Barry ATL

I am glad this thread popped up today.  Like the OP said, it has been a rough day at work.  I use the thoughts of an upcoming cruise to take me to my happy place.   🙂

DH and I have been on several cruises and never a bad one.  Each is unique and we usually have some wild story to bring home... well, not "wild" but definitely different... such as going to tour the Anglican Cathedral in Nassau and ending up in Brother Bo's broken down mini-van touring the island with both doors hanging open and me holding on to DH's wheelchair as Brother Bo speeds around the curves with the end of the story of him taking us to a lean-to shack that had 15 grills cooking beef and pork for our lunch.

Even when something goes wrong, we have fun with it.

So, again, thanks for all of the positive stories and putting a smile on my face this Friday afternoon.  

I have booked with a new Comfort Inn that is opening 10/1/2019.  They have free airport and cruise port transportation.  The price was right too.

http://comfortinnandsuitesmiamiairport.com/

2 hours ago, FTLCruiseGal said:

You would have to put it all into the slots, spin a few times, and then cash it out.  The important thing to remember is to spin the slots.

Thanks for the quick response.  I have seen others mention using the Cruse Cash to keep adding to their onboard account a little at a time.  Sort of like the (very) old "vacation club" accounts people used to open at a bank.  We have been adding a little here and there as time goes buy.  We are at the point that I am not sure if we are going to spend it all, so I just wanted to confirm we have an exit plan for the money.

I know the website states that the Cruise Cash is non-refundable.  If the on-board account only has Cruise Cash and there is money left at the end of the cruise, can it be cashed out at the casino on the last night?

If I get the drink package, I start the day with my first beverage and keep the cocktail napkin that comes with it.  I write cost of the drink and keep doing that all day.  At the end of the day I add them up.  I always make sure I have made a "profit" on the Cheers package before going to bed.  There have been a couple of hairy moments when I realized I needed three more drinks before bed.  But, I am going to make sure that no matter what, I win.   😎

I searched and could not find any Victory Fun Times copies for the 4 day itinerary (Key West and Cozumel).  Anybody have those or a link?

7 minutes ago, CruisingViper said:

The specialty coffee shop will have a few coffee's on their menu with alcohol added. There's also a spiked cappuccino on the desert menu in the MDR dinner.

You can always ask the bartender at Alchemy to make you something too.

The Alchemy Bar has hot beverages?  Most cruise ship bars don't have anything hot which is why I am asking about locations.

DH and I have purchased Cheers for our 11/4 Victory cruise.  Every time I purchase a drink package, I use the opportunity to try different types of drinks.  I spent one cruise trying all things "gin" to see if I could learn to appreciate gin.

On this cruise I would like to focus on hot adult drinks.  Coffee, chocolate, etc.  So, where are those types of drinks offered on the ship? What are your suggestions on things to try?

11 hours ago, coevan said:

you will have to download the Hub App to your phone and tablet, free of course

The reason I questioned this at all is because my tablet is Windows based and there is not a Hub app.  So, I wanted to make sure it would work on the phone while I was using the internet account on my Windows tablet.

The question has been answered and thanks to everybody for your help.

... now off to purchase that drink package to go with the internet package.   😎

What about the little sushi stand on Victory?  Is it pre-made or will they make to order?  Can it be customized?

Thanks!  Your answers fall in line with my assumptions.  I just wanted to confirm.  

We are going to buy the internet package  for each of us on our 11/4 Victory sailing.  We thought about using the Hub App for chatting, but can use FB Messenger if the internet plan allows.  So, here is the question:

I will sometimes use my internet plan on my tablet (Windows).  So, I will log my phone off of the plan and log in with the tablet.  Will the Hub app on my phone be able to use the "free" wi-fi when I log off of the paid plan?  To be clear, while I am using the tablet with my internet plan, will my phone still be able to receive chat messages via the Hub app?

Two other questions:

-- If each of us have the internet plan, will we still have to pay for the chat feature on the Hub app?

--Will FB Messenger work with the premium internet plan?  If so, then we can just use that.  FB Messenger has a Windows app so I will see the messages when I am on the tablet.

Thanks for all of the responses.  Definately not a deal breaker.  I just wondered.  Some states have higher achohol taxes.  I just wanted to make sure there were no surprises.  

I found this in the description:

Applicable state and local taxes will be charged to the guest folio when this program is used within US waters. The tax is based on the state's tax structure and the cost of the individual drink purchased (not the daily program rate). For example: if the drink price is $5 and the tax is 10%, the guest's Sail & Sign card will be charged $0.50 for tax. This applies to all US ports (embarkation home ports and ports-of-call).

