WrittenOnYourHeart

I've only sailed Disney Dream (x2) and HAL's Westerdam so far (well, the SS Emerald Seas back when I was in 6th Grade, but I think we pretty much went straight to the cabin then as we definitely went to the pier from the airport - my parents still talk about the hellacious cab ride in Miami and say they are very glad my sister and I were in the rear-facing back seat of the station wagon cab). Disney's embarkation pattern seems closest to Royal's with cabins not being ready until 1 or 1:30, so... On Disney I board, I go to guest services to sign up for anything I need to and leave a deposit for my account, then go up to Cabanas, pretty much their version of the Windjammer from what I can tell for lunch and have never had a problem with crowds as I'm usually in one of the first couple of boarding groups and everyone else is all SWIM SWIM SWIM. Then I'll explore the ship for a little and then head to my cabin.

 

I anticipate doing something similar next summer when I'm on the Radiance. I'll be with a group where we'll rotate tables among those assigned to the group, and won't know those numbers until we have our welcome reception, so there's no point to going and finding out my table. (On Disney, the table placement will be different in each main dining room, so even knowing the number someone will guide you at least the first night in that dining room.)

Oops! I have phrased that one wrong...I mean before you get access to your room (get the key on check in) sorry for the mix up :)

 

I find lunch very busy as soon as we board so was seeing if anyone had any tips for alternative places to go or insider secrets ;)

 

Lisa xx

 

Thanks for clarifying! I was trying to figure out a) how on earth they would handle finding everyone on board to give them their cards and b) why on earth no one else had protested having to wait in SUCH A LONG LINE to get their cards! :p

[quote name='MaritimeR&R']Believe it or not, there was a time when some people thought jumping overboard was an expedient and inexpensive way to end ones' life.

My father worked for the cruise lines for almost 50 years: White Star, Cunard-White, Moore-McCormack and finally for Princess until his death in 1969; many of the people who worked alongside him (including him) saw death at sea to be efficient. They lived through World Wars, the Depression, and saw the expense of a funeral as a burden to their families.[/QUOTE]

Excellent point.

Plus the assumption that he was depressed may not be correct either. He could have had a terminal disease and opted this out rather than undergo expensive, painful, and possibly fruitless medical intervention. He could have developed early onset alzheimer's and set up a system to help him know when to end it (the utter horror of early onset is you are aware of what you lose day by day and often people will set up some kind of reminder question series that will pop up on their phone or computer and have a link to a file with their plans to end it when they cannot answer the questions anymore).

Yes, feel for their friends and family. But don't assume that they were depressed.

However you choose to carry your Seapass card, the most important thing is to have it at the ready when getting off and back on the ship in port. :)

 

And getting off the ship at the end of your journey! Getting off my recent HAL cruise, the number of people who got to the gangway to disembark who had packed their card was shocking. Clearly they didn't watch the disembarkation tutorial on the television. (Granted, nowhere near as amusing as Christiaan's disembarkation video on the Disney Dream (I've only had him as CD so I don't know how the others are on DCL), but still informative. And included DO NOT PACK YOUR CARD.)

I love the thermal suite on Radiance ships but I would advise asking the staff about whether everything is working before you put your money down. The Radiance class ships all have these facilities and they are lovely but often one or another of the steam or sauna is often having mechanical problems.

 

We have also found we used them most on cruises where the weather is a bit "crispy" so the Baltic or Alaska. We hardly used them on our Hawaii trip

 

Ask about pricing on boarding because they often have a special couples price for the cruise. We've paid $199 for both of us but I can't remember how long that cruise was for.

 

Thanks. This would be in Alaska next summer on a running cruise. Those heated ceramic chairs on HAL were awesome for sore muscles this year (and the ones on DCL gave me my best nap ever!). :)

There you go Bob's got it!!!

I'm headed there right now. I love to hear the dueling Disney whistles!!!

Cheryl

 

Sadly, their most whistle loving captain, Captain Guus, is with the Wonder in Alaska right now. He loves to play all 7 of the Mickey Whistle tunes! Most just play the When You Wish Upon A Star one on cue with the Sail Away show.

I didn't even pay attention in February when I was on the Disney Dream which was docked next to (before a Carnival ship went into the berth directly next to) the Allure, but i just checked the pictures I took while on my catamaran sail/snorkel excursion, and it is light blue at the bottom. Hard to tell if it's the same shade as this one, but it's definitely blue (same water, next to a white hulled ship you can definitely tell).

