Ralphinsc

Has anyone done the Key disembark as well as an excursion with airport transfer on the last day? We are doing that on our April 6-13 Symphony cruise. 

If I cannot find any information beforehand, I'll be sure to post some details of how that works afterwards. Mainly wondering about whether the luggage will have to be tagged specifically for the Excursion, for the key, or for both.

Following along! We are on her in 16 days!

2 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

I have to agree. On other lines like Princess and Celebrity someone on the roll call organizes the event. Some of the leaders put a lot of work into organizing events like the slot pull, cabin crawls, meeting for lunch or dinner. I never saw anything offered as a raffle or even snacks on those lines. The bar was open if you wanted to purchase a drink and sometimes Officers would attend. The fact that Royal offers anything is a nice gesture. I stopped attending the CC events and now meet people through FB. There isn’t any sensorship so you can discuss travel agents or tour groups. For those who are afraid of people knowing all their personal information you can just set up a separate account. I don’t even use my name. It’s no different than CC.

I remember organizing the Meet and Mingle for my 2008 cruise. It was a lot of fun and rewarding. Another poster mentioned a white elephant exchange and that was just what we did with ours. Had it in a bar onboard and had the bar bursting at the seams with people. That might of been the high water mark for me. Every cruise since then has been almost exclusively informal meet-ups and such. Hoping to actually see a well attended M&M on my Symphony cruise in a few weeks. 

We are going on the Symphony in a couple of weeks and are looking with interest at the new set-up they apparently started with this week. So now there is only one set key exclusive hour per attraction and the rest of the time you get what equates to a Disney fastpass with line cutting privileges? Not exactly what I was envisioning with the program, but we'll adjust. Guess it'll keep being tweaked until as it comes along....

51 minutes ago, SAmome said:

 

Prices will vary on shore excursion extras so best to check cruise planner.  I think it's a good question tho about snorkeling are.  I'm all turned around with the new map.  Can someone tell us where the snorkel area in the video is on the new map?

The good snorkeling area is to the left of the map location if my orientation is correct. Out beyond chill Island and in the waters out there. 

2 hours ago, cb at sea said:

Nope...no "shooting" anything...either shotguns or arrows.

 

Did you just outright ignore post #63 or decide to answer without reading?

We are staying at the Holiday Inn Port of Miami across from Bayside. Easy ride on the Metrorail/Metromover from the airport and the Uber shuttle to the Port is inexpensive and quick. Location is right across from the Bayside Marketplace as well so plenty of restaraunts and shops. Also half a block away from the free metromover to access most of the Downtown/Brickell area easily 

7 hours ago, niksmom630 said:

Vitality


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Did you use any of the spa services? We have a couples massage scheduled on our cruise and haven't been able to find many Symphony spa reviews. 

Definitely for the Super Bowl. Heard they were chartered as floating hotels. 

LOL! I've had a few of those Senor Frogs moments in my days. You guys have done such a great job with this live review and we are so ready to take our turn in three short weeks! 

Thanks you so much! Hope to get stuck on a cruise with ya one day!

Thanks for your wonderful review! Our week has gotten closer and all of you guys on the Symphony this week made it such an enjoyable and enlightening time!

On 3/9/2019 at 12:25 AM, Honeyroastedmelnut said:

I was really surprised with Sharkeez. It looks like a tourist trap but their cracked conch was amazing

Senor Frogs surprised me like that one time. They had a gentleman in there cracking conch fresh from the shell and preparing it in a ceviche that was served immediately. I was pleasantly surprised and it still ranks as one of the best ceviche's I've ever eaten. Wasn't expecting that at all.

We were on the Glory last year. Was a fun cruise. A little worn around the edges but we found plenty enough to do on her. And we certainly got our money's worth out of the Cheers package at the Alchemy Bar. LOL!

