Bkchero

Icons is on our New Years Western Caribbean as well.

So we were on the Bliss last summer in Alaska and just booked the western Caribbean over the week of New Years. We live in So. Fla. so no flights, etc. makes it a little easier for us.

After reading some of the posts about the entertainment I wanted to share this story. I am not someone who cruises for the entertainment. That being said, one of the people we were with in Alaska wanted to see Jersey Boys so we all went and it was excellent. The cooler thing however was on Sunday night after the first sea day they had karaoke in the District Brew House and the lead actor came and sang a couple of songs. He was awesome. I don't know if that was impromptu or if he's done it on other cruises but it was a lot of fun.

I liked the Beatles show but agree that having to get there an hour early and be packed in (we got lucky and were by the door going outside so there was a little breeze) was not fun. We sat at the outside bar on a subsequent night and watched on the TV and enjoyed it just as much. Maybe on a Caribbean cruise more people will be enjoying the pool and hot tubs and there will be fewer going to the shows.

Just off the Bliss. Loved the cruise but everyone in our party of 7 said one thing that they would change was they wished we had more time in Juneau. The Encore is there a couple hours longer so depending on what you want to do in port you may want to take that into consideration.

Just off the Bliss and I saw what Laudergayle said above. In Juneau I watched the shuttle driver in front of us load scooters into the luggage compartment of the bus. So accessing the shuttles shouldn’t be an issue. As for excursions I’m sorry I can’t help a lot but for some reason I seem to remember there was someone in a scooter on our whale watching tour in Icy Strait. But don’t hold me to it.

On 3/24/2023 at 2:18 PM, ILCTCRUISER said:

I did a quick search but couldn’t find an answer for you.  I also quickly checked 2023 assuming that possibly offerings for 9/24 haven’t been finalized.  Nothing.

 

I’m even having a hard time trying to remember exactly what we did during those times noted as “your free time.”   Any add’l excursions you’d like to add would be those offered during any of those times.  For example, during your stay in Denali, there may be a whitewater raft trip on the Nenana River or ATV trips.  The Lodge that RCL uses outside Denali will have an evening dinner/theater show.  Talkeetna?  Tour of a sled dog kennel.  I recall there’s a zip line there as well.  You can even book fixed wing plane and helicopter trips.

 

You’re right, though.  I can’t find anything at the RCL website or app.  I should also say we tend to NOT book the cruise line excursions.  If you’d like to get an idea about the types of excursions offered, you could check out Viator or Shore Excursions Group (which is not affiliated with RCL).  For Shore Excursions Group you can plug in your ship, sail date etc and you will be shown excursions for the cruise ports.  To find excursions for Talkeetna, however, click on DESTINATIONS on the top bar.  Then click on ALASKA EXCURSIONS.  Then scroll down until you see a click-on for INLAND AND CITY TOURS.  Click on ALASKA INTERIOR. Or do a search to find contact information for the individual vendors.  Very often the vendors you can book, say, through Viator are the same vendors that RCL contracts.  

 

Upgrade from Natural History Tour to Tundra Wilderness Tour.  Yes, you can book in advance through RCL (call in).  When we did it, we did it on the motor coach after it left Seward.

Another cruiser here heading to Alaska this summer.  Have you booked through Shore Excursions Group before? There are only 30 reviews on TripAdvisor and 27 are bad, but on Trustpilot there are over 5,200 and they have a 4.4 out of 5. Thanks for your help.

22 hours ago, Flymia said:

For anyone else that comes up to this topic, there are actual places to eat and even shop at MIA on the departure level before security. So you don't need to stick to the baggage claim area. 

I was going to suggest this too.  Depending on which terminal you are in there are other stores and restaurants on the departure level outside of security.  If your luggage is not too onerous to carry up a level and you don't care for what is on the baggage claim level you should be able to find something and sit down for a few.  Enjoy your trip.

7 hours ago, Biker19 said:

While they replaced the carpet during the dry dock (it would have about a year of wear now), typically, none of the furniture except sofa was replaced in the cabin.

I was thinking the comment was directed at common area furniture,  i.e. seats in bars, etc.  I assume that gets changed out in a long drydock.  Subsequent comments seem to lessen this issue, if there was one.

Adventure just went through a drydock and refurb in early 2018, so your comment about worn furniture and carpet is a little concerning . . . Glad you had a good time and thanks for the review.

Thanks for the review.  I’ve been away from CC for a while due to other obligations but I finally had time to go through this entire thread.  I’m sorry you had bad luck at the JW, I usually refer anybody who is coming here for business there if they want a Miami hotel.  They really dropped the ball w/you.  Hope you survive the next month.

I apologize if this has already been mentioned as I did not read every single post in this thread.

For all who are discussing the new Deck 11 JS staterooms, CL Rick stayed in one on Adventure shortly after it came out of drydock and posted some videos of the room.  Maybe someone w/more time and some tech savvy can find them and link them here.  The rooms looked really nice.

