karena1

15 hours ago, RFerrington said:

I concur.  I have since changed my mind since that original posting.  P to Z does seem to be a better deal.  There are some P amenities that I would miss - breakfast in CK or specialty restaurant and also BOGO specialty. But overall I think the P to Z move is an improvement.

 

I think the drink package is a great perk but honestly, I don't even use the 6 Pinn vouchers that I get now.  I think overall the drink package will go pretty much unused....but unlimited laundry is a nice perk !

Yup, people like different things.  Breakfast or any meal in CK doesn't matter to us at all, we also rarely do specialty dining or the BOGO specialty, so those perks on Royal get unused for us.  But we always buy  the drink package so for us that is a huge perk on Celebrity.  Not to mention that the cruises I have priced are way cheaper on Celebrity than on Royal.  We will still do Royal a lot, but nice to be able to compare now and pick which one works for us.  

1 minute ago, lovesthebeach2 said:

And just the opposite for us D+.  The 5 drinks I get on Royal are enough for me,  but more important is I’m not limited nearly as what X would offer if I only used the free drink list.  
so I’m our case, we will be spending more. Much better deal for the elite and elite + to come to Royal

Totally agree, this status match benefits Pinnacles more than anyone else.  But since we are Pinnacle, I am thrilled with this change.

and I just canceled a Freedom for next July and changed it to Reflection.  Cruise Fare alone was $1200 less even with the $200 fee.  So add the free Premium Pkg and it is a no brainer.  Booking 4 more Celebrity short cruises for Aug 2025 and Jan/Feb/Mar 2026 as they are way cheaper than Royal.  Will still book Royal a lot.  I have 19 cruises booked with Royal through March 2026.  They have Itins that Celebrity does not, especially as we love cruising out of San Juan.  But now I will always compare the 2 and see which gives me the best price/itin.

On 5/31/2024 at 6:43 PM, Rackham said:

 

One way this could settle out is drink vouchers go away on Royal, Celebrity stops nightly happy hour, Pinnacles gain a deluxe beverage package on Royal, and Diamond/Elite & Diamond Plus/Elite Plus receive a significant discount on the deluxe/premium beverage package.

 

Would there be many angry people below P/Z with losing the drink vouchers or cocktail hour? You bet.

 

Would there be many people below P/Z who'd be excited that they can get the top tier beverage package at a nice price? You bet.

 

And RCG comes out ahead since they've turned a previous cost sink into a revenue generator for everyone who's not P/Z. I would be willing to bet there'd be less people bailing on the RCG companies to other lines than the number who'd claim to online with this change.

Getting the complimentary Premium Bev Pkg on Celebrity vs 6 drink vouchers is HUGE.  Also, looking at prices, I moved our July 2025 Freedom to Reflection and saved over $1200 on cruise fare alone, even with the $200 price cancellation  fee.  Now add the fact that I get a free Premium Bev Pkg vs $40% off with Royal and it is a fantastic savings.  

On 5/30/2024 at 10:39 AM, RFerrington said:

Agreed.  I wonder how they will enforce it.  I'm sure it will be a painful learning process just as it was for RC.  I'm surprised that they matched Pinn to Zenith, TBH.  

 

We have never sailed on X so I am not familiar with the Zenith benefits, but it would seem, at first glance, that the Zeniths going to RC will be getting a nicer upgrade than the Pinnies going to X.

I disagree.  We are Pinnacle and now Zenith on Celebrity.  The biggest benefit is the Premium Beverage Pkg is Complimentary!  On Royal, I get 6 free drinks so still pay for a beverage pkg.  Going to save a lot when we sail Celebrity since I don't have to pay for the Package.  

1 hour ago, sjmbruce said:

My mom is going to need to use a walker while onboard. Do we need to get permission ahead of time to bring that onboard?

 

Do they offer any boarding assistance? 

 

This is all very new so thank you all for any advice. 

My sister always has her walker.  No need to notify anyone.  Super easy.  It folds up, so just in the cabin at night.

I saved $81 on one of our cruises today.  Saved a ton on our cruises over the last week, so very happy.

Still waiting to see what they will do for our July 4th Indy cruise.  Only stop was Labadee, so waiting to see where we will end up going.  Just hope it is not Nassau, really don't care if they take us anywhere else.  Would love Puerto Plata or Cozumel, but will see what they decide to do.

