PrincessCarolyn

Has anyone taken an excursion from Lisbon to Fatima? Did you go on your own or private excursion? Will be on a TA on Freedom of the Seas and will be in Lisbon on May 2nd, 2017. RCCL does not have excursions to Fatima, therefore, would have to do a private one. Thanks for any info.

have a great time! When i visited my inlaws in Portugal we always went to Fatima. It's so amazing! We saw people praying and pilgrimaging on their knees on the highway from miles away to go pray! You can buy beautiful rosaries that you've never seen anywhere else. It's just beautiful!

Any word on itenerary change on Majesty cruising out tomorrow from PC. Sat and Sun are supposed to be Bahamas days but that storm worries me.

I'm on that cruise as well. AS of this evening, the storm is over Puerto Rico and dry air is over the Bahamas. Hopefully we have fantastic weather!

Thanks for the feedback. Park n Cruise and Park n go i believe are the same price. Online now. I'm by no means cheap but it's more than double to park at the ship/terminal. No thanks. Definitely will use Park n cruise. Thanks!

I see many places with shuttles online for Port Canaveral parking.

Does anyone have experience or recommend any of these places?

Looking for Cruise Theme Christmas Cards. All I find out of Google are just regular cards. Bonus would show an RCCL in the background!

 

Thanks in Advance,

Myra

Can you make them yourself with a high resolution pic off the internet? I work in advertising so we make stuff like this all the time. GOOD LUCK!

Anyone ever stay in this cabin.? Have the chance to upgrade from an inside but have never been in the front. I need to let my TA know by tomorrow.

Thanks in advance

I see it's smack up front but it's a window view versus an inside. I've never been in the very front but I would try it given the choice of that or inside.

Find another TA... this is not something they should recommend.

Well, if you read my post I didn't say she recommended it. I said it's what she does. And she made a point in saying how tips are distributed to childcare and things they don't even use. I've decided to leave the autogratuitiy on like I have in the past and tip a bit more for exceptional service.

Thanks for the responses.

Probably best to skip it. They usually say its 6 or more a day to break even.

Good to know. Thank you!

Forgive me if this is posted somewhere, I did not see it.

My question is: I am not a big drinker so I didn't ask about a beverage package. I'm wondering if anyone knows what it costs AND if its worth it if I was to possibly have 2 drinks per day/evening or if I should pay separately for them. Wasn't sure what the best route would be?

Thank you in advance.

Before the days of automatic gratuities when we did envelopes you knew that whoever you gave your money to. However now if you do automatic it's all done behind the scenes.

 

Does anyone know how the system works. Are the tips all pooled in one big fund and distributed from there or do they give your specific steward your tips? Do they take a service charge out of it before passing it on to their employees.

 

In the era of gratuities included for some bookings it has me wondering if they are really giving that money out the same as automatic gratuities. I think the idea behind OBC is there is so much markup that 100 OBC costs them much less than 100. However if they cover my gratuities their cost is face value unless they aren't actually putting it in the pool. I know it's possible the OBC could be used for tips too but my guess is most people spend it on other stuff.

 

I know tip postings can get heated and I can see both sides but I'm just curious how it all works.

 

 

 

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I am in no way cheap but I just feel like the cruise line is getting away with more this way meaning: it's easier for them to pay employees w/ said money and employees made out better when they were handed the money like back in the day. Oh well.

I just read the expiration date on my passport and it expired 6 months ago. What are my options? I leave in 2 days from Galveston for Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica.

Same here. If you leave from a US port and come back to the US port you only need a birth certificate and license or another id. No worries.

Not trying to entice flamers just wondering....

 

Recently back from Majesty of the Seas, and saw the Johnny Rockets restaurant, with a $6.95 cover charge. Other than shakes, what benefit is there from paying the cover? Our group of 4 didn't go in, since we couldn't justify the $28 charge, so I'm asking in advance of the next trip.

 

I understand the food quality is better, burgers, fries, onion rings, and unlimited, but all the other food was unlimited as well.

 

So just asking. I did read on here that you don't have to pay cover if you just want to get a shake to go, which would have been nice to know. And with premium drink package, free soft drinks wouldn't have mattered either.

 

Thanks for sharing your opinion.

I agree....I've been on ships where there is a cover charge but the food is usually many steps higher than average: lobster, french food, etc. I wouldn't go to Johnny Rockets for any cover.

I believe it is the 'I am a horrible person' form. Easily obtained from GS.

Not at all. My good friend who is also a cruise agent says the way they are dispersed is ridiculous. Parts of your gratuity may go to childcare service workers and maybe you don't have any kids on board. PLUS who knows if the cruise line actually doles these out or uses it towards their pay?

I bet you giving 10 bucks to your cabin steward is much better for him or her than having it go through the corporate route.

I'm sure employees did much better when gratuities were handed out old school style.

Yes, you will get credit for your first cruise.

 

You will not receive any benefits on this cruise. But you will begin building points, and we all started at zero!

 

:)

Great to know as I will probably book a holiday cruise while onboard. But is the diamond club I hear about same as Crown and Anchor?