1 hour ago, rtkenmore said:

 

But are they sacrificing?  We already know the former area on Bliss where laser tag was located will be sundeck on Encore.  We don't know any details about what will also be located on that area (a water feature, hot tub, bar area, etc.)

 

And people complaining about the wait on race cars...  Can you imagine the wait on the roller coaster?  Only 2 seat cars running and I would guess a max of maybe 4-6 cars on the tracks?...  I'd be interested in knowing the number of guests per hour the could actually be cycled through such a low capacity ride.

I did not watch the video and have not read how long the ride actually is, but let's assume the ride time averages 5 minutes for entry, safety check, zip around the track and exit.  So the car can run an average of 12 times in an hour, times two people is 24 people, times 4 cars running at once is 96 people an hour.  if it runs for an average of 10 hours a day that's 960 riders a day, and I think 10 hours a day might be low.  The ship holds 5,200 passengers, if 60% of them want to ride that's a little over 3,000 so in theory everybody should be able to go once in a little over 3 days.  My bigger issue is how they will set up times for riding, will they just have a line like an amusement park or will they give you a ticket to come at a certain time and tell the passengers you will ride within an hour or so of your arrival time, something like that.

Have you heard if the casino setup will be the same as it is on the Bliss re separating the smokers and nonsmokers?  Thanks. Looking at a March 2020 trip and trying to talk some friends who are gamblers & who love Celebrity b/c of the smoke free casinos into coming w/us.

In addition to email or the website I believe you can send him messages through the social media site that I cannot mention on here but is not the kind of book you need to face the ocean.  That’s how I communicated with Steve.

Your plan is fine.

There are lots of places in southern Palm Beach/north Broward where you could stay Thurs. and Friday night on the beach then drive to Miami on Sat.  Or you could stay at one of those places and drive to Miami on Sunday morning.  There are lots of options.  Find something that looks good to you and go with it.

Someone above mentioned driving on I-95.  If you were going to drive to Miami on Friday I’d suggest doing so between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to avoid traffic.  Rush hour in South Fla. can be soul-crushing.  But if you go midday or on a weekend you’ll be fine.

The PBI airport is nice.  Not too big and easy access.

As noted above there are private companies that will fly you from Cozumel so you have a lot more time at the ruins. I thought I saw $350 or so a person.

Or, if you are REALLY into seeing Chitzen Itza . . .there is an excursion on Royal's web page where they take you from Mahaual to C.I. the day before, you spend the night there, go to the ruins the next morning so you get a lot more time there and then go back to the ship at Cozumel. I think its $650 or so a person. Not my way to spend a cruise vacation but to each his own . . .

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Wow, that was amazing! Staff Captain Marshall (Canada) joined Captain Gus as well. 45 minutes talking Royal Caribbean and nerding out. He just wanted to thank me for all I do for the brand and understand my back story as he expects we will cruise many more times together.

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It's been reported before on other holiday cruises. Specialty restaurant prices onboard will likely also be higher.

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lol, the presentation will probably be chunked pineapple in a bowl of rum, but thanks.

 

This thread did inspire the purchase of a pineapple the other day, we didn't put it on the front door though, I sliced it and put it on the grill with the pork chops.

Did you put the pineapple in your grocery cart upside down? Inquiring minds want to know . . .

Have you been on the rum cruise before?

I have not but it’s on the short list. I’m a recent arrival to the rum game. I was out of town for the Rum Renaissance Festival but am going to try to go next year.

That's a good question since I have about 8 planted in the front yard :D and we're not swingers. No one has stopped by to ask yet, but if they ever did then I would at least know why. Homegrown pineapples taste so much better than store bought.

 

As for the others that are offended by swingers or any other different "life styles" get your own life and don't pay attention to them if you don't like the idea. Besides it's not like they are doing it in front of you.

 

This pineapple thing is just to funny. Maybe I should make some of these and hand them out around the ship. I highly doubt that many would even think that it has been refered to as swinging than it simple being a tropical looking cookie.

As you can see I am a So. Fla. resident too (technically Davie but work downtown Lauderdale) and I have 10 pineapple plants in some stage of growth, plus two more suckers that need to be broken off and planted. I totally agree that homegrown are much better. I think it’s b/c the longer they stay on the plant the sweeter they are, which is difficult to do w/store bought b/c they need time to get them from the fields to the store w/o getting too ripe. The one in the picture was absolutely delicious.

I see in your signature that you are going on the Serenade rum tour. I’m very jealous. Unfortunately this time I can’t, um, swing it . . .

Are those Cuubbies? And specifically the Rumble in the Jungle?

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Breaking news...Wild Boys are swingers!

 

Are upside down pineapples on shirts the same as upside down pineapples in grocery carts? Asking for a friend.

Looking sharp in the tux. I'm no Giorgio Armani but if I could make a suggestion for future formal nights, you might like this. It sends a certain, um, message. Enjoy the evening.

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Bloody Mary before lunch.

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I had never heard of the pineapple/swinger connection either. What does that say about those who grow their own pineapples? Asking for a friend.

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