willow0325

Hello fellow cruisers!

Received my first RoyalUp email today for our upcoming cruise.  I find the minimum prices to be quite disappointing.  Balcony: minimum $300 per guest; Ocean view:  minimum $100 per guest and minimum $50 per guest for promenade view.  For those who have received a RoyalUp email, do you usually just get one opportunity?  Or have you received additional emails with lower prices?  Also, if they accept your bid, do you get to select your own cabin or do they assign it to you?  Thanks all and happy cruising!

On 1/19/2019 at 9:15 PM, Host Carolyn said:

Not sure what your ports are but in Portland, Bad Harbor, Boston and Halifax you can have a great day ashore picking up tours by locals when you get there or using the Hop On-Hop Off bus in Boston and Halifax. We have been to Bar Harbor twice and last time booked a your into Acadia Park with Woody's Taxi. Wonderful afternoon, totally customized, got out for all great views for photos. Also lots of excellent places for lobster, chowder etc for lunch on this itinerary

We're considering doing the Hop on Off in Halifax.  The only one with availability is the Hop on for Hops, which is fine.  Did you feel you got to areas you wouldn't have otherwise gotten to on your own?  Thanks!

Has anyone done the Top 10 Best of Halifax tour with Royal Caribbean?  Decent price today in my cruise planner and just wondering if it's worth it.  Most of the other excursions, unfortunately, are sold out.  Thanks all and happy cruising!

Can I use it to pay the balance on a currently booked cruise?  How long before the points are available to use as OBC?  Thanks again, everyone!

Great info from all, thank you!

1 hour ago, ONECRUISER said:

"Glitch" I got was mispriced rate online, was corrected later on their site though they never caught mine 😎

Score!!! 

27 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

And please let us know if you get anywhere with them.  😉 

I sure will !

14 minutes ago, cruisinfanatic said:

except for the initial incentive, there are better cards. Citi® Double Cash Card for example which pays you 2% on everything

Definitely true!  Do you know what benefits Royal offers from a cruise perspective?  Thanks!

What are your thoughts (positive and negative) about the RCI credit card?  I know the perks aren't terrific but I do love "freebies"!  

We're booked directly through Royal. We're thinking about upgrading our cabin but the rate online is still more than I want to pay.  So I was wondering if I called - would they quote exactly what I'm seeing.  I was hoping the answer would be "no".  LOL  

Is the rate ever different if you call than it is on the Royal website?  Thanks!

I agree you weren’t being insulted. I live 10 miles west of manhattan, 10 miles from Newark airport, and driving on the turnpike at night in rush hour in this area is not for the timid. My sister in law lived here for 30 years, now lives in the Midwest, she really has panic attacks driving around here when she visits. Unless you are visiting NYC or are flying into Newark airport, there is no reason to get a hotel room close to the cruise port. Stay a little out from the madness, and have a nice somewhat traffic free drive the next morning after rush hour. NJ really is a beautiful state with a lot to offer, but not in this area.

 

ETA, this is not PC, but it’s pretty accurate IMHO, this state is really small but diverse https://goo.gl/images/TxcPEU

First, thank you for the info and that there really is no reason to stay at a hotel close to the cruiseport. That's very helpful and reassuring! I don't know where the idea came from that we'll be driving at night, but we won't be. That being said, I've researched Meadowlander's suggestions of other locations and we'll find something there.

As far as not being insulted, your opinion is just that. Being bullied or insulted because I didn't give cruise dates is helpful to no one. It isn't necessary to know one's cruise dates to recommend safe areas and hotels. Offering reassurance that traveling from other areas should be relatively stress-free is acutely helpful to not just me, but to others who aren't familiar with the area. Comments like "Ditto - no dates = no specific advice" is far from friendly when it was not what I asked in my original post. "As for how much to pay, since you don't want to provide us with dates, we really can't offer any other suggestions. We're not stalkers, we are just trying to give you good advice" is unfriendly, as well and had nothing to do with my original post. That sounded like tag-teaming to me.

It's fine, NOTHING nearby and if you're not paying attention, you'll miss it. The drive is not bad but in order to get to the turnpike, and actually to the hotel, it's a circuitous route and IMO if you're not familiar with the area, you're better off at a hotel by 13A. Trust us.

 

As for how much to pay, since you don't want to provide us with dates, we really can't offer any other suggestions. We're not stalkers, we are just trying to give you good advice.

Thank you all again for this helpful information. It's funny because I read other posts about various hotels and positive reviews, then I come here to inquire for myself and I get a completely different opinion. It's actually what I value most ! So again, please know how appreciative I am.

I didn't ask any info on pricing, but thank you for your willingness to help out in that regard, too. I can get that info easily - probably the easiest part of the planning. It's the locations that you've all been most helpful with. I'm sorry if I'm asking questions that annoy you.

