bruzin_for_a_cruizin

(ignoring the moral opinions posted thus far)

I can't speak to the Cozumel experience, but on our last cruise we did the Dunns River Falls + Dolphins excursion through RCCL. It certainly wasn't cheap, but I had done well at the blackjack table on the first night, so I figured I'd treat my family.

It was amazing.

If you've never climbed the Falls, take a look at that option, and capture two fantastic, unique experiences in one day!

For us, post-it notes aren't reliable. The glue just isn't sticky enough, and leaves open the "I didn't see your note, it must've fallen off the wall" excuse.

We have a magnetic dry-erase whiteboard from the dollar store. Since the walls are metal, the board sticks anywhere (I wouldn't leave a message-board on the outside of the door. Too easy for ne'er-do-wells to tamper) and we mandate everyone -- children and adults -- checks in throughout the day.

Dinner with the family is mandatory, so everyone needs to be back in the cabin by 6 or 7 to get cleaned up and dressed.

I don't smoke cigarettes, but I do enjoy a cigar and a port/cognac occasionally. I recall the lounge on Freedom with fondness, and quite enjoyed the conversation there last time we sailed her. Our last cruise was on Oasis, and I was dismayed to learn there was no cigar lounge. I get it, but I agree with the above posters; it wasn't a great decision by RCCL, if we're judging by "Guest Experience" metrics. I'm sure they've managed to wrangle a few more dollars out of the space, but that doesn't mean it was the best decision.

How about a compromise. If it bothered me, I would ask if there was anyway to turn it down a bit. Seems like you went right for security and guest relations, instead of trying to make nice with a neighbor.

 

Or was it that you just wanted it completely off, so you could enjoy your cruise... even if it meant others could not?

Now, the Social Contract has been usurped, and Entitlement rules all. It makes me sad.

Awesome. Thanks for the quick guidance, @capriccio and @ppmanusa. Looks like FLL/Port Everglades is much more convenient than Port Canaveral.

Typically, sailing out of Port Canaveral, I've rented a car at the airport upon arrival on Saturday, driven to our hotel for the night, and dropped the car off at the port location after dropping my family and luggage at the terminal.

This is our first time out of Port Everglades. We are booked for Saturday night at the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port Hotel. I believe the hotel is close enough to the airport and the port that we can get away with just catching a cab to the hotel and (assuming there is one) a shuttle to the port the next day.

Does that sound about right? I can get a car for about CAD$75, so it's not about saving $5 or $10... if I don't have to drive, and everything is close, I can save the aggravation I figure?

Our son will be 19 when we board Allure this summer. He has chosen to stay home (much to my wife's dismay), as he believes the 19-20 year age group to be a black hole on cruises: too old for Teen club, too young for alcohol. We tried to convince him there would be many others his age on-board and there are enough activities to keep him occupied, but he is an adult and as such, can make his own decisions.

It will be weird to have a "family vacation" without the whole family, but I can't say that I really blame him. I might have made the same decision when I was 19...

Our first trip to Labadee, we mistakenly wandered through the market. Some guy grabbed my daughter -- she was only 7 or 8 at the time -- and proceeded to chat her up while wrapping some string around her wrist. When it was all tight, he demanded money. I told him we didn't bring cash off the ship; he tried to make a big deal about being unable to unknot the "bracelet" and we should go back and get him the cash we owed him.

I told him he had two choices: we were continuing on our way, he could unknot the string and try again on someone else, or he could let my daughter have the string we didn't ask for in the first place. It was amazing how quickly he was able to untie the knot.

Since that day, we don't walk through that area. It's easily enough avoided.

Complaints to RCCL won't do anything. I'm sure that market is part of their agreement with the Haitian government.

We have a magnetic white board we just stick to the cabin wall. Family members know to check in periodically during the day and leave a note with their location until the next check in period.

It's worked well for us.

Yeah, the pricing is a bit misleading (what else is new?).

I just called to cancel 2x Deluxe Drink Package and 1x VOOM 1-device plan. I replaced it with 1x Deluxe Drinks and 1x Deluxe Drinks + VOOM. Total savings was just over CAD$100.

Not going to impact the overall budget of the trip all that much, but a hundred bucks in my pocket is better than a hundred bucks in RCCL's.

While the RCL website has certainly improved over the years, there's still a few areas needing work.

I'd like to get a snapshot of my current account balance: total cost of my upcoming cruise, deposits, payments, outstanding balance, due dates, etc. I suspect they don't make that easy to get so we can't easily monitor for price drops.

Short of calling in to the toll-free line, is there somewhere to find this info online?

Obviously you will totally ruin the vacations of many of the people on your cruise. Your dress will change the flavor of the food in the dining room resulting in a bitter vinegar flavor in all foods.

 

You really only have two options.

 

1. Stop cruising and lock your self in your bathroom for rest of your life.

 

2. Perform a ritualistic sacrifice and pray to the three piece suit God for forgiveness.

You do you and let others do themselves.

Everyone is so self-important and self-centered that they don't see the big picture anymore. These entitled people act as though the rules don't apply because "you should just MYOB." This lack of civility, social responsibility and general consideration for others is, frankly, sickening to me.

Instead of thinking of yourself first, why not try thinking about how your actions will impact those around you? Go ahead, snowflake. You do you... but do it in the privacy of your own home. When you're in a public space, you need to think of others.

