3dogmom

Supposed to leave out of Tampa on Empress on Sat (9/9) for Key West and Cuba. I don't have a good feeling about this.

 

 

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I'm on this cruise also. I really hope it's cancelled (unlikely) because I'd rather stay home then be diverted somewhere else.

Thanks for the replies. I'll monitor the boards for when the TA's are released for the dates that work; probably the September Westbound. I'm planning for 2019.

Are you able to carry on alcohol; whether it be wine or wine/liquor? Thanks again!

I've been on 30 cruises, mainly with RCCL, but am just starting to plan my first ever Disney cruise. I'm interested in their TA cruises and wonder when they typically release the deployment schedules? I like to book early, as in my experience you get the best price. Does Disney honor price drops? Before/After final payment?

Thanks for any and all Disney newbie information!

We vacation every years on Peaks. It's easy to poke around on your own - there's a self guided walking tour of the WW2 sites that is fun. A walk around the perimeter is about 4 miles. There are golf carts and bikes to rent if you want to get around on your own. The museum at the Fifth Maine is quite interesting, in addition to seeing what's left from WW2 (especially Battery Steele) and the beautiful scenery.

This sounds interesting! Thanks for the info.

I've been to Portland once before and am thinking of taking the Chasco ferry over to Peaks Island. There's a golf cart tour that looks interesting.

Has anyone taken the ferry and explored Peaks Island by tour or on their own? I wondered if there's enough to do to spend the day or do half Peaks half Portland?

This isn't a thread to rant or complain about drink prices. Nor is it a "is the alcohol package worth it" debate. Just a good laugh about how much cheaper things would be if I didn't enjoy drinking. Earlier this year I booked a 14 night TA from San Juan to Rome for spring 2018. Scored a balcony on the end of the hump and was blown away that it only cost $2,003. Yesterday they released the beverage packages, and for the two of us it will cost $1817 for the deluxe. For us, we will get our monies worth, and I know(hope) that eventually they will run the 20%-30% off sale which will bring the price down, but I thought it was funny that the drinking package will almost double the cost of the cruise itself.

I just bacame D+ but have 2 more NCL cruises booked because of the free drink pkg option. In fact I just switched my Brilliance cruise to the Epic for a girls get-a-way because the drink pkg saves SO MUCH! :cool:Sailed the Epic (first NCL) in March and it was incredible! I'm not abandoning RCCL, but NCL has made me look at their options also before booking.

Do you remember where you had lunch? I'm also taking a private tour and have heard mixed reviews of restaurants.

We're booked for the summer 2017 - Cuba / Key West itinerary, so we will not be in the Havana port overnight. I see we must book an excursion in order to meet the educational purpose for being on the island. I was a bit disappointed to see that none of the excursions had a focus on cuisine. I am hoping somebody will see this thread and post of their experiences. I'm interested in knowing if you are able to venture off on your own to explore the restaurant culture after doing something like a 3 hour historical excursion through the cruise line in order to meet the visiting requirements.

I booked a private tour with Havana Journeys for my September cruise. Contact them and see if they would customize a tour for you. You can read reviews on TripAdvisor.

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Go on Epic! I'm D+ on RCCL and the main reason we stayed was the free drinks. You know how much that saves?! I agree that food and service has declined in some areas over the years, and the dining room food has become so boring to us. Even the specialty restaurants on our last few cruises just weren't as good as they used to be.

We always wanted to try the Epic and when NCL came out with the UBP freebie and the Epic moving to Canaveral, it was a no brainer. We took the 4 night cruise in March and absolutely loved it. We ate at all specialty restaurants and could not believe the quality and quantity.

I admit, I hated the cabin with the weird bathroom configuration, but I'd sail on the Epic again without hesitation.

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I used http://www.kinsalelimos.com/ for transport my group from Cork to Kinsale in 2012. I reserved a 12-seater Mercedes coach.

We then did a historic walking tour with http://www.historicstrollkinsale.com/

The transport and tour were fabulous! We ate lunch at Fishy Fishy. http://www.fishyfishy.ie/ Highly recommend.

Have a great time. Kinsale is beautiful!

If you get something normal like room service in the morning. Unless you're all fully dressed there's no place to go to hide when it arrives.. DW likes to go in the bathroom while they're in the room, if she's not ready.

Yes, exactly!

My husband and I sailed on NCL for the first time earlier this month. Loved everything about the Epic except the room....especially the bathroom!:eek: I'm a privacy person when it comes to the bathroom, so I closed the curtain. Now just think. You use the restroom, slide open the frosted glass door, grab the curtain, and THEN wash your hands. EWWWW!

For something different, skip London.

We recommend where we stayed, at a lovely B&B, across the water in the village of Hythe.

Check the reviews:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g1436563-d1811955-Reviews-The_Maples-Hythe_Hampshire_England.html

Easy transportation to the Port.

Great views of the Ships.

Home of the famous Hythe Ferry http://hytheferry.co.uk/introduction/

Careful; this B&B sells out quickly.

I'm thinking of skipping London and exploring a town outside of the city. Is there anything to do close by to this B&B? What did you do?

Anyone know if the refurbs are upgrading the TV channels? I have to say, not having ESPN on the Epic was such a negative to me.

He said the cruise arrives in Boston on 11th september 2018. The 2017 cruise ends on 10th september in Boston.

I called this AM and was told the 2018 schedule.

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Serenade 2018 TA is loaded in the system but not open to book. Leaving Copenhagen on August 26th and arriving Boston September 11th.

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The Empress will be my first sailing as a D+. I really wanted to shove the CL into my almost-not-quite-D+ friends!:evilsmile:;p

So let's really hope others will follow soon, usually the Europe-based ships were among the first.

Maybe tomorrow, or Monday.

UGH...leaving on NCL tomorrow. That's what I get for straying....:eek:

Sorry for the misunderstanding - On certain cruises that we booked on Celebrity - Eclipse - 10 March 2019 - the "classic beverage package' was included 'free' in the price - they do not offer this package as part of the booking in TAs or repositionings -

 

Hope that makes it a little easier to understand! Has nothing to do with what level you are with ether company

Thank you, I thought there was a D+ benefit that I haven't heard of!

I assume you are aware of the complimentary drinks in the DL and CL in the evenings, along with 3 free drink vouchers on your seapass card for each evening, during open hours of the lounges. :confused:

Main reason I continue to sail with RCCL!:D The statement "free drink packages on TA" is what threw me off.

It would be nice if RCL released their 'offerings' at the same time as Celebrity - but what the heck - we like Celebrity aslo so..... I guess we will be doing more Celebrity -

 

Except Celebrity does not offer free drink packages on TA or repositions and as D+ we have DL in the evening cause we rarely drink during the day lol :halo::evilsmile:

Just became D+....what free drinks on TA's?! Waiting to book 2018.

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Just curious, since I and many others rely on this thread to find out when future itineraries open, how do you find out? In my experience I have to tell the RCCL rep that the cruise is open when I call.

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I just turned D+ on my last cruise and didn't know about the luggage tags...YAY! I was most happy with the bottle of wine I'll receive in my cabin.

Waiting for the Serenade Copenhagen - Boston 2018 itinerary to be released. I was surprised that it was released in early March last year for this year. I thought it would be later in the month.

Anyone stay in the rooms that were added to an old dining area after refurb with the over-sized windows?

rcldining@rccl.com

Thanks so much!