tofubeast

I know we booked it because Broward schools are closed on Friday. Probably not the reason for the ship to fill up, but perhaps one of many reasons. 

Same experience here. I booked at "20%" off. Email says 30%...but price is same. Kinda tired of these sneaky marketing ploys.

Does the CT include gratuity?

Does anyone know who I'd email to let them know of a dietary restriction (Independence of the Seas) for the CT?

Thanks!

My parents got a similar email from RCCL a year ago from out of Ft. Lauderdale. They adhered to it.

Dumb question... what are the scrubbers and is this temp? I've never seen those on a ship, or at least something that looks like that.

And regarding the cupcake turning into a pie shop...how I wish it would remain a pie shop once it crosses the pond again. I love pie!

Just curious if you guys bother rebooking when there's a XXXXX amount of $ drop difference. My cruise isn't until February, and we've already rebooked once. At what point do I start annoying the TA? haha

What's your price point that you don't bother or would you rebook for a small price drop? (And yes, I know this is subjective). *and this is for those before final payment*

Wish they were available on all RCCL ships. I love Magic Bands at WDW. Didn't think I would at first, and now I can't imagine not having one.

I am right there with you! Formal nights are one of my favorite things about cruising. I also miss the personalized service - the waiters who always called you by name, and spent time at your table telling jokes or doing tricks, and the bartenders who knew your name and were pouring your drink by the time you made it to the bar.

I loved formal nights, too. I haven't sailed on RCCL since '07, so I am curious what I will find different.

On DCL, the servers spent lots of time at our table. They were quite exceptional. But diff. cruise line. That was always the case for me with RCCL/X, but again, it's been awhile since I cruised with them.

I'm not knocking this post. It's just funny. I remember when I first joined CC in the early 00's and seeing the same kinds of posts. Of course, back then, people were reminiscing about cruising in the 70s and 80s and chatting about how things had gone downhill from there. Now we reminisce about cruising in the early 00s. ;)

So excited for our Dream Halloween cruise this year!! Funny how 2 of our 4 nights will be in costume (halloween and pirate). So much for 'formal' wear. haha

Hawaii697 and Chelle28

Come stop by our Roll Call for the 10/27 Dream cruise!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1951344

I'm on the 10/27 sailing. If you haven't already, check out our Roll Call for this Dream sailing.

Great tips on here. I'm a first timer, too. So much to look forward to.

I haven't posted in this thread since they righted the ship, but have checked in frequently. Just in awe to watch her get tugged away. We've witnessed some real heroes in engineering here. I also agree with a previous poster that I hope we will see a documentary at some point.

But we are all cool going on a ship filled with MICE! ;)

 

But if she still naps or goes to sleep a lot earlier than parents, the balcony would be nice for parents to sit outside and chat and sip something nice!

We went with the 6B for this very reason!

I think I agree with you and am leaning towards the veranda. Thanks so much!!

Not a first time cruise, but our first time on DCL. We are going on the Dream 4 night cruise. Based on our budget, I can go with categories 8A or 6A/B. Help me choose!

We are a family of 3, our daughter will be 4 at time of sailing.

8A would be on 5th deck (not HA)...those 'mini suite' rooms (the ones with the wall). I like how the room has 2 big portholes. I realize that there is no split bathroom.

6A or 6B -- we've never had a veranda cabin when cruising. A little nervous with our daughter, but of course wouldn't let her out there unsupervised. So not a deal breaker.

What would you pick? Price differential is 40-60 more for veranda.

Thanks!

What time were you able to board the ship in Miami?

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/26/world/europe/italy-costa-concordia-remains/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Remains found on deck 4.

Miami Herald article

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/26/3651871/divers-find-human-remains-near.html

Please remember this is still probably considered a crime scene. Once the investigation of the ship is concluded, I think it should be scraped in its entirety. To salvage and reuse any items would be ghoulish.

I never implied for re-use! Of course not. I meant to lighten the load for floating out to a drydock.

Do you think they will strip as much as they can off the ship before floating it away? I mean things like the water slide and other removable items that are on the top decks.

I'm just amazed with how well it went yesterday. I had read that they had expected much of the glass on the ship to shatter during the raising. Aside from the obvious damage (which happened before yesterday), it doesn't appear that much glass broke yesterday.

Check out the first picture here on CNN.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/15/world/europe/italy-costa-concordia-salvage/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

You can really see some of the damage!

I watched her go down and I have been drawn to this thread ever since we returned home from Italy! I have learned so much from all the experts on this sight and I am very grateful for that! We watched from the pier that night and my husband's comment that night as they were telling us to go ashore and get off the pier was that we had never watched a ship sink and unless someone came along with a gun, we weren't going anywhere, but staying there to watch. As a side note, we did not know that others were having such a hard time getting off...we had an easy evacuation after the delay!

Tonight I am even more fascinated to watch her coming back up...my prayer is that the workmen will all stay safe and that the two bodies may be located and finally put to rest in their homeland.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread....it is truly an amazing thing to have been part of and we will return to Giglio in a few months to say thanks and to see the ship upright!!

I can't imagine being in your shoes. It must be unreal to watch her rise again. Hoping this brings you peace.