calypso73

I had Traditional late because 5:30 was too early for me for dinner. I've switched to MTD though because late dining did not work well with seeing the shows. I've booked around the same time every day

For me it will be once I've sat down with my first glass of bubbles in the Qantas lounge. I'm not a member but a friend generously gave me passes so a champagne breakfast before I board the plane starts my holiday off in style. :-)

Hi,

I have run searches but it keeps bringing up threads from 5 - 10+ years ago so I'm looking for something a little more current.

I am travelling on Oasis in January 2016 stopping at Labadee, Cozumel and Falmouth. I will be travelling alone (well with 6000 strangers on the ship) and would like to do some snorkelling

So my questions:

1) Is it possible to rent snorkelling gear on Labadee? (have read both yes and no answers to this so looking for current info. I am travelling from Australia and spending several weeks in the US before the cruise so its not feasible to bring my own).

2) Is it compulsory to wear a life vest? - again i've read conflicting responses. I'm a competent swimmer and havent had to wear flotation devices snorkelling since I was a kid

3) Am I better taking an excursion? There seem to be a couple of snorkelling ones offered - Speedboat and Snorkel, Labadee Snorkel Safari.

4) I was also considering the Adults only sandbar excursion or the Malfini Castaway excursion. Is there snorkelling on either of those excursion? and can I use my drinks package on the excursion like I can at the bars on land?

Also wondering about the rest of the time on the island. Being alone its cost prohibitive to rent a cabana or anything so I'll just be grabbing a beach chair somewhere (yes I know I have to tip the guy that sets it up for me). Do these come with umbrellas for shade? What is security like? I have read somewhere that there are lockers. I was thinking of bringing my kindle along for when I'm not in the water. Are the lockers close to the beach so that's a feasible option? Also am i likely to "lose" my chair if I spend an hour swimming or snorkelling and just leave a towel on it?

Any advice appreciated

Thanks

Does this mean in Australia we don't need to tip porters at the airport and cruise terminal?

 

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I've never seen porters at airports in Aus. Generally speaking we don't tip much here. In a restaurant we usually round up the bill or add a bit extra for great service but it's not expected and there's no "minimum 20%" or anything. Large groups may have a tip automatically added to the bill but even that is usually only 10%. I sometimes round up a taxi fare but only if the cabbie is extra helpful.

lol That would be good parenting right there!

It would nearer $6000 if I had the kids on the ultimate.

$96 per adult x3 x10 days = $2880 Aus.

It's still seems a lot of money...but the prices of drink I see has increased? So it might make sense. I don't want to be worried about a large bill or having to 'careful'....we are on Holiday!

There are a few threads around with prices to help you work out if it makes sense for each adult (you don't all have to have the same package eg if someone only drinks beer or wine the Select package might be a better option). For me with a couple of fresh oj's in the morning, bottled water, cocktails from afternoon onwards it made sense but it wouldn't for everyone :-)

Eh . . . . REALLY depends on what you're drinking and the service you receive. AND - you don't have to tip AT ALL if you don't want to.

 

 

 

How are you arriving at 30-40% tip. Many of the drinks I drink are around $8 - $12 on which I tipped $1. That works out to 8.3 - 12.5%.

 

 

 

I tip because I spent many years in college as a bartender - and I know it makes ME feel better.

 

 

 

Tipping is a very personal thing. Do whatever you feel is appropriate for the service and product that you receive.

18% tip is already included in the package price. If you then tip an extra 12% on top of that you have effectively tipped 30%. If you drink less than the break even number of drinks on the package your tip % is higher. If you drink more than the break even number it's lower.

We are looking at over $3,000 (Australian) to get the top drinks package. That's for three kids and three adults. I want to have that freedom but this seems like a lot of money....

You wouldn't be getting the ultimate package for the kids (they can't drink alcohol). Instead they would get the Royal Replenish at 30.36 AUD per day if they are tea coffee drinkers or the Royal Refreshment at 11.04 AUD per day which is the soft drink package

Free if you take your own! [emoji6]

 

 

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Not an option for some of us flying in from far flung places and traveling elsewhere before / after the cruise. I'd love to have an idea of how much snorkel gear is to rent.

Hi Molly, makes no sense to me either.....the cabin needs to be paid

 

for in full......whether someone cancelled (for real or pretend)......