And I also didn't "insist" on a restaurant in walking distance. I merely asked. We were hoping to get to the hotel, be able to park the car and not have to go out and deal with traffic again on unfamiliar roads. When you aren't from a big city, it can be pretty intimidating. Again, the knowledge that others have of these kinds of things is just priceless. Proximity to the cruiseport seems important to us as we're thinking it reduces the risk of our getting lost in an unfamiliar area and this is the first time I've read that being within an hour of the cruiseport should still be a pretty comfortable distance. Again, I thank you for that!

But really, there's no need to insult me. :(:(

Thoughts on the Renaissance (Spring Street) in Elizabeth? Restaurants nearby? How is the drive to Cape Liberty? Thanks so much!

Thanks again, everyone, I appreciate all the helpful info, tips, ideas. I believe I answered all the questions with the exception of cruise date. Our cruise is July 2019, coming in on a Friday night, cruise leaves on Saturday. I'll take a look at the Harmon Meadows area - thanks for that suggestion. I'm a list maker, so hopefully we'll have everything we need - wine, toothpaste, etc., so shouldn't need a store for anything. (knock on wood, right?!)

Thoughts on Hilton Newark Airport? It's not on International Blvd but it is in Elizabeth. Price is a little better compared to the others. Thanks again for all the great help!

What exact date do you need a hotel? Bed size requirements - 2 doubles, 2 Queens, king and sofabed? Will you come down the NJ Turnpike?

I'm honestly not sure if we're coming down the NJ Turnpike since we don't know where we're staying yet. Will we take the Turnpike to get to the cruiseport? If so, then we'd like to stay in the area of the Turnpike -- does that make sense? No requirements on beds, but will want 2 rooms. I'm not as concerned about price as I am about proximity to the cruiseport and proximity to a restaurant for dinner the evening we arrive. Thank you again!

IMO this may not be your best option. It's a Newark Airport hotel, which means it's about 10 miles from the port. There are no restaurants in the area within walking distance. It's a highly urban area on the west side of the airport near the route 1/9 truck route.

 

What price are you seeing for the hotel? What date? Number of people? Where are you coming from?

Driving in from Western New York at the end of June. There will be 4 of us. We plan to park at the cruiseport just for sake of ease (both coming and going). $135/night. Not being familiar with the area, we want to be somewhat close to the cruiseport -- mostly to reduce our risk of getting lost on our way to the cruiseport. Do you have any suggestions for hotels with restaurants within walking distance? Thank you for the help!

Cruising out of Cape Liberty next year and considering this hotel. My understanding is that it's quite close to the cruiseport. We will be arriving by car, spend one night pre-cruise and then drive to the port on the day of the cruise. Are there any restaurants within walking distance of the Best Western? Thank you and happy cruising!

Would a drive in from Cape May be relatively easy? How long of a drive would that be? Thank you again!

You did not provide dates, which would be helpful. Jersey shore, Atlantic City, are possibilities. Cape May for a relaxed quiet day or two. Lancaster PA area, if you wish to drive further out of your way, is about 3 hour drive to Cape Liberty.

 

Much easier drive to Cape Liberty than MCT. Exit 14A from the NJ Turnpike(be aware there are multiple exit14's). Parking at cruise port is $20 day. Arrive prior to 11 am so as to avoid vehicle back up in front on terminal due to dropping luggage before parking.

Thank you, much appreciated. We enjoy the Lancaster area but really out of the way for where we're coming from. When you say "Jersey shore", what city/town would search? We're thinking about VRBO.

Not knowing the particular interests of the OP it’s hard to make specific recommendations. That said, they could stay in Westchester county and take the train down to to a NYC and I am sure find some places of interest.

I'm sorry, yes I guess that was vague. We've been to New York City many, many times and aren't interested in going again. So I wondered if there are other areas of interest outside of that area that people may stay at pre-cruise.

Greetings fellow cruisers! Doing some pre-cruise planning for our 2019 cruise out of Cape Liberty. We'll be driving in a day or two early from Western New York. Other than going into NYC, has anyone found anything else of interest to do for a day two pre-cruise? Perhaps stayed in an interesting area and then drove to the port on cruise day? We like to start our cruise vacations a couple of days early but I'm struggling to find anything of interest. Also, is the drive to the cruise port relatively simple (let's say - compared to driving to the Manhattan cruiseport!)? Thanks, all !

This should be close: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=55875517&postcount=123

Thank you, Bob! (I feel like I should tip you -- you always know the answers I'm looking for! LOL) :cool:

You will have a detailed list on your cabin on embarkation.

I'd like to have an idea before we cruise. Are there standard "coupons" that we would expect to have? Thanks!