We are booked on the 11/4/2019 Carnival Victory which stops at Key West.  So, does Carnival charge the tax?  If so, how much is the FL tax rate for drinks?

Disney is already one of the most expensive of the mass market lines. Paying double that for the few benefits would not be something I would do. For the same money, I could book TWO cruises. I vote for two cruises. :)

So, we have come up with a game plan.

Since most everybody gets off the ship right after breakfast, we will stay on the ship. After lunch, when people are starting to return to the ship, we will get off. We only need an hour or so to do a little shopping for CC specific items (specifically Disney CC pins).

Now, if we could just figure out how to get room service to deliver tea and coffee to the loungers in some of the more remote areas of the ship. That would really make me feel I am getting the classic cruise experience. :)

If you must have data, then VOOM will be less expensive than getting data at sea through your cell provider, if that is even possible. I know Verizon no longer offers data while at sea, but I believe AT&T still has offers it.

 

VOOM will be a flat daily charge no matter how much data. Additionally, if your phone is enabled for WiFi calling, you will be able to make/receive voice calls and texts over VOOM with no charges from your cell carrier.

Bob,

The reason AT&T still allows data over the Cellular@Sea network is because they own the company. The speeds for Cellular@Sea data is still GPRS (which means it is 1g... yes that is correct. Not 2g, 3g, 4g, or 4g LTE). That means that it will be worse than the worst cruise wi-fi you have ever experienced.

Also, to be safe, wi-fi calling should be activated while on your home cellular network. Some companies do a background download to your phone when activating wi-fi calling.

As to texts, if you have an iPhone, then texts will use the VOOM data network. Android is kinda iffy. My Android sends some texts over data and some using the cellular network. Geek friends with Android have reported the same experience.

We will get off at CC to shop. DH collects Disney pins and wants to get the ones that are only available on CC.

The CC food choices we have seen on YouTube vlogs did not blow us away. We both looked at each other and said "picnic food". We can get the same on the ship.

The movies are a great idea. I always love seeing movies in an empty theatre.

So, everybody has made me feel better about staying on the ship for most of the day. Thanks!

We are researching for a Disney Cruise. We are not fun in the sun kind of people. DH uses a wheelchair so beaches and pools are really our thing. When we cruise, generally, the ship is the destination.

From all of the vlogs we have seen on Castaway Cay, the only thing that is really appealing is a little shopping and getting a couple of pics with characters. After doing those things we will spend most of the day on the ship.

I have read that there are only about 60 full time employees on Castaway Cay and that the rest of the needed staff come from the ship. So, if we are on the ship most of the day, will there be anything to do?

Someone asked about washing glassware vs. paper. Paper requires a huge amount of water and wood to produce each cup. Washing is the way to go.

I am the person who buys the soda package. I am still using the insulated plastic cups given to us over a year ago. The #1 way to be environmentally friendly is to keep using something until it cannot be used any longer. Replacing items (car, fridge, insulated cups) with new is a huge ding on the carbon footprint and natural resources.

I really like the GeoBlue because they have a network and will pay the doctor or hospital direct. So, if something major happens we are not trying to cover a major expense out of pocket.

I mentioned GeoBlu earlier. One of the nice aspects is when using their network, GeoBlu will act as the primary carrier.

Also, I found the sister site to GeoBlu.

https://www.hthtravelinsurance.com/

They have different products, but one of them is trip cancellation. He medical part has a lower limit than GeoBlu ($500,000 vs. $1,000,000), but this is the coverage we buy if we want to traditional trip cancellation insurance and medical.

Is this strictly medical? I haven't ever bought travel insurance and the cruise we were on last year we had two medical Evacs and one was so serious they turned the ship back three hours to get the patient to a hospital. I got a quote on this geoblue website and it is $65 for four of us with a $1,000,000 medical limit? Does that sound right?

 

 

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This is strictly medical. If you call the 800 number the will give you the name of their companion company. The companion company will offer a package of the GeoBlu insurance along with trip cancelation, delay, etc.

For true health insurance when traveling that includes a network of providors we use http://www.geobluetravelinsurance.com. My DH has several medical conditions so I am very careful about travel medical insurance. The bit attraction is they have a network of doctors and hospitals across the globe and if you visit one of them, all of the expencses are billed directly to in insurer. I do not have an extra $10,000 to float until when/if the travel insurance reimburses me. GeoBlue has an associated company (I do not remember the name) that will package tradition travel insurance with their travel medical plans.

Was on another cruise line TA last year and was offered this service for €3.50 per day.

tnt10

I know we complain about the cruise lines nickle and diming us to death, but this is something I would pay for. Only on a cruise do I have time to sit and leasurly read. I would love the opportunity to be able to read a real newspaper cover to cover. :cool: