Ken076

Where do you see this? I see a "prepaid Gratuities" offer on my TA's Site, where they are paid by the TA for the more expensive Balcony categories and above?

Our first visit to Bermuda was just over 40 years ago on our honeymoon.........

 

 

Keith - Thanks for sharing your photos and for your many helpful posts.

 

Like yourself we first visited Bermuda some 40 years ago and stayed at the (now abandoned?) Sonesta. Hoping to cruise there in 2020.

 

Ken

My DW and I are thinking of taking a Carnival cruise. Are their any advice or tips you could share? We are used to Celebrity. What is Cheers? Im guessing a drink package?

Cost? Any discounts? Trying Carnival will we be disappointed? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Carefully read the Terms and Conditions for the different Booking Fares - some like Early Saver are a bit restrictive.

Carnival offers a Military Rate (and keeps your paperwork on file) that's usually pretty close to their Early Saver rate, without the Early Saver restrictions. Carnival accepts National Guard 6-year service.

Ken

Day 1

JILL - Thanks so much for taking the time to scan and post these Compasses!!! We have same Itinerary in February!!!!! Thanks, Ken

Sure! It might be a few days but I would be happy to [emoji3]

 

 

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Thank-You!! I'm sure there are a number who would appreciate!!! Ken

Just disembarked off Oasis this morning. Long drive home, anyone have any questions? We had a FANTASTIC week [emoji3]

 

 

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Any chance you could scan the Compass and post as .pdf? Thanks, Ken

See if First Night Done Right (50% off) is being offered? ken

Ollie... Thanks for the helpful review - we have same cruise scheduled February.

If you are able to scan and post the Compass for this cruise/itinerary, I'm sure many would appreciate!!!!!!!

Did you notice if SABOR was fixed $19pp or AlaCarte? Were the Margaritas worth the price?

Thanks,

Ken

That's odd - I copied directly from the voucher. I guess it is a standard voucher they issue to all Royal clients.

 

It's bad enough that I am limited to just a few restaurants, but I am limited to certain days and I cannot reserve until on board.

 

Since you mentioned the "filet," I wonder if that will be included in my voucher - would you know?

 

Thanks.

Last year on Allure we found that when using the voucher the restaurants did not enforce the date limitations. Ken

I understand that Sabor is no longer ala carte. Although my cruise planner charges the $19 fee, the sample menu is still the ala carte menu.

Extensive online search I've found what I think is the new menu that is much more limited but not sure I trust the source.

Any CCers out there have a photo of the new menu?

We sail on Oasis in 2 weeks. Thank you much.

Let us know when you return??? Ken

So you're saying Royal will give us some money back on our credit card and the insurance may cover the rest? That would be fine, but it sure doesn't sound like what we were told.

Unless you cancelled very late in the 100% penalty window, you should recover some money from Royal Caribbean (in addition to your Taxes & Fees and any pre-paid Gratuities), then you file a claim with the Insurance and (unless this is a pre-existing condition) you should recover the remainder of your cruisefare from the insurance company.

If the above somehow falls apart, you still get your Taxes & Fees and any pre-paid Gratuities back from Royal Caribbean, and a 75% future cruise credit (which I believe actually comes from Royal Caribbean).

Ken

We have a b2b cruise in a suite booked for March and always buy cruisecare insurance. My husband had a sudden detached macula and retina, emergency surgery, and we can't go on our cruise that we booked a year ago, and bought cruisecare insurance a year ago too. I cancelled as soon as he was admitted to the hospital, the same day we found out . NOW we are being told that we are in "the PENALTY" phase and will only get back a few dollars IF the insurance claim is accepted. DO NOT waste your money on cruisecare insurance through Royal Caribbean!!!

Not knowing your specific situation:

The cruise contract will tell you your cancellation penalty depending on how many days before sailaway you cancel; Unless you're cancelling late and the penalty is 100$, Royal Caribbean cruiseline will refund you the difference.

Your Cruise Insurance company, once you file a claim documenting your medical situation and indicating how much Royal refunded you, will pay the amount you forfeited (if covered by the policy) - UNLESS, they determine this was a "pre-existing condition" (the definition is in the online policy) then no reimbursement from the Insurer.

No matter what, you can invoke the Cancel for Any Reason Coverage and get a 75% Future Cruise Credit.

An advantage of so-called 3rd party policies is that if you purchase within 14-21 days of booking, they waive the "pre-existing condition".

Ken

It's asking me to sign in to view the documents.

Followed by "the owner hasn't granted permission for you..."

Ken

Yes, it's an ongoing promo Royal has had for several months.

I just noticed this on Royal's Web page; how do you take advantage of it? Coupon?

Thanks, Ken

Fairmont Waterfront and Pan Pacific are both fantastic and right adjacent to the Cruise Terminal and Gastown is just down the street. Both are pricey, monitor their websites for "sales". Ken

Is anyone else not able to open the Dropbox with the Funtimes?

 

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I just now clicked on the Link and viewed the files -- it WAS slow. Ken

Awesome review and pix! Did you get any pix of the MDR menus?

Sorry - didn't take any menu pix (for future cruisers, take photos of the menu posted outside of the dining room!!!).

We did Anytime dining and felt that the service while very good, was very hurried and frantic.

In San Juan, just off the Pier, if still in Port "Le Galleon" is super-interesting to Tour:

Cruise Director "Schwartz":

Miscellaneous:

CT6 Luggage Drop-off, Check-In and Parking (just across from the Luggage Drop-off - the covered walkway to the left leads from parking garage to check-in).

Miscellaneous.

Cruise Director “Schwartz” was enthusiastic, HIGH ENERGY and ever-present.

There were a good number of Karaoke sessions usually in the aft lounge.

The Buffet had a good selection – remember, there’s a front and a rear section

The MDR had decent choices + the standard 4 extra choices each nite + a selected “local” app, entree and drink. We felt the MDR food was “ok".

Pizza was decent and apparently available 24/7 – there are 4 choices.

There was afternoon Tea on the two sea days.

There was Sea Day Brunch on the two Sea Days.

There was Guy’s Pig & Anchor BBQ on Promenade on the two Sea Days.

The Blue Iguana has Breakfast Burritos in the morning.

AMERICAN TABLE: No tablecloth, basket of self-serve rolls, large carafe self-serve water. Service seemed a bit frantic. Menu has app, drink and entree from the country you're visiting that day. The curry shrimp was terrible.

The Alchemy bar was “ok”, maybe 10 bar stools, the menu drinks were up to $10.95 from $8.95 that I had read about. Bartenders were personable.

At the 5:45 opening, entry to the Northern Lights mid-ship Anytime Dining was pretty crowded with a long line wrapping around the Deck 3 atrium. Wait to 6:15 or so and almost instant seating.

There was a bit of ship's motion entire trip.

There ARE kids life vests available on a rack at the Lido Towel station.

SHOWS :

There are 4 shows in the theatre. Each show runs one night only, at 8:15 and 10:15 . The showroom fills up -get there 30 minutes prior for a seat.

Flick: a little strange, but picked-up. OK

Country Road: country music. OK.

88 Keys: Missed

America Rocks: Rock & Roll – pretty good.

The Comedy Director did insist on clearing the comedy club after each show. Get there 20+ minutes early. There are LONG Lines each show, stretching through the Piano Bar (which somewhat disrupts the Piano Bar) , but everyone in line seemed to get in.