In the spa, do they have anything similar to the Rainforest Room on DCL or the Thermal Suite on HAL? Those have saunas, aroma showers, some form of hot tub, and ceramic tile loungers. If the Radiance has it, any clue if there is a cruise-long pass and how much it runs? Or would it be day-pass only and how much would that run?

Sorry but I would never take my phone snorkerling. I would not trust any kind of waterproof bag, a pin hole and your phone is done.

 

Agreed. Just ask my sister who decided to take her iPhone down a waterside at Atlantis because the phone was in a LifeProof case.

 

She had to first take my old 4s and just got a new 5s to replace it.

Ooh cool... If only airfare would cooperate...

OK, two questions...

 

1) What does BBB stand for in the BBB Creme Brûlée?

 

2) What exactly IS Chocolate Sensation? I've seen it on the menus I've seen, but nothing ever explains it.

Have a great trip!!

 

BTW, the HighLine IS a park. They took derelict railway lines and transformed them. :)

I will call tomorrow. It seems that most or all of the cat. D3's are also connecting. I have never seen so many connecting staterooms on a ship! Not being familiar with this Oasis class of ship, I am surprise. Different stateroom set-up from the Voyager and Freedom classes.

 

After I get this situation figured out, it seems that I have to worry about whether the bed is by the balcony or the bath. A second phobia is being near the bath, because it is near the hallway door. :D

 

Maybe it is only with Celebrity that we are allowed to ask for a change in stateroom, as long as it is within the category one is assigned or lower. I know that they will allow us to upgrade for a fee.;)

 

Good luck! Hopefully you get it worked out.

 

This seems a good example of why if you have certain requirements, booking a Guaranty probably isn't the best idea.

Thank you both! :)

Another question...

 

For the lights/power to work in the cabin, do you need to have some kind of card to put into a slot like on Disney's ships? Or do the lights just work with a regular switch?

What deck is the Sam's Club on ?

You can probably say the same thing about most of the included food

on a cruise but many people thinks its just fun to have lobster on a cruise.

I get that.

 

I was glad it was included on my HAL cruise to Alaska as I've wanted to try it for a while, but it's so expensive in restaurants I've been afraid to in case I didn't like it.

 

Verdict for me? It was good...but I probably won't eat it other than on a cruise. Sadly, since it's on a platter with other fish (which I don't eat) on RCI, I probably won't have it on my Radiance cruise next summer.

Looking forward to following along! :) I'll be on the Radiance next summer - just in the opposite direction, but this should give me an idea. :)

 

Have a great trip!!

Right now, points are only given for the number of nights of cruising.

 

You also get an extra point per night for having a Junior Suite or better.

 

You get another extra point per night for being a single in a stateroom that normally holds two.

 

Thanks! :)

 

My budget likes that better anyway. :D I won't feel like I need to spend more to get more points (as in "Well, I wasn't going to get a manicure, but that $50 will put me into my next $300 area...).

Do you just get points on days or do you also get them for onboard spending? I know HAL gives 1 point for every $300 or portion thereof that you spend onboard (or beforehand with excursions).

Bring your own toiltries...whatever they provide is total crap....not really sure if it's a bodywash, shampoo, or shower cleaner. Bring what works for you.

 

Gotcha. Sounds like my gym. :p

 

I will stock up on H20+ on DCL in February. :)

Thanks.

 

Do they have shampoo and conditioner and soap? What brand?

 

 

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Do they have clocks in them? US outlets - and how many?

 

Looking at an ocean view cabin (not balcony - in Alaska that difference is a couple of excursions!!) if that makes a difference.

 

 

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The docking stations charge too, but they are for iPhone 4 type connections.

 

 

I'm pretty sure there is a little converter you can get so you can charge a 5 on a 4 dock. I think I saw my sister with one.

 

 

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Yeah, I just looked at the DCL site and they are rotating between San Juan and St. Thomas. Sadly the rotation I'd prefer (St. Thomas) is the week before and the week after I can go. So I'll just get another day to explore the ship. :)

I was talking about the bottled water that comes with the Replenish, Premium, and Ultimate unlimited drink packages.

 

OK, thanks. No bottled water for me then. Yuck!