farmersfight

1 hour ago, DCGuy64 said:

Correct. There are opinions that are essentially just someone's gut feeling, and there are opinions backed up by fact. I prefer the latter. For one thing, it can be hard to distinguish fact from opinion when opinions are stated as though they were facts.

Then there is the classic; "I believe in truth over facts". 🤣

1 hour ago, HuliHuli said:

I would not say that DeSantis is "over-reaching" or "went to bat" for the cruise lines.  Rather, I think he is endeavoring to support jobs for people of his State and the revenue cruising generates for the State.  That is common for Governors and politicians in general.

True. I should've said DeSantis "went to bat" for the Florida-based cruise-related businesses and the many Floridians employed by these businesses. By doing so, DeSantis was also helping out the cruise lines get restarted to bring these businesses back. Still goes back to my original question as to why DeSantis would then throw up a "road block" to the cruise lines' restart by prohibiting them from requiring all passengers be vaccinated. 🤔

10 hours ago, Stallion said:

This such a basic issue of federal preemption under the Interstate Commerce Clause and Maritime Law that DeSantis will be laughed out of Court if raises the argument that Florida has authority to regulate international travel requirements. 

I agree. I think that DeSantis is over-reaching on this one. I don't understand why he "went to bat" for the cruise lines (by meeting with and hearing the CEOs) and then tries to throw up a big roadblock to their restart by prohibiting the cruise lines from requiring proof of covid vaccinations (i.e. covid vaccine passports).

12 hours ago, coastcat said:

Also still awaiting my first RCI cruise but that's given me plenty of time to read up on things...

 

There's no drink package included with RCI. However, you can purchase one - and the options are (IMO) superior to what NCL offers. You've got a soda-only package, the Refreshments package for all non-alcoholic drinks (including bottled water, specialty coffee, frozen drinks, mocktails, and fresh-squeezed fruit juice), and deluxe beverage package (Refreshments plus unlimited alcoholic drinks and a discount on wine bottles). Compare that to NCL with its soda package, the PBP which comes as a Free At Sea perk, and the Premium Plus BP. NCL's PBP doesn't include the specialty coffees, bottled water, fresh juice, or smoothies - you've got to pay the hefty upgrade to PPBP to get all that.

 

For specialty dining, you can purchase packages. They have an unlimited specialty dining package plus smaller packages. For my 5-night cruise on Mariner next February, I can choose between a Chops + 1 package (one dinner at Chops, one dinner at another specialty restaurant) for $59.99 or the unlimited dining package (specialty dinner every night plus lunch every sea day) for $139.99.

 

The fun thing is that prices are not fixed! RC offers discounts frequently which range from 10% to 40% or more. If you purchase at a higher price, you can cancel and re-purchase at a lower price if a new discount rolls out. You have to keep checking, or keep an eye on forums/social media. Excursions also get discounted. Man, it's a full time job to keep up with RCI pricing...

 

Thanks @coastcat. This is very helpful information. Much appreciated! I know I wasn't the target audience but...

8 minutes ago, coastcat said:

Without the free champagne (well, probably cheap sparkling wine), "fun" would be the wrong word to describe those activities. With it, yeah, bring on the spiels! Or at least that's my working theory. I'll let y'all know how it works out...

Now that you mention this, I now recall doing the same thing "back in the day" on the Carnival Ecstasy. We looked in the Carnival Capers (I think that's what it was called) and found all the activities, gatherings & talks that had free drinks (alcoholic, of course). I do remember attending something to do with art (you can see how much I was paying attention. "Next free drink please!"). Oh yeah, and we definitely did the wine tasting event for the free wine. I was a lot younger then and had a lot less $, lol.

2 hours ago, Summerstravel said:

Can you please share any tips on RCI? (solo) I have never sailed RCI just Norwegian so I am curious how things work. For example drink packages, dining, shows, etc. Thank you so much! With this sale it looks a good time to book for 2022. 

