOLA. The last time I cruised was on Carnival out of Ft Lauderdale and we were off the ship and otw home by 0730. It was awesome! Does RC offer this?

Also, we are in a D1 (yay!) and I can't find anything about a mini fridge in the room. Is there one? If so, are there sodas? I'll be getting my son the soda package and am curious to know if the ones in the fridge are included. I can understand if they aren't b/c there's no way to tell if I had it or him.

One last question, for now anyway.....I've read there's a charge for room service. Does this go on my ship account or do I need to bring more cash to pay for this along with tips?

Thanks!

cb at sea · #2 August 13th, 2012, 05:08 PM

Yes..you can carry off your own bags on almost every cruiseline. Yes, you should have a dorm style fridge in the cabin. Canned sodas are NOT included in the package...only fountain soda. If you use a soda, the main person's charge will be billed for it.....around $2.25 or so.
The "charge" for room service ($3.95) is from midnight to 5:30 am....and it's the tip. Otherwise, there is no charge, but you should tip in cash the kitchen staff who delivers it....$1-5 is usual.

clarea · #3 August 13th, 2012, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vital1

Hi everyone! We are preparing for our first RC cruise in November on the Navigator out of NOLA. The last time I cruised was on Carnival out of Ft Lauderdale and we were off the ship and otw home by 0730. It was awesome! Does RC offer this?

Also, we are in a D1 (yay!) and I can't find anything about a mini fridge in the room. Is there one? If so, are there sodas? I'll be getting my son the soda package and am curious to know if the ones in the fridge are included. I can understand if they aren't b/c there's no way to tell if I had it or him.

One last question, for now anyway.....I've read there's a charge for room service. Does this go on my ship account or do I need to bring more cash to pay for this along with tips?

Thanks!

Royal has self-disembarkation. Sometime during the cruise you will be given the opportunity to select this.

There is a mini-fridge, and as you suspected, the sodas in the mini-fridge are NOT included in the soda package. They will be added to your Seapass (ship account) at the rate of about $2.50 each.

Room service is free except for between midnight and 5am, where they charge you $3.95 per order. This is charged to your SeaPass.

MrsPete · #4 August 13th, 2012, 06:01 PM

Self-disembarkation is the only way to go, but it really only works if you pack lightly. If you each have one medium-sized suitcase on wheels and a purse or tote bag over the handles, you'll have no problem -- you will have to pull your suitcase all the way down that small switchback ramp, so be sure it's something you can manage comfortably --do not push your limits, or you'll hold up other passengers.

The room contains a cooler, not a real refrigerator. It's sized like a refrigerator but it behaves like the things you can plug into your car's lighter. If you put a cold drink into it, it will remain cold. It will not, however, bring a room-temperature drink down to cold -- at least, not in a reasonable timeframe.

The soda package includes only fountain drinks. Your son can get a soda from any bar, any time -- no need to save them in your room; just get a fresh one.

Room service charge will be added to your final bill.
Cash tip goes straight to the server when the food is delivered.

TBone2K · #5 August 14th, 2012, 09:42 AM

You will receive checkout and customs forms a day or two before the end of the cruise. If you have your own transportation and aren't on a schedule you can let them know then. If you want to self-checkout I believe there is a charge for that, at least there was when we were on Rhapsody last year.

Instead, you might want to try this... The times when we had our own car or a late flight, we have put down that we want to leave at the latest time. It avoids the rush out the door, gives us time for breakfast, and there are far fewer cases to go through trying to find ours in the terminal.

newbiecruiser09 · #6 August 14th, 2012, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBone2K

If you want to self-checkout I believe there is a charge for that, at least there was when we were on Rhapsody last year.

WE have done self-debarkation on both out cruises and never got charged. Is this something new? Can anyone confirm? Don't want to have to pay to carry my own bags

mrsdoc3 · #7 August 14th, 2012, 10:22 AM

We've none self-debark on Carnival and Celebrity -- no charge. Seems odd that they would charge you for something that eases their burden.

silentbob007 · #8 August 14th, 2012, 11:16 AM

Unless something changes from NOLA last year, keep in mind that you will have quite a long way to navigate with your luggage to transportation.

TBone2K · #9 August 14th, 2012, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newbiecruiser09

We have done self-debarkation on both out cruises and never got charged. Is this something new? Can anyone confirm?

It was Rhapsody last August. I remember my wife and I both looked at it and thought it was an awfully cheesy thing to charge for. Perhaps it came and went quickly.

Is there still a "late disembarkation" option? I.e. leave anytime you want up until 11 or something, but you have to take your own bags. Maybe that's what I'm thinking of.

silentbob007 · #10 August 14th, 2012, 03:52 PM

Some ships do have an option to stay onboard for a longer time that costs money ... that may be what you were thinking about.

mrsdoc3 · #11 August 14th, 2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentbob007

Unless something changes from NOLA last year, keep in mind that you will have quite a long way to navigate with your luggage to transportation.

How long? Trying to decide if I want to do this in December.

vital1 · #12 August 15th, 2012, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBone2K

You will receive checkout and customs forms a day or two before the end of the cruise. If you have your own transportation and aren't on a schedule you can let them know then. If you want to self-checkout I believe there is a charge for that, at least there was when we were on Rhapsody last year.

Instead, you might want to try this... The times when we had our own car or a late flight, we have put down that we want to leave at the latest time. It avoids the rush out the door, gives us time for breakfast, and there are far fewer cases to go through trying to find ours in the terminal.

Do they let you stay in your room or do you have to go to a common area to wait? I understand the stewards have to ready the room for the next guests, but after a week of being around crowds I dread being herded into a room to wait to leave. I'll have my own car and would love to be able to leave when the first call is made.

vital1 · #13 August 15th, 2012, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silentbob007

Unless something changes from NOLA last year, keep in mind that you will have quite a long way to navigate with your luggage to transportation.

We've got packing down to a science

. My son and I can pack a weeks worth of clothes into a carry-on and a back pack each!

clarea · #14 August 15th, 2012, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vital1

Do they let you stay in your room or do you have to go to a common area to wait? I understand the stewards have to ready the room for the next guests, but after a week of being around crowds I dread being herded into a room to wait to leave. I'll have my own car and would love to be able to leave when the first call is made.

They do ask that you go to a specific lounge. I believe that announcements are not made in the staterooms anymore, so you won't be able to hear your call unless you are in the proper lounge.

jkskrap · #15 August 15th, 2012, 08:32 AM

As of last week - No charge for early departure, but you have to leave before 7:00 am. At around 8:30 am they are telling you to get out of the stateroom. We had breakfast in the MDR and then went back to the cabin to get our carry-on luggage. It was about 8:30 and the steward was ready to knock on our door. We had group 17 (estimated at 9:00 am departure). We went to the Gold C&A lounge and our number was called almost immediately.