Ravensfan1973

On 2/21/2023 at 8:23 PM, fredmdcruisers said:

Yes. You pick am or pm.

When did this start and when do we choose?

Ok so haven't cruised in 5 years and out of loop.  Are the cabin attendants only cleaning the room once now?  

What is difference between Dragons Breath Flight Line which is $93.99 and Dragons Fire Flight Line which is $102.99. We are in Labadee in November. Does the price ever come down?

On 1/27/2023 at 1:47 PM, MOONFROG68 said:

Whenever we visit a Port for the fist time, we like to get an island tour to get the lay of the land.  We recently visited Curaçao for the first time on January 12. After some research, we found Mr Henry Plaate aka Curaçao Private Experiences by TX65.  You can find him on Facebook at Curaçao Private Experience by TX65 as well as at https://www.curacaoleadingtaxi.com/curacao-private-experiences.html. We had a wonderful time with him!  He met us exactly where he told us he would be and on time - actually a little head of schedule. He is a Curaçao native and has a vast knowledge of the island that he is willing to share with you.  He seems to know everyone on the island - everywhere we went folks seemed to know him! He is super friendly and so nice and takes his tours seriously. You can really tell he takes pride in what he does and his island.  We spent almost 7 hours w Mr. Henry Plaate exploring Curaçao. He took us everywhere!  He has several tours you can choose from or you can customize.  He is very flexible and accommodating - even on a moments notice when we decided we wanted ice cream! I have some physical limitations; and he had no problem accommodating those with any of our stops. I highly recommend Mr. Henry Plaate aka Curaçao Private Experiences by TX65 for a Curaçao tour!

Sounds great .  We just booked him for November.  

On 1/27/2023 at 8:25 PM, MotownH2O said:

I have used Jay's Car Rental several times, last in September 2022 with great success.  They meet you at the Pier and cars are in walking distance (5 minutes).  www.jayscarrentalaruba.com

Did you have to have the rental back by a certain time?  We are in port until 10pm.

On 11/6/2022 at 4:01 PM, DREAMSAFLOAT said:

We reserved online before our cruise & rented a car in Aruba. It was super easy and not expensive. All in all it was less than $100 for the day and we were able to visit the lighthouse, Baby beach, Eagle beach saw different parts of the Island all on our own agenda.

The walk from the cruise port was about 10 minutes. Walk out of the terminal turn right and keep going along the main road. It's not far from Lucy's Restaurant. At the counter in the lobby Jeremy was professional and courteous. The car was clean and was comfortable with the AC on such a hot day. Driving is not difficult and road signs are easy to follow.

Sounds good.  What sites did you go to on the island?  How long before your arrival did you reserve the car?  Was the car an automatic?  Just making sure cause I know the jeeps are manual transmission.  

Looking to rent a car for our november stop.  We are in port for 14 hours.  Looking to see the sights and possibly a beach stop or two.  Is there a rental agency near where the ship docks?

On 11/30/2022 at 2:23 PM, LisaLisa87 said:

Hello! I booked a Junior Suite for our Med sailing on Explorer next August, but I'm toying with the idea of switching to one of the Ocean View Panoramic Suites on deck 12. DH and I will be traveling with our daughter, and I like the idea of the extra square footage, separation of sleeping areas, and extra half-bath. I'm hoping someone who has sailed in one of these suites, either on Explorer or another ship, can share their experience. I would imagine we might feel more movement, including some vibrations when docking bow first. Any other pros or cons I should consider? It looks like these rooms do not get full suite perks, which I'm fine with (although priority tendering would be great since there are two tender ports on our itinerary). The price is just under $300 more than the JS.

 

Thanks in advance for any insight!

We sailed in one on the Liberty of Seas in 2018 before they labelled as a suite.  God I can't believe how cheap it was.  I think it was like $3,200 for four of us.  I think it's over 8 grand now.  Anyways we loved it.  Was easy access to the pools and elevator.  I don't really recall it rocking that bad and we even went through a good rain storm.  So much room and the half bath is really a plus.  

