MattInFLL

Hello, wondering if this is dock or tender?  And exactly where?  I have seen conflicting information.  We have no interest in going to Resorts World and would rather explore on our own, with a golf cart rental (or similar).  Anyone remember if they are available wherever we end up off the ship.  And please, before you tell me go to the Bahamas board - I tried.  I could not find pertinent information on this question.  Thanks!

Arriving on Celebrity Reflection late in June on a Sunday.  The ship only offers Resorts World and the “Sapono” snorkeling as excursions.  I have heard there are golf cart rentals available.  I assume this is a tender port.  Is there a golf cart rental place near where the tenders dock?  What is a ballpark price.  If google maps is correct, it would seem that the most interesting part (in terms of things to do) of the island is south of where the cruise ships are, in Alice Town.  We are not big beach people.  I don’t need to lounge on a beach or play slots in yet another casino 🙂

Thanks for any tips.

We are booked in a Celebrity Suite on Reflection in June. I started looking at dining options and for our cruise when you look at the dinner menu in Luminae it is the same for each night. Is that true? It just does not seem like a lot of variety for multiple nights.

Thank you. 

Thank you.  After my third call to the company to check on various aspects of my booking and excursions, I asked again about the upgrade.  This time the rep said it was only a few hundred more, and did not understand the "wild" quote I was given before (he could see it in the notes).  So I jumped at it.  

On the short port to port trips they don't let you book an exact cabin - you find out when you board.  I get into Tromso the night before, so I can board as soon as the ship gets in and sort everything out.

I didn't realize I chose a Polar Outside for my r/t from Tromso on the Kong Harald, until I reviewed my booking again.  I called and asked about upgrading to the Arctic Superior and it is more than double the price.

It seems the only real differences are having a view rather than an obstructed porthole, and a tea/coffee kettle in the room.  Is there anything else to warrant the big price difference?  I don't generally drink tea or coffee, so that is not important to me.  But if there is some other major amenity....

Thank you.

Thanks so much for your feedback and the crossed fingers.  I have a ton of cold weather gear from ski trips in the Rockies to 12,000 feet. I am hoping that at least some of that will be able to re-purposed.  I am hoping the anticipated heightened solar flare activity for this year and next will work in my favor.

I did not take the meal package because I just don't eat very much. I almost always skip breakfast, and if I am out on deck in the middle of the night hoping for the aurora, I would more likely sleep in.  But glad to hear it won't be all fish 🙂

I am guessing there is no late night snack or room service option, other than if you buy packaged snacks at the ship store or bring some on.

Hello - 

The Northern Lights are a bucket list, and Tromso seems to be a good place to start.  I decided to do the ferry to Kirkenes and back (about 4 days) rather than book a "northern lights chase tour" every night from Tromso.  I will be on the Kong Harald during Thanksgiving week.

Any experiences/info are welcome. 

Does Hurtigruten provide cold weather gear (the land tours do) or do I need to pack 100 layers and snow pants? 

I have heard the crew will do announcements at night when they are visible - does this really work?

I truly dislike fish.  Will there be a chicken or beef option on the menus (or some protein that does not swim)?

What are the bars like?  Should I bring a bottle on board for an after dinner or night cap?  Is that allowed?

I've done 54 mainstream cruises - how far afield will I feel on this passenger/ferry?

Thank you!

Well I sent an email to rcldining@rccl.com after doing some more searching, and got an automated reply that I needed to put ship name and sailing date in the subject line for it to be considered.  So I sent it again and I put the date as "June 23, 2023".  I received the same automated response.  I don't know if that is what it always says , and my request is being reviewed - or if I was supposed to put the date in a format like 6/23/2023.   It's been 2 days and no response as yet.

Hello - pre-pandemic, I had the emails for a couple of the office administrators for RCL's onshore dining department/operations.  They would assist with, for example, coordinating putting together multiple separate reservations at Chops into one table/time for a special dinner.  None of the people I used to communicate with are there anymore and now when I send an email to rcldining I am getting bot-like responses.

Anyone had any recent luck with speaking to the onshore administration for dining?  

Thanks

3 hours ago, dogsambam said:

NO MORE PRIORITY BOARDING FOR DIAMOND AND DIAMOND PLUS!!!!!

This is real?  No priority line for D and D+ - I would think I would have heard a lot about that in my casual browsing from other social media outlets...

1 hour ago, Coralc said:

Well, you will surely enjoy e-muster. 😃 It knocks the socks off of the previous muster drills. Watch the life jacket demonstration video and listen to the horn on your phone in your Uber or at the hotel. Then check in at your muster station when you board, and you're done! 

Also good to know - that is actually a profound change.  I'm sure everyone loves that.  I just saw where NCL tried to revert to regular musters and there was a revolt and so they scrapped that idea.  I figured RCL was just keeping to musters in restaurants and lounges.

2 hours ago, Tlbecker1 said:

You can enjoy all 5 of your drinks in the diamond lounge.  Any drink under $14, which includes any drink that I have ever enjoyed.

Good to know - that is an improvement and I am sure changes the calculus for D+'s on whether to buy the drinks package.  (Although, admittedly I probably still will because there are lots of other things I get during the day.)

Apologies - thanks to not living near a RCC cruise port for a while and that little pandemic thing, I have not been on board since 2018.  I understand as a D+ I will get 5 vouchers per day.  When it was the 3 per day, I remember that what you could use the voucher for, in terms of drinks, was fairly limited in terms of type/brands of liquor - that there was like the "list" of what it could apply to.  Honestly, I never used them back then, because the drinks package always worked out to be better for me.  With 5 drinks on the voucher I might change my calculus.

Where does that stand now?  

