marci22

I read the article. What a tragedy.

I got these from Amazon:   Celestron – Nature DX 8x42 Binoculars – Outdoor and Birding Binocular – Fully Multi-Coated with BaK-4 Prisms – Rubber Armored – Fog & Waterproof Binoculars

 Swimming in the open ocean can be described as strenuous. I think the tour is reasonably described. 

7 minutes ago, suec12 said:

Well when I filled out our docs, 1:00 was the earliest offered - earlier times must have been offered to others.

 

To get the 'earliest' time, you have to do your checkin right after midnight. I would look for recent reports based on the port you are going to, but I almost always get to the Bayonne port around 10:30a and there is a short wait time inside before boarding.

On 3/24/2024 at 12:56 PM, AGE_Texas said:

The main reason I’m interested is because I don’t want to have to wait for hours to get on/off the ship with my little ones. But not sure how long the waits really are. 
 

Thoughts?

Generally, if you are up very early and can carry your own luggage off, departure will be fastest. Otherwise, times will vary. If you have an early flight you could get in one of the earlier departure groups, but in any case, departure is pretty efficient and you shouldn't be waiting 'hours' unless there is some kind of issue at the port, which happens infrequently but does happen.

Does the Loyalty discount always apply to specialty dining or is it a periodic sale?

I have done this tour. It's free but tips are appreciated.

https://www.gotobermuda.com/event/discover-hamilton-walking-tour/3137

https://www.cityofhamilton.bm/explore_the_city/town_crier_tours.php

2 minutes ago, UNCFanatik said:

 

Understood

 

The only thing is that you cant remove gratuities when purchasing drink package

Oh I see what  you mean. Who knows how they split the gratuity. It doesn't necessarily go to the bartender serving you. They probably have a budget to distribute tips and the comp per drink is just one part of it. 

1 hour ago, UNCFanatik said:

'

Let me make sure I understand this. All drinks have a mandatory 18% gratuity. If I get the drink package and order a $14 drink then 18% equals $2.52

 

The bartender would be eligible for $1 per drink after $1400 drinks in a month so we have $1.52 remaining from the $2.52 and we are not sure were that $1.52 goes? 

He said that different ships give different per drink compensation. Oasis was one of the higher ones at about $1/drink. He wasn't totally clear on how he makes all of his money.

No one knows what the actual tip allocation is. You can pay the autograts and be done with it, or you can remove grats and tip as you like. I see no problem with either method, nor does Royal. 

12 minutes ago, gavvy said:

I have no idea where the tips over the $1 value go too. 

Yeah he got asked that a couple times but just restated the formula. Someone asked a general tips question that he didn't answer at all. He did say that any extra amount guarantees better service.

Generally sounded like the 'extra tips' were appreciated but the bulk of his efforts were getting out as many drinks as possible for the per drink compensation. He said that soda and water does not generate this drink comp. See the part about why they like to serve shots.

11 minutes ago, doghog said:

No kidding. Speaking of the small CL where seats are limited. 

Last Pin Circle I saw, the people at each end of the 'table scape' were probably farther away from each other than if they just all sat in the pre-arranged seats.

@molly361  Wearing the pin means, 'go ahead and ask me something'. They ALWAYS talk. If you want to be incognito then leave it in the box.

30 minutes ago, molly361 said:

Mine is still in the box that it came in and that's where it will stay.  Don't care to wear it even when boarding.  I just show my SetSail pass if asked.

I think you should wear it; it's a conversation starter. 

There was a Pinnacle circle on our last Liberty cruise in the D lounge. The concierge was helping them move chairs. I don't think they should be allowed to do it, but I get why staff's hands are tied. Pulling up a chair is very different than re-arranging the room.

On 2/6/2024 at 7:29 PM, GetToLivin said:

I'm definitely priced out of Icon, so my little self thought to do a mock booking on Utopia, you know, being 3-4 nights it'd need to be less expensive, right? I was wrong! Essentially the same price with less time 🤡 I'll be sailing the "oldy" Oasis Class ships for my foreseeable future 😉

Look for a TA with group space. TAs posting here are not allowed to advertise but you can use your best googling abilities.

Last couple times I checked in you had to do it right after midnight to get the earliest time. I did it at 3am and I didn't get the earliest time.

1 hour ago, 2chiefs said:

Fares are already really high now! Now they're throwing gasoline on to the fire. I've been pricing cruises online for the 2025 season and have noticed the remarkable increase in price to be able to pick your own room. For instance today I mock-booked a balcony cabin on Adventure for May 16, 2025 and the price is $395 higher to be able to pick your own room. That's a lot of "insurance" to ensure you are not bumped from a cruise from the rampant over booking that cruise lines are doing now. I guess it's time to look at other alternative vacations to do. Hopefully all this price gouging the cruise lines are doing will reduce demand, so the prices come back down.

I know what you mean. They used to list guaranty rooms when the cruise was almost sold out. Now they are doing it much earlier. You have to choose a guaranty or pay a lot more. You could try using a TA that has group space: that way you can pick your own cabin at a better price, and it's refundable until final payment.

1 hour ago, Jimbo said:

Wow, bad enough with no windows in there to look out at the ocean, but please at least dim those lights, way to bright in there to relax !

I agree, someone dim the lights.

We did Free Walking Tours Curacao. You can find it on Trip Advisor. Our guide was Rayay. It was a good tour with a lot to see and took about 2 1/2 hours. After the tour we shopped in town and walked back ourselves. The only thing is that it is very, very hot, so bring a hat and water. We did stop along the way at a couple of places where we could purchase water and cold snacks for a small charge.

It is a free tour but we tipped at the end. Group is limited to about 20 people.

21 minutes ago, OCSC Mike said:

One has become my wife's chocolate croissant bag b/c in the past we have seen chocolate come and go and that's one of her favorite things. Of course on our last 2 cruises they had them every morning in SL/CL and we didn't need to be taking extra but better safe than sorry.

They only put out 2 at a time in the D lounge and one guy always took both. Couldn't find them in WJ. Maybe it was you haha. You have to fight for the chocolate croissants.

Every time I log onto the website they tell me my password is wrong.

19 hours ago, dahirsh said:

perhaps.  It didn't sound familiar to me so I googled.  They were at Universal 2007 to 2021, but I didn't find anything for WDW

 

I saw them late 80s in Princeton, NJ at the McCarter Theatre when they were 'new'. They've been around for a long time. Could very well have been at Disney for a performance at some point.

19 hours ago, orville99 said:

It would have been much further back than that - 2002-2003 timeframe before they were all that well established.

I believe you. They've been around since 1988.

I would love to have them sneak in and give me a new couch. Be extra sneaky and replace the bed, too.

Just assume that everything is 18% more than the price shown.

5 minutes ago, cruiseboy89130 said:

How can the Rabbi be on 2 ships at the same time?🤔

He has representatives. All in the FAQs.