10 hours ago, Airbear232 said:

We do, and just got our boosters.

We all see how well those work.

1 hour ago, pcur said:

This web page is very informative.  Updated for December 2022.

 

https://www.islandlifecaribbean.com/covid-19-update/

 

Nobody really cares at this point. Somebody said it was over and we know who.

10 hours ago, pcur said:

Let's see:  assisted living center required mask AND took my temp; dentist office today required mask in their waiting room; hotel 2 days ago required mask in public areas; new care home for my MIL required mask, temp, and vaccination card.

 

Who knows who is going to ask for what?  I just keep these two small, take-up-no-room items with me, and don't get defensive or angry because I'm asked to use them once in a while. It truly is no big deal.

Not surprised it's California

12 minutes ago, cookie38 said:

Can't bring one if you don't have one!!! 😂

That's the truth.  Thankfully my family is in that category.

On 11/26/2022 at 7:27 AM, Torfamm said:

Vaccination may not be required to cruise but can still be required to disembark by ports. I wouldn’t want to be unable to get off the ship. Itinerary or vaccination requirement changes are always a possibility 

Guess we'll be out of luck then if they change.  No way we'll ever get it

The jab isn't required so why would you need it?  

Looking for a hotel in PC for four.  We are flying in one day early before our cruise.  Gosh, it was like 2009 the last time we sailed out of PC.  I believe we stayed at a Radisson that time if my memory serves me correctly.

12 minutes ago, HicksRA said:

Yes. 

That's great.  Do you know how many and where they are located?

Does Adventure have the coke freestyle machines?  Last we sailed on this ship in 2016 they didn't.  With the soda package on sail this week was looking to get my kid the package.  

6 minutes ago, Moonarino said:

 

Not for most US-based cruises, with one or two exceptions. I sailed Celebrity Nov 7, no pre-cruise testing required for our 10-day eastern Caribbean route. Grant Turk (not one of our ports) still required testing at the time I believe. Just one example of possible exceptions.

 

Here's a good start on a more complete answer, which of course can change in the next year:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/faq/questions/will-i-have-to-take-a-test-before-i-cruise

 

Thanks.  We are going to Labadee, Aruba and Curacao so looks like we're good.

Is Royal still requiring pre cruise test? I know other lines got rid of it.  I've been out of the loop for a month or so.  We cruise Thanksgiving next year 2023.

On 10/10/2022 at 7:34 AM, ssbeard1 said:

We were a multigenerational family of 8.  By the time everyone decided they wanted to all do something together as a group (I’d asked them for months for a decision) it was too late to find a private tour (I tried).  We booked with Irie.   The bus driver/guide did a great job and we learned so much.   That said, it wasn’t any different than a ship sponsored tour - full bus, taking pictures as you drove by, timed stops.  I prefer small groups or private tours.   We pulled over to see the flamingos, 45 minute stop for snorkeling with turtles (actually closer to 30 with getting off bus, getting snorkel gear, walking to beach, then that in reverse), 2 hr beach stop, then visit to caves (very rushed, unimpressive to us, and no pics allowed (except in one area).   I would recommend Irie though - I would just look for private or small group first.  

Do you know the name of the tour you did? There are a couple on their website.

What did you think of this tour company?  Googled it and it came up.  

Any idea when these lines will end this nonsense of showing a negative test for unvaxxed? Thought I read that Norwegian ended it?

43 minutes ago, BirdTravels said:

Because you need to be fully vaccinated to cruise to some locations. 

Where?

Sure this has been asked a thousand times but is there a drop off for a rental car near port Canaveral?  Also what's a good company to get back to the airport?  We haven't sailed out of Port Canaveral since 2009 and I have no idea who we used.  

On 9/21/2022 at 11:53 AM, Tree_skier said:

You can enter the US by land without proof of vaccine.  It is only if you are flying into the country that is it required.

Ridiculous