AZEmom

We (apparently prematurely), booked our flights last summer from Miami to Venice for this coming May. It was our first time needing flights for a cruise. We naively believed their "low price guarantee".

It may have been low price at the time, but the same flights are now $500 round-trip instead of $1000. They say we are "stuck" because they are non-refundable tickets. But my husband read online that we can "cancel" our reservation and receive a credit.

Has anyone ever cancelled a flight and received this credit? I'm thinking we could turn around and re-book and add my son for the same price. $1000 is a lot of money!

Didn't read through all all 7 pages. But I was at a top tier event when a 17 year old boy earned his Pinnacle status. I thought they said he was the youngest.

Course you can give your friends 2 of your free drinks,just order your 3 drinks and tell the barman they are diamond drinks.enjoy.

This is not always true. I have tried to use 2 of "my" diamond drinks for myself and DH (who is also diamond). They would not ring up two different drinks on my card at the same time. I needed to go get his card as well.

I can't wait to see all of these reviews, compasses, etc, before our Dec. 17 cruise! I didn't think they could make a ship I would love more than the Allure, but I think they proved me wrong. As an adrenaline junkie, can't wait to try all of the new slides!

And yes, I have been IMpatiently waiting for her to come to the States to see these reviews!

Thanks for posting! We are considering this ship as well. Please say hello to my friends Brenda and Victor who are sailing with you...

Did you do the Ultimate Abyss slide? If so, was there anywhere to leave personal belongings? I read that you can't take anything including a camera or cell phone down the slide.

Just put them in a bag and leave them where you can see them, if you can't leave them in your cabin! One of you can "keep an eye" on them!

Sorry - but leaving valuables "lying around" 11 decks away is not an option.

DH and I will be sailing on the Harmony in December. The thing we are most looking forward to is the Ultimate Abyss. I read that you can't bring anything on the slide including cell phones.

If we are both in line, does anyone know if there is somewhere to leave your phone? I can't imagine the logistics if DH goes first and I hold his phone, having to wait for him to come back up 11 decks so he can hold the phones while I ride...

I would just plan on leaving phones in the room, but we plan on going there first when boarding the ship.

Thanks for posting. We will be on Harmony in a couple of months, can't wait.

Bostonjet-

Thank you very much for this review. Great information and I have saved this to go back and study. We were originally scheduled to do a similar route on the Vision, November 2017. But it got cancelled so we are now booked on the Rhapsody for May 27, 2017.

I know you said you are not a "bake in the sun person", but if someone did want to have some beach time, what would you say was the average temperature for your cruise each day. Do you think the water would be too cold? Were people able to swim in the pool on the ship easily (I'm a wimp with cold water).

Like others have said, THANK YOU!

Another perspective...

We don't bring a lot of cash for tipping. A few dollars for the porter as previously mentioned (depending on amount of luggage).

Have found that room service takes forever now a days, except for breakfast which comes at a scheduled time. If you plan to do this, then tipping is also recommended.

You will not need ANY other cash on the ships (except casino). When you order drinks, 18% gratuity is already included, and you are able to add any additional tips you wish to make on your sea pass card. Everything on the ship is done on this card, not cash transactions, including shops, souvenirs, activities, etc.

I also recommend getting to the port no later than 11 am to enjoy the most of the day on the ship as you can. I also wear my swim suit under my clothes and bring dry clothes to change into so we can enjoy the pools and hot tubs. You may not get your luggage until later in the evening.

Have a great time, cruising is addicting!

We've had two central park balconies. With the door closed there is almost no noise from central park. We find it a very nice place to "chill", it's a very pretty view, convenient location on the ship to other areas, etc. We would book another one.

I'm glad it was timely, have a great cruise! If you see my buddy William in the Blaze tell him I said hello!

Will do! I plan to visit him every evening in the DL! :)

A Darth review just days before I board the Oasis this Saturday. I'm in heaven

Thanks again. Love the tips and pictures. Can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

Thank you for posting this! Very helpful as we plan our first Med Cruise

I know one of the most frequent things I look for before a cruise is a copy of a recent compass. For those looking for the 4 night Brilliance out of Tampa, I found this at the end of this post! Thought I'd share

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2155223&page=5

There used to be a sushi bar on certain ships. A small "kiosk" that was open certain nights. They now use that same kiosk and serve small appetizers with different themes (based on their specialty restaurants), again on certain evenings.

"We are planning on booking the Brilliance for March 20th, so I’ll be looking forward to that."

This is too funny, we just switched from the Brilliance on March 25 to the Indy on the 23rd. I haven't been on her for years and wanted to read a recent review to get pictures to refresh my memory. What a pleasant surprise to find your thread. Thank you so much for sharing.

I guess I need to update my signature line now! lol

Excellent review, thank you! We are sailing Enchantment on a 4 night in April, our very first cruise! Same cruise except for the extra sea day so I really, really enjoyed your report and all the pictures :)

 

Quick question: It sounds like you went back to the ship and stayed for the afternoon and evening on the Nassau day. Was everything "open" and available on the ship since it was still in port?

DH and I were on the same sailing. Most "everything" is open, except for the shops and casino. They didn't open until 7 pm I believe. They were open on the morning while we were sailing into Nassau.

I'd also like to warn people getting to Park n Cruise too early. We got there early as we wanted to be checked in at the pier and be ready to board as soon as they opened the doors. Apparently, Park n Cruise doesn't bring passengers to the port until they are done bringing people back from the previous sailing. We waited about an hour, watching empty vans head to the port???

On another note, our favorite thing about this ship was the number of hot tubs (6?). We were just on the Brillance which only had 3.

It is our first Christmas cruise as well (but on the Brilliance), I can't wait! I have heard some people pack their own small table top artificial Christmas tree for their room. I'm thinking this will be nice and make me not miss home as much.

I want to thank you, like so many others, for your review. Especially the compass postings. I have searched high and low for a copy of the 4 night compass, to no avail. And here they are, one week before we sail!

Also, someone asked about disembarking. At least in Cozumel, there is no priority for people with cruiseline excursions. I have only seen this in ports where you have to tender.

Can't wait to enjoy all the yummy food and drinks myself!:D

Chrystal - thank you again for your great review! We will sail this lovely lady in a short 6 days. Just got off Carnival Paradise and was shocked there were no hair dryers in the rooms. :eek:

For the life of me I can't remember what the hair dryers were like on the Allure and was hoping you could help. Are they built in? Good quality? Or should I bring my own.

4 days for a quickie... then 2 weeks till Allure! :D

Enjoying reading your review! Orient beach is my favorite beach I've ever been to (and that's from someone who lives in Clearwater, FL). Went there with my son when he was 4 years old, and he was oblivious to the naked men walking by him all afternoon...lol. Too busy building sand castles.

Less than 3 weeks and I will be taking your place on the Flowrider! :D