KelJ

Just to throw my experience into the mix, I applied points three different times for our cruise last January.  I applied points for a cruise discount about a week or ten days before final payment was due, and the discount was posted immediately.  I applied points twice for OBC, and they appeared about two weeks before sailing.  All points are applied based on the date of your cruise.  Since my final payment was due, the points for the discount were applied immediately.

17 minutes ago, danacline said:

We're booked on Liberty for Halloween. I had been told that we could not bring on any water or soda, only the one bottle of wine per adult (max 2 per cabin). Since you didn't mention it, can I assume they let you bring on the water?

 

You are allowed water and/or soda.  I want to say it's a 12-pack per person, but someone here who knows for sure will chime in.

As for the wine, I just wanted to let you know that it's two bottles per cabin, not per adult.  You can travel with a child and still take on two bottles.

On 6/22/2019 at 11:05 PM, John&LaLa said:

 

Ok Snobby McWinesnob. The OP asked for a sweet white wine. That's what Americans like when they want sweet. You can't argue with popularity

 

Carry on

LOLOLOLOL!

1 minute ago, Snit13 said:

Ok John, translate BCBS please.

I am not John, but I’m assuming it’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield. 

On 6/10/2019 at 1:11 PM, steveru621 said:

https://www.bestfakedoctorsnotes.net/

 

 

How funny!  I just clicked on this link while at work.  I hope H.R. doesn't see my browser history and think I'm printing fake doctors' notes!

On 6/10/2019 at 8:16 PM, neuro said:

We are in the same situation. Our adoption is scheduled to be final by August our cruise is end of Sept. the new birth certificate takes 2-6 months. We have been told, the original birth certificate, and finalized adoption paperwork showing the new name should be all you need.

You will meet the requirement of a Birth certificate with the original. 

I can  post again when we get back if anything back fires. 

Royal wasn’t helpful, 

Just as an FYI, in our state (Pennsylvania), the original birth certificate gets mailed to the state along with the certificate of adoption following the adoption hearing, and then the new birth certificate is issued.  The only way the above scenario could play out, at least here, is if you have an extra certified copy of the birth certificate to present at check-in along with a copy of the adoption decree issued by the judge.

Congratulations to you and the OP on your adoptions!!

42 minutes ago, 37645 said:

Thanks for doing a review for this. I have one on Symphony later in the year and love reading these reviews. 

 

 

Quick question Solarium Bistro for lunch. We are thinking of doing this as well to avoid the crowd of the windjammer but are traveling with a veterinarian. Did you happen to notice if there were any options for vegetarians there? Thanks 

Are all veterinarians vegetarians? 😉 

Windjammer on Anthem is bigger than Windjammer on Independence and is set up with many different food stations and even has a hand-washing station as you enter.  Also, even though the junior suites don't have the walk-in closet, there is a lot of storage, including above the bed.

Disembarking in Galveston is a nightmare. Almost everybody does self-assist. The terminal has lines that rival Disney World. 

I am in a JS on the Anthem next February.  While Coastal Kitchen is listed in the cruise planner, when I click "add to cart" and then click on our names to select guests and then click "next," I get the following message:

SELECTION NOT AVAILABLE

We're sorry, this restaurant is not available during this meal time or one or more of your selected guests do not meet the minimum requirements. Please check onboard.

2 hours ago, Ourusualbeach said:

Bob, more often than not I see the refundable (pay at final payment) flights cheaper than the non refundable (pay now) flights.  

Just wanted to report back that I just booked refundable one-way flights from London to Newark for next year. I did not have to pay anything now. It was added to my cruise fare balance. They were the lowest priced flights offered. 

Thanks, Bob!  I knew you’d be the first to respond. 

When I book Air to Sea flights, do I pay when I book them or does the cost just get added onto my cruise fare?  I haven’t used Air to Sea in about a year and a half or maybe two years, and I can’t remember how it worked. 

Along similar lines as the OP, we are looking for a hotel in proximity to the Newark Airport and Cape Liberty Cruise Port with the ability to leave our car for 17 nights.  We will need transportation from a Newark hotel to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port and then, upon return, from the Newark Airport to the Newark hotel. 

How far is it from the Newark Airport to the Cape Liberty Cruise Port (both in mileage and in approximate minutes)?  What can we expect to pay for transportation from the hotel to the cruise port and then from the airport back to the same hotel?