As I have not sailed on RCI (yet), I will defer to @Traveling Mike. But from a booking point of view, I am finding RCI to be very "solo friendly". Their 60% off the 2nd guest sale has really helped (essentially lowers the solo supplement to 40%). As I posted previously, I've been able to book regular balcony cabins on 3 of RCI's Oasis-class ships (see my expanded signature block). On top of this sale, RCI has the Quantum-class ships that have the studio balcony cabins. I'm booked on 3 Quantum-class ships in those studio balcony cabins. I'm also booked on NCL's BA, BA+ class ships so it will be interesting to compare the solo experience on both cruise lines.

5 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Art Auctions fun?  Not in my experience.  Unless, one defines "fun" as getting a flute or more of a cheap sparkling wine.  Depending upon the speaker, port talks can be entertaining and informative.  But, fun?  

I think the drinking game that @coastcatwas referring to has a lot to do with the art auctions and port talks being "fun".

4 hours ago, DCGuy64 said:

No, it's more like "I won't stop for ice cream until you kids stop arguing." Kids stop arguing. Then dad says "I won't stop for ice cream for another 30 miles." We were told last year that things couldn't go back to normal until cases went down (they have) or until there's a vaccine (there are) and that people were getting vaccinated (there are). And yet nothing. I call BS!

But wait, it might be because the CDC Director herself is predicting "impending doom" and she is "scared". Also now, racism is a national health emergency.

I think I answered by own question. Did a mock booking on NCL with the 30% pp. For the stateroom, the discount is still 30%, it doesn't go up to 60% (I need to sharpen up my math skills, lol). So, RCI's 60% off the 2nd person is still the better deal for us solos. Effectively reduces the solo supplement down to 40%, which was enough for me to "pull the trigger" and book a few cruises with RCI, in regular balcony staterooms!

8 hours ago, sid_9169 said:

I'm trying to figure out whether six beers is enough for a Sunday afternoon, or should I go for seven...

7 is lucky, I'd go for 7. But then you'd might as well finish off the 2nd 6-pack, so make it 12.

8 hours ago, mopedmom1 said:

 

 

I am dragging my feet on the C19 vax so no cruises for me right now. I am sure this will limit me on many other vacation choices as well. 

I am not one to judge anyone regarding whether or not to get the covid vaccine; purely a personal decision. I have had the Moderna vax (both jabs) and so far, so good (still breathing). I look at it the same way as getting the flu vaccine which I get every year.

26 minutes ago, mopedmom1 said:

All this talk of vacationing is really exciting!  So happy for everyone with plans. 

 

I have been trying to figure out how travel will look for me as a single now.  I am not afraid to travel alone, it just sounds so boring and lonely to me (too many reminders of previous trips). Traveling with my kids is not an option, they are both so busy with their own travels and adventures. My youngest will be summitting Mt. Hood in a few weeks! 😱

 

I would love to hear from single travelers what YOU find fun and exciting about your trips. I realize everyone is different but maybe something will spark an interest for me.

14 minutes ago, sid_9169 said:

There's still room on the Norwegian Joy for August 7th out of Jamaica!...

Probably also on the Norwegian Gem for Sept 12th out of Dom Rep. This will be my first cruise as a solo also. I'm stoked though, booked a regular balcony cabin that I will have all to myself!

1 hour ago, HBCcruiser said:

Posted in wrong thread. Sorry. Weird. 

It must be what's in your CC screen name pic (lol). 😉

9 minutes ago, pcur said:

You're welcome!  I was thinking someone had already mentioned it somewhere on this board.  I've just started reading the threads here, and thought it wouldn't hurt to mention this.

 

The 60% off the second person promo might override the DP340, but when I saw the prices I checked (and posted above) I thought they were very reasonable.

