Hotel CA

Very succinct and well done review--I also very much enjoyed the pictures you posted and was surprised at the size of your stateroom.

Thank you and I really appreciated your well done review.

Great Link Bob-- hope we get to cruise with Derek someday--his show looks awesome!!!

We really like Celebrity but it was just a tad to quite for our taste. However the specialty restaurants (especially Qsine) were the absolute best and a definite cut above Royal--mainly for the uniqueness and interesting nature of the food that was offered.

Who knew??-- it turns out we like the announcements and poolside entertainment and the more diverse (especially in age) crowd mix found on Royal--But both are good in their own way--just different

you cant compare the two, royal has gotten onboard to the suite complex ship within a ship concept.

Really?? Isn't that exactly what the Haven is (a ship within a ship concept)??

Not sure what you mean you cant compare the 2-- perhaps you could explain?

caipirinha is my favorite (must be made with cachaca NOT rum--ahh the national drink of Brazil!!!) and other favorite is Blue Hawaii when it can be found

they have hundreds of paintings on the boat. The only way to guarantee one you want will come up is to put in a "pre-bid". That's how they get people to place those pre-bids to get an item up there. Now, beyond that, some go for the entertainment of bidders in a bidding war, some go for the free champaign, some go for the drawings, some dont' go at all. eh. there is plenty of entertainment on board - look at it this way - if someone is sitting in the art auction, they aren't taking up a deck chair at the pool.

Unless of course they have left their towel and belongings on the chair while they attend the art auction (AKA -Artchairhoggs) :)

Too often we would have a great 6 days and then the bar tab arrived!!! Too many north of $1,000 bar tabs (including 50-75 $ per day of specialty coffees) made me an immediate convert to the ultimate package,

Nothing to worry about--it is all paid for before we even board!!!

I'm glad you started the thread. I'll have to admit being almost totally ignorant of Uber still they started advertising here and became the butt of late night host's jokes.

 

Given the amount of traffic around the ports and the security of the port, I would rather not have them around. Airports? I feel the same way, but they should be treated as any other private vehicle. Now off to see what people with real experience think.

I take it you have never used Uber or any other like service. I have found it to be super reliable, inexpensive, way more predictable/dependable than local cabs-- NOT to mention cleaner, nicer cars as well.

It is 'disruptve' technology of the best kind

You are a very entertaining reviewer--I can not get enough of your travelogue, MarilynTx.

I cant stop chuckling at your comments and love the honesty of your writing.

Keep em comin'

Our scheduled docking time into San Juan to end a cruise on Adventure of the Seas is 6:00 AM. Can we make a 9:45 AM flight? Thanks!

We did with ease but as Bob stated--everything has to line up right--

Its a risk/reward decision-- Question--how lucky do you feel???

The operating hours vary day to day. The hours will be listed in the Cruise Compass, which you will receive the night before the schedule in in effect.

or you can go online (when the website is functional) and go into dining reservations and see what is available (times each day) for whatever number of people you are dining with.

Travel roll of Duct tape.

 

Great for all kinds of emergency repairs eg,. torn luggage.

Security--- SECURITY????

Good Morning all-

Since I will have 4 days at sea on my honeymoon cruise, I am looking to get a Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage and Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial but I wanted to see if it was really worth the money.

 

Thank you-

Spa is pricey at sea but I absolutely love a seaweed wrap (great detox) after multiple days of consuming cruise ship drinks

Usually good with 10%-20%.

Bob--

when you say 10-20% do you mean each aspect of an excursion or do you just give 1 tip at the end and trust they will disperse the tip fairly? I am thinking of something that has multiple players like a sail and snorkel where you might be driven from the cruise pier to a marina in a bus and then you have deck hands, bartenders and snorkel instructor types-- just 1 general tip of 10-20% instead of tipping each a smaller amount?

I'm looking to a dater rom on the oasis and it has a white square with a black shadow. I'm looking to the key to symbols but I don't find the meaning of it.