OK, so truly not much has changed other than the 5 drinks on the card for D+ and no more drinks in the lounge.  That I think is a shame - it was always such a nice social thing (at least in the past). I am really surprised they have not upped their game for a more seamless experience that doesn't require the set sail pass, and finally doing away with paper cruise planners and putting things on an app.

By the way, are the drinks on the card still limited to a select few types of liquor, beer and wine?

Thanks for the comments, all.  

Note - not looking for food reviews or service decline comments 🙂. This is about the “process” of cruising and how things work.

In 2018 I moved to a city that really had no RCI cruise options, and then there was that pandemic thing.  But now I am moving back to FL and doing a big birthday on a 3 day Freedom in June.  I’ve done 54 cruises so I know my way around, but just wondering if there have been any changes in certain areas.

First - Freedom itself - it’s been revitalized - what does that mean?  I was last on her in 2014.

2. Embarkation - last I cruised, they were trying hard to go to streamlined e-check in - have they succeeded?  Or still the long line ups? (Leaving out of Miami).  And can you still generally get on the ship before noon if you get to the terminal early?

3.  If I can ask without starting a fight - what’s the deal with lounge access now, or is it all about drink coupons on your seapass?  (I am D+ and I get the Deluxe drink package anyway, so not a big deal - but I always liked the lounge).

4. Speaking of a seapass - are we still being issued cards?  Or have they gone to bands or something else?  Maybe the onboard app has become more useful?

5. On these 3 day cruises, are they still doing an outdoor deck party at least one night?

6. Coco Cay Beach Club Day Pass - any thoughts on it?  (What they are charging for cabana’s is absolutely insane.)

7. Where has the continual formal night argument ended up?  I am going to assume it remains - dress up if you want to, but they’re not really turning anyone away from the restaurant (unless it’s a bikini or speedo and nothing else, I suppose).  (And let’s not argue about it here if we can avoid it - just wondering the state of things).

8.  What is the night life centered around now?  I remember that most of the Voyager and Freedom class were losing their nightclubs (the Crypt?) during refurbs, and switching to other venues?

9. What are the late night eating options these days?  Still just Sorrento’s and the little sandwich place on the Promenade?

10. Do they still print a daily cruise planner - or has it gone completely digital?

Thanks for indulging me!

No, they're not.  I actually use the flavorings now to get through the half gallon of water I'm drinking every day.... but I do like the taste of alcohol and the habit of lifting the drink to your face seems hard to break 🙂  The NA beer is actually quite satisfying (and low calorie!).. and I have found a distilled non-alcoholic spirit made in the UK that makes a great mock gin and tonic - but it's so hard to find on land, I know there's no way that would be on board 🙂

Ha Ha 🙂

The latest post I could find on this topic was from 2016 - so just wondering if anyone has had recent experience on the brand(s) available.  I was hoping for something other than O'Doul's.  Becks makes a great one - but hard to find.

I'm about to do my first cruise where I don't buy a drinks package and try to stick to a weight management program I've been doing rather successfully and alcohol and weight loss don't mix for me.  🙂  Club soda with lime gets very boring. 🙂

My friends who were there in July said they are now beachfront and over where the jetskis have always been.

If you go on a heavy port day it will be crazy from the airport or from downtown. Having lived in Miami for many years, I am personally picking Budget downtown. If the shuttle looks like it will be a hassle, there are hundreds of Uber's in the area and you are 5 minutes from the port. To reliably get a cab or Uber from the airport, you really need to take the people mover back to the airport from the car rental center, and then it is a long walk to the curbside pick up areas. I personally would not trust a lot of Uber drivers in Miami to know how to get to the car rental center or where to pick you up.

I think the Budget location looks crazy because it is such a small office compared to the Avis and Hertz - so everyone is outside.

Matt, thanks for the flow rider pic. It is appreciated. We are returning to Radiance in July and I look forward to getting some of the Mushroom Risotto from Giovanni's. I miss it at Jamie's.

 

Since I know you are a car guy I thought you like this too. It won’t arrive until May (wintering at its current location) and a couple are leaving. It has under 300 total miles.

 

 

Very very nice. Will you add a few miles (I hope) ? I’m flying to LA this coming weekend to take advantage of the LA Auto Show. Always nice to go to a “real” one. :)

Just an FYI for anyone reading - there's a line there (right next to the big Mobile Passport sign - the farthest line as you approach) and if a port worker is near it they may open it for you.;)

That’s true. The workers were there and Global Entry is the first line and Mobile Passport was the last one. But they would not open either. They said to all of us walking towards them hoping to use them, “no Global Entry or Mobile Passport right now - there’s no need.” Which was true. They didn’t even want to see mobile passport receipt when they checked my passport.

The self departure started at 7:15. I was in line at 7:25. It looked long but moved quickly. Since the terminal wasn’t crowded, no separate Global Entry or Mobile Passport lines. I was in my taxi by 7:50. All in all, pretty efficient. But I think we will all be glad when Pier 25 is back. :)

The lines for the shuttle buses and mid port garage were looking long. There were plenty of taxis and no one waiting.

Last night. Boo hoo.

We had our dinner in Gio’s. I could eat their carpaccio and their risotto all week. Sorry, no food porn pics.

Peter did a good job with our large group.

I thought they did away with Wow envelopes.

Tonight was something new: Family Quest. No men in undies and high heels or bras flying. Searches for candy and straws. I don’t get family friendly Quest. It’s not the point IMHO.

About to say our goodbyes until next time in Labyrinth.

I will have compasses posted soon. And the elusive bar menu. The new ones are hard to find.

Just to clarify in case someone thinks they get both, the D+ internet perk is $40 off a package OR 2 free continuous 24-hour periods of unlimited internet.

Thanks Bob, yes that’s what I meant :)