It's good to know that with the C&A points promo (on top of getting double points normally), there's something + for us solo cruisers and not just the - of having to pay double (200%) for regular staterooms. RCCL is turning out to be more "solo-friendly" than I first thought.

27 minutes ago, pcur said:

I don't know if this would be considered a bargain, but solo cruisers should be aware of it.  

 

First of all make sure you are enrolled in RCCL's Crown and Anchor Society.  You can do it retroactively if you know the sail dates and ships you've been on, and the type of cabin.

 

Depending on how many points you may have, this might work out for you.

 

RCCL is giving all C&A members double points for every cruise in 2021 and until 9/30/22.  Solos already get double points normally, so they will get quadruple points during this promotion.  If you book a suite (the lowest price is a Jr Suite), you get 6 times the number of days.

 

When you get to 340 points you are eligible permanently for their DP340 booking promotion, not to mention you will be Diamond Plus after 175 points, and that's free drinks every day, balcony discounts dependent on the length of the cruise, and more.

 

DP340 is supposed to price your cabin at 150% for a single, but with the other promos and discounts it may not work out to exactly that.  

 

IMPORTANT:  when "ghost booking" e.g. price checking, you have to go all the way through the booking process to see the final discounted price using DP340.  It wouldn't hurt to also check the price just with the balcony discount, if that's your cabin preference.  I priced a lot of different cruises, and found the price difference to be significant using DP340 from the regular solo pricing.

 

Examples:  Navigator of the Seas using DP340 (I did not price inside cabins)

 

3 nights -

OV (ocean view) $557

Balcony  $614

JS (Jr Suite)  $976

 

4 nights-

OV (spacious) $824

Balc  $702

JS  $1126

 

5 nights-

OV $635

Balc $827

JS $1255

 

7 nights-

OV  $782

Balc $1192

JS  $1482

Thanks for the valuable information about RCCL (and sailing solo on them). I wasn't even paying attention to the points but I am booked on multiple RCCL cruises in 2021 & 2022. I am a C&A member. Good to know that I will receive quadruple the points for my cruises during this promotion. Looks like I may be able to get to 340 pts relatively quickly and become eligible for the DP340 booking promotion (and as you said, become DP when I reach 175 pts). I'd go for balcony cabins as a solo for 150%. I've taken advantage of RCCL's 60% off the 2nd guest sale to, as a solo, book balcony staterooms at 140%, so what's 10% more?

Again, thanks for the valuable info.

19 hours ago, coastcat said:

I'm going to attend the art auctions and port talks, albeit mainly because they'll be the basis of a drinking game (take one sip for cliched marketing-speak, two sips for each mention of 'limited quantity so don't hesitate', a full shot if I break out laughing at the hyperbole, etc).

I didn't know art auctions and port talks could be that fun. Memo to self filed to memory.

19 hours ago, coastcat said:

Heck, maybe I will go see the pirate as well.

But don't go after attending one of those art auctions and/or port talks (and playing the drinking game). The resulting picture(s) could turn out to be very incriminating...(JK).

19 hours ago, coastcat said:

Don't try to do the math with NCL. Your head may explode! Basically they bump up the fares for everyone and then "discount" them 30%; we're seeing the straight 100% single supplement on current cruises.

 

I don't track RCL prices enough to know how they play with the numbers. For the heck of it, let's look at a random sailing - Harmony OTS on May 1 2022 in the Eastern Caribbean. With the 60% second guest discount they're offering me an oceanview balcony at the same price for single occupancy or double occupancy (except the latter is $145 more for a second person's taxes & port fees). Same results with a different random May 2022 cruise on Explorer. That 60% off the second guest is confusing - ignore the marketing and focus on the actual numbers.

Thanks. Maybe I should be "crunching the numbers" a little harder but the RCL 60% off the 2nd guest sale was attractive enough for me to book 3 Oasis-class ships (Symphony, Harmony & Allure OTS). Both the Symphony & Harmony OTS cruises are in an ocean view balcony and the Allure OTS is in a Central Park view balcony.