Has anyone done the RC transfer lately?  We have it booked, but years ago when we did it to Red Stripe beach, even though it said it was 3 hours, the busses actually came and went all day so you could come back when you wanted to

Does Blue Water work the same way?  We want to stay at the beach all day, not just have a couple of hours.  Wondering if the bus goes back and forth all day so you can just catch it back when you feel like it.

Loved Tap Factory, did not like Voices at all.  So sad to see Tap Factory leave, it was a great show.  

1 hour ago, maggie416 said:

Hi all. Haven't been on The Liberty in years. I was just wondering what kind of hair dryer they have? The one that you need to hold the button for it to stay on, or the ones the newer ships have, the control can switch on or off.  Just curious.

Thanks,

 Marg

 

 

 

 

just the cheap ones you have to hold down the button.  I won't use them, I take my own blow dryer for any cruise/hotel/resort I go to.

They have basis shampoo/body wash combo in the shower

To me, the blow dryers suck.  I take my own toiletries and my own blow dryer to any cruise, hotel, or resort as I want my stuff with me.

39 minutes ago, smheese said:

Hello 

Sailing RC for the second time next year on Icon. One thing that drives me crazy about this cruise line is the uncharges and extra charges for every little thing that would otherwise be included. On our first trip we splurged for the cabana service, which was wonderful for a large family, however this next trip it's just three of us and though we want guaranteed seating, the price just isn't worth it. 

 

Can you give me some insight as to what the rest of the island is like outside the cabanas in trying to get a seat, including an umbrella? 

 

Where can we tell if other RC ships will be in port at the same time? I cannot imagine another ship sharing the island with Icon. But if we are, I'd like to know in advance to pay the premium for a seating quieter area. As I've never walked around Coco Cay, only been in the cabana, just wondering how cut throat it is to get seating. Is there actually enough seating for all or no? 

 

Thanks for any insight you can provide. 

We are at CocoCay about 10 times a year and NEVER spend a dime out there except for tips.  Even with 2 ships, there is more than enough seating.  We get off right away as we want front row on the beach, but even if you come later, there are plenty of loungers/umbrella to sit under.  We see no reason to spend for the extras.  We have the drink package which works out there.  We love the free buffets and husband loves the Snack Shack, also all free.  I take my own mat out there, so don't have to rent one.  One of our favorite places.  

58 minutes ago, Stick93 said:

We were there in march - oversold. Practically every adult on allure and liberty was there. No seats near pool - beach is a pond.

 

For $19-26 would go back and sit in pool. For more i would stay on ship.  

I am not a pool person, I want to sit at a nice beach, which is why we always sit at Chill and enjoy all the free stuff.  Not willing to pay for Hideway and have loud music and such.  We go back in June/July again and will just totally enjoy Chill and lay on my mat in the water and enjoy my free beach.

19 hours ago, cruiselvr04 said:

i think you do have to look at where you’re at before you book something independent.  A port of call that’s rarely used, an island off the coast of Africa, with people who may not fully understand being timely, probably not. We book independent excursions and will continue to do so.  But there are times when a long distance is involved or the port time is short, we will not.  

I agree.  In the caribbean, which is pretty much all we do, we always do our own thing.  We grab a cab and go to our favorite beaches.  But we always leave ourselves plenty of time to get back to the ship.  In October, we are doing the Panama Canal, and we booked Royal Excursions and one Shore Excursions Group since we have never been to any of the places we are going to.  Only 2 places that we are going to that we will will do our own thing is Costa Rica and Grand Cayman.  

1 hour ago, The Fun Researcher said:

If there is one adult 21 or older in the room with one other guest under 21 can you opt out of a reduced drink package completely for the underage person?  ...or do they still make you get the refreshment package?

 

I remember when Royal didn't have this rule and all passengers could purchase drink packages separately.  To combat sharing (and increase profits) they now require both passengers over 21 to purchase (or refreshment for 2nd)  However if one of the two guests is a minor then they aren't able to share alcohol due to underage.  Does Royal still force a drink package on the underage guest?

no, under 21 and you don't have to buy anything for them

On 3/14/2024 at 1:37 PM, pfdaxe358 said:

No clue on taxi. But a 5 second Google search states 15 mins from port. (see pic). We dock in Amber Cove so figure we'll be paying more.

