SailorJeff66

Going on BOTS 5 day Grand Cayman and Cozumel in December. Would love to see MDR menus and Compass from that itinerary. Thanks in advance.

A trip to Kennedy space center would be worth the time and money if you can arrange it. Plus the other side of the port where the charter boat fleet is has some great restraunts.

They Mus have neglected to put that in on my last cruise, because I most certainly found myself in a gap between mattresses on top of a hard metal bar...... It was as comfortable as your average futon bed.

Thanks for the tip on GT. Will check it out. Yeah, right now RICo's website is a mess. There's an 80page thread going on about how things have gotten screwed up by the merger here on CC. I expect it will get ironed out, but in the mean time, whew!!!

Search the forum for reviews of your ship. Lots of pictures have been posted to give a heads up on what's available.

Trust me, I'm obsessive about finding out everything I can before I go! I haven't started the port visit scouting yet, but in due time!😋 I've actually been to Aruba and Curacao before, so I have some advance Intel on those places. Going in December to Cozumel and Grand Cayman on RCI. Excited to see those places for the first time. And on the Conquest, Grand Turk is a new place I'm eager to experience.

RCI better get it together....the competition is whipping them! Booked for next year on Carnival through third party, then logged on to Carnival website to plan. So look much easier and better.

Jeff, did you join the “Roll Call” for your sailing? Neat way to pre-meet some of your sailing mates!

Yes, I sure did. There are actually a few folks signed up already so as it gets closer, I'm sure that will get going. Also for meet and mingle, but understand those events don't always happen.

Hi all,

By way of intro, my name as yo might guess, is Jeff and I'm retired U.S.N.

Just booked April '19 on Conquest 8 day. Super stoked! I've been on RCI Empress and have a 5 day on Brilliance coming in December.

Been curious about Carnival, so took the plunge and we'll see how it goes. I can tell you for certain that Carnival has at least the upper hand on the website side of things right now, as the merger of the RCI and "X" website ha been a joke! Lots of unhappy RCI customers right now.

Anyway, good to be aboard, I look forward to any tips you may have to share with me. And possibly meeting some of y'all on Conquest in a little over a year !"

Saw a post about foam toppers not being provided but that additional duvet could be requested. How effective is that in softening the bar in the middle when they put two beds together to make a king? That was the only real down side on my first cruise, when DW was all the way over on her side, cuddling was next to impossible because then I was right on top of the stinking frame!😖

I'm in 3126 come December. Looks like under MDR. Hopefully won't be an issue...

If you have the time, spend the day in Tampa either before or after your cruise. So much to see and do. The Florida aquarium is just steps from the port and is a world class marine exhibit. Lowry park zoo is a twenty to thirty minute drive and is also not to be missed. While in the area, explore the Ybor city area and sample some wonderful Cuban cuisine. Clearwater beaches are some of the best in the country and are also worth a side trip.

So in anticipation of my upcoming Coz/GC cruise, I'm looking at which excursions if any, to book. I understand that Oasis for sure tenders in these ports and that if you booked an excursion through RCI, you got priority boarding to the tender to make your excursion. Does Brilliance tender in these ports? Are the lines for the tender long enough to make the excursion worth the price? My daughter and SIL may be joining DW and I on this cruise and has said she wants to do wildlife encounter excursions. My impression is that GC is cheaper for this no? Thanks in advance!

Having been to St. Thomas a fair number of times in the Navy, there's nothing I left there I need to go back for. St. Croix was nice, but I don't see it on many Itineraries. St. Maarten never did get to, and a few of the other Caribbean islands I haven't been to either.

Empress is "the little ship with a big heart". There aren't the dining options you'll find on the bigger ships, the only dining venue aside from MDR and Windjammer is Chops, so once they shut down for the night, the only option is room service. They do have some tapas at Boleros, but not sure how late they lasted. Had a great time on my Empress 4 day in December.

My budget can only accommodate a cruise every 12-18 months. I have the "fever" and am in full countdown mode for our September cruise. We have never been on a boat as big as Oasis and I absolutely cannot wait.

 

We already have a small box that has sunscreen and a couple of other items in it.

 

174 and counting!!!

It definitely is a significant amount of money for most people to invest in a vacation. And I'm torn between booking my spring/early summer '19 cruise early to give me the time to pay it more gradually and waiting for last minute deals....book/pay early has more selection of itinerary and cabin, last minute offers significant savings.....aaaaaarrrrrgggghhh! What.to.do??😨😱😵

Beware, our first cruise was in an inside cabin. With upper and lower bunks no less. Instant addiction and 34 years and 53 cruises later, we’re still addicted.

Went to porthole cabins to outsides with a window to balcony to jr suites.

I hope this first cruise is just as glorious as ours was.

 

 

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You have the bug too, I see. Yep...one cruise was all it took. No if I'm not reading about cruises or talking about it, I'm looking to book another...

:')

A month ago today we embarked out of Tampa on our 1st cruise, 3rd day aboard we had already paid deposit on a future cruise, and a week ago we booked a Christmas Cruise and one 2 months later in Feb. 2019.....does this mean we caught the bug too?? It's all we talk about, and when we're not at work, we're talking about our cruise or watching youtube videos of cruises/ports/anything cruisey. Can't wait for Christmas!!

Yep....you are infected...:p

DW and I are on Brilliance in December. Anxiously awaiting your post cruise review. MDR menus and lots of pics please!!!

We are sailing on a 9 day on the Navigator out of Miami the day after Thanksgiving. It goes to Labadee, Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire.

 

Has some great prices right now too!! Check it out!!!

Gee, thanks!;pbbetween all the ads on my FB feed for cruises and this, I'm surrounded by temptation!!;p;)

You will get jostled around a good bit at high speed... Airboat rides are exhilirating fun! If you're lucky you may also see a rocket launch from the cape. SpaceX and ULA have gotten pretty busy lately and sending a bunch up. Check their website for launch dates.

So I cruised for the first time in December on Empress. Now I'm hooked! I'm booked on Brilliance for December and the anticipation is driving me nuts! Meanwhile, I'm looking for the cruise after that..... Being from central Florida lots of cruise ports to choose from. Thinking a 7 to 9 day in April to the south Caribbean. Retired Navy, so I'd love to revisit Aruba, Curacao, and get to Belize for a first time. Is there a cruisers anonymous group I could join? 😁😂😄

I sailed Empress in December. 4124 was my cabin. That area if I recall was storage for the room carts.

Went on RCI site shopping for a cruise next spring. Found one that looked good; price,itinerary,dates, etc. Price listed started at 548pp interior. Go to book, price shown 595pp interior. What gives???? Price didn't change a penny whether I used C&A, military, or any other "special" rate or not. Thoughts?

Was able to create new log in yesterday, but no cruise planner. Today cruise planner is working, but the site is glitchy and not really user friendly or intuitive. Hopefully they get it sorted out...

Cruised Empress in December for four days. Ate in Windjammer most meals, MDR one night. No "formal" night per se, but several did dress up for one night. Did Chops for lunch on sea day. I enjoyed it immensely. Empress is definitely a little ship with a big heart!