Do you know by any change what does it means ?

Oasis room 14725

 

Thanks you

obstructed view room

Kick the back of the seats repeatedly in the cinema (it's not nice)

 

I once kicked the person who was kicking my chair when leaving the theater

I hope he/she was an adult !!!

Just saw on another thread that there is a special on the drink packages starting mid June. It shows up when you go to the beverage part of your booking.

From what I was able to find-- says that from 15 June to August you get a bottle of American wine or bubbly and 2 coca cola cups when you purchase the Ultimate-- Not much of an incentive it seems.

Too bad, wish they would run a special so I could buy 4 for self, DW,DS and his DW

I hate to admit this but I am a medical mess :( That being said I take way too many pills for someone my age.

 

I fill up (2) week supply in Sun - Sat daily containers. I keep all my pills, insulin and needles and stuff in a lil pouch I bought on Amazon.

 

When I went thru security in San Juan, after the cruise, they were asking for ppl to have out their laptops, shoes, etc... and ALL MEDICATION. I thought it was odd since they didn't ask when I left IL but I pulled out my pouch from my carry-on and they looked at the bottles and checked a couple to make sure my name (and my DH name) matched our ID.

 

I don't know if this is normal for that airport or not, I am just glad I brought the pouch with me!!

I carry 1 or 2 weeks of meds taken 4 X perday (I am a transplant recipient) and have never been questioned about any of my meds except the liquid Nystatin I carry, I carry everything in a weekly container divided into 4 bins per day and I print out my meds list keeping it with the pills. The other pills (pain meds etc) I keep separate in their bottles or a travel container as I do not want to be stopped for controlled substance without a prescription. Never had any issue but I ALWAYS carry with me (Never ever check them)

Nice review-- wish I had some of your fine medications (although I am granted an occasional access to the Jack D Cabinet)--Thank you John-- well done review

Taking for granted we're sailing RCI and noting consideration is given to each of these factors (which are listed in order of importance):

Itinerary

Price

Departure Port

Ship

Agree completely-- same ordered list for us

First we decide where we want to go then we decide How we want to travel so we generally decide on an itin and then price the various lines/ships that generally go there -- Once we know when and where it largely becomes price with some caveats -- we prefer Royal and Celebrity over Princess and Carnival and we are not fans of the giant magaships so we try and stay in the 3000 passengers and down but no less than 500 (as we tried small luxury once and were very unhappy with the limitations).

Bobbing, I would say.

 

i still do not believe this story.

No photo's on social media, so it cant be true.:D

 

 

 

.

Wowsers-- the new reality!!!!

OJ: "Well judge there are no pictures on social media"

Johnny C: " If it ain't online you can't do time"

Judge: "good point -- you are free to go Mr Simpson"

For the last 2 months, I've spent endless hours on the phone (long distance from Israel, no toll free from here),

 

 

Perhaps a friend in the US should send you Vonage :)

Unfortunately, our current leaders don't appreciate the greatness of America, which is disappointing on many levels. The harm being done may take decades to fix. /rant off/

Sadly it seems there are some who just cant help turning every discussion into politics. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Give it a rest will ya

I just sailed Serenade & Quantum within 3 months of each other... the best advice I can give you is this link right here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=45141335&highlight=final+thoughts#post45141335

 

Serenade was excellent. Quantum for me was just flat out jaw dropping and exciting!!

 

Serenade's itinerary is awesome... Anthem's isn't. What's more important to you for this vacation? Number of ports? Or the ship? Hands down by a bazillion miles if the ship wins that question you just have to try Anthem.

 

Do you hate change? Do you eat the same food everyday at home? Do you like structured times? Are you poor at making decisions? Then book Serenade.

Do you like excitement? Do you like adventure and new things? Do you like making choices rather than them being made for you? Do you like new and modern? Then book Anthem.

 

Whatever you choose have a great cruise! :D

Well said !!