We dock at Taino cruise port not Amber Cove according to the cruise schedule

We were just there Saturday and it was amazing!  We had a wonderful time.  Lots of people got off the ship and totally enjoyed their day.  We got out there before 8 and did not leave until almost 4.  It was so perfect!  Love Labadee.  

7 hours ago, FionaMG said:

 

If you use the app then yes, you can just grab the check in times and all the other information can be input later at your leisure either on the app or on a PC.

 

Note that you need to select a check in time for each person; the system does not automatically default all the other people travelling with you to the same time you pick for yourself.

 

Later, you will need passport numbers, full names, dates of birth and addresses, if I remember correctly. Someone will correct me if I've got it wrong.

 

If you use a PC then you need to put all the information in first before it lets you pick your times.

 

I prefer to use the app just to grab the times and then do the rest on my PC because I prefer having a big screen and a proper keyboard, but that's just me. Many others are perfectly happy doing the whole thing on the app.

Same here.  I grab our time on the app and then fill everything else in on my laptop.  Much easier that way.  Then I also print out our boarding passes as I am old school and want a paper copy of my boarding passes.

If cruising or flying out of  FLL, we always park at Park n Go.  It is 5 minutes from the port.  You park your car, they shuttle you to the ship and you are good to go.  When you get back, they have shuttles out there as early as 6:30 am and as one shuttle leaves, the next pulls up.  We have used them for years.  They are fantastic. If you book online it is very reasonable vs paying once you get to the lot.  Much less than parking at the terminal and no worries about parking and having to walk from the lot to the ship

Any one know how much a taxi will cost to either one of these beaches?

Or the cost to rent loungers/umbrellas at these beaches?

3 hours ago, pfdaxe358 said:

We're looking at this one for September over the 2 you listed as by researching had better reviews:

https://www.resortpass.com/hotels/iberostar-costa-dorada

 

Do you know how how far this is from Taino cruise port and how much the taxi will cost?

When we were on Wonder in October, we went to Intense the first night and it was amazing-high wire, diving, etc.  We liked it so much we went back a couple nights later and it was the shortened version because of wind.  It was still great, but no high diving and no high wire.  Royal cannot control the weather.  

8 minutes ago, Nbud said:

Does anyone know what the schedule is for refit on some of the older ships? We are thinking of going on Liberty but wondering if it is run down looking. 

I think in 2025 but Liberty is fine.  We go on her a lot and never feel like it is a tug boat or something.  Shows are great, staff are amazing, husband thinks food is fine.  It does not have all the bells/whistles that some of the other ships have, but we don't need all that stuff.  Going on her again in the fall.

Yes, it will probably be full, but we were on Wonder in October and never felt it was crowded.  But we hit fall break, so there were a lot of kids on the ship, more than we are used to.  Overall, a great ship and Royal knows how to build it to make it not feel super crowded.  windjammer at certain times was crowded, but that is normal.  Just don't worry about it and go have fun, always places to go if you want peach and quiet.

1 hour ago, Jcol5786 said:

This is just an observation based on our last cruise on Anthem out of NJ. We left on December 17 and returned December 24'th. We have been on Anthem several times and always enjoy our time on her. Anyway here is my unoffical observation on luggage tags. We always print out our tags an put them on our bags just before we head out to the cruise port. We have tag holders and we drive so they stay on the bags pretty good. This time when I went to print them out on my home printer which is  black and white laser the tags came out too light, cartridge needed replacing. No problem - I emailed the cruise docs to myself and printed them out on a colour laser printer I have access to at my work. They were green. Fast forward to embarkation day on the ship. In the past when we go up to our room usually just after 1 pm our bags are not in the hall. They usually show up by 3 or 4pm. This time after getting in our room just after 1:30 pm I spotted our bags about 20 feet down the hall from our room. It was nice to get them so early. When I brought them back to our room and remarked that this was a record for getting them my wife commented that it might be because the tags were in colour making it easier for the crew to sort them. Sure enough I went back out into the hall and evwery bag that I saw had a luggage tag that was printed in colour. It might be a coincidence but after we returned to our room to change for dinner around 5:30 only then did I see bags with B/W tags. We are going on Anthem the last week in Februay and I plan on printing the tags in colour again and test my theory.😉

I always print mine in color.  They show up super fast