/rant

It's been a while since we last cruised (Oasis, some 3 years ago), and we're booked on Allure in August.

I like to leave the in-cabin showers to my wife and kids, and use the showers in the gym each day. Not that I'm using the gym... but the showers are always nice and roomy! On Oasis last time, I signed up for the Thermal Suite and really enjoyed the steam/sauna access (which used to be free on Freedom, as I recall).

Am I better off pre-paying for the Thermal Suite, or is it likely to be less expensive once on-board? And does this go for other purchases as well like dinner packs etc.?

On our recent Oasis cruise, I very much enjoyed the Sabor house marg made with Acai liquor. Very much. Like, every day.

There's a bar in the restaurant, and they have no problem shaking up a margarita there. They do use specialty glassware in the dining room, so if you're going to be taking it "to go" just tell the bartender and they will put it in a more travel-friendly glass.

If you enjoy a tequila-based adult beverage, the Sabor margarita cannot be missed!

Price on the Oasis this past week was USD$399. Sales Taxes are probably applicable as well.

Where would itinerary changes be posted? We are on the 8/29 OAS sailing out of PE, and frankly, I wouldn't mind a change or two in ports!

We are leaving on the Oasis on August 29th, 2015. I have topped up everyone's OBC.

Can I take cash out during the trip to use for port days, would I do this at the casino?

 

How do I find out how much gratuities are in Canadian dollars to decide if I should pay on the ship or before we go...

 

Thanks for all the help on this everyone

We are on the 29th Oasis sailing, too! I am ecstatic to see you have "topped up everyone's OBC!" How much did you put on my account? ;)

I have well-stocked through this promotion as well. As I understand from the helpful people in this thread, as long as you specify your account as a Cash Account upon check-in at the pier, you can withdraw from the casino at any time.

There is not a charge to use the fitness center itself, and there is a tiny locker area in the fitness center. There is not a nice, larger, free locker area on Oasis/Allure like there is on Freedom. One deck down, in the spa area, there are men's/women's locker rooms that are intended for spa/thermal suite guests. I don't know if you could ask to use them if you are not paying for the spa/thermal suite. They are small, no free sauna, just a few showers, restroom, and lockers. You would have to turn in your seapass at the spa desk to get a locker key, but again, we did that only when we were using the thermal suite (which you pay for, as mentioned above, by the week).

While I do enjoy a nice steam, I should be satisfied as long as there are showers available in the fitness center.

It is a shame, though. The fitness center/steam room on Freedom is beautiful!

Can anyone clarify the fitness center shower/sauna/steam situation on Oasis?

On our last cruise on Freedom, I enjoyed the steam and shower area every day. It was also easier for the rest of my family to get ready with me out of their hair!

Is there actually a charge to use the fitness center?

Two tips

 

1) As you probably know there are now parts of the HP experience on each side of Universal, so you need the two park pass. A regular price one day two park ticket is $147 .... a two day two park is only $20 more .... for another $20 is it worth going in the evening you get there rather than just having a slow day???? They are open pretty late .... something to think about

 

 

2) your shortest route is via the turnpike so you might want to be aware of your options for electronic payment of tolls https://www.sunpass.com/rentalcar

I do indeed know about needing the two-park pass. However, unless I'm mistaken, I don't think the two-day pass is only $20 more. Looks like the one-day is $147, and the two-day is $195.

Thanks for the tip on the Sunpass! We're renting with Dollar, so it might be something to consider!

We are sailing the Oasis on August 29 (three weeks tomorrow!!), and I have arranged to fly in to FLL on Thursday. We will be renting a car and driving to Orlando, where we have 2 nights booked at Cabana Bay. Thursday will be a day to decompress, enjoy the pool, and check out City Walk. Friday we plan to spend the day at the park(s), and drive back to Port Everglades Saturday morning for embarkation.

Any tips? I have not yet purchased our park tickets; I imagine there will be an opportunity to do that at the hotel, and Undercover Tourist only offers discounts on multi-day tickets. Our daughter, 13, is a big HP fan, so I expect a good portion of our day will be spent at Hogwarts.

Just called. Same 10% Rate. Purchased $800 U.S. for $880 Can. They had to do 2 transactions at $440 each as the limit is $499.99. Called Gift & Gear at 1-800-722-5443.

Woo hoo! Called G&G at that number myself just now. USD$499 in OBC for only CAD$548.90. At today's exchange rate, that would have been CAD$644.88 from the bank!

I wish I could fund our whole trip at this exchange rate!

For those in the GTA, Buffalo-area hotels are a no-brainer. Unless I am travelling on business and the flights are expensed, I never use Pearson. Not to mention the hard cost, but front-door-to-gate time at Buffalo is a fraction that of Pearson because the airport is a quarter the size!

We are flying out of BUF to FLL for our upcoming OAS cruise at the end of August. I got us 4 tickets roundtrip on Southwest, flying non-stop on the days and times I wanted for CAD$1692.64. Comparable flights out of YYZ would have been $2600.

I do wish I had know about Spirit, though. Some crazy-cheap prices mentioned in this thread. I will be checking them out next time!

After disembarkation on the Saturday morning, our flight out of FLL isn't until 6:00 that evening.

Does anyone have any recommendations for amusement for six or seven hours, or should we just head straight to the airport and hang out there? It's been decades since I've flown in or out of FLL, so I don't know if there's a nice concourse or whatever to while away the hours.