Our trip details are as follows:

Number of people:  2 (adults)

Ship:  RCCL Anthem of the Seas

Arrive via personal vehicle at Newark hotel:  4-11-20  to 4-12-20 (1 night pre-cruise)

Dates for car to be parked at Newark hotel:  4-11-20 to 4-28-20

Sail dates:  4-12-20 to 4-24-20 (12 nights)

Post-cruise stay in London:  4-24-20 to 4-27-20 (3 nights)

Arrive from Heathrow Airport to Newark Airport:  4-27-20 (mid-afternoon)

Stay in Newark hotel:  4-27-20 to 4-28-20 (1 night post-cruise)

Newark hotel budget:  flexible

Thank you in advance to all of you east coast departure experts!

11 minutes ago, Icesk8rReedy said:

A few weeks ago. Beverage options aren't available yet but dining ones are and so is internet and excursions.

Thanks. We’ve had shore excursions and spa services since we booked, but we are still waiting on everything else.

On 4/11/2019 at 8:36 AM, Icesk8rReedy said:

I noticed this new plan is already in my cruise planner for my cruise April next year.  I'm actually considering it since you get lunch in specialty restaurants on sea days too plus the $35/pp credit for a la carte items.  It does have BOGO, 5 dinner, and UDP, plus each individual restaurant listed to already take reservations.  Seriously considering the UDP now.  It's $168 for my cruise and we could eat all places more than once.

When did dining and beverage options become available in your cruise planner for April 2020?  We sail Anthem on April 12, 2020, and dining, beverage and entertainment options aren't available yet.

2 hours ago, ryano said:

If you could please let me know here in this thread, I would greatly appreciate it!    Chops is really the only place Im interested in but figured I would include Jamies as well for just a few more dollars than what Chops cost alone.   I will hold off until I hear back from you!  Thank you so much!  

Perhaps this is the thread that the other poster was referring to.  Several ships are mentioned in the thread.

6 hours ago, snaefell said:

We haven't set foot on an RCI vessel as yet but am already gaining a dislike for the company!

We are booked on 2 upcoming RCI cruises,one is this October on Quantum on a repo cruise from China to Singapore,we booked this almost a year ago,a couple of months after we were told that the stops in Vietnam were being reduced from 3 to 2,to make it more relaxing for us,since then times of various port visits have changed also but worse than that IMO is our second cruise in April 2020 on Anthem,a repo cruise from New York to the UK involving calls at Halifax,Ponta Delgarda,Cobh & Le Havre,not long after booking we were told that Halifax was being dropped 'as the Atlantic can be rough in Winter',OK so who says April is Winter & can't all open waters be rough at any time,such a stupid(IMO) excuse for changing the itinerary is so annoying,along with RCI wanting £150 for us to change to another cruise(we visited Ponta Delgarda on a cruise recently & can & have visited Ireland & France easily from here in the UK),it certainly gives me the impression that RCI make it up as they go along & that you can't be sure that where you book for is where you will end up going!

I am on the April 2020 Anthem transatlantic as well.  I too am disappointed about losing Halifax as a port, but, as I recall, the Titanic did sink in the month of April.  In fact, our cruise coincides with the anniversary of the sinking, though we are on the reverse itinerary.  Their weather was pretty crappy on 4/15/1912 (remember how cold it was for Rose and Jack when there wasn't enough room for both of them to float on that door out in the open water? 😉), so I'm not ready to call RCI a liar when they say the Atlantic can be rough at that time of year, or at least filled with icebergs. 

We have plenty of time to cancel the April 2020 if we want to, so RCI didn't hold onto that itinerary change until after final payment date.  And, in listening to our greatly respected resident chief engineer, there's no evidence that RCI made a calculated and sinister move by waiting to change this Hawaii itinerary until after final payment date.

Ship happens.  And the more we all sail, the more we are bound to experience ship happening.  Remember when the Grandeur had a fire?  My cruise was canceled.  But I'm still sailing and still rolling with the punches.

Just now, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Thanks... still hope we will get points with only paying taxes...👍

I hope you do as well!  Let us know.

4 minutes ago, Thorben-Hendrik said:

 Was that  $1 for the cruise fare or was it taxes. 🤔 

Because the cruise fare will go to $0 using the FCC but we still have to pay the taxes...

It was definitely $1 for the cruise fare.  Say the cruise fare per person was $500.  They applied the Visa points as having a value of $499 so that I had to pay $1.  (I'm just TOTALLY pulling these figures out of the air because I don't remember the value of the free three-or-four-night cruise).