With NCL, I did get the 30% off my Norwegian Gem cruise out of Dom Rep in Sept but as you said, I'm sure NCL just raised the cruise fare prior to the 30% off sale. Oh well, still must've been attractive enough to me as I booked a regular balcony cabin on the Gem. As you know, the Gem and her other Jewel-class sisters do not have Studio cabins/lounges like the BA, BA + class ships do.

O.k., am I correct abut this?

I've recently taken advantage of RCI's 60% off the 2nd guest sale. As a solo in the stateroom, this essentially lowers my solo supplement to 40%. If you look at double occupancy, it would be 60% off for the stateroom. Now in comparison, how about NCL's 30% off sale? I know NCL just raises the cruise fare prior to the sale but that would be for everybody, so solos are equal. With double occupancy, that would be 60% off for the stateroom as well.

Am I off here?

1 hour ago, graphicguy said:

Couldn't get to the first NCL cruise out of Jamaica, but snagged the one going out 9/28/21.  Pretty jazzed!

 

Looking forward to your report Syd!

It's like a breath of fresh air seeing "jazzed" folks post about booking (aka "snagging") cruises again...cruises that will actually sail. Sure beats the heck out of posts about cruises being cancelled, again and again and again...

5 hours ago, Crazy planning mom said:

That looks like a great itinerary.

Thanks. I don't remember if I previously posted the POC's on this cruise but here they are (again?);

Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten & Antigua.

The only one that I have been to previously is Barbados.

5 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

I follow the La Lido Loca youtube channel and Tony will be sailing on RCCL in June. Can't wait to see his videos!

I love Tony and his La Lido YouTube channel. "Hey, hey, hey...let's talk about it. Thanks in advance".

20 hours ago, Named-Tawny said:

Punta Cana already sees a lot of tourist traffic - it's a resort hub.  I can't speak to the US, but there are direct flights from Toronto, Montreal, and other Canadian cities, at least.

Looks like from here (U.S.) there are direct flights to Punta Cana from Newark, NJ (EWR) and Washington Dulles (IAD). I'm connecting in both airports coming from and returning to Grand Rapids, MI.

On 4/6/2021 at 1:43 PM, sid_9169 said:

Just put a courtesy hold for the Joy on August 7th... I've had it with the CDC jerking us around for over a year now...

Yes! I'm giving the CDC the "double rods" myself. I've had it with Ms CDC Director and her "impending doom" and her "being afraid". She deserves an Emmy.

On 4/6/2021 at 1:34 PM, Sand and Seas said:

I wonder about flights to Punta Cana.   Montego Bay should be able to handle the volume.

Good to see they are starting cruises😎

I'm booked on the Gem (which will actually be operating out of La Romana, DR because that's where the cruise terminal is). I was able to book a r/t flight to Punta Cana (from Grand Rapids, MI). One stop each way; in Newark, NJ on the way down & in Washington Dulles on the return flight. Layover times are 1 hr & 1 1/2 hr, respectively. Airfare: $500 (for economy) but I need the extra legroom so, I booked Economy + for $200 more so, $700 total.

There weren't that many flights to Punta Cana (who would've thought that there was an International airport there, lol) but there were more to Santo Domingo, DR, which is a big city so the airport there will be able to handle any increased volume of flights. The cruise port in La Romana is midway between Santo Domingo to the west and Punta Cana up the coast to the east. I'm also booked on a hotel in Punta Cana (and the rate was very reasonable).

On 4/6/2021 at 10:24 AM, DCGuy64 said:

The tiny snowball is getting larger every day. I now count at least 6 foreign countries that will be hosting cruise ship embarkations:

 

St Maarten

Jamaica

Dominican Republic

Bahamas

Barbados

Greece

 

Looks like the cruise industry has had it with the CDC.

 

Yes, they're giving the CDC "the double rods".