amyhphoto

Getting off cruise at Port Everglades at 8 am. Flight leaves at 6 pm. Suggestions for a family of 6? 2 parents and 4 kids in their early 20’s. 

I’ll be in town on Symphony OTS (6500 passengers) and Carnival Fascination is also in port that day (2600 passengers) I wonder how crowded it gets there with so many people on the ships?

Wondering if anyone has been recently? How long does it take from the port? Is it Kid friendly? Any advice appreciated. 

On 5/22/2019 at 11:56 PM, Ourusualbeach said:

It is now included

  Is it for sure included? I keep seeing conflicting reports about this. 

Thanks for posting the photo, so glad they’re starting to offer alternatives. Not surprised, there are a lot of people who are ditching dairy these days. 

We don’t do dairy either. When we travel we bring the 16 oz cartons that don’t need to be refrigerated. Usually one per day is good. Super easy. I’d be surprised if they didn’t offer some type of alternative milk somewhere on the ship though, great question. 

2 minutes ago, HicksRA said:

I was responding to your original post and what I’m saying is that if you upgrade to a suite gty, there’s a 99.9% chance you’ll end up with a JS and nothing higher due to the new Royal Up program. 

Ok makes more sense to me the way it’s written this time, and it’s kinda what I was thinking too. I guess I needed to hear it from people here to talk me out of gambling with a suite GTY. I’m real happy with my cabin, it’s a 1C with a big balcony, so no matter what I’m going to be pleased, (like I said Its me and two small kids) I’ll stick with my RoyalUp bid for the GS. Thanks!

6 hours ago, HicksRA said:

With the Royal Up scheme, you can bet on an assignment to a JS. Any available GS and ups will be put up for bids. 

Not sure if you’re responding to my original post but I specifically said I did not want a junior suite. 

7 hours ago, Milwaukee Eight said:

Why not just book the cabin you want?

I like my current cabin a lot actually. The idea of snagging a grand suite at 5700 as opposed to 7700 is appealing that’s all. It was over 10k at the time of booking, and being as this is a little girls trip I’m doing just with my daughters, I wasn’t doing that to my hubs. 

8 hours ago, kruzerci said:

I've had two experiences with GTY cabins.

Thank you for your helpful information.

8 hours ago, Merion_Mom said:

FYI:  If you win the GS RoyalUp bid, you will not get double points.  If you upgrade yourselves to a JS, you will.

Good info thank you

4 minutes ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Closed simply means that they are no longer allowing TA’s to waitlist guests for that category.  It doesn’t mean that they don’t have some set aside to assign to guarantees. 

Thanks for the explanation. 

So if you waitlist a client, when do you find out if they get the cabin? 

2 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

You would most likely get whatever is the minimum category for the guarantee.

 

The website does not always show the full story on inventory.

I've recently gained access to their TA booking engine Espresso, and so I have been watching my sailing EVERY DAY like a stalker, and just today all the JS have shown CLOSED I wonder why they close some and then show the rest as WTL (waitlist) It's messing with my head, and I haven't been able to use the software long enough to get a feel for how the cycle works. Thank you for your input. I guess I knew the answer, although I have heard stories in the past of people booking GTY and getting OS or even better. 

So the price to self upgrade to a GTY Suite is 200$ cheaper than what I bid for the RoyalUp offer to win a Grand Suite.

The website is showing Junior Suites as being CLOSED. There is 1 Grand Suite, and 6 Owners Suites showing available as of 12 today. 

We sail in 18 days. I'm so tempted to pay to get the GTY suite, however I really don't want the Junior Suite, and Im concerned I'll get stuck with that. 

What are your thoughts? I know it's a gamble, just daydreaming and wondering WWCCD? 

1 hour ago, minikiss said:

 

Last thoughts to RCCL Shame on you. to cancel 1 or 2 sailings is bad enough but to pull a ship out of a port for a whole season is the worst of the worst.

