VM_Mom

Just booked my January Southern Caribbean too. Got the French door balcony and, with cabin credit, just paying taxes and port fees for the cruise itself. We gamble very little but have spent quite a bit on photos several years back (got married on the ship).

Anyway- I am one of those who never thought I would get one of these offers so wishing good luck to those still waiting.

Has anyone ever stayed in a Deluxe Oceanview on the Main Deck? With this deck being below the dining rooms and theater, I am wondering if there are any locations where noise would not be an issue. TIA!

We got this offer- first time EVER to get one of these great offers! We rarely use the casino so probably not that :)

We are looking at the 11 day Southern Caribbean but we both have to see if we can take that many consecutive days off work. If so we will be canceling our RCI cruise for the same time frame. I really hope we can make it work!

We have never cruised an inside cabin so we may spring for the upgrade- still a great deal!

Thank you so much! We sail out of San Juan on our next cruise and I am really looking forward to seeing the city!

Thanks for the help everyone! I have used the cruise critic price drop in the past. I really like it because you can set email alerts!

I am booking my first RCI Cruise. I have sailed Princess and Carnival in the past and used the Early Booking Price Saver Rate. If the price of the cruise later dropped, I could contact the company and they would adjust my account for the savings, ensuring I received the lowest possible price. If the price dropped before final payment, they reduced the balance - if after final payment, I got cabin credit.

Does RCI offer the same benefit? Thanks.

Wow - what a helpful group. I really appreciate the quick and thoughtful help!:)

I am planning to book my first RCI Cruise. I have previously sailed on Princess and Carnival. In the past, I liked to book my cruise well in advance and pay a little each month until it is paid off prior to the full payment date.

I have been looking all over RCI's website to see if I can do this, but cannot find an answer. I also tried emailing customer service but heard nothing. I thought someone here might be able to give me an answer.

Can you pay for your cruise this way? How much of a hassle is it? Can you make the payments online or must you call customer service each time?

Any help is appreciated!

Preparing to leave for our first Princess cruise! Do all ships provide basic toiletries (shampoo, soap, etc)? Is it any good or should we bring our own? Thanks in advance!

My first Princess cruise is coming up in February 2015 - just booked it :D. It's an Eastern Caribbean on the Caribbean Princess. I am so excited. I am on CC trying to learn everything I can about it!!!

I just booked my cruise for February 2015 and chose to purchase my own travel insurance since I was told the Princess policy doesn't allow "Cancel for Any Reason." It appears that, depending on the carrier, I need to purchase my travel insurance no more than 21 days after booking my cruise. It also appears to say that I must include ALL travel costs in the quote. My question - Since a traveler cannot book a flight this far in advance, what do you do about your airfare costs? And I don't know yet if I will need a hotel and/or rental car (depends on my flight dates).

Any experience with this?

Thanks!

So on HAL your spa stateroom doesn't include the spa pool and thermal rooms? Does anyone know what a weekly pass costs?

Thanks! We are looking at February 2015 Southern Caribbean in one!

Has anyone sailed the Sunshine in an AFT Oceanview cabin on deck 5? I thought I read somewhere those were new cabins. I noticed it is above the dining room and wondered if it might be noisy early in the morning. What about the mysterious smell others have mentioned?

Considering trying HAL for the first time. The Greenhouse Spa looks nice, but I cannot find any information about spa-class staterooms (like Carnival and Celebrity do). Does HAL offer a Spa Class? What is it called?

Thanks so much! While the room looks like kind of an odd shape, it sure LOOKS like a double bed! :D Enjoy your cruise!

Really appreciate all of this insight since DH and I are empty nesters now and considering a more mature experience. We love Carnival though, just wanting to try something different.

One thing that I think is great about Carnival is the friendliness of everyone - staff and fellow passengers. How does HAL compare?

One HAL feature that I found intriguing is the personal development classes offered (cooking, art, etc.). Anyone willing to share experiences with the classes? Thanks.

I am thinking about booking a spa stateroom on the Splendor, but I prefer an ocean view. There are only two left, 1003 and 1004. I realize these are accessible and I could be moved if someone needs it. My concern is that Travelocity showed these two rooms as having twin beds that cannot be converted to a double. Carnival's deck plan shows that they can be put together as a double- the photo even shows them that way.

Has anyone stayed in one of these rooms with the beds set up as a double? I am traveling with my husband and we don't want twin beds.

We did the one in Belize that included a river tour on the way to the ruins (Altan Ha?) and it was the favorite excursion for everyone in my family (6 of us)! Saw all kinds of wildlife on the river tour, great lunch at the Black Orchid Resort along the way, and got to climb the ruins.

Planning to book a spa cabin on our next cruise. Do the "plush" robes come in different sizes? Hubby is a larger guy and the regular size robes we have had in other cabins don't fit him. We didn't ask at the time because he didn't use it anyway but he might want to use the nicer robe in the spa cabin.

We have always paid for our cruise up front or provided a credit card to be charged on the "final payment" date. I thought I remember seeing comments about making payments (a little at a time).

Does Carnival accept this type of arrangement? Where do you send payments? I have been all over their website and cannot find anything.

We are booking our next cruise way in advance and I just thought this would be a way to pay for it without even missing the $ (very much) :D Thanks!

It's been a few years since I cruised Carnival, but I seem to recall previous staterooms had a little dispenser in the shower with shower gel and shampoo. Do they have these on the Dream? Trying to decide if we need to bring our own shampoo and shower gel. Thanks to any Dreamers who can answer!

Is there dry cleaning service on board? We are cruising the Dream in 10 days! :)

Was at Junkanoo beach 2 weeks ago. It was a weekend and pretty busy. The spot in the sand was free and it was a short walk from the ship. Since we were only in port a few hours it fit the bill. We stayed just a couple of hours and went back to the ship.

Just wanted to clarify because I have seen posts that it is a short walk and others that it is a bit of a walk. My husband doesn't like to walk too far and I am wondering if we would need to get a cab. Is it a half mile? Longer?

When I received my initial materials, they sent a flower upgrade form and a tuxedo order form so those are two add-ons. If you want custom flowers, you need to visit with the coordinator and she will get you quotes. I know some girls on here have photography package price-lists, but I didn't get one. They said that "packages" would be prepared after the pictures were taken - but I would budget at least $1,000.

I am not doing a reception (very small wedding) or a videographer but those are other add-ons you will need to consider.