With free cruises with RCCL Visa points, the taxes (and I think port fees) always have to be paid and are not part of the free cruise fare.

On 4/6/2019 at 4:15 PM, Thorben-Hendrik said:

Does that mean you will not get any C+A point for that cruise - since it is "free"?🤔

That is what some claim to be the case....

On 4/6/2019 at 4:32 PM, A&L_Ont said:

 

I guess it will be a wait and see.  Not everything on the Internet is true. 

 

I guess one could not take the “free” cruise, and pay for one to get the points. I know what I’d be doing, points or no points. 

I've sailed free twice with RCCL Visa points.  Both times, the rep charged us $1.00 each for cruise fare and told us that, as long as something is paid for the cruise, C&A points will be awarded.  And we did get the C&A points on both cruises.  Hopefully the FCC will work the same way.

We’ve lost Halifax and have had times altered in two ports. 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS

Dear Guest,

Thank you choosing to sail with us on our April 12th, 2020, Transatlantic Anthem of the Seas cruise. We are reaching out to let you know that regrettably, we have an itinerary change to share.

At times, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean during the winter months can increase ship movement. As a precautionary measure and to ensure your safety and comfort, we’ve made the decision to give ourselves more time for the crossing so that we can steer around any unfavorable weather as necessary and still make our itinerary. As a result, our visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia will now be replaced with a day at sea. Our time in Ponta Delgada, Azores will also be adjusted to 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and our arrival time into Paris (Le Havre), France will now be 8:00 AM. We are sorry for these changes; however, your safety and comfort are our number one priority. Below, please find our updated itinerary.

Day

Port of Call

Arrive

Depart

Sun

Cape Liberty, New Jersey

5:00 PM

Mon

Cruising

Tue

Cruising

Wed

Cruising

Thu

Cruising

Fri

Cruising

Sat

Ponta Delgada, Azores

7:00 AM

4:00 PM

Sun

Cruising

Mon

Cruising

Tue

Cork (Cobh), Ireland

10:00 AM

8:00 PM

Wed

Cruising

Thu

Paris (Le Havre), France

8:00 AM

8:00 PM

Fri

Southampton, England

5:30 AM

I’m curious to watch what your weather will be like. We are on the Anthem transatlantic in April 2020 and just received an email that Halifax has been canceled and that Azores and France have altered times due to unpredictable winter weather. 

8 minutes ago, fischymom said:

I was just on the phone with RCCI about another matter and as we were finishing up they asked if I wanted to take advantage of the BOGO 50% off drink package offer. Sadly my cruise was too far out and I couldn't access the sale but it would be worth a call if you cruise is close enough that you can purchase them now. He said the sale runs through tomorrow.

Unfortunately, it's a fake sale.

2 hours ago, lr657 said:

We will be boarding Navigator this Friday. Thought I would share this email we received yesterday. As a D+ member I was aware that the CL was changed to SL during dry dock and D+ would be using the DL. This email sort of discourages use of the DL also! 

 

ABOUT YOUR UPCOMING TRAVELS     Dear Guest, In about a week, you’ll be boarding the newly amplified Navigator of the Seasand we’re excited to welcome you onboard! As you may know, this sailing is quite popular amongst our Crown & Anchor Society members, so we wanted to share with you some of the updated and new locations for our exclusive lounges. The beautifully designed Diamond Lounge is on Deck 5, adjacent to the Star Lounge. This is where you’ll find the Diamond Concierge, who is available to assist you with reserving that dinner reservation you’ve been looking forward to, or answer questions about what to do in port. This lounge is centrally located; however, seating is limited. Therefore, we encourage you to enjoy and explore all of the incredible new bars and lounge venues while using the complimentary drink vouchers that will be loaded on your SeaPass card. Insider Tip: Catch the beautiful sunset from the Viking Crown Lounge. And just in case the lounge is busier than usual in the morning, we are loading one specialty coffee voucher per day onto your SeaPass card. This can be used in the Main Dining Room, Café Promenade, Star Lounge, and the Plaza Bar in the Windjammer. Once onboard, please check your Welcome Letter or with your Concierge for additional information and how to best use your loyalty benefits. We can’t wait to welcome you onboard! Thank you for your loyalty and we hope your time with us is nothing short of spectacular! Sincerely, Your Crown & Anchor Society Team

©2018 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships' registry: The Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean International
1050 Caribbean Way
Miami, FL 33132 USA

They did this on our Freedom transatlantic in October/November of 2017.