 

I'm pretty sure RCCL corporate is making decisions to make the most money for their shareholders, not to make the world have perfect cruise ships in every port for humankind to enjoy. 

I carry lipstick, and perfume to touch up and cash to tip throughout the day.

That doesn't require a "big bag large enough to hold a week's worth of groceries" it's called a CLUTCH.

We all have different priorities.

I don't go to a resort and hang my hotel key from my neck I'm not doing it on a cruise ship either.

I also love that other people find it convenient.

Not for me that's all.  

So I can't stand lanyards, but my kids must have them (bc they're young and have no purse yet), SO if they have plum cards, does that make them snobs? I guess I have to buy them the WOW bands and leave their lanyards in the room. 

24 minutes ago, KB Cruisin said:

So is there any website where you can look and see if any ultra spacious cabins have obstructed views? 

https://www.cruisedeckplans.com

19 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Try for the ultra spacious ov with large balcony. Huge room, I think it has a seperate sleeping area.  Used to be called Family OV Balcony.

 

Heck, I'd bid the max if you have two teenagers. 4 in a normal balcony is rough

Totally agree. The room is massive. The only downside is, there's only 5 of those cabins so the chances of winning are slim. I've bid max on my sailing, even though it's just the three of us and my kids are little, but they would freak out over the bunk beds! 

I just got a similar email, but nowhere does it mention only SEA DAYS. did we get different emails? I'll copy and paste mine:  

(notice all the errors?)

Was it on in the USA, if so what channel? 

8 minutes ago, Host Clarea said:

Day stops are at the Old San Juan piers.

 

Royal uses the Pan American piers for initial embarkation and final disembarkation, i.e., Freedom and Jewel right now.

THANK YOU!! and sorry somehow I posted this twice

I can't find the info quickly and I know you know.....

Everyone is saying its a quick walk to Old Town from the dock, but it looks like a 3-4 mile walk from the Pan American Pier? I feel like I'm missing something. 

Celebrity is a higher end product. Thats why its typically more expensive. Just like Carnival and MSC are going to be cheaper than RCCL. You get what you pay for. 

1 hour ago, Dr. Pam said:

I was just on the Symphony on the March 30 sailing.  Yes, there is a hot tub and it is hot! Put my hand in and  that was a no go! 😲It is situated close to the bar, so those who decided to brave the hot water would have refreshments close at hand. 😄 Regarding availability of loungers, etc. on sea days it was obvious that the chair hogs also reside in suites.  😏  To my dismay, it seemed that there was no monitoring of the situation.  We decided to stay on the ship in Nassau, and had a chance to enjoy the Suite deck.  Also, I should mention that when we were up there on a sea day and finally found a place to park, it was quite breezy.  Ladies, I might suggest bringing a hat that fits securely on your head with not too large of a brim!  Also, Suite Deck entrance was very secure.   Enjoy!

Thank you for actually answering my questions, awesome!! 

6 minutes ago, Lionesss said:

Allure has a hot tub on suite deck?

 

Really, 

 

That's new since 2017.

 

Safe travels.

Im sorry I meant that Allure didn't have a hot tub in 2010, so I assumed that since Symphony added a hot tub, the sun deck would be more crowded. 

45 minutes ago, sisocialworker said:

we just got off harmony..and while not the same ship, we used the suite sun deck....this is on port days...the bar opens at 1pm, it is a hot tub..very hot with bubbles.....cabanas and chairs always available....all the people we met up there were very friendly 

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience. 

3 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Probably because it is way under utilized. 

So you're saying you think it's empty often? I used it in 2010 on Allure and it was a ghost town most days but I assumed with the addition of the hot tub and the fancy seating that there would be more people using it. 

6 hours ago, Cel_cruise said:

Tonight we saw both the Family and Adult comedy shows.

 

 

 Do you need tickets in advance for the Family Comedy Show? I didn't see it listed on the schedule you posted, how did you know about it? App? Cruise Compass? Thamks!