I've seen many people talk about the Diamond Club which led me to the Crown and Anchor club. I registered and it gave me a Crown & Anchor #.

I booked my cruise 2 days ago and just registered today. My question is will I get credit for the cruise I booked this week (it's an Aug. 26th sailing).

Also, any immediate benefits with the Crown Anchor club?

Thanks for all your help :)

It's your first time on Royal Caribbean. Equinox is a Celebrity ship. :)

 

 

 

I don't know what "go to dinner normally" means to you. You do not have to wear tux & gown. Dress up, even a little, and you will fit right in.

 

 

 

They are similar to Celebrity's packages, but Bob has given you the direct link to RC's information sheet.

 

 

 

Get to the pier around 10:45. You should be on board not long thereafter. The Windjammer Buffet on Deck 11 is open for your dining pleasure.

 

 

 

My tip: Don't.

 

 

 

The main dining room. No specialty dining on the Majesty. No lobster. There will be some fish dishes on the menus. Probably scallops and shrimp on some of the nights.

 

 

 

Use images.google.com

 

 

 

 

Do not do this. Those "many people" are not your friends. They are mean, cheap people. The staff work hard for you, to make your vacation wonderful. I don't know if you are doing a 3 or a 4 nighter, but $40.50 or $54 per person isn't much to ask. If you want to give more to specific people, please do.

 

 

 

You are welcome. Enjoy your first Royal Caribbean cruise. ;)

Thank you for the detailed information. I don't mind them taking tips out daily. It was actually the cruise agent who said she tips separately and has them take the tips off because she doesn't feel her tips should be divvied up with things like child care and other things they don't use. But I'm fine w/ leaving it as is and maybe tipping extra for great service.

Thanks!

We envy our fellow cruisers who live near a cruise port and/or close enough to a cruise port to drive to. The money saved on air and hotel almost pays for another cruise for one.

 

We've seen cruises advertised for as low as $350.00 or less out of Tampa and if we lived in Tampa, we'd probably JUMP at the chance of a quick 3-5 day cruise get-away. It must be tempting if you live that close to a cruise port. ;)

I live near Orlando so can cruise out of Port Canaveral. 3/4 day cruises are around 200-300 which is great but there's still additional costs (ok maybe not as much as airfare) but we have to pay to park the car which for 4 night cruise/5 day is almost as much as another cruise and things like that add up. Then we have to board the dog. I just moved here 4 years ago. Used to live in CT and fly to Miami to cruise then I started cruising out of NYC and let me tell you (even in COLD COLD February) there is nothing better than cruising out of NYC past the statue of Liberty to the warm Caribbean. But of course that has to be a 7+ day cruise. Pros and cons to everything.

Second time on RC (last cruise was Equinox out of Ft Lauderdale)

I am aware Majesty is older and smaller but understand it was refurbished.

1. Do we have to wear formal attire on formal night? Can we go to dinner normally?

2. I see everyone mentions drink packages. Can someone tell me what the liquor and soda packages are?

3. Any suggestions on best place (least expensive) to park?

4. Ship leaves at 4pm, how early can I arrive and is there food and beverage available before departure?

5. Has anyone used or have any tips for Verizon in the Bahamas?

6. Best restaurants? Are any additional? Lobster available? Seafood?

7. Anyone have pics of state rooms? I understand there aren't many balconies on this ship. I had the choice of a room on deck 5 or 7. Chose 5 because deck 7 has a promenade surrounding the rooms and thought the view wouldn't be as good.

8. Many people have said to go to the front desk on day 2 and ask for the gratuities to be removed and they prefer tipping the room attendant and staff on their own. Feelings on this?

It's been about 5 years since my last cruise so thank you in advance for your responses :)

DH thinks we'll get cell service (non-roaming) in the Bahamas because they're a US territory. I'm not so sure and fear a costly bill if we turn our data on. Thoughts?

Are you confusing the Bahamas with PR? Because the Bahamas are NOT a US Territory.

My thoughts are that we need better geography education in our country.

Thinking the exact same thing....Maybe they mistook the Bahamas for Puerto Rico. LOL

It's always smart to get travel insurance, if that's what you are talking about. I prefer to get mine thru insuremytrip.com but something is better than nothing. I always try to get a policy that is in first position so that I don't have to file a claim with my health or homeowners coverage first.

Thanks Pam!

I'm NOT the OP but I took your advice on insuremytrip.com (I called one other place too) but Insuremytrip.com gave me insurance that covers all medical/evacuations, etc. The only thing I don't have is the insurance that would cover the cost of the cruise if you couldn't go last minute- I'm going on my cruise if I'm breathing LOL

Cost of insurance to cover me door to door while on vacay: $14!!!!!!

Cost for hubby: $21!!!!

For an 11 day cruise, this 35$ is peace of mind.

Thanks for the tip!

Funny you should say that....I was on vista deck cabin 8158 but I upgraded to deck 10 concierge.....something about it made me leave LOL JUST KIDDING!

Starting to look like the Vista Deck is sworn to secrecy ..or urrrr maybe is kinda Hotel California way! You can check In but you can never check out~ LOL