 

the other person has to then pay for the full amount. So I don't get

 

it either......not sure how he pays less.

Easy. He pays what he would have paid for 2 people then the second person just doesn't show up. It works when the solo rate is more than the rate for 2 people (which It should never be imo)

 

 

 

Second, I do that all the time, but it's totally different than reserving loungers on a cruise ship. I would never do that.

Beaches must be different where you guys are from. I'd never consider leaving my stuff while I left the beach for hours. Sure leave it while taking a swim but I wouldn't dream of leaving the beach area without my stuff. Glad that you don't hog the loungers though ;-)

It won't be hard. Sitting next to them chain smoking and being as loud and obnoxious as possible would do the trick for most. I can escalate it from there if need be.

That would certainly escalate it as smoking is not permitted in the pool area so you'd only be getting yourself into trouble. Seems like a lot of effort to go to just to upset other people. Why not just reserve the chairs for while you want to use them then go off and do whatever else you want and find chairs again when you come back. If you're gone for several hours people may just assume you've forgotten your towel and consider it a lost and found issue.

 

 

I honestly don't see what the big deal here is. If I get up early and reserve a spot it's mine. If I goto the beach and pick a spot the same logic would apply.

If you reserved a spot on the beach and then left the beach for a few hours you wouldn't seriously expect your things to still be there would you???

If he likes treasure hunts Oasis and Allure have "small wonders" all over the ship. He could have a lot of fun trying to find them all. RCI might be able to help you with a list of locations in advance and you could write 6yo appropriate clues for him to solve to find them. I hope you and your family have an amazing trip!

Following along as I am doing this route on Oasis in Jan. (Although in a lowly ocean view rather than a suite) Looking forward to seeing what you did on the islands. Loving the pictures

Is there anyone else out there that has a hard time reading green font on a smartphone?

Truthfully, I don't even try anymore and that is a shame. Red looks so much better. But maybe it's just me

Me. I can't read the bright green well at all. The olive is ok though

I'm not traveling until January but pre purchased my drinks package months ago. I looked at what I would realistically drink and the prices of those drinks and decided at today's prices and exchange rate I would be at least close to breaking even on only 4 or 5 drinks a day. I figured not having to stress about a bar tab at the end of the cruise and then the added shock / stress of converting that to AUD made it well worth it. The exchange rate has already gone down since I purchased the package so theoretically I'm already ahead ;-)

We believe in Australia it does work. We have always taken it on holidays with us & rarely get "Bali Belly" alot of Aussies do it.

I'm a frequent traveling Aussie and have never heard that one. Would be interested to know if it works (not that I get BB very often - think Egypt was the only place). Does any brand work better than another?

OMG, so sorry for you!! That is such a stupid a$$ rule....what is the point of an expiration date?

Most countries require you to have extra time on your passport (the majority of countries I've been to require 6 months). This means that if something happens for whatever reason you have to stay in the country longer than intended at least you passport is valid for you to return home.

My understanding was that it was frozen yogurt.

Thanks. I guess then if I want ice cream outside of regular meal times its extra $. Not complaining just adding to budget :-)

I do apologise. RCI persisted in calling it "low fat" so I wrongly assumed that this may be the term used across the pond. (Where's the embarrassed smilie when you need it??)

I'm a tad concerned they think regular tonic water has fat in it ;-).

Can someone please clarify is the stuff in the machines soft serve ice cream or frozen yoghurt? I've seen it referred to as both but they are two different products as far as I know with very different tastes / textures.

I'm not in a couple but will be travelling as a solo so will have similar issues. My plan is to check out the cruise compass for whats going on around the ship during the day and go along to what interests me. That way you have something to do and meet people with similar interests to you without having to be tied to the same person all the time :D You can then meet up with your partner for pre dinner drinks and have something interesting to discuss over dinner.

Have a fab cruise

I already purchased my ultimate package and as a solo this promo is useless to me.. unless of course I auction off the replenish to the highest bidder hahaha

Gave me a good giggle :-)

Just booked my first solo. An 11 day cruise. Go big or go home right.:eek: I can't wait. My only worry, is i might be the youngest solo on board. I'm 37.

That's my worry too although I'm a little older than you (will be 42 when I cruise). But then I have met some very lively older people who are a ton of fun so hopefully it won't matter