paulmlac
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Posts posted by paulmlac
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We will be on Independence one week from today. Are there safes in the cabins? If so, are they roughly the size of the ones in hotels? We are in a promenade stateroom if it matters.
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We sail Independence a week from today. Literally everything we booked is higher yesterday / today than it's ever been.
We booked the refreshment package at $18 / person / night. At the time, the deluxe package was $50. Yesterday & today, the deluxe package is $53. All prices exclude gratuity.
Zoom 4 Device higher than when we booked.
The Cozumel shore excursion is 25% higher than when we booked.
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We sail in a little under 4 weeks. In general, do the alcohol drink package prices tend to go up, stay about the same, or go down in the last month? I suppose the answer is it depends based on how RC's revenue is looking. Just curious if there are any generalities (kind of like tickets on StubHub generally drop the day of the game).
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Totally off topic but if you both have iPhones you can use iMessage without having to buy their texting/calling app. Saving $16 if they can't figure out a way to block iMessage by your trip. Have fun!
How? Doesn't iMessage need Wifi (or a cell signal) to work? Our family of 4 is going. We all have iPhones. I bought Voom just so we can stay connected via text on the ship.
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Is 24 knots fast?
Must have had a good tail wind! Freedom is a little under 22 knots. Captain had the hammer down. Most other ships last night were around 16 to 17.
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I noticed a couple hours ago that Freedom was heading back at 24 knots. Hope the person is OK.
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What ship will you be on? The Royal IQ app is nor available on all ships.
Independence
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There's no charge for using the Royal IQ app.
That charge is for using that app or the ship's WiFi to text others onboard without having an internet package
OP again - So instead of buying Voom to text I could install the Royal app on all iPhones and pay only $8 per iPhone to text through their app? That’s much cheaper than Voom.
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OP here - Thanks all. Want four devices (one per person). This will allow all of us to stay in touch via text if we go in different directions on the ship (two are teens). Disney was our last cruise. They had a cool feature in their app to text other people on the ship. WiFi to access their app was included in the fare.
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Yes, you can split Voom up. You can have up to 4 devices connected at one time and do not need to use the same device.
But it can be split up with two people in one cabin and two people in another cabin, right?
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First the question:
We are a family of 4 in 2 cabins. Can I (the dad) buy the Voom 4 Device package & spread the code(s) to the other 3 people (mom, daughter, son) for a device each? I don't think the 2 cabins messes anything up but wanted to check. It's obviously cheaper for 1 person to buy 4 devices vs 1 person in each cabin to buy 2 devices. Hopefully that makes sense...
Second, the observation:
The bundled package is not always the way to go. For example in our case...
Refreshment, refreshment, deluxe, deluxe, Voom 4 device = $1040.25
Refreshment, refreshment, deluxe with Voom, deluxe with Voom, Voom 2 device = $1047.41
The 2nd line is the bundled deluxe with Voom but it's just slightly more than option 1 which is more a la carte. Basically the Voom 4 device bundle is pretty good.
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What do you mean by booking shows? We are on Independence at the end of March (so about 45 days away). Cruise Planner has stuff like a ship tour, insiders view of Grease, etc for a charge. But no way to book the normal nighttime shows. I thought they were first come first seated. Am I missing something in Cruise Planner?
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How formal is formal? For example, roughly what percentage of guys do khaki's / button down or dress slacks / dress shirt / tie? I am sure there are extremes either way, but can I get by with one of the above options without looking out of place?
We can always hit Windjammer that night if we'd be out of place.
I am a corporate guy & travel for work but would prefer to not pack a suit (especially for just a few hours one night).
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OP here - Definitely not limiting to just the ship excursions. Doing a beach excursion outside of the cruise line the day before. So are so-so on another beach activity in Cozumel. Figure this would be a good chance to do ship stuff without a lot of other people.
(By the way, we will have a 17 year old & 14 year old with us so no bar hopping on this trip!)
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Here's an Indy Compass. You can see for yourself what activities are open. Good luck.
Thanks, payitforward! Very helpful!
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Only did one cruise on Disney. Was offseason. So don’t have a good read on fares. Conventional wisdom is they are more expensive. I’ll go with that. The post booking experience seemed a little more streamlined than RC has been as I recall.
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Not really finding shore stuff we want to do in Cozumel. Thinking about getting off ship just to say we did but mostly staying on ship. Will the following things be open while Independence is docked in Cozumel: pool, flow-rider, rock wall, ice rink? Hoping we could potentially do some of these things with smaller lines.
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We were on Oasis in a CL's with our family (11 of us). Each of us had internet and the older grandkids and adults had cell phones. The HUGE advantage is that we put our phones in "airplane" mode, turned on "wifi" and logged on, and since we'd activated "wifi calling" (a free service from your carrier), we were able to text and phone each other with no cost to any of us. With "wifi calling" you can use your phone as though you are at home and call anyone with a domestic number for no charge no matter where that domestic number is located. Great way to keep in touch on a huge ship like Oasis.
Our last cruise was on Disney. They had a pretty slick system. Through the Disney Cruise Line app, you could text other passengers. So my family set up a group chat basically. The advantage was that it was free (soda was too). Seriously, it's another topic altogether, but I just booked a RCCL trip & all I've been doing since is spending money on upcharges.
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I have a question about Voom.
There are 4 people in the family. If I buy the 4 device package, that means we could each use 1 device all at the same time.
Can we change the device we are using? For example, start by using an iPhone, log off, connect an iPad, log off, connect a laptop. Kind of an extreme example but I am trying to figure out if we can connect different devices (so long as no more than 4 are on at a time).
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We just booked Independence & have some questions that we'd like some input on:
Does the Refreshment Package include unlimited bottles of water? Here is what it says in cruise planner:
Keep hydrated all day long with unlimited fountain soda refills in your Coca-Cola souvenir cup or a refreshing bottle of still or sparkling water
The word "a" before water makes it sound like just 1 a day.
We selected My Time Dining. Cruise Planner suggests making reservations in advance. However, not knowing what times the shows are, how do we do this?
Does anybody have a recommendation between these shore excursions in Costa Maya:
- Costa Maya Beach Break (at Private Escape Beach Club)
- All Inclusive Beach Getaway at Uvero.
Does anybody have a recommendation between these shore excursions in Cozumel:
- Amazing Secret River And Playa Del Carmen
- Jeep To Punta Sur Eco-Park
- Beach Break At Playa Mia (normal & deluxe options available)
- Costa Maya Beach Break (at Private Escape Beach Club)
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We are thinking of booking Independence in March. I have read on the internet that it's supposed to be refurbed in April. So, basically, we're probably going to see it at it's worst. Would anyone avoid a ship right before a refurb?
The additional stuff to do on Independence is appealing (flowrider, ice rink, more restaurants). We'd end up in an oceanview cabin though based on availability.
The other option is Brilliance & we'd be able to get a balcony cabin there.
Cruising will be mom, dad, a 17 yr old daughter, & a 14 yr old boy.
Thanks in advance for any input the group has!
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OP here -
Just wanted to reply to my own thread following our cruise (in case someone else is curious down the road).
The Disney Dream safes are the same ones that you find in most hotels nowadays.
We fit the following with room to spare:
1 Laptop 9.5 x 13.5 x 0.5
2 iPads (in cases)
2 iPad minis (in cases)
4 Passports
1 Envelope with cash
2 Wallets
1 Binder 1 inch thick with trip documents
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We're just back from our Disney Dream 4 night cruise.
I know this is a "hot" topic but I'm curious so I'll dip my toe in the water & ask. I'm curious how many people fall into the various buckets below:
- Add to the preset tip amount
- Do exactly the preset tip amount
- Subtract from the preset tip amount
I totally understand if people don't want to answer since, as I mentioned, I know this is a "hot" topic.
As for us:
- Added: waiter, assistant waiter, cabin attendant
- Preset amount: head waiter
Here's why I'm curious. The waiter provided excellent service & was very personable throughout the cruise but seemed a little more distant at the departure breakfast. I added but don't know how common that is. I'm hoping he didn't feel "stiffed" by us.
(Sorry the poll doesn't allow for multiple entries, I guess pick what is most common)
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Confused as to why the laptop won't fit???
Moki'smommy put up the dimensions (presumably of the safe) and my laptop is smaller than that.
It does fit in land based hotels but not sure if the safes there is the same as on a cruise ship.
Perhaps they have a safe at a central area like a front desk.
Things to do on boarding day?
in Royal Caribbean International
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We board Indy this Saturday. Does anybody have suggestions of things to do once we get on to make things go smoother later? Here's some things I've already thought of:
Also, I pre-purchased the Zoom for 4 plan - do we get code(s) at check in or how does that work? Also, anything I need to do or know before we get on the ship to ensure Zoom works? We have iPhones through Verizon so am assuming it will be just like connecting to WiFi anywhere else.
Thanks!