4 hours ago, LMaxwell said:

 

Have you seen the brochures?  For thousands of dollars they advertise being lazy.  I do expect decent service for a vacation that costs more than a mortgage payment.  This ain't exactly staying at the Motel6 and nuking frozen dinners. 

 

You can't just get up and get a drink from pool bar, always, many times it is 15+ minute wait and you do have people wave cash because they are"more important than you" and just jump the line. 

 

It's bad service.  

 

The billion dollar profit, non-tax paying organization needs to be white knighted by paying guests who demand the cruise line charge more for everything. 

 

And that is why we have popcorn and cotton candy for a charge when tableside preparation and presentation of dinner with a sommelier used to be included.  The company figured out people were stupid enough to pay.  And the same people claim they have to charge for popcorn so the ship stays clean, lol. 

 

1. My cruise costs much more than my mortgage payment. 

2. Cash is not an accepted form of payment for drinks on a cruise. Maybe as a tip, but you definitely aren't paying as you go.

3. Adjusted for inflation, the cost of a cruise today is a small fraction of what cruises costs in your "glory days" 

and.....

4. There are still many options available to get the service you lament no longer having. Don't be surprised if that service level also comes with the inflation adjusted pricing that you have magically forgotten about. If you want to be waited on hand and foot, it can be arranged at the price point those who previously experienced that level of service paid.

Silversea, Viking, and Regent are all just a phonecall away....

Four ships and one being the Symphony? Costa Maya isn't hurting for business today! 

19 hours ago, Sun Lover said:

Which do you think would be better to be close to - Bayside Marketplace or Brickell?  How do they compare and are there things to do at night near the Holiday Inn that would either be walking distance or a short Uber ride?

The good thing about the Bayside/Brickell area is that the metromover is there and it is a free public transport that can get you to within a block of just about anywhere in these two neighborhoods. The Bayside station is less than a block away from the Holiday Inn. That means tons of dining and entertainment options are very accessible. 

10 hours ago, martini_guy said:

The Carnival ship in your signature is a very old ship. You also seem to like old person ships based on the ones you took before that so I don't doubt that you weren't happy.

The Valor was less than five years launched when they sailed on it. And it had just undergone extensive refurbishment in 2008.

You did exactly what I plan to do in Roatan! Did you guys hire a private driver or go on a Fun and Sun tour? We did a private driver through Bodden. How was your day? 

Have fun in Roatan! It'll be our first time there as well. Looking forward to snorkeling in West Bay

Great stuff so far! We feel like we are right there along with you!

Wow! Three live reviews from the same cruise in the same week! It's cruisarama and I couldn't be more excited for you guys! Thanks for bringing us along! Looking forward to your live review! On her in four weeks. 

Let us know how the Key works for you as we have it too! 

3 hours ago, Foosguy said:

Sailing on Symphony in 3 weeks, can anyone tell me what they are selling the Deluxe Alcohol package for once onboard on day 0 or day 1?

 

Kyle

Looking at the $52 per person per day pricing on my cruise planner right now, you'd more than make up for the extra day you might be "saving" by buying the drink package in advance. Would more than pay for the difference after only four days. 

5 hours ago, blueridgemama said:

 

If possible would you do a review of how the Key worked for you on Symphony. We don't leave until September so I have time to read reviews and decide if I should keep or cancel the 🔑

Not Cel, but we'll be on the Symphoney in four weeks and will be adding a Key review as well. 

1 hour ago, flcruising89 said:

Has anyone been on Symphony and had a POC in St. Kitts? We want to do an excursion outside of the cruise line and they're asking what time we arrive. When the itinerary says 9-6 is that St. Kitts time or ship time (EST)? Thanks for your help!

I'd be more than just a little apprehensive about booking an excursion through a tour company that is not aware of what time the ship arrives in port. Not exactly the most comforting of signs for hiring a tour provider that I would expect to get me back to the ship on time. Knowing the ship time should be one of their priorities. 

Woot! Following along! We are 29 days out ourselves. You guys look like